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American Morning
Fight for Iraq; 90-Second Pop, Culture Watch
Aired April 12, 2004 - 07:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Did have you a good time off? By the way, I haven't had a chance to see you.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I did, yes. It was kind of busy, you know.
HEMMER: Yes?
O'BRIEN: Yes, we did a little travel.
HEMMER: How is everything, you know?
O'BRIEN: I'm getting bigger by the minute. But otherwise, it's all fine.
HEMMER: Well, you look terrific.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. You lie, but that's sweet.
HEMMER: Not at all. Not for a second!
In a moment here, how likely is it that the U.S. will stick to that timetable for the end of June to hand over power in Iraq? And could renewed fighting kill that plan? From the Pentagon in a moment, Barbara Starr is looking into it. Her report is a matter of moments away here.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the increased violence in Iraq could be taking a political toll on the president. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider is going to join us a little bit later this morning with the recent poll numbers. We're seeing lots of changes there.
HEMMER: And a lot of reaction with what's happening in Iraq, too.
In the meantime, later this week -- in fact, starting tomorrow -- top intel chiefs will testify about what they knew in the days and months leading up to 9/11 when they appear before that committee. First in the hot seat tomorrow, former FBI Director Louie Freeh, followed by the former attorney general, Janet Reno. On Wednesday, the CIA Director George Tenet appears, followed by the current FBI boss, Robert Mueller. CNN has complete coverage of what happens with that commission starting tomorrow and going throughout the week.
In the meantime, South Korea is announcing that it will send 3,600 troops to Iraq. That deployment will make South Korea the third-largest coalition partner behind the U.S. and behind Britain. The announcement comes as Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to visit Seoul on Thursday as part of his Asian tour. He's in Tokyo today.
Here in the U.S., gas prices are still surging. They climbed by two and a half cents in the past two weeks. A Lundberg survey says the national average for a gallon of gas, $1.82, up 31 cents a gallon since December of last year.
A weather note from Texas, residents are picking up the pieces after a powerful storm, leaving a path of destruction there. High winds destroyed store fronts, leaving several cars in a shopping mall overturned. More than 8,500 were left without power across part of the state, and there was some flooding as well -- a big system moving through Texas over the weekend here.
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The top civilian administrator in Iraq says the recent surge in violence there is not out of control. And Paul Bremer says that delaying the June 30 deadline for handover of power could cause even more unrest.
Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Barbara -- good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, the handover to Iraqis is now just weeks away. All eyes are on the United Nations to see if somebody there can broker a deal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): As the violent insurgency exploded across Iraq in recent days, top U.S. officials still admitted they do not know who will take over power on June 30.
DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: As to who we hand over sovereignty to, we are working that out right now.
STARR: Still, the Bush administration is determined to stick to its plan.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're going to continue to drive ahead with that work. There is no point delaying it.
STARR: The pressure is on. By May 30, an interim government is to be chosen. On June 30, it will take power. It will be operational one month later.
The United Nations adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, is trying to broker an agreement between the Iraq Governing Council and various factions, including the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for an interim government that could take power. The current violence has not helped.
KEN POLLACK, CNN ANALYST: Those negotiations are extremely difficult and extremely delicate.
STARR: The leading option? The U.S. turns over authority to an expanded version of the Iraq Governing Council.
POLLACK: Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani himself has already said that if that is the course that the U.S. takes, that that Governing Council, that interim government, will have no legitimacy and will have no authority.
STARR: U.S. officials feel the violence makes the turnover even more important. A new Iraqi government may lessen resentment against the U.S. occupation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, as the countdown continues, the U.S. military, of course, does plan to stay after June 30, but one indication of just how delicate the security situation is, in the fighting last week in Fallujah, we now have confirmed information from the coalition that a unit of the new Iraqi army refused to fight alongside the U.S. Marines -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Barbara -- thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: U.S. troops, we know, will stay in Iraq well past June 30. But the question after that: How long?
A new CNN/'TIME" magazine poll looks at American sentiment toward the Iraq war and the war plans currently.
Our CNN senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, live from D.C. to break it down for us.
Bill -- good morning to you on a Monday morning.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: You say support is dramatic, what you find in these poll numbers. Based on this survey, do the American people think the war was still the right thing do?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Bill, the answer is yes, but doubts are growing. Compare the public's view now and a year ago during the initial fighting in Iraq. In late March, 2003, nearly two-thirds of Americans thought the U.S. was right to go to war in Iraq. A majority still feels that way, but only a small majority. More than 40 percent you see there -- 41 percent think the United States made a mistake.
HEMMER: Do they also believe whether or not the world is safer from terrorism as a result of the war?
SCHNEIDER: No, and that is a big change. A year ago, most Americans did feel the war in Iraq made the U.S. safer from terrorism. People don't feel that way anymore. By 48 to 40 percent, Americans now feel the war in Iraq has made the United States less safe from terrorism.
HEMMER: Also on that survey, what about a workable plan for the White House, for the president? Do Americans believe that there is one at this point for Iraq?
SCHNEIDER: Well, once again, doubts are growing. Most Americans now believe the Bush administration does not have a clear, well- thought-out plan for dealing with Iraq. The public believes Iraq was the right thing to do, but they also believe the Bush administration isn't doing it right.
