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American Morning

Marine Helicopter Crash

Aired January 26, 2005 - 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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
A U.S. helicopter reported down in Iraq. Meanwhile, in several cities, more bombs exploding today. Insurgents on a pre-election assault, going after Americans and Iraqis.

The political flap over Condoleezza Rice. Is it the beginning of a brand new season of bitterness in Washington?

And the children of the tsunami finally going back to school. When you see a t-shirt, there is a painful story, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

Welcome back, everybody.

We're going to get you caught up on the situation in Iraq in just a few moments.

Also, security here in the U.S., a new bill about to be introduced in Congress that would crack down on illegal immigrants in a number of ways. Federal rules for drivers licenses is just part of it. We're going to talk with the bill's sponsor this morning, Congressman James Sensenbrenner, about what he is hoping to accomplish.

HEMMER: At this hour, Soledad, a question on the minds of many Democrats and Republicans -- is Hillary Clinton going to run for president in 2008? We'll put that to Kamber and Simone a bit later.

Jack's got an opinion on that, don't you?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Her brothers were quoted somewhere, I think last week, saying that she's already very busy making her plans. I would be amazed if she doesn't.

Coming up in the "Cafferty File" in a little less than an hour, Wednesday, time for "Things People Say." More fallout from Harvard President Larry Summers' idiotic remarks about women. He's just ain't going to get out of this for a long time. Ashley Simpson apparently still doesn't get it. We're going to try and help her. And a desperate housewife tells how she got ready to shoot her nude scenes. It's actually pretty funny stuff. HEMMER: All right.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack.

Thank you.

CAFFERTY: Why is Carol laughing?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm laughing at Ashley Simpson because...

CAFFERTY: I know, the poor thing.

O'BRIEN: You're going to help her out.

COSTELLO: Yes, poor thing.

CAFFERTY: You're trying to help her.

COSTELLO: She needs help because I just...

CAFFERTY: Get out of the business.

COSTELLO: I just read a magazine article where she's quoted as saying she loves god and like she's over the whole lip synching thing and she's ready to move on.

O'BRIEN: But we're not.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: We're going to relive it for her each and every day, aren't we?

CAFFERTY: Yes. Yes.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks for referring to that.

Let's get right to Iraq this morning. Some new developments to tell you about. A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed in the western part of the country. There are some casualties.

CNN's Jeff Koinange joins us from Baghdad again -- Jeff, good morning.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

And we're hearing that crash happened near the town of Al-Rutbah. That's in the west of Iraq near the border with Jordan. Now, that was carrying personnel from the 1st Marine Division. We have a quote from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force saying there are casualties. We don't know how many so far. We do know that a search and rescue team is underway and an investigation is also going to be underway into how the crash was caused. No word yet whether it was a hostile attack or whether it was an accident. All this on a day when yet another U.S. soldier was killed in an ambush north of Baghdad. Again, yet in the town of Kirkuk, about, north of Baghdad, and also about 20 kilometers west, the town of Riyadh, three simultaneous car bombs. One right outside a police station killed two Iraqi policemen. Another one outside the mayor's office killed three Iraqi soldiers. And another one targeting a U.S. convoy. No word yet on injuries in that incident.

All this when schools are also being targeted four days before the poll, as you know. Schools will be used as polling centers in the Sunday poll. Three of them attacked late Tuesday. No casualties in that, but extensive damage to the school.

As Iraqis gear up for their first election in decades, the insurgents are continuing their attacks unabatedly -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: An update on what's happening in Iraq from Jeff Koinange for us this morning, including these new developments out of Iraq, as we mentioned, that U.S. Marine helicopter crashing. Some casualties to report there -- Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, thanks.

That's our first story.

With the rest of the headlines, here's Carol again -- good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

Good morning to all of you.

Now in the news, UNICEF says a Sri Lankan rebel group, the Tamil Tigers, have recruited at least 40 children since the tsunami disaster. A spokesman for the U.N. children's agency says at least four of the children were taken from tsunami survival camps. The rest came from villages not affected by the disaster. In the past, the Tigers have denied recruiting child troops.

In Washington, President Bush is set to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. This will be only the second official meeting between the president and the CBC. The two sides have had a somewhat strained relationship during the past four years, but the Caucus chairman is calling for a fresh start.

If you've been waiting to get a flu shot, now may be your chance to get one. According to the U.S. attorney, the CDC is expected to ease flu vaccine restrictions this week. Nearly half of all states already did away with the eligibility restrictions. Experts say flu season does not peak until February, so it's never too late to be vaccinated.

And San Francisco is one step closer to banning smoking at a number of outdoor spaces. City officials have passed a ban on smoking at all city owned parks, public squares and other outdoor areas. Violators would risk fines from $100 to $500. Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill into law today.

HEMMER: That is not the town to pack your Marlboros, is it?

COSTELLO: No.

HEMMER: They do not like it.

Thank you, Carol.

To Washington now, where the U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Condoleezza Rice later this morning as the new secretary of state. But not without more dissent.

We have coverage now from Congressional correspondent Joe Johns on the Hill and White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

Joe, let's start with you -- good morning, there.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

She is the first high profile nomination of the president's second term to be debated on the Senate floor. At the end of the day, she is expected to be confirmed. The vote is not expected to be close. Of course, a few Democrats have prolonged this nomination to make a point about the Iraq war. But notably some other Democrats have spoken out in favor of the nomination.

This is a public relations war more than anything. One of Rice's critics, Barbara Boxer of California, is now getting hammered by Republicans, who accuse her of using the Rice nomination as a fundraising tool.

Look for half a dozen Democrats, perhaps more, to vote against this nomination. That vote expected to kick off as early as 11:30 Eastern time -- Bill.

HEMMER: Joe, thanks for that.

To the White House and Suzanne.

What are they hearing down there -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, the White House, of course, has not publicly criticized the Senate confirmation process, but there's been a good deal of frustration here. President Bush hoping that Rice would be confirmed on inauguration day. Well, there certainly has been no sense of holding back from the Republican National Committee. They have spoken out against this, saying that this is simply a process for Democrats to excoriate Rice.

The spokesman, Brian Jones, releasing a statement saying that while President Bush and Republicans in Congress are working to implement the agenda on which they campaigned, by strengthening Social Security, lowering health care costs and winning the war on terror, the Democrats, led by Senator Boxer, are sending out self-aggrandizing fundraising letters, proudly bragging about their obstructionism.

Jones is referring to a statement made by Senator Boxer in which he says the Republicans certainly didn't count on her asking some of those tough questions. Of course, also the White House paying very close attention to Alberto Gonzales and the Judiciary Committee hearing that is taking place today. It is expected that that will pass. It'll go to the full Senate next week. The hope is from the White House here is that perhaps with the passing of both of these by next week, that much of that criticism will go to the background, go to the side.

But, of course, Democrats say don't count on that -- Bill.

HEMMER: Suzanne, back to Condoleezza Rice.

Has the White House talked about what her first order of business would be, if she would go somewhere or give certain attention to certain issues?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, as you can imagine, Bill, there has been a lot of talk about really building bridges, reaching out to the European community, reaching out to allies and those they've had somewhat of a strained relationship with. The president heading to Europe next month. Condoleezza Rice, of course, working the phones. She's already met with her counterparts from Germany, from France. It's very important for them to build those bridges. That is her first order of business.

HEMMER: Thanks, Suzanne.

We expect later this morning live coverage of the confirmation vote, now on the schedule for 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, 8:30 on the West Coast. We'll have it for you when it happens in Washington -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Another look at the weather this morning.

Chad Myers is at the CNN Center for us with the latest forecast -- hello, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: To our viewers now, we're just getting confirmation here at CNN of some very tough news out of Iraq.

That Marine helicopter that went down in western Iraq earlier, now confirming 31 dead on board that helicopter. We believe, if not all, the greater majority of those on board this helicopter were U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Division being transported in that part of Iraq at the time. This is right near the border with Jordan, right near the border with Syria, near the town of Rutbah. And, again, 31 dead on board. Cause of the crash unknown, but that's the word we have confirmed here at CNN.

When we get more, we'll pass it along to you.

Tough, tough news again from that country today.

O'BRIEN: No question.

A controversial measure left out of last year's intelligence overhaul makes a comeback. Will Big Brother be watching?

HEMMER: Also, in a moment, did Hillary Clinton just signal whether or not she's making a run for the White House in 2008? A look at that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And a blustery winter storm turns a seaside town into a frozen wonderland. We'll meet one woman whose house became an icy igloo.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Back to the breaking news from Iraq.

In the western part of the country, CNN now confirming 31 Marines have died in a helicopter crash near the Syrian and Jordanian border at the town of Rutbah. It happened at 1:20 a.m. local time, which was several hours ago. If you convert that time locally here, it would have been late on Tuesday afternoon, about 5:20 in the evening.

Again, what we have confirmed at this point, 31 Marines on board this helicopter, connected with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Military officials say search and rescue teams are at the site. An investigation into the crash now underway. We do not have more information other than the toll and the capacity for this Marine helicopter, carrying 31 Marines at the time.

Barbara Starr is working this story at the Pentagon, Jeff Koinange from Baghdad. When we get more we'll pass it along to you.

