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American Morning
Car Bomb Attacks in Iraq; Congress Reacts; Ex-Wife's Surprising Testimony
Aired April 29, 2005 - 07:29 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: It's a busy Friday morning. Good morning, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good to have you along with us today.
How you doing?
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you. It's nice to be here.
HEMMER: (INAUDIBLE.)
O'BRIEN: I know.
HEMMER: You too as well.
In a moment here, right back to Iraq with this wave of attacks a few hours ago. The Pentagon's top grass brass saying just this week that U.S. and Iraqi forces are winning this fight. In a moment, we'll talk live with the U.S. commander of the 3rd ID about that conclusion, momentarily from Baghdad.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, remember those guys we had on the other day?
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: They were telling us about how they found all of that money. They were digging around in their yard, pulling out the tree. Well, now there are some serious questions about their story. Not quite clear if it's legit. It turns out they're talking not only to the news, but police as well.
HEMMER: Yes, what do you think?
O'BRIEN: We're going to have more on that ahead this morning. I don't know what to think.
HEMMER: Are we still to believe them?
O'BRIEN: I'm going to wait to hear what the police have to say.
HEMMER: What did Jack say, they were in the third ring of Saturn when they were sitting over there?
O'BRIEN: We'll see what police have to say when they hold their news conference later this morning. HEMMER: I mentioned 7:30 here. We're watching the situation from Iraq this morning. Al Qaeda's leader in that country, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, is calling for more suicide attacks on U.S. forces, the threats made on an audiotape posted on two Islamic Web sites. CNN has not authenticated that tape so far.
But also today, nine car bombings have killed 24 people. More than 100 others have been injured in and around Baghdad in the city and southeast of the Iraqi capital.
Major General William Webster, commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, is my guest now from Baghdad.
General, we certainly appreciate your time. It has been a busy day over there for you and your forces. Is the insurgency getting stronger, based on the news of the past two weeks, sir?
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM WEBSTER, JR., COMMANDER, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: Absolutely not. We think the insurgency is weakening over time. Some of these attacks appear to be very spectacular and well-coordinated, but, in fact, are not. These attacks today, although they occurred over a span of about four hours, were widely separated and not coordinated very well at all.
HEMMER: The report we had, sir, earlier today was that 5 car bombs went off in a span of 15 minutes. Is that a fact? And if so, how is that not coordinated?
WEBSTER: Well, there were several car bombs that went off in a short time span. I don't know that it was 15 minutes. I think it was a little longer than that. But those were all part of the same attack. And we believe those VBIEDs were headed towards a hospital or an Iraqi police station, and they did not make to it their target.
HEMMER: Excuse me, the vernacular, a VBIED is what?
WEBSTER: That's a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device -- a car bomb.
HEMMER: Yesterday, there the cabinet members were sworn in, in Baghdad. Did these attacks today have anything to do with that yesterday, general?
WEBSTER: Well, we think so. We know that Zarqawi has been talking to insurgents here and inciting them towards more violence. We know that he planned to conduct additional attacks after the new government was announced. And so, we believe that this was connected directly to that. It was another desperate attempt to try to derail the emerging democratic government.
HEMMER: Yes, Zarqawi had an audiotape released earlier today, apparently a strong message directed to the U.S. military. Do you have a message directed back toward him?
WEBSTER: I have not heard those videotapes. But my message back to Zarqawi is that he's not going to win. This is just desperation what he's trying to do.
HEMMER: Yes, two more...
WEBSTER: The Iraqi...
HEMMER: I apologize.
WEBSTER: The Iraqi security forces...
HEMMER: I thought you were finished there. Go ahead.
WEBSTER: No, I just want to brag on these Iraqi security forces. The policemen and the army that we're working with on a daily basis, they're standing up more and more with more capability. And, in fact, today they helped foil most of these attacks in keeping them from getting to their final targets.
HEMMER: On that point, Donald Rumsfeld is suggesting just this past week that the U.S. has focused less on the counter-insurgency and focused more on training Iraqi forces. Is that the case on the ground in Iraq today?
WEBSTER: We're doing both with equal vigor. We are working very hard towards helping the Iraqi forces maintain the security here, while at the same time improving their capability to eventually take over the security of Iraq.
HEMMER: One more point, and let's get to General Richard Myers. Last week he said that the number of insurgents in that country is at about the same level today as it was a year ago. Is that your assessment also on the ground?
