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American Morning
Warning From Authorities That Terrorists Could Try to Blind Airline Pilots Using Laser Beams; Discussing Shortage of Armored Vehicles in Iraq
Aired December 10, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN "Security Watch" -- a government warning to airlines terrorists may try to blind pilots with laser beams. Did anyone see this one coming?
Danger for Dodge -- safety regulators requesting a recall that could involve 600,000 trucks and SUVs.
And those terrifying moments inside an Ohio nightclub.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: 911 calls that described a rampage as it happened on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone.
Bill and Soledad off today.
I'm Kelly Wallace here with Miles O'Brien this morning. This is what you call fill in Friday today.
O'BRIEN: Fill in Friday.
Good morning to you.
WALLACE: And it continues.
Some of the other stories we're following this morning.
Demand is getting louder for the Pentagon to provide better equipment for troops in Iraq. A soldier's question to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld highlighted the problem. We will talk to Retired General Mike DeLong, formerly of CENTCOM, and find out what's being done. O'BRIEN: Also, in just a few minutes, an amazing story that would make anyone mad. A woman who slammed the phone down on a telemarketer. Who has not done that among us here? And then, get this, she gets a letter in the mail saying telemarketers know where you live. She's not taking this lying down. We'll talk to her.
WALLACE: An incredible story, indeed.
First, though, Jack Cafferty is here this morning. Good happy Friday to you.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Kelly.
You, too.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," advice for holiday travelers on how to get the metal out of your wardrobe when you go through those things at the airport.
And an update on two red-tailed hawks and the self-absorbed millionaire New Yorkers who ordered the popular birds' nest torn down after they had lived in it for 12 years. Our hope here is to create enough embarrassment for these people that they're eventually forced to put the birds' nest back on the building and leave them alone, because in this humble reporter's opinion, those beautiful birds provide more class to that neighborhood than any of the people who live there.
O'BRIEN: OK.
WALLACE: Ba-dum-bum.
O'BRIEN: Vote them into the co-op, huh? Yes.
All right, thank you.
WALLACE: Thanks, Jack.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's check the morning's headlines.
Carol Costello is here.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Miles.
In the news this morning, a story developing this morning. Military officials say a U.S. soldier has pleaded guilty to killing a severely wounded 16-year-old Iraqi civilian. Staff Sergeant Johnny Horne was charged with the August murder in Baghdad's Sadr City. A military spokesman says proceedings to set a sentence have now begun.
Jurors in the Scott Peterson case begin day two of deliberations in the penalty phase of the trial. Peterson's life hangs on their decision. The prosecution wants the death penalty, calling the convicted double murderer "the worst kind of monster."
A vigil last night at the site of a shooting spree in Columbus, Ohio. Guitarist Darrell Abbott of the heavy metal group Damageplan and three others were killed at this club on Wednesday night. Witnesses say the gunman blamed Abbott for the breakup of another popular band, Pantera. 911 operators were speaking to witnesses when some of the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 911 emergency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at the Alrosa Villa and there's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the stage at the Alrosa Villa. And they just, they're screaming call 911.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, stay on the line with me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
Oh (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED), they're still shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Supplement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're still shooting. The person is still (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The gunman, 25-year-old Nathan Gale, was killed by police on the scene. We'll have more on this coming up this hour.
DaimlerChrysler may recall over 600,000 trucks and SUVs because their wheels could fall off. Regulators say they found problems with four by four Durangos and four wheel drive Dakota pickup trucks built between 2000 and 2003. The car maker will respond to the concerns early next week.
O'BRIEN: Actually, earlier than that, Carol. We just got off the phone with Jean Jennings, who we spoke with earlier. She's editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine. She's on the phone with Chrysler and they say apparently it's a corrosion problem and it is specifically earmarked. The problem occurs in people who live near the ocean, saltwater states. Chrysler is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today to come up with an appropriate response, so we'll keep you posted on that -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, important information out there for consumers.
Moving ahead to our CNN "Security Watch."
Terrorists could blind airline pilots with laser beams during landing. That is what the FBI and Homeland Security Department are warning. The agencies say terrorists have explored the laser tactic, but they have no intelligence that they plan to use it.
We're looking into this latest possible threat again in our CNN "Security Watch" this morning.
CNN security expert Mike Brooks joins us now from Atlanta -- Mike, good to see you.
What is behind this warning?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think this warning comes as a result of an incident back in September of 2004 where a Delta Boeing 737 was on approach to Salt Lake City and the cockpit was illuminated by a green laser. In fact, one of the pilots even had his retina damaged by this.
Now, this is not the first time we've heard of this. Back in April of 2001, the FAA put out a report on the dangers of laser pointers. Now, these are the pointers that we see people use during presentations, those kind of things. They said that between January of 1996 and July of 1999, there were 150 incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft and lighting up the cockpit.
