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Ahmed Qorei Visits Arafat's Bedside; Pentagon Confirms U.S. Casualties In Falluja; New "Wonder Drug" Weight-Loss Pill
Aired November 09, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Shaping up to be a nice, but a little bit cold, day here in New York City. Welcome back, everybody. Just about half past the hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Killing, of course, is part of a soldier's job description. But how do the troops reconcile their faith as they head into combat? this morning, we talk with a navy chaplain, his name is Kal McAlexander, about that.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And a great topic, too, to talk about today.
Also this half hour, promising results this morning for a new pill to help overweight and obese patients lose pounds. Some doctors, though, are worried people may see the drug as a magic pill. So, we'll talk to the president of the American Heart Association about just that in a moment here.
Opening bell from Wall Street -- here we go on a Tuesday. Bit of a -- I guess, a push yesterday is what we like to call it -- 10,391, up about three points in trading yesterday, just shy of four points yesterday for the Dow 30. Nasdaq MarketSite, 2,039 is your opening mark, up about a third of a point in trading yesterday. We call that a smidge or a scooch.
Back to Kelly Wallace now with the headlines this morning. Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Very technical terms.
(CROSSTALK)
WALLACE: Exactly. Good morning, again, Soledad and Bill. And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has just paid a visit to the bedside of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Qorei, along with three other top officials, has now left the French hospital where Arafat is being treated. The Palestinian delegation arrived in Paris last night.
Earlier, a spokesman for the military hospital said Arafat's condition has worsened. A live report from Paris in just a moment.
Turning now to Iraq, Baghdad will be under a nighttime curfew until further notice. That's according to Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi.
Meantime, the violence continues throughout the country. Iraqi police say there are at least 10 casualties following a suicide car bombing near an Iraqi National Guard base outside of Kirkuk. Closer to Baghdad, insurgents launched attacks on two police stations -- two hospitals and a church were also targeted.
In California, less than two hours from now, jury deliberations are set to resume in the Scott Peterson double murder trial. The judge in the case lectured jurors yesterday about the importance of keeping an open mind. There are some signs the panel is becoming divided, which could lead to a possible deadlock.
And attorneys for Kobe Bryant's accuser may try to move the civil suit against the NBA star from Colorado to California. The move could open the door to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Bryant because California does not have a cap on financial damages. A decision could come within the next few weeks. We'll be watching that story and keep you posted.
HEMMER: All right. Toobin's got an opinion on two on that, by the way.
WALLACE: He sure does. He's got an opinion about a lot of things.
HEMMER: That's right. Thank you, Kelly.
Want to get to Paris now. Much more on the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his condition at this hour. Fionnuala Sweeney is outside the Percy Military Hospital with more. Good afternoon, there, Fionnuala.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.
About 45 minutes ago, the senior Palestinian delegation left this hospital. They spent about two hours and 20 minutes here talking to doctors, and we understand that only one member of that delegation allowed to the bedside of Yasser Arafat -- that was Ahmed Qorei, the prime minister.
Earlier, they met with the French foreign minister emerging very grave and stern looking, and we now know that they're on their way to the Champs-Elysees Palace to meet President Chirac. And we hope to hear more about what has transpired during this day then.
We do know from a hospital spokesman earlier this day issuing a statement -- perhaps the most forthright statement we have had to date from the hospital about the condition of Yasser Arafat. The hospital spokesman saying his condition had deteriorated overnight. His coma had deepened, and doctors were no longer reserving a prognosis.
I think we can read between the lines on that -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Fionnuala. Keep us posted there from Paris. Fionnuala Sweeney there reporting the latest -- Soledad? O'BRIEN: More than 12,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces are pounding insurgent targets in Falluja. Military officials say they've taken control of about a third of the city.
We've got Barbara Starr for us live at the Pentagon with more on this this morning. Hey, Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, again, to you, Soledad.
An update now from the Pentagon military officials confirming six U.S. troops now killed in action since the Falluja operation began, two additional troops killed in a vehicle accident, 10 U.S. troops now wounded in action during the Falluja operation. As many as seven other U.S. troops killed in action in a variety of attacks around Iraq yesterday. That coming, of course, as the interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi declaring that nighttime curfew in Baghdad, part of an effort to tamp down some of the violence across the country.
Now, in the battle for Falluja, the question is: Where are the insurgents? What is the opposition that the U.S. and Iraqi troops are facing? A key U.S. Military official tells CNN this morning, quote, "We believe that most of the Zarqawi senior leadership has departed Falluja." They're not saying whether that includes Zarqawi himself. He moves around very often, they know, and they're not even sure where he is. But they now do believe that the senior Zarqawi leadership is out of Falluja, that they left before this operation began.
That may be one explanation why the U.S. and Iraqi forces have not yet encountered the massive organized resistance that they expected. They are encountering some action, but not what they exactly expected at this point -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks. And of course, we'll continue to get updates from you and from the Pentagon all morning.