WEBSTER: Well, I won't argue with the chairman of the joint chiefs. I don't know what his information was. But from our position here in Baghdad, we certainly have seen a decline in attacks over the last year and especially since the election. The attacks are down, and their capabilities to sustain operations is significantly down. This today was just another spike that comes periodically.
HEMMER: We appreciate your time this morning, sir. And please come back anytime. William Webster, major general from Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Thank you. Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Other stories making headlines this morning. Let's get right to Carol Costello.
Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, soldier. Good morning to all of you.
"Now in the News."
NASA is pushing back the launch date for its space shuttle Discovery. CNN has learned that concerns over the foam insulation on the external fuel tanks led to the delay. The launch has been pushed back until at least July. NASA is set to make a formal announcement later this morning.
An Army sergeant who was found guilty of opening fire on his fellow soldiers in Kuwait is now on military death row. Hasan Akbar was sentenced to death on Thursday for killing 2 Americans and wounding 14 others in a grenade and rifle attack. Akbar's death sentence is under review.
Former Senator Zell Miller is in stable but guarded condition this morning. Miller was admitted to a hospital on Thursday night after feeling faint during a speech in Gainesville, Georgia. According to his wife, Miller had been suffering flu-like symptoms for a few days. The 73-year-old retired senator dismayed his party by endorsing President Bush and giving the keynote speech at the Republican Convention last year, and a fiery speech it was.
Southern California needs just one more inch of rain to make this the wettest year on record. A fast-moving storm Thursday caused dozens of spin-outs and jackknifed big rigs. Police reported more than 50 crashes in 45 minutes, causing at least one death.
And in northern Utah, flooding and possible mudslides. Officials say it's just going to get worse. The snowcapped mountains are starting to melt, because, of course, it's springtime and it's getting warmer. So April is almost over, though.
HEMMER: It's OK. We'll take spring.
COSTELLO: Well, summer is coming soon. I'll take that over spring.
HEMMER: Yes, eventually.
O'BRIEN: We're just going to whine about it all the time. All right, you guys, thanks.
In his prime time appearance on Thursday night, President Bush talked about Social Security. He says he is -- quote -- "Willing to listen to any good idea from either party." And that it's a serious matter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I propose a Social Security system in the future where benefits for low-income workers will grow faster than benefits for people who are better off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: CNN's Ed Henry joins us from Capitol Hill this morning.
Ed -- good morning to you.
Give us a sense of what the members of Congress from both sides are saying about what they thought of the president's news conference.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Soledad, the president's latest gamut on Social Security is facing a brick wall of opposition from Democrats up here, and only lukewarm support from Republicans.
What Democrats say is they now believe this is the worst of both worlds. The president is still pushing private accounts, which will cost trillions of dollars. And they say he's now admitting he's going to pay for it with future benefit cuts to Social Security beneficiaries.
Now, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert put out a statement last night giving the president high marks for showing courage and taking on a tough issue, but clearly did not endorse this specific plan. That's because Republicans up here are very nervous. They see a president who is a lame duck, while House and Senate Republicans will have to face the voters next year. And it's very clear from the polls that the public is still not sold on this plan, a point that House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi seized upon yesterday, even before the president's latest sales pitch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: What I'm hoping the president tonight will say about Social Security and his privatization plan is uncle. This is really, you know, 60 days, Sunday, is that the 60th day of the 60-city tour? I think it's been a dismal failure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now, the Republican response to that is that Democrats continue to throw stones, but they still have not put a plan of their own on the table. And the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Chuck Grassley, put out a statement last night, urging leaders in both parties to think about the next generation instead of the next election. But, Soledad, that's very difficult to do in such a politically-charged environment.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk a little bit, Ed, about judicial nominees. The president talked about it last night. Any indications on the horizon that the gridlock on that issue is going to ease up at all?
HENRY: Oh, not at all. Gridlock alive and well on judges. Also the energy bill that the president was talking about last night. The bottom line is the political climate up here has shifted a bit against the president since the last election. Right after the election, Republicans were riding high, increased majorities in the House and Senate. It looked like his agenda would be gliding through perhaps. But instead, Democrats insist that he has overreached politically. He's gotten bogged down with Congress focusing on issues like Terri Schiavo, also the John Bolton nomination is stalled up here, the Tom DeLay ethics investigation.
Republicans say, again, Democrats are just throwing stones, scoring political points on those issues, and that they are to blame for the gridlock. The bottom line is both sides can't get along on judges or very many any other issues. It's going to be difficult for the president to break through -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The gridlock is gridlocked. All right, Ed Henry for us on Capitol Hill this morning. Ed, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: What a trial we have in Santa Maria, California. The Michael Jackson prosecutors are now about to wrap up their case. But apparently the state is stumbling toward that finish line.