That is the latest we have out of Iraq at this point -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Last year, Congress passed the most sweeping overhaul of the intelligence community in 40 years. But that legislation failed to meet the demands of some House Republicans, who wanted tough immigration provisions included.

The issue is the focus of our CNN "Security Watch" this morning.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner is reintroducing those controversial measures today in new legislation called The Real I.D. Act.

Congressman Sensenbrenner joins us from Capitol Hill.

Nice to see you, sir.

Thanks for coming back to talk to us. REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI), CHAIR, HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: You say there are three most critical issues to address, so let's walk through them and explain some of them. Driver's license reform is up there at the top of your list.

Specifically, what would you like to see and how would reforming that actually protect American people?

SENSENBRENNER: I'd like to make sure that drivers licenses are only issued to people who are legally present in the United States, meaning no drivers licenses for illegal aliens. And if there is proof of legal residence at the time someone applies for a drivers license at a state motor vehicles office, then that drivers license would be valid for federal purposes, such as getting on an airplane.

O'BRIEN: As you well know, critics have said two things about this. One, the 9/11 hijackers, the bulk of them, were in the United States legally, had legally issued visas, number one. And number two, they say if you're looking for something like a national I.D. card, that has privacy advocates very, very concerned. They're essentially saying Big Brother watching you even more closely.

SENSENBRENNER: I am opposed to a national I.D. card. But we'd better make sure that the drivers licenses are in possession of the people who really say they are and we shouldn't let the 9/11 murderers and their successors be able to get multiple drivers licenses from different states. That was one of the problems that the staff of the 9/11 Commission highlighted and it's unfortunate that the intelligence bill did not take care of this issue. This is a matter of unfinished business and it is a matter of urgent national security.

O'BRIEN: You want to tighten asylum laws.

Specifically in what way?

SENSENBRENNER: Well, I want to make it easier for the deportation of people who are rejected for asylum in the United States. We know of two non-9/11 terrorists, the man who plotted the '93 World Trade Center bombing and the man who shot up the Los Angeles airport, were here on asylum applications. If you're not entitled to asylum and you get turned down, you shouldn't be running around loose, plotting terrorist activities or anything else. And the asylum provisions in my bill will allow for a more prompt deportation of these people.

O'BRIEN: Thirdly, you want to finish the fence on California's border with Mexico.

How important do you think that is?

SENSENBRENNER: I think that's really important because hundreds of illegal aliens cross during the hole -- or through the hole in the fence, which is about three and a half miles long. But also it requires a complete misallocation of the Border Patrol on the southern border. If the fence were completed, those Border Patrol officers could be redeployed elsewhere to make our borders more secure.

O'BRIEN: We haven't heard President Bush talk about this in a pretty long time. We have heard him talk about Social Security and health care. Also, as you well know, House Republicans, Senate Republicans very divided on this very issue.

What are the chances, do you think, that your legislation is actually just going to get lost in the shuffle?

SENSENBRENNER: Well, it better not get lost in the shuffle because about 85 to 90 percent of the American public say that illegal aliens shouldn't get drivers licenses and they also feel very strongly that we should have one drivers license per person rather than having somebody who wishes to commit a terrorist act or prevent his license from being lost on points simply going across the state line, using another address and getting a legitimately issued drivers license from a second, third, fourth or fifth state.

My bill will put a stop to that.

O'BRIEN: Congressman James Sensenbrenner on Capitol Hill for us this morning, the chairman, of course, of the House Judiciary Committee.

SENSENBRENNER: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us, sir.

Appreciate it.

SENSENBRENNER: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: You want to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, we continue to follow this breaking news out of Iraq. Thirty-one Marines dead in a helicopter crash in western Iraq. The latest on what we're getting out of the Pentagon and also out of Baghdad in a moment here.

Back after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.

We've got this breaking news to report to you this morning.

A U.S. Marine helicopter has gone down near the town of Rutbah at 1:20 a.m., approximately, local time. We are told that 31 Marines are on board, were on board. Details, though, now under investigation. It is unclear, of course, at this time whether this was an attack or an accident. At this point, the investigation is underway and search and rescue teams are on the scene.

Thirty-three helicopters have been lost since the start of the Iraq conflict, 20 of those by hostile fire.

We're going to continue, of course, to update you on this story as we get more information coming to us out of Iraq this morning.

HEMMER: Our hearts go out to those men and their families back in this country, too.

CAFFERTY: What a shame.

HEMMER: Yes.

All right, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Another subject, the Question of the Day this morning is about this New York radio station. They call themselves Hot 97. They're not so hot this morning. They are in big trouble for airing a song that was filled with racial slurs directed at the victims of the tsunami. About as tasteless and insensitive, I guess, as you can get.

The question is how should the radio station that aired this tsunami song be punished? A bit of an update. If you turn on that radio station this morning, the usual morning crew, Ms. Jones and the rest of the clowns that pulled this stunt, aren't there. And the person that is there has announced that the morning show crew, Ms. Jones and her cohorts, have been suspended indefinitely.

The station is owned by Emmis Communications. We have calls in to them because the management of this brain trust over there didn't just air this song once, it aired for several days last week. So we were kind of curious what the home office might have to say about the people running their radio station there in New York City. But we can't get through. There's nobody answering the phones.

Anyway, here's some of what you said.

Tim in Des Moines writes: "There should be no punishment. Do we have free speech in this country or not? The public backlash and loss of sponsors will certainly send the message that needs to be sent."

John writes: "Although the lyrics of the parody song are quite vulgar, it's beyond the scope of the government to punish anyone. After all, Jack, Larry Flint, Mr. Hefner, and even you, Jack, have said and done things that have offended me."

DeWitt in Allentown, Pennsylvania: "This is typical of today's sick sense of humor. Nothing is considered off limits. Let them go to the unemployment line and write a song about themselves."

And Dave in Palm Bay, Florida: "Jack, so you don't support the Bill of Rights? You would reject freedom of expression whenever the ideas expressed differ from yours? While I find the parody disgusting and inappropriate in the extreme, I vehemently defend the station's right to broadcast it. There was no law broken."

O'BRIEN: Like I've thought about it and I've come up with a punishment. CAFFERTY: What have you got?

O'BRIEN: Take them, bring them to the morgues, which were the most disgusting places I've ever been to, let them view the bodies of little children out on giant metal trays, where journalists, who have been covering stories, not similar stories, but terrible stories to cover, were outside throwing up because it was so awful and smelled so bad, and let them do that, you know? And then, sure, keep your job. Who cares? No one should listen to them anyway.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: That's what I think.

CAFFERTY: There you go.

O'BRIEN: I'd add that to the list.

CAFFERTY: Amen.

O'BRIEN: We are continuing to cover more heartbreaking news out of Iraq this morning.

Thirty-one Marines, as we reported, killed in a helicopter crash. We're trying to get the latest details out of Baghdad. It is unclear at this time if that was an accident or if there was some kind of attack underway. We're going to bring you more on that.

We also need to tell you that four Marines killed in western Iraq in a separate incident. Low on details on that, as well. That brings the number, of course, to 35 Marines total killed in a terrible day. We're going to get more information on this coming up with some live reports in just a moment.

Also, a question many folks are thinking about, will Hillary Clinton run for president in 2008? It looks like she might be dropping some hints. A look at that, as well, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News, cnn.com/am.

Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Just about 8:30 here in New York.

Welcome back, everybody.

In a few moments, more on the breaking news from Iraq. Thirty- one Marines dead in a helicopter crash. Troops from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, associated with the 1st Marine Division, said to be involved and on board. Much more on that in a moment. The investigation is underway.

Jeff Koinange is standing by in Baghdad.

General Grange is on the telephone.

We'll talk to both in a moment here and try and get you more information as soon as we get it -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Also, Iraq is a prime focus in the Senate this week, as Democrats and Republicans debate the nomination of Condoleezza Rice for secretary of state. Victor Kamber and Mark Simone are going to join us to take a look at the political price of war.

HEMMER: In the meantime, though, we're watching this breaking story out of Iraq.

Thirty-one U.S. Marines are dead. Their helicopter went down in the Al Anbar Province. That's in the western part of the country, near the town of Rutbah.

Jeff Koinange from Baghdad -- Jeff, what have you learned there?

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, we heard from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force that the U.S. Marine helicopter CH53C Stallion crashed near the town of Al-Rutbah. That's right close to the Jordanian border with Iraq. It happened at about 1:20 a.m. local time early this morning. And he did confirm that so far 31 Marines are dead in that. He couldn't confirm how many were actually on board nor how many are injured in that. He did, however, say there is a search and rescue team on the ground as we speak and an investigation has been launched into the crash.

We also don't know whether it was a hostile attack or whether it was an accident -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jeff, do you know what the U.S. military's duties are in that part of Iraq? And are there any bases out there, be it an air base or a Marine base, in that part of Iraq?

KOINANGE: There are, Bill.

As you know, there is a huge oil pipeline in that area. And, of course, the Marines and other U.S. forces, they guard it from time to time. So there's a lot of transportation going back and forth. In fact, in this same province, four more Marines were killed in a separate incident. So there is a U.S. presence over there. And with 35 U.S. forces killed in a single day, Bill, that brings the total to probably one of the highest in a single day. And overall for U.S. forces killed since the war began nearly two years ago, it's climbed to upwards of 1,400 -- Bill.

