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American Morning

Interview With Dan Senor; Interview with Major General Galen Jackman

Aired June 14, 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: Welcome back, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York on a Monday morning. There is more violence to talk about today in Iraq. We saw the videotape a short time ago, a string of assassinations over the weekend, another car bombing today. More than a dozen are dead, five dozen injured, as a result of this car bombing in central Baghdad.
Dan Senor, the coalition spokesperson, in a few minutes joins us from Baghdad to talk about whether or not the U.S. can see more violence as a result of the handover two weeks away. What can they do, if anything, to keep some of these new Iraqi officials safe? So, we'll get to that in a moment.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, lots of questions for him.

Also this morning on a much, much lighter note, "90-Second Pop" ahead this morning, looking at the break-up in the house of Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh and his wife are splitting up. This is the commentator's third marriage. We're going to see what our "90-Second Pop" gang has to say about that.

HEMMER: All right. Meanwhile, this car bomb that exploded in Iraq a short time ago in Baghdad apparently was aimed at Western workers. At least 13 are dead, 60 injured, as I mentioned, the latest in a growing wave of attacks that have gone beyond targeting coalition forces, beginning to concentrate on the new government, as well.

Dan Senor is standing by live in Iraq, and we welcome you back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

Listen to what Colin Powell talked about regarding the security situation yesterday on the morning talk shows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: They're murderers, and they're trying to murder people who are trying to serve the Iraqi people. And they cannot be allowed to succeed. What kind of world would we have, what kind of region would we have if these kind of terrorists were allowed to proceed or allowed to succeed and we gave up and said, we're not going to do anything about it? We are going to do something about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Let's answer the last part of his phrase there. We are going to do something about it. Like what at this point?

DAN SENOR, SENIOR ADVISER, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: Well, we are going to follow President Bush's five-step plan, which includes in the near short term, in the short term handing over sovereignty on June 30 to an Iraqi leadership that is ready to combat this problem. Prime Minister Allawi, who held a press conference today, was quite clear. The Iraqi leadership will not tolerate this. They are going to stand firm and fast and fight the terror threat on the ground here.

He also said they're going to need help from the coalition forces, multinational forces, American forces will continue to play a role here to help combat that threat. So, we are going to form a partnership here with the Iraqis -- Iraqi political leadership, Iraqi security forces and American forces, multinational forces, working hand in hand combating this terror threat that is very, very real here as we saw tragically again this morning.

HEMMER: Would you give security escorts to the Iraqi officials who are part of the new government, knowing that two have been killed in the past three days?

SENOR: Bill, we have, as I said over the weekend, we are reluctant to comment on the operational security details we provide for Iraqi officials, because we don't want to tip our hand. I will tell you this: At a minimum for many of these officials, we provide either security personnel or we provide training and funding. And it's often up to the Iraqi officials themselves as to whether or not they want to make the security personnel available -- their own security personnel available for that training.

But obviously, protection of these officials is a high priority. But let's be realistic. The sovereignty handover is well under way. June 30 is the official date. But most of the ministries have already been handed over. Iraqi officials are running their government right now. And, of course, they're going to increasingly become targets by Zawahri and these other al Qaeda-type terrorists. They're trying to wreak havoc here. And we will not be able to protect every single one of them. We have it be realistic about that, just like we cannot protect every single person in America against a terrorist threat.

The important point is to provide as much security as we can and continue to move forward on the transition, which is what we are doing and which is what Prime Minister Allawi and the president, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer, have made clear that they want to do. We need to support these people.

HEMMER: You mentioned the handover is only two weeks away. A lot of people consider this largely ceremonial. What happens in the next two weeks that hasn't been done already? If you look at some of the reports over the weekend, many suggest the handover is done and completed.

SENOR: Well, we do more of what we have been doing. We started handing over the ministries a couple months ago. More than half of them have been handed over. And we will continue that process between now and June 30. We'll continue to work with the prime minister to help build out his government.

Bill, I compare the period we are in now as to the period in the United States between election day and inauguration day, where the government-in-waiting is busy getting ready to establish itself, build out an agenda. And that's what the interim government is going right now. But make no mistake about it, Iraqis are running most functions of their government right now.

HEMMER: On July 1, will you come home? Ambassador Bremer, does he come home?

SENOR: Yes, we both come home. I think we'll both take long naps and long vacations.