As the battle for Falluja intensifies and soldiers find themselves in life and death battles, more and more of them must turn to their faith for some spiritual guidance.
Joining us this morning, someone who knows firsthand what it's like for these soldiers. He's Commander Kal McAlexander. He's a Navy chaplain, also a veteran of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for being with us.
CMDR. KAL MCALEXANDER, U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN: Good morning, Soledad. Good morning, Bill.
O'BRIEN: When the soldiers seek you out, what's the primary reason that they want to see you? What do they want to talk about?
MCALEXANDER: I think I can sum it up in three questions, usually. One is: Am I in a right relationship with God? If I die, where do I spend eternity? Two: How do I reconcile my faith with my mission? And then, the last one would be is it OK to be afraid? O'BRIEN: All of those questions are weighty questions, each individually. How do you possibly tackle something like that? How do you tackle is it OK? You're talking about reconciling being a Christian, I would assume for most of the men, and killing people, which is a primary goal?
MCALEXANDER: From a Christian perspective, Romans 13 teaches that governments were instituted by God, that their purpose is to protect the poor, to protect the innocent, and to see that justice is carried out. And that deadly force is authorized if you're acting as an agent of the government.
O'BRIEN: It's long been said there are no atheists in a foxhole. Have you found that to be true? You do battlefield baptisms, I understand. What exactly are those?
MCALEXANDER: That's true. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole. We've had experience operating in mined waters, and the sailors experience the same thing.
As far as the baptisms, they are an expression of the service member's faith and a desire to make sure he's in right relationship with God and ready for eternity.
O'BRIEN: I've got to imagine that it takes only one close call or one firefight before some people start really rethinking their relationship with God and the great beyond, as well.
How do you counsel these young men -- mostly -- who are so young about seriously considering the chances that they're going to die, they're not going to survive?
MCALEXANDER: Well, I think every human being is confronted with their own mortality at some point in time. It's just that these young men are confronted much, much sooner than most people are.
O'BRIEN: Commander Kal McAlexander joining us this morning, a Navy chaplain. Thank you for being with us and also sharing some of these photos that we've had an opportunity to look at while you were chatting with us. We appreciate it -- Bill?
MCALEXANDER: Thanks, Soledad.
HEMMER: Twenty-two minutes now before the hour. This daring police chase and shootout in Dallas, Texas, has gotten our attention here -- captured on videotape by police dashboard cameras.
Here's Bert Lozano of FAA, our affiliate in Dallas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERT LOZANO, REPORTER, WFAA (voice-over): Under a blaze of bullets...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gosh damn. LOZANO: ... police pursued the alleged bank robbers. Here, just as the suspects were about to enter Central Expressway, they back up and open fire, taking aim at a Richardson police officer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go!
LOZANO: Amazingly, only one officer receives a minor injury from broken glass during the intense chase.
This is one of the bank robbery suspects who police say shot at police and is part of the notorious Takeover Bandits, who allegedly are responsible for some 60 robberies. Officers escorted Guadalupe Fajardo on a flight to Dallas after he turned himself in to authorities in Lubbock Saturday.
Once he landed, officers booked him into the Dallas County jail. Richardson Police say this video from patrol units prove the suspects are dangerous and must be apprehended after escaping officers during the chase. That's even after smashing their getaway truck into a pole and then opening fire on officers once again.
This time, a motorist is almost caught in the gunfire. Police did not return fire for fear innocent bystanders would get hurt, and the suspects were able to get away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bert Lozano, again, reporting that story out of Dallas, Texas -- WFAA, our affiliate. Broad daylight that took place -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: That's some shocking videotape.
Weather now. Let's take a look at that ahead with Chad -- or actually, I think we've got another story to tell you about. This story out of Tippecanoe County in Lafayette, Indiana. Have you seen these pictures? Look at that. That is a school bus that was rear ended by a truck in Tippecanoe County this morning.
It happened on U.S. Route 52 and an Indianapolis TV station, WTHR, was reporting that some 30 children were inside that bus. They were taken to a nearby school. They were from a local middle school there. Some of the kids were reported to be slightly injured. And my understanding is they're all out now and, so far from what we've heard, they're all doing fine. Amazing, though.
Let's turn to Chad Meyers for a look at the weather this morning. Hello, Chad. Good morning, again.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.
Still to come this morning, a promising new drug for overweight and obese people. HEMMER: Also, a former Enron executive trying to get away from people who call him names like snake or evil. We'll explain that. Andy's back...
O'BRIEN: Did Jack call him snake or evil?
HEMMER: I'm not quite sure.
Back with that in a moment here as we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Clinical trials of a new weight-loss pill reveal it to be something of a wonder drug. It's called rimonabant, and we're going to talk about it today with Dr. Alice Jacobs, president of the American Heart Association, with us here from New Orleans to talk about this promising pill.
