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American Morning
Democratic Official Claims Kerry Has Made V.P. Choice; Did U.S. Partake in Prisoner Swap?
Aired July 05, 2004 - 07:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Is a big announcement coming soon from John Kerry? The vice presidential buzz heating up with word the senator has already made up that big decision.
Money for the new Iraq going up in flames -- insurgents delivering a serious blow to a major oil pipeline.
And one of the most intriguing places in the solar system -- what Cassini is seeing on the moon called Titan.
All this morning, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Welcome to July 5th, everybody. Good morning. Heidi is working for Soledad today. Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: A lot of political news to talk about. We'll get to all of it today -- a party official telling CNN that John Kerry has made up his mind on who will be his running mate. Campaign aides remain tight lipped about who that person is, certainly.
Both campaigns were active over the holiday weekend. We'll find out about what's happening on the trail. We'll find out what we know about the VP hunt as well, in a matter of moments here.
COLLINS: Also, here in New York -- rebuilding has officially begun at the World Trade Center site. We'll look at the massive construction project now under way for the Freedom Tower and the ceremony yesterday commemorating the event. It's going to be spectacular.
HEMMER: A significant day, too.
Jack Cafferty, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANALYST: How are you doing?
Amnesty for the insurgents -- the new government in Iraq is considering allowing the guys who are causing all the trouble over there to have a do-over if they agree to lay down their guns and play nice. Needless to say it's an idea that is highly controversial, particularly among some of the folks here in the United States who don't think that our soldiers getting killed over there by these people is the kind of thing that ought to be grounds for any sort of amnesty.
There is a differentiation between people who do really bad things and the Baath party, who just kind of got left out of the loop when the Saddam government fell. But we'll take a look at it in a few minutes.
HEMMER: Good deal. That is one question today.
Another question politically, hanging in the balance today over the presidential campaign may be erased any day now -- maybe Tuesday, maybe Wednesday -- we'll see this week -- Democrat John Kerry's choice for running mate. And Kelly Wallace tracking that with us here this morning. Good morning to you.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. A Democratic official telling CNN that John Kerry has made a decision and, get this, plans to announce it, get this "on his terms with discipline more particularly associated with Republican campaigns of yesteryear. And that obviously means," according to this official, "a rapid turnaround."
But Bill, the question of exactly who the choice is and when we'll learn it, still a mystery this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): John Kerry seems to be enjoying this moment strutting his stuff in Iowa where the movie "Field of Dreams" was filmed, all the while keeping everyone guessing about who he will choose as his running mate and when.
WALLACE (on camera): What are the main factors he is considering in making this decision?
STEPHANIE CUTTER, KERRY CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Kelly, I can't get into what's going on in his mind. And, you know, it's up to him. You know, he's playing his cards very close to his chest, and as he should.
WALLACE (voice-over): So, was this a clue or just coincidence? Kerry spent Sunday with Tom Vilsack of Iowa. The rags to riches governor is believed to be on the short list.
TOM VILSACK, IOWA GOVERNOR: This campaign is not about me.
WALLACE (voice-over): Also on the list, Democratic sources say, congressman Dick Gephardt and senator John Edwards, who dodged questions yesterday in North Carolina, but didn't stop auditioning for the job.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, (D-NORTH CAROLINA): Do everything in your power to make sure that Senator John Kerry is the next president of the United States.
WALLACE (voice-over): The only real clues from a Kerry campaign source, who told CNN, the senator wants someone who has national, not regional appeal, has demonstrated leadership ability and is compatible with Kerry on every level.
In addition to choosing a running mate, the senator is courting rural voters. His bus trip through the heartland was all about trying to make the case that despite his big-city hometown, he is a lot like them.
SEN. JOHN KERRY, PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It really doesn't matter whether it's a Democrat idea or Republican idea. It matters whether it works for America.
WALLACE (voice-over): Small town USA could play a major role in '04. Al Gore lost the rural vote decisively to George W. Bush in 2000. John Kerry hopes to change that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And John Kerry also hopes to generate a lot of excitement with his choice of running mate and, Bill, the big question -- when. We think it could come as early as this week, as early as Tuesday.
HEMMER: Three weeks from Boston, right, starting today?
WALLACE: Exactly.
HEMMER: What's a bigger consideration for him? Is it a personality parallel or is it a geographical parallel that he may be looking for, depending on the part of the country that he feels he needs to attack?
WALLACE: Well, the sense is -- Democratic sources talking to CNN saying that he has studied running mate decisions of years past. And it sort of reaffirmed in his mind that geography -- throw it out the window. It doesn't matter anymore. That chemistry is really the most important thing. So, the person that he is choosing, or senses, is a person he feels he can really get along with for the next four or eight years if he's elected.
HEMMER: And to help to define him, too -- leading up to the convention in Boston.
WALLACE: And that's a key point.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. You'll have the news first, I am certain.
WALLACE: Pressure on.
HEMMER: You got it. Talk to you later. Here's Heidi now -- Heidi. COLLINS: Vice president Cheney is campaigning in some of the swing states. And as Ed Henry tells us, he's already taken the fight to John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As senator John Kerry edges closer to selecting a running mate, vice president Cheney is raising his own profile on the campaign trail. Rolling through three battleground states on a bus tour, Cheney is tearing into Kerry and the Republican crowds are loving every minute of it.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sometimes I think John Kerry develops amnesia when he gets out on the campaign trail.
HENRY (voice-over): Cheney told his conservative West Virginia audience that Kerry has been on the wrong side of flag burning, abortion and guns.
CHENEY: His latest thing is to tell audience that he holds conservative values.
(LAUGHTER)
CHENEY: Did he forget his voting record -- the voting record that makes him the most liberal member of the United States Senate?
HENRY (voice-over): At an earlier stop in Ohio, the vice president ridiculed Kerry for supporting 350 tax hikes.
CHENEY: That's an average of a vote for higher taxes every three weeks for the last 20 years.
(LAUGHTER)
CHENEY: At least the folks back in Massachusetts knew he was on the job.
HENRY (on camera): Democrats reject that charge and say that Mr. Cheney is so unpopular that his larger role on the campaign trail will backfire with swing voters.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: We'll have people wherever he goes reminding people that -- who Dick Cheney is, that he is Mr. Halliburton, and he's an extreme right-wing conservative out of the mainstream.
HENRY (voice-over): Plenty of protesters, but that didn't stop Cheney from greeting tourists during a quick stop at the pro football hall of fame, and hamming it up in a classic convertible with his granddaughter. Washington's ultimate insider seems to be enjoying some retail politics outside the beltway.
He playfully teased on audience about breaking his rhythm with too much enthusiasm. CHENEY: You guys want to hear this speech or not?
HENRY (voice-over): Cheney's allies are also stressing the vice president's long experience, in contrast to the people at the top of Kerry's short list.
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH, R-OHIO: Regardless, folks, of who the Democrats put up as their vice presidential candidate, they'll never be able to hold a candle to Dick Cheney.
HENRY (voice-over): Democrats fired back at Cheney with a Kerry spokesman charging that the vice president's speeches were riddled with distortions.
Democrats are so confident that Cheney's attacks will fall short, they are joking that if he wants to keep traveling the country, they'll pay his bus fare.
Ed Henry, CNN, with the vice president in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Vice President Cheney has had four heart attacks in the past nine years. Yesterday his office announced that one of his doctors was dropped. An article in today's "New Yorker" magazine reports the doctor has abused prescription drugs for years.
HEMMER: About eight minutes past the hour.
To Iraq this morning now -- the interim government delaying, indefinitely, an announcement on a possible partial amnesty deal for low-level insurgents. This is according to a spokesperson for the new prime minister Ayad Allawi. Meanwhile, insurgents stepping up their attacks on Iraq's oil industry.
Brent Sadler, live in Baghdad now, fills us in on details on this and other stories there. Brent, good afternoon.
BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (OFF MIC) north and south of the country with another attack on a secondary pipeline south of Baghdad Sunday, affecting oil supplies to Iraq's own refineries. But the problem is a whole lot bigger than that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER (voice-over): Giant ships fill their tanks with Iraqi crude oil, exporting up to $3 million worth of oil an hour, if all works well. But all is not well. Crude oozes from a gaping hole after recent attacks on strategic pipelines near Basra in southern Iraq, sapping oil revenues.
AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: Anyone involved in these attacks is nothing more than a traitor to the cause of Iraq's freedom and the freedom of its people. SADLER (voice-over): Oil protection is supposed to be a top priority, on land and at sea, since last year's invasion of Iraq. But Iraqi officials claim it's been hit and miss, exposing a worrying shortfall in coalition planning.
JABBAR AL-NABY, DIR. GEN., SOUTH OIL COMPANY: So they need security everywhere, and security in men, security in equipment and security in every aspect.
SADLER (voice-over): As recently as two months ago, would-be suicide bombers tried but failed to hit these vital offshore terminals now guarded by a fleet of coalition warships.
The U.S. soldiers help enforce a new exclusion zone, patrolled by the American and British navies. Nothing is full-proof, though.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything is always vulnerable if you get the right thing at the right time. But they are much harder to crack.
SADLER (voice-over): But on land, where saboteurs are getting through, a 15,000-strong Iraqi protection force, privately trained with coalition money is paper thin with more than 7,000 miles of pipeline and 260 facilities to guard.
KEVIN THOMAS, OIL ADVISER, CPA SOUTH: Our patrols can only walk through. Any determined enemy can monitor the patrol patterns and attack when the patrol has moved on.
SADLER (voice-over): The oil network has so far been hit more than 130 times in the past seven months alone, including a six-day shutdown of all crude exports in June.
