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American Morning
Majority of Americans Say U.S. Made Mistake Sending Troops into Iraq
Aired June 25, 2004 - 08:00 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.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. Eight o'clock here in New York. Hope you're having a good Friday. It's early. Good to have you with us along today.
In a moment here, there's a whole lot to cover in Iraq again today. There's a new poll coming out asking Americans, too, how they feel about the war. And the scales may be tipping against the White House in this case. Also, more U.S. troops could be headed towards that country. And an Iraqi poll is out there as well. "The Washington Post" reporting on that today. We'll get to all of it in a moment here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, we're talking to White House communications director Dan Bartlett. We're going to ask about the man who has bolted to the top of the most wanted list in Iraq, and what it will take to disable that terror organization there.
HEMMER: Jack continues with a bit of a mini vacation. Toure is filling in with e-mails. So, we'll get back to Toure in a moment here. And the experience rolls on too. So stay tuned for more on that.
S. O'BRIEN: But first, months of bad news out of Iraq has taken a political toll on the president. According to a new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, for the first time since the war began, a majority of Americans 54 percent say the U.S. made a mistake sending troops into Iraq. That's up from 41 percent at the beginning of the month. When asked who would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, President Bush or Senator John Kerry? The numbers were about even; 47 percent said President Bush 46 percent said Senator Kerry.
White House officials cannot be too happy with some of those poll numbers on Iraq. Let's get reaction now from the White House this morning from CNN's Dana Bash, who's there for us.
Hey, Dana. Good morning again.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad. And the president is leaving later this morning for Ireland and then Turkey. His goal, try convince European leaders to help out more in Iraq. But meanwhile, as you just said, he is leaving behind voters who more than ever think that perhaps going to Iraq in the first place was a mistake. And White House communications director Dan Bartlett concedes that the bad news is taking a toll. But he also insists that the effort in Iraq will benefit Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, DIR., WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS: These polls are kept capturing or snapshots of time, in which the American people are grappling with the fact that innocent civilians of both Americans and South Koreans and Iraqis are being indiscriminately killed by a very dangerous enemy. And I can understand why that would make people anxious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the president will be carrying with him on this trip a letter from Iraqis -- Iraq's prime minister. And that will be asking the NATO countries for more help, specifically in training Iraq security forces. And that is, in order to try to combat the violence that is growing and has been growing. In the sophisticated attack we saw yesterday in Iraq shows the challenge that Iraq's new government has.
And many, most believe that those attacks are coordinated by a man named Abu Musab al Zarqawi. He is somebody who they believe is related to al Qaeda. And Iraqis later today will announce that they are stepping up efforts to catch him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARTLETT: If you would ask me the day before Saddam Hussein was found, are we close to getting him, I would have had to say, I think we are. But you never know until you actually capture him. But we do believe we have the right strategy in place. He is an enemy to the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people don't want foreign terrorists, lurking in their country killing innocent civilians. And we think it's just a matter of time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the president will be going to Ireland, where he will be faced with many, many protesters, thousands of protesters, who do not want their leaders to help out more in Iraq. But the president's message will be that some of these NATO countries should remember that many in the world supported them when, perhaps, they needed help in promoting democracy in their own countries -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House this morning. Dana, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: Meanwhile, CNN learning U.S. military planners may send more troops. Troops by the thousands to Iraq, if the violence continues there, and increases, actually.
Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with more on this.
Barbara, what is the figure? What are they talking about? BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, they emphasize that it is just contingency planning. But indeed, top officials from the Pentagon and the State Department will be back on Capitol Hill this morning talking about the situation in Iraq, and a little more precisely about what the plans are, if the violence does grow worse.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): CNN has learned that if the violence grows worse, U.S. military planners are preparing for the possibility of sending in as many as 15,000 additional ground troops, three brigades on an emergency basis.
Separately, at his Senate confirmation hearing, General George Casey, who will soon take over as head of coalition forces, confirmed only that a plan is in the works because of concerns the insurgency may gain strength.
GEN. GEORGE CASEY, NOMINEE, INT'L. FORCE CMDR.: Centcom is doing some contingency planning for increased levels of violence.
STARR: Officials now readily acknowledge the security situation is likely to be very bad for some time. Attacks are expected well past the June 30 date for returning sovereignty to Iraqis, and perhaps into next year when elections will be scheduled.
The continuing high levels of violence, now a major concern for Congress and the military in dealing with Iraq.
CASEY: It is not how I envisioned it to be Senator.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: What do you think has gone wrong?
CASEY: I think the insurgency is much stronger than I certainly would have anticipated.
STARR: As the next commander, Casey says his priorities are: protecting a U.N. mission that will help with elections, providing security in the violent Sunni Triangle, getting better intelligence from Iraqis to fight the insurgency.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: And General Casey, again, emphasizing that in his view, Iraqi security forces simply are not yet ready to protect their own country. Opening the door to the possibility that U.S. and coalition forces will remain in Iraq for some months to come -- Bill.
HEMMER: Barbara, thanks for that.