Doctor, good morning. Thanks for you time today.
DR. ALICE JACOBS, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION: Good morning.
HEMMER: First of all, take us through the result of these studies. What have they found?
JACOBS: This study was conducted in 72 sites in North America and about 3,000 patients. And patients were divided into three groups. It was a placebo-control trial, double blind -- which meant that the investigators really didn't know which agent the agents or subjects were being treated with, nor did the patients. Approximately 600 patients received placebo, 1,200 received a lower dose of rimonabant five milligrams, and 1,200 patients received the higher dose, which was 20 milligrams.
HEMMER: With those results, Doctor, how much should we expect them to change the treatment based on these results?
JACOBS: In terms of changing the weight loss?
HEMMER: Yes.
JACOBS: Well, in the placebo group, interestingly, you should know that the patients were treated with a -- or advised to reduce their calories. So, they had a calorie-restricted diet. And at the end of the study, in the placebo group, the patients lost approximately six pounds. In the lower-dose group, the patients lost approximately 10 pounds. And in the 20 milligram group, the patients lost 20 pounds.
HEMMER: OK, Sanofi, right -- the maker of rimonabant -- they put out a statement about these studies saying this is not a diet drug but a cardiovascular risk factor management tool. Would you agree with that statement, Doctor?
JACOBS: Well, I would agree with that. Not only is it effective in this study in reducing and maintaining weight loss, but it has a favorable effect on other risk factors, as well, such as blood lipids and glucose.
HEMMER: How does this drug work, Doctor?
JACOBS: We think it works by inhibiting the cannabinoid receptor and brain tissue...
HEMMER: And what is that?
JACOBS: The cannabinoid system is -- functions to maintain body homeostasis. So, it helps you relax, and it helps you rest, and it helps you eat. It's really the food stimulus receptor.
So, if you inhibit this receptor, you are more likely to eat or to get enjoyment out of eating.
HEMMER: What about side effects in all of this? And as people call it a magic pill, is it just that, or not?
JACOBS: Well, it was fairly well tolerated. I think the main side effect was nausea, which occurred in approximately 10 percent of patients. But overall, in this study and in the other studies, it appears to be fairly safe.
HEMMER: Magic pill?
JACOBS: I think one always has to proceed with caution. First, this system of receptors has not studied in humans. Obesity is a chronic disease that requires chronic therapy. So, we really don't know what the potential effects will be in patients who need to take the drug for more than two years.
It also had a very modest effect on weight loss. These are very obese patients, and it was only approximately 20 pounds at the end of two years. And really nothing substitutes for lifestyle changes, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
HEMMER: That's probably...
JACOBS: Exercise and good diet -- that will always be in the armamentarium for treating patients with obesity.
HEMMER: Thanks for you time today.
JACOBS: Thank you.
HEMMER: Dr. Alice Jacobs there in New Orleans today -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning -- a check of the markets, opening under the cloud of tomorrow's Fed meeting. We'll explain ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A major player in the Enron scandal wants his trial moved. With that and a check of the markets, Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business" this morning. Hello, good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you. Let's talk about the markets. First of all, I think they're up a scooch.
O'BRIEN: Ooh, a smidge?
SERWER: Stocks are up a smidge. Up 24 -- maybe more than a smidge.
O'BRIEN: More than a smidge.
SERWER: That's two times a smidge. Stocks are moving.
A couple stocks on the down side, however. Merck -- we talked about them being investigated by the SEC and the Justice Department. Marsh and McLennan laying off 3,000 workers. That's down 66 cents. There ought to be a law about that. We talked about that a little bit.
Jeffrey Skilling. Jeffrey Skilling...
O'BRIEN: He's not loved.
SERWER: Yes, the former CEO of Enron wants his trial moved out of Houston. Says there's no love for him in that city. One third of the citizens of that fair burg have negative feelings about him, and that's much higher than a city like Atlanta or somewhere else that he wants the trial moved to.
I don't recommend the Upper East Side either, Jeff. There's people here who remember some of your behavior one night last summer.
Here's what happened when lawyers for Mr. Skilling asked him -- people in Houston about him. These are the words they used to describe Jeff Skilling: a pig; a snake; an economic terrorist; the financial equivalent of an ax murderer; he is the devil; Jeff Skilling is arrogant, conniving, pompous, and a brilliant crook.
That's kind of like the Question of the Day, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Probably don't want those people in your jury pool.
SERWER: No, probably not.
Anyway, US Airways, just quickly here, they're in bankruptcy. They're having some trouble. Apparently some of their employees are calling in sick in Philadelphia, which is one of their major hubs. People waited for four hours to get their bag, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: That's ugly.
SERWER: The airline says it's not a question of people calling in sick, they just had a little problem...
O'BRIEN: With the bags.