Losing money, Iraq and its coalition allies can ill afford.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER: Well, that 15,000-strong oil protection force manned by Iraqis is still getting up to speed. But without surveillance aircraft and high technology equipment, complain Iraqi officials, it's not going to be strong enough to meet the continuing threat. Bill?
Brent Sadler in Baghdad. Thanks for that, Brent.
Eleven minutes past the hour. To Carol Costello at the CNN Center for the rest of the news. Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Thank you. Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic starting his defense today. Milosevic facing more than 60 charges relating to war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Milosevic is acting as his own attorney. He's been given four hours to outline his case by the UN court at The Hague, but the trial was adjourned early due to concerns for Milosevic's health.
The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico says he is outraged over what happened at a funeral for a Marine there. Mexican troops carrying automatic weapons blocked the path of a Marine honor guard at the funeral for Juan Lopez. He was killed in Iraq.
The Mexican troops demanded Marines hand over their ceremonial rifles. After a few minutes "Taps" was played and the funeral went on despite the objections of the Mexican troops.
Thousands are visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to see a new exhibit. It features photos and items from his funeral. They'll be on display until mid-November.
The Reagan Library Web site is showing some of those photos online, and the number of visitors to the library has quadrupled since it reopened after Reagan's funeral.
Someone out there is $290 million richer, but it is not clear who. Only one ticket matched all six numbers in Friday's mega millions drawing. The lucky ticket was bought in Lowell, Massachusetts. And that leave's me out. But the new millionaire has not yet come forward -- maybe tomorrow. The lottery office is closed today in observance of the Fourth of July.
And turning to sports -- in Wimbledon, Roger Federer does it again winning his second straight men's title. Federer defeating second-seeded Andy Roddick in four sets yesterday.
Russia's Maria Sharapova won Saturday, on the women's side beating Serena Williams, who was seeking her third Wimbledon victory in a row. At 17, Sharapova is the second, youngest women's champion at Wimbledon in an open -- in the open era, after Martina Hingis.
Back to you guys now.
HEMMER: Think she's got a future?
COSTELLO: I think so.
COLLINS: That Bill's favorite tennis player. I don't understand it.
HEMMER: She played well. Thank you, Carol. Chad Myers watching the weather for us on a Monday morning, the holiday day, today. Good morning, Chad.
COLLINS: Hey, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Good morning, Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Chad, thanks for that.
It will be years before the Freedom Tower takes its place in the New York skyline, but the groundwork is now being laid in part. Yesterday, on the nation's 228th birthday, there was a symbolic rebirth in lower Manhattan. Alina Cho was there for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The blue cloth hid a breathtaking site - polished New York granite, now the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower, the first and tallest building to be built on ground zero.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK MAYOR: By laying this magnificent cornerstone of hope, we are reaffirming life at ground zero.
CHO (voice-over): There was symbolism this Fourth of July. The son of a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11, read the Declaration of Independence.
JULIAN DAVIS, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: We hold these truths to be self-evident.
CHO (voice-over): The height of the Freedom Tower is symbolic -- 1,776 feet to mark the year America declared its independence -- the vision of master planner Daniel Libeskind.
DANIEL LIBESKIND, WTC SITE MASTER PLANNER: One thinks of how incredible to resurrect and rebuild New York in a way that is inspiring, and that is meaningful and is not just founded on height but on the liberties and freedoms that this country was founded on.
CHO (voice-over): Family members who lost loved ones were on hand. John Foy lost his mother-in-law.
JOHN FOY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: It feels good. This is like -- it's a closure and it's a new beginning.
CHO (voice-over): Some touched the inscription. Others want construction to wait for a memorial to be built first at what they regard as sacred ground.
WILLIAM HEALY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: This is a gravesite. Today would have been much more appropriate had it been the cornerstone for the memorial.
CHO (voice-over): A memorial will be built here and is scheduled to open around the same time as the tower.
BLOOMBERG: What our enemies sought to destroy, our democracy, our freedom, our way of life, stands taller than ever before.
CHO (on camera): What is clear about this ceremony is that it marks the first step in rebuilding here at ground zero. What the final landscape will look like or when that will happen is still an open question. Alina Cho, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, despite a day of heavy rain, the show did go on in Washington last night -- the patriotic turning out for a concert on the west lawn of the capital, one of the best fireworks displays every year -- an amazing show, too on the national mall.
That nasty weather canceled a parade earlier in the day -- 1.6 inches of rain falling in D.C. to soak the grounds down there. Good sights in the sky, nonetheless.
COLLINS: And the Tsunami strikes again. Japanese eating sensation, Takeru Kobayashi won the Famous Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest for the fourth straight here.
The 132-pound Kobayashi finished off 53 1/2 hot dogs in just 12 minutes. That is beating his previous world record by three. The second place finisher ate only 38 hot dogs.
That's not so good.
HEMMER: A clear second place.
COLLINS: Quite a margin, yes.
HEMMER: How do you think that guy is feeling today, huh?
COLLINS: I don't want to think about it, yuck.
CAFFERTY: That's not attractive to watch. It's just not attractive to watch. Here's something to think about.
The Iraqi interim government thinking about offering amnesty to insurgents, even the ones responsible for the deaths of American soldiers. Although there is no time table for a formal announcement, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said yesterday that he's already negotiating with representatives of the radical Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Allawi, who is a former Baath party member, his own self says amnesty will depend on whether the insurgents surrender their weapons. Supporters say that former insurgents should get a fresh start. They say it's the best way to reintegrate former members of the Baath party.
But U.S. Officials said insurgents who attacked coalition forces will face criminal charges in Iraqi courts. American forces are holding about 4,000 suspected insurgents.
Here's the question -- is granting amnesty to insurgents in Iraq the right approach to the problems there?
Am@cnn.com -- and we will read some of your letters later.
HEMMER: What did you say earlier -- could irk a lot of military families here, military members?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Well, of course, of course. How are they going to determine and sort out who the really bad guys are from who the disaffected Baath members are from al-Sadr's guys. I mean, to me, unless we have suddenly much better intelligence than we've ever had over there, it's, you know, like reaching into a can of mush and trying to pull out, you know, a diamond gram. You're not going to be able to tell who is who.
And as far as surrendering weapons are concerned. As I said, I read something last week -- more weapons in that country than any place, maybe, in the world. So, I don't know. On the other hand...
HEMMER: Could be the price of sovereignty.
CAFFERTY: Yes, on the other hand, you've got to start some place in an effort to kind of glue this place together. So, I don't know the answer to that.
COLLINS: It's very subjective.
CAFFERTY: That's why we're talking to them.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
COLLINS: We'll get those responses in just a bit. Thanks, Jack.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Powell has made many sacrifices in service to his country. And on Friday, as many of you may have already seen but just can't get enough of, the secretary sounded a most undiplomatic note.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: (SINGING "YMCA").
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: OK. Secretary Powell's version of the "YMCA" might not be so great. Get ready because this is where he dances. But he made up for it apparently with that dancing, which I think is pretty scary too.
The performance was part of the traditional close of the Asian Summit where diplomats provide the entertainment. Thankfully so.
HEMMER: He's got a sense of humor, doesn't he?
COLLINS: He does.
HEMMER: And a lot of guts.
COLLINS: This is true.
HEMMER: In a moment here -- swim at your own risk. Lawmakers taking down the warning signs at some beaches just to avoid being sued. Jeffrey Toobin has some thoughts on that. In a moment, we'll get to it.
COLLINS: Also, allegations the U.S. swapped suspected terrorists for western prisoners. We'll have a live report on that.
HEMMER: Also, Cassini making its first pass of Titan, that giant moon. Something is puzzling the scientists, though -- a look at that ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. More scientific raves for the pictures of Saturn coming from the Cassini spacecraft just days after it began orbiting the ringed planet. Cassini had a not so close encounter with Titan, the largest of Saturn's 31 moons.
And Jack Horkheimer loves this stuff. Executive director, Miami Planetarium back with us -- good morning, Jack. Nice to have you here on a holiday, nonetheless.
On our screen we can show you some new pictures here. They are in color. We're told that the bright patterns we're seeing is something new, maybe the best yet. We'll put them on the screen and what do you see in them?
JACK HORKHEIMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIAMI PLANETARIUM: Well, these are the best pictures yet. As a matter of fact, you notice the planet is kind of orange-ish looking. The first shot you're shown, that is kind of a ubiquitous, all-encompassing -- we might call it like the smog over L.A., kind of orange-ish.
But with spectral cameras, infrared cameras in different wave lengths, they were able to image this moon, which is really bigger than the planets Pluto and Mercury. And what we are seeing is in the detail here, is the best we've ever seen before on this only moon in the solar system that has an atmosphere one and a half times the density of our Earth.
We're seeing areas of light and dark but are just a reverse of what they thought they'd be. The dark areas you just saw were actually the water ice areas, and the light areas were the hydrocarbon areas. But one of the things that's puzzling scientists is they couldn't find any evidence of liquid. And we thought for a long time there should be large lakes of methane, maybe oceans of it, which we could explore when the spacecraft detaches and lands on the surface of Titan later this year -- the beginning of next year.
Look at those dark areas, Bill. That's actually the icy part and the light areas are the relatively solid part. You know when you are in an airplane and you see sunlight glinting off of lakes or oceans? You see the sunlight glinting and flashing? That's what they expected to see when they got close to Titan this past Saturday; and instead they saw no flashes. And so this is really puzzling because maybe there aren't these great oceans and lakes of liquid methane.
They have seen a wonderful, a huge methane cloud system at the South Pole however. And in several hours of taking photographs they actually watched a huge storm system at the south pole move in various areas. HEMMER: Jack, let me stop you there. Jack, you said a whole lot and I really appreciate your comments. If all that is true what you are describing to us, does that take away from the significance of this mission?