HEMMER: Donald Rumsfeld last week was talking about holding troops over, 25,000 at a minimum at this point. Troops that expected to come home and now, as a result of the fighting, will stay there. How do Americans feel about the troop strength? Do they believe more should go or not, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the prevailing sentiment is to stick with it. Just over a quarter of Americans want to increase troops. Just over a quarter want to get out. And what's interesting is both of those numbers at the top and at the bottom have been growing.
So, if you ask: Has the bad news from Iraq stiffened Americans' resolve to get the job done or heightened the desire to get out? The answer is, both. The bad news is really dividing Americans.
HEMMER: Bill Schneider, thanks for sharing with us this morning the numbers -- the latest numbers from the CNN/"TIME" magazine poll. Nice to see you, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Good to see you.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Janet Jackson hosted "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, and she took a turn portraying National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice; also poked a little fun at herself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you first came into office, you had just been through a very difficult campaign. You walk in and Dick Clarke is talking about al Qaeda should be our No. 1 priority. What did you think and what did you tell the president as you hit that kind of, I suppose, new information for you?
JANET JACKSON, SINGER: Well...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: You knew they were going to get to it eventually.
O'BRIEN: Well, obviously. HEMMER: They used the opening mark of the show.
O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Did you see that show?
O'BRIEN: Did I see that one? No, just the replay.
HEMMER: She was actually a pretty good actress.
O'BRIEN: She was. Yes, she was.
HEMMER: And very impressed there.
O'BRIEN: She has good timing. But Janet Jackson as Condoleezza Rice? I mean...
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... that was pretty funny on a whole bunch of levels.
HEMMER: Somebody said on our crew here, great makeup on Saturday night.
In a moment here, some cracks during the cease-fire in Fallujah. Next hour, the latest from a reporter. Tony Perry (ph) of the "L.A. Times" is back with us again today, embedded with the Marines there.
O'BRIEN: Also, "The Passion of the Christ" comes back strong during Easter weekend. That's going to be among the topics that we talk about on "90-Second Pop," which is just ahead. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Variety is back, propriety is back, and so is "Passion." Time for "90-Second Pop." Our panel today is Andy Borowitz. He's a humorist and author of "Governor Arnold." Also, Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And Toure, a contributing editor for "Rolling Stone" magazine.
Good morning.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": How are you?
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: I'm very well. And happy holidays. I hope everyone had a nice weekend.
ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: We did.
O'BRIEN: A lot of...
TOURE: I was in London over the weekend. If this was -- if we were in England, the hole show would be Posh (ph) and Becks (ph). It's all they're talking about.
O'BRIEN: Really?
BERNARD: It's Nick and Jessica here.
BOROWITZ: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Is it, really?
TOURE: He cheated on her, and blah, blah, blah.
O'BRIEN: Where have I been?
TOURE: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Who knew?
BOROWITZ: We would need more than 90 seconds to explain who Posh (ph) and Becks (ph) are.
O'BRIEN: And we've eaten up 45 of my seconds to talk about Nick and Jessica. Their variety show looks so lame. I'm sorry.
TOURE: No, no, no, it's so much fun. It's so great. It's so Sonny and Cher (AUDIO GAP). I mean, like it's just so much fun, like teen pop, which they come from. It was all about perfection and every hair in place. And this is like make fun of yourself and fall in it. And Jessica messes up.
BERNARD: They're pretty good at making fun of themselves, I have to say.
O'BRIEN: Really? Was it cute and entertaining?
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: I think what actually -- Jessica is a pretty good actress.
TOURE: She is.
BERNARD: She had a little sort of Goldie Hawn "Laugh-in" type humor thing going.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: Nick not so much.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: The show really falls flat when it's just Nick.
BERNARD: When it's him.
TOURE: Right.
BERNARD: Right. But she was pretty good.
BOROWITZ: I was curious about the show, because I'd read about it in the Book of Revelations. And I wanted to see how it came out. And it was pretty good.
O'BRIEN: But they can't decide whether she's going to be really, like, mostly naked...
BERNARD: A comedian or...
O'BRIEN: No, she's like some of the shots, the girl is wearing nothing.
BOROWITZ: I vote for mostly naked. I think that's...
BERNARD: Oh, no, no, you're right. It was very confusing.
O'BRIEN: And then, all of a sudden, it's very conservative.
(CROSSTALK)
BOROWITZ: That's the Donny and Marie dialect (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
TOURE: Right.
BERNARD: I mean, she's not the kind of Dolly Parton...
O'BRIEN: Marie was never naked.
TOURE: Well, Marie was never as hot as Jessica Simpson. I mean, come on!
O'BRIEN: Hey!
TOURE: I mean, when you're looking at her, you think, oh, they're funny. And then you can kind of let your mind go, like, damn, she's really hot.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: But then at the same time, there was Kermit the frog and Miss Piggy on the show.
TOURE: Right, right.
BOROWITZ: It helped take my mind off the whole Posh (ph) and Becks (ph) thing. That was the main thing.
O'BRIEN: All right, all right, let's turn and talk about Victoria's Secret.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Has decided to pull that annual fashion show.
BOROWITZ: Yes. O'BRIEN: I think Bill Hemmer went to that show last year, if I remember correctly.