HEMMER: And meanwhile the elections are four days away, and certainly this is news that is rippling through this country right now, and Iraq, as well.

But you're reporting, again, that 35 Marines dead in the past 24 hours in two separate incidents?

KOINANGE: That's right, Bill.

The 31 confirmed, the Marines that crashed -- whose Marine helicopter crashed in, near Al-Rutbah, and four other Marines killed in a separate incident. And also here in Baghdad, yet another U.S. soldier killed north of Baghdad in a drive-by shooting. So, still, the casualties continue, both on the U.S. forces side, on the Iraqi National Guard side, Iraqi police. Three car bombs in a single hour west of Kirkuk. With four days to go before that crucial election, Bill, the casualties continue to climb on all fronts.

HEMMER: OK, Jeff, and as Jeff's reporting, a sea stallion, CH- 53, commonly used for the U.S. Marines to transport troops. In this case, 31 dead, but as Jeff pointed out, we're not quite sure if there were more on board that were injured or if 31 was the total number. When we get more, we'll give it to you. An investigation right now under way at that site.

More with Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Let's go right to retired Brigadier General David Grange who joins us by phone this morning.

Nice to have you, sir. Appreciate your time, sir.

Not too much known, as you well know, at this point, but tell us a little bit about Rutbah, and also this area that borders Jordan. Obviously, as Jeff, pointed out, there is an important oil pipeline there. What else is going on in the area that could be the reason the Marines were being transported back and forth from there?

BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, they may be moved back and forth for security reasons. I mean, we're not sure. But the oil lines are a key infrastructure that needs to be protected either by Iraqi or a coalition troops. It may just be that it's an outpost for security or for reconnaissance and surveillance operations to launch from, a more remote site, because this is more of a remote area. If we recall, I remember in Desert Storm, this is where we all looked for the SCUDs in the Desert Storm war in this area.

So I just thing it's a remote site that's been used for operations, and the helicopter was transporting troops there. It could be a raid, but I think it's more of a security operation.

O'BRIEN: I was going to ask you, obviously, we don't know. An investigation is under way, and of course, the insurgents have promised more attacks as we get closer to the Iraq elections, but because of the landscape there, it would give you a sense, I guess, to some degree, I'm asking you to speculate on this, but because of the location we're talking about, that it would be less the site of an attack than some kind of an accident, is that what you're saying?

GRANGE: What I'm saying we don't know if it was a raid to actually hit a site or just moving troops back and forth to bring them to some remote sites for other type of operations, a local patrolling security presence. We don't know. And we don't know at this time whether it was an accident or hostile action that brought the aircraft down.

Helicopters are key to a battlefield like this. And it really gets you fast from point a to b to put the right troops in the right place at the right time of your choosing. But also it's also a very dangerous platform. And the sea stallion, I've been on them many times, is a good helicopter. They're getting a bit older, but it's a very heavy duty, heavy-lift helicopter.

O'BRIEN: Search and rescue teams, we are told, are on the ground now. Would that give you an indication as to potentially what might have happened and how long potentially could they be doing their work.

GRANGE: Well, the search-and-rescue teams are going to be tide to, do they have full accountability of everybody that was on the manifest that would be on that aircraft? And as always, this manifest used, the junior commanders and higher responsibility, who is on what airframe when they move people around. And the search and rescue, if it did crash and it may be over more than a spot area, it may have -- it may be a concern over bigger area from the crash. And so people are looking for maybe some missing troopers to provide immediate medical assistance, if need be, and to secure the area, if in case it is a hostile area, from enemy intrusion.

O'BRIEN: A terrible toll if you're talking about 31 Marines killed, the second deadliest incident was 17 killed, as you know, on November 15th when the Blackhawk went down in Mosul. Give me a sense of what you make of this, whether it's an accident or some kind of attack, at this time as Iraq heads to its elections, sir?

GRANGE: Well you know, helicopters are vulnerable to enemy ground fire, surface-to-air missiles and other means, even just you know, just normal direct-fire weapons. And you know, the aircraft normally fly very low and fast above the terrain features in order to avoid surface-to-air missiles.

But again, it's also a high probability that it could be an accident, because helicopters have accidents I think just about as much as they are brought down by enemy fire. So you know, it's hard to tell at this time, it could be 50/50.

O'BRIEN: Whether it's an attack or an accident, terrible, terrible news obviously for the families and extended families who are affected today.

Retired Brigadier General David Grange joining us by phone this morning, thanks for your insight. We appreciate it -- Bill.

HEMMER: Here's another factor out here. It could have been weather as well. Just looking at the radar over the Middle East, it's clear now in that part of Iraq, but who knows what the weather conditions were when this occurred, what, 5:20 local time yesterday afternoon, 1:20 a.m. in the morning, Baghdad. This is, you know, 18 hours ago, so could have been a factor as well. We'll get more and pass it along to you when we get it here.

Here's Carol Costello watching the other headlines.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Good morning to all of you.

Now in the news, more developments this hour in the road to peace in the Middle East. Palestinian and Israeli officials wrapped up a meeting just last hour on mutual security and political issues. It's the first round of high-level talks in almost two years. In the meantime, Palestinian sources say their security forces will fully deploy to southern Gaza within 24 hours in keeping with the cease-fire agreement.

Police in western India are looking for the culprits responsible for setting fires that triggered a stampede at a Hindu temple. More than 250 pilgrims were killed in yesterday's chaos. Some investigators say the fires were set by angry relatives after they learned their loved ones had been trampled to together death inside of a crowded temple.

Here in states, in Massachusetts, the FBI is ruling out a possible terrorism threat in Boston. As you know, last week, officials said they received a tip about a group of Chinese nationals suspected of planning to use hazardous chemicals. Well, the FBI is now saying the threat was a false alarm. The man who apparently called in the threat has been detained for questioning.

The World Economic Forum gets under way this hour in Davos (ph), Switzerland. Security is extremely tight as world leaders and celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Richard Gere gather at the mountain resort. Topics of discussion will range from reducing poverty to fighting AIDS.

O'BRIEN: A look at the news. Thank you very much, Carol. Appreciate it. A lot to cover this morning.

Let's get to Boston again. Seeing some fresh snow today, although the area still hasn't fully recovered from last weekend's massive storm. The harbor front town of Hull, for example, kind of looks like a big old cake with a coat of vanilla icing. Sounds really nice, but not pleasant to dig out of.

A little bit earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I asked Christie Smith what it was like to hear and see the freezing waves that caused all that ice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIE SMITH: It's hard to describe the sound of the waves, I guess, hitting the house. I would say that it was just like, I guess a million buckets of water hitting your house all at once.

O'BRIEN: Wow. Well, you must have been pretty nervous. I know you're laughing about it now, which is easy to do in hindsight, right, but were you nervous at the time? SMITH: We were nervous. I kind of used the neighbors that have been here for a while longer than I had as a queue. Nobody was calling me yet to say that we were evacuating. So I actually probably was kind of smiling, even then, maybe out of nervousness. But it was exciting. It was an exciting day.

O'BRIEN: How tough is it to chip away? Again, it looks like a beautiful snowstorm has hit these homes, but this is ice, and how thick is it, and just how tough is it to chip that stuff off your house?

SMITH: Well, the only place I really wanted to chip anything off was so that I could see what was going on out of one window. Generally, I really think that it probably helped insulate the house a little bit from the winds that we were getting. So I wasn't really wanting to chip it off of the house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Eventually she's going to have to. Forecasters are saying Boston could get enough snow today to set an all-time record for the month of January.

HEMMER: Looks like a white gingerbread house, doesn't it?

O'BRIEN: Looks nice, doesn't it?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: We're going to get a break here. In a moment, we'll shift our attention to Hillary Clinton. Is she starting her campaign now for 2008? Listen to the words from earlier in the week. We'll talk about it after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Get back to the helicopter story out of Iraq in a moment when we get more information.

In the meantime, though, I want to turn to politics. Is Hillary Clinton starting to lay the groundwork for a run at the White House in 2008? In D.C., Democratic consultant Victor Kamber. He loves this topic, don't you, Vic? Good morning.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: I do. I do.

HEMMER: Also in New York City, WABC radio host, Mark Simone's back with us. We'll call it Kamber and Simone again today.

Hey, Vic, here's what happened. Earlier in the week, Hillary Clinton talked about Roe versus Wade, the issue of abortion in this country. And she mentioned the words common ground, trying to bridge that gap between the two sides of this. Is the intent obvious here? Can we read between the lines?

KAMBER: Well, I think commentators and pundits would like to and people would like to suggest she's moving to the center or changing her position to run. The fact is this is the same position she's had since she was on the Children's Defense Fund before Bill Clinton entered the White House. I hope she's running. This is -- the abortion issue.

I hope she's running. She's bright, she's talented, she's one of the party's dynamic stars. I think our party is blessed with a number of very talented people. I understand she is a lightning rod for a lot of people, but I think the successful presidents in past, her husband, Ronald Reagan, were also lightning rods.