HORKHEIMER: Oh, no -- not at all. On the contrary, we still believe that, you know, the hydro carbon-rich Titan -- I keep wanting to call it a planet. It's really a moon, but it's so huge.
HEMMER: Because it's so big.
HORKHEIMER: The hydro carbon rich moon is really, we think, indicative of what our Earth was like about four billion years ago when, before life ever began. And that's going to give us a lot of insight into how moons and planets evolve -- especially this moon with an atmosphere.
That's what is so bizarre and wonderful -- we've never, ever landed on a moon with an atmosphere and we're going to do it now. This is the only one. Our only chance. And it's only going to get better.
We're going to come even closer in October and then we're going to pay a couple dozen visits to this moon over the next four years. So, I would speculate that within another six to eight months we are going to see a whole, another world before our eyes that we've never seen before.
HEMMER: Jack, always good to talk to you. Jack Horkheimer, thanks for your time down there.
HORKHEIMER: Keep looking up.
HEMMER: You -- always will. Thank you much -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come -- your Monday morning dose of "90-Second Pop."
The purple one celebrates a special anniversary by getting together with some ghosts from his musical past.
Plus, what is it about "Spider-Man 2" that has so many moviegoers tangled in its web.
"90-Second Pop" is coming up later on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back everyone; I hope you had a great weekend. It is July 5th this morning. Heidi Collins working for Soledad today. Soledad has got a vacation all week.
COLLINS: That lucky girl.
HEMMER: Nice to have you back with us, though.
COLLINS: Thank you.
HEMMER: Is it just diplomatic give and take or did the U.S. decision to release terror suspects compromise national security? We'll look at new information coming in about how certain Saudi detainees got their release and the question of a quid pro quo in a moment here from the White House.
COLLINS: OK and also we are going to be looking at a dilemma for Florida, the state deciding that even if its riskier for swimmers if beaches don't have warning signs posted is it safer for the state. We're going to talk about that with Jeffrey Toobin and the legal nightmare involved in that.
HEMMER: Also "90-Second Pop." Over the weekend, did you see "Spider-Man"?
COLLINS: I did not.
HEMMER: No, not yet?
COLLINS: No.
HEMMER: It's getting great reviews.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: A lot of people putting are shoveling a lot of money towards this. Anyway, if your Spidey senses told you this would be No. 1, your Spidey senses were pretty good, because this movie really crushed at the box office. So, we'll get to all of that in a moment here (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COLLINS: I just don't like all the fake stunts.
HEMMER: No?
COLLINS: Yes.
Anyway, moving right along this morning, was a secret deal in place to swap Saudi detainees at Guantanamo Bay and British citizens held in Saudi Arabia? It's a scenario that one senior Saudi official is dismissing as -- quote -- "pure fantasy."
Suzanne Malveaux is live now at the White House this morning.
Suzanne -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
The controversy began with a report from "The New York Times" that cited anonymous sources as saying that there was this secret prison swap. This is something that Saudi officials called a pure fantasy. And it's a case that one person says connecting dots that don't.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Les Walker was held in Saudi Arabia, for allegedly carrying out terrorist attacks there. But now he's a free man. The British citizen says he, along with six other Western prisoners, had been tortured by Saudi security officials into confessing to crimes they did not commit.
LES WALKER, FORMER PRISONER: We pleaded innocent until they tortured us -- or myself, they tortured me to confess to bombings.
MALVEAUX: Walker and the others were freed nearly a year ago, but the circumstances surrounding their release are raising questions now about a possible secret international prison swap.
According to senior American and British officials cited in "The New York Times," the U.S., Britain and Saudi Arabia were involved in months of intense negotiations, beginning in July of 2002, to win the detainees' release.
The deal was, last May the U.S. freed five Saudi detainees in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay, returning them to the Saudi government. Three months later, Saudi Arabia released the Western detainees. Was it quid pro quo?
British embassy spokesman Steve Atkins said: "We were extremely relieved to win their release and get them out of Saudi Arabia. We worked ceaselessly for their return." But also said, "I am not able to comment further on any diplomatic discussions."
U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Sean McCormack denied any trade, saying: "There is no recollection here of any linkage between these two actions. The Saudi's release was part of the normal policy of transferring detainees from Guantanamo for prosecution or continued detention."
Walker says he was never told of the circumstances of his release, but he had his suspicions.
WALKER: We were pawns in a big game. That was our feeling once we were in prison. And it's a thought that I've held since I came out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, while officials do not dispute the timeline of the release of these detainees, there are some political analysts who believe that this timing around the Iraq war was more than coincidence -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Suzanne Malveaux coming to us live from the White House today. Thanks so much, Suzanne.
HEMMER: In the state of Florida, public beaches without lifeguards will no longer have safety flags warning swimmers of dangerous conditions. The state wants to prevent lawsuits like the one filed by the family of a drowning victim. Despite red warning flags, he tried to save a couple caught in a rip current.
I recently talked with our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, about this, and whether or not cases like it set a dangerous precedent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFFERY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Florida, what they did was they decided, OK, if that's the way people are going to react, we're going to remove safety flags from all of the beaches everywhere, because it's better to have no safety flags than inadequate ones.
HEMMER: Wow! So, from a legal standpoint that's the action they are taking. From a safety standpoint, how dangerous could that be?
TOOBIN: The question is, you know: Does the legal system push people towards a more unsafe society? Are the incentives in the wrong place? And unfortunately, that's been the case in a couple of places -- in a couple of different situations where the incentive system pushes -- makes perhaps the defendant legally in a better situation, but society worse off.
HEMMER: You're taking us to an interesting point here now. I don't know if you agree with this or not. Are some of these lawsuits making this country more dangerous?
TOOBIN: Well, I think some of the lawsuit culture in which we live does create these perverse incentives. I mean, you have a very strong personal injuries lawyers lobby, the Trial Lawyers Lobby, which limits the ability to limit these damages in some situations, and it's been a big problem in a lot of places.
HEMMER: If that is the problem then, how do lawyers like yourself come down on the issue of tort reform? In a litigious world, how did you size it up?
TOOBIN: Well, you know, I wrote a story for "The New Yorker" last year about this subject, and the one area of tort reform that really seems unassailable to me is limiting liability against government. You can argue about, you know, private defendants. But when you have governments as defendants, where people are using, you know, the taxpayers' money as piggy banks -- New York state is having horrendous problems in this area, particularly New York City, where, you know, you have a situation where two people climbed over a fence on a pier, jumped into the water, were paralyzed because the water was too shallow. Obviously, an irresponsible thing to do. They got $25 million from New York. And that's the kind of thing that is really, I think, out of line.
HEMMER: To the next question then. How do you get it back under control?
TOOBIN: Well, it's really -- it's totally a political issue, and that's where, you know, lobbying becomes very important. Trial lawyers are a very important lobby. A lot of legislators themselves are trial lawyers, and, you know, corporations lobby very heavily on the other side in the tort reform movement. What often happens is gridlock, nothing. That's what's happened in New York.
HEMMER: Could you also argue then that this would ultimately deprive the average, normal citizen from his or her day in court?
TOOBIN: Right. I mean, one of the things that trial lawyers say, and it's absolutely correct, is the institution of trial by jury is one of the fundamental American rights. If you take it away, that's something that people react to. And, you know, it's very easy to argue these issues in the abstract, but if it's your family that's injured, people feel very differently.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Jeff Toobin again last week.
Last year, New York paid out about $500 million in claims against the city -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, the Democratic Veepstakes may be over. There is word this morning John Kerry has picked a running mate.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, "90-Second Pop" and Prince celebrating a purple anniversary. Getting back together with some old friends, still to come on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A great looking sight here from Mount Rushmore Saturday night, 25,000 turned out in western South Dakota. A spectacular celebration there at Mount Rushmore National Park there in South Dakota and a really good looking sight, too.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: And now, we're going to check in with Jack and the "Question of the Day" about amnesty for the insurgents.
CAFFERTY: The Iraqi interim government, Heidi, is thinking about offering amnesty to the insurgents there, even the ones responsible for the deaths of American soldiers. There's no timetable for a formal announcement. It could be put off indefinitely. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Allawi said that he's already negotiating with representatives of the radical Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr.
Supporters say that former insurgents should get a fresh start, but U.S. officials have said insurgents who attack coalition forces will face criminal charges in Iraqi courts.
The question we're asking is whether or not you think this is a good idea, if it's the right approach or not.
The first writer: "Forgiving some of the lesser offenders with no blood on their hands a chance to cross over to the good guys' side, so be it. They may turn in the really bad guys, and the more that join the new government the better." John in Madison, Wisconsin: "We're a military family. My son has served in the Iraqi theater. Whether or not I like the Iraqi amnesty policy is really not the issue. The larger issue is that it's Iraqi policy, and the great thing is that they have a sovereign government to make any policy they want. We fought over there so they would have that ability, not so that they would have to make policies that we agree with."
Joe writes: "It's not a bad idea if implemented properly. Granting amnesty to the insurgents should be combined with a plan to get them integrated into another government-directed system that will allow them to make a living." He suggests the police force or the army.
And Weldon in New Brunswick said: "Amnesty would probably be the only practical solution since there could never be a hole dug deep enough to bury them all."
Am@cnn.com if you want to weigh in on this.
HEMMER: If, however, you draw some moderate factions from the Sunni population into this new government, this could make a lot of headway.