BOROWITZ: It does not surprise me.
O'BRIEN: They say they're changing the brand strategy. It's like you sell bras and underpants. I don't get it.
BOROWITZ: This is more Janet Jackson backlash. I mean, I've got to say, you know, one bra pops open in the Super Bowl, and now we're punishing all bras. I'm not sure I want to live in a country like that.
BERNARD: I think that whoever...
BOROWITZ: That's not the America that I know.
BERNARD: Whoever is in charge of their marketing strategy really already made a mistake when they had Bob Dylan on their commercial. I mean, it's like you wear this underwear, and this old wrinkly rocker is going to be your biggest fan? I don't know.
O'BRIEN: Did you just call Bob Dylan an old wrinkly rocker?
BERNARD: Yes, I did.
TOURE: Well, you talk about Janet...
O'BRIEN: Bob, I want to apologize for the show (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
TOURE: Janet Jackson had a great week, 400,000 records, her fan supported her, her career is alive.
O'BRIEN: She was funny on "SNL."
TOURE: She was only No. 2 behind Usher, but, I mean, you know, that Usher and Little John (ph) song, "Yeah, it's so hot," like if Jesus Christ had a single out he couldn't beat Usher. I mean, it's just like so to the moon, that one.
BOROWITZ: Wow!
O'BRIEN: Wow!
BERNARD: So, it worked for her, is what you're saying.
O'BRIEN: Controversy works.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, well...
TOURE: And she was great on "SNL," making fun of herself.
O'BRIEN: She was funny. I thought she was very good. Let's talk about "The Passion of the Christ," No. 1 again. Like once we get done talking about it, Toure, do you want to sit through...
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: It's never going away. It's part of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's just like, oh!
O'BRIEN: Obviously, Easter, people are going to run out and they're going to see a movie.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: But it's pretty unusual, isn't it, for a movie to dip down and then come back up?
BERNARD: It is unusual, except for they planned this and they had a huge marketing blitz again right before the weekend. So, it's not that unexpected. Plus, the fact that there really wasn't a clear break-out hit. There wasn't such competition.
BOROWITZ: The Alamo."
BERNARD: "The Alamo" was disappointing.
O'BRIEN: Oh, "The Alamo."
TOURE: But in...
O'BRIEN: But didn't that movie cost like a $100 million?
BOROWITZ: I loved the variety headline this week, this morning, it was great. It was Christ tops Crockett.
BERNARD: Yes, I saw that.
BOROWITZ: It was so perfect.
BERNARD: That is pretty good. But I think, you know, even in that movie -- which a lot of people obviously know the story -- Billy Bob Thornton, not John Wayne, not the same as the original, and the stars just weren't big enough. And plus, the other movie...
O'BRIEN: Do you think that was it; that the stars weren't big enough? Or I don't know.
BERNARD: I just don't think the movie...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: It was accurate but a little boring.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
BERNARD: I mean, that's part of (UNINTELLIGIBLE). TOURE: I saw people in London, like, proselytizing, like standing in front of the theater, like, you've got to come see "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: About "The Alamo?"
TOURE: No, you've got to come see "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: Come on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: I know. Oh, sorry. Can I get cue cards up here, please.
TOURE: Proselytizing for "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: Oh, see. Oh, because you're too clever for me this morning.
BERNARD: Oh.
O'BRIEN: They put stuff on prompter for me generally. That's kind of -- it helps me along a little bit.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: So, "The Alamo," $100 million to make. And what did it make, like, 7 or 8...
BOROWITZ: Now, if you're Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney, you've got to be praying the next time you walk in the board room that Donald Trump is not sitting there.
BERNARD: Oh!
BOROWITZ: It's looking very bad.
BERNARD: Well, you know what else is interesting?
TOURE: There's luck in the finale, Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you very much.
BERNARD: Oh! Don't you think it's interesting, though, that there are so many movies in the top five that are so violent at this point? I would think that everyone would want kind of escapist, sweet little films...
O'BRIEN: And we end as we begin: Nick and Jessica.
BERNARD: Yes, that's what we want to see.
BOROWITZ: There we go. O'BRIEN: Scantily-clad, not too smart.
TOURE: Didn't we begin with Posh (ph) and Becks (ph)?
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes, Posh (ph) and Becks (ph), that's next week (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BERNARD: We need an hour for that.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: You spend too much time in London. Like, Posh (ph) and Becks (ph)? What's he talking about?
TOURE: I know, and you can't buy anything. The dollar is so bad. It's like double the pound.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Anything else you want to get off your chest, Toure?
BOROWITZ: How was the flight?
TOURE: Oh, my god!
O'BRIEN: They're giving me a hard rap in my ear.
BOROWITZ: We'll be back with more on Toure's trip.
TOURE: Well, going there, the lady at the counter recognized me from "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: Well, you see?
TOURE: She's, like, oh go to business class!
O'BRIEN: It never happens to me!
TOURE: Yes, it does.
O'BRIEN: Never!
TOURE: Yes, it does.
O'BRIEN: Never. I get nothing.
TOURE: I love that "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: Oh, man. Now you depress me. You guys, as always, thank you so much -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sarah, what are you doing making fun of Bob Dylan on a Monday morning?