Here is Ted Rowlands with a wrap from yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Debbie Rowe was expected to be one of the prosecution's best witnesses. Instead, she may have ended up being one of their worst.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: They put her on. And it's like looking at a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is not the end of the tunnel, but it's a train coming right at the prosecution. And that train was being driven by Debbie Rowe. She was devastating.
ROWLANDS: Prosecutors said Rowe was important to their case, because she would tie Michael Jackson to a group of alleged co- conspirators. Instead, she said the people around Jackson were -- quote -- "opportunistic vultures" and were probably keeping information from him so they could profit at his expense.
At one point, Rowe broke down, crying as she looked at Jackson and described him as a -- quote -- "kind, generous to a fault, great father." She said, "There are two Michaels -- my Michael and the Michael everyone else sees."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, a prosecution witness, an ex-wife who ought to have a grudge to bear, comes forward and essentially endorses the defense theory. It's absolutely stunning.
ROWLANDS: Rowe did testify that she thought that her participation in a taped interview designed to rebut allegations about Jackson would lead to Jackson allowing her to see her children for the first time in three years.
In the morning, Jackson's defense team filed a motion to throw Rowe's testimony out. But by the end of cross-examination, Thomas Mesereau smiled and told the judge he was withdrawing that motion.
(on camera): Prosecutors were expected to finish their case by the end of the week. They now say it will take them at least until next Tuesday.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Well, now the prosecution does plan to call more witnesses today, several we're told, before resting on Tuesday of next week, which is two days later than first expected -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: A look at the weather again this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: It's 18 minutes before the hour. Much more to come on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER (voice over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," Hollywood's newest "it" couple or odd couple? Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes cozy up in Rome. And we have the pictures.
Plus, Paula cries, the rumors fly, and the favorite gets the boot. What's going on at "American Idol?" That's later on AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: How to fix Social Security is the "Question of the Day." Kind of a small topic to tackle.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush in his speech last night says he wants to cut Social Security benefits, future benefits for wealthier retirees. But don't be fooled. Social Security is called the third rail of American politics for a reason.
Democrats already branded Bush's proposal a massive cut in Social Security. And conservative Republicans are worried that this new idea could cost them in next year's mid-term elections. But with support for the private accounts almost nonexistent, the president decided to gamble. His idea could save Social Security $3 trillion over 75 years.
The question is this: Is cutting benefits the way to solve Social Security's problems?
Alma writes: "What does George Bush mean by wealthier Americans? That would help answer the question of whether cuts would make sense. In the meantime, don't change Social Security without bipartisan input."
Dan in Minnesota: "I'd be willing to take a cut only if it would be in proportion to our political leaders' inflated pensions."
Paul in Ohio writes: "The only way to save Social Security is for Congress to put back all of the money they've borrowed over the years."
Arthur writes from New Jersey: "I never pay attention to anything printed in left-wing propaganda rags such as 'The New York Times' or the 'Washington Post.' Cutting benefits to people who do not really need such benefits doesn't seem to be a bad idea." And Bob in Vermont writes: "Cutting benefits is only a band-aid that will not fix the problems Social Security has. There is one simple change in Social Security that would save the program forever: Raise the cap from $90,000 to $1 million a year. That would generate $10 billion each year."
HEMMER: Ten billion with a "b?"
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It would.
HEMMER: You could take that Social Security check...
SERWER: That's a lot of money.
O'BRIEN: Really.
HEMMER: Yes, and buy a new airline ticket, too, because you might need it. One of the nation's airlines is raising fares. Andy has that.
What's happening?
SERWER: A couple of airline stories. First of all, American Airlines last night raising round trip fares by $10 a ticket. What's interesting here is that the airlines have tried to do this all year, and when the others don't match it, then it goes by the bye. This time, it certainly could stick.
Here is what's interesting. Over the past five years, the average fuel cost per round trip ticket for the airlines has climbed by $65. Meanwhile, the average cost of a ticket to you, the consumer, has fallen by $45. Something has got to give here.
Yesterday, the CEO of American Airlines, Gerard Arpey, said, don't look for a merger with American, though, even though a lot of people have been talking about airlines getting together.
And here is some more important news from the airlines. Spirit Airlines has a new plan for its spirits. You are no longer going to be able to use cash to buy drinks on their airplanes. You can only use credit cards. You know when they say, do you have a 5, do you have a 10, I'm going to bring the change back to you later?
HEMMER: That's right.