CAFFERTY: Well, I think the key, at least in these four e-mails, is make a living. If you provide an opportunity for any of these people to get a job and support their family, make a living, the chances of them coming over to that side, whoever that is, is probably better than if you don't offer anything. So, if there's a job and a way to make a living along with the amnesty, you'll probably get some people.
HEMMER: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) some of these towns in the Sunni Triangle still have over 60 percent unemployment. That's not going to get it done.
CAFFERTY: No.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
HEMMER: A break here. In a moment, a party fit for the fourth of July, only it wasn't here in the U.S. We'll tell you what these folks are all fired up about in a moment when we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's 45 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of the other news with Carol Costello.
Hey -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Hi, Heidi. Thank you.
There is word this morning that Democratic frontrunner John Kerry has chosen a running mate. Aides to Senator Kerry tells CNN a decision has been made, but they're keeping tight-lipped on the name. An announcement is expected before the convention begins this month, possibly as early as this week.
Vice President Dick Cheney drops one of his doctors because the physician reportedly abused prescription narcotics. Dick Cheney's office tells CNN that Dr. Gary Malakoff has been let go from the medical team that monitors the vice president's health. Today's issue of "The New Yorker" claims that the doctor has abused prescription narcotic for years. Cheney, who is 63, has had four heart attacks in the past nine years.
At ground zero, the first step was taken on the Fourth of July to build the new Freedom Tower. A 20-ton granite block, cornerstone of the new tower, was lifted into place at the World Trade Center site. The inscription on the stone is dedicated to those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks. It will take five years to build the tower.
Slot machines are coming to Pennsylvania. The state legislature has passed a bill to allow more than 60,000 slot machines at 14 locations. Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign the bill today. Lawmakers are hoping revenues from gambling will help reduce property taxes.
And a huge upset in soccer as Greece -- Greece wins the European championship. Greek fans went into a absolute frenzy as their team beat Portugal 1-nil in the finals yesterday. Angelo Charisteas scored that goal. The Greeks were an 80 to 1 long shot and hadn't won a single game in a major competition before this European tournament.
Back to you -- Bill.
HEMMER: And a great primer for the summer games, huh, Carol?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
HEMMER: They were nuts in Athens. Thanks for that.
In a moment, appearance by your friendly neighborhood "90-Second Pop" pop panel. Prince on the agenda today, and "Spider-Man 2" packing the punch at the box office. Back in a moment after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Time now for a Monday edition of "90-Second Pop" with a couple of newcomers to the program today. Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons, a rookie, and you better be funny, too. "Entertainment Weekly's" Jessica Shaw, she is, of course, a pop veteran. And another first timer, Jeremy Helligar, senior editor for "US Weekly."
Thank, you guys, for being here on this holiday.
Jeremy, I want to start with you with this "Purple Rain" deal. Twenty years ago this movie came out. And now...
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": I just got older.
COLLINS: Yes.
SHAW: I just have to say.
COLLINS: And like we were saying at the break, I don't remember it at all. But there are -- there's quite a reunion going on here. He got back together with Sheila E., with the drummer Wendy that we knew, and, of course, The Time. This happened at the Athens Music Festival. What is the significance here? Are they going to get back together?
JEREMY HELLIGAR, SENIOR EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": You know, this has been a huge year for Prince. He has his biggest record, "Musicology," in years. And it's sort of fitting that he would sort of cap it all with this reunion. I mean, Sheila E., The Time, Prince are responsible for some of the best and biggest music of the mid-'80s.
SHAW: I don't know. I think Prince is the best, and he is a legend, but when I heard that people were like -- the audience was going crazy for Sheila E., I was kind of like, come on, it's Sheila E.
GREG FITZSIMMONS, COMEDIAN: Well, you know where he found Sheila E. and Morris Day and The Time? Right where he left them.
HELLIGAR: I mean yes. I mean, you have to...
COLLINS: You are funny. This is good.
HELLIGAR: You have to think that the, you know, the Police, Abba, if these groups were reunited, that would be an amazing -- an amazing deal. But, yes, it is kind of anticlimactic for Sheila E...
COLLINS: Well, so how was the performance? I mean, how did they do?
HELLIGAR: Well, I mean, it was good, a great reaction.
COLLINS: Was it good or not so good?
SHAW: It was very g-rated. He got rid of all the bad words.
COLLINS: Oh. Oh, so that "Nikki" song was probably not in the...
(CROSSTALK)
FITZSIMMONS: It he's all about the family now. I think he's born-again, right? And he's all about the family and...
SHAW: He enjoys the family, yes, and...
HELLIGAR: He's a Jehovah's Witness.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, oh, that's what it is, Jehovah's Witness.
COLLINS: I didn't know that. Wow!
FITZSIMMONS: Yes. And...
SHAW: So the bad lyrics are gone.
FITZSIMMONS: Well, it's tough. You know, he is from the Midwest, like yourself, you know, Minnesota. You must have been a big fan of his, right?
COLLINS: I was actually a huge fan back then.
FITZSIMMONS: Can you sing any of his music?
COLLINS: I could, but then everyone would shut the TV off. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for that.
SHAW: Five-second delay?
COLLINS: Yes, we definitely are. Yes, he was almost a neighbor of mine. But, I mean, he was huge there in the club scene down there when he was first starting out. So, everybody was just a humongous fan.
HELLIGAR: You know what? Any time Prince gets a performance, it's a big deal, no matter who he is singing with.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: So, without Sheila E., The Time, Wendy, it's still a good deal.
COLLINS: Right. All right...
SHAW: Carmen Electra should have been there. I think that would have made that whole thing a lot better.
COLLINS: Yes. All right, Greg, let's move on a little bit here. Macy Gray. OK. So she's going to be singing naked for Elton John's AIDS Foundation, which is a great foundation. Do we have to sing naked?
FITZSIMMONS: Not naked. Not naked.
COLLINS: Not naked. Oh, she's got the shoes on, right?
FITZSIMMONS: She's wearing Jimmy Choo shoes.
COLLINS: OK.
FITZSIMMONS: Which really, because you've got to leave something to take off later. You've got to leave something to push the envelope with later.
SHAW: We can only hope -- I mean, don't you really just -- aren't you dying to see her feet?
FITZSIMMONS: Did you hear she was barefoot?
SHAW: Yes.
FITZSIMMONS: Well, I think, look, first of all if you're going to get naked in front of a crowd full of men, do it at an Elton John AIDS benefit. Because if they're all gay, it's not as intimidating. If somebody screams out, hey, great pair, he's talking about the shoes.
COLLINS: The shoes, definitely.
SHAW: But you know what? Like, gay, straight, do we really want to see Macy Gray naked?
HELLIGAR: Yes, no one wants to see Macy Gray naked.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, I do.
SHAW: That is the most desperate ploy for attention and help that I've ever seen other than Sheila E.
COLLINS: But seriously, do they think they're going to bring in more money that way or like less money?
HELLIGAR: I think they'll lose money.
SHAW: No, I mean, less money.
COLLINS: Less money.
SHAW: She's going to be walking out that door.
FITZSIMMONS: No, I've got a counterpoint. I am in love with Macy Gray. First of all, she's...
SHAW: And Jimmy Choo shoes.
FITZSIMMONS: And Jimmy Choo shoes, but that's another thing. That's on my Web site. But if you -- you know, she is a descendent of Prince. I mean, she is singing the kind of fund, you know, that cool funk.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: Yes, but she hasn't sold a record in ages. I mean, no one cares about her anymore. Macy Gray is yesterday's news. That's why...
FITZSIMMONS: She is the best new artist in 10 years. You have no idea of what you're talking about.
COLLINS: Well, but we're talking about her now.
HELLIGAR: Oh, no, no.
COLLINS: Even though it's because she's not going to wear any clothes, but that's OK.
All right, Jessica, let's talk about "Spider-Man 2."
SHAW: Spider-Man!
COLLINS: Yes, it's potentially going to be absolutely huge.
SHAW: Yes. Well, it already is absolutely huge. It made over 40 million its first day, which is breaking, you know, all of the records. And people are speculating, you know, after today, it's going to break 160 million, which is...
COLLINS: Yes, but, I mean, it could become the highest-grossing movie ever.
SHAW: Yes, it could. It has some competition. I mean, there are things like "Titanic," like 75 "Matrix" movies. There's another "Spider-Man." But it's...
HELLIGAR: And you know what else? Like every week, ticket prices go up.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: I mean, one week it's 10 bucks, the week 11 bucks. Like, who even knows what it means to gross 100 million nowadays?
COLLINS: Right. This is true. But what do you think it is about this movie? Do you think it's the love story, or do you think it's definitely the super action hero with all of those crazy stunts and...
SHAW: I saw it yesterday. It is amazing, and I'm not even like a huge superhero fan. I'm so not the target audience. But it's really smart and it's sensitive and he's tortured. And it's not just action. It's a great, great movie. It's a great story.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, and you really get a wide demographic, because not only are you getting comic book geeks, but you're also getting, you know, women that live with their cats in their 40s.
SHAW: And she's naked with Jimmy Choo shoes in the movie, which is great.
HELLIGAR: You can't beat Tobey in tights. I mean, come on.
COLLINS: Tobey in tights.
HELLIGAR: Tobey in tights.
COLLINS: That's what I was after.
HELLIGAR: That's what everyone is going for.
COLLINS: But you're saying it is a great movie to go see, obviously. OK. SHAW: Absolutely. And it should break all the records.
COLLINS: All right, better than "Shrek 2"?
SHAW: I think so.
COLLINS: All right, I'll talk to my 3-year-old about that. All right, guys, thank you so much for being here. Greg, Jessica and Jeremy, you guys did fabulous as rookies today.
All right, Bill -- back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks.