O'BRIEN: I know!
TOURE: I know! O'BRIEN: A wrinkly old rocker.
HEMMER: Sacrilegious.
BERNARD: It doesn't work in a Victoria's Secret ad!
TOURE: It is sacrilegious.
HEMMER: And what am I going to do...
BERNARD: It does not.
HEMMER: What am I doing to do for my birthday year is Victoria's Secret is canceled.
BOROWITZ: How psyched were you about Johnny Bench (ph), about Johnny Bench (ph) being on Nick and Jessica's show.
HEMMER: It was an '80s rerun last night on Nick and Jess. Thanks, guys.
In a moment here, we have shown you the putt that won the Masters. What Phil Mickelson now says inspired him to win the green jacket. Back to Augusta and best story of the day right here. Back here in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Time to check in with Jack and the question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, ma'am.
Senator John Kerry is going to release something he calls a misery index later today, which focuses on economic trends that have worsened during the Bush administration's first term. He will include statistics like median family income, college tuition and health insurance costs.
But the Massachusetts senator may want to be careful about a pessimistic reading of the country. You might remember in 1980 Ronald Reagan used former President Jimmy Carter's famous malaise speech to help Reagan win the election.
The question is: Is John Kerry making a mistake by focusing on a so-called misery index?
Belver in the Bronx writes: "John Kerry thinks that the misery index is what people want to hear. Although I dislike a lot of what George Bush is doing, I don't want to hear about misery as much as I want to hear about the good things that are going to be done in a new democratic administration. I think the misery index could backfire on Kerry."
Dennis in Crossville, Tennessee: "John Kerry is right on the mark for this misery index. George W. Bush has taken a peaceful, prosperous country, turned it into a debt-ridden, high unemployment country, which is bogged down in the Middle East war based on lies. The misery index is the best way to describe the situation we're in."
Richard in New York writes: "President Carter was still in the White House when he talked about the national malaise and was therefore viewed by the public to be responsible for it. If Bush was to talk about the misery index, which he obviously won't, we'd boot him out, too."
And finally, Ronnie in Hempstead says: "Jack, the misery index is proper to use, not only for those of us who suffer under Bush, but also for those of us who suffer watching you. How is your cold?"
You don't really care, Ronnie, I don't think.
O'BRIEN: Did you have to bring that up again since I was responsible for that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on Friday?
HEMMER: Do you guys want to settle this?
O'BRIEN: We did.
HEMMER: Oh, you did.
O'BRIEN: I thought it was over on Friday. Thanks. Who is this? Ronnie?
CAFFERTY: Ronnie in Hempstead, yes.
HEMMER: Have you...
O'BRIEN: From Long island? From my little hometown?
HEMMER: Now, come on!
CAFFERTY: Long Island.
O'BRIEN: That's how we like to pronounce it (AUDIO GAP).
HEMMER: Do you feel better, by the way, Jack?
CAFFERTY: What?
HEMMER: Are you healthy? You sound good.
CAFFERTY: Yes, I'm fine.
HEMMER: All right, you look good too, by the way.
CAFFERTY: Don't start...
HEMMER: Did you see the Masters yesterday?
CAFFERTY: Don't start with me.
HEMMER: How was that final round?
CAFFERTY: I did watch it. HEMMER: Jim Nance (ph) said during that final round, it was the best final round ever in Augusta. And I thought, Jim, that is hyperbole. But then, if you think about it...
CAFFERTY: Jim says that about every sporting event...
O'BRIEN: Every time.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: No, no, no. I'll explain why.
CAFFERTY: Chess tournament...
HEMMER: I'll explain why in a moment.
CAFFERTY: That's Jim's deal.
HEMMER: Phil Mickelson finally won a major. You guys finished? It's all right. Keep going. I'm just trying to do my job. Just keep going.
CAFFERTY: The best curling match I've ever seen. That's the best volleyball game ever played. We're sorry.
HEMMER: 0 for 42 in major tournaments. Josie Burke sat down and talked one-on-one with now the newest owner of the coveted green jacket. Here's Mickelson in Augusta.
One of the greatest lead-ins ever.
CAFFERTY: That was...
HEMMER: We rolled the wrong tape. It feels like a Monday to us. Does it to you also?
A couple of things yesterday. Mickelson shot a 31 in the back nine. All right? He birdied the final hole, last golfer on the field. He beat Ernie Els, who had two eagles in the final round. How do you do that beating a guy? There was not a hole-in-one on hole 16 in 18 years. They got two yesterday in 10 minutes. An extraordinary day. That's why that hyperbole fits, by the way. Jim Nance (ph) called it right yesterday.
CAFFERTY: That's our best tidley (ph) winks tournament I've ever called.
O'BRIEN: I can't do this, Jack.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. Back in a moment.
CAFFERTY: Well, we've destroyed this thing, haven't we?
HEMMER: After this.
CAFFERTY: Only one hour in, and it's all in a pile in the middle of the room.
O'BRIEN: Yes, pretty much.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: In a moment, the president is taking a bit of heat for staying at his ranch over the weekend while the situation in Iraq appears to be in chaos in certain parts of that country.
Back in a moment with the implications there; and that meeting today also with the Egyptian president in Crawford.
