Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Donald Rumsfeld Visits Iraq; Contractor Missing in Iraq
Aired May 13, 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: All right, 7:30 here in New York. Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. If you are just with us today, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq at this hour. More on this surprise visit, this trip in a moment.
Also we expect some videotape sometime shortly. Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon and a guy who knows a whole lot about that trip and how it might play in the Arab world, Fawal Gerges (ph) from Sara Lawrence College, back with us today. We heard a number of Iraqis yesterday talking about their absolute outrage and disgust of the videotape of Nicholas Berg. We'll get to that and more in a moment here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It will be interesting to see how the secretary's trip does, in fact, play in the Arab world. We'll talk about that.
Also this morning, here's a question for you: Do you know the difference between an air curtain and a tubular head bag, Bill?
HEMMER: No clue.
O'BRIEN: No? I didn't think so. Believe it or not, they are just two of the options for auto makers now that the government is requesting side impact airbags become standard on all new cars. In a few minutes, we're going to sort through what the regulations mean. And really probably a bigger question for consumers: What is it going to cost you on a new car?
HEMMER: Good deal. Top stories here at the half-hour again.
U.S. forces in Iraq are battling supporters of the Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. soldiers trading fire overnight with suspected militants in the Mehdi army. Military officials say three of them were killed. No reports of U.S. casualties.
More questions surfacing about Nick Berg's detention in Iraq. Berg is the 26-year-old whose beheading sparked global outrage. In a statement, the FBI says Berg was held for almost two weeks in the custody of Iraqi police, but his family claims Berg was held in Iraq by U.S. forces.
From North Dakota, the man accused in the kidnapping of college student Dru Sjoudin (ph) has now been charge by a federal grand jury. Fifty-one-year-old Alfonzo Rodriguez pleaded not guilty yesterday to a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. Prosecutors moved the case to a federal court to allow authorities the option to pursue the death penalty if Rodriguez is convicted.
An important warning for parents today. If you bought children's Motrin grape chewable ibuprofen tablets between February 5 and the 1st of April, check the bottles carefully. Some may mistakenly contain eight-hour extended release Tylenol jell caps. Parents who believe their children may have mistakenly taken the adult drug should immediately contact a doctor.
Heavy rains pelting an already saturated New Orleans yesterday. The thunderstorms causing flash flooding and street closures, trapping drivers in high water. High winds knocked down power lines throughout the city suburbs, 8,000 without power last night. Today, some schools are even closed due to that flooding.
O'BRIEN: As we've been talking about all morning, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is denying that his unannounced visit to Iraq today is an effort to divert attention away from the prisoner abuse scandal. More on Rumsfeld's visit this morning. Let's check in with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.
Good morning to you -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, Secretary Rumsfeld is accompanied by General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on this trip to Iraq. They are still sending the signal that the Bush administration is trying to get a handle on this crisis.
Now, the secretary is expected to visit a number of places, meet with troops, meet with top officials, discuss the situation. He also, we are told, is accompanied by Pentagon lawyers. We don't know exactly why that is. It may be to discuss these very controversial interrogation techniques that have taken place -- not the criminal behavior, of course -- but some of the other approved interrogation techniques, or to discuss the compensation that the secretary has said he wants to provide to Iraqis that have been abused.
But Secretary Rumsfeld warning reporters traveling with him that things still may get worse saying -- "More bad things will come out, unquestionably."
And the secretary is still saying he wants to get to the bottom of all of this, telling reporters again -- quote: "If anybody thinks I'm in Iraq to throw water on the fire, they're wrong. We care about the detainees being treated right. We care about soldiers behaving right. We are about command systems working."
Now, the secretary also finally saying he would be in favor of releasing some of those additional very disturbing photographs that Congress saw yesterday, but that lawyers, government lawyers, are telling him that could be a violation of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits, of course showing images of prisoners or detainees in degrading situations.
So, a bit of a hint there that those pictures may not be released to the public -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, well, we will see eventually, won't we, Barbara? Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks a lot -- Bill.
HEMMER: Before killing Nicholas Berg, his captors read a message declaring that the murder was partly in retribution for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. That's increased concern about others who may be held in Iraq, including William Bradley, who was in the same convoy as Thomas Hamill. Hamill escaped. Four contractors and a soldier have been found dead. Bradley and two others are still listed as missing.
Bill Cherry is a friend of William Bradley. Wilma Proctor is Williams' girlfriend. Both are live this morning in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.
And good morning to both of you.
BILL CHERRY, FRIEND OF CONTRACTOR MISSING IN IRAQ: Good morning.
WILMA PROCTOR, GIRLFRIEND OF CONTRACTOR MISING IN IRAQ: Good morning.
HEMMER: Bill, I know you've seen some of the images of Nick Berg. How did that affect you knowing your friend is still missing?
CHERRY: Well, it's very disturbing because we are hoping they won't be vindictive toward bill as well. But we're just being very hopeful, that's all.