So whether this is a, you know, a real threat or not, I'm more concerned about planes being shot at. Prior to coming with CNN, I was with Delta Airlines. And many times pilots on their walk around would say hey, what is this hole in the plane? And then we find out that he was shot at somewhere along their route.
But, again, it is a potential threat. And this was put out in the FBI's weekly bulletin, I call it their weekly vigilance bulletin. But it is a concern, apparently, to law enforcement.
WALLACE: OK.
And moving ahead to something else, as you know, Mike, the Department of Homeland Security trying to put together a list of terror targets. We have been talking about this this morning. Airports included on that list, power plants, highway bridges. A lot of attention, though, about how this list, more than three years after September 11, still has not been completed.
But to you, why is such a list so important?
BROOKS: Well, I think that local law enforcement and mayors are compiling their own lists in each major city. But the Department of Homeland Security wants to put this together so if something happens they, the alert level goes back up again, they'll know where they have to put the particular manpower should the level rise again.
It also has to do with funding. You know, they have to decide what moneys is going to -- or are going to be earmarked for certain cities. You know, you talk about target rich environments like New York City and Washington, D.C., but then you have other smaller cities such as Pocatello, Idaho and other cities in the Midwest, people may not even think about them having critical infrastructure, but they do.
So it's important that these lists are made, but it shouldn't take them three years to put it together.
WALLACE: And, you know, Mike, some members of Congress have looked at this list, which is classified. Some are saying it is a joke, that some critical infrastructure is not included.
What are you hearing about that?
BROOKS: Well, you know, you talk about what is critical infrastructure, what may be critical infrastructure in one city, like New York City -- financial institutions, bridges, high rise buildings, any place where people get together, especially in the holiday season. Now, malls, what may be critical infrastructure in one city may not be critical infrastructure in another. But it seems like, what I've seen of the list -- again, it's classified -- but what I've seen, it seems fairly inclusive. I mean they've even included miniature golf courses.
So, again, you know, is this list necessary or not? I think most police chiefs and most mayors already know what critical infrastructures there are in their particular cities.
WALLACE: All right, Mike, we have to leave it there.
A story we will certainly keep following.
Mike Brooks in Atlanta, thanks so much.
BROOKS: Thanks.
WALLACE: Miles.
O'BRIEN: The vast majority of transport trucks driven by troops in Iraq have no armor, but three quarters of the Humvees do. Congress released statistics on the armor shortage yesterday. The issue moved to the front burner when some troops grilled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEC. THOMAS WILSON, 278TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM: Now why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up armor our vehicles?
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, some of the sting has been taken out of that soldier's challenge, though. Yesterday it was learned he was probably coached by a newspaper reporter from Chattanooga embedded with his unit. Still, the Pentagon admits there's a problem there.
Retired Lieutenant General Mike DeLong was a deputy commander of Central Command up until late last year.
He recently wrote a book called "Inside CENTCOM: The Unvarnished Truth About the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Lieutenant General DeLong joins us from Tampa, Florida.
Good morning to you, General.
LT GEN. MIKE DELONG, U.S. MARINES (RET.): Good morning, Miles.
By the way, that's a great Christmas present.
O'BRIEN: What's that?
DELONG: That book.
O'BRIEN: Oh, the book. Happy to be of service, General.
How about some unvarnished truth about this situation with the armor here? There's a report out this morning, "USA Today" saying two of the companies that actually make the armor for these vehicles offered to boost production. It was met with deaf ears at the Pentagon.
Why?
DELONG: I can't answer that for you, but I can sort of build you a watch here on how this thing started. When we went to war in March of 2003, the purpose was to get to Baghdad as quickly as possible. And that meant using everything that had tracks on it or wheels so the soldiers didn't have to walk.
So we took every vehicle, armored, unarmored, as we flowed toward Baghdad quickly. And it worked well. We also had promises from some of the expatriate Iraqis that once we got to Baghdad and/or captured Saddam's Republican Guard and Saddam that things would be relatively quiet, the police would take care of the cities and we would not have much of a police problem. That didn't happen.
So all our Humvees were never supposed to be armed. So we had to arm them. None of our trucks were armed. So they're now putting applique armor. They're getting armor. And there is enough steel over in Iraq right now to put on the vehicles. They've got the busses over there are now armored. They're putting armor on side the field trucks.
O'BRIEN: So, but in other words, it's taken a while, but finally the Pentagon has realized this is a problem.
To what extent does this just reflect on the general underlying problem here, that the Pentagon has been slow to recognize the realities and come up with a plan that matches what's really going on in Iraq?
DELONG: I don't think it has -- there's -- I don't think there's an issue here. They've got the armor over there. It takes time to build vehicles. It takes time to get vehicles from around the world over there. O'BRIEN: Yes, but to the extent that the Pentagon didn't recognize there would be the need for these sorts of vehicles after the invasion...