SERWER: ... with the bags.
HEMMER: Baggravation.
SERWER: Yes, baggravation. That's right, very good.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to the Question of the Day, Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Bill.
How would you fix Social Security? They're going to run out of money with this program at some point, and there are all kinds of ideas floating around. The president wants to privatize part of the program.
Eric writes from New Hampshire: "We need a dedicate national sales tax to pay for us old timers, and everyone under 35 puts their money in a 401(k)-type of account."
Mike in Arlington Heights, Illinois: "The problem can be fixed merely by taking the cap off taxable wages, which is currently $87,900. So, the poor CEO making $1 million a year will pay $62,000 in FICA tax instead of the $5,450 he pays now."
Valerie in San Antonio: "Letting people invest a portion of their own money for their own retirement not only makes sense, it's the only way to go. I'm don't want Washington politicians managing my money. I'm not that good at it, but I'm better than they are on their best day."
And finally, Ian in Providence, Rhode Island: "I have three sure-fire ways to save Social Security: raise taxes, cut benefits, or raise the retirement wage. Any politician looking for a career change might consider suggesting one of these."
SERWER: Yeah, and some of that's going to happen. I mean, there's no question that some of those three things is going to happen at some point.
CAFFERTY: Didn't they do this a few years ago, though. They raised our Social Security...
SERWER: They did. They've been raising it...
CAFFERTY: ... and they said, well, that will take care of it until the year 10041 or something.
SERWER: Right.
CAFFERTY: Wrong answer.
SERWER: They raised the retirement age, and...
HEMMER: When we started the show at 7:00, three hours ago, we said we were going to give a solution to this, right? Have we?
SERWER: That's part of the solution right there.
O'BRIEN: That was sort of vague, but it's whether people implement...
SERWER: But no one wants that medicine.
HEMMER: Thank you, Ian.
O'BRIEN: Jack, thank you. Brilliant, as always.
HEMMER: Coming up next hour here on CNN, conflicting reports now on the health of Yasser Arafat. Daryn and Rick will follow it up out of Paris.
Also, the latest from Iraq, as well. We will not leave that story for long.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Aaron Brown's got a preview of what's coming up tonight on "NEWSNIGHT." Aaron?
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT" -- it's been 15 years since the Berlin Wall came down -- 15 years. It changed the map, and it changed the world.
Tonight, we'll look again at the moment when the wall fell, and we'll look at the years since. We'll have that story plus all the day's top news -- the battle for Falluja and the rest. That's "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
O'BRIEN: All right, Aaron. Thanks.
HEMMER: November of 1989?
O'BRIEN: Hard to believe 15 years.
HEMMER: It's just a hard thing not to remember. Actually when you think about all of eastern Europe and how it just spread up and down that...
SERWER: Yeah.
HEMMER: ... central part of the continent.
CAFFERTY: They're rebuilding part of it now, you know -- the wall.
HEMMER: Where?
CAFFERTY: In -- right where the old wall stood in Germany. They -- apparently the locals tore it all down, and now they want to try to reconstruct a portion of it as a historical monument so they'll have something there for antiquity.
SERWER: I've got a piece of it...
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: ... at home. I mean, a lot of people...
HEMMER: Is it legitimate?
SERWER: Yes, it is.
HEMMER: Because a lot of that stuff went around where they were just painting...
SERWER: Yeah, right. You buy it on the Internet. Right. No, this is -- it's supposed to be legitimate.
HEMMER: We got to run. See you again tomorrow. Here's Rick and Daryn now at the CNN Center. Good morning guys.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to both of you. You guys have a great day in New York City.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, and we're going to be following the developments that are taking place in Falluja. Might get a chance to talk to one of our correspondents there.
KAGAN: We will get to that.
Right now, let's get to the headlines and take a look at what's happening now in the news.
To Iraq -- bombs are exploding and booby-traps are being destroyed as U.S. and Iraqi troops in Falluja pound insurgents and their hideouts for the second straight day.
In all-out urban warfare, U.S. and Iraqi forces are pushing deeper into the terror stronghold, dodging sniper fire and battling insurgents in street-to-street fighting. The very latest in Falluja coming up in just a few minutes.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has visited Yasser Arafat in the hospital -- this after an earlier public falling out with Arafat's wife left a visit in doubt. Officials say the ailing leader's condition has worsened. He still is in intensive care. We're going to have an update for you on his condition in about 30 minutes.
To the Ivory Coast now -- South Africa's leader is stepping in, hoping to help ease tensions after days of violence has rocked that country. An angry mob demanding that France leave the country has stopped cocoa exporters and shippers from making their deliveries. And some 700 people have been injured.
And here in the U.S., a little over an hour from now, jurors in the Scott Peterson double murder trial resumed deliberations amid concerns of a possible deadlock -- this after the judge in the case lectured jurors about the importance of keeping an open mind. We'll have a live report from the trial in just about 30 minutes.