HEMMER: Yes, Wilma, what do you want to say?
PROCTOR: I am just scared and devastated with all the new news footage. it's just devastating.
HEMMER: Wilma, what is on your answering machine?
PROCTOR: A message to Bill at the end and it tells him that I love him and I want him to come home.
HEMMER: I know Bill called at least a day or two before he turned up missing. Bill, what did he say at the time?
CHERRY: I asked him how he was doing over there, and he told me that they were lobbing mortars into the compound where he was, but he was OK. He was alive and well. And I asked him couldn't he just come on home, and just basically said that he was alive and things were OK. He wasn't overly concerned about it.
HEMMER: In addition, the mortars, though, did he express any concern about the dangers that he was facing or possibly others around him?
CHERRY: No, he didn't. I don't believe he really felt that there was imminent danger at the time because he didn't display any -- it wasn't cavalier, but he was not overly concerned about it. HEMMER: Yes, why did he go there, Bill?
CHERRY: I understand he went over to make some money, save some money and at the same time I believe it was a change of venue. Bill seemed like a very adventurous-type person, and I think he just wanted to try a new area.
HEMMER: Yes, we have heard that same answer from so many describe their friends and family members as to why they went to Iraq in the first place. What kind of guy is he, Wilma?
PROCTOR: He's a very caring, open, extremely friendly. He can make a friend out of anybody. Hopefully that's what he's doing now is hiding out and making friends.
HEMMER: Yes, you know, I asked Bill about the last time he heard from him. How about you?
PROCTOR: The last time I heard from him was the day before the attack, he called me at home.
HEMMER: And your conversation?
PROCTOR: We were making plans of going to the international Harley-Davidson rally in France.
HEMMER: Thomas Hamill, who is now back with his own family, threw out the first pitch last night at a ball game in Houston, Texas. To both of you, take it one at a time, maybe Wilma first. Does this give you hope eventually about your boyfriend, William Bradley?
PROCTOR: I didn't hear the question.
HEMMER: Does this give you hope when you see images of Thomas Hamill back with his friends and family?
PROCTOR: It offers a lot of hope. I was hoping and praying for all of their return. And when he came back, I was hoping that he had information in regards to where Bill would be. But, you know, he doesn't have any extra information to offer as to where Bill's whereabouts is.
HEMMER: Same question to Bill, if I could.
CHERRY: Sure, yes, to some degree it does. We're hoping that he isn't being held as a pawn for negotiation purposes. I believe if they had wanted to kill him right away, we would have found the body by now. We're trying to be as optimistic as possible. There is some hope that they are holding him, and it won't be the same extremists that killed the poor guy from Pennsylvania.
HEMMER: Listen, our best to you and hang in there. We appreciate your thoughts this morning.
CHERRY: Thank you very much. We appreciate it also.
HEMMER: All right, Bill Cherry. Absolutely. You are most welcome -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: With so much bad news coming out of Iraq, it's nice to be able to report some good news for a change. And, in fact, one Iraqi called it quote -- "a crazy joy for us." He was talking about his nation's soccer victory over Saudi Arabia, which sends the team to its first-ever Olympic Games this summer in Athens. The head of Iraq's Olympic Committee called the win the biggest moment in Iraqi Olympic history. The victory sent many Iraqis into the streets to celebrate, and some celebratory gunfire was heard in central Baghdad. Iraq's qualification comes less than three months after the country was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee.
HEMMER: That could be one heck of a story this summer with the Iraqis there in Athens.
O'BRIEN: And, you know, it's a great story at this point already, don't you think?
HEMMER: Yes, amazing circumstances, too, for how they got there. So many things had to fall in line, and they did.
O'BRIEN: They did.
HEMMER: So great for them.
Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq. We've been talking about that for the past 40 minutes. We do anticipate video in a moment. As soon as we get it, we'll pass it along to you.
Also in a moment here, a financial sigh of relief for Disney. Andy talks about that and tells us which part of Mickey Mouse's empire is bouncing back in a big way in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And also, side-impact airbags in cars are saving lives. So, how will the rules change? And how will they change our cars in the future? Stay with us just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A quarter of all highway deaths occur in side-impact crashes, and it's all too often it's no contest for a big SUV or a light truck slams into a smaller car. Well, now the Department of Transportation is proposing new rules that would mean a major upgrade in side-impact crash protection.
As for how it will happen and just how much it's going to cost car buyers, we turn to Jean Jennings. She's the editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine.
Nice to see you, Ms. Jennings. Thanks for being with us.
JEAN JENNINGS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "AUTOMOBILE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Give me a sense if this proposal from the U.S. government to make the cars safer if that's sort of a gentle request or is this essentially something that's going to be required of car makers soon?
JENNINGS: Well, it's interesting, because this actually began as a voluntary discussion between the government and the manufacturers. It has now become a proposed regulation, and it's an upgrade to a current standard that everyone knows is out of date. It's a side- impact standard that was put in place in 1990.