In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, a fortress from the 19th century rising again in the new millennium. Back in a moment after this.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 5, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Is a big announcement coming soon from John Kerry? The vice presidential buzz heating up with word the senator has already made up that big decision.
Money for the new Iraq going up in flames -- insurgents delivering a serious blow to a major oil pipeline.
And one of the most intriguing places in the solar system -- what Cassini is seeing on the moon called Titan.
All this morning, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Welcome to July 5th, everybody. Good morning. Heidi is working for Soledad today. Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: A lot of political news to talk about. We'll get to all of it today -- a party official telling CNN that John Kerry has made up his mind on who will be his running mate. Campaign aides remain tight lipped about who that person is, certainly.
Both campaigns were active over the holiday weekend. We'll find out about what's happening on the trail. We'll find out what we know about the VP hunt as well, in a matter of moments here.
COLLINS: Also, here in New York -- rebuilding has officially begun at the World Trade Center site. We'll look at the massive construction project now under way for the Freedom Tower and the ceremony yesterday commemorating the event. It's going to be spectacular.
HEMMER: A significant day, too.
Jack Cafferty, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANALYST: How are you doing?
Amnesty for the insurgents -- the new government in Iraq is considering allowing the guys who are causing all the trouble over there to have a do-over if they agree to lay down their guns and play nice. Needless to say it's an idea that is highly controversial, particularly among some of the folks here in the United States who don't think that our soldiers getting killed over there by these people is the kind of thing that ought to be grounds for any sort of amnesty.
There is a differentiation between people who do really bad things and the Baath party, who just kind of got left out of the loop when the Saddam government fell. But we'll take a look at it in a few minutes.
HEMMER: Good deal. That is one question today.
Another question politically, hanging in the balance today over the presidential campaign may be erased any day now -- maybe Tuesday, maybe Wednesday -- we'll see this week -- Democrat John Kerry's choice for running mate. And Kelly Wallace tracking that with us here this morning. Good morning to you.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. A Democratic official telling CNN that John Kerry has made a decision and, get this, plans to announce it, get this "on his terms with discipline more particularly associated with Republican campaigns of yesteryear. And that obviously means," according to this official, "a rapid turnaround."
But Bill, the question of exactly who the choice is and when we'll learn it, still a mystery this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): John Kerry seems to be enjoying this moment strutting his stuff in Iowa where the movie "Field of Dreams" was filmed, all the while keeping everyone guessing about who he will choose as his running mate and when.
WALLACE (on camera): What are the main factors he is considering in making this decision?
STEPHANIE CUTTER, KERRY CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Kelly, I can't get into what's going on in his mind. And, you know, it's up to him. You know, he's playing his cards very close to his chest, and as he should.
WALLACE (voice-over): So, was this a clue or just coincidence? Kerry spent Sunday with Tom Vilsack of Iowa. The rags to riches governor is believed to be on the short list.
TOM VILSACK, IOWA GOVERNOR: This campaign is not about me.
WALLACE (voice-over): Also on the list, Democratic sources say, congressman Dick Gephardt and senator John Edwards, who dodged questions yesterday in North Carolina, but didn't stop auditioning for the job.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, (D-NORTH CAROLINA): Do everything in your power to make sure that Senator John Kerry is the next president of the United States.
WALLACE (voice-over): The only real clues from a Kerry campaign source, who told CNN, the senator wants someone who has national, not regional appeal, has demonstrated leadership ability and is compatible with Kerry on every level.
In addition to choosing a running mate, the senator is courting rural voters. His bus trip through the heartland was all about trying to make the case that despite his big-city hometown, he is a lot like them.
SEN. JOHN KERRY, PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It really doesn't matter whether it's a Democrat idea or Republican idea. It matters whether it works for America.
WALLACE (voice-over): Small town USA could play a major role in '04. Al Gore lost the rural vote decisively to George W. Bush in 2000. John Kerry hopes to change that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And John Kerry also hopes to generate a lot of excitement with his choice of running mate and, Bill, the big question -- when. We think it could come as early as this week, as early as Tuesday.
HEMMER: Three weeks from Boston, right, starting today?
WALLACE: Exactly.
HEMMER: What's a bigger consideration for him? Is it a personality parallel or is it a geographical parallel that he may be looking for, depending on the part of the country that he feels he needs to attack?
WALLACE: Well, the sense is -- Democratic sources talking to CNN saying that he has studied running mate decisions of years past. And it sort of reaffirmed in his mind that geography -- throw it out the window. It doesn't matter anymore. That chemistry is really the most important thing. So, the person that he is choosing, or senses, is a person he feels he can really get along with for the next four or eight years if he's elected.
HEMMER: And to help to define him, too -- leading up to the convention in Boston.
WALLACE: And that's a key point.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. You'll have the news first, I am certain.
WALLACE: Pressure on.
HEMMER: You got it. Talk to you later. Here's Heidi now -- Heidi. COLLINS: Vice president Cheney is campaigning in some of the swing states. And as Ed Henry tells us, he's already taken the fight to John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As senator John Kerry edges closer to selecting a running mate, vice president Cheney is raising his own profile on the campaign trail. Rolling through three battleground states on a bus tour, Cheney is tearing into Kerry and the Republican crowds are loving every minute of it.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sometimes I think John Kerry develops amnesia when he gets out on the campaign trail.
HENRY (voice-over): Cheney told his conservative West Virginia audience that Kerry has been on the wrong side of flag burning, abortion and guns.
CHENEY: His latest thing is to tell audience that he holds conservative values.
(LAUGHTER)
CHENEY: Did he forget his voting record -- the voting record that makes him the most liberal member of the United States Senate?
HENRY (voice-over): At an earlier stop in Ohio, the vice president ridiculed Kerry for supporting 350 tax hikes.
CHENEY: That's an average of a vote for higher taxes every three weeks for the last 20 years.
(LAUGHTER)
CHENEY: At least the folks back in Massachusetts knew he was on the job.
HENRY (on camera): Democrats reject that charge and say that Mr. Cheney is so unpopular that his larger role on the campaign trail will backfire with swing voters.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: We'll have people wherever he goes reminding people that -- who Dick Cheney is, that he is Mr. Halliburton, and he's an extreme right-wing conservative out of the mainstream.
HENRY (voice-over): Plenty of protesters, but that didn't stop Cheney from greeting tourists during a quick stop at the pro football hall of fame, and hamming it up in a classic convertible with his granddaughter. Washington's ultimate insider seems to be enjoying some retail politics outside the beltway.
He playfully teased on audience about breaking his rhythm with too much enthusiasm. CHENEY: You guys want to hear this speech or not?
HENRY (voice-over): Cheney's allies are also stressing the vice president's long experience, in contrast to the people at the top of Kerry's short list.
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH, R-OHIO: Regardless, folks, of who the Democrats put up as their vice presidential candidate, they'll never be able to hold a candle to Dick Cheney.
HENRY (voice-over): Democrats fired back at Cheney with a Kerry spokesman charging that the vice president's speeches were riddled with distortions.
Democrats are so confident that Cheney's attacks will fall short, they are joking that if he wants to keep traveling the country, they'll pay his bus fare.
Ed Henry, CNN, with the vice president in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Vice President Cheney has had four heart attacks in the past nine years. Yesterday his office announced that one of his doctors was dropped. An article in today's "New Yorker" magazine reports the doctor has abused prescription drugs for years.
HEMMER: About eight minutes past the hour.
To Iraq this morning now -- the interim government delaying, indefinitely, an announcement on a possible partial amnesty deal for low-level insurgents. This is according to a spokesperson for the new prime minister Ayad Allawi. Meanwhile, insurgents stepping up their attacks on Iraq's oil industry.
Brent Sadler, live in Baghdad now, fills us in on details on this and other stories there. Brent, good afternoon.
BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (OFF MIC) north and south of the country with another attack on a secondary pipeline south of Baghdad Sunday, affecting oil supplies to Iraq's own refineries. But the problem is a whole lot bigger than that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER (voice-over): Giant ships fill their tanks with Iraqi crude oil, exporting up to $3 million worth of oil an hour, if all works well. But all is not well. Crude oozes from a gaping hole after recent attacks on strategic pipelines near Basra in southern Iraq, sapping oil revenues.
AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: Anyone involved in these attacks is nothing more than a traitor to the cause of Iraq's freedom and the freedom of its people. SADLER (voice-over): Oil protection is supposed to be a top priority, on land and at sea, since last year's invasion of Iraq. But Iraqi officials claim it's been hit and miss, exposing a worrying shortfall in coalition planning.
JABBAR AL-NABY, DIR. GEN., SOUTH OIL COMPANY: So they need security everywhere, and security in men, security in equipment and security in every aspect.
SADLER (voice-over): As recently as two months ago, would-be suicide bombers tried but failed to hit these vital offshore terminals now guarded by a fleet of coalition warships.
The U.S. soldiers help enforce a new exclusion zone, patrolled by the American and British navies. Nothing is full-proof, though.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything is always vulnerable if you get the right thing at the right time. But they are much harder to crack.
SADLER (voice-over): But on land, where saboteurs are getting through, a 15,000-strong Iraqi protection force, privately trained with coalition money is paper thin with more than 7,000 miles of pipeline and 260 facilities to guard.
KEVIN THOMAS, OIL ADVISER, CPA SOUTH: Our patrols can only walk through. Any determined enemy can monitor the patrol patterns and attack when the patrol has moved on.
SADLER (voice-over): The oil network has so far been hit more than 130 times in the past seven months alone, including a six-day shutdown of all crude exports in June.