HEMMER: Dan Senor, our guest from Baghdad. Thanks for your time. We'll see you back in this country and we'll talk more about it. Thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Much of the funeral of Ronald Reagan and the events surrounding it were broadcast live for all to see, but "TIME" magazine's Hugh Sidey saw some of the private moments on board Air Force One as family and friends carried the former president's body back to California. "TIME" has exclusive pictures today. As the plane passed over Ronald Reagan's birthplace, the pilot dipped the wing so the family could look out on Tampico, Illinois.

And even though she had suffered several strokes, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher insisted on taking the trip, as well. Ron Reagan, look at the shots, touching his father's casket. Many of those on board did the same thing. And Merv Griffin, a friend and pallbearer, comforting Nancy Reagan. Some pretty remarkable pictures, and they're in "TIME" magazine.

HEMMER: Indeed, they are, yes. The planning and staging for the state funeral for Ronald Reagan was an enormous responsibility. The man who shouldered most of that last week, Major General Galen Jackman, also personally escorting the former first lady, Nancy Reagan, during that ordeal. We saw him so many times over the past five days. Major General Jackman, commander of the military district of Washington, is our guest now from Arlington, Virginia.

Welcome, general. Good morning to you.

MAJ. GEN. GALEN JACKMAN, COMMANDER, MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON: Well, good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: As you look at the past week, is there one moment that stands out in your mind as indelible that you experienced?

JACKMAN: Well, you know, there were a lot of great moments, but I would have to tell you that the motorcade trip that we took from Point Mugu up to the library in Simi Valley, going through the cordons of American people on that road was just astonishing to me. There were literally hundreds of thousands of people waving flags, signs, hands over hearts, and that was very impressionable for me. HEMMER: And that was on Friday evening when we all watched that sunset, and what an emotional moment that was. This is Wednesday afternoon, late afternoon in Washington when one of the people in the crowd there yelled out "God bless you, Nancy." I don't know if you heard that gentleman, but that's been played over repeatedly. If you did, what do you remember from that moment?

JACKMAN: Well, I think that this was really the first time that Mrs. Reagan stepped out of the limousine in the midst of all of the people directly in the center of Washington, D.C. And I think that it was a great homecoming. And she remarked throughout the week how much she was taken by the outpouring of support from this nation for her husband and for herself.

HEMMER: At the age of 82, I know the personal stories and conversations we are not going to get into during this interview to respect your wishes granting us this interview. How do you think she did it last week at the age of 82 and holding up?

JACKMAN: Well, you know, I think she was very strong and determined. She was gracious. She had the poise of a first lady. And, as I mentioned, she was very, very grateful in appreciation of the outpouring of support from the American people.

HEMMER: It had to be such a surprise. Around every corner that she turned, there were more and more people waiting there on the side of the road in southern California and the side of the road in our nation's capital. Major General Jackman, thank you for time. Job well done to you.

JACKMAN: Thank you very much, Bill.

HEMMER: All right.

O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, the nation's heartland feels nature's furry. Some unbelievable pictures to show you ahead. Have you seen some of this devastation?

HEMMER: Oh, yes, yes.

Also, Rush Limbaugh's love life is making headlines. We'll get our "90-Second Pop" panel to take a crack at that on this Monday morning when we continue right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A series of severe storms rumbled across the Midwest this weekend. Six tornadoes were confirmed south of Wichita, Kansas. A photographer was about 200 yards from this powerful twister as he caught it on tape in Mulvane, Kansas. It ripped apart a mobile home. You can see the swirl, the metal of the pieces of that home as it swirls into the vortex of the tornado. The Kansas governor declared 12 counties disaster areas. I think that's just some of the most remarkable pictures that we have seen of an actual, you know, shredded home flying around there in that tornado.

(WEATHER BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, gas prices are going down. But how low could they go? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: It's 14 minutes before the hour. Back to Heidi Collins with a check of the other news, and we start again in Iraq.

Heidi -- good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We sure do. Good morning, Bill. And good morning, everybody.

In other news, now a deadly car bomb in Iraq went off during Rush hour in Baghdad. At least 13 people were killed, dozens more wounded. A senior coalition official says an American contractor is among the dead. The attack was apparently aimed at Western targets.

The family of a missing American contractor awaiting word of his fate. Paul Johnson, an employee of Lockheed Martin, was reported missing by his family on Saturday. His car was found abandoned in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Back in the U.S., Johnson's friends tied yellow ribbons on trees, hoping for his safe return. In a statement, an Islamic militant group has claimed responsibility for the abduction. And we are expecting to hear from Johnson's son at about 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Well, drivers are getting some relief from sky-high gasoline prices now. A national survey shows pump prices have dropped more than 6 cents over the past three weeks. Lower crude oil prices were credited for the price drop. But on average gasoline stayed above $2 across the country.

And TV's crocodile hunter Steve Irwin may have taken his wildlife antics a bit too far, again. Australian officials are looking into whether Irwin broke rules after he allegedly swam with two humpback whales. It was happening while he was filming a documentary in Antarctica. Irwin calls the flap -- quote -- "a big storm in a teacup." Earlier this year, he came under fire earlier when he was shown on TV feeding a crocodile while holding his baby son, as you see there. More on that later.

HEMMER: I see a videotape of the whale, huh?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What is up with this guy? I mean, what is his deal with those animals? Does he have to love them in public? Do we have to be subjected to his antics and his -- I mean...

O'BRIEN: I don't know. The baby -- putting the baby in the water by the crocodile, that was...

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: How stupid was that? O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: He's a moron. Now he's out...

COLLINS: At least he didn't swim with the baby with the whale.

O'BRIEN: Oh, but you know what? That...

COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the crocodile, and then, you know...

O'BRIEN: It could always be worse, right, Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes, I guess so.

O'BRIEN: Always.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: Plus, he could lose a pound or two it looks like in that rear shot there.

HEMMER: What's happening?

CAFFERTY: Not too much. The question of the day is about John Kerry. Last week, he was a little tough to find in the papers because of the death of President Reagan. Next week, Bill Clinton kicks off his big book tour for his memoirs, for which he got $10 million. And we're kind of curious. While Kerry has actually pulled ahead of President Bush in some of the national polls, some of the insiders of the Democratic Party say his campaign and his candidacy still lack definition. What exactly is the vision of the Kerry presidency, except undo a lot of the stuff that George Bush had done?

So, we want to know your thoughts on whether or not Bill Clinton could wind up helping or hurting the Kerry campaign when he launches his book tour.

Terry in Norfolk, Arkansas, writes: "The only way Clinton can help John Kerry beat George Bush is to run as his vice president." I don't think that's legal. He couldn't do that, could he? He couldn't.

O'BRIEN: I don't know.

CAFFERTY: Could he be the vice president? I don't think so.

HEMMER: Check the Constitution.

CAFFERTY: We'll get right on that.

Hal in Orrin, Missouri: "Clinton's book tour won't help or hurt Kerry. All Kerry needs to do is stay out of the spotlight and let Bush ride his unpopularity back to Texas. If I was Kerry's campaign manger, I'd lock him in the trunk of my car until the inauguration."

Al in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: "This is another classic Clinton move to grab the spotlight. He no more supports Kerry than George Bush does. He is content to wait for his wife's chance in 2008. This disunity is why the Democratic Party is not a force in America any longer.

Mike in Ashland, Mississippi: "I want to quote Bill Maher from HBO. I think no matter who I vote for, the quote applies. Here it is: 'The 2004 election is nothing more than class warfare, class of Yale in 1967 against class of Yale in 1969.'"

And finally, John in Southbury, Connecticut: "Man, if I were running for public office, I'd sure like Bill Clinton on my side, book sales or no. Mr. Kerry no doubt feels the same way. By the way, Mr. Cafferty is not one to comment on personality weakness. He could take some pointers from Mr. Kerry."

HEMMER: Oh!

O'BRIEN: Them are fighting words. Who wrote that? John in Southbury.

CAFFERTY: My buddy, John.

HEMMER: He's keeping you awake.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: It's my buddy, John.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

Still to come this morning, "90-Second Pop." Some morbid curiosity. Why are so many people hooked on "Six Feet Under?" That's ahead as we continue right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: I know. It's a good one. They couldn't hear, but I can hear it. It's kind of really good. Good morning, everybody. I'm not a good singer, am I?

It's Monday morning, and that means it's time to check in with our "90-Second Pop" panel. Joining us this morning, humorist Andy Borowitz.

Hello, Andy.

ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: Hello.

O'BRIEN: "New York" magazine contributing editor, Sarah Bernard.

Hello, Sarah.

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Hello.

O'BRIEN: And Toure, contributing editor for "Rolling Stone."

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": Thank you. Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right into it. "Six Feet Under," four seasons.

BERNARD: Premiere yesterday.

O'BRIEN: It went incredibly well. And it's kind of morbid, I guess.