This new regulation, proposed regulation, will do four things. It will provide head protection in side impacts for the first time ever. It's estimated that of the people killed in these, about 10,000 people are killed in side impacts, 60 percent of those have brain injuries. So, it will provide head protection.
The second thing it will do is cover all the passengers in the car, which hasn't been the case in the past.
The next thing it will do is add a new test called the pull test, which will simulate a single vehicle crash with a tree or with a pole, not involving another vehicle.
And the fourth and most interesting thing to me is it will now include the testing of female dummies. To this point, all safety regulations have been met using 55th percentile male dummies, which is OK if you are 6 feet tall like me. But my sister-in-law, Sandy, who is 4'11, it's not so good.
So, this new regulation will require female dummies and new upgraded dummies.
What's interesting is that the government is not mandating the technology used to get there, but it's going to be most certainly some form of side airbag which, by the way, are currently available on about 50 percent of the cars sold in America.
O'BRIEN: So, then there are essentially three options, from what I understand. One of those is the tubular air bag, air curtains or air torso bag. So, walk me through those three options as briefly as possible, starting with the tubular head bag. What's that?
JENNINGS: Very quickly, the first production car in America with an air bag was the BMW 7 series, 1998 model, and it had a tubular head bag. This is a bag that drops down from the head rail of the car -- the roof rail, rather, and it protects the head. The point being your head is closest to the impact and the side, and that's where the damage is.
A more elaborate version of that is a curtain. An entire curtain bag drops down. The benefit there is it protects more of the body and it protects the back seat passengers.
The third option is a torso bag. This is a bag that either comes out from the door or from the seat and protects the torso.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the torso bag alone can maybe reduce deaths by 11 percent, but some combinations, something that protects the head is a 45 percent reduction in death. O'BRIEN: What's your expectation about how much this is going to add to the price tag of each and every car?
JENNINGS: Well, right now, whether it's an option, there are $300 to $500 as an option. It's more likely to cost the consumer as a standard piece of equipment a couple of hundred bucks, which is not so bad on a luxury car. It makes a huge difference on an entry-level car.
O'BRIEN: Yes, obviously. When is the cut-off date? At what point do all of the car manufacturers actually have to comply with what is now just a proposal but what is going to be a requirement?
JENNINGS: Well, right now they have 150 days to send in comments on the proposal. This proposal could go into effect as early as 2005. When it goes into effect, then the phase-in will be four years down the road. If it goes into effect in 2005, you'll see it on all cars in 2009.
O'BRIEN: You know it's interesting, a moment ago you mentioned the crash test dummies. Have you been surprised that they've been testing until now on essentially 6-foot tall male dummies as opposed to a range, including children and women? I mean, it seems a little late in the game to me.
JENNINGS: You know, obviously they test children when it involves -- when it involves seats, child seats and so on, but it is the only one that has to meet government regulations from a driver's -- the big passenger standpoint is male. We've been railing about it for years. It's why there are now adjustable pedals just to protect and keep people a safe distance away from the airbag that's in the wheel. And, you know that comes out like a prize fighter punch. And if you are sitting right on top of the wheel because you can't reach the pedals, you're going to get in trouble.
O'BRIEN: At 5'5, you might be in big trouble. Jean Jennings with "Automobile" magazine, the editor-in-chief. Thanks for joining us this morning and a little clarification. We certainly appreciate it.
HEMMER: About 13 minutes now before the hour. Disney posting some monster profits; that, as the company reaches a deal with Michael Moore and that controversial film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."
Andy Serwer is checking and "Minding Your Business" here. Good morning to you, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: How is Disney, huh?
SERWER: Yes, actually, some good news for Disney. You know, it's been a rough couple of years for the house of mouse. Of course, Michael Eisner under fire, ABC not doing well, theme park attendance down because of 9/11 and recessions and all of that. But now, finally, some good news. Yesterday, the company announcing a 71 percent jump in earnings. The theme parks seem to be coming back, and with guys like that, why not? Look at that. That's the good news.
Also, the TV networks are doing better. ESPN, what a juggernaut that is. ABC is still not recovering, but ESPN is doing very, very well. And DVD sales are up also.
Now, you mentioned the Michael Moore situation. That's another thorn in Disney's side, seemingly resolved yesterday when the company agreed to sell back Michael Moore's controversial film "Fahrenheit 9/11" to Bob and Harvey Weinstein (ph), the co-chairmen of Miramax. They will go and distribute the film themselves and, of course, the Cannes Film Festival opens up Wednesday. I don't know if you guys are planning on attending.
HEMMER: We will not.
O'BRIEN: Are you kidding?
HEMMER: Catch that Air France flight.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: What's the truth? Did Disney block it? Or did they just say they didn't want to produce the darn thing?
SERWER: We don't know the answer to that question right now. But it is clear that a film studio is allowed to see a film and say, you know, we don't like this thing, and we're not going to distribute it. Whether there was actually political pressure in Florida, we don't really know right now.