Losing money, Iraq and its coalition allies can ill afford.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER: Well, that 15,000-strong oil protection force manned by Iraqis is still getting up to speed. But without surveillance aircraft and high technology equipment, complain Iraqi officials, it's not going to be strong enough to meet the continuing threat. Bill?
Brent Sadler in Baghdad. Thanks for that, Brent.
Eleven minutes past the hour. To Carol Costello at the CNN Center for the rest of the news. Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Thank you. Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic starting his defense today. Milosevic facing more than 60 charges relating to war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Milosevic is acting as his own attorney. He's been given four hours to outline his case by the UN court at The Hague, but the trial was adjourned early due to concerns for Milosevic's health.
The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico says he is outraged over what happened at a funeral for a Marine there. Mexican troops carrying automatic weapons blocked the path of a Marine honor guard at the funeral for Juan Lopez. He was killed in Iraq.
The Mexican troops demanded Marines hand over their ceremonial rifles. After a few minutes "Taps" was played and the funeral went on despite the objections of the Mexican troops.
Thousands are visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to see a new exhibit. It features photos and items from his funeral. They'll be on display until mid-November.
The Reagan Library Web site is showing some of those photos online, and the number of visitors to the library has quadrupled since it reopened after Reagan's funeral.
Someone out there is $290 million richer, but it is not clear who. Only one ticket matched all six numbers in Friday's mega millions drawing. The lucky ticket was bought in Lowell, Massachusetts. And that leave's me out. But the new millionaire has not yet come forward -- maybe tomorrow. The lottery office is closed today in observance of the Fourth of July.
And turning to sports -- in Wimbledon, Roger Federer does it again winning his second straight men's title. Federer defeating second-seeded Andy Roddick in four sets yesterday.
Russia's Maria Sharapova won Saturday, on the women's side beating Serena Williams, who was seeking her third Wimbledon victory in a row. At 17, Sharapova is the second, youngest women's champion at Wimbledon in an open -- in the open era, after Martina Hingis.
Back to you guys now.
HEMMER: Think she's got a future?
COSTELLO: I think so.
COLLINS: That Bill's favorite tennis player. I don't understand it.
HEMMER: She played well. Thank you, Carol. Chad Myers watching the weather for us on a Monday morning, the holiday day, today. Good morning, Chad.
COLLINS: Hey, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Good morning, Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Chad, thanks for that.
It will be years before the Freedom Tower takes its place in the New York skyline, but the groundwork is now being laid in part. Yesterday, on the nation's 228th birthday, there was a symbolic rebirth in lower Manhattan. Alina Cho was there for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The blue cloth hid a breathtaking site - polished New York granite, now the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower, the first and tallest building to be built on ground zero.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK MAYOR: By laying this magnificent cornerstone of hope, we are reaffirming life at ground zero.
CHO (voice-over): There was symbolism this Fourth of July. The son of a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11, read the Declaration of Independence.
JULIAN DAVIS, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: We hold these truths to be self-evident.
CHO (voice-over): The height of the Freedom Tower is symbolic -- 1,776 feet to mark the year America declared its independence -- the vision of master planner Daniel Libeskind.
DANIEL LIBESKIND, WTC SITE MASTER PLANNER: One thinks of how incredible to resurrect and rebuild New York in a way that is inspiring, and that is meaningful and is not just founded on height but on the liberties and freedoms that this country was founded on.
CHO (voice-over): Family members who lost loved ones were on hand. John Foy lost his mother-in-law.
JOHN FOY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: It feels good. This is like -- it's a closure and it's a new beginning.
CHO (voice-over): Some touched the inscription. Others want construction to wait for a memorial to be built first at what they regard as sacred ground.
WILLIAM HEALY, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: This is a gravesite. Today would have been much more appropriate had it been the cornerstone for the memorial.
CHO (voice-over): A memorial will be built here and is scheduled to open around the same time as the tower.
BLOOMBERG: What our enemies sought to destroy, our democracy, our freedom, our way of life, stands taller than ever before.
CHO (on camera): What is clear about this ceremony is that it marks the first step in rebuilding here at ground zero. What the final landscape will look like or when that will happen is still an open question. Alina Cho, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, despite a day of heavy rain, the show did go on in Washington last night -- the patriotic turning out for a concert on the west lawn of the capital, one of the best fireworks displays every year -- an amazing show, too on the national mall.
That nasty weather canceled a parade earlier in the day -- 1.6 inches of rain falling in D.C. to soak the grounds down there. Good sights in the sky, nonetheless.
COLLINS: And the Tsunami strikes again. Japanese eating sensation, Takeru Kobayashi won the Famous Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest for the fourth straight here.
The 132-pound Kobayashi finished off 53 1/2 hot dogs in just 12 minutes. That is beating his previous world record by three. The second place finisher ate only 38 hot dogs.
That's not so good.
HEMMER: A clear second place.
COLLINS: Quite a margin, yes.
HEMMER: How do you think that guy is feeling today, huh?
COLLINS: I don't want to think about it, yuck.
CAFFERTY: That's not attractive to watch. It's just not attractive to watch. Here's something to think about.
The Iraqi interim government thinking about offering amnesty to insurgents, even the ones responsible for the deaths of American soldiers. Although there is no time table for a formal announcement, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said yesterday that he's already negotiating with representatives of the radical Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Allawi, who is a former Baath party member, his own self says amnesty will depend on whether the insurgents surrender their weapons. Supporters say that former insurgents should get a fresh start. They say it's the best way to reintegrate former members of the Baath party.
But U.S. Officials said insurgents who attacked coalition forces will face criminal charges in Iraqi courts. American forces are holding about 4,000 suspected insurgents.
Here's the question -- is granting amnesty to insurgents in Iraq the right approach to the problems there?
Am@cnn.com -- and we will read some of your letters later.
HEMMER: What did you say earlier -- could irk a lot of military families here, military members?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Well, of course, of course. How are they going to determine and sort out who the really bad guys are from who the disaffected Baath members are from al-Sadr's guys. I mean, to me, unless we have suddenly much better intelligence than we've ever had over there, it's, you know, like reaching into a can of mush and trying to pull out, you know, a diamond gram. You're not going to be able to tell who is who.
And as far as surrendering weapons are concerned. As I said, I read something last week -- more weapons in that country than any place, maybe, in the world. So, I don't know. On the other hand...
HEMMER: Could be the price of sovereignty.
CAFFERTY: Yes, on the other hand, you've got to start some place in an effort to kind of glue this place together. So, I don't know the answer to that.
COLLINS: It's very subjective.
CAFFERTY: That's why we're talking to them.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
COLLINS: We'll get those responses in just a bit. Thanks, Jack.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Powell has made many sacrifices in service to his country. And on Friday, as many of you may have already seen but just can't get enough of, the secretary sounded a most undiplomatic note.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: (SINGING "YMCA").
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: OK. Secretary Powell's version of the "YMCA" might not be so great. Get ready because this is where he dances. But he made up for it apparently with that dancing, which I think is pretty scary too.
The performance was part of the traditional close of the Asian Summit where diplomats provide the entertainment. Thankfully so.
HEMMER: He's got a sense of humor, doesn't he?
COLLINS: He does.
HEMMER: And a lot of guts.
COLLINS: This is true.
HEMMER: In a moment here -- swim at your own risk. Lawmakers taking down the warning signs at some beaches just to avoid being sued. Jeffrey Toobin has some thoughts on that. In a moment, we'll get to it.
COLLINS: Also, allegations the U.S. swapped suspected terrorists for western prisoners. We'll have a live report on that.
HEMMER: Also, Cassini making its first pass of Titan, that giant moon. Something is puzzling the scientists, though -- a look at that ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. More scientific raves for the pictures of Saturn coming from the Cassini spacecraft just days after it began orbiting the ringed planet. Cassini had a not so close encounter with Titan, the largest of Saturn's 31 moons.
And Jack Horkheimer loves this stuff. Executive director, Miami Planetarium back with us -- good morning, Jack. Nice to have you here on a holiday, nonetheless.
On our screen we can show you some new pictures here. They are in color. We're told that the bright patterns we're seeing is something new, maybe the best yet. We'll put them on the screen and what do you see in them?
JACK HORKHEIMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIAMI PLANETARIUM: Well, these are the best pictures yet. As a matter of fact, you notice the planet is kind of orange-ish looking. The first shot you're shown, that is kind of a ubiquitous, all-encompassing -- we might call it like the smog over L.A., kind of orange-ish.
But with spectral cameras, infrared cameras in different wave lengths, they were able to image this moon, which is really bigger than the planets Pluto and Mercury. And what we are seeing is in the detail here, is the best we've ever seen before on this only moon in the solar system that has an atmosphere one and a half times the density of our Earth.
We're seeing areas of light and dark but are just a reverse of what they thought they'd be. The dark areas you just saw were actually the water ice areas, and the light areas were the hydrocarbon areas. But one of the things that's puzzling scientists is they couldn't find any evidence of liquid. And we thought for a long time there should be large lakes of methane, maybe oceans of it, which we could explore when the spacecraft detaches and lands on the surface of Titan later this year -- the beginning of next year.
Look at those dark areas, Bill. That's actually the icy part and the light areas are the relatively solid part. You know when you are in an airplane and you see sunlight glinting off of lakes or oceans? You see the sunlight glinting and flashing? That's what they expected to see when they got close to Titan this past Saturday; and instead they saw no flashes. And so this is really puzzling because maybe there aren't these great oceans and lakes of liquid methane.
They have seen a wonderful, a huge methane cloud system at the South Pole however. And in several hours of taking photographs they actually watched a huge storm system at the south pole move in various areas. HEMMER: Jack, let me stop you there. Jack, you said a whole lot and I really appreciate your comments. If all that is true what you are describing to us, does that take away from the significance of this mission?