HEMMER: But Vic, I think...

KAMBER: I hope she runs.

HEMMER: Are you trying to say that there's no news here with these comments?

KAMBER: Well, I'm trying to say that this woman, this talented senator, is going to speak out on a number of issues. Everyone's going to look for the nuances of what she said today versus what she said a month ago. But the problem is, she is a senator, she is evolving. Sure, she is crafting positions that I think make her a national candidate beyond what she is already.

HEMMER: Some would think, Mark, she's trying to close that values gap. What do you read into this?

MARK SIMONE, WABC RADIO HOST: Well, don't worry, Republicans are hoping she's running, too. As far as evolving, let's go back a couple months. She was visiting military bases. A couple weeks ago, she was talking about how much she likes to pray and now she's talking about how bad abortion is. At this rate, by '08, she'll be living on a ranch and clearing brush.

KAMBER: Will you vote for her, then, Mark, because of that?

SIMONE: No, the problem is...

KAMBER: That's my point. You won't.

SIMONE: She'll have the same problem Kerry had, which is the rhetoric won't match her past history.

HEMMER: We will wait for more on that. Let's talk about Condoleezza Rice for a moment. Listen to Senator Kennedy as part of the debate yesterday, nine hours in the Senate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Dr. Rice was a key member of the national security team that developed to justify the rationale for war. And it's been a catastrophic failure, a continuing quagmire. In these circumstances, she should not be promoted to secretary of state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And again, that was part of the debate yesterday. Mark, let's talk about today, though. We expect confirmation for Condoleezza Rice at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. Let's move past this point. Can Democrats make it difficult for her if she has that position?

SIMONE: Well, the Democrats basically do nothing but complain. They take no action. If they really believe what they're saying, vote against her. But they will confirm her by a landslide. So their actions don't match their words.

HEMMER: Victor?

KAMBER: This was a debate about the war, about the president's policies. Frankly, Senator Mitch McConnell said it best when he said the person that you should be talking about is George Bush. But what they had in front of them was the nomination of Condoleezza Rice. And what they're saying is just what Senator Kennedy said. She is one of the architects of that war and she should probably not be promoted because of it. But the issue really is the conduct of the war, the president's decisions, the policies he's making, it's a disaster right now.

HEMMER: Do you think the dissent that we're hearing yesterday and again today -- we believe that more will come today, does that die down after the confirmation, or do Democrats continue that?

KAMBER: Well, I think it depends what continues to happen there. If there's no movement towards some kind of resolve in Iraq, it's got to continue to happen. I mean, put aside today's tragic accident there, or tragic situation. We cannot continue to lose lives, we cannot continue to spend the kind of money without a solution. And having this election in four days is not a solution. It's one of the issues.

HEMMER: One more topic we want to get to quickly. The Oscars came out yesterday. A lot of people are talking about Michael Moore getting snubbed in the documentary category. A lot of people say "The Passion of the Christ" should have gotten more than just three nominations. Mark, what do you think's going on with the Academy on this?

SIMONE: Well, it's the second time voters have rejected Michael Moore. And I think they realize he probably got more votes for Bush than for Kerry. And I think they realize that he's bad for business in general for them.

HEMMER: Victor?

KAMBER: Most ludicrous thing I ever heard in the world. "Meet the Fockers" didn't get nominated, either. Neither did Adam Sandler. You know, Michael Moore ran in the Best Picture category. He probably would have been nominated in the documentary. He wasn't. So were 400 other pictures weren't nominated. The five that were -- the same with "Passion of the Christ." Two big money makers, they weren't nominated. Let's not read anything into it.

HEMMER: Hey, Mark, you've seen "Meet the Fockers," by the way?

SIMONE: No, no, I didn't.

HEMMER: You know what I think, I think Victor's arm is feeling a little better today, or is his wrist, anyway.

KAMBER: It's the pain. I am better.

SIMONE: Thanks, guys, talk to you later. Mark and Vic, thanks. In D.C. and here in New York City -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: How about this? Before he takes on the Eagles in the Super Bowl, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady taking on General Motors. Andy is "Minding Your Business." He'll explain just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Tom Brady, who quarterbacks the New England Patriots getting ready to take on someone besides the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Watching the big game at home one week, playing the Super Bowl the next, talk about a dream come true for a guy who lightning struck for him.

Andy Serwer is here, "Minding Your Business."

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That's how I got on the show.

CAFFERTY: No, no, not you.

SERWER: Oh, you mean Tom Brady.

CAFFERTY: This is not a dream, this is a nightmare. There's a difference. Just kidding. I love it here.

SERWER: All right, we're a little mixed up, we're going to straighten things out. Yesterday on Wall Street, a rally, a bigtime rally. The Dow up 92 points, almost 93, didn't quite make 93, the Nasdaq, S&P. And futures are looking bright this morning, and so we look to continue the rally, at least early on.

A couple football and business stories, some of my favorite kinds this morning. First of all, the war between Tom Brady and Cadillac, the car company, continues. And in that war, Tom Brady's going to win. Here's what's going on, Tom Brady, MVP of the Super Bowl last year, he is suing Cadillac because he says they're using his likeness without his permission. He did allow them to use it. He was part of a campaign, he says, that expired.

You may remember last year, Cadillac was supposed to deliver an automobile to him. It took them a very long time. Month after month after month he waited. He finally got the car, he said -- quote -- "I'm not driving this damn thing," end quote, and he gave the car away to his high school. He ended up giving it to his high school in California. I'll never give up my Cadillac, remember that?

CAFFERTY: What is wrong with these companies? I mean, who's in charge of public relations?

SERWER: Yes, well, I mean, they're getting press now, but maybe not the right kind.

CAFFERTY: Not the right kind.

SERWER: No, we've seen a lot of that this morning.

Another story, this is a really sweet one. Say you're a construction manager working in New Jersey at the site, and all of a sudden, the phone rings. It's the Philadelphia Eagles -- want to play for us in the Super Bowl? OK. This happened, actually, to a guy named Jeff Thomason. He is a former NFL player, we should say, but he was working construction, and Eagles called him up, they want him to play tight end, because Chad Lewis is injured. Chad Lewis recommended this guy, his former teammate, and now he's going to play. He's got to take time off work. He says he's going to make more money during his vacation, so he's going to take a couple weeks off. He's going to make more money during his vacation than the rest of the year, and next year he'll have to work the whole year to make up for it.

HEMMER: There's a chance he could play in Jacksonville, this guy?

SERWER: Absolutely, he's going to be the second-string tight end, because the third-stringer is a long snapper so he won't...

HEMMER: It's a great country, America, isn't it?

SERWER: Yes, he's delighted, obviously.

CAFFERTY: Good stuff. Yes, that's a great story.

All right, Wednesday, time for things people say, starting with this: "The last marriage that was televised was Prince Charles and Lady Di, and that didn't work out too well." That's Donald Trump on why he decided against televising his wedding on Saturday. Thank you, Donald, for sparing us all.

"He gave me my career. You never forget when you've been working as a waitress and an office temp, you've been working strip joints at night, then Carson says to you, you're going to be a star on the air, and it happens," Joan Rivers, paying tribute to the late, great Johnny Carson.

"When they are sitting there constantly saying, am I smart enough, am I smart enough, it doesn't really help when the president of the university says, well, maybe you're not. Harvard physics professor Melissa Franklin on those idiotic remarks from Harvard president Larry Summers, suggesting women might not be as good at science and math as men." He will go to his grave regretting that one.

"I went out at 6:30 in the morning, flung off my robe and said, OK, everybody, I'm mortified, but we're going to be looking at it all day, so let's just get it over with. Here it is, look. Teri Hatcher, on how she got ready to shoot a nude scene on the set of 'Desperate Housewives.' Bless her heart.

And finally this, "Maybe they were booing me. Maybe they were booing the halftime show, because the whole thing sucked." Ashlee Simpson, still talking about her miserable performance during halftime at the Orange Bowl. Note to Ashlee, it was you.

SERWER: I thought she was talking about her "Saturday Night Live" performance?

O'BRIEN: She's got to stop blaming other people.

HEMMER: That whole show was terrible, from beginning to end.

O'BRIEN: But still, they got...

SERWER: She's a major talent.

CAFFERTY: They were booing Ashlee.

O'BRIEN: Talk about being struck by lightning. Well, good luck on that one. Ashlee herself, her whole career.

CAFFERTY: She should get a job in the strip clubs at night like Joan Rivers.

SERWER: There's a spot open for you -- Joan's now a big star.

O'BRIEN: She's young. She just needs to work on her -- but know what, she's got to stop blaming other people.

CAFFERTY: Well, and have some talent.

O'BRIEN: That would help, talent.

CAFFERTY: Having some talent would help if you want to be a singer. It would be like me trying to be a singer.

SERWER: Maybe she could just have people lip sync the rest of her career.

O'BRIEN: Could happen.

CAFFERTY: How're we doing here?

O'BRIEN: Very well, thank you. In fact, the top stories are just ahead this morning, including that breaking news right out of Iraq, 31 Marines killed in a helicopter crash, another four killed in action elsewhere. We're going to take you back to Baghdad and to the Pentagon as well for the very latest. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired January 26, 2005 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
A U.S. helicopter reported down in Iraq. Meanwhile, in several cities, more bombs exploding today. Insurgents on a pre-election assault, going after Americans and Iraqis.