HEMMER: Back to the house of mouse.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: It kind of felt like you were at Disneyland yesterday, huh, on a rollercoaster.
SERWER: A rollercoaster of love, yes. Not so much love yesterday, although we did end up to the upside on the Dow. The Nasdaq down a little bit. Look at that, 25 points up. And the big point here is we were down 167 points at 2:00. Look at that. And the computers just kicked in. That happens a lot on Wall Street. Traders have things set where when stock prices reach a certain level they just kick in and buy, and that's exactly what happened.
We're going to look at a big day today, though. We've got a lot of economic news coming out at 8:30. Most importantly, wholesale prices, key because the Fed is going to watch that and see whether they need to raise interest rates in June. Wal-Mart says its numbers are OK. Disney will be active. Futures are down a little bit, and oil prices vexing the markets overseas.
HEMMER: You're going to have a busy day.
SERWER: A lot of stuff going on.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
SERWER: I'm juggling, right?
O'BRIEN: Have a good day.
HEMMER: You are. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: All right.
HEMMER: In a moment here, videotape out of Iraq with Donald Rumsfeld traveling there. Also, Jack is back with us in a moment right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (ADDIO GAP) that he believes they're doing a great job -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Karl, let me take a moment to mention for our viewers who are just joining us, that we were on a break for some of our viewers, but, of course we are covering one of our top stories this morning, which is the secretary of defense is making a relatively surprise visit to Iraq this morning. We know a little bit more about his schedule as he finishes up one event, if you can call it that, and then moves on to the next.
And obviously, Karl, lots of things are not known. But are there expectations, in fact, that the secretary will sit down and meet with any Iraqi officials? Clearly, many people are questioning the secretary's arrival in Iraq and if this is meant to, I think the word was, you know, douse water on the flames in the wake of this prisoner abuse scandal.
PENHAUL: Well, certainly on the plane over the 15-hour flight from Washington, Soledad, Donald Rumsfeld was at pains to point out to reporters that he didn't intend to come to Iraq to pour water on the flames of that prisoner abuse scandal. Very difficult, though, to see how he can avoid not trying to spread a little water around at least.
Unclear, though, at this stage whether he'll be meeting members of the Iraqi Governing Council, though one would expect a parallel to talks with U.S. military commanders. He could also be meeting some of the political decision-makers here, be those both the Coalition Authority and possibly also members of the Iraqi Governing Council -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Karl Penhaul for us this morning in Baghdad. Karl, thanks. We're going to, of course, continue to check in with you as we continue to follow the secretary's trip through Iraq. Thanks, Karl.
It's time to check in with Jack, because, really, this is all related to your question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It absolutely is. The Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal, it's happened in every war that's ever been fought. The difference is this time there are pictures being shown in every living room in America, and that's probably heightened the response somewhat.
The other thing worth mentioning is that on this side of the ocean, the government has said that in time of war, it is sometimes necessary to suspend some of our civil liberties. If it's OK to bend the rules for us, then I wonder about the thinking that goes, and if they're changing the rules at home maybe it's OK to change them over here.
What's inappropriate in interrogation technique in time of war, is the question?
John in Ohio writes: "You treat the enemy in the same manner in which you want your soldiers treated under the same circumstances. The problem we have is the so-called prisoners are just people we picked up in house-to-house sweeps in order to determine if they are the enemy."
Dave in Doha, Kuwait writes this: "The wartime often clouds what is decently right or wrong. It's no justification for the acts of these military police and interrogators. Our nation calls upon so many others to respect civil rights and the Geneva Convention. regardless if this is the work of a few or many, we have effectually forfeited the right to condemn others regarding basic civil rights of individual."
Terry in Collinsville, Illinois: "I believe you have to tailor techniques to fit the culture of the people being interrogated. I think what happened at Abu Ghraib was an attempt to do this which got out of hand. Regardless, the Geneva Conventions must be honored."
Rachel in Godfrey, Illinois: "I feel the recent prison abuse photos really demonstrate well what is inappropriate in term of interrogation techniques. I agree with Colonel David Hackworth (ph), military personnel should receive more cooperation if they offer the detainees a cigarette, a drink of water or something to eat. What's wrong with a little humanity?"
And Cliff writes from New Haven: "Jack, listening to you drone on and on would be considered cruel and unusual punishment under any convention."
I don't disagree necessarily with you, Cliff, but, hey, everybody has to be someplace. You know what I mean?
HEMMER: You want a ticket to Baghdad?
CAFFERTY: This is all I know how to do.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Keep making the coffee.
O'BRIEN: We don't think you drone on.
CAFFERTY: Well, sometimes I do.
O'BRIEN: He's actually very helpful.
CAFFERTY: I'll make you a necklace, Cliff. You know, let me know what size.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: We'll continue to cover Rumsfeld's trip over there, that surprise trip in Baghdad. We'll get you back there live in a moment. What's being said and what's being asked in a moment as we continue after this.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 13, 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: All right, 7:30 here in New York. Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. If you are just with us today, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq at this hour. More on this surprise visit, this trip in a moment.