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Aired November 9, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Shaping up to be a nice, but a little bit cold, day here in New York City. Welcome back, everybody. Just about half past the hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Killing, of course, is part of a soldier's job description. But how do the troops reconcile their faith as they head into combat? this morning, we talk with a navy chaplain, his name is Kal McAlexander, about that.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And a great topic, too, to talk about today.
Also this half hour, promising results this morning for a new pill to help overweight and obese patients lose pounds. Some doctors, though, are worried people may see the drug as a magic pill. So, we'll talk to the president of the American Heart Association about just that in a moment here.
Opening bell from Wall Street -- here we go on a Tuesday. Bit of a -- I guess, a push yesterday is what we like to call it -- 10,391, up about three points in trading yesterday, just shy of four points yesterday for the Dow 30. Nasdaq MarketSite, 2,039 is your opening mark, up about a third of a point in trading yesterday. We call that a smidge or a scooch.
Back to Kelly Wallace now with the headlines this morning. Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Very technical terms.
(CROSSTALK)
WALLACE: Exactly. Good morning, again, Soledad and Bill. And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has just paid a visit to the bedside of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Qorei, along with three other top officials, has now left the French hospital where Arafat is being treated. The Palestinian delegation arrived in Paris last night.
Earlier, a spokesman for the military hospital said Arafat's condition has worsened. A live report from Paris in just a moment.
Turning now to Iraq, Baghdad will be under a nighttime curfew until further notice. That's according to Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi.
Meantime, the violence continues throughout the country. Iraqi police say there are at least 10 casualties following a suicide car bombing near an Iraqi National Guard base outside of Kirkuk. Closer to Baghdad, insurgents launched attacks on two police stations -- two hospitals and a church were also targeted.
In California, less than two hours from now, jury deliberations are set to resume in the Scott Peterson double murder trial. The judge in the case lectured jurors yesterday about the importance of keeping an open mind. There are some signs the panel is becoming divided, which could lead to a possible deadlock.
And attorneys for Kobe Bryant's accuser may try to move the civil suit against the NBA star from Colorado to California. The move could open the door to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Bryant because California does not have a cap on financial damages. A decision could come within the next few weeks. We'll be watching that story and keep you posted.
HEMMER: All right. Toobin's got an opinion on two on that, by the way.
WALLACE: He sure does. He's got an opinion about a lot of things.
HEMMER: That's right. Thank you, Kelly.
Want to get to Paris now. Much more on the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, his condition at this hour. Fionnuala Sweeney is outside the Percy Military Hospital with more. Good afternoon, there, Fionnuala.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.
About 45 minutes ago, the senior Palestinian delegation left this hospital. They spent about two hours and 20 minutes here talking to doctors, and we understand that only one member of that delegation allowed to the bedside of Yasser Arafat -- that was Ahmed Qorei, the prime minister.
Earlier, they met with the French foreign minister emerging very grave and stern looking, and we now know that they're on their way to the Champs-Elysees Palace to meet President Chirac. And we hope to hear more about what has transpired during this day then.
We do know from a hospital spokesman earlier this day issuing a statement -- perhaps the most forthright statement we have had to date from the hospital about the condition of Yasser Arafat. The hospital spokesman saying his condition had deteriorated overnight. His coma had deepened, and doctors were no longer reserving a prognosis.
I think we can read between the lines on that -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Fionnuala. Keep us posted there from Paris. Fionnuala Sweeney there reporting the latest -- Soledad? O'BRIEN: More than 12,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces are pounding insurgent targets in Falluja. Military officials say they've taken control of about a third of the city.
We've got Barbara Starr for us live at the Pentagon with more on this this morning. Hey, Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, again, to you, Soledad.
An update now from the Pentagon military officials confirming six U.S. troops now killed in action since the Falluja operation began, two additional troops killed in a vehicle accident, 10 U.S. troops now wounded in action during the Falluja operation. As many as seven other U.S. troops killed in action in a variety of attacks around Iraq yesterday. That coming, of course, as the interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi declaring that nighttime curfew in Baghdad, part of an effort to tamp down some of the violence across the country.
Now, in the battle for Falluja, the question is: Where are the insurgents? What is the opposition that the U.S. and Iraqi troops are facing? A key U.S. Military official tells CNN this morning, quote, "We believe that most of the Zarqawi senior leadership has departed Falluja." They're not saying whether that includes Zarqawi himself. He moves around very often, they know, and they're not even sure where he is. But they now do believe that the senior Zarqawi leadership is out of Falluja, that they left before this operation began.
That may be one explanation why the U.S. and Iraqi forces have not yet encountered the massive organized resistance that they expected. They are encountering some action, but not what they exactly expected at this point -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks. And of course, we'll continue to get updates from you and from the Pentagon all morning.