The political flap over Condoleezza Rice. Is it the beginning of a brand new season of bitterness in Washington?

And the children of the tsunami finally going back to school. When you see a t-shirt, there is a painful story, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

Welcome back, everybody.

We're going to get you caught up on the situation in Iraq in just a few moments.

Also, security here in the U.S., a new bill about to be introduced in Congress that would crack down on illegal immigrants in a number of ways. Federal rules for drivers licenses is just part of it. We're going to talk with the bill's sponsor this morning, Congressman James Sensenbrenner, about what he is hoping to accomplish.

HEMMER: At this hour, Soledad, a question on the minds of many Democrats and Republicans -- is Hillary Clinton going to run for president in 2008? We'll put that to Kamber and Simone a bit later.

Jack's got an opinion on that, don't you?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Her brothers were quoted somewhere, I think last week, saying that she's already very busy making her plans. I would be amazed if she doesn't.

Coming up in the "Cafferty File" in a little less than an hour, Wednesday, time for "Things People Say." More fallout from Harvard President Larry Summers' idiotic remarks about women. He's just ain't going to get out of this for a long time. Ashley Simpson apparently still doesn't get it. We're going to try and help her. And a desperate housewife tells how she got ready to shoot her nude scenes. It's actually pretty funny stuff. HEMMER: All right.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack.

Thank you.

CAFFERTY: Why is Carol laughing?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm laughing at Ashley Simpson because...

CAFFERTY: I know, the poor thing.

O'BRIEN: You're going to help her out.

COSTELLO: Yes, poor thing.

CAFFERTY: You're trying to help her.

COSTELLO: She needs help because I just...

CAFFERTY: Get out of the business.

COSTELLO: I just read a magazine article where she's quoted as saying she loves god and like she's over the whole lip synching thing and she's ready to move on.

O'BRIEN: But we're not.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: We're going to relive it for her each and every day, aren't we?

CAFFERTY: Yes. Yes.

O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks for referring to that.

Let's get right to Iraq this morning. Some new developments to tell you about. A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed in the western part of the country. There are some casualties.

CNN's Jeff Koinange joins us from Baghdad again -- Jeff, good morning.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

And we're hearing that crash happened near the town of Al-Rutbah. That's in the west of Iraq near the border with Jordan. Now, that was carrying personnel from the 1st Marine Division. We have a quote from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force saying there are casualties. We don't know how many so far. We do know that a search and rescue team is underway and an investigation is also going to be underway into how the crash was caused. No word yet whether it was a hostile attack or whether it was an accident. All this on a day when yet another U.S. soldier was killed in an ambush north of Baghdad. Again, yet in the town of Kirkuk, about, north of Baghdad, and also about 20 kilometers west, the town of Riyadh, three simultaneous car bombs. One right outside a police station killed two Iraqi policemen. Another one outside the mayor's office killed three Iraqi soldiers. And another one targeting a U.S. convoy. No word yet on injuries in that incident.

All this when schools are also being targeted four days before the poll, as you know. Schools will be used as polling centers in the Sunday poll. Three of them attacked late Tuesday. No casualties in that, but extensive damage to the school.

As Iraqis gear up for their first election in decades, the insurgents are continuing their attacks unabatedly -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: An update on what's happening in Iraq from Jeff Koinange for us this morning, including these new developments out of Iraq, as we mentioned, that U.S. Marine helicopter crashing. Some casualties to report there -- Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, thanks.

That's our first story.

With the rest of the headlines, here's Carol again -- good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

Good morning to all of you.

Now in the news, UNICEF says a Sri Lankan rebel group, the Tamil Tigers, have recruited at least 40 children since the tsunami disaster. A spokesman for the U.N. children's agency says at least four of the children were taken from tsunami survival camps. The rest came from villages not affected by the disaster. In the past, the Tigers have denied recruiting child troops.

In Washington, President Bush is set to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. This will be only the second official meeting between the president and the CBC. The two sides have had a somewhat strained relationship during the past four years, but the Caucus chairman is calling for a fresh start.

If you've been waiting to get a flu shot, now may be your chance to get one. According to the U.S. attorney, the CDC is expected to ease flu vaccine restrictions this week. Nearly half of all states already did away with the eligibility restrictions. Experts say flu season does not peak until February, so it's never too late to be vaccinated.

And San Francisco is one step closer to banning smoking at a number of outdoor spaces. City officials have passed a ban on smoking at all city owned parks, public squares and other outdoor areas. Violators would risk fines from $100 to $500. Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill into law today.

HEMMER: That is not the town to pack your Marlboros, is it?

COSTELLO: No.

HEMMER: They do not like it.

Thank you, Carol.

To Washington now, where the U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Condoleezza Rice later this morning as the new secretary of state. But not without more dissent.

We have coverage now from Congressional correspondent Joe Johns on the Hill and White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

Joe, let's start with you -- good morning, there.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

She is the first high profile nomination of the president's second term to be debated on the Senate floor. At the end of the day, she is expected to be confirmed. The vote is not expected to be close. Of course, a few Democrats have prolonged this nomination to make a point about the Iraq war. But notably some other Democrats have spoken out in favor of the nomination.

This is a public relations war more than anything. One of Rice's critics, Barbara Boxer of California, is now getting hammered by Republicans, who accuse her of using the Rice nomination as a fundraising tool.

Look for half a dozen Democrats, perhaps more, to vote against this nomination. That vote expected to kick off as early as 11:30 Eastern time -- Bill.

HEMMER: Joe, thanks for that.

To the White House and Suzanne.

What are they hearing down there -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, the White House, of course, has not publicly criticized the Senate confirmation process, but there's been a good deal of frustration here. President Bush hoping that Rice would be confirmed on inauguration day. Well, there certainly has been no sense of holding back from the Republican National Committee. They have spoken out against this, saying that this is simply a process for Democrats to excoriate Rice.

The spokesman, Brian Jones, releasing a statement saying that while President Bush and Republicans in Congress are working to implement the agenda on which they campaigned, by strengthening Social Security, lowering health care costs and winning the war on terror, the Democrats, led by Senator Boxer, are sending out self-aggrandizing fundraising letters, proudly bragging about their obstructionism.

Jones is referring to a statement made by Senator Boxer in which he says the Republicans certainly didn't count on her asking some of those tough questions. Of course, also the White House paying very close attention to Alberto Gonzales and the Judiciary Committee hearing that is taking place today. It is expected that that will pass. It'll go to the full Senate next week. The hope is from the White House here is that perhaps with the passing of both of these by next week, that much of that criticism will go to the background, go to the side.

But, of course, Democrats say don't count on that -- Bill.

HEMMER: Suzanne, back to Condoleezza Rice.

Has the White House talked about what her first order of business would be, if she would go somewhere or give certain attention to certain issues?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, as you can imagine, Bill, there has been a lot of talk about really building bridges, reaching out to the European community, reaching out to allies and those they've had somewhat of a strained relationship with. The president heading to Europe next month. Condoleezza Rice, of course, working the phones. She's already met with her counterparts from Germany, from France. It's very important for them to build those bridges. That is her first order of business.

HEMMER: Thanks, Suzanne.

We expect later this morning live coverage of the confirmation vote, now on the schedule for 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, 8:30 on the West Coast. We'll have it for you when it happens in Washington -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Another look at the weather this morning.

Chad Myers is at the CNN Center for us with the latest forecast -- hello, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: To our viewers now, we're just getting confirmation here at CNN of some very tough news out of Iraq.

That Marine helicopter that went down in western Iraq earlier, now confirming 31 dead on board that helicopter. We believe, if not all, the greater majority of those on board this helicopter were U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Division being transported in that part of Iraq at the time. This is right near the border with Jordan, right near the border with Syria, near the town of Rutbah. And, again, 31 dead on board. Cause of the crash unknown, but that's the word we have confirmed here at CNN.

When we get more, we'll pass it along to you.

Tough, tough news again from that country today.

O'BRIEN: No question.

A controversial measure left out of last year's intelligence overhaul makes a comeback. Will Big Brother be watching?

HEMMER: Also, in a moment, did Hillary Clinton just signal whether or not she's making a run for the White House in 2008? A look at that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: And a blustery winter storm turns a seaside town into a frozen wonderland. We'll meet one woman whose house became an icy igloo.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Back to the breaking news from Iraq.

In the western part of the country, CNN now confirming 31 Marines have died in a helicopter crash near the Syrian and Jordanian border at the town of Rutbah. It happened at 1:20 a.m. local time, which was several hours ago. If you convert that time locally here, it would have been late on Tuesday afternoon, about 5:20 in the evening.

Again, what we have confirmed at this point, 31 Marines on board this helicopter, connected with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Military officials say search and rescue teams are at the site. An investigation into the crash now underway. We do not have more information other than the toll and the capacity for this Marine helicopter, carrying 31 Marines at the time.

Barbara Starr is working this story at the Pentagon, Jeff Koinange from Baghdad. When we get more we'll pass it along to you.