Also we expect some videotape sometime shortly. Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon and a guy who knows a whole lot about that trip and how it might play in the Arab world, Fawal Gerges (ph) from Sara Lawrence College, back with us today. We heard a number of Iraqis yesterday talking about their absolute outrage and disgust of the videotape of Nicholas Berg. We'll get to that and more in a moment here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It will be interesting to see how the secretary's trip does, in fact, play in the Arab world. We'll talk about that.
Also this morning, here's a question for you: Do you know the difference between an air curtain and a tubular head bag, Bill?
HEMMER: No clue.
O'BRIEN: No? I didn't think so. Believe it or not, they are just two of the options for auto makers now that the government is requesting side impact airbags become standard on all new cars. In a few minutes, we're going to sort through what the regulations mean. And really probably a bigger question for consumers: What is it going to cost you on a new car?
HEMMER: Good deal. Top stories here at the half-hour again.
U.S. forces in Iraq are battling supporters of the Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. soldiers trading fire overnight with suspected militants in the Mehdi army. Military officials say three of them were killed. No reports of U.S. casualties.
More questions surfacing about Nick Berg's detention in Iraq. Berg is the 26-year-old whose beheading sparked global outrage. In a statement, the FBI says Berg was held for almost two weeks in the custody of Iraqi police, but his family claims Berg was held in Iraq by U.S. forces.
From North Dakota, the man accused in the kidnapping of college student Dru Sjoudin (ph) has now been charge by a federal grand jury. Fifty-one-year-old Alfonzo Rodriguez pleaded not guilty yesterday to a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. Prosecutors moved the case to a federal court to allow authorities the option to pursue the death penalty if Rodriguez is convicted.
An important warning for parents today. If you bought children's Motrin grape chewable ibuprofen tablets between February 5 and the 1st of April, check the bottles carefully. Some may mistakenly contain eight-hour extended release Tylenol jell caps. Parents who believe their children may have mistakenly taken the adult drug should immediately contact a doctor.
Heavy rains pelting an already saturated New Orleans yesterday. The thunderstorms causing flash flooding and street closures, trapping drivers in high water. High winds knocked down power lines throughout the city suburbs, 8,000 without power last night. Today, some schools are even closed due to that flooding.
O'BRIEN: As we've been talking about all morning, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is denying that his unannounced visit to Iraq today is an effort to divert attention away from the prisoner abuse scandal. More on Rumsfeld's visit this morning. Let's check in with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.
Good morning to you -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, Secretary Rumsfeld is accompanied by General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on this trip to Iraq. They are still sending the signal that the Bush administration is trying to get a handle on this crisis.
Now, the secretary is expected to visit a number of places, meet with troops, meet with top officials, discuss the situation. He also, we are told, is accompanied by Pentagon lawyers. We don't know exactly why that is. It may be to discuss these very controversial interrogation techniques that have taken place -- not the criminal behavior, of course -- but some of the other approved interrogation techniques, or to discuss the compensation that the secretary has said he wants to provide to Iraqis that have been abused.
But Secretary Rumsfeld warning reporters traveling with him that things still may get worse saying -- "More bad things will come out, unquestionably."
And the secretary is still saying he wants to get to the bottom of all of this, telling reporters again -- quote: "If anybody thinks I'm in Iraq to throw water on the fire, they're wrong. We care about the detainees being treated right. We care about soldiers behaving right. We are about command systems working."
Now, the secretary also finally saying he would be in favor of releasing some of those additional very disturbing photographs that Congress saw yesterday, but that lawyers, government lawyers, are telling him that could be a violation of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits, of course showing images of prisoners or detainees in degrading situations.
So, a bit of a hint there that those pictures may not be released to the public -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, well, we will see eventually, won't we, Barbara? Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks a lot -- Bill.
HEMMER: Before killing Nicholas Berg, his captors read a message declaring that the murder was partly in retribution for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. That's increased concern about others who may be held in Iraq, including William Bradley, who was in the same convoy as Thomas Hamill. Hamill escaped. Four contractors and a soldier have been found dead. Bradley and two others are still listed as missing.
Bill Cherry is a friend of William Bradley. Wilma Proctor is Williams' girlfriend. Both are live this morning in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.
And good morning to both of you.
BILL CHERRY, FRIEND OF CONTRACTOR MISSING IN IRAQ: Good morning.
WILMA PROCTOR, GIRLFRIEND OF CONTRACTOR MISING IN IRAQ: Good morning.
HEMMER: Bill, I know you've seen some of the images of Nick Berg. How did that affect you knowing your friend is still missing?
CHERRY: Well, it's very disturbing because we are hoping they won't be vindictive toward bill as well. But we're just being very hopeful, that's all.
HEMMER: Yes, Wilma, what do you want to say?