As the battle for Falluja intensifies and soldiers find themselves in life and death battles, more and more of them must turn to their faith for some spiritual guidance.
Joining us this morning, someone who knows firsthand what it's like for these soldiers. He's Commander Kal McAlexander. He's a Navy chaplain, also a veteran of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for being with us.
CMDR. KAL MCALEXANDER, U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN: Good morning, Soledad. Good morning, Bill.
O'BRIEN: When the soldiers seek you out, what's the primary reason that they want to see you? What do they want to talk about?
MCALEXANDER: I think I can sum it up in three questions, usually. One is: Am I in a right relationship with God? If I die, where do I spend eternity? Two: How do I reconcile my faith with my mission? And then, the last one would be is it OK to be afraid? O'BRIEN: All of those questions are weighty questions, each individually. How do you possibly tackle something like that? How do you tackle is it OK? You're talking about reconciling being a Christian, I would assume for most of the men, and killing people, which is a primary goal?
MCALEXANDER: From a Christian perspective, Romans 13 teaches that governments were instituted by God, that their purpose is to protect the poor, to protect the innocent, and to see that justice is carried out. And that deadly force is authorized if you're acting as an agent of the government.
O'BRIEN: It's long been said there are no atheists in a foxhole. Have you found that to be true? You do battlefield baptisms, I understand. What exactly are those?
MCALEXANDER: That's true. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole. We've had experience operating in mined waters, and the sailors experience the same thing.
As far as the baptisms, they are an expression of the service member's faith and a desire to make sure he's in right relationship with God and ready for eternity.
O'BRIEN: I've got to imagine that it takes only one close call or one firefight before some people start really rethinking their relationship with God and the great beyond, as well.
How do you counsel these young men -- mostly -- who are so young about seriously considering the chances that they're going to die, they're not going to survive?
MCALEXANDER: Well, I think every human being is confronted with their own mortality at some point in time. It's just that these young men are confronted much, much sooner than most people are.
O'BRIEN: Commander Kal McAlexander joining us this morning, a Navy chaplain. Thank you for being with us and also sharing some of these photos that we've had an opportunity to look at while you were chatting with us. We appreciate it -- Bill?
MCALEXANDER: Thanks, Soledad.
HEMMER: Twenty-two minutes now before the hour. This daring police chase and shootout in Dallas, Texas, has gotten our attention here -- captured on videotape by police dashboard cameras.
Here's Bert Lozano of FAA, our affiliate in Dallas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERT LOZANO, REPORTER, WFAA (voice-over): Under a blaze of bullets...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gosh damn. LOZANO: ... police pursued the alleged bank robbers. Here, just as the suspects were about to enter Central Expressway, they back up and open fire, taking aim at a Richardson police officer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go!
LOZANO: Amazingly, only one officer receives a minor injury from broken glass during the intense chase.
This is one of the bank robbery suspects who police say shot at police and is part of the notorious Takeover Bandits, who allegedly are responsible for some 60 robberies. Officers escorted Guadalupe Fajardo on a flight to Dallas after he turned himself in to authorities in Lubbock Saturday.
Once he landed, officers booked him into the Dallas County jail. Richardson Police say this video from patrol units prove the suspects are dangerous and must be apprehended after escaping officers during the chase. That's even after smashing their getaway truck into a pole and then opening fire on officers once again.
This time, a motorist is almost caught in the gunfire. Police did not return fire for fear innocent bystanders would get hurt, and the suspects were able to get away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bert Lozano, again, reporting that story out of Dallas, Texas -- WFAA, our affiliate. Broad daylight that took place -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: That's some shocking videotape.
Weather now. Let's take a look at that ahead with Chad -- or actually, I think we've got another story to tell you about. This story out of Tippecanoe County in Lafayette, Indiana. Have you seen these pictures? Look at that. That is a school bus that was rear ended by a truck in Tippecanoe County this morning.
It happened on U.S. Route 52 and an Indianapolis TV station, WTHR, was reporting that some 30 children were inside that bus. They were taken to a nearby school. They were from a local middle school there. Some of the kids were reported to be slightly injured. And my understanding is they're all out now and, so far from what we've heard, they're all doing fine. Amazing, though.
Let's turn to Chad Meyers for a look at the weather this morning. Hello, Chad. Good morning, again.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.
Still to come this morning, a promising new drug for overweight and obese people. HEMMER: Also, a former Enron executive trying to get away from people who call him names like snake or evil. We'll explain that. Andy's back...
O'BRIEN: Did Jack call him snake or evil?
HEMMER: I'm not quite sure.
Back with that in a moment here as we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Clinical trials of a new weight-loss pill reveal it to be something of a wonder drug. It's called rimonabant, and we're going to talk about it today with Dr. Alice Jacobs, president of the American Heart Association, with us here from New Orleans to talk about this promising pill.