DELONG: I just, I mean things happen. There were some mistakes made. Things happened that people didn't anticipate. Some of the advice we got from expatriate Iraqis were wrong. I mean any -- in any combat, any war, things happen that you didn't plan on and you've got to react appropriately.
Let me tell you the other thing the leadership is doing over there right now. I just got back -- I've been over there seven times in the last six months. I've got -- we're building an Iraqi Army base north of Mosul. I was on the road. All I saw were armored vehicles, not to say that there aren't others. But I did see inside the green zone an area that's a benign zone, if there is one over there. That's where they had most of heir unarmored vehicles.
So the leadership was trying to put the armored vehicles on the road and the unarmored vehicles inside the controllment areas.
O'BRIEN: All right, Lieutenant General Mike DeLong, unfortunately we're out of time.
We could talk about this some more, I'm sure.
Once again, the book, "Inside CENTCOM."
And Merry Christmas to you, sir.
DELONG: Same to you.
Thank you very much.
O'BRIEN: Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Miles.
Time to get another check of the weather.
Rob Marciano is at CNN Center with the latest forecast -- good morning again, Rob.
What's it looking like for this Friday?
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, a potentially deadly disease makes a comeback. It's surprising because most people were vaccinated against it. We'll have a look.
WALLACE: Also, Miles again in politics. Doctor and former presidential candidate Howard Dean has a prescription for his party. But will the Democrats take that medicine?
O'BRIEN: And ever slam the phone on a telemarketer? I do it all the time.
WALLACE: Who hasn't, right?
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes. One woman did just that and then got this really scary surprise in the mail. We'll talk to her next. We're not going to tell you her whole name for certain reasons. We'll explain that on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back.
A woman from Michigan who hung up on a telemarketer receives a chilling threat. Days after she ended one of those annoying phone calls that many of us have received, she found a threatening letter that warned her that telemarketers not only have phone numbers, they have addresses, as well.
The woman took the letter to the police. She says officers did nothing.
CNN tried to contact the police in her area, but got no comment.
For security reasons, we are calling her Jill.
And she joins us this morning from Michigan.
Jill, thanks so much for being with us.
We really appreciate it.
"JILL," THREATENED IN LETTER: You're welcome.
WALLACE: So, Jill, tell us a little bit about what happened. You were on the phone with this telemarketer. What did he say? What happened?
"JILL": The call came from a veterans association and these are telemarketing groups that solicit funds. And if you're lucky, the veterans will get maybe 20 percent of this money.
And I explained to the man that, you know, I knew what these associations did and if I wanted to donate to the veterans, I would do it directly to them. And he said, you know, we deserve to be paid for what we do. And I said well, I'm not going to pay your salary to call me.
And it escalated from there and he, you know, he said these people deserve your money, they fight for your country. I said I understand that, but if I'm going to donate, I will donate directly to the veterans.
And he started to say something else. And I finally just said I am not interested and I slammed the phone.
WALLACE: And then, of course, we know you go on vacation with your family in the Caribbean, you come back and find a threatening letter in your mailbox. I want to read a portion of the letter to our viewers. It says: "Before you are rude to another telemarketer, you should keep in mind that he or she has your phone number and your address. Many of them live in your own state and most don't give a (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED)" expletive there.
What was your reaction? What did you think when you read that letter?
"JILL": When I first opened it, the kids and I were sitting around and we were looking at our vacation pictures and talking. And I kind of just folded it back up. But I mean I immediately started to shake like, you know, oh my goodness. And then I opened it back up and I explained to the kids what had happened and I said I need to go to the police department. And, you know, I went to the police department, didn't get much of a response there. They kind of just said yes.
WALLACE: I know from other reports, I understand that the letter was postmarked from El Paso, Texas, and I believe El Paso detectives are investigating.
Do you plan to do anything else, including signing up for that do not call list, which would prevent telemarketers from being able to contact you?
"JILL": Yes. Actually, that day I went on the do not call list.
WALLACE: So you are on that list now?
"JILL": Yes, I am.
WALLACE: But it does take, we understand, a little bit of time, is that right, before it is fully in effect?
"JILL": Yes. It said on the Internet it takes three to four months to kick in.
WALLACE: Do you have anything else that you plan to do? Have you contacted lawmakers, contacted any other state officials about what you can do as a consumer to try and take some action to prevent this from happening to anyone else?
"JILL": I am going to call the lawmakers because, you know, some of these telemarketers actually take these things home to do and they can block their numbers and we don't have information about them. But yet they can take our phone numbers and addresses home. If they get all this information about us, why can't we have their information when they call our homes?
WALLACE: What has your response been so far?
"JILL": Basically I've just been dealing with the letter right now. But I do plan to take this to our lawmakers.
WALLACE: Have you received any calls from telemarketers since this call?
"JILL": I've had a couple unknown callers come and I have not answered them.
WALLACE: All right, we have to leave it there.
Jill, who we're calling you Jill from Michigan, we appreciate you sharing your story with us, something obviously lots of concern there.
And we'll keep following it.
Thanks again.
"JILL": Thank you.
WALLACE: Miles.
O'BRIEN: Thank god for caller I.D., at least.
All right, still to come on the program, the ongoing adventures of Pale Male, the most famous red-tailed hawk in all of America. Jack's got an update on the status of the feathered evictee.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Something amazing in basketball last night to tell you about. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets, scoring an incredible 13 points. That doesn't sound like much, except when you know it was in the final 35 seconds of the game against San Antonio. McGrady hit four three pointers with time running out and then hit a foul shot. All of it was needed, of course, to help this team come away with a one point win in the final seconds.
Amazing, as they say.
WALLACE: I was going to say, that is amazing.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
WALLACE: Something else amazing? Jack Cafferty and the "Cafferty File."
CAFFERTY: Who was the kid from the Indiana Pacers who lit up the Knicks that way and stole the game from them in the Garden here a few years ago?
WALLACE: And the answer is?
CAFFERTY: Reggie Miller.
WALLACE: Oh.
CAFFERTY: He got the ball, took it out beyond the three point line and just kept knocking them down. O'BRIEN: Kept going.
CAFFERTY: And it was, you know, one of those wild things.
Anyway, time for the "Cafferty File."
Tired of walking through airport security checkpoints in your socks and still setting off the metal detectors. Companies are now introducing airport friendly products that you can wear, including the following, something called Buzz Not, which is a suspender that has plastic clasps. Shoemakers Johnson & Murphy, Florsheim and Rockport all marketing styles without the metal shanks in the soles and Florsheim identifying its shoes with tags that look like passports and are labeled airport friendly. And there's a Japanese company, Triumph International, that's launching what it calls a frequent flier bra, guaranteed not to set off the metal detectors because, you see, there are no wires.
O'BRIEN: But does it lift and separate is the question?
CAFFERTY: What?
O'BRIEN: Does it lift and separate?
CAFFERTY: I don't know, Miles. I...
WALLACE: Moving right along here.
CAFFERTY: I've never worn one.
WALLACE: We're moving forward. Moving forward.
CAFFERTY: An update on an eviction that we told you about yesterday of the famed red-tailed hawk Pale Male and his mate Lola from the top of an Upper East Side luxury building here in New York City at 74th and Fifth Avenue. The self-absorbed millionaires who live there, described in the "New York Daily News" this morning as "rich birdbrains," ordered the birds' nest torn down. The hawks had lived there for 12 years. They have raised 23 baby hawks. These are endangered species, red-tailed hawks.
Nevertheless, the co-op board of the building ordered the nest removed, along with the metal spikes that supported it. Merry Christmas.
The birds had become very popular over the years with New Yorkers, who go there to see them. 74th and Fifth is the address. Mary Tyler Moore, who lives in the building, furious. She joined picketers at a candlelight vigil outside the building by people who want the hawks' nest restored.
This is a story that's getting legs, as they say in the biz, here in New York. It's in all the New York papers. It's being played heavily on the local New York television stations. And if the people who live in that building that did this aren't embarrassed by what they did, they should be. Did I mention it's at 74th and Fifth in case you want to stop by?
WALLACE: FYI.
O'BRIEN: Well, now you...
CAFFERTY: You know, share your thoughts on this subject with the folks there, 74th and Fifth Avenue.
O'BRIEN: At 74th and Fifth. The problem is the hawk stuff that comes down, and apparently the carcasses of pigeons, which are what they snack on.
CAFFERTY: Then move to North Dakota, you know? This is a city that has lots of pigeons. It also has lots of rats, which the hawks eat and control. It has mice. It has dog stuff. It's New York. Deal with it.
WALLACE: And lots of...
CAFFERTY: You don't like it here, go find someplace else, but leave the damned hawks alone.
WALLACE: And lots of people. Maybe the power of the people will cause a change there.
CAFFERTY: Well, we're going to -- I'm going to keep following this just because...
WALLACE: I'll bet you are.
CAFFERTY: ... it kind of stuck in my throat a little bit and I tend to be partial to the animals when it comes to either animals or people anyways.
O'BRIEN: All right, where is that building again?
CAFFERTY: 74th and Fifth Avenue here in New York City.
O'BRIEN: OK. Got you.
OK, thank you.
WALLACE: Oh, boy.
O'BRIEN: All right, still ahead, Democrats didn't pick Howard Dean as their presidential nominee, so why would he be the man to solve the party's problems? "Gimme A Minute" is coming up.