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Aired April 12, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Did have you a good time off? By the way, I haven't had a chance to see you.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I did, yes. It was kind of busy, you know.
HEMMER: Yes?
O'BRIEN: Yes, we did a little travel.
HEMMER: How is everything, you know?
O'BRIEN: I'm getting bigger by the minute. But otherwise, it's all fine.
HEMMER: Well, you look terrific.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. You lie, but that's sweet.
HEMMER: Not at all. Not for a second!
In a moment here, how likely is it that the U.S. will stick to that timetable for the end of June to hand over power in Iraq? And could renewed fighting kill that plan? From the Pentagon in a moment, Barbara Starr is looking into it. Her report is a matter of moments away here.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the increased violence in Iraq could be taking a political toll on the president. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider is going to join us a little bit later this morning with the recent poll numbers. We're seeing lots of changes there.
HEMMER: And a lot of reaction with what's happening in Iraq, too.
In the meantime, later this week -- in fact, starting tomorrow -- top intel chiefs will testify about what they knew in the days and months leading up to 9/11 when they appear before that committee. First in the hot seat tomorrow, former FBI Director Louie Freeh, followed by the former attorney general, Janet Reno. On Wednesday, the CIA Director George Tenet appears, followed by the current FBI boss, Robert Mueller. CNN has complete coverage of what happens with that commission starting tomorrow and going throughout the week.
In the meantime, South Korea is announcing that it will send 3,600 troops to Iraq. That deployment will make South Korea the third-largest coalition partner behind the U.S. and behind Britain. The announcement comes as Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to visit Seoul on Thursday as part of his Asian tour. He's in Tokyo today.
Here in the U.S., gas prices are still surging. They climbed by two and a half cents in the past two weeks. A Lundberg survey says the national average for a gallon of gas, $1.82, up 31 cents a gallon since December of last year.
A weather note from Texas, residents are picking up the pieces after a powerful storm, leaving a path of destruction there. High winds destroyed store fronts, leaving several cars in a shopping mall overturned. More than 8,500 were left without power across part of the state, and there was some flooding as well -- a big system moving through Texas over the weekend here.
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The top civilian administrator in Iraq says the recent surge in violence there is not out of control. And Paul Bremer says that delaying the June 30 deadline for handover of power could cause even more unrest.
Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Barbara -- good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, the handover to Iraqis is now just weeks away. All eyes are on the United Nations to see if somebody there can broker a deal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): As the violent insurgency exploded across Iraq in recent days, top U.S. officials still admitted they do not know who will take over power on June 30.
DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: As to who we hand over sovereignty to, we are working that out right now.
STARR: Still, the Bush administration is determined to stick to its plan.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're going to continue to drive ahead with that work. There is no point delaying it.
STARR: The pressure is on. By May 30, an interim government is to be chosen. On June 30, it will take power. It will be operational one month later.
The United Nations adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, is trying to broker an agreement between the Iraq Governing Council and various factions, including the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for an interim government that could take power. The current violence has not helped.
KEN POLLACK, CNN ANALYST: Those negotiations are extremely difficult and extremely delicate.
STARR: The leading option? The U.S. turns over authority to an expanded version of the Iraq Governing Council.
POLLACK: Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani himself has already said that if that is the course that the U.S. takes, that that Governing Council, that interim government, will have no legitimacy and will have no authority.
STARR: U.S. officials feel the violence makes the turnover even more important. A new Iraqi government may lessen resentment against the U.S. occupation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, as the countdown continues, the U.S. military, of course, does plan to stay after June 30, but one indication of just how delicate the security situation is, in the fighting last week in Fallujah, we now have confirmed information from the coalition that a unit of the new Iraqi army refused to fight alongside the U.S. Marines -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Barbara -- thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: U.S. troops, we know, will stay in Iraq well past June 30. But the question after that: How long?
A new CNN/'TIME" magazine poll looks at American sentiment toward the Iraq war and the war plans currently.
Our CNN senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, live from D.C. to break it down for us.
Bill -- good morning to you on a Monday morning.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: You say support is dramatic, what you find in these poll numbers. Based on this survey, do the American people think the war was still the right thing do?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Bill, the answer is yes, but doubts are growing. Compare the public's view now and a year ago during the initial fighting in Iraq. In late March, 2003, nearly two-thirds of Americans thought the U.S. was right to go to war in Iraq. A majority still feels that way, but only a small majority. More than 40 percent you see there -- 41 percent think the United States made a mistake.
HEMMER: Do they also believe whether or not the world is safer from terrorism as a result of the war?
SCHNEIDER: No, and that is a big change. A year ago, most Americans did feel the war in Iraq made the U.S. safer from terrorism. People don't feel that way anymore. By 48 to 40 percent, Americans now feel the war in Iraq has made the United States less safe from terrorism.
HEMMER: Also on that survey, what about a workable plan for the White House, for the president? Do Americans believe that there is one at this point for Iraq?
SCHNEIDER: Well, once again, doubts are growing. Most Americans now believe the Bush administration does not have a clear, well- thought-out plan for dealing with Iraq. The public believes Iraq was the right thing to do, but they also believe the Bush administration isn't doing it right.