Doctor, good morning. Thanks for you time today.
DR. ALICE JACOBS, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION: Good morning.
HEMMER: First of all, take us through the result of these studies. What have they found?
JACOBS: This study was conducted in 72 sites in North America and about 3,000 patients. And patients were divided into three groups. It was a placebo-control trial, double blind -- which meant that the investigators really didn't know which agent the agents or subjects were being treated with, nor did the patients. Approximately 600 patients received placebo, 1,200 received a lower dose of rimonabant five milligrams, and 1,200 patients received the higher dose, which was 20 milligrams.
HEMMER: With those results, Doctor, how much should we expect them to change the treatment based on these results?
JACOBS: In terms of changing the weight loss?
HEMMER: Yes.
JACOBS: Well, in the placebo group, interestingly, you should know that the patients were treated with a -- or advised to reduce their calories. So, they had a calorie-restricted diet. And at the end of the study, in the placebo group, the patients lost approximately six pounds. In the lower-dose group, the patients lost approximately 10 pounds. And in the 20 milligram group, the patients lost 20 pounds.
HEMMER: OK, Sanofi, right -- the maker of rimonabant -- they put out a statement about these studies saying this is not a diet drug but a cardiovascular risk factor management tool. Would you agree with that statement, Doctor?
JACOBS: Well, I would agree with that. Not only is it effective in this study in reducing and maintaining weight loss, but it has a favorable effect on other risk factors, as well, such as blood lipids and glucose.
HEMMER: How does this drug work, Doctor?
JACOBS: We think it works by inhibiting the cannabinoid receptor and brain tissue...
HEMMER: And what is that?
JACOBS: The cannabinoid system is -- functions to maintain body homeostasis. So, it helps you relax, and it helps you rest, and it helps you eat. It's really the food stimulus receptor.
So, if you inhibit this receptor, you are more likely to eat or to get enjoyment out of eating.
HEMMER: What about side effects in all of this? And as people call it a magic pill, is it just that, or not?
JACOBS: Well, it was fairly well tolerated. I think the main side effect was nausea, which occurred in approximately 10 percent of patients. But overall, in this study and in the other studies, it appears to be fairly safe.
HEMMER: Magic pill?
JACOBS: I think one always has to proceed with caution. First, this system of receptors has not studied in humans. Obesity is a chronic disease that requires chronic therapy. So, we really don't know what the potential effects will be in patients who need to take the drug for more than two years.
It also had a very modest effect on weight loss. These are very obese patients, and it was only approximately 20 pounds at the end of two years. And really nothing substitutes for lifestyle changes, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
HEMMER: That's probably...
JACOBS: Exercise and good diet -- that will always be in the armamentarium for treating patients with obesity.
HEMMER: Thanks for you time today.
JACOBS: Thank you.
HEMMER: Dr. Alice Jacobs there in New Orleans today -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning -- a check of the markets, opening under the cloud of tomorrow's Fed meeting. We'll explain ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A major player in the Enron scandal wants his trial moved. With that and a check of the markets, Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business" this morning. Hello, good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you. Let's talk about the markets. First of all, I think they're up a scooch.
O'BRIEN: Ooh, a smidge?
SERWER: Stocks are up a smidge. Up 24 -- maybe more than a smidge.
O'BRIEN: More than a smidge.
SERWER: That's two times a smidge. Stocks are moving.
A couple stocks on the down side, however. Merck -- we talked about them being investigated by the SEC and the Justice Department. Marsh and McLennan laying off 3,000 workers. That's down 66 cents. There ought to be a law about that. We talked about that a little bit.
Jeffrey Skilling. Jeffrey Skilling...
O'BRIEN: He's not loved.
SERWER: Yes, the former CEO of Enron wants his trial moved out of Houston. Says there's no love for him in that city. One third of the citizens of that fair burg have negative feelings about him, and that's much higher than a city like Atlanta or somewhere else that he wants the trial moved to.
I don't recommend the Upper East Side either, Jeff. There's people here who remember some of your behavior one night last summer.
Here's what happened when lawyers for Mr. Skilling asked him -- people in Houston about him. These are the words they used to describe Jeff Skilling: a pig; a snake; an economic terrorist; the financial equivalent of an ax murderer; he is the devil; Jeff Skilling is arrogant, conniving, pompous, and a brilliant crook.
That's kind of like the Question of the Day, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Probably don't want those people in your jury pool.
SERWER: No, probably not.
Anyway, US Airways, just quickly here, they're in bankruptcy. They're having some trouble. Apparently some of their employees are calling in sick in Philadelphia, which is one of their major hubs. People waited for four hours to get their bag, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: That's ugly.
SERWER: The airline says it's not a question of people calling in sick, they just had a little problem...
O'BRIEN: With the bags.
SERWER: ... with the bags.
HEMMER: Baggravation.