BERNARD: I know.

O'BRIEN: Nothing comes close to describing this.

BERNARD: No! It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It is obviously about a family who runs a funeral home, but yesterday's...

O'BRIEN: Hence "Six Feet Under."

BERNARD: Yesterday's show was so grim, I have to say, even for that. It was as if Tony Soprano literally handed the baton to Nate Fisher, because he was, you know, shooting his cousin last week. And this week, Nate is burying the body of his wife. He's literally in the grave with her. It was so dark.

O'BRIEN: What's the appeal? Because, I mean, when you...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: I'll tell you some of the appeal. I read this last night online. Morticians love this show. This is true, because they say...

BERNARD: I love this show!

BOROWITZ: They say that finally it's a show for them. It speaks to them.

O'BRIEN: Are there enough morticians to make it the top show?

TOURE: But there's an amazing drama to it. I mean, at the end, Nate is burying her, like literally in the ground where she wanted to be and not cremated. And it's an amazing example of love.

BERNARD: It was an act of love.

TOURE: I mean, it was unbelievable.

O'BRIEN: Yes, creepy.

TOURE: Yes. BERNARD: But it's a dysfunctional family. I mean, it happens to be a strange profession, but it makes your dysfunctional family seem not so bad when you watch them.

O'BRIEN: And that's what these are all about. It's like, well, I'm glad I'm not them.

BERNARD: That's what I think when I watch it.

BOROWITZ: I want HBO to do a show about actuaries now. I think that would be good. That's...

O'BRIEN: CPAs, actuaries all of that.

All right, let's turn and talk about Rush Limbaugh. He's in the news because his marriage No. 3 apparently is crumbling.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

BERNARD: Oh!

O'BRIEN: Rush, I'm sorry. That's sad news.

BOROWITZ: And I thought that the third time would be the charm for him. I don't know. You know, this marriage was probably doomed from the start.

O'BRIEN: Why?

BOROWITZ: Because his wife is an aerobics instructor, Rush, easily winded radio host. So, they were just not compatible. I'm hoping -- but I'm not trying to dwell on the divorce. I really want to look towards marriage No. 4. I hope...

O'BRIEN: So, who are you thinking at?

BOROWITZ: Courtney Love.

O'BRIEN: Really?

BERNARD: Oh!

BOROWITZ: I think that's somebody, they can bond on some things.

TOURE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) third marriages, I'm just happy that J.Lo and Marc are still married after a week.

BERNARD: Oh, you want...

(CROSSTALK)

TOURE: That takes a lot.

BOROWITZ: Where is the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

BERNARD: Why is everyone making fun of Rush? I mean, 10 years they were married.

BOROWITZ: Right.

BERNARD: That's pretty amazing in the celebrity world, don't you think?

TOURE: It is long.

BERNARD: I mean, that's some sort of...

BOROWITZ: They had just celebrated their...

O'BRIEN: An aerobics instructor?

BOROWITZ: Yes. They had just celebrated their...

BERNARD: And they met on the Internet.

O'BRIEN: Oh.

BERNARD: So, you know, a modern guy.

BOROWITZ: Well, I wished I believed it.

BERNARD: Do you believe it?

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Do we have time to talk a little about the Lakers?

BERNARD: Just a little bit.

TOURE: Oh, my god, so exciting. This is like most culturally sexy.

O'BRIEN: Talk about drama queens on the basketball court.

TOURE: That was the most culturally sexy series we've had in years, like the slick and...

O'BRIEN: Culturally sexy. What does that mean?

TOURE: We've got the slick boozy guys from L.A. and the rugged street guys from Detroit and...

O'BRIEN: Who are winning, by the way.

TOURE: Right, right, right. I mean, it's like...

(CROSSTALK)

TOURE: And it's like a funny thing happened on the way to the coronation. Like, the Lakers are supposed to win and the Pistons come and snatch it away.

BOROWITZ: Like Smarty Jones. BERNARD: Finally something interesting in basketball for us to watch.

O'BRIEN: Exactly. You guys, we're out of time. As always, thank you so much. Andy, Sarah and Toure, nice to see you.

TOURE: Nice to see you.

BERNARD: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Welcome back after the weekend.

Bill -- let's go back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks.