HEMMER: Donald Rumsfeld last week was talking about holding troops over, 25,000 at a minimum at this point. Troops that expected to come home and now, as a result of the fighting, will stay there. How do Americans feel about the troop strength? Do they believe more should go or not, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the prevailing sentiment is to stick with it. Just over a quarter of Americans want to increase troops. Just over a quarter want to get out. And what's interesting is both of those numbers at the top and at the bottom have been growing.
So, if you ask: Has the bad news from Iraq stiffened Americans' resolve to get the job done or heightened the desire to get out? The answer is, both. The bad news is really dividing Americans.
HEMMER: Bill Schneider, thanks for sharing with us this morning the numbers -- the latest numbers from the CNN/"TIME" magazine poll. Nice to see you, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Good to see you.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Janet Jackson hosted "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, and she took a turn portraying National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice; also poked a little fun at herself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you first came into office, you had just been through a very difficult campaign. You walk in and Dick Clarke is talking about al Qaeda should be our No. 1 priority. What did you think and what did you tell the president as you hit that kind of, I suppose, new information for you?
JANET JACKSON, SINGER: Well...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: You knew they were going to get to it eventually.
O'BRIEN: Well, obviously. HEMMER: They used the opening mark of the show.
O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Did you see that show?
O'BRIEN: Did I see that one? No, just the replay.
HEMMER: She was actually a pretty good actress.
O'BRIEN: She was. Yes, she was.
HEMMER: And very impressed there.
O'BRIEN: She has good timing. But Janet Jackson as Condoleezza Rice? I mean...
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... that was pretty funny on a whole bunch of levels.
HEMMER: Somebody said on our crew here, great makeup on Saturday night.
In a moment here, some cracks during the cease-fire in Fallujah. Next hour, the latest from a reporter. Tony Perry (ph) of the "L.A. Times" is back with us again today, embedded with the Marines there.
O'BRIEN: Also, "The Passion of the Christ" comes back strong during Easter weekend. That's going to be among the topics that we talk about on "90-Second Pop," which is just ahead. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Variety is back, propriety is back, and so is "Passion." Time for "90-Second Pop." Our panel today is Andy Borowitz. He's a humorist and author of "Governor Arnold." Also, Sarah Bernard is a contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And Toure, a contributing editor for "Rolling Stone" magazine.
Good morning.
TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": How are you?
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: I'm very well. And happy holidays. I hope everyone had a nice weekend.
ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: We did.
O'BRIEN: A lot of...
TOURE: I was in London over the weekend. If this was -- if we were in England, the hole show would be Posh (ph) and Becks (ph). It's all they're talking about.
O'BRIEN: Really?
BERNARD: It's Nick and Jessica here.
BOROWITZ: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Is it, really?
TOURE: He cheated on her, and blah, blah, blah.
O'BRIEN: Where have I been?
TOURE: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Who knew?
BOROWITZ: We would need more than 90 seconds to explain who Posh (ph) and Becks (ph) are.
O'BRIEN: And we've eaten up 45 of my seconds to talk about Nick and Jessica. Their variety show looks so lame. I'm sorry.
TOURE: No, no, no, it's so much fun. It's so great. It's so Sonny and Cher (AUDIO GAP). I mean, like it's just so much fun, like teen pop, which they come from. It was all about perfection and every hair in place. And this is like make fun of yourself and fall in it. And Jessica messes up.
BERNARD: They're pretty good at making fun of themselves, I have to say.
O'BRIEN: Really? Was it cute and entertaining?
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: I think what actually -- Jessica is a pretty good actress.
TOURE: She is.
BERNARD: She had a little sort of Goldie Hawn "Laugh-in" type humor thing going.
TOURE: Yes.
BERNARD: Nick not so much.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: The show really falls flat when it's just Nick.
BERNARD: When it's him.
TOURE: Right.
BERNARD: Right. But she was pretty good.
BOROWITZ: I was curious about the show, because I'd read about it in the Book of Revelations. And I wanted to see how it came out. And it was pretty good.
O'BRIEN: But they can't decide whether she's going to be really, like, mostly naked...
BERNARD: A comedian or...
O'BRIEN: No, she's like some of the shots, the girl is wearing nothing.
BOROWITZ: I vote for mostly naked. I think that's...
BERNARD: Oh, no, no, you're right. It was very confusing.
O'BRIEN: And then, all of a sudden, it's very conservative.
(CROSSTALK)
BOROWITZ: That's the Donny and Marie dialect (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
TOURE: Right.
BERNARD: I mean, she's not the kind of Dolly Parton...
O'BRIEN: Marie was never naked.
TOURE: Well, Marie was never as hot as Jessica Simpson. I mean, come on!
O'BRIEN: Hey!
TOURE: I mean, when you're looking at her, you think, oh, they're funny. And then you can kind of let your mind go, like, damn, she's really hot.
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: But then at the same time, there was Kermit the frog and Miss Piggy on the show.
TOURE: Right, right.
BOROWITZ: It helped take my mind off the whole Posh (ph) and Becks (ph) thing. That was the main thing.
O'BRIEN: All right, all right, let's turn and talk about Victoria's Secret.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Has decided to pull that annual fashion show.
BOROWITZ: Yes. O'BRIEN: I think Bill Hemmer went to that show last year, if I remember correctly.
BOROWITZ: It does not surprise me.