PROCTOR: I am just scared and devastated with all the new news footage. it's just devastating.
HEMMER: Wilma, what is on your answering machine?
PROCTOR: A message to Bill at the end and it tells him that I love him and I want him to come home.
HEMMER: I know Bill called at least a day or two before he turned up missing. Bill, what did he say at the time?
CHERRY: I asked him how he was doing over there, and he told me that they were lobbing mortars into the compound where he was, but he was OK. He was alive and well. And I asked him couldn't he just come on home, and just basically said that he was alive and things were OK. He wasn't overly concerned about it.
HEMMER: In addition, the mortars, though, did he express any concern about the dangers that he was facing or possibly others around him?
CHERRY: No, he didn't. I don't believe he really felt that there was imminent danger at the time because he didn't display any -- it wasn't cavalier, but he was not overly concerned about it. HEMMER: Yes, why did he go there, Bill?
CHERRY: I understand he went over to make some money, save some money and at the same time I believe it was a change of venue. Bill seemed like a very adventurous-type person, and I think he just wanted to try a new area.
HEMMER: Yes, we have heard that same answer from so many describe their friends and family members as to why they went to Iraq in the first place. What kind of guy is he, Wilma?
PROCTOR: He's a very caring, open, extremely friendly. He can make a friend out of anybody. Hopefully that's what he's doing now is hiding out and making friends.
HEMMER: Yes, you know, I asked Bill about the last time he heard from him. How about you?
PROCTOR: The last time I heard from him was the day before the attack, he called me at home.
HEMMER: And your conversation?
PROCTOR: We were making plans of going to the international Harley-Davidson rally in France.
HEMMER: Thomas Hamill, who is now back with his own family, threw out the first pitch last night at a ball game in Houston, Texas. To both of you, take it one at a time, maybe Wilma first. Does this give you hope eventually about your boyfriend, William Bradley?
PROCTOR: I didn't hear the question.
HEMMER: Does this give you hope when you see images of Thomas Hamill back with his friends and family?
PROCTOR: It offers a lot of hope. I was hoping and praying for all of their return. And when he came back, I was hoping that he had information in regards to where Bill would be. But, you know, he doesn't have any extra information to offer as to where Bill's whereabouts is.
HEMMER: Same question to Bill, if I could.
CHERRY: Sure, yes, to some degree it does. We're hoping that he isn't being held as a pawn for negotiation purposes. I believe if they had wanted to kill him right away, we would have found the body by now. We're trying to be as optimistic as possible. There is some hope that they are holding him, and it won't be the same extremists that killed the poor guy from Pennsylvania.
HEMMER: Listen, our best to you and hang in there. We appreciate your thoughts this morning.
CHERRY: Thank you very much. We appreciate it also.
HEMMER: All right, Bill Cherry. Absolutely. You are most welcome -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: With so much bad news coming out of Iraq, it's nice to be able to report some good news for a change. And, in fact, one Iraqi called it quote -- "a crazy joy for us." He was talking about his nation's soccer victory over Saudi Arabia, which sends the team to its first-ever Olympic Games this summer in Athens. The head of Iraq's Olympic Committee called the win the biggest moment in Iraqi Olympic history. The victory sent many Iraqis into the streets to celebrate, and some celebratory gunfire was heard in central Baghdad. Iraq's qualification comes less than three months after the country was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee.
HEMMER: That could be one heck of a story this summer with the Iraqis there in Athens.
O'BRIEN: And, you know, it's a great story at this point already, don't you think?
HEMMER: Yes, amazing circumstances, too, for how they got there. So many things had to fall in line, and they did.
O'BRIEN: They did.
HEMMER: So great for them.
Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq. We've been talking about that for the past 40 minutes. We do anticipate video in a moment. As soon as we get it, we'll pass it along to you.
Also in a moment here, a financial sigh of relief for Disney. Andy talks about that and tells us which part of Mickey Mouse's empire is bouncing back in a big way in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And also, side-impact airbags in cars are saving lives. So, how will the rules change? And how will they change our cars in the future? Stay with us just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A quarter of all highway deaths occur in side-impact crashes, and it's all too often it's no contest for a big SUV or a light truck slams into a smaller car. Well, now the Department of Transportation is proposing new rules that would mean a major upgrade in side-impact crash protection.
As for how it will happen and just how much it's going to cost car buyers, we turn to Jean Jennings. She's the editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine.
Nice to see you, Ms. Jennings. Thanks for being with us.
JEAN JENNINGS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "AUTOMOBILE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Give me a sense if this proposal from the U.S. government to make the cars safer if that's sort of a gentle request or is this essentially something that's going to be required of car makers soon?
JENNINGS: Well, it's interesting, because this actually began as a voluntary discussion between the government and the manufacturers. It has now become a proposed regulation, and it's an upgrade to a current standard that everyone knows is out of date. It's a side- impact standard that was put in place in 1990.
This new regulation, proposed regulation, will do four things. It will provide head protection in side impacts for the first time ever. It's estimated that of the people killed in these, about 10,000 people are killed in side impacts, 60 percent of those have brain injuries. So, it will provide head protection.
The second thing it will do is cover all the passengers in the car, which hasn't been the case in the past.
The next thing it will do is add a new test called the pull test, which will simulate a single vehicle crash with a tree or with a pole, not involving another vehicle.
And the fourth and most interesting thing to me is it will now include the testing of female dummies. To this point, all safety regulations have been met using 55th percentile male dummies, which is OK if you are 6 feet tall like me. But my sister-in-law, Sandy, who is 4'11, it's not so good.
So, this new regulation will require female dummies and new upgraded dummies.
What's interesting is that the government is not mandating the technology used to get there, but it's going to be most certainly some form of side airbag which, by the way, are currently available on about 50 percent of the cars sold in America.
O'BRIEN: So, then there are essentially three options, from what I understand. One of those is the tubular air bag, air curtains or air torso bag. So, walk me through those three options as briefly as possible, starting with the tubular head bag. What's that?
JENNINGS: Very quickly, the first production car in America with an air bag was the BMW 7 series, 1998 model, and it had a tubular head bag. This is a bag that drops down from the head rail of the car -- the roof rail, rather, and it protects the head. The point being your head is closest to the impact and the side, and that's where the damage is.
A more elaborate version of that is a curtain. An entire curtain bag drops down. The benefit there is it protects more of the body and it protects the back seat passengers.
The third option is a torso bag. This is a bag that either comes out from the door or from the seat and protects the torso.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the torso bag alone can maybe reduce deaths by 11 percent, but some combinations, something that protects the head is a 45 percent reduction in death. O'BRIEN: What's your expectation about how much this is going to add to the price tag of each and every car?
JENNINGS: Well, right now, whether it's an option, there are $300 to $500 as an option. It's more likely to cost the consumer as a standard piece of equipment a couple of hundred bucks, which is not so bad on a luxury car. It makes a huge difference on an entry-level car.
O'BRIEN: Yes, obviously. When is the cut-off date? At what point do all of the car manufacturers actually have to comply with what is now just a proposal but what is going to be a requirement?
JENNINGS: Well, right now they have 150 days to send in comments on the proposal. This proposal could go into effect as early as 2005. When it goes into effect, then the phase-in will be four years down the road. If it goes into effect in 2005, you'll see it on all cars in 2009.
O'BRIEN: You know it's interesting, a moment ago you mentioned the crash test dummies. Have you been surprised that they've been testing until now on essentially 6-foot tall male dummies as opposed to a range, including children and women? I mean, it seems a little late in the game to me.
JENNINGS: You know, obviously they test children when it involves -- when it involves seats, child seats and so on, but it is the only one that has to meet government regulations from a driver's -- the big passenger standpoint is male. We've been railing about it for years. It's why there are now adjustable pedals just to protect and keep people a safe distance away from the airbag that's in the wheel. And, you know that comes out like a prize fighter punch. And if you are sitting right on top of the wheel because you can't reach the pedals, you're going to get in trouble.
O'BRIEN: At 5'5, you might be in big trouble. Jean Jennings with "Automobile" magazine, the editor-in-chief. Thanks for joining us this morning and a little clarification. We certainly appreciate it.
HEMMER: About 13 minutes now before the hour. Disney posting some monster profits; that, as the company reaches a deal with Michael Moore and that controversial film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."
Andy Serwer is checking and "Minding Your Business" here. Good morning to you, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: How is Disney, huh?
SERWER: Yes, actually, some good news for Disney. You know, it's been a rough couple of years for the house of mouse. Of course, Michael Eisner under fire, ABC not doing well, theme park attendance down because of 9/11 and recessions and all of that. But now, finally, some good news. Yesterday, the company announcing a 71 percent jump in earnings. The theme parks seem to be coming back, and with guys like that, why not? Look at that. That's the good news.
Also, the TV networks are doing better. ESPN, what a juggernaut that is. ABC is still not recovering, but ESPN is doing very, very well. And DVD sales are up also.
Now, you mentioned the Michael Moore situation. That's another thorn in Disney's side, seemingly resolved yesterday when the company agreed to sell back Michael Moore's controversial film "Fahrenheit 9/11" to Bob and Harvey Weinstein (ph), the co-chairmen of Miramax. They will go and distribute the film themselves and, of course, the Cannes Film Festival opens up Wednesday. I don't know if you guys are planning on attending.
HEMMER: We will not.
O'BRIEN: Are you kidding?
HEMMER: Catch that Air France flight.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: What's the truth? Did Disney block it? Or did they just say they didn't want to produce the darn thing?
SERWER: We don't know the answer to that question right now. But it is clear that a film studio is allowed to see a film and say, you know, we don't like this thing, and we're not going to distribute it. Whether there was actually political pressure in Florida, we don't really know right now.