Let's talk more about it now with Ken Pollack, CNN analyst from the Saban Center, the Brookings Institution back with us.
Ken, good morning to you.
KEN POLLACK, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: What do you make of the new numbers that are being talked about at the Pentagon?
POLLACK: Well I think, honestly Bill, these are long overdue. The U.S. presence in Iraq has been inadequate to deal with the security problem there's for well over a year. I think it would be terrific if we actually sent some more troops over there. I'd like to see them joined by allied forces. But unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be in the offing at the moment.
HEMMER: What do you make of the numbers reported today in "The Washington Post"? Robin Rice writing on this new survey that was conducted in five different parts of the country of Iraq. Sixty-eight percent have confidence in their new leaders. 73 percent approve the new government. Four of five expect the new government to actually make things better. Your response to that as well.
POLLACK: These are very important numbers, Bill. Because they get at the most important thing we've still got going for us in Iraq, which is the commitment of the Iraqi people to reconstruction. The fact of the matter is the Iraqis are deeply unhappy with the United States; they're deeply disillusioned with our performance. But remain completely committed to the idea of reconstruction. They want a stable, pluralist society. They just haven't seen anyone yet who's able to give it to them. They're hoping that this new government will do a better job.
HEMMER: We saw the violence yesterday. We've been told for weeks now that it would increase leading up to the handover. You don't necessarily agree with that theory though. Why?
POLLACK: Well, because honestly, Bill, I don't think that the violence is necessarily about the handover. What we've seen over the past 14 months is a steadily building insurgency. It started out weak, without a whole lot of popular support. Over time, it has put down roots; it has gained popular support as Iraqis have become disillusioned with the United States' presence in the country. Now we've got a full-blown insurgency. When I look at the trend line of the attacks, I can see a straight line over the last 14 months. The attacks do not seem to be coordinated with anything that we particularly talk about. We're fixated on these dates. The insurgents are fixated on just driving us out.
HEMMER: Well, you have said they're becoming more and more sophisticated and also they're learning on their own. In what way?
POLLACK: Well, you can look at the attacks that are going on now. Multiple attacks across the country. Effectively simultaneous. You do have groups, like Abu Musab al Zarqawi's, which has affiliations with al Qaeda. You do have foreigners in their instructing them.
But the simple matter is, when you look at the breadth of these attacks, when you look at the number and the different groups that are able to conduct them, it's very clear that Iraqis are starting to figure this out for themselves. That's inevitable. It happens in every insurgency. Given enough time, the insurgents learn.
HEMMER: Ken Pollack, thanks, Ken.
POLLACK: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Sweeping changes are in store for NASA, as the space agency tries to improve safety and fulfill the president's vision for exploring the moon and Mars. The plan was unveiled yesterday. Meanwhile, two crewmen aboard the International Space Station had to abort an outside repair job because of a leak in one of their oxygen tanks.
Just a little bit earlier this morning, I spoke with NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe about the agency's makeover. And I began by asking him what exactly went wrong with the space walk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN O'KEEFE, ADMINISTRATOR, NASA: Well, we took all the precautions necessary to assure that the space walk would be successful. And a problem developed immediately, and everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do. Which was to shut down the activity and bring in, as soon as the oxygen pressure was seen to be dropping a little more precipitously than it should have.
So, we're doing all the checking right now. We'll try to re- slate this for next week.
O'BRIEN (on camera): Have any explanation of why exactly that oxygen pressure was dropping in one of astronauts?
O'KEEFE: No. It's just inexplicable right now. But they're doing all the troubleshooting, trying to figure exactly what it was. And it was Nothing even remotely late to life threatening at the point. It was just a reading higher that was a little bit higher than it should have been. And so they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Stop it until you figure out what's going on.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I was going to ask you if it was life threatening. I was trying to get a sense of how grave the danger was at any point for that astronaut. Was it serious or just sort of just standard?
O'KEEFE: No. It was pretty standard. I mean literally, it had just gotten out of the hatch and U.S. astronaut Mike Fincke was standing out there getting ready. And it was about two or three minutes into the actual activity that they recognized the reading, couldn't explain it. Couldn't understand why it occurred. And so, therefore, everybody said well, until we do then discontinued activity. Come on back in. And the hatch was closed within 14 minutes.
M. O'BRIEN: How risky is that entire space walk, anyway? I mean is it something that may be shouldn't have been attempted? Or is it something you think you can fix the problem and plan and go back out?
O'KEEFE: Yes. Every space walk is a challenge. There's no doubt about that. This is not something that most of us have the opportunity to try at any point. So it takes an awful lot of preparation and effort to do that. But at the same time, the opportunity here was to repair a circuit breaker in one of the gyroscopes in the exterior of the station. And so it's not immediate urgency, but it's one that ought to be, you know, accommodated and fixed. And so, therefore, the purposes of the walk are important.
And so, we're going to try to figure out how exactly how do we reposition to assure that all the systems are checking out before we try it again.
M. O'BRIEN: Give me a sense, as briefly as possible, to what's changed at NASA.
O'KEEFE: Sure. No -- it's -- for the most part, a lot of the material is the kind of things that only analysts of organizations with love, you know, and so forth. But the primary purpose of the whole transformation was best articulated by the president's commission, which released their report a week ago. Which is, we really need to be a friendlier organization to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, technology development from all sources. Not just inside of this agency.
And so in many ways, what we're trying to do is organize ourselves to be as open as we possibly can, and to encourage those entrepreneurs and innovators who out there to help us find a solution in the technology challenges we face. That's the objective.
M. O'BRIEN: I know that you were watching as Spaceship One took off in the Mojave Desert. Do you plan to have more relationships with private groups like that? I mean is that a big part of the plan now?
O'KEEFE: It's a perfect example of it. I mean it was almost -- if we could have timed this, it wouldn't have been better. With what they've demonstrated, it was an amazing achievement. Something that folks pulled together to do some really, really daring things, and with not a whole lot of assets to make it happen. And yet, at the same time, they employed some new creative, innovative techniques, that if we can help create the environment for it, as the president's commission encourage for that kind of development to occur, we're all going to be better off. And that's the objective of what this agency should be doing in the first place.
M. O'BRIEN: Sean O'Keefe, of NASA. Nice to see you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: And that was Sean O'Keefe, of course, of NASA joining us just a little while ago.
The space walk by the two crewmen on the International Space Station has been postponed until Tuesday at the very earliest. A stunning development in the Scott Peterson trial. A police detective admitted concealing information from a witness, who contradicts key elements of the state's double murder case against Peterson.
CNN's Rusty Dornin has the latest for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a key piece of the prosecution's theory. Laci Peterson never knew about or saw her husband Scott's boat, which was stored at his warehouse. But on the stand, one of the lead detectives, Albert Keeney admitted he omitted part of an interview with a woman who claims Laci Peterson was at the warehouse and asked to use a rest room there on the day before she disappeared. Some legal observers say the credibility of investigators may be the big issue here.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: This is unbelievable. How is this jury going to believe one more thing any prosecution witness says in this case? He writes a police report from his dictation, and leaves a major paragraph out?
DORNIN: The omission also plays into the defense theory that police zeroed in on Scott Peterson, as the only suspect in the killing of his pregnant wife, ignoring leads that may have implicated others. Defense attorney Mark Geragos also implied that the hair found on the pliers on the bottom of Scott Peterson's boat might have been left there by Laci during that visit. Prosecutors claim the only way the hair could be there is because Peterson ferried his wife's body out to San Francisco Bay after she was killed.
(on camera): Next week, prosecutors will have a chance to try and repair the damage by asking their own questions of Detective Albert Keeney. But not until defense attorney Mark Geragos has finished his cross-examination.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: The defense will continue cross-examining that police investigator on Monday. Then the prosecution will get a chance to re-question that detective a little bit later on in the week.
HEMMER: Well, 15 minutes past the hour, a check of the other news. Daryn Kagan watching things from overseas and still developing.
And tough news too, Daryn. Good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And once again, Billy, we're going to begin with Afghanistan, where an operation against Islamic militant has turned deadly for American troops. Two U.S. Marines were killed in the eastern part of the country, near the Pakistan border. Another Marine was injured. President Bush looking to Europe for help in Iraq. The president is scheduled to leave within the hour for Ireland; he'll be meeting with European leaders at the E. U. summit. President Bush then heads to Turkey for next week's NATO summit.
Meanwhile, there's apparently a standout in a list of candidates being considered for CIA director. Sources telling CNN that the front runner for the post is Republican Congressman Porter Goss of Florida. Sources say that President Bush is looking to fill the position soon. George Tenet will leave that Post next month.
In California, Michael Jackson's defense team is back in court. Jackson's lawyer siding with prosecutors; both trying to keep details of the child molestation case out of public view. But media outlets want nearly all the case documents unsealed. A judge will hear complaints on the issue today. Jackson is not expected to attend that hearing.
And warnings of a large-scale Internet attack. Officials saying that thousands of popular Web sites could be affected. Not much is known about this virus-like infection. The Homeland Security Department is among the group studying its effects. Experts are urging computer users to update that anti-virus software.
Easier to do on this end, Bill, than when you've got a big mess on your computer.
HEMMER: That's so true. Yes. Thank you, Daryn.
Wimbledon across the big pond now. Two time champ Venus Williams made an early second round exit on the grass. A bizarre upset, as Venus lost to Croatia's Karolina Sprem, after the umpire lost track of the score. Both players appeared confused. Neither disputed the call. Tournament officials, though, confirm the mistake but said the result would stand. Venus is out this year, out of Wimbledon.
S. O'BRIEN: Hmm. That's pretty amazing. Isn't it? Confirming a mistake but saying not going to do anything about it.
HEMMER: Especially -- but if you look at her history, she's played very well over there in the past.
All right. In a moment here, Diamond David Lee Roth has a new gig, a health care professional. True story. "The Toure Experience" is coming up in a moment.
S. O'BRIEN: He's going to be doctor?
Also ahead this morning, Senator John Kerry looks for a little help from Hollywood. And you know what? The stars come out.
HEMMER: Also at the White House, the president sitting down for an interview and this one got a bit tense. Still to come this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Some of Hollywood's heavy hitters came out last night to support John Kerry. It was a multimillion-dollar fund-raiser at Disney Symphony Hall. Senator Kerry urged the crowd of stars to do their part to get a change in leadership. And among the stars that night: Billy Crystal, Robert DeNiro and Ben Affleck.
Last night on "LARRY KING LIVE," former President Clinton clarified why he thinks Senator Kerry would be a good president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FRM. UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Know John Kerry well and believe he would be a good president. I think he has a lot of good qualities. Not just because he agrees with me, but psychologically, he's well suited to be president. He's not afraid to be around people who know more than he does about certain subjects. That's good. He's always trying to learn more and to do better. That's good. He won't punish people who sit in the Oval Office and look at him dead in the eye and say Mr. President I think you're wrong about this. I disagree. And that's good, especially now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: That was President Clinton last night on "LARRY KING LIVE," saying why he thought Senator Kerry would be a good choice for president.
HEMMER: President Bush heads for Ireland later in the day. In fact this hour, we should get more comments from the White House though. If and when we get them, we'll bring them to you.
In the meantime, say hello to our president!
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Jack Cafferty out.
TOURE, CNN GUEST COMMENTATOR: The Venus Williams situation was insane.
HEMMER: Did you see it yesterday?
TOURE: Yes. They were playing 2-0 on the ad side, 3-2 on the deuce side. This is center court at Wimbledon. I mean is nothing sacred?
HEMMER: It's like fundamental tennis, right?
TOURE: Yes! I mean like 10-year-olds know better! Like, look at them. It's just, UGH! I mean...
HEMMER: How many judges are at Wimbledon?
TOURE: Like 10. Like 10. This is centre court.
HEMMER: At one time?
TOURE: Yes. Well, on a big court like this...
HEMMER: And no one noticed.
TOURE: And nobody said -- look, Venus heard the winner. And she is like, huh? What are we doing? Jeez, is nothing sacred? You know?
HEMMER: Apparently not.
TOURE: Are there flecks chipping off of the top of the Sistine Chapel? Like, you know, like what are we doing? Wimbledon can't get it right.
All right. And you? Mariah Carey, what are you doing to me, sister?
S. O'BRIEN: I love her. She came about in a very important formative part of my life.
HEMMER: Aw.
S. O'BRIEN: I was in college.
TOURE: You're killing me.
S. O'BRIEN: She had a lot of number ones then. I'm older now. But she was really great back then.
TOURE: You have no excuse.
S. O'BRIEN: I love her. I love you Mariah.
TOURE: All right. Let's see...
S. O'BRIEN: I believe in your comeback.
TOURE: Back when David Lee Roth was in one of the worse bands of all-time, there were many nights when he looked like he needed to be saved. But now David Lee Roth wants to save your life. The 48-year- old former Van Halen front man is in training to become an EMT.
S. O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness.
TOURE: He's on track to get his certification in November, making New Yorkers feel safe. He's working as a volunteer one weekend a month. Last time we heard from him, he was getting busted for buying marijuana in the Washington Square Park.
HEMMER: He's just a gigolo.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Just a gigolo. Don't knock David Lee Roth's hustle!
(LAUGHTER) TOURE: We have a new all-time "Jeopardy" champion. Ken Jennings is blowing them away on Alex Trebek's show, 16 consecutive victories. The 30-year-old Brigham Young grad has got $500,000 that he's made. Unbelievable. And the question that he won -- that he answered with, Bill. The only Central American country, whose natural anthem is sung in English.
HEMMER: Central American. I would say...
TOURE: Very small country.
HEMMER: I would say, Belize.
TOURE: Very good! And he's not prompted, people.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
S. O'BRIEN: Wow!
TOURE: That was a real answer.
HEMMER: It was the Brits were there for a long time.
TOURE: Very good!
HEMMER: They just got their independence actually, not to long ago.
TOURE: It's a beautiful country. I went there once.
HEMMER: Great diving.
TOURE: Beautiful.
HEMMER: Second largest barrier reef in the world behind...
S. O'BRIEN: Australia.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: Exactly. What I was going to say.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: They had dragonflies like this!
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: No doubt. We were like, oh, my God!
HEMMER: Bring your screen because you're going to need it at night. Thank you Toure.
Funny man David Letterman last night poking a little bit of fun at Saddam Hussein. Here's what went down on "The Late Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST "THE LATE SHOW": Well, he's in captivity and he's being interrogated. And a couple months ago, the Red Cross went to check up on him and let they him write a letter back home. Well, now the letter has been published. For some reason, he sends the letter to his daughter and now we get a copy of it, so we can see what's in the letter. I don't know if that's right, but we...
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: And it's kind of pathetic, because in the letter he asks his daughter if he would swing by his spider hole and water the plants.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny.
HEMMER: Good for a good laugh.
S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the vice president gets a little blue up on Capitol Hill. Was it just a slip of the tongue, or was it a big mistake? Give you a minute, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired June 25, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. Eight o'clock here in New York. Hope you're having a good Friday. It's early. Good to have you with us along today.
In a moment here, there's a whole lot to cover in Iraq again today. There's a new poll coming out asking Americans, too, how they feel about the war. And the scales may be tipping against the White House in this case. Also, more U.S. troops could be headed towards that country. And an Iraqi poll is out there as well. "The Washington Post" reporting on that today. We'll get to all of it in a moment here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, we're talking to White House communications director Dan Bartlett. We're going to ask about the man who has bolted to the top of the most wanted list in Iraq, and what it will take to disable that terror organization there.
HEMMER: Jack continues with a bit of a mini vacation. Toure is filling in with e-mails. So, we'll get back to Toure in a moment here. And the experience rolls on too. So stay tuned for more on that.
S. O'BRIEN: But first, months of bad news out of Iraq has taken a political toll on the president. According to a new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, for the first time since the war began, a majority of Americans 54 percent say the U.S. made a mistake sending troops into Iraq. That's up from 41 percent at the beginning of the month. When asked who would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, President Bush or Senator John Kerry? The numbers were about even; 47 percent said President Bush 46 percent said Senator Kerry.
White House officials cannot be too happy with some of those poll numbers on Iraq. Let's get reaction now from the White House this morning from CNN's Dana Bash, who's there for us.
Hey, Dana. Good morning again.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad. And the president is leaving later this morning for Ireland and then Turkey. His goal, try convince European leaders to help out more in Iraq. But meanwhile, as you just said, he is leaving behind voters who more than ever think that perhaps going to Iraq in the first place was a mistake. And White House communications director Dan Bartlett concedes that the bad news is taking a toll. But he also insists that the effort in Iraq will benefit Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, DIR., WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS: These polls are kept capturing or snapshots of time, in which the American people are grappling with the fact that innocent civilians of both Americans and South Koreans and Iraqis are being indiscriminately killed by a very dangerous enemy. And I can understand why that would make people anxious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the president will be carrying with him on this trip a letter from Iraqis -- Iraq's prime minister. And that will be asking the NATO countries for more help, specifically in training Iraq security forces. And that is, in order to try to combat the violence that is growing and has been growing. In the sophisticated attack we saw yesterday in Iraq shows the challenge that Iraq's new government has.
And many, most believe that those attacks are coordinated by a man named Abu Musab al Zarqawi. He is somebody who they believe is related to al Qaeda. And Iraqis later today will announce that they are stepping up efforts to catch him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARTLETT: If you would ask me the day before Saddam Hussein was found, are we close to getting him, I would have had to say, I think we are. But you never know until you actually capture him. But we do believe we have the right strategy in place. He is an enemy to the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people don't want foreign terrorists, lurking in their country killing innocent civilians. And we think it's just a matter of time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the president will be going to Ireland, where he will be faced with many, many protesters, thousands of protesters, who do not want their leaders to help out more in Iraq. But the president's message will be that some of these NATO countries should remember that many in the world supported them when, perhaps, they needed help in promoting democracy in their own countries -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Dana Bash at the White House this morning. Dana, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: Meanwhile, CNN learning U.S. military planners may send more troops. Troops by the thousands to Iraq, if the violence continues there, and increases, actually.
Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with more on this.
Barbara, what is the figure? What are they talking about? BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, they emphasize that it is just contingency planning. But indeed, top officials from the Pentagon and the State Department will be back on Capitol Hill this morning talking about the situation in Iraq, and a little more precisely about what the plans are, if the violence does grow worse.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): CNN has learned that if the violence grows worse, U.S. military planners are preparing for the possibility of sending in as many as 15,000 additional ground troops, three brigades on an emergency basis.
Separately, at his Senate confirmation hearing, General George Casey, who will soon take over as head of coalition forces, confirmed only that a plan is in the works because of concerns the insurgency may gain strength.
GEN. GEORGE CASEY, NOMINEE, INT'L. FORCE CMDR.: Centcom is doing some contingency planning for increased levels of violence.
STARR: Officials now readily acknowledge the security situation is likely to be very bad for some time. Attacks are expected well past the June 30 date for returning sovereignty to Iraqis, and perhaps into next year when elections will be scheduled.
The continuing high levels of violence, now a major concern for Congress and the military in dealing with Iraq.
CASEY: It is not how I envisioned it to be Senator.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: What do you think has gone wrong?
CASEY: I think the insurgency is much stronger than I certainly would have anticipated.
STARR: As the next commander, Casey says his priorities are: protecting a U.N. mission that will help with elections, providing security in the violent Sunni Triangle, getting better intelligence from Iraqis to fight the insurgency.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: And General Casey, again, emphasizing that in his view, Iraqi security forces simply are not yet ready to protect their own country. Opening the door to the possibility that U.S. and coalition forces will remain in Iraq for some months to come -- Bill.
HEMMER: Barbara, thanks for that.
Let's talk more about it now with Ken Pollack, CNN analyst from the Saban Center, the Brookings Institution back with us.
Ken, good morning to you.
KEN POLLACK, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: What do you make of the new numbers that are being talked about at the Pentagon?
POLLACK: Well I think, honestly Bill, these are long overdue. The U.S. presence in Iraq has been inadequate to deal with the security problem there's for well over a year. I think it would be terrific if we actually sent some more troops over there. I'd like to see them joined by allied forces. But unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be in the offing at the moment.
HEMMER: What do you make of the numbers reported today in "The Washington Post"? Robin Rice writing on this new survey that was conducted in five different parts of the country of Iraq. Sixty-eight percent have confidence in their new leaders. 73 percent approve the new government. Four of five expect the new government to actually make things better. Your response to that as well.
POLLACK: These are very important numbers, Bill. Because they get at the most important thing we've still got going for us in Iraq, which is the commitment of the Iraqi people to reconstruction. The fact of the matter is the Iraqis are deeply unhappy with the United States; they're deeply disillusioned with our performance. But remain completely committed to the idea of reconstruction. They want a stable, pluralist society. They just haven't seen anyone yet who's able to give it to them. They're hoping that this new government will do a better job.
HEMMER: We saw the violence yesterday. We've been told for weeks now that it would increase leading up to the handover. You don't necessarily agree with that theory though. Why?
POLLACK: Well, because honestly, Bill, I don't think that the violence is necessarily about the handover. What we've seen over the past 14 months is a steadily building insurgency. It started out weak, without a whole lot of popular support. Over time, it has put down roots; it has gained popular support as Iraqis have become disillusioned with the United States' presence in the country. Now we've got a full-blown insurgency. When I look at the trend line of the attacks, I can see a straight line over the last 14 months. The attacks do not seem to be coordinated with anything that we particularly talk about. We're fixated on these dates. The insurgents are fixated on just driving us out.
HEMMER: Well, you have said they're becoming more and more sophisticated and also they're learning on their own. In what way?
POLLACK: Well, you can look at the attacks that are going on now. Multiple attacks across the country. Effectively simultaneous. You do have groups, like Abu Musab al Zarqawi's, which has affiliations with al Qaeda. You do have foreigners in their instructing them.
But the simple matter is, when you look at the breadth of these attacks, when you look at the number and the different groups that are able to conduct them, it's very clear that Iraqis are starting to figure this out for themselves. That's inevitable. It happens in every insurgency. Given enough time, the insurgents learn.
HEMMER: Ken Pollack, thanks, Ken.
POLLACK: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Sweeping changes are in store for NASA, as the space agency tries to improve safety and fulfill the president's vision for exploring the moon and Mars. The plan was unveiled yesterday. Meanwhile, two crewmen aboard the International Space Station had to abort an outside repair job because of a leak in one of their oxygen tanks.
Just a little bit earlier this morning, I spoke with NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe about the agency's makeover. And I began by asking him what exactly went wrong with the space walk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN O'KEEFE, ADMINISTRATOR, NASA: Well, we took all the precautions necessary to assure that the space walk would be successful. And a problem developed immediately, and everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do. Which was to shut down the activity and bring in, as soon as the oxygen pressure was seen to be dropping a little more precipitously than it should have.
So, we're doing all the checking right now. We'll try to re- slate this for next week.
O'BRIEN (on camera): Have any explanation of why exactly that oxygen pressure was dropping in one of astronauts?
O'KEEFE: No. It's just inexplicable right now. But they're doing all the troubleshooting, trying to figure exactly what it was. And it was Nothing even remotely late to life threatening at the point. It was just a reading higher that was a little bit higher than it should have been. And so they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Stop it until you figure out what's going on.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I was going to ask you if it was life threatening. I was trying to get a sense of how grave the danger was at any point for that astronaut. Was it serious or just sort of just standard?
O'KEEFE: No. It was pretty standard. I mean literally, it had just gotten out of the hatch and U.S. astronaut Mike Fincke was standing out there getting ready. And it was about two or three minutes into the actual activity that they recognized the reading, couldn't explain it. Couldn't understand why it occurred. And so, therefore, everybody said well, until we do then discontinued activity. Come on back in. And the hatch was closed within 14 minutes.
M. O'BRIEN: How risky is that entire space walk, anyway? I mean is it something that may be shouldn't have been attempted? Or is it something you think you can fix the problem and plan and go back out?
O'KEEFE: Yes. Every space walk is a challenge. There's no doubt about that. This is not something that most of us have the opportunity to try at any point. So it takes an awful lot of preparation and effort to do that. But at the same time, the opportunity here was to repair a circuit breaker in one of the gyroscopes in the exterior of the station. And so it's not immediate urgency, but it's one that ought to be, you know, accommodated and fixed. And so, therefore, the purposes of the walk are important.
And so, we're going to try to figure out how exactly how do we reposition to assure that all the systems are checking out before we try it again.
M. O'BRIEN: Give me a sense, as briefly as possible, to what's changed at NASA.
O'KEEFE: Sure. No -- it's -- for the most part, a lot of the material is the kind of things that only analysts of organizations with love, you know, and so forth. But the primary purpose of the whole transformation was best articulated by the president's commission, which released their report a week ago. Which is, we really need to be a friendlier organization to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, technology development from all sources. Not just inside of this agency.
And so in many ways, what we're trying to do is organize ourselves to be as open as we possibly can, and to encourage those entrepreneurs and innovators who out there to help us find a solution in the technology challenges we face. That's the objective.
M. O'BRIEN: I know that you were watching as Spaceship One took off in the Mojave Desert. Do you plan to have more relationships with private groups like that? I mean is that a big part of the plan now?
O'KEEFE: It's a perfect example of it. I mean it was almost -- if we could have timed this, it wouldn't have been better. With what they've demonstrated, it was an amazing achievement. Something that folks pulled together to do some really, really daring things, and with not a whole lot of assets to make it happen. And yet, at the same time, they employed some new creative, innovative techniques, that if we can help create the environment for it, as the president's commission encourage for that kind of development to occur, we're all going to be better off. And that's the objective of what this agency should be doing in the first place.
M. O'BRIEN: Sean O'Keefe, of NASA. Nice to see you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: And that was Sean O'Keefe, of course, of NASA joining us just a little while ago.
The space walk by the two crewmen on the International Space Station has been postponed until Tuesday at the very earliest. A stunning development in the Scott Peterson trial. A police detective admitted concealing information from a witness, who contradicts key elements of the state's double murder case against Peterson.
CNN's Rusty Dornin has the latest for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a key piece of the prosecution's theory. Laci Peterson never knew about or saw her husband Scott's boat, which was stored at his warehouse. But on the stand, one of the lead detectives, Albert Keeney admitted he omitted part of an interview with a woman who claims Laci Peterson was at the warehouse and asked to use a rest room there on the day before she disappeared. Some legal observers say the credibility of investigators may be the big issue here.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: This is unbelievable. How is this jury going to believe one more thing any prosecution witness says in this case? He writes a police report from his dictation, and leaves a major paragraph out?
DORNIN: The omission also plays into the defense theory that police zeroed in on Scott Peterson, as the only suspect in the killing of his pregnant wife, ignoring leads that may have implicated others. Defense attorney Mark Geragos also implied that the hair found on the pliers on the bottom of Scott Peterson's boat might have been left there by Laci during that visit. Prosecutors claim the only way the hair could be there is because Peterson ferried his wife's body out to San Francisco Bay after she was killed.
(on camera): Next week, prosecutors will have a chance to try and repair the damage by asking their own questions of Detective Albert Keeney. But not until defense attorney Mark Geragos has finished his cross-examination.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: The defense will continue cross-examining that police investigator on Monday. Then the prosecution will get a chance to re-question that detective a little bit later on in the week.
HEMMER: Well, 15 minutes past the hour, a check of the other news. Daryn Kagan watching things from overseas and still developing.
And tough news too, Daryn. Good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And once again, Billy, we're going to begin with Afghanistan, where an operation against Islamic militant has turned deadly for American troops. Two U.S. Marines were killed in the eastern part of the country, near the Pakistan border. Another Marine was injured. President Bush looking to Europe for help in Iraq. The president is scheduled to leave within the hour for Ireland; he'll be meeting with European leaders at the E. U. summit. President Bush then heads to Turkey for next week's NATO summit.
Meanwhile, there's apparently a standout in a list of candidates being considered for CIA director. Sources telling CNN that the front runner for the post is Republican Congressman Porter Goss of Florida. Sources say that President Bush is looking to fill the position soon. George Tenet will leave that Post next month.
In California, Michael Jackson's defense team is back in court. Jackson's lawyer siding with prosecutors; both trying to keep details of the child molestation case out of public view. But media outlets want nearly all the case documents unsealed. A judge will hear complaints on the issue today. Jackson is not expected to attend that hearing.
And warnings of a large-scale Internet attack. Officials saying that thousands of popular Web sites could be affected. Not much is known about this virus-like infection. The Homeland Security Department is among the group studying its effects. Experts are urging computer users to update that anti-virus software.
Easier to do on this end, Bill, than when you've got a big mess on your computer.
HEMMER: That's so true. Yes. Thank you, Daryn.
Wimbledon across the big pond now. Two time champ Venus Williams made an early second round exit on the grass. A bizarre upset, as Venus lost to Croatia's Karolina Sprem, after the umpire lost track of the score. Both players appeared confused. Neither disputed the call. Tournament officials, though, confirm the mistake but said the result would stand. Venus is out this year, out of Wimbledon.
S. O'BRIEN: Hmm. That's pretty amazing. Isn't it? Confirming a mistake but saying not going to do anything about it.
HEMMER: Especially -- but if you look at her history, she's played very well over there in the past.
All right. In a moment here, Diamond David Lee Roth has a new gig, a health care professional. True story. "The Toure Experience" is coming up in a moment.
S. O'BRIEN: He's going to be doctor?
Also ahead this morning, Senator John Kerry looks for a little help from Hollywood. And you know what? The stars come out.
HEMMER: Also at the White House, the president sitting down for an interview and this one got a bit tense. Still to come this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Some of Hollywood's heavy hitters came out last night to support John Kerry. It was a multimillion-dollar fund-raiser at Disney Symphony Hall. Senator Kerry urged the crowd of stars to do their part to get a change in leadership. And among the stars that night: Billy Crystal, Robert DeNiro and Ben Affleck.
Last night on "LARRY KING LIVE," former President Clinton clarified why he thinks Senator Kerry would be a good president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FRM. UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Know John Kerry well and believe he would be a good president. I think he has a lot of good qualities. Not just because he agrees with me, but psychologically, he's well suited to be president. He's not afraid to be around people who know more than he does about certain subjects. That's good. He's always trying to learn more and to do better. That's good. He won't punish people who sit in the Oval Office and look at him dead in the eye and say Mr. President I think you're wrong about this. I disagree. And that's good, especially now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: That was President Clinton last night on "LARRY KING LIVE," saying why he thought Senator Kerry would be a good choice for president.
HEMMER: President Bush heads for Ireland later in the day. In fact this hour, we should get more comments from the White House though. If and when we get them, we'll bring them to you.
In the meantime, say hello to our president!
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Jack Cafferty out.
TOURE, CNN GUEST COMMENTATOR: The Venus Williams situation was insane.
HEMMER: Did you see it yesterday?
TOURE: Yes. They were playing 2-0 on the ad side, 3-2 on the deuce side. This is center court at Wimbledon. I mean is nothing sacred?
HEMMER: It's like fundamental tennis, right?
TOURE: Yes! I mean like 10-year-olds know better! Like, look at them. It's just, UGH! I mean...
HEMMER: How many judges are at Wimbledon?
TOURE: Like 10. Like 10. This is centre court.
HEMMER: At one time?
TOURE: Yes. Well, on a big court like this...
HEMMER: And no one noticed.
TOURE: And nobody said -- look, Venus heard the winner. And she is like, huh? What are we doing? Jeez, is nothing sacred? You know?
HEMMER: Apparently not.
TOURE: Are there flecks chipping off of the top of the Sistine Chapel? Like, you know, like what are we doing? Wimbledon can't get it right.
All right. And you? Mariah Carey, what are you doing to me, sister?
S. O'BRIEN: I love her. She came about in a very important formative part of my life.
HEMMER: Aw.
S. O'BRIEN: I was in college.
TOURE: You're killing me.
S. O'BRIEN: She had a lot of number ones then. I'm older now. But she was really great back then.
TOURE: You have no excuse.
S. O'BRIEN: I love her. I love you Mariah.
TOURE: All right. Let's see...
S. O'BRIEN: I believe in your comeback.
TOURE: Back when David Lee Roth was in one of the worse bands of all-time, there were many nights when he looked like he needed to be saved. But now David Lee Roth wants to save your life. The 48-year- old former Van Halen front man is in training to become an EMT.
S. O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness.
TOURE: He's on track to get his certification in November, making New Yorkers feel safe. He's working as a volunteer one weekend a month. Last time we heard from him, he was getting busted for buying marijuana in the Washington Square Park.
HEMMER: He's just a gigolo.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Just a gigolo. Don't knock David Lee Roth's hustle!
(LAUGHTER) TOURE: We have a new all-time "Jeopardy" champion. Ken Jennings is blowing them away on Alex Trebek's show, 16 consecutive victories. The 30-year-old Brigham Young grad has got $500,000 that he's made. Unbelievable. And the question that he won -- that he answered with, Bill. The only Central American country, whose natural anthem is sung in English.
HEMMER: Central American. I would say...
TOURE: Very small country.
HEMMER: I would say, Belize.
TOURE: Very good! And he's not prompted, people.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
S. O'BRIEN: Wow!
TOURE: That was a real answer.
HEMMER: It was the Brits were there for a long time.
TOURE: Very good!
HEMMER: They just got their independence actually, not to long ago.
TOURE: It's a beautiful country. I went there once.
HEMMER: Great diving.
TOURE: Beautiful.
HEMMER: Second largest barrier reef in the world behind...
S. O'BRIEN: Australia.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: Exactly. What I was going to say.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: They had dragonflies like this!
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: No doubt. We were like, oh, my God!
HEMMER: Bring your screen because you're going to need it at night. Thank you Toure.
Funny man David Letterman last night poking a little bit of fun at Saddam Hussein. Here's what went down on "The Late Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST "THE LATE SHOW": Well, he's in captivity and he's being interrogated. And a couple months ago, the Red Cross went to check up on him and let they him write a letter back home. Well, now the letter has been published. For some reason, he sends the letter to his daughter and now we get a copy of it, so we can see what's in the letter. I don't know if that's right, but we...
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: And it's kind of pathetic, because in the letter he asks his daughter if he would swing by his spider hole and water the plants.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny.
HEMMER: Good for a good laugh.
S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the vice president gets a little blue up on Capitol Hill. Was it just a slip of the tongue, or was it a big mistake? Give you a minute, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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