O'BRIEN: They say they're changing the brand strategy. It's like you sell bras and underpants. I don't get it.
BOROWITZ: This is more Janet Jackson backlash. I mean, I've got to say, you know, one bra pops open in the Super Bowl, and now we're punishing all bras. I'm not sure I want to live in a country like that.
BERNARD: I think that whoever...
BOROWITZ: That's not the America that I know.
BERNARD: Whoever is in charge of their marketing strategy really already made a mistake when they had Bob Dylan on their commercial. I mean, it's like you wear this underwear, and this old wrinkly rocker is going to be your biggest fan? I don't know.
O'BRIEN: Did you just call Bob Dylan an old wrinkly rocker?
BERNARD: Yes, I did.
TOURE: Well, you talk about Janet...
O'BRIEN: Bob, I want to apologize for the show (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
TOURE: Janet Jackson had a great week, 400,000 records, her fan supported her, her career is alive.
O'BRIEN: She was funny on "SNL."
TOURE: She was only No. 2 behind Usher, but, I mean, you know, that Usher and Little John (ph) song, "Yeah, it's so hot," like if Jesus Christ had a single out he couldn't beat Usher. I mean, it's just like so to the moon, that one.
BOROWITZ: Wow!
O'BRIEN: Wow!
BERNARD: So, it worked for her, is what you're saying.
O'BRIEN: Controversy works.
TOURE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, well...
TOURE: And she was great on "SNL," making fun of herself.
O'BRIEN: She was funny. I thought she was very good. Let's talk about "The Passion of the Christ," No. 1 again. Like once we get done talking about it, Toure, do you want to sit through...
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: It's never going away. It's part of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's just like, oh!
O'BRIEN: Obviously, Easter, people are going to run out and they're going to see a movie.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: But it's pretty unusual, isn't it, for a movie to dip down and then come back up?
BERNARD: It is unusual, except for they planned this and they had a huge marketing blitz again right before the weekend. So, it's not that unexpected. Plus, the fact that there really wasn't a clear break-out hit. There wasn't such competition.
BOROWITZ: The Alamo."
BERNARD: "The Alamo" was disappointing.
O'BRIEN: Oh, "The Alamo."
TOURE: But in...
O'BRIEN: But didn't that movie cost like a $100 million?
BOROWITZ: I loved the variety headline this week, this morning, it was great. It was Christ tops Crockett.
BERNARD: Yes, I saw that.
BOROWITZ: It was so perfect.
BERNARD: That is pretty good. But I think, you know, even in that movie -- which a lot of people obviously know the story -- Billy Bob Thornton, not John Wayne, not the same as the original, and the stars just weren't big enough. And plus, the other movie...
O'BRIEN: Do you think that was it; that the stars weren't big enough? Or I don't know.
BERNARD: I just don't think the movie...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: It was accurate but a little boring.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
BERNARD: I mean, that's part of (UNINTELLIGIBLE). TOURE: I saw people in London, like, proselytizing, like standing in front of the theater, like, you've got to come see "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: About "The Alamo?"
TOURE: No, you've got to come see "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: Come on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: I know. Oh, sorry. Can I get cue cards up here, please.
TOURE: Proselytizing for "The Passion."
O'BRIEN: Oh, see. Oh, because you're too clever for me this morning.
BERNARD: Oh.
O'BRIEN: They put stuff on prompter for me generally. That's kind of -- it helps me along a little bit.
TOURE: Right.
O'BRIEN: So, "The Alamo," $100 million to make. And what did it make, like, 7 or 8...
BOROWITZ: Now, if you're Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney, you've got to be praying the next time you walk in the board room that Donald Trump is not sitting there.
BERNARD: Oh!
BOROWITZ: It's looking very bad.
BERNARD: Well, you know what else is interesting?
TOURE: There's luck in the finale, Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you very much.
BERNARD: Oh! Don't you think it's interesting, though, that there are so many movies in the top five that are so violent at this point? I would think that everyone would want kind of escapist, sweet little films...
O'BRIEN: And we end as we begin: Nick and Jessica.
BERNARD: Yes, that's what we want to see.
BOROWITZ: There we go. O'BRIEN: Scantily-clad, not too smart.
TOURE: Didn't we begin with Posh (ph) and Becks (ph)?
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes, Posh (ph) and Becks (ph), that's next week (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BERNARD: We need an hour for that.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: You spend too much time in London. Like, Posh (ph) and Becks (ph)? What's he talking about?
TOURE: I know, and you can't buy anything. The dollar is so bad. It's like double the pound.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Anything else you want to get off your chest, Toure?
BOROWITZ: How was the flight?
TOURE: Oh, my god!
O'BRIEN: They're giving me a hard rap in my ear.
BOROWITZ: We'll be back with more on Toure's trip.
TOURE: Well, going there, the lady at the counter recognized me from "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: Well, you see?
TOURE: She's, like, oh go to business class!
O'BRIEN: It never happens to me!
TOURE: Yes, it does.
O'BRIEN: Never!
TOURE: Yes, it does.
O'BRIEN: Never. I get nothing.
TOURE: I love that "90-Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: Oh, man. Now you depress me. You guys, as always, thank you so much -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sarah, what are you doing making fun of Bob Dylan on a Monday morning?