Also, what exactly happened inside that Ohio nightclub? Chilling new 911 tapes offering some insight for us.
That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired December 10, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN "Security Watch" -- a government warning to airlines terrorists may try to blind pilots with laser beams. Did anyone see this one coming?
Danger for Dodge -- safety regulators requesting a recall that could involve 600,000 trucks and SUVs.
And those terrifying moments inside an Ohio nightclub.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: 911 calls that described a rampage as it happened on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone.
Bill and Soledad off today.
I'm Kelly Wallace here with Miles O'Brien this morning. This is what you call fill in Friday today.
O'BRIEN: Fill in Friday.
Good morning to you.
WALLACE: And it continues.
Some of the other stories we're following this morning.
Demand is getting louder for the Pentagon to provide better equipment for troops in Iraq. A soldier's question to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld highlighted the problem. We will talk to Retired General Mike DeLong, formerly of CENTCOM, and find out what's being done. O'BRIEN: Also, in just a few minutes, an amazing story that would make anyone mad. A woman who slammed the phone down on a telemarketer. Who has not done that among us here? And then, get this, she gets a letter in the mail saying telemarketers know where you live. She's not taking this lying down. We'll talk to her.
WALLACE: An incredible story, indeed.
First, though, Jack Cafferty is here this morning. Good happy Friday to you.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Kelly.
You, too.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," advice for holiday travelers on how to get the metal out of your wardrobe when you go through those things at the airport.
And an update on two red-tailed hawks and the self-absorbed millionaire New Yorkers who ordered the popular birds' nest torn down after they had lived in it for 12 years. Our hope here is to create enough embarrassment for these people that they're eventually forced to put the birds' nest back on the building and leave them alone, because in this humble reporter's opinion, those beautiful birds provide more class to that neighborhood than any of the people who live there.
O'BRIEN: OK.
WALLACE: Ba-dum-bum.
O'BRIEN: Vote them into the co-op, huh? Yes.
All right, thank you.
WALLACE: Thanks, Jack.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's check the morning's headlines.
Carol Costello is here.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Miles.
In the news this morning, a story developing this morning. Military officials say a U.S. soldier has pleaded guilty to killing a severely wounded 16-year-old Iraqi civilian. Staff Sergeant Johnny Horne was charged with the August murder in Baghdad's Sadr City. A military spokesman says proceedings to set a sentence have now begun.
Jurors in the Scott Peterson case begin day two of deliberations in the penalty phase of the trial. Peterson's life hangs on their decision. The prosecution wants the death penalty, calling the convicted double murderer "the worst kind of monster."
A vigil last night at the site of a shooting spree in Columbus, Ohio. Guitarist Darrell Abbott of the heavy metal group Damageplan and three others were killed at this club on Wednesday night. Witnesses say the gunman blamed Abbott for the breakup of another popular band, Pantera. 911 operators were speaking to witnesses when some of the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 911 emergency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at the Alrosa Villa and there's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the stage at the Alrosa Villa. And they just, they're screaming call 911.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, stay on the line with me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
Oh (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED), they're still shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Supplement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're still shooting. The person is still (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The gunman, 25-year-old Nathan Gale, was killed by police on the scene. We'll have more on this coming up this hour.
DaimlerChrysler may recall over 600,000 trucks and SUVs because their wheels could fall off. Regulators say they found problems with four by four Durangos and four wheel drive Dakota pickup trucks built between 2000 and 2003. The car maker will respond to the concerns early next week.
O'BRIEN: Actually, earlier than that, Carol. We just got off the phone with Jean Jennings, who we spoke with earlier. She's editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine. She's on the phone with Chrysler and they say apparently it's a corrosion problem and it is specifically earmarked. The problem occurs in people who live near the ocean, saltwater states. Chrysler is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today to come up with an appropriate response, so we'll keep you posted on that -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, important information out there for consumers.
Moving ahead to our CNN "Security Watch."
Terrorists could blind airline pilots with laser beams during landing. That is what the FBI and Homeland Security Department are warning. The agencies say terrorists have explored the laser tactic, but they have no intelligence that they plan to use it.
We're looking into this latest possible threat again in our CNN "Security Watch" this morning.
CNN security expert Mike Brooks joins us now from Atlanta -- Mike, good to see you.
What is behind this warning?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think this warning comes as a result of an incident back in September of 2004 where a Delta Boeing 737 was on approach to Salt Lake City and the cockpit was illuminated by a green laser. In fact, one of the pilots even had his retina damaged by this.
Now, this is not the first time we've heard of this. Back in April of 2001, the FAA put out a report on the dangers of laser pointers. Now, these are the pointers that we see people use during presentations, those kind of things. They said that between January of 1996 and July of 1999, there were 150 incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft and lighting up the cockpit.