In a moment here, week two of the Scott Peterson murder trial. Why the defense is focusing on reports of a burglary. Jeff Toobin stops by, and we'll get some legal analysis as we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

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Aired June 14, 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: Welcome back, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York on a Monday morning. There is more violence to talk about today in Iraq. We saw the videotape a short time ago, a string of assassinations over the weekend, another car bombing today. More than a dozen are dead, five dozen injured, as a result of this car bombing in central Baghdad.
Dan Senor, the coalition spokesperson, in a few minutes joins us from Baghdad to talk about whether or not the U.S. can see more violence as a result of the handover two weeks away. What can they do, if anything, to keep some of these new Iraqi officials safe? So, we'll get to that in a moment.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, lots of questions for him.

Also this morning on a much, much lighter note, "90-Second Pop" ahead this morning, looking at the break-up in the house of Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh and his wife are splitting up. This is the commentator's third marriage. We're going to see what our "90-Second Pop" gang has to say about that.

HEMMER: All right. Meanwhile, this car bomb that exploded in Iraq a short time ago in Baghdad apparently was aimed at Western workers. At least 13 are dead, 60 injured, as I mentioned, the latest in a growing wave of attacks that have gone beyond targeting coalition forces, beginning to concentrate on the new government, as well.

Dan Senor is standing by live in Iraq, and we welcome you back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

Listen to what Colin Powell talked about regarding the security situation yesterday on the morning talk shows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: They're murderers, and they're trying to murder people who are trying to serve the Iraqi people. And they cannot be allowed to succeed. What kind of world would we have, what kind of region would we have if these kind of terrorists were allowed to proceed or allowed to succeed and we gave up and said, we're not going to do anything about it? We are going to do something about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Let's answer the last part of his phrase there. We are going to do something about it. Like what at this point?

DAN SENOR, SENIOR ADVISER, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: Well, we are going to follow President Bush's five-step plan, which includes in the near short term, in the short term handing over sovereignty on June 30 to an Iraqi leadership that is ready to combat this problem. Prime Minister Allawi, who held a press conference today, was quite clear. The Iraqi leadership will not tolerate this. They are going to stand firm and fast and fight the terror threat on the ground here.

He also said they're going to need help from the coalition forces, multinational forces, American forces will continue to play a role here to help combat that threat. So, we are going to form a partnership here with the Iraqis -- Iraqi political leadership, Iraqi security forces and American forces, multinational forces, working hand in hand combating this terror threat that is very, very real here as we saw tragically again this morning.

HEMMER: Would you give security escorts to the Iraqi officials who are part of the new government, knowing that two have been killed in the past three days?

SENOR: Bill, we have, as I said over the weekend, we are reluctant to comment on the operational security details we provide for Iraqi officials, because we don't want to tip our hand. I will tell you this: At a minimum for many of these officials, we provide either security personnel or we provide training and funding. And it's often up to the Iraqi officials themselves as to whether or not they want to make the security personnel available -- their own security personnel available for that training.

But obviously, protection of these officials is a high priority. But let's be realistic. The sovereignty handover is well under way. June 30 is the official date. But most of the ministries have already been handed over. Iraqi officials are running their government right now. And, of course, they're going to increasingly become targets by Zawahri and these other al Qaeda-type terrorists. They're trying to wreak havoc here. And we will not be able to protect every single one of them. We have it be realistic about that, just like we cannot protect every single person in America against a terrorist threat.

The important point is to provide as much security as we can and continue to move forward on the transition, which is what we are doing and which is what Prime Minister Allawi and the president, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer, have made clear that they want to do. We need to support these people.

HEMMER: You mentioned the handover is only two weeks away. A lot of people consider this largely ceremonial. What happens in the next two weeks that hasn't been done already? If you look at some of the reports over the weekend, many suggest the handover is done and completed.

SENOR: Well, we do more of what we have been doing. We started handing over the ministries a couple months ago. More than half of them have been handed over. And we will continue that process between now and June 30. We'll continue to work with the prime minister to help build out his government.

Bill, I compare the period we are in now as to the period in the United States between election day and inauguration day, where the government-in-waiting is busy getting ready to establish itself, build out an agenda. And that's what the interim government is going right now. But make no mistake about it, Iraqis are running most functions of their government right now.

HEMMER: On July 1, will you come home? Ambassador Bremer, does he come home?

SENOR: Yes, we both come home. I think we'll both take long naps and long vacations.

HEMMER: Dan Senor, our guest from Baghdad. Thanks for your time. We'll see you back in this country and we'll talk more about it. Thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Much of the funeral of Ronald Reagan and the events surrounding it were broadcast live for all to see, but "TIME" magazine's Hugh Sidey saw some of the private moments on board Air Force One as family and friends carried the former president's body back to California. "TIME" has exclusive pictures today. As the plane passed over Ronald Reagan's birthplace, the pilot dipped the wing so the family could look out on Tampico, Illinois.

And even though she had suffered several strokes, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher insisted on taking the trip, as well. Ron Reagan, look at the shots, touching his father's casket. Many of those on board did the same thing. And Merv Griffin, a friend and pallbearer, comforting Nancy Reagan. Some pretty remarkable pictures, and they're in "TIME" magazine.

HEMMER: Indeed, they are, yes. The planning and staging for the state funeral for Ronald Reagan was an enormous responsibility. The man who shouldered most of that last week, Major General Galen Jackman, also personally escorting the former first lady, Nancy Reagan, during that ordeal. We saw him so many times over the past five days. Major General Jackman, commander of the military district of Washington, is our guest now from Arlington, Virginia.

Welcome, general. Good morning to you.

MAJ. GEN. GALEN JACKMAN, COMMANDER, MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON: Well, good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: As you look at the past week, is there one moment that stands out in your mind as indelible that you experienced?

JACKMAN: Well, you know, there were a lot of great moments, but I would have to tell you that the motorcade trip that we took from Point Mugu up to the library in Simi Valley, going through the cordons of American people on that road was just astonishing to me. There were literally hundreds of thousands of people waving flags, signs, hands over hearts, and that was very impressionable for me. HEMMER: And that was on Friday evening when we all watched that sunset, and what an emotional moment that was. This is Wednesday afternoon, late afternoon in Washington when one of the people in the crowd there yelled out "God bless you, Nancy." I don't know if you heard that gentleman, but that's been played over repeatedly. If you did, what do you remember from that moment?

JACKMAN: Well, I think that this was really the first time that Mrs. Reagan stepped out of the limousine in the midst of all of the people directly in the center of Washington, D.C. And I think that it was a great homecoming. And she remarked throughout the week how much she was taken by the outpouring of support from this nation for her husband and for herself.

HEMMER: At the age of 82, I know the personal stories and conversations we are not going to get into during this interview to respect your wishes granting us this interview. How do you think she did it last week at the age of 82 and holding up?

JACKMAN: Well, you know, I think she was very strong and determined. She was gracious. She had the poise of a first lady. And, as I mentioned, she was very, very grateful in appreciation of the outpouring of support from the American people.

HEMMER: It had to be such a surprise. Around every corner that she turned, there were more and more people waiting there on the side of the road in southern California and the side of the road in our nation's capital. Major General Jackman, thank you for time. Job well done to you.

JACKMAN: Thank you very much, Bill.

HEMMER: All right.

O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, the nation's heartland feels nature's furry. Some unbelievable pictures to show you ahead. Have you seen some of this devastation?

HEMMER: Oh, yes, yes.

Also, Rush Limbaugh's love life is making headlines. We'll get our "90-Second Pop" panel to take a crack at that on this Monday morning when we continue right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A series of severe storms rumbled across the Midwest this weekend. Six tornadoes were confirmed south of Wichita, Kansas. A photographer was about 200 yards from this powerful twister as he caught it on tape in Mulvane, Kansas. It ripped apart a mobile home. You can see the swirl, the metal of the pieces of that home as it swirls into the vortex of the tornado. The Kansas governor declared 12 counties disaster areas. I think that's just some of the most remarkable pictures that we have seen of an actual, you know, shredded home flying around there in that tornado.

(WEATHER BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, gas prices are going down. But how low could they go? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: It's 14 minutes before the hour. Back to Heidi Collins with a check of the other news, and we start again in Iraq.

Heidi -- good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We sure do. Good morning, Bill. And good morning, everybody.

In other news, now a deadly car bomb in Iraq went off during Rush hour in Baghdad. At least 13 people were killed, dozens more wounded. A senior coalition official says an American contractor is among the dead. The attack was apparently aimed at Western targets.

The family of a missing American contractor awaiting word of his fate. Paul Johnson, an employee of Lockheed Martin, was reported missing by his family on Saturday. His car was found abandoned in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Back in the U.S., Johnson's friends tied yellow ribbons on trees, hoping for his safe return. In a statement, an Islamic militant group has claimed responsibility for the abduction. And we are expecting to hear from Johnson's son at about 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Well, drivers are getting some relief from sky-high gasoline prices now. A national survey shows pump prices have dropped more than 6 cents over the past three weeks. Lower crude oil prices were credited for the price drop. But on average gasoline stayed above $2 across the country.

And TV's crocodile hunter Steve Irwin may have taken his wildlife antics a bit too far, again. Australian officials are looking into whether Irwin broke rules after he allegedly swam with two humpback whales. It was happening while he was filming a documentary in Antarctica. Irwin calls the flap -- quote -- "a big storm in a teacup." Earlier this year, he came under fire earlier when he was shown on TV feeding a crocodile while holding his baby son, as you see there. More on that later.

HEMMER: I see a videotape of the whale, huh?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What is up with this guy? I mean, what is his deal with those animals? Does he have to love them in public? Do we have to be subjected to his antics and his -- I mean...

O'BRIEN: I don't know. The baby -- putting the baby in the water by the crocodile, that was...

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: How stupid was that? O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: He's a moron. Now he's out...

COLLINS: At least he didn't swim with the baby with the whale.

O'BRIEN: Oh, but you know what? That...

COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the crocodile, and then, you know...

O'BRIEN: It could always be worse, right, Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes, I guess so.

O'BRIEN: Always.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: Plus, he could lose a pound or two it looks like in that rear shot there.

HEMMER: What's happening?

CAFFERTY: Not too much. The question of the day is about John Kerry. Last week, he was a little tough to find in the papers because of the death of President Reagan. Next week, Bill Clinton kicks off his big book tour for his memoirs, for which he got $10 million. And we're kind of curious. While Kerry has actually pulled ahead of President Bush in some of the national polls, some of the insiders of the Democratic Party say his campaign and his candidacy still lack definition. What exactly is the vision of the Kerry presidency, except undo a lot of the stuff that George Bush had done?

So, we want to know your thoughts on whether or not Bill Clinton could wind up helping or hurting the Kerry campaign when he launches his book tour.

Terry in Norfolk, Arkansas, writes: "The only way Clinton can help John Kerry beat George Bush is to run as his vice president." I don't think that's legal. He couldn't do that, could he? He couldn't.

O'BRIEN: I don't know.

CAFFERTY: Could he be the vice president? I don't think so.

HEMMER: Check the Constitution.

CAFFERTY: We'll get right on that.

Hal in Orrin, Missouri: "Clinton's book tour won't help or hurt Kerry. All Kerry needs to do is stay out of the spotlight and let Bush ride his unpopularity back to Texas. If I was Kerry's campaign manger, I'd lock him in the trunk of my car until the inauguration."

Al in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: "This is another classic Clinton move to grab the spotlight. He no more supports Kerry than George Bush does. He is content to wait for his wife's chance in 2008. This disunity is why the Democratic Party is not a force in America any longer.

Mike in Ashland, Mississippi: "I want to quote Bill Maher from HBO. I think no matter who I vote for, the quote applies. Here it is: 'The 2004 election is nothing more than class warfare, class of Yale in 1967 against class of Yale in 1969.'"

And finally, John in Southbury, Connecticut: "Man, if I were running for public office, I'd sure like Bill Clinton on my side, book sales or no. Mr. Kerry no doubt feels the same way. By the way, Mr. Cafferty is not one to comment on personality weakness. He could take some pointers from Mr. Kerry."

HEMMER: Oh!

O'BRIEN: Them are fighting words. Who wrote that? John in Southbury.

CAFFERTY: My buddy, John.

HEMMER: He's keeping you awake.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: It's my buddy, John.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

Still to come this morning, "90-Second Pop." Some morbid curiosity. Why are so many people hooked on "Six Feet Under?" That's ahead as we continue right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: I know. It's a good one. They couldn't hear, but I can hear it. It's kind of really good. Good morning, everybody. I'm not a good singer, am I?

It's Monday morning, and that means it's time to check in with our "90-Second Pop" panel. Joining us this morning, humorist Andy Borowitz.

Hello, Andy.

ANDY BOROWITZ, HUMORIST: Hello.

O'BRIEN: "New York" magazine contributing editor, Sarah Bernard.

Hello, Sarah.

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Hello.

O'BRIEN: And Toure, contributing editor for "Rolling Stone."

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

TOURE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE": Thank you. Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right into it. "Six Feet Under," four seasons.

BERNARD: Premiere yesterday.

O'BRIEN: It went incredibly well. And it's kind of morbid, I guess.