That is the latest we have out of Iraq at this point -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Last year, Congress passed the most sweeping overhaul of the intelligence community in 40 years. But that legislation failed to meet the demands of some House Republicans, who wanted tough immigration provisions included.

The issue is the focus of our CNN "Security Watch" this morning.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner is reintroducing those controversial measures today in new legislation called The Real I.D. Act.

Congressman Sensenbrenner joins us from Capitol Hill.

Nice to see you, sir.

Thanks for coming back to talk to us. REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI), CHAIR, HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: You say there are three most critical issues to address, so let's walk through them and explain some of them. Driver's license reform is up there at the top of your list.

Specifically, what would you like to see and how would reforming that actually protect American people?

SENSENBRENNER: I'd like to make sure that drivers licenses are only issued to people who are legally present in the United States, meaning no drivers licenses for illegal aliens. And if there is proof of legal residence at the time someone applies for a drivers license at a state motor vehicles office, then that drivers license would be valid for federal purposes, such as getting on an airplane.

O'BRIEN: As you well know, critics have said two things about this. One, the 9/11 hijackers, the bulk of them, were in the United States legally, had legally issued visas, number one. And number two, they say if you're looking for something like a national I.D. card, that has privacy advocates very, very concerned. They're essentially saying Big Brother watching you even more closely.

SENSENBRENNER: I am opposed to a national I.D. card. But we'd better make sure that the drivers licenses are in possession of the people who really say they are and we shouldn't let the 9/11 murderers and their successors be able to get multiple drivers licenses from different states. That was one of the problems that the staff of the 9/11 Commission highlighted and it's unfortunate that the intelligence bill did not take care of this issue. This is a matter of unfinished business and it is a matter of urgent national security.

O'BRIEN: You want to tighten asylum laws.

Specifically in what way?

SENSENBRENNER: Well, I want to make it easier for the deportation of people who are rejected for asylum in the United States. We know of two non-9/11 terrorists, the man who plotted the '93 World Trade Center bombing and the man who shot up the Los Angeles airport, were here on asylum applications. If you're not entitled to asylum and you get turned down, you shouldn't be running around loose, plotting terrorist activities or anything else. And the asylum provisions in my bill will allow for a more prompt deportation of these people.

O'BRIEN: Thirdly, you want to finish the fence on California's border with Mexico.

How important do you think that is?

SENSENBRENNER: I think that's really important because hundreds of illegal aliens cross during the hole -- or through the hole in the fence, which is about three and a half miles long. But also it requires a complete misallocation of the Border Patrol on the southern border. If the fence were completed, those Border Patrol officers could be redeployed elsewhere to make our borders more secure.

O'BRIEN: We haven't heard President Bush talk about this in a pretty long time. We have heard him talk about Social Security and health care. Also, as you well know, House Republicans, Senate Republicans very divided on this very issue.

What are the chances, do you think, that your legislation is actually just going to get lost in the shuffle?

SENSENBRENNER: Well, it better not get lost in the shuffle because about 85 to 90 percent of the American public say that illegal aliens shouldn't get drivers licenses and they also feel very strongly that we should have one drivers license per person rather than having somebody who wishes to commit a terrorist act or prevent his license from being lost on points simply going across the state line, using another address and getting a legitimately issued drivers license from a second, third, fourth or fifth state.

My bill will put a stop to that.

O'BRIEN: Congressman James Sensenbrenner on Capitol Hill for us this morning, the chairman, of course, of the House Judiciary Committee.

SENSENBRENNER: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us, sir.

Appreciate it.

SENSENBRENNER: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: You want to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Bill.

HEMMER: Soledad, we continue to follow this breaking news out of Iraq. Thirty-one Marines dead in a helicopter crash in western Iraq. The latest on what we're getting out of the Pentagon and also out of Baghdad in a moment here.

Back after this on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.

We've got this breaking news to report to you this morning.

A U.S. Marine helicopter has gone down near the town of Rutbah at 1:20 a.m., approximately, local time. We are told that 31 Marines are on board, were on board. Details, though, now under investigation. It is unclear, of course, at this time whether this was an attack or an accident. At this point, the investigation is underway and search and rescue teams are on the scene.

Thirty-three helicopters have been lost since the start of the Iraq conflict, 20 of those by hostile fire.

We're going to continue, of course, to update you on this story as we get more information coming to us out of Iraq this morning.

HEMMER: Our hearts go out to those men and their families back in this country, too.

CAFFERTY: What a shame.

HEMMER: Yes.

All right, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Another subject, the Question of the Day this morning is about this New York radio station. They call themselves Hot 97. They're not so hot this morning. They are in big trouble for airing a song that was filled with racial slurs directed at the victims of the tsunami. About as tasteless and insensitive, I guess, as you can get.

The question is how should the radio station that aired this tsunami song be punished? A bit of an update. If you turn on that radio station this morning, the usual morning crew, Ms. Jones and the rest of the clowns that pulled this stunt, aren't there. And the person that is there has announced that the morning show crew, Ms. Jones and her cohorts, have been suspended indefinitely.

The station is owned by Emmis Communications. We have calls in to them because the management of this brain trust over there didn't just air this song once, it aired for several days last week. So we were kind of curious what the home office might have to say about the people running their radio station there in New York City. But we can't get through. There's nobody answering the phones.

Anyway, here's some of what you said.

Tim in Des Moines writes: "There should be no punishment. Do we have free speech in this country or not? The public backlash and loss of sponsors will certainly send the message that needs to be sent."

John writes: "Although the lyrics of the parody song are quite vulgar, it's beyond the scope of the government to punish anyone. After all, Jack, Larry Flint, Mr. Hefner, and even you, Jack, have said and done things that have offended me."

DeWitt in Allentown, Pennsylvania: "This is typical of today's sick sense of humor. Nothing is considered off limits. Let them go to the unemployment line and write a song about themselves."

And Dave in Palm Bay, Florida: "Jack, so you don't support the Bill of Rights? You would reject freedom of expression whenever the ideas expressed differ from yours? While I find the parody disgusting and inappropriate in the extreme, I vehemently defend the station's right to broadcast it. There was no law broken."

O'BRIEN: Like I've thought about it and I've come up with a punishment. CAFFERTY: What have you got?

O'BRIEN: Take them, bring them to the morgues, which were the most disgusting places I've ever been to, let them view the bodies of little children out on giant metal trays, where journalists, who have been covering stories, not similar stories, but terrible stories to cover, were outside throwing up because it was so awful and smelled so bad, and let them do that, you know? And then, sure, keep your job. Who cares? No one should listen to them anyway.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: That's what I think.

CAFFERTY: There you go.

O'BRIEN: I'd add that to the list.

CAFFERTY: Amen.

O'BRIEN: We are continuing to cover more heartbreaking news out of Iraq this morning.

Thirty-one Marines, as we reported, killed in a helicopter crash. We're trying to get the latest details out of Baghdad. It is unclear at this time if that was an accident or if there was some kind of attack underway. We're going to bring you more on that.

We also need to tell you that four Marines killed in western Iraq in a separate incident. Low on details on that, as well. That brings the number, of course, to 35 Marines total killed in a terrible day. We're going to get more information on this coming up with some live reports in just a moment.

Also, a question many folks are thinking about, will Hillary Clinton run for president in 2008? It looks like she might be dropping some hints. A look at that, as well, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News, cnn.com/am.

Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Just about 8:30 here in New York.

Welcome back, everybody.

In a few moments, more on the breaking news from Iraq. Thirty- one Marines dead in a helicopter crash. Troops from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, associated with the 1st Marine Division, said to be involved and on board. Much more on that in a moment. The investigation is underway.

Jeff Koinange is standing by in Baghdad.

General Grange is on the telephone.

We'll talk to both in a moment here and try and get you more information as soon as we get it -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Also, Iraq is a prime focus in the Senate this week, as Democrats and Republicans debate the nomination of Condoleezza Rice for secretary of state. Victor Kamber and Mark Simone are going to join us to take a look at the political price of war.

HEMMER: In the meantime, though, we're watching this breaking story out of Iraq.

Thirty-one U.S. Marines are dead. Their helicopter went down in the Al Anbar Province. That's in the western part of the country, near the town of Rutbah.

Jeff Koinange from Baghdad -- Jeff, what have you learned there?

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, we heard from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force that the U.S. Marine helicopter CH53C Stallion crashed near the town of Al-Rutbah. That's right close to the Jordanian border with Iraq. It happened at about 1:20 a.m. local time early this morning. And he did confirm that so far 31 Marines are dead in that. He couldn't confirm how many were actually on board nor how many are injured in that. He did, however, say there is a search and rescue team on the ground as we speak and an investigation has been launched into the crash.

We also don't know whether it was a hostile attack or whether it was an accident -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jeff, do you know what the U.S. military's duties are in that part of Iraq? And are there any bases out there, be it an air base or a Marine base, in that part of Iraq?

KOINANGE: There are, Bill.

As you know, there is a huge oil pipeline in that area. And, of course, the Marines and other U.S. forces, they guard it from time to time. So there's a lot of transportation going back and forth. In fact, in this same province, four more Marines were killed in a separate incident. So there is a U.S. presence over there. And with 35 U.S. forces killed in a single day, Bill, that brings the total to probably one of the highest in a single day. And overall for U.S. forces killed since the war began nearly two years ago, it's climbed to upwards of 1,400 -- Bill.

HEMMER: And meanwhile the elections are four days away, and certainly this is news that is rippling through this country right now, and Iraq, as well.

But you're reporting, again, that 35 Marines dead in the past 24 hours in two separate incidents?

KOINANGE: That's right, Bill.

The 31 confirmed, the Marines that crashed -- whose Marine helicopter crashed in, near Al-Rutbah, and four other Marines killed in a separate incident. And also here in Baghdad, yet another U.S. soldier killed north of Baghdad in a drive-by shooting. So, still, the casualties continue, both on the U.S. forces side, on the Iraqi National Guard side, Iraqi police. Three car bombs in a single hour west of Kirkuk. With four days to go before that crucial election, Bill, the casualties continue to climb on all fronts.

HEMMER: OK, Jeff, and as Jeff's reporting, a sea stallion, CH- 53, commonly used for the U.S. Marines to transport troops. In this case, 31 dead, but as Jeff pointed out, we're not quite sure if there were more on board that were injured or if 31 was the total number. When we get more, we'll give it to you. An investigation right now under way at that site.

More with Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Let's go right to retired Brigadier General David Grange who joins us by phone this morning.

Nice to have you, sir. Appreciate your time, sir.

Not too much known, as you well know, at this point, but tell us a little bit about Rutbah, and also this area that borders Jordan. Obviously, as Jeff, pointed out, there is an important oil pipeline there. What else is going on in the area that could be the reason the Marines were being transported back and forth from there?

BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, they may be moved back and forth for security reasons. I mean, we're not sure. But the oil lines are a key infrastructure that needs to be protected either by Iraqi or a coalition troops. It may just be that it's an outpost for security or for reconnaissance and surveillance operations to launch from, a more remote site, because this is more of a remote area. If we recall, I remember in Desert Storm, this is where we all looked for the SCUDs in the Desert Storm war in this area.

So I just thing it's a remote site that's been used for operations, and the helicopter was transporting troops there. It could be a raid, but I think it's more of a security operation.

O'BRIEN: I was going to ask you, obviously, we don't know. An investigation is under way, and of course, the insurgents have promised more attacks as we get closer to the Iraq elections, but because of the landscape there, it would give you a sense, I guess, to some degree, I'm asking you to speculate on this, but because of the location we're talking about, that it would be less the site of an attack than some kind of an accident, is that what you're saying?

GRANGE: What I'm saying we don't know if it was a raid to actually hit a site or just moving troops back and forth to bring them to some remote sites for other type of operations, a local patrolling security presence. We don't know. And we don't know at this time whether it was an accident or hostile action that brought the aircraft down.

Helicopters are key to a battlefield like this. And it really gets you fast from point a to b to put the right troops in the right place at the right time of your choosing. But also it's also a very dangerous platform. And the sea stallion, I've been on them many times, is a good helicopter. They're getting a bit older, but it's a very heavy duty, heavy-lift helicopter.

O'BRIEN: Search and rescue teams, we are told, are on the ground now. Would that give you an indication as to potentially what might have happened and how long potentially could they be doing their work.

GRANGE: Well, the search-and-rescue teams are going to be tide to, do they have full accountability of everybody that was on the manifest that would be on that aircraft? And as always, this manifest used, the junior commanders and higher responsibility, who is on what airframe when they move people around. And the search and rescue, if it did crash and it may be over more than a spot area, it may have -- it may be a concern over bigger area from the crash. And so people are looking for maybe some missing troopers to provide immediate medical assistance, if need be, and to secure the area, if in case it is a hostile area, from enemy intrusion.

O'BRIEN: A terrible toll if you're talking about 31 Marines killed, the second deadliest incident was 17 killed, as you know, on November 15th when the Blackhawk went down in Mosul. Give me a sense of what you make of this, whether it's an accident or some kind of attack, at this time as Iraq heads to its elections, sir?

GRANGE: Well you know, helicopters are vulnerable to enemy ground fire, surface-to-air missiles and other means, even just you know, just normal direct-fire weapons. And you know, the aircraft normally fly very low and fast above the terrain features in order to avoid surface-to-air missiles.

But again, it's also a high probability that it could be an accident, because helicopters have accidents I think just about as much as they are brought down by enemy fire. So you know, it's hard to tell at this time, it could be 50/50.

O'BRIEN: Whether it's an attack or an accident, terrible, terrible news obviously for the families and extended families who are affected today.

Retired Brigadier General David Grange joining us by phone this morning, thanks for your insight. We appreciate it -- Bill.

HEMMER: Here's another factor out here. It could have been weather as well. Just looking at the radar over the Middle East, it's clear now in that part of Iraq, but who knows what the weather conditions were when this occurred, what, 5:20 local time yesterday afternoon, 1:20 a.m. in the morning, Baghdad. This is, you know, 18 hours ago, so could have been a factor as well. We'll get more and pass it along to you when we get it here.

Here's Carol Costello watching the other headlines.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Good morning to all of you.

Now in the news, more developments this hour in the road to peace in the Middle East. Palestinian and Israeli officials wrapped up a meeting just last hour on mutual security and political issues. It's the first round of high-level talks in almost two years. In the meantime, Palestinian sources say their security forces will fully deploy to southern Gaza within 24 hours in keeping with the cease-fire agreement.

Police in western India are looking for the culprits responsible for setting fires that triggered a stampede at a Hindu temple. More than 250 pilgrims were killed in yesterday's chaos. Some investigators say the fires were set by angry relatives after they learned their loved ones had been trampled to together death inside of a crowded temple.

Here in states, in Massachusetts, the FBI is ruling out a possible terrorism threat in Boston. As you know, last week, officials said they received a tip about a group of Chinese nationals suspected of planning to use hazardous chemicals. Well, the FBI is now saying the threat was a false alarm. The man who apparently called in the threat has been detained for questioning.

The World Economic Forum gets under way this hour in Davos (ph), Switzerland. Security is extremely tight as world leaders and celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Richard Gere gather at the mountain resort. Topics of discussion will range from reducing poverty to fighting AIDS.

O'BRIEN: A look at the news. Thank you very much, Carol. Appreciate it. A lot to cover this morning.

Let's get to Boston again. Seeing some fresh snow today, although the area still hasn't fully recovered from last weekend's massive storm. The harbor front town of Hull, for example, kind of looks like a big old cake with a coat of vanilla icing. Sounds really nice, but not pleasant to dig out of.

A little bit earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I asked Christie Smith what it was like to hear and see the freezing waves that caused all that ice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIE SMITH: It's hard to describe the sound of the waves, I guess, hitting the house. I would say that it was just like, I guess a million buckets of water hitting your house all at once.

O'BRIEN: Wow. Well, you must have been pretty nervous. I know you're laughing about it now, which is easy to do in hindsight, right, but were you nervous at the time? SMITH: We were nervous. I kind of used the neighbors that have been here for a while longer than I had as a queue. Nobody was calling me yet to say that we were evacuating. So I actually probably was kind of smiling, even then, maybe out of nervousness. But it was exciting. It was an exciting day.

O'BRIEN: How tough is it to chip away? Again, it looks like a beautiful snowstorm has hit these homes, but this is ice, and how thick is it, and just how tough is it to chip that stuff off your house?

SMITH: Well, the only place I really wanted to chip anything off was so that I could see what was going on out of one window. Generally, I really think that it probably helped insulate the house a little bit from the winds that we were getting. So I wasn't really wanting to chip it off of the house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Eventually she's going to have to. Forecasters are saying Boston could get enough snow today to set an all-time record for the month of January.

HEMMER: Looks like a white gingerbread house, doesn't it?

O'BRIEN: Looks nice, doesn't it?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: We're going to get a break here. In a moment, we'll shift our attention to Hillary Clinton. Is she starting her campaign now for 2008? Listen to the words from earlier in the week. We'll talk about it after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Get back to the helicopter story out of Iraq in a moment when we get more information.

In the meantime, though, I want to turn to politics. Is Hillary Clinton starting to lay the groundwork for a run at the White House in 2008? In D.C., Democratic consultant Victor Kamber. He loves this topic, don't you, Vic? Good morning.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: I do. I do.

HEMMER: Also in New York City, WABC radio host, Mark Simone's back with us. We'll call it Kamber and Simone again today.

Hey, Vic, here's what happened. Earlier in the week, Hillary Clinton talked about Roe versus Wade, the issue of abortion in this country. And she mentioned the words common ground, trying to bridge that gap between the two sides of this. Is the intent obvious here? Can we read between the lines?

KAMBER: Well, I think commentators and pundits would like to and people would like to suggest she's moving to the center or changing her position to run. The fact is this is the same position she's had since she was on the Children's Defense Fund before Bill Clinton entered the White House. I hope she's running. This is -- the abortion issue.

I hope she's running. She's bright, she's talented, she's one of the party's dynamic stars. I think our party is blessed with a number of very talented people. I understand she is a lightning rod for a lot of people, but I think the successful presidents in past, her husband, Ronald Reagan, were also lightning rods.