HORKHEIMER: Oh, no -- not at all. On the contrary, we still believe that, you know, the hydro carbon-rich Titan -- I keep wanting to call it a planet. It's really a moon, but it's so huge.
HEMMER: Because it's so big.
HORKHEIMER: The hydro carbon rich moon is really, we think, indicative of what our Earth was like about four billion years ago when, before life ever began. And that's going to give us a lot of insight into how moons and planets evolve -- especially this moon with an atmosphere.
That's what is so bizarre and wonderful -- we've never, ever landed on a moon with an atmosphere and we're going to do it now. This is the only one. Our only chance. And it's only going to get better.
We're going to come even closer in October and then we're going to pay a couple dozen visits to this moon over the next four years. So, I would speculate that within another six to eight months we are going to see a whole, another world before our eyes that we've never seen before.
HEMMER: Jack, always good to talk to you. Jack Horkheimer, thanks for your time down there.
HORKHEIMER: Keep looking up.
HEMMER: You -- always will. Thank you much -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come -- your Monday morning dose of "90-Second Pop."
The purple one celebrates a special anniversary by getting together with some ghosts from his musical past.
Plus, what is it about "Spider-Man 2" that has so many moviegoers tangled in its web.
"90-Second Pop" is coming up later on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back everyone; I hope you had a great weekend. It is July 5th this morning. Heidi Collins working for Soledad today. Soledad has got a vacation all week.
COLLINS: That lucky girl.
HEMMER: Nice to have you back with us, though.
COLLINS: Thank you.
HEMMER: Is it just diplomatic give and take or did the U.S. decision to release terror suspects compromise national security? We'll look at new information coming in about how certain Saudi detainees got their release and the question of a quid pro quo in a moment here from the White House.
COLLINS: OK and also we are going to be looking at a dilemma for Florida, the state deciding that even if its riskier for swimmers if beaches don't have warning signs posted is it safer for the state. We're going to talk about that with Jeffrey Toobin and the legal nightmare involved in that.
HEMMER: Also "90-Second Pop." Over the weekend, did you see "Spider-Man"?
COLLINS: I did not.
HEMMER: No, not yet?
COLLINS: No.
HEMMER: It's getting great reviews.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: A lot of people putting are shoveling a lot of money towards this. Anyway, if your Spidey senses told you this would be No. 1, your Spidey senses were pretty good, because this movie really crushed at the box office. So, we'll get to all of that in a moment here (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COLLINS: I just don't like all the fake stunts.
HEMMER: No?
COLLINS: Yes.
Anyway, moving right along this morning, was a secret deal in place to swap Saudi detainees at Guantanamo Bay and British citizens held in Saudi Arabia? It's a scenario that one senior Saudi official is dismissing as -- quote -- "pure fantasy."
Suzanne Malveaux is live now at the White House this morning.
Suzanne -- good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
The controversy began with a report from "The New York Times" that cited anonymous sources as saying that there was this secret prison swap. This is something that Saudi officials called a pure fantasy. And it's a case that one person says connecting dots that don't.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Les Walker was held in Saudi Arabia, for allegedly carrying out terrorist attacks there. But now he's a free man. The British citizen says he, along with six other Western prisoners, had been tortured by Saudi security officials into confessing to crimes they did not commit.
LES WALKER, FORMER PRISONER: We pleaded innocent until they tortured us -- or myself, they tortured me to confess to bombings.
MALVEAUX: Walker and the others were freed nearly a year ago, but the circumstances surrounding their release are raising questions now about a possible secret international prison swap.
According to senior American and British officials cited in "The New York Times," the U.S., Britain and Saudi Arabia were involved in months of intense negotiations, beginning in July of 2002, to win the detainees' release.
The deal was, last May the U.S. freed five Saudi detainees in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay, returning them to the Saudi government. Three months later, Saudi Arabia released the Western detainees. Was it quid pro quo?
British embassy spokesman Steve Atkins said: "We were extremely relieved to win their release and get them out of Saudi Arabia. We worked ceaselessly for their return." But also said, "I am not able to comment further on any diplomatic discussions."
U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Sean McCormack denied any trade, saying: "There is no recollection here of any linkage between these two actions. The Saudi's release was part of the normal policy of transferring detainees from Guantanamo for prosecution or continued detention."
Walker says he was never told of the circumstances of his release, but he had his suspicions.
WALKER: We were pawns in a big game. That was our feeling once we were in prison. And it's a thought that I've held since I came out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, while officials do not dispute the timeline of the release of these detainees, there are some political analysts who believe that this timing around the Iraq war was more than coincidence -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Suzanne Malveaux coming to us live from the White House today. Thanks so much, Suzanne.
HEMMER: In the state of Florida, public beaches without lifeguards will no longer have safety flags warning swimmers of dangerous conditions. The state wants to prevent lawsuits like the one filed by the family of a drowning victim. Despite red warning flags, he tried to save a couple caught in a rip current.
I recently talked with our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, about this, and whether or not cases like it set a dangerous precedent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFFERY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Florida, what they did was they decided, OK, if that's the way people are going to react, we're going to remove safety flags from all of the beaches everywhere, because it's better to have no safety flags than inadequate ones.
HEMMER: Wow! So, from a legal standpoint that's the action they are taking. From a safety standpoint, how dangerous could that be?
TOOBIN: The question is, you know: Does the legal system push people towards a more unsafe society? Are the incentives in the wrong place? And unfortunately, that's been the case in a couple of places -- in a couple of different situations where the incentive system pushes -- makes perhaps the defendant legally in a better situation, but society worse off.
HEMMER: You're taking us to an interesting point here now. I don't know if you agree with this or not. Are some of these lawsuits making this country more dangerous?
TOOBIN: Well, I think some of the lawsuit culture in which we live does create these perverse incentives. I mean, you have a very strong personal injuries lawyers lobby, the Trial Lawyers Lobby, which limits the ability to limit these damages in some situations, and it's been a big problem in a lot of places.
HEMMER: If that is the problem then, how do lawyers like yourself come down on the issue of tort reform? In a litigious world, how did you size it up?
TOOBIN: Well, you know, I wrote a story for "The New Yorker" last year about this subject, and the one area of tort reform that really seems unassailable to me is limiting liability against government. You can argue about, you know, private defendants. But when you have governments as defendants, where people are using, you know, the taxpayers' money as piggy banks -- New York state is having horrendous problems in this area, particularly New York City, where, you know, you have a situation where two people climbed over a fence on a pier, jumped into the water, were paralyzed because the water was too shallow. Obviously, an irresponsible thing to do. They got $25 million from New York. And that's the kind of thing that is really, I think, out of line.
HEMMER: To the next question then. How do you get it back under control?
TOOBIN: Well, it's really -- it's totally a political issue, and that's where, you know, lobbying becomes very important. Trial lawyers are a very important lobby. A lot of legislators themselves are trial lawyers, and, you know, corporations lobby very heavily on the other side in the tort reform movement. What often happens is gridlock, nothing. That's what's happened in New York.
HEMMER: Could you also argue then that this would ultimately deprive the average, normal citizen from his or her day in court?
TOOBIN: Right. I mean, one of the things that trial lawyers say, and it's absolutely correct, is the institution of trial by jury is one of the fundamental American rights. If you take it away, that's something that people react to. And, you know, it's very easy to argue these issues in the abstract, but if it's your family that's injured, people feel very differently.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Jeff Toobin again last week.
Last year, New York paid out about $500 million in claims against the city -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, the Democratic Veepstakes may be over. There is word this morning John Kerry has picked a running mate.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, "90-Second Pop" and Prince celebrating a purple anniversary. Getting back together with some old friends, still to come on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A great looking sight here from Mount Rushmore Saturday night, 25,000 turned out in western South Dakota. A spectacular celebration there at Mount Rushmore National Park there in South Dakota and a really good looking sight, too.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: And now, we're going to check in with Jack and the "Question of the Day" about amnesty for the insurgents.
CAFFERTY: The Iraqi interim government, Heidi, is thinking about offering amnesty to the insurgents there, even the ones responsible for the deaths of American soldiers. There's no timetable for a formal announcement. It could be put off indefinitely. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Allawi said that he's already negotiating with representatives of the radical Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr.
Supporters say that former insurgents should get a fresh start, but U.S. officials have said insurgents who attack coalition forces will face criminal charges in Iraqi courts.
The question we're asking is whether or not you think this is a good idea, if it's the right approach or not.
The first writer: "Forgiving some of the lesser offenders with no blood on their hands a chance to cross over to the good guys' side, so be it. They may turn in the really bad guys, and the more that join the new government the better." John in Madison, Wisconsin: "We're a military family. My son has served in the Iraqi theater. Whether or not I like the Iraqi amnesty policy is really not the issue. The larger issue is that it's Iraqi policy, and the great thing is that they have a sovereign government to make any policy they want. We fought over there so they would have that ability, not so that they would have to make policies that we agree with."
Joe writes: "It's not a bad idea if implemented properly. Granting amnesty to the insurgents should be combined with a plan to get them integrated into another government-directed system that will allow them to make a living." He suggests the police force or the army.
And Weldon in New Brunswick said: "Amnesty would probably be the only practical solution since there could never be a hole dug deep enough to bury them all."
Am@cnn.com if you want to weigh in on this.
HEMMER: If, however, you draw some moderate factions from the Sunni population into this new government, this could make a lot of headway.
CAFFERTY: Well, I think the key, at least in these four e-mails, is make a living. If you provide an opportunity for any of these people to get a job and support their family, make a living, the chances of them coming over to that side, whoever that is, is probably better than if you don't offer anything. So, if there's a job and a way to make a living along with the amnesty, you'll probably get some people.