So whether this is a, you know, a real threat or not, I'm more concerned about planes being shot at. Prior to coming with CNN, I was with Delta Airlines. And many times pilots on their walk around would say hey, what is this hole in the plane? And then we find out that he was shot at somewhere along their route.
But, again, it is a potential threat. And this was put out in the FBI's weekly bulletin, I call it their weekly vigilance bulletin. But it is a concern, apparently, to law enforcement.
WALLACE: OK.
And moving ahead to something else, as you know, Mike, the Department of Homeland Security trying to put together a list of terror targets. We have been talking about this this morning. Airports included on that list, power plants, highway bridges. A lot of attention, though, about how this list, more than three years after September 11, still has not been completed.
But to you, why is such a list so important?
BROOKS: Well, I think that local law enforcement and mayors are compiling their own lists in each major city. But the Department of Homeland Security wants to put this together so if something happens they, the alert level goes back up again, they'll know where they have to put the particular manpower should the level rise again.
It also has to do with funding. You know, they have to decide what moneys is going to -- or are going to be earmarked for certain cities. You know, you talk about target rich environments like New York City and Washington, D.C., but then you have other smaller cities such as Pocatello, Idaho and other cities in the Midwest, people may not even think about them having critical infrastructure, but they do.
So it's important that these lists are made, but it shouldn't take them three years to put it together.
WALLACE: And, you know, Mike, some members of Congress have looked at this list, which is classified. Some are saying it is a joke, that some critical infrastructure is not included.
What are you hearing about that?
BROOKS: Well, you know, you talk about what is critical infrastructure, what may be critical infrastructure in one city, like New York City -- financial institutions, bridges, high rise buildings, any place where people get together, especially in the holiday season. Now, malls, what may be critical infrastructure in one city may not be critical infrastructure in another. But it seems like, what I've seen of the list -- again, it's classified -- but what I've seen, it seems fairly inclusive. I mean they've even included miniature golf courses.
So, again, you know, is this list necessary or not? I think most police chiefs and most mayors already know what critical infrastructures there are in their particular cities.
WALLACE: All right, Mike, we have to leave it there.
A story we will certainly keep following.
Mike Brooks in Atlanta, thanks so much.
BROOKS: Thanks.
WALLACE: Miles.
O'BRIEN: The vast majority of transport trucks driven by troops in Iraq have no armor, but three quarters of the Humvees do. Congress released statistics on the armor shortage yesterday. The issue moved to the front burner when some troops grilled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEC. THOMAS WILSON, 278TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM: Now why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up armor our vehicles?
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, some of the sting has been taken out of that soldier's challenge, though. Yesterday it was learned he was probably coached by a newspaper reporter from Chattanooga embedded with his unit. Still, the Pentagon admits there's a problem there.
Retired Lieutenant General Mike DeLong was a deputy commander of Central Command up until late last year.
He recently wrote a book called "Inside CENTCOM: The Unvarnished Truth About the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Lieutenant General DeLong joins us from Tampa, Florida.
Good morning to you, General.
LT GEN. MIKE DELONG, U.S. MARINES (RET.): Good morning, Miles.
By the way, that's a great Christmas present.
O'BRIEN: What's that?
DELONG: That book.
O'BRIEN: Oh, the book. Happy to be of service, General.
How about some unvarnished truth about this situation with the armor here? There's a report out this morning, "USA Today" saying two of the companies that actually make the armor for these vehicles offered to boost production. It was met with deaf ears at the Pentagon.
Why?
DELONG: I can't answer that for you, but I can sort of build you a watch here on how this thing started. When we went to war in March of 2003, the purpose was to get to Baghdad as quickly as possible. And that meant using everything that had tracks on it or wheels so the soldiers didn't have to walk.
So we took every vehicle, armored, unarmored, as we flowed toward Baghdad quickly. And it worked well. We also had promises from some of the expatriate Iraqis that once we got to Baghdad and/or captured Saddam's Republican Guard and Saddam that things would be relatively quiet, the police would take care of the cities and we would not have much of a police problem. That didn't happen.
So all our Humvees were never supposed to be armed. So we had to arm them. None of our trucks were armed. So they're now putting applique armor. They're getting armor. And there is enough steel over in Iraq right now to put on the vehicles. They've got the busses over there are now armored. They're putting armor on side the field trucks.
O'BRIEN: So, but in other words, it's taken a while, but finally the Pentagon has realized this is a problem.
To what extent does this just reflect on the general underlying problem here, that the Pentagon has been slow to recognize the realities and come up with a plan that matches what's really going on in Iraq?
DELONG: I don't think it has -- there's -- I don't think there's an issue here. They've got the armor over there. It takes time to build vehicles. It takes time to get vehicles from around the world over there. O'BRIEN: Yes, but to the extent that the Pentagon didn't recognize there would be the need for these sorts of vehicles after the invasion...