HEMMER: But Vic, I think...

KAMBER: I hope she runs.

HEMMER: Are you trying to say that there's no news here with these comments?

KAMBER: Well, I'm trying to say that this woman, this talented senator, is going to speak out on a number of issues. Everyone's going to look for the nuances of what she said today versus what she said a month ago. But the problem is, she is a senator, she is evolving. Sure, she is crafting positions that I think make her a national candidate beyond what she is already.

HEMMER: Some would think, Mark, she's trying to close that values gap. What do you read into this?

MARK SIMONE, WABC RADIO HOST: Well, don't worry, Republicans are hoping she's running, too. As far as evolving, let's go back a couple months. She was visiting military bases. A couple weeks ago, she was talking about how much she likes to pray and now she's talking about how bad abortion is. At this rate, by '08, she'll be living on a ranch and clearing brush.

KAMBER: Will you vote for her, then, Mark, because of that?

SIMONE: No, the problem is...

KAMBER: That's my point. You won't.

SIMONE: She'll have the same problem Kerry had, which is the rhetoric won't match her past history.

HEMMER: We will wait for more on that. Let's talk about Condoleezza Rice for a moment. Listen to Senator Kennedy as part of the debate yesterday, nine hours in the Senate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Dr. Rice was a key member of the national security team that developed to justify the rationale for war. And it's been a catastrophic failure, a continuing quagmire. In these circumstances, she should not be promoted to secretary of state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And again, that was part of the debate yesterday. Mark, let's talk about today, though. We expect confirmation for Condoleezza Rice at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. Let's move past this point. Can Democrats make it difficult for her if she has that position?

SIMONE: Well, the Democrats basically do nothing but complain. They take no action. If they really believe what they're saying, vote against her. But they will confirm her by a landslide. So their actions don't match their words.

HEMMER: Victor?

KAMBER: This was a debate about the war, about the president's policies. Frankly, Senator Mitch McConnell said it best when he said the person that you should be talking about is George Bush. But what they had in front of them was the nomination of Condoleezza Rice. And what they're saying is just what Senator Kennedy said. She is one of the architects of that war and she should probably not be promoted because of it. But the issue really is the conduct of the war, the president's decisions, the policies he's making, it's a disaster right now.

HEMMER: Do you think the dissent that we're hearing yesterday and again today -- we believe that more will come today, does that die down after the confirmation, or do Democrats continue that?

KAMBER: Well, I think it depends what continues to happen there. If there's no movement towards some kind of resolve in Iraq, it's got to continue to happen. I mean, put aside today's tragic accident there, or tragic situation. We cannot continue to lose lives, we cannot continue to spend the kind of money without a solution. And having this election in four days is not a solution. It's one of the issues.

HEMMER: One more topic we want to get to quickly. The Oscars came out yesterday. A lot of people are talking about Michael Moore getting snubbed in the documentary category. A lot of people say "The Passion of the Christ" should have gotten more than just three nominations. Mark, what do you think's going on with the Academy on this?

SIMONE: Well, it's the second time voters have rejected Michael Moore. And I think they realize he probably got more votes for Bush than for Kerry. And I think they realize that he's bad for business in general for them.

HEMMER: Victor?

KAMBER: Most ludicrous thing I ever heard in the world. "Meet the Fockers" didn't get nominated, either. Neither did Adam Sandler. You know, Michael Moore ran in the Best Picture category. He probably would have been nominated in the documentary. He wasn't. So were 400 other pictures weren't nominated. The five that were -- the same with "Passion of the Christ." Two big money makers, they weren't nominated. Let's not read anything into it.

HEMMER: Hey, Mark, you've seen "Meet the Fockers," by the way?

SIMONE: No, no, I didn't.

HEMMER: You know what I think, I think Victor's arm is feeling a little better today, or is his wrist, anyway.

KAMBER: It's the pain. I am better.

SIMONE: Thanks, guys, talk to you later. Mark and Vic, thanks. In D.C. and here in New York City -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: How about this? Before he takes on the Eagles in the Super Bowl, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady taking on General Motors. Andy is "Minding Your Business." He'll explain just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Tom Brady, who quarterbacks the New England Patriots getting ready to take on someone besides the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Watching the big game at home one week, playing the Super Bowl the next, talk about a dream come true for a guy who lightning struck for him.

Andy Serwer is here, "Minding Your Business."

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That's how I got on the show.

CAFFERTY: No, no, not you.

SERWER: Oh, you mean Tom Brady.

CAFFERTY: This is not a dream, this is a nightmare. There's a difference. Just kidding. I love it here.

SERWER: All right, we're a little mixed up, we're going to straighten things out. Yesterday on Wall Street, a rally, a bigtime rally. The Dow up 92 points, almost 93, didn't quite make 93, the Nasdaq, S&P. And futures are looking bright this morning, and so we look to continue the rally, at least early on.

A couple football and business stories, some of my favorite kinds this morning. First of all, the war between Tom Brady and Cadillac, the car company, continues. And in that war, Tom Brady's going to win. Here's what's going on, Tom Brady, MVP of the Super Bowl last year, he is suing Cadillac because he says they're using his likeness without his permission. He did allow them to use it. He was part of a campaign, he says, that expired.

You may remember last year, Cadillac was supposed to deliver an automobile to him. It took them a very long time. Month after month after month he waited. He finally got the car, he said -- quote -- "I'm not driving this damn thing," end quote, and he gave the car away to his high school. He ended up giving it to his high school in California. I'll never give up my Cadillac, remember that?

CAFFERTY: What is wrong with these companies? I mean, who's in charge of public relations?

SERWER: Yes, well, I mean, they're getting press now, but maybe not the right kind.

CAFFERTY: Not the right kind.

SERWER: No, we've seen a lot of that this morning.

Another story, this is a really sweet one. Say you're a construction manager working in New Jersey at the site, and all of a sudden, the phone rings. It's the Philadelphia Eagles -- want to play for us in the Super Bowl? OK. This happened, actually, to a guy named Jeff Thomason. He is a former NFL player, we should say, but he was working construction, and Eagles called him up, they want him to play tight end, because Chad Lewis is injured. Chad Lewis recommended this guy, his former teammate, and now he's going to play. He's got to take time off work. He says he's going to make more money during his vacation, so he's going to take a couple weeks off. He's going to make more money during his vacation than the rest of the year, and next year he'll have to work the whole year to make up for it.

HEMMER: There's a chance he could play in Jacksonville, this guy?

SERWER: Absolutely, he's going to be the second-string tight end, because the third-stringer is a long snapper so he won't...

HEMMER: It's a great country, America, isn't it?

SERWER: Yes, he's delighted, obviously.

CAFFERTY: Good stuff. Yes, that's a great story.

All right, Wednesday, time for things people say, starting with this: "The last marriage that was televised was Prince Charles and Lady Di, and that didn't work out too well." That's Donald Trump on why he decided against televising his wedding on Saturday. Thank you, Donald, for sparing us all.

"He gave me my career. You never forget when you've been working as a waitress and an office temp, you've been working strip joints at night, then Carson says to you, you're going to be a star on the air, and it happens," Joan Rivers, paying tribute to the late, great Johnny Carson.

"When they are sitting there constantly saying, am I smart enough, am I smart enough, it doesn't really help when the president of the university says, well, maybe you're not. Harvard physics professor Melissa Franklin on those idiotic remarks from Harvard president Larry Summers, suggesting women might not be as good at science and math as men." He will go to his grave regretting that one.

"I went out at 6:30 in the morning, flung off my robe and said, OK, everybody, I'm mortified, but we're going to be looking at it all day, so let's just get it over with. Here it is, look. Teri Hatcher, on how she got ready to shoot a nude scene on the set of 'Desperate Housewives.' Bless her heart.

And finally this, "Maybe they were booing me. Maybe they were booing the halftime show, because the whole thing sucked." Ashlee Simpson, still talking about her miserable performance during halftime at the Orange Bowl. Note to Ashlee, it was you.

SERWER: I thought she was talking about her "Saturday Night Live" performance?

O'BRIEN: She's got to stop blaming other people.

HEMMER: That whole show was terrible, from beginning to end.

O'BRIEN: But still, they got...

SERWER: She's a major talent.

CAFFERTY: They were booing Ashlee.

O'BRIEN: Talk about being struck by lightning. Well, good luck on that one. Ashlee herself, her whole career.

CAFFERTY: She should get a job in the strip clubs at night like Joan Rivers.

SERWER: There's a spot open for you -- Joan's now a big star.

O'BRIEN: She's young. She just needs to work on her -- but know what, she's got to stop blaming other people.

CAFFERTY: Well, and have some talent.

O'BRIEN: That would help, talent.

CAFFERTY: Having some talent would help if you want to be a singer. It would be like me trying to be a singer.

SERWER: Maybe she could just have people lip sync the rest of her career.

O'BRIEN: Could happen.

CAFFERTY: How're we doing here?

O'BRIEN: Very well, thank you. In fact, the top stories are just ahead this morning, including that breaking news right out of Iraq, 31 Marines killed in a helicopter crash, another four killed in action elsewhere. We're going to take you back to Baghdad and to the Pentagon as well for the very latest. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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