SERWER: Stewardesses and the stewards are sick of that. OK. They're sick of you people not having singles. At this airline, they're just only going to...
HEMMER: Yes, but they run your plastic, and it takes lot longer to get that bag of chips.
SERWER: You just swipe and swig. And what's going on if you don't have a card, they're going to sell prepaid cards, little cocktail cards at the gate. So, you can buy a little 5 or a little 10, depending upon how much drinking you intend to do while you're in the air.
HEMMER: Swipe and swig.
SERWER: You just swipe and swig.
HEMMER: Coined here. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: "90-Second Pop" in a moment here. Paula Abdul cried when Constantine got the boot the other night. And now she is crying foul, and the poppers tackle this. And Tom Cruise after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: That's Constantine. He's going to find another place to sing, folks. "90-Second Pop" on a Friday, starring B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "Us Weekly."
Good morning, B.J.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Have you seen the pictures yet, by the way? More in a moment.
Amy Barnett from "Teen People."
Amy, welcome back.
AMY BARNETT, "TEEN PEOPLE": Thank you.
HEMMER: And a first-time panelist, Kyle Smith, "New York Post" film critic and author of a book called "Love Monkey."
What is "Love Monkey?"
KYLE SMITH, "NEW YORK POST' MOVIE CRITIC: It's a comic novel. You've got to read it.
HEMMER: All right. Well, we'll check that out. First, Tom Cruise is cruising with Katie Holmes.
SMITH: Absolutely.
HEMMER: What kind of sham is this, by the way?
SMITH: Only Tom Cruise would try to be the biggest story out of Rome this month. Wednesday night, Tom Cruise is seen holding hands with Katie Holmes at a premiere in Rome. Thursday, they were shown kissing in front of the photographers. I think Monday they're due to have their first baby. You'll recall back in 2001 when Tom Cruise had a little movie called "Vanilla Sky." All of a sudden he and Penelope Cruz were a big item. Now it's he and Katie Holmes just as the 60-day mark approaches for "War of the Worlds," in which his co-star is about 9 years old, so he can't be dating her. HEMMER: So, "Batman" begins June 16. June 29 is the "War of the Worlds," right? I'll say it right next time.
SMITH: "Batman" begins. It's the new Katie Holmes movie. And she needs a little boost, too.
HEMMER: How gullible do they think we are?
BARNETT: It's just a little suspicious, I have to say. I mean, it's a little convenient that this odd couple found love just a month before the media blitz for their two blockbuster summer movies.
HEMMER: Don't you think so?
BARNETT: I mean, it's ridiculous. And Katie Holmes, you know, she is sort of trying to resuscitate her "Dawson's Creek" career. I mean, it's a little obvious.
HEMMER: I think B.J. is buying a little bit of this, aren't you?
SIGESMUND: Well, I was...
HEMMER: Look at you over there.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: You are gullible America.
SIGESMUND: I watched them, and I was, like, wow, they are so great together. Look at that. No, I mean, I've been amazed at how quickly the general public has said this looks a lot like a publicity stunt. I mean, usually, it's media people that say that.
HEMMER: I think we're all getting a little smarter as we go through this.
Let's talk about the great American soap opera, and that is "American Idol." Paula is crying, Constantine is gone. What's going on?
BARNETT: It's kind of crazy. And I have to say, I mean, after just -- one week earlier, when she denied in "People" magazine that she's not on drugs, and she's also facing all of these accusations from former "American Idol" contestant Corey Clark that they were having an affair -- that they had an affair when he was on the show, for her to sob like a crazy person on the show over the heartthrob being voted off was maybe not the best timing.
HEMMER: Did you say they had an affair?
BARNETT: I am saying...
HEMMER: Is that what you just said?
BARNETT: No, no, no. All I know is that Paula obviously cares about the contestants, particularly the attractive male ones, if you believe Corey Clark.
HEMMER: Put that statement on a string, Amy, and pull it back in.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: I like the things that we learned this week about Bo Bice, thanks to our friends at thesmokinggun.com. First of all, his real name is Harold. Secondly, he, up until now, said that the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to him was falling off the stage. Well, we all know now that he has an arrest in his past for cocaine possession, and it's just amazing the things that come out about "American Idol."
HEMMER: It's the synergy here, isn't it?
SMITH: I don't know what the big deal is about Constantine in the first place. This guy was going to bring rock to "American Idol?" Hello, why don't you try to bring Julie Andrews to a Metallica concert.
HEMMER: What did he say? I'm going to keep rocking, right? What's the name of his band?
(CROSSTALK)
BