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American Morning

Questions About How Iraq Will be Policed After Handover; 'Paging Dr. Gupta'

Aired May 20, 2004 - 08:30   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. Supposed to be 83 degrees today in New York City. That's kind of nice.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Feels like July. We like it.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

It's just about half past the hour on this American morning, lots of focus in Iraq on the new police force, not only because, of course, of the enormity of their task ahead, but also because of the dangers that they face from terrorists. This morning, we're going to talk to someone who has a pretty unique perspective on the Iraqi police, because he's the guy who trains them. That's just ahead.

HEMMER: His name is Jerry Burke. He says you have to change the entire philosophy of the Iraqi police force going forward, a huge job, too.

Also, all those products sold to you to help you cut the carbs and keep off the pounds is a billion-dollar business already. Sanjay takes you through the options of what you want to eat, or what you want to ear, if you're on it, in a moment here.

O'BRIEN: Top stories, though, first this morning. In Baghdad today, U.S. military personnel and Iraqi police surrounded the compound of the Iraqi National congress. They also raided the nearby home of Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi. Chalabi's nephew claims that forces entered his uncle's home and threatened Chalabi. Chalabi, a one-time Pentagon favorite, appears to be losing favor with U.S. officials and has been openly critical of U.S. handover plans in Iraq.

In Washington, house lawmakers are supporting a $2.4 trillion budget for 2005. In a 216-213 vote, the House put to rest months of debate over President Bush's tax cuts and a record budget deficit. The budget calls for a big increase in military and anti-terrorism spending. The proposed plan goes on to face an uncertain future in the Senate.

In Massachusetts, the battle over same-sex marriage continues. A state senate approved overwhelmingly a repeal to a 1913 statute that bars out-of-state residents from marrying. Governor Rodney tried to use that statute to prevent nonresident same-sex couples from getting married in Massachusetts. The repeal, though, still faces opposition from House lawmakers. A mother in Mexico gave birth to one big baby boy. Doctors in Santa Catalina say Pedro Garcia weighed in at a whopping -- that's a child; that's not a baby. He weighed 13 pounds. He was delivered by C-section. His parents said they never expected such a big kid, and they have to go out and buy actually much bigger clothes. All that newborn stuff is not going fit, because that kid is the size of a 3- month-old.

HEMMER: Check that kid's I.D.

O'BRIEN: Wow, 13 pounds.

HEMMER: Wow.

O'BRIEN: That's a child.

HEMMER: Kind of make you anticipatory towards August.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that's good news. Wow, I'm really looking forward to my delivery.

HEMMER: Yes, two.

O'BRIEN: Thank for putting that story in, you guys. I appreciate that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Let's get back to Iraq right now. With the handover of power in Iraq, less than two months away, many open questions about how the country will be run then. Jerry Burke is a former veteran police officer. He's been training and recruiting officers for the Baghdad police department. Writer Sean Flynn has spent two weeks with Burke. He's back in Boston, writing about it for "GQ" magazine. Both gentlemen join us today.

Jerry Burke is live in Baghdad, Sean Flynn is back in Boston.

And, Jerry, I want to start with you in Baghdad. You have said before you need to change the entire culture of policing in Iraq. Define that for us.

JERRY BURKE, TRAINING IRAQI POLICE: Well, the police that we're dealing with were probably the 12th, 13th or 14th down in the hierarchy of law enforcement intelligence services. They were not allowed to do very much. In fact, their mentality was much like a fire department almost in the sense that they would stay at a police station and wait for a call from the regime to tell them to go out and arrest somebody or from a call from a citizen if there was actually a disturbance. But other than that, they were reluctant to go out and do anything like the Western would recognize as proactive patrol.

HEMMER: You say they lacked the initiative, as they had learned under Saddam Hussein for so many years. On the screen for our viewers, you'll see some of the obstacles you face. Resources and supplies, well detailed (ph) for the past year. The old regime mentality. You touched on it. And also the dangerous environment. How do you fight each of these, Jerry?

BURKE: It's very difficult, but part of it is just the day-to- day coaching, and mentoring and standing beside the Iraqi police, responding to the scene of crimes with them, and my particular role was to work with the chief of police and the command staff, the leadership element of the police department and try and show them, if you will, how to be leaders.

HEMMER: What struck you, reading a lot of your comments here, too. There air number of positive stories happening there. Give us one, if you could.

BURKE: There are so many of them. The Iraqi police are very courageous to get out there. We came into the country last May. They had no weapons, no uniforms, no vehicles, and yet they did go out and patrol. They did go out try to do their job. Initially, they worked close with the 18th MP Brigade. But after a while, they started going out and taking the initiative, as we suggested they do. And many times undergunned and undermanned, the department right now is still about half of the strength that it should be.

HEMMER: I want to go to Boston and Sean Flynn. You write a lot in your piece about the baggage that the old regime members carry with them, the mentality. Explain that, if you could.

SEAN FLYNN, "GQ" WRITER-AT-LARGE: As Jerry was saying before, that it goes beyond just a lack of initiative. You had corruption that, to say it was endemic would be to understate the issue. You have guys who'd been on the job for 10, 15, 20 years, who are used to doing things a certain way, used to buying their way through the system, used to being bought through the system. You know, it was -- the honest cop was one who would only take tips. The outright corrupt cop would steal your car and extort you for it. An honest cop had to get a second job.

So now you bring in new recruits trying to do the job honestly, trying to do what we'd recognize as actual law enforcement officers, and they're afraid of the generals, of the colonels, of the guys who are products of the old system.

HEMMER: Can you say if you're making progress, and how much progress is set back when the former members of the police divisions in Iraq were let go?

FLYNN: I'm sorry, is this for me or for Jerry?

BURKE: I think it was a couple of months ago to be -- Bill?

HEMMER: Go ahead, Jerry.

BURKE: OK. At the beginning when the military came in, they did issue a call for all paramilitary units to put down their weapons and to go home. Well, the police, the -- all of the police services considered themselves paramilitary uniforms. So they did what they were told. They put up no resistance, they dropped their weapons and went home. And then we had to issue a call back to work. And initially they, were suspicious that we were calling them back so we could arrest them. So the ones that came back first were probably the best of the police officers with the cleanest conscious. But they did not have the weapons. Their stations had been totally vandalized, windows, doors, furniture. Everything had been taken out of the stations, right down to including the wiring inside the walls. And all paper records were thrown on the floor and torched. So the stations really were not functional. All 57 police stations had to be repaired.

HEMMER: Wow, you got your work cut out for you. Good luck to you, Jerry. Jerry Burke, stay safe in Baghdad.

Sean Flynn, writer for "GQ," just back from Iraq as well. Sean, thanks to you in Boston.

O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING, it is down to the final two in "American Idol." We'll talk about last night's results, and also take a closer look at some of the controversy plaguing the competition as well. We dig deep on that story this morning.

HEMMER: We do. Low carb means big business. If you know where to shop, you can pretty much buy any low-carb thing you want.

Back in a moment. Sanjay has that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Americans now spending billions on low-carb diets, a booming business for food manufacturers. But are you really getting fewer carbs?

All this week, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been looking into that. Here's Sanjay with more today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Think you can keep off the carbs indefinitely? Well, Turns out you'll have lots of help. All of these products are typically considered high carb no-nos for those on the Atkins or South beach Diet -- beer, spaghetti, certainly ice cream.

But take a look at these products, pancakes, including syrup, bread candy, and yes, low-carbohydrate ice cream. There are now entire grocery stores dedicated to the low-carb craze. No surprise then that the high-carb food industries are hurting.

MARION NESTLE, AUTHOR, "FOOD POLITICS": The low-carb craze has affected everything. Anything that anybody thinks is a carb food has been affected, even orange juice.

GUPTA: But you can either fight them or join them. Turn out lots of companies are becoming joiners. H.J. Heinz has a new ketchup. One carb. Hershey has a one gram sugar carb chocolate bar. And Lean Cuisine, known for their low-fat alternatives, low carb is now their mantra. Even cereals, which had been largely tossed aside for omelets, will soon have higher protein, lower carbohydrate alternatives, such as the new Total. Seems everyone is trying to get in on that $25 billion carb blitz.

(on camera): And here to talk about low-carb products, Heidi Skolnik. She's a nutritionist for the New York Giants and the School of American Ballet, Amy O'Connor, deputy editor of "Prevention" magazine, and Wahida Karmally, director of nutrition at the Irving Center for Columbia University Medical Center. Really interesting stuff these low-carb products.

First of all, Amy, how do you define a low-carb product? Is there some guideline in that?

AMY O'CONNOR, "PREVENTION" MAGAZINE: There isn't, and that's what people really need to know, these carb smart or good for your low-carb diet, they're really very meaningless and they don't help you lose weight, especially if they have the same number of calories as the same non low-carb products.

GUPTA: So I mean, low fat, you had a certain percentage or so that you wanted to stay below, with the low carbs really none?

O'CONNOR: Right now, I don't think there are any government regulated guidelines, and a lot of consumers actually think they are, and they're actually probably paying more than they should for something that's not going to help them lose weight.

GUPTA: Wahida, one of the things that's interesting about these diets is people were eating steak, and eggs and cheeseburgers without the bread, all that sort of stuff. Can you eat more of the low-carb products and still lose weight?

WAHIDA KARMALLY, COLUMBIA UNIV. MEDICAL CTR.: People should really look for calories, because we are going to make the same mistake we did with the low-fat diets. We thought we were consuming low fat, but in essence, we were consuming lots of calories.

GUPTA: Have you tried any of these, Heidi?

HEIDI SKOLNIK, NUTRITIONIST, NEW YORK GIANTS: I like the regular old, give me some fat, give me some carb, give me some protein.

GUPTA: So you talk about these low-carb products. You're out there shopping. What do you look for specifically in products then?

SKOLNIK: I look for quality. I look for less refined, less processed foods. I'm looking for better quality fats and nutrient- dense protein.

GUPTA: Now they talk about the food pyramid, and no one pays attention to that anymore, I think, pretty clearly. Is there some direction that we're heading that's different than the food pyramid you'd all sort of agree with, do you think?

O'CONNOR: I think the direction towards whole foods, less processed foods, less manufactured foods is the smart way to eat, because I think we've learned from fast-food diets and eating high processed foods that that's the way to gain weight and be unhealthy.

GUPTA: Good information. The manufacturers of processed foods aren't going to like that, though.

Thanks again to all of you for joining us. Good stuff.

We're going to be talking about the dangers of a low-carb diet as well. You've heard all the possible ill health effects, like hear disease, but are people really feeling them? We're going to that tomorrow, our last day of AMERICAN MORNING's week-long low-carb craze series.

Back to you, Bill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, we'll see you then. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Hawaii's sweetheart, Jasmine Trias, was voted off AMERICAN IDOL last night -- it's so sad -- leaving just two remaining contestants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: With the lowest number of votes, leaving us tonight on "American Idol," is Jasmine Trias.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: She doesn't look so upset. Sarah Bernard, the contributing editor for "New York" magazine, joins us this morning with her reaction.

Good morning.

We don't have you on the couch like for "90-Second Pop."

(CROSSTALK)

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: She did hold it together pretty nicely, though.

O'BRIEN: She did.

BERNARD: Well, you have to be prepared. You just have to smile, right, even if they're telling you you're off, that's it.

O'BRIEN: People said she really was the weak link, and maybe she shouldn't even have made it this far.

BERNARD: I think that's true. It's pretty obvious she was the one to go. And then there was that whole controversy, because Latoya London actually got the boot the week before, who was fantastic. O'BRIEN: But it really seemed like every single person in Hawaii just got on their speed dial, and because of that, Jasmine made it to a round she probably shouldn't have been in. So no one was really surprised that she was the one to get off last night.

O'BRIEN: Fantasia and Diana are the two who remain. So who do you think is the better singer?

BERNARD: I think it's Fantasia.

O'BRIEN: I think they're both good.

BERNARD: They've both pretty good, but I think it's Fantasia all the way. When she sings, your not nervous that she's not going to make some of those notes, like you are with Diana a little bit. She makes me a little nervous sometimes. But I think Fantasia is -- she already has got the stage presence. She really sung that Aretha Franklin song.

O'BRIEN: She can sing. That girl can really sing.

BERNARD: Pretty darn well. That's right. But, see, and Diana also is only 16 years old. You've really got to hand it to her for that.

O'BRIEN: That's an argument, like there's always another Academy Award.

BERNARD: There is. And you know what, strangely, Simon Cowell called her our little Seabiscuit, meaning -- I'm not exactly sure what, meaning that she's the underdog. Don't you love his compliments? He's such a sweetheart. But I think that means that she could be the underdog and pull it out somehow, if every single person from Georgia votes for her, which they might.

O'BRIEN: Do you think that with the two of them being pretty talented, that they both go on to have -- regardless of who wins in the end, they both go on to have decent careers, like we've seen.

BERNARD: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: I mean, knows, I don't know if Clay is going to have a great career and Ruben is going to have a great career.

BERNARD: They've done pretty well so far.

O'BRIEN: So far, they have.

BERNARD: I think that's true. It's almost like whoever wins "American Idol" technically gets the crown. But the runner-up, and even just the whole people who are in the show for the end who do the tour all summer long do pretty well. I mean, Clay Aiken's album actually sold better than Ruben Studdard's. He sold 600,000 the first week, and Ruben didn't even come close to that, and he was No. 2. So I think that Diana or Fantasia will be fine, even if they don't win.

O'BRIEN: What about Jasmine? Is it over for Jasmine? Or does she...

BERNARD: Well, she does get to be a part of the tour, and they just added two spots in Hawaii. There's a summer tour for all these people. They're all coming back.

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: And just after last night actually, they did decide to make two stops in Hawaii so Jasmine can perform in front of all her fans. So you can't feel too bad for her.

O'BRIEN: I feel so relieved.

BERNARD: You're going to get some tickets right now, you're going to call up?

O'BRIEN: Front me, me at the front row, whoo-hoo.

HEMMER: You know who's loving this, the record companies, the producers. They are cashing in by the millions.

BERNARD: They are, and all these scandals, these scandals with the voting, has really just made it more exciting. I think it's more exciting, right?

O'BRIEN: Because we're all talking about it.

BERNARD: It's like the presidential election a little bit.

O'BRIEN: The more you talk about it, it's all good.

Sarah Bernard, nice to see you. Thanks -- Bill.

BERNARD: Thank you.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING, arrests were made outside a shareholders meeting. Look at the video. It was not because of the costumes, so says Andy. Back in a moment, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: All righty. Welcome back, everybody. Over to Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Protesters actually arrested at the Halliburton shareholders meeting, and a CEO with a big heart, sharing with his employees. That and a market preview. Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business."

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hey, Jack. I'm still being nice to you, trying to get that free airline ticket. Can I help you with your segment?

CAFFERTY: You get nothing from me. SERWER: All right, let's talk about the market yesterday, first of all. Kind of a crazy session yesterday. At one point, the Dow was up over 120 points, but then more bad news about oil prices, and we hit the skids later in the day. Nasdaq up a little bit. Futures, look at that, that was our sleigh ride yesterday on the Dow. Futures are a little bit mixed as well this morning. Employment numbers coming across that are basically so-so.

Let's talk about that shareholder meeting yesterday in Houston. A lot of protesters. In fact, 300 protesters, which is a lot. There's a big pig. That's a big inflatable pig. We had a jazz band. There's a lot of theater in these demonstrations these days. Fake money, pigs. Those are pinko pigs. Actually, listen to this, 300 demonstrators, 50 shareholders show up. That would be your 6-1 ratio there.

Let's see. I like this, here one of the chants. "Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown and Root, go to Iraq to loot, loot, loot."

CAFFERTY: That's pretty good, actually.

SERWER: That's pretty funny.

There were a few arrests. On a somber note, though, at the meeting, listen to this, CEO Dave Lessor of Halliburton saying -- one of the first questions he was asked, how many Halliburton workers have been killed in Iraq? Thirty five, 35. Mostly truck drivers have been killed, 100 employees hurt. I was stunned by that.

CAFFERTY: Jeez.

SERWER: I was stunned by that. I mean, that's a dangerous job.

CAFFERTY: Happier news from the corner office at a different company, where they're handing out options.

SERWER: Indeed, best buy. The CEO of best buy up in Richfield, Minnesota, personally giving away his stock options. Brad Anderson giving away 200,000 of his own stock option.

CAFFERTY: Are they worth anything?

SERWER: Yes, they are in the money, and they've worth about $3 million now, could be worth as much as $7 million to $10 million later on.

CAFFERTY: Well, nice guy.

SERWER: I ran the numbers of the guy. He's got plenty of money in the bank, though, so shed no tears for Mr. Anderson.

CAFFERTY: What is his name again?

SERWER: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Brad Anderson.

CAFFERTY: Mr. Anderson, the address is AMERICAN MORNING, 51st and Sixth Avenue here in New York City.

SERWER: Bring it on. Bring it on.

CAFFERTY: Yes, sir, drop it right in the mail.

SERWER: Yes.

Hey, Jack.

CAFFERTY: This stems from an earlier story about some airline who's giving free tick tots people who are nice. My thought on that is, I'd rather pay.

It's time for The Cafferty File, things people said that caught our attention because we didn't get to do them yesterday.

Beginning with this, "Are you missing any fingers?" This is Ray Darnell, the director of the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque to a visitor after a finger was found outside the jaguar exhibit. These are jaguars.

"I don't know how you live here without slitting your wrists," David Cassidy to his fans who had paid to see him at a concert in Cardath (ph), Wales.

"The only way we can lose is if we're lazy or dumb, and we don't do what we're supposed to do." That would be Bubba, former President Bill Clinton at a fund-raiser in Harlem, encouraging those present to support Senator John Kerry.

"They did, however, make a slick getaway." This is Glenda Chu, spokeswoman for the Edumund Oklahoma Police Department, on looking for bandits who stole 5,000 pounds of used cooking grease from three restaurants. I have no idea why anyone would want 3,000 pounds of cooking grease, but somebody did.

"I started in animal waste, so I considered mud a promotion." That's John Marlin, an Illinois at the Department of Natural Resources. Marlin, of the Waste Management Research Center, dreamed up the mud to parks project. During the next month, they'll move 100,000 tons of mud that's clogging a Peoria River and take it to Chicago's lake front.

SERWER: You know what was his, you had his picture, too.

CAFFERTY: I did?

SERWER: Yes, we had his picture up. I bet his mom's proud, to see him up there on that.

CAFFERTY: Well, I hope so. It's the least we can do. Bring a little sunshine into someone's life.

O'BRIEN: As you do every day, Jack, at least ours.

CAFFERTY: Especially yours, Soledad. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. Each and every day. Even the weekends when you call me and just say hi.

CAFFERTY: I make Soledad positively glow on a daily basis, don't I?

O'BRIEN: Yes, I go home and my own personal chaos seems a lot less difficult.

(CAFFERTY)

O'BRIEN: Hey, hey.

CAFFERTY: Hey, hey, hey. Whoa.

One, big happy family on American morning you know.

Careful, we'll start talking about kids...

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, you've heard of this story -- can I go on and talk about this little girl? Her name is Courtney. She's been abandoned. We have her heartbreaking story just ahead, right here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 20, 2004 - 08:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. Supposed to be 83 degrees today in New York City. That's kind of nice.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Feels like July. We like it.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

It's just about half past the hour on this American morning, lots of focus in Iraq on the new police force, not only because, of course, of the enormity of their task ahead, but also because of the dangers that they face from terrorists. This morning, we're going to talk to someone who has a pretty unique perspective on the Iraqi police, because he's the guy who trains them. That's just ahead.

HEMMER: His name is Jerry Burke. He says you have to change the entire philosophy of the Iraqi police force going forward, a huge job, too.

Also, all those products sold to you to help you cut the carbs and keep off the pounds is a billion-dollar business already. Sanjay takes you through the options of what you want to eat, or what you want to ear, if you're on it, in a moment here.

O'BRIEN: Top stories, though, first this morning. In Baghdad today, U.S. military personnel and Iraqi police surrounded the compound of the Iraqi National congress. They also raided the nearby home of Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi. Chalabi's nephew claims that forces entered his uncle's home and threatened Chalabi. Chalabi, a one-time Pentagon favorite, appears to be losing favor with U.S. officials and has been openly critical of U.S. handover plans in Iraq.

In Washington, house lawmakers are supporting a $2.4 trillion budget for 2005. In a 216-213 vote, the House put to rest months of debate over President Bush's tax cuts and a record budget deficit. The budget calls for a big increase in military and anti-terrorism spending. The proposed plan goes on to face an uncertain future in the Senate.

In Massachusetts, the battle over same-sex marriage continues. A state senate approved overwhelmingly a repeal to a 1913 statute that bars out-of-state residents from marrying. Governor Rodney tried to use that statute to prevent nonresident same-sex couples from getting married in Massachusetts. The repeal, though, still faces opposition from House lawmakers. A mother in Mexico gave birth to one big baby boy. Doctors in Santa Catalina say Pedro Garcia weighed in at a whopping -- that's a child; that's not a baby. He weighed 13 pounds. He was delivered by C-section. His parents said they never expected such a big kid, and they have to go out and buy actually much bigger clothes. All that newborn stuff is not going fit, because that kid is the size of a 3- month-old.

HEMMER: Check that kid's I.D.

O'BRIEN: Wow, 13 pounds.

HEMMER: Wow.

O'BRIEN: That's a child.

HEMMER: Kind of make you anticipatory towards August.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that's good news. Wow, I'm really looking forward to my delivery.

HEMMER: Yes, two.

O'BRIEN: Thank for putting that story in, you guys. I appreciate that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Let's get back to Iraq right now. With the handover of power in Iraq, less than two months away, many open questions about how the country will be run then. Jerry Burke is a former veteran police officer. He's been training and recruiting officers for the Baghdad police department. Writer Sean Flynn has spent two weeks with Burke. He's back in Boston, writing about it for "GQ" magazine. Both gentlemen join us today.

Jerry Burke is live in Baghdad, Sean Flynn is back in Boston.

And, Jerry, I want to start with you in Baghdad. You have said before you need to change the entire culture of policing in Iraq. Define that for us.

JERRY BURKE, TRAINING IRAQI POLICE: Well, the police that we're dealing with were probably the 12th, 13th or 14th down in the hierarchy of law enforcement intelligence services. They were not allowed to do very much. In fact, their mentality was much like a fire department almost in the sense that they would stay at a police station and wait for a call from the regime to tell them to go out and arrest somebody or from a call from a citizen if there was actually a disturbance. But other than that, they were reluctant to go out and do anything like the Western would recognize as proactive patrol.

HEMMER: You say they lacked the initiative, as they had learned under Saddam Hussein for so many years. On the screen for our viewers, you'll see some of the obstacles you face. Resources and supplies, well detailed (ph) for the past year. The old regime mentality. You touched on it. And also the dangerous environment. How do you fight each of these, Jerry?

BURKE: It's very difficult, but part of it is just the day-to- day coaching, and mentoring and standing beside the Iraqi police, responding to the scene of crimes with them, and my particular role was to work with the chief of police and the command staff, the leadership element of the police department and try and show them, if you will, how to be leaders.

HEMMER: What struck you, reading a lot of your comments here, too. There air number of positive stories happening there. Give us one, if you could.

BURKE: There are so many of them. The Iraqi police are very courageous to get out there. We came into the country last May. They had no weapons, no uniforms, no vehicles, and yet they did go out and patrol. They did go out try to do their job. Initially, they worked close with the 18th MP Brigade. But after a while, they started going out and taking the initiative, as we suggested they do. And many times undergunned and undermanned, the department right now is still about half of the strength that it should be.

HEMMER: I want to go to Boston and Sean Flynn. You write a lot in your piece about the baggage that the old regime members carry with them, the mentality. Explain that, if you could.

SEAN FLYNN, "GQ" WRITER-AT-LARGE: As Jerry was saying before, that it goes beyond just a lack of initiative. You had corruption that, to say it was endemic would be to understate the issue. You have guys who'd been on the job for 10, 15, 20 years, who are used to doing things a certain way, used to buying their way through the system, used to being bought through the system. You know, it was -- the honest cop was one who would only take tips. The outright corrupt cop would steal your car and extort you for it. An honest cop had to get a second job.

So now you bring in new recruits trying to do the job honestly, trying to do what we'd recognize as actual law enforcement officers, and they're afraid of the generals, of the colonels, of the guys who are products of the old system.

HEMMER: Can you say if you're making progress, and how much progress is set back when the former members of the police divisions in Iraq were let go?

FLYNN: I'm sorry, is this for me or for Jerry?

BURKE: I think it was a couple of months ago to be -- Bill?

HEMMER: Go ahead, Jerry.

BURKE: OK. At the beginning when the military came in, they did issue a call for all paramilitary units to put down their weapons and to go home. Well, the police, the -- all of the police services considered themselves paramilitary uniforms. So they did what they were told. They put up no resistance, they dropped their weapons and went home. And then we had to issue a call back to work. And initially they, were suspicious that we were calling them back so we could arrest them. So the ones that came back first were probably the best of the police officers with the cleanest conscious. But they did not have the weapons. Their stations had been totally vandalized, windows, doors, furniture. Everything had been taken out of the stations, right down to including the wiring inside the walls. And all paper records were thrown on the floor and torched. So the stations really were not functional. All 57 police stations had to be repaired.

HEMMER: Wow, you got your work cut out for you. Good luck to you, Jerry. Jerry Burke, stay safe in Baghdad.

Sean Flynn, writer for "GQ," just back from Iraq as well. Sean, thanks to you in Boston.

O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING, it is down to the final two in "American Idol." We'll talk about last night's results, and also take a closer look at some of the controversy plaguing the competition as well. We dig deep on that story this morning.

HEMMER: We do. Low carb means big business. If you know where to shop, you can pretty much buy any low-carb thing you want.

Back in a moment. Sanjay has that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Americans now spending billions on low-carb diets, a booming business for food manufacturers. But are you really getting fewer carbs?

All this week, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been looking into that. Here's Sanjay with more today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Think you can keep off the carbs indefinitely? Well, Turns out you'll have lots of help. All of these products are typically considered high carb no-nos for those on the Atkins or South beach Diet -- beer, spaghetti, certainly ice cream.

But take a look at these products, pancakes, including syrup, bread candy, and yes, low-carbohydrate ice cream. There are now entire grocery stores dedicated to the low-carb craze. No surprise then that the high-carb food industries are hurting.

MARION NESTLE, AUTHOR, "FOOD POLITICS": The low-carb craze has affected everything. Anything that anybody thinks is a carb food has been affected, even orange juice.

GUPTA: But you can either fight them or join them. Turn out lots of companies are becoming joiners. H.J. Heinz has a new ketchup. One carb. Hershey has a one gram sugar carb chocolate bar. And Lean Cuisine, known for their low-fat alternatives, low carb is now their mantra. Even cereals, which had been largely tossed aside for omelets, will soon have higher protein, lower carbohydrate alternatives, such as the new Total. Seems everyone is trying to get in on that $25 billion carb blitz.

(on camera): And here to talk about low-carb products, Heidi Skolnik. She's a nutritionist for the New York Giants and the School of American Ballet, Amy O'Connor, deputy editor of "Prevention" magazine, and Wahida Karmally, director of nutrition at the Irving Center for Columbia University Medical Center. Really interesting stuff these low-carb products.

First of all, Amy, how do you define a low-carb product? Is there some guideline in that?

AMY O'CONNOR, "PREVENTION" MAGAZINE: There isn't, and that's what people really need to know, these carb smart or good for your low-carb diet, they're really very meaningless and they don't help you lose weight, especially if they have the same number of calories as the same non low-carb products.

GUPTA: So I mean, low fat, you had a certain percentage or so that you wanted to stay below, with the low carbs really none?

O'CONNOR: Right now, I don't think there are any government regulated guidelines, and a lot of consumers actually think they are, and they're actually probably paying more than they should for something that's not going to help them lose weight.

GUPTA: Wahida, one of the things that's interesting about these diets is people were eating steak, and eggs and cheeseburgers without the bread, all that sort of stuff. Can you eat more of the low-carb products and still lose weight?

WAHIDA KARMALLY, COLUMBIA UNIV. MEDICAL CTR.: People should really look for calories, because we are going to make the same mistake we did with the low-fat diets. We thought we were consuming low fat, but in essence, we were consuming lots of calories.

GUPTA: Have you tried any of these, Heidi?

HEIDI SKOLNIK, NUTRITIONIST, NEW YORK GIANTS: I like the regular old, give me some fat, give me some carb, give me some protein.

GUPTA: So you talk about these low-carb products. You're out there shopping. What do you look for specifically in products then?

SKOLNIK: I look for quality. I look for less refined, less processed foods. I'm looking for better quality fats and nutrient- dense protein.

GUPTA: Now they talk about the food pyramid, and no one pays attention to that anymore, I think, pretty clearly. Is there some direction that we're heading that's different than the food pyramid you'd all sort of agree with, do you think?

O'CONNOR: I think the direction towards whole foods, less processed foods, less manufactured foods is the smart way to eat, because I think we've learned from fast-food diets and eating high processed foods that that's the way to gain weight and be unhealthy.

GUPTA: Good information. The manufacturers of processed foods aren't going to like that, though.

Thanks again to all of you for joining us. Good stuff.

We're going to be talking about the dangers of a low-carb diet as well. You've heard all the possible ill health effects, like hear disease, but are people really feeling them? We're going to that tomorrow, our last day of AMERICAN MORNING's week-long low-carb craze series.

Back to you, Bill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, we'll see you then. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Hawaii's sweetheart, Jasmine Trias, was voted off AMERICAN IDOL last night -- it's so sad -- leaving just two remaining contestants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: With the lowest number of votes, leaving us tonight on "American Idol," is Jasmine Trias.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: She doesn't look so upset. Sarah Bernard, the contributing editor for "New York" magazine, joins us this morning with her reaction.

Good morning.

We don't have you on the couch like for "90-Second Pop."

(CROSSTALK)

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: She did hold it together pretty nicely, though.

O'BRIEN: She did.

BERNARD: Well, you have to be prepared. You just have to smile, right, even if they're telling you you're off, that's it.

O'BRIEN: People said she really was the weak link, and maybe she shouldn't even have made it this far.

BERNARD: I think that's true. It's pretty obvious she was the one to go. And then there was that whole controversy, because Latoya London actually got the boot the week before, who was fantastic. O'BRIEN: But it really seemed like every single person in Hawaii just got on their speed dial, and because of that, Jasmine made it to a round she probably shouldn't have been in. So no one was really surprised that she was the one to get off last night.

O'BRIEN: Fantasia and Diana are the two who remain. So who do you think is the better singer?

BERNARD: I think it's Fantasia.

O'BRIEN: I think they're both good.

BERNARD: They've both pretty good, but I think it's Fantasia all the way. When she sings, your not nervous that she's not going to make some of those notes, like you are with Diana a little bit. She makes me a little nervous sometimes. But I think Fantasia is -- she already has got the stage presence. She really sung that Aretha Franklin song.

O'BRIEN: She can sing. That girl can really sing.

BERNARD: Pretty darn well. That's right. But, see, and Diana also is only 16 years old. You've really got to hand it to her for that.

O'BRIEN: That's an argument, like there's always another Academy Award.

BERNARD: There is. And you know what, strangely, Simon Cowell called her our little Seabiscuit, meaning -- I'm not exactly sure what, meaning that she's the underdog. Don't you love his compliments? He's such a sweetheart. But I think that means that she could be the underdog and pull it out somehow, if every single person from Georgia votes for her, which they might.

O'BRIEN: Do you think that with the two of them being pretty talented, that they both go on to have -- regardless of who wins in the end, they both go on to have decent careers, like we've seen.

BERNARD: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: I mean, knows, I don't know if Clay is going to have a great career and Ruben is going to have a great career.

BERNARD: They've done pretty well so far.

O'BRIEN: So far, they have.

BERNARD: I think that's true. It's almost like whoever wins "American Idol" technically gets the crown. But the runner-up, and even just the whole people who are in the show for the end who do the tour all summer long do pretty well. I mean, Clay Aiken's album actually sold better than Ruben Studdard's. He sold 600,000 the first week, and Ruben didn't even come close to that, and he was No. 2. So I think that Diana or Fantasia will be fine, even if they don't win.

O'BRIEN: What about Jasmine? Is it over for Jasmine? Or does she...

BERNARD: Well, she does get to be a part of the tour, and they just added two spots in Hawaii. There's a summer tour for all these people. They're all coming back.

(CROSSTALK)

BERNARD: And just after last night actually, they did decide to make two stops in Hawaii so Jasmine can perform in front of all her fans. So you can't feel too bad for her.

O'BRIEN: I feel so relieved.

BERNARD: You're going to get some tickets right now, you're going to call up?

O'BRIEN: Front me, me at the front row, whoo-hoo.

HEMMER: You know who's loving this, the record companies, the producers. They are cashing in by the millions.

BERNARD: They are, and all these scandals, these scandals with the voting, has really just made it more exciting. I think it's more exciting, right?

O'BRIEN: Because we're all talking about it.

BERNARD: It's like the presidential election a little bit.

O'BRIEN: The more you talk about it, it's all good.

Sarah Bernard, nice to see you. Thanks -- Bill.

BERNARD: Thank you.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING, arrests were made outside a shareholders meeting. Look at the video. It was not because of the costumes, so says Andy. Back in a moment, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: All righty. Welcome back, everybody. Over to Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Protesters actually arrested at the Halliburton shareholders meeting, and a CEO with a big heart, sharing with his employees. That and a market preview. Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business."

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hey, Jack. I'm still being nice to you, trying to get that free airline ticket. Can I help you with your segment?

CAFFERTY: You get nothing from me. SERWER: All right, let's talk about the market yesterday, first of all. Kind of a crazy session yesterday. At one point, the Dow was up over 120 points, but then more bad news about oil prices, and we hit the skids later in the day. Nasdaq up a little bit. Futures, look at that, that was our sleigh ride yesterday on the Dow. Futures are a little bit mixed as well this morning. Employment numbers coming across that are basically so-so.

Let's talk about that shareholder meeting yesterday in Houston. A lot of protesters. In fact, 300 protesters, which is a lot. There's a big pig. That's a big inflatable pig. We had a jazz band. There's a lot of theater in these demonstrations these days. Fake money, pigs. Those are pinko pigs. Actually, listen to this, 300 demonstrators, 50 shareholders show up. That would be your 6-1 ratio there.

Let's see. I like this, here one of the chants. "Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown and Root, go to Iraq to loot, loot, loot."

CAFFERTY: That's pretty good, actually.

SERWER: That's pretty funny.

There were a few arrests. On a somber note, though, at the meeting, listen to this, CEO Dave Lessor of Halliburton saying -- one of the first questions he was asked, how many Halliburton workers have been killed in Iraq? Thirty five, 35. Mostly truck drivers have been killed, 100 employees hurt. I was stunned by that.

CAFFERTY: Jeez.

SERWER: I was stunned by that. I mean, that's a dangerous job.

CAFFERTY: Happier news from the corner office at a different company, where they're handing out options.

SERWER: Indeed, best buy. The CEO of best buy up in Richfield, Minnesota, personally giving away his stock options. Brad Anderson giving away 200,000 of his own stock option.

CAFFERTY: Are they worth anything?

SERWER: Yes, they are in the money, and they've worth about $3 million now, could be worth as much as $7 million to $10 million later on.

CAFFERTY: Well, nice guy.

SERWER: I ran the numbers of the guy. He's got plenty of money in the bank, though, so shed no tears for Mr. Anderson.

CAFFERTY: What is his name again?

SERWER: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Brad Anderson.

CAFFERTY: Mr. Anderson, the address is AMERICAN MORNING, 51st and Sixth Avenue here in New York City.

SERWER: Bring it on. Bring it on.

CAFFERTY: Yes, sir, drop it right in the mail.

SERWER: Yes.

Hey, Jack.

CAFFERTY: This stems from an earlier story about some airline who's giving free tick tots people who are nice. My thought on that is, I'd rather pay.

It's time for The Cafferty File, things people said that caught our attention because we didn't get to do them yesterday.

Beginning with this, "Are you missing any fingers?" This is Ray Darnell, the director of the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque to a visitor after a finger was found outside the jaguar exhibit. These are jaguars.

"I don't know how you live here without slitting your wrists," David Cassidy to his fans who had paid to see him at a concert in Cardath (ph), Wales.

"The only way we can lose is if we're lazy or dumb, and we don't do what we're supposed to do." That would be Bubba, former President Bill Clinton at a fund-raiser in Harlem, encouraging those present to support Senator John Kerry.

"They did, however, make a slick getaway." This is Glenda Chu, spokeswoman for the Edumund Oklahoma Police Department, on looking for bandits who stole 5,000 pounds of used cooking grease from three restaurants. I have no idea why anyone would want 3,000 pounds of cooking grease, but somebody did.

"I started in animal waste, so I considered mud a promotion." That's John Marlin, an Illinois at the Department of Natural Resources. Marlin, of the Waste Management Research Center, dreamed up the mud to parks project. During the next month, they'll move 100,000 tons of mud that's clogging a Peoria River and take it to Chicago's lake front.

SERWER: You know what was his, you had his picture, too.

CAFFERTY: I did?

SERWER: Yes, we had his picture up. I bet his mom's proud, to see him up there on that.

CAFFERTY: Well, I hope so. It's the least we can do. Bring a little sunshine into someone's life.

O'BRIEN: As you do every day, Jack, at least ours.

CAFFERTY: Especially yours, Soledad. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. Each and every day. Even the weekends when you call me and just say hi.

CAFFERTY: I make Soledad positively glow on a daily basis, don't I?

O'BRIEN: Yes, I go home and my own personal chaos seems a lot less difficult.

(CAFFERTY)

O'BRIEN: Hey, hey.

CAFFERTY: Hey, hey, hey. Whoa.

One, big happy family on American morning you know.

Careful, we'll start talking about kids...

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, you've heard of this story -- can I go on and talk about this little girl? Her name is Courtney. She's been abandoned. We have her heartbreaking story just ahead, right here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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