SERWER: Yes, baggravation. That's right, very good.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to the Question of the Day, Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Bill.
How would you fix Social Security? They're going to run out of money with this program at some point, and there are all kinds of ideas floating around. The president wants to privatize part of the program.
Eric writes from New Hampshire: "We need a dedicate national sales tax to pay for us old timers, and everyone under 35 puts their money in a 401(k)-type of account."
Mike in Arlington Heights, Illinois: "The problem can be fixed merely by taking the cap off taxable wages, which is currently $87,900. So, the poor CEO making $1 million a year will pay $62,000 in FICA tax instead of the $5,450 he pays now."
Valerie in San Antonio: "Letting people invest a portion of their own money for their own retirement not only makes sense, it's the only way to go. I'm don't want Washington politicians managing my money. I'm not that good at it, but I'm better than they are on their best day."
And finally, Ian in Providence, Rhode Island: "I have three sure-fire ways to save Social Security: raise taxes, cut benefits, or raise the retirement wage. Any politician looking for a career change might consider suggesting one of these."
SERWER: Yeah, and some of that's going to happen. I mean, there's no question that some of those three things is going to happen at some point.
CAFFERTY: Didn't they do this a few years ago, though. They raised our Social Security...
SERWER: They did. They've been raising it...
CAFFERTY: ... and they said, well, that will take care of it until the year 10041 or something.
SERWER: Right.
CAFFERTY: Wrong answer.
SERWER: They raised the retirement age, and...
HEMMER: When we started the show at 7:00, three hours ago, we said we were going to give a solution to this, right? Have we?
SERWER: That's part of the solution right there.
O'BRIEN: That was sort of vague, but it's whether people implement...
SERWER: But no one wants that medicine.
HEMMER: Thank you, Ian.
O'BRIEN: Jack, thank you. Brilliant, as always.
HEMMER: Coming up next hour here on CNN, conflicting reports now on the health of Yasser Arafat. Daryn and Rick will follow it up out of Paris.
Also, the latest from Iraq, as well. We will not leave that story for long.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Aaron Brown's got a preview of what's coming up tonight on "NEWSNIGHT." Aaron?
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT" -- it's been 15 years since the Berlin Wall came down -- 15 years. It changed the map, and it changed the world.
Tonight, we'll look again at the moment when the wall fell, and we'll look at the years since. We'll have that story plus all the day's top news -- the battle for Falluja and the rest. That's "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
O'BRIEN: All right, Aaron. Thanks.
HEMMER: November of 1989?
O'BRIEN: Hard to believe 15 years.
HEMMER: It's just a hard thing not to remember. Actually when you think about all of eastern Europe and how it just spread up and down that...
SERWER: Yeah.
HEMMER: ... central part of the continent.
CAFFERTY: They're rebuilding part of it now, you know -- the wall.
HEMMER: Where?
CAFFERTY: In -- right where the old wall stood in Germany. They -- apparently the locals tore it all down, and now they want to try to reconstruct a portion of it as a historical monument so they'll have something there for antiquity.
SERWER: I've got a piece of it...
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: ... at home. I mean, a lot of people...
HEMMER: Is it legitimate?
SERWER: Yes, it is.
HEMMER: Because a lot of that stuff went around where they were just painting...
SERWER: Yeah, right. You buy it on the Internet. Right. No, this is -- it's supposed to be legitimate.
HEMMER: We got to run. See you again tomorrow. Here's Rick and Daryn now at the CNN Center. Good morning guys.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to both of you. You guys have a great day in New York City.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, and we're going to be following the developments that are taking place in Falluja. Might get a chance to talk to one of our correspondents there.
KAGAN: We will get to that.
Right now, let's get to the headlines and take a look at what's happening now in the news.
To Iraq -- bombs are exploding and booby-traps are being destroyed as U.S. and Iraqi troops in Falluja pound insurgents and their hideouts for the second straight day.
In all-out urban warfare, U.S. and Iraqi forces are pushing deeper into the terror stronghold, dodging sniper fire and battling insurgents in street-to-street fighting. The very latest in Falluja coming up in just a few minutes.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has visited Yasser Arafat in the hospital -- this after an earlier public falling out with Arafat's wife left a visit in doubt. Officials say the ailing leader's condition has worsened. He still is in intensive care. We're going to have an update for you on his condition in about 30 minutes.
To the Ivory Coast now -- South Africa's leader is stepping in, hoping to help ease tensions after days of violence has rocked that country. An angry mob demanding that France leave the country has stopped cocoa exporters and shippers from making their deliveries. And some 700 people have been injured.
And here in the U.S., a little over an hour from now, jurors in the Scott Peterson double murder trial resumed deliberations amid concerns of a possible deadlock -- this after the judge in the case lectured jurors about the importance of keeping an open mind. We'll have a live report from the trial in just about 30 minutes.
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