BERNARD: I know.

O'BRIEN: Nothing comes close to describing this.

BERNARD: No! It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It is obviously about a family who runs a funeral home, but yesterday's...

O'BRIEN: Hence "Six Feet Under."

BERNARD: Yesterday's show was so grim, I have to say, even for that. It was as if Tony Soprano literally handed the baton to Nate Fisher, because he was, you know, shooting his cousin last week. And this week, Nate is burying the body of his wife. He's literally in the grave with her. It was so dark.

O'BRIEN: What's the appeal? Because, I mean, when you...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROWITZ: I'll tell you some of the appeal. I read this last night online. Morticians love this show. This is true, because they say...

BERNARD: I love this show!

BOROWITZ: They say that finally it's a show for them. It speaks to them.

O'BRIEN: Are there enough morticians to make it the top show?

TOURE: But there's an amazing drama to it. I mean, at the end, Nate is burying her, like literally in the ground where she wanted to be and not cremated. And it's an amazing example of love.

BERNARD: It was an act of love.

TOURE: I mean, it was unbelievable.

O'BRIEN: Yes, creepy.

TOURE: Yes. BERNARD: But it's a dysfunctional family. I mean, it happens to be a strange profession, but it makes your dysfunctional family seem not so bad when you watch them.

O'BRIEN: And that's what these are all about. It's like, well, I'm glad I'm not them.

BERNARD: That's what I think when I watch it.

BOROWITZ: I want HBO to do a show about actuaries now. I think that would be good. That's...

O'BRIEN: CPAs, actuaries all of that.

All right, let's turn and talk about Rush Limbaugh. He's in the news because his marriage No. 3 apparently is crumbling.

BOROWITZ: Yes.

BERNARD: Oh!

O'BRIEN: Rush, I'm sorry. That's sad news.

BOROWITZ: And I thought that the third time would be the charm for him. I don't know. You know, this marriage was probably doomed from the start.

O'BRIEN: Why?

BOROWITZ: Because his wife is an aerobics instructor, Rush, easily winded radio host. So, they were just not compatible. I'm hoping -- but I'm not trying to dwell on the divorce. I really want to look towards marriage No. 4. I hope...

O'BRIEN: So, who are you thinking at?

BOROWITZ: Courtney Love.

O'BRIEN: Really?

BERNARD: Oh!

BOROWITZ: I think that's somebody, they can bond on some things.

TOURE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) third marriages, I'm just happy that J.Lo and Marc are still married after a week.

BERNARD: Oh, you want...

(CROSSTALK)

TOURE: That takes a lot.

BOROWITZ: Where is the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

BERNARD: Why is everyone making fun of Rush? I mean, 10 years they were married.

BOROWITZ: Right.

BERNARD: That's pretty amazing in the celebrity world, don't you think?

TOURE: It is long.

BERNARD: I mean, that's some sort of...

BOROWITZ: They had just celebrated their...

O'BRIEN: An aerobics instructor?

BOROWITZ: Yes. They had just celebrated their...

BERNARD: And they met on the Internet.

O'BRIEN: Oh.

BERNARD: So, you know, a modern guy.

BOROWITZ: Well, I wished I believed it.

BERNARD: Do you believe it?

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Do we have time to talk a little about the Lakers?

BERNARD: Just a little bit.

TOURE: Oh, my god, so exciting. This is like most culturally sexy.

O'BRIEN: Talk about drama queens on the basketball court.

TOURE: That was the most culturally sexy series we've had in years, like the slick and...

O'BRIEN: Culturally sexy. What does that mean?

TOURE: We've got the slick boozy guys from L.A. and the rugged street guys from Detroit and...

O'BRIEN: Who are winning, by the way.

TOURE: Right, right, right. I mean, it's like...

(CROSSTALK)

TOURE: And it's like a funny thing happened on the way to the coronation. Like, the Lakers are supposed to win and the Pistons come and snatch it away.

BOROWITZ: Like Smarty Jones. BERNARD: Finally something interesting in basketball for us to watch.

O'BRIEN: Exactly. You guys, we're out of time. As always, thank you so much. Andy, Sarah and Toure, nice to see you.

TOURE: Nice to see you.

BERNARD: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Welcome back after the weekend.

Bill -- let's go back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks.

In a moment here, week two of the Scott Peterson murder trial. Why the defense is focusing on reports of a burglary. Jeff Toobin stops by, and we'll get some legal analysis as we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

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