O'BRIEN: I know!
TOURE: I know! O'BRIEN: A wrinkly old rocker.
HEMMER: Sacrilegious.
BERNARD: It doesn't work in a Victoria's Secret ad!
TOURE: It is sacrilegious.
HEMMER: And what am I going to do...
BERNARD: It does not.
HEMMER: What am I doing to do for my birthday year is Victoria's Secret is canceled.
BOROWITZ: How psyched were you about Johnny Bench (ph), about Johnny Bench (ph) being on Nick and Jessica's show.
HEMMER: It was an '80s rerun last night on Nick and Jess. Thanks, guys.
In a moment here, we have shown you the putt that won the Masters. What Phil Mickelson now says inspired him to win the green jacket. Back to Augusta and best story of the day right here. Back here in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Time to check in with Jack and the question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, ma'am.
Senator John Kerry is going to release something he calls a misery index later today, which focuses on economic trends that have worsened during the Bush administration's first term. He will include statistics like median family income, college tuition and health insurance costs.
But the Massachusetts senator may want to be careful about a pessimistic reading of the country. You might remember in 1980 Ronald Reagan used former President Jimmy Carter's famous malaise speech to help Reagan win the election.
The question is: Is John Kerry making a mistake by focusing on a so-called misery index?
Belver in the Bronx writes: "John Kerry thinks that the misery index is what people want to hear. Although I dislike a lot of what George Bush is doing, I don't want to hear about misery as much as I want to hear about the good things that are going to be done in a new democratic administration. I think the misery index could backfire on Kerry."
Dennis in Crossville, Tennessee: "John Kerry is right on the mark for this misery index. George W. Bush has taken a peaceful, prosperous country, turned it into a debt-ridden, high unemployment country, which is bogged down in the Middle East war based on lies. The misery index is the best way to describe the situation we're in."
Richard in New York writes: "President Carter was still in the White House when he talked about the national malaise and was therefore viewed by the public to be responsible for it. If Bush was to talk about the misery index, which he obviously won't, we'd boot him out, too."
And finally, Ronnie in Hempstead says: "Jack, the misery index is proper to use, not only for those of us who suffer under Bush, but also for those of us who suffer watching you. How is your cold?"
You don't really care, Ronnie, I don't think.
O'BRIEN: Did you have to bring that up again since I was responsible for that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on Friday?
HEMMER: Do you guys want to settle this?
O'BRIEN: We did.
HEMMER: Oh, you did.
O'BRIEN: I thought it was over on Friday. Thanks. Who is this? Ronnie?
CAFFERTY: Ronnie in Hempstead, yes.
HEMMER: Have you...
O'BRIEN: From Long island? From my little hometown?
HEMMER: Now, come on!
CAFFERTY: Long Island.
O'BRIEN: That's how we like to pronounce it (AUDIO GAP).
HEMMER: Do you feel better, by the way, Jack?
CAFFERTY: What?
HEMMER: Are you healthy? You sound good.
CAFFERTY: Yes, I'm fine.
HEMMER: All right, you look good too, by the way.
CAFFERTY: Don't start...
HEMMER: Did you see the Masters yesterday?
CAFFERTY: Don't start with me.
HEMMER: How was that final round?
CAFFERTY: I did watch it. HEMMER: Jim Nance (ph) said during that final round, it was the best final round ever in Augusta. And I thought, Jim, that is hyperbole. But then, if you think about it...
CAFFERTY: Jim says that about every sporting event...
O'BRIEN: Every time.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: No, no, no. I'll explain why.
CAFFERTY: Chess tournament...
HEMMER: I'll explain why in a moment.
CAFFERTY: That's Jim's deal.
HEMMER: Phil Mickelson finally won a major. You guys finished? It's all right. Keep going. I'm just trying to do my job. Just keep going.
CAFFERTY: The best curling match I've ever seen. That's the best volleyball game ever played. We're sorry.
HEMMER: 0 for 42 in major tournaments. Josie Burke sat down and talked one-on-one with now the newest owner of the coveted green jacket. Here's Mickelson in Augusta.
One of the greatest lead-ins ever.
CAFFERTY: That was...
HEMMER: We rolled the wrong tape. It feels like a Monday to us. Does it to you also?
A couple of things yesterday. Mickelson shot a 31 in the back nine. All right? He birdied the final hole, last golfer on the field. He beat Ernie Els, who had two eagles in the final round. How do you do that beating a guy? There was not a hole-in-one on hole 16 in 18 years. They got two yesterday in 10 minutes. An extraordinary day. That's why that hyperbole fits, by the way. Jim Nance (ph) called it right yesterday.
CAFFERTY: That's our best tidley (ph) winks tournament I've ever called.
O'BRIEN: I can't do this, Jack.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. Back in a moment.
CAFFERTY: Well, we've destroyed this thing, haven't we?
HEMMER: After this.
CAFFERTY: Only one hour in, and it's all in a pile in the middle of the room.
O'BRIEN: Yes, pretty much.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: In a moment, the president is taking a bit of heat for staying at his ranch over the weekend while the situation in Iraq appears to be in chaos in certain parts of that country.
Back in a moment with the implications there; and that meeting today also with the Egyptian president in Crawford.
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