HEMMER: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) some of these towns in the Sunni Triangle still have over 60 percent unemployment. That's not going to get it done.
CAFFERTY: No.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
HEMMER: A break here. In a moment, a party fit for the fourth of July, only it wasn't here in the U.S. We'll tell you what these folks are all fired up about in a moment when we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's 45 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of the other news with Carol Costello.
Hey -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Hi, Heidi. Thank you.
There is word this morning that Democratic frontrunner John Kerry has chosen a running mate. Aides to Senator Kerry tells CNN a decision has been made, but they're keeping tight-lipped on the name. An announcement is expected before the convention begins this month, possibly as early as this week.
Vice President Dick Cheney drops one of his doctors because the physician reportedly abused prescription narcotics. Dick Cheney's office tells CNN that Dr. Gary Malakoff has been let go from the medical team that monitors the vice president's health. Today's issue of "The New Yorker" claims that the doctor has abused prescription narcotic for years. Cheney, who is 63, has had four heart attacks in the past nine years.
At ground zero, the first step was taken on the Fourth of July to build the new Freedom Tower. A 20-ton granite block, cornerstone of the new tower, was lifted into place at the World Trade Center site. The inscription on the stone is dedicated to those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks. It will take five years to build the tower.
Slot machines are coming to Pennsylvania. The state legislature has passed a bill to allow more than 60,000 slot machines at 14 locations. Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign the bill today. Lawmakers are hoping revenues from gambling will help reduce property taxes.
And a huge upset in soccer as Greece -- Greece wins the European championship. Greek fans went into a absolute frenzy as their team beat Portugal 1-nil in the finals yesterday. Angelo Charisteas scored that goal. The Greeks were an 80 to 1 long shot and hadn't won a single game in a major competition before this European tournament.
Back to you -- Bill.
HEMMER: And a great primer for the summer games, huh, Carol?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
HEMMER: They were nuts in Athens. Thanks for that.
In a moment, appearance by your friendly neighborhood "90-Second Pop" pop panel. Prince on the agenda today, and "Spider-Man 2" packing the punch at the box office. Back in a moment after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Time now for a Monday edition of "90-Second Pop" with a couple of newcomers to the program today. Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons, a rookie, and you better be funny, too. "Entertainment Weekly's" Jessica Shaw, she is, of course, a pop veteran. And another first timer, Jeremy Helligar, senior editor for "US Weekly."
Thank, you guys, for being here on this holiday.
Jeremy, I want to start with you with this "Purple Rain" deal. Twenty years ago this movie came out. And now...
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": I just got older.
COLLINS: Yes.
SHAW: I just have to say.
COLLINS: And like we were saying at the break, I don't remember it at all. But there are -- there's quite a reunion going on here. He got back together with Sheila E., with the drummer Wendy that we knew, and, of course, The Time. This happened at the Athens Music Festival. What is the significance here? Are they going to get back together?
JEREMY HELLIGAR, SENIOR EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": You know, this has been a huge year for Prince. He has his biggest record, "Musicology," in years. And it's sort of fitting that he would sort of cap it all with this reunion. I mean, Sheila E., The Time, Prince are responsible for some of the best and biggest music of the mid-'80s.
SHAW: I don't know. I think Prince is the best, and he is a legend, but when I heard that people were like -- the audience was going crazy for Sheila E., I was kind of like, come on, it's Sheila E.
GREG FITZSIMMONS, COMEDIAN: Well, you know where he found Sheila E. and Morris Day and The Time? Right where he left them.
HELLIGAR: I mean yes. I mean, you have to...
COLLINS: You are funny. This is good.
HELLIGAR: You have to think that the, you know, the Police, Abba, if these groups were reunited, that would be an amazing -- an amazing deal. But, yes, it is kind of anticlimactic for Sheila E...
COLLINS: Well, so how was the performance? I mean, how did they do?
HELLIGAR: Well, I mean, it was good, a great reaction.
COLLINS: Was it good or not so good?
SHAW: It was very g-rated. He got rid of all the bad words.
COLLINS: Oh. Oh, so that "Nikki" song was probably not in the...
(CROSSTALK)
FITZSIMMONS: It he's all about the family now. I think he's born-again, right? And he's all about the family and...
SHAW: He enjoys the family, yes, and...
HELLIGAR: He's a Jehovah's Witness.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, oh, that's what it is, Jehovah's Witness.
COLLINS: I didn't know that. Wow!
FITZSIMMONS: Yes. And...
SHAW: So the bad lyrics are gone.
FITZSIMMONS: Well, it's tough. You know, he is from the Midwest, like yourself, you know, Minnesota. You must have been a big fan of his, right?
COLLINS: I was actually a huge fan back then.
FITZSIMMONS: Can you sing any of his music?
COLLINS: I could, but then everyone would shut the TV off. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for that.
SHAW: Five-second delay?
COLLINS: Yes, we definitely are. Yes, he was almost a neighbor of mine. But, I mean, he was huge there in the club scene down there when he was first starting out. So, everybody was just a humongous fan.
HELLIGAR: You know what? Any time Prince gets a performance, it's a big deal, no matter who he is singing with.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: So, without Sheila E., The Time, Wendy, it's still a good deal.
COLLINS: Right. All right...
SHAW: Carmen Electra should have been there. I think that would have made that whole thing a lot better.
COLLINS: Yes. All right, Greg, let's move on a little bit here. Macy Gray. OK. So she's going to be singing naked for Elton John's AIDS Foundation, which is a great foundation. Do we have to sing naked?
FITZSIMMONS: Not naked. Not naked.
COLLINS: Not naked. Oh, she's got the shoes on, right?
FITZSIMMONS: She's wearing Jimmy Choo shoes.
COLLINS: OK.
FITZSIMMONS: Which really, because you've got to leave something to take off later. You've got to leave something to push the envelope with later.
SHAW: We can only hope -- I mean, don't you really just -- aren't you dying to see her feet?
FITZSIMMONS: Did you hear she was barefoot?
SHAW: Yes.
FITZSIMMONS: Well, I think, look, first of all if you're going to get naked in front of a crowd full of men, do it at an Elton John AIDS benefit. Because if they're all gay, it's not as intimidating. If somebody screams out, hey, great pair, he's talking about the shoes.
COLLINS: The shoes, definitely.
SHAW: But you know what? Like, gay, straight, do we really want to see Macy Gray naked?
HELLIGAR: Yes, no one wants to see Macy Gray naked.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, I do.
SHAW: That is the most desperate ploy for attention and help that I've ever seen other than Sheila E.
COLLINS: But seriously, do they think they're going to bring in more money that way or like less money?
HELLIGAR: I think they'll lose money.
SHAW: No, I mean, less money.
COLLINS: Less money.
SHAW: She's going to be walking out that door.
FITZSIMMONS: No, I've got a counterpoint. I am in love with Macy Gray. First of all, she's...
SHAW: And Jimmy Choo shoes.
FITZSIMMONS: And Jimmy Choo shoes, but that's another thing. That's on my Web site. But if you -- you know, she is a descendent of Prince. I mean, she is singing the kind of fund, you know, that cool funk.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: Yes, but she hasn't sold a record in ages. I mean, no one cares about her anymore. Macy Gray is yesterday's news. That's why...
FITZSIMMONS: She is the best new artist in 10 years. You have no idea of what you're talking about.
COLLINS: Well, but we're talking about her now.
HELLIGAR: Oh, no, no.
COLLINS: Even though it's because she's not going to wear any clothes, but that's OK.
All right, Jessica, let's talk about "Spider-Man 2."
SHAW: Spider-Man!
COLLINS: Yes, it's potentially going to be absolutely huge.
SHAW: Yes. Well, it already is absolutely huge. It made over 40 million its first day, which is breaking, you know, all of the records. And people are speculating, you know, after today, it's going to break 160 million, which is...
COLLINS: Yes, but, I mean, it could become the highest-grossing movie ever.
SHAW: Yes, it could. It has some competition. I mean, there are things like "Titanic," like 75 "Matrix" movies. There's another "Spider-Man." But it's...
HELLIGAR: And you know what else? Like every week, ticket prices go up.
COLLINS: Yes.
HELLIGAR: I mean, one week it's 10 bucks, the week 11 bucks. Like, who even knows what it means to gross 100 million nowadays?
COLLINS: Right. This is true. But what do you think it is about this movie? Do you think it's the love story, or do you think it's definitely the super action hero with all of those crazy stunts and...
SHAW: I saw it yesterday. It is amazing, and I'm not even like a huge superhero fan. I'm so not the target audience. But it's really smart and it's sensitive and he's tortured. And it's not just action. It's a great, great movie. It's a great story.
FITZSIMMONS: Yes, and you really get a wide demographic, because not only are you getting comic book geeks, but you're also getting, you know, women that live with their cats in their 40s.
SHAW: And she's naked with Jimmy Choo shoes in the movie, which is great.
HELLIGAR: You can't beat Tobey in tights. I mean, come on.
COLLINS: Tobey in tights.
HELLIGAR: Tobey in tights.
COLLINS: That's what I was after.
HELLIGAR: That's what everyone is going for.
COLLINS: But you're saying it is a great movie to go see, obviously. OK. SHAW: Absolutely. And it should break all the records.
COLLINS: All right, better than "Shrek 2"?
SHAW: I think so.
COLLINS: All right, I'll talk to my 3-year-old about that. All right, guys, thank you so much for being here. Greg, Jessica and Jeremy, you guys did fabulous as rookies today.
All right, Bill -- back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks.
In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, a fortress from the 19th century rising again in the new millennium. Back in a moment after this.
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