HEMMER: Back to the house of mouse.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: It kind of felt like you were at Disneyland yesterday, huh, on a rollercoaster.
SERWER: A rollercoaster of love, yes. Not so much love yesterday, although we did end up to the upside on the Dow. The Nasdaq down a little bit. Look at that, 25 points up. And the big point here is we were down 167 points at 2:00. Look at that. And the computers just kicked in. That happens a lot on Wall Street. Traders have things set where when stock prices reach a certain level they just kick in and buy, and that's exactly what happened.
We're going to look at a big day today, though. We've got a lot of economic news coming out at 8:30. Most importantly, wholesale prices, key because the Fed is going to watch that and see whether they need to raise interest rates in June. Wal-Mart says its numbers are OK. Disney will be active. Futures are down a little bit, and oil prices vexing the markets overseas.
HEMMER: You're going to have a busy day.
SERWER: A lot of stuff going on.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
SERWER: I'm juggling, right?
O'BRIEN: Have a good day.
HEMMER: You are. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: All right.
HEMMER: In a moment here, videotape out of Iraq with Donald Rumsfeld traveling there. Also, Jack is back with us in a moment right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (ADDIO GAP) that he believes they're doing a great job -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Karl, let me take a moment to mention for our viewers who are just joining us, that we were on a break for some of our viewers, but, of course we are covering one of our top stories this morning, which is the secretary of defense is making a relatively surprise visit to Iraq this morning. We know a little bit more about his schedule as he finishes up one event, if you can call it that, and then moves on to the next.
And obviously, Karl, lots of things are not known. But are there expectations, in fact, that the secretary will sit down and meet with any Iraqi officials? Clearly, many people are questioning the secretary's arrival in Iraq and if this is meant to, I think the word was, you know, douse water on the flames in the wake of this prisoner abuse scandal.
PENHAUL: Well, certainly on the plane over the 15-hour flight from Washington, Soledad, Donald Rumsfeld was at pains to point out to reporters that he didn't intend to come to Iraq to pour water on the flames of that prisoner abuse scandal. Very difficult, though, to see how he can avoid not trying to spread a little water around at least.
Unclear, though, at this stage whether he'll be meeting members of the Iraqi Governing Council, though one would expect a parallel to talks with U.S. military commanders. He could also be meeting some of the political decision-makers here, be those both the Coalition Authority and possibly also members of the Iraqi Governing Council -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Karl Penhaul for us this morning in Baghdad. Karl, thanks. We're going to, of course, continue to check in with you as we continue to follow the secretary's trip through Iraq. Thanks, Karl.
It's time to check in with Jack, because, really, this is all related to your question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It absolutely is. The Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal, it's happened in every war that's ever been fought. The difference is this time there are pictures being shown in every living room in America, and that's probably heightened the response somewhat.
The other thing worth mentioning is that on this side of the ocean, the government has said that in time of war, it is sometimes necessary to suspend some of our civil liberties. If it's OK to bend the rules for us, then I wonder about the thinking that goes, and if they're changing the rules at home maybe it's OK to change them over here.
What's inappropriate in interrogation technique in time of war, is the question?
John in Ohio writes: "You treat the enemy in the same manner in which you want your soldiers treated under the same circumstances. The problem we have is the so-called prisoners are just people we picked up in house-to-house sweeps in order to determine if they are the enemy."
Dave in Doha, Kuwait writes this: "The wartime often clouds what is decently right or wrong. It's no justification for the acts of these military police and interrogators. Our nation calls upon so many others to respect civil rights and the Geneva Convention. regardless if this is the work of a few or many, we have effectually forfeited the right to condemn others regarding basic civil rights of individual."
Terry in Collinsville, Illinois: "I believe you have to tailor techniques to fit the culture of the people being interrogated. I think what happened at Abu Ghraib was an attempt to do this which got out of hand. Regardless, the Geneva Conventions must be honored."
Rachel in Godfrey, Illinois: "I feel the recent prison abuse photos really demonstrate well what is inappropriate in term of interrogation techniques. I agree with Colonel David Hackworth (ph), military personnel should receive more cooperation if they offer the detainees a cigarette, a drink of water or something to eat. What's wrong with a little humanity?"
And Cliff writes from New Haven: "Jack, listening to you drone on and on would be considered cruel and unusual punishment under any convention."
I don't disagree necessarily with you, Cliff, but, hey, everybody has to be someplace. You know what I mean?
HEMMER: You want a ticket to Baghdad?
CAFFERTY: This is all I know how to do.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Keep making the coffee.
O'BRIEN: We don't think you drone on.
CAFFERTY: Well, sometimes I do.
O'BRIEN: He's actually very helpful.
CAFFERTY: I'll make you a necklace, Cliff. You know, let me know what size.
HEMMER: Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: We'll continue to cover Rumsfeld's trip over there, that surprise trip in Baghdad. We'll get you back there live in a moment. What's being said and what's being asked in a moment as we continue after this.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