DELONG: I just, I mean things happen. There were some mistakes made. Things happened that people didn't anticipate. Some of the advice we got from expatriate Iraqis were wrong. I mean any -- in any combat, any war, things happen that you didn't plan on and you've got to react appropriately.
Let me tell you the other thing the leadership is doing over there right now. I just got back -- I've been over there seven times in the last six months. I've got -- we're building an Iraqi Army base north of Mosul. I was on the road. All I saw were armored vehicles, not to say that there aren't others. But I did see inside the green zone an area that's a benign zone, if there is one over there. That's where they had most of heir unarmored vehicles.
So the leadership was trying to put the armored vehicles on the road and the unarmored vehicles inside the controllment areas.
O'BRIEN: All right, Lieutenant General Mike DeLong, unfortunately we're out of time.
We could talk about this some more, I'm sure.
Once again, the book, "Inside CENTCOM."
And Merry Christmas to you, sir.
DELONG: Same to you.
Thank you very much.
O'BRIEN: Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Miles.
Time to get another check of the weather.
Rob Marciano is at CNN Center with the latest forecast -- good morning again, Rob.
What's it looking like for this Friday?
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, a potentially deadly disease makes a comeback. It's surprising because most people were vaccinated against it. We'll have a look.
WALLACE: Also, Miles again in politics. Doctor and former presidential candidate Howard Dean has a prescription for his party. But will the Democrats take that medicine?
O'BRIEN: And ever slam the phone on a telemarketer? I do it all the time.
WALLACE: Who hasn't, right?
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes. One woman did just that and then got this really scary surprise in the mail. We'll talk to her next. We're not going to tell you her whole name for certain reasons. We'll explain that on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back.
A woman from Michigan who hung up on a telemarketer receives a chilling threat. Days after she ended one of those annoying phone calls that many of us have received, she found a threatening letter that warned her that telemarketers not only have phone numbers, they have addresses, as well.
The woman took the letter to the police. She says officers did nothing.
CNN tried to contact the police in her area, but got no comment.
For security reasons, we are calling her Jill.
And she joins us this morning from Michigan.
Jill, thanks so much for being with us.
We really appreciate it.
"JILL," THREATENED IN LETTER: You're welcome.
WALLACE: So, Jill, tell us a little bit about what happened. You were on the phone with this telemarketer. What did he say? What happened?
"JILL": The call came from a veterans association and these are telemarketing groups that solicit funds. And if you're lucky, the veterans will get maybe 20 percent of this money.
And I explained to the man that, you know, I knew what these associations did and if I wanted to donate to the veterans, I would do it directly to them. And he said, you know, we deserve to be paid for what we do. And I said well, I'm not going to pay your salary to call me.
And it escalated from there and he, you know, he said these people deserve your money, they fight for your country. I said I understand that, but if I'm going to donate, I will donate directly to the veterans.
And he started to say something else. And I finally just said I am not interested and I slammed the phone.
WALLACE: And then, of course, we know you go on vacation with your family in the Caribbean, you come back and find a threatening letter in your mailbox. I want to read a portion of the letter to our viewers. It says: "Before you are rude to another telemarketer, you should keep in mind that he or she has your phone number and your address. Many of them live in your own state and most don't give a (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED)" expletive there.
What was your reaction? What did you think when you read that letter?
"JILL": When I first opened it, the kids and I were sitting around and we were looking at our vacation pictures and talking. And I kind of just folded it back up. But I mean I immediately started to shake like, you know, oh my goodness. And then I opened it back up and I explained to the kids what had happened and I said I need to go to the police department. And, you know, I went to the police department, didn't get much of a response there. They kind of just said yes.
WALLACE: I know from other reports, I understand that the letter was postmarked from El Paso, Texas, and I believe El Paso detectives are investigating.
Do you plan to do anything else, including signing up for that do not call list, which would prevent telemarketers from being able to contact you?
"JILL": Yes. Actually, that day I went on the do not call list.
WALLACE: So you are on that list now?
"JILL": Yes, I am.
WALLACE: But it does take, we understand, a little bit of time, is that right, before it is fully in effect?
"JILL": Yes. It said on the Internet it takes three to four months to kick in.
WALLACE: Do you have anything else that you plan to do? Have you contacted lawmakers, contacted any other state officials about what you can do as a consumer to try and take some action to prevent this from happening to anyone else?
"JILL": I am going to call the lawmakers because, you know, some of these telemarketers actually take these things home to do and they can block their numbers and we don't have information about them. But yet they can take our phone numbers and addresses home. If they get all this information about us, why can't we have their information when they call our homes?
WALLACE: What has your response been so far?
"JILL": Basically I've just been dealing with the letter right now. But I do plan to take this to our lawmakers.
WALLACE: Have you received any calls from telemarketers since this call?
"JILL": I've had a couple unknown callers come and I have not answered them.
WALLACE: All right, we have to leave it there.
Jill, who we're calling you Jill from Michigan, we appreciate you sharing your story with us, something obviously lots of concern there.
And we'll keep following it.
Thanks again.
"JILL": Thank you.
WALLACE: Miles.
O'BRIEN: Thank god for caller I.D., at least.
All right, still to come on the program, the ongoing adventures of Pale Male, the most famous red-tailed hawk in all of America. Jack's got an update on the status of the feathered evictee.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Something amazing in basketball last night to tell you about. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets, scoring an incredible 13 points. That doesn't sound like much, except when you know it was in the final 35 seconds of the game against San Antonio. McGrady hit four three pointers with time running out and then hit a foul shot. All of it was needed, of course, to help this team come away with a one point win in the final seconds.
Amazing, as they say.
WALLACE: I was going to say, that is amazing.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
WALLACE: Something else amazing? Jack Cafferty and the "Cafferty File."
CAFFERTY: Who was the kid from the Indiana Pacers who lit up the Knicks that way and stole the game from them in the Garden here a few years ago?
WALLACE: And the answer is?
CAFFERTY: Reggie Miller.
WALLACE: Oh.
CAFFERTY: He got the ball, took it out beyond the three point line and just kept knocking them down. O'BRIEN: Kept going.
CAFFERTY: And it was, you know, one of those wild things.
Anyway, time for the "Cafferty File."
Tired of walking through airport security checkpoints in your socks and still setting off the metal detectors. Companies are now introducing airport friendly products that you can wear, including the following, something called Buzz Not, which is a suspender that has plastic clasps. Shoemakers Johnson & Murphy, Florsheim and Rockport all marketing styles without the metal shanks in the soles and Florsheim identifying its shoes with tags that look like passports and are labeled airport friendly. And there's a Japanese company, Triumph International, that's launching what it calls a frequent flier bra, guaranteed not to set off the metal detectors because, you see, there are no wires.
O'BRIEN: But does it lift and separate is the question?
CAFFERTY: What?
O'BRIEN: Does it lift and separate?
CAFFERTY: I don't know, Miles. I...
WALLACE: Moving right along here.
CAFFERTY: I've never worn one.
WALLACE: We're moving forward. Moving forward.
CAFFERTY: An update on an eviction that we told you about yesterday of the famed red-tailed hawk Pale Male and his mate Lola from the top of an Upper East Side luxury building here in New York City at 74th and Fifth Avenue. The self-absorbed millionaires who live there, described in the "New York Daily News" this morning as "rich birdbrains," ordered the birds' nest torn down. The hawks had lived there for 12 years. They have raised 23 baby hawks. These are endangered species, red-tailed hawks.
Nevertheless, the co-op board of the building ordered the nest removed, along with the metal spikes that supported it. Merry Christmas.
The birds had become very popular over the years with New Yorkers, who go there to see them. 74th and Fifth is the address. Mary Tyler Moore, who lives in the building, furious. She joined picketers at a candlelight vigil outside the building by people who want the hawks' nest restored.
This is a story that's getting legs, as they say in the biz, here in New York. It's in all the New York papers. It's being played heavily on the local New York television stations. And if the people who live in that building that did this aren't embarrassed by what they did, they should be. Did I mention it's at 74th and Fifth in case you want to stop by?
WALLACE: FYI.
O'BRIEN: Well, now you...
CAFFERTY: You know, share your thoughts on this subject with the folks there, 74th and Fifth Avenue.
O'BRIEN: At 74th and Fifth. The problem is the hawk stuff that comes down, and apparently the carcasses of pigeons, which are what they snack on.
CAFFERTY: Then move to North Dakota, you know? This is a city that has lots of pigeons. It also has lots of rats, which the hawks eat and control. It has mice. It has dog stuff. It's New York. Deal with it.
WALLACE: And lots of...
CAFFERTY: You don't like it here, go find someplace else, but leave the damned hawks alone.
WALLACE: And lots of people. Maybe the power of the people will cause a change there.
CAFFERTY: Well, we're going to -- I'm going to keep following this just because...
WALLACE: I'll bet you are.
CAFFERTY: ... it kind of stuck in my throat a little bit and I tend to be partial to the animals when it comes to either animals or people anyways.
O'BRIEN: All right, where is that building again?
CAFFERTY: 74th and Fifth Avenue here in New York City.
O'BRIEN: OK. Got you.
OK, thank you.
WALLACE: Oh, boy.
O'BRIEN: All right, still ahead, Democrats didn't pick Howard Dean as their presidential nominee, so why would he be the man to solve the party's problems? "Gimme A Minute" is coming up.
Also, what exactly happened inside that Ohio nightclub? Chilling new 911 tapes offering some insight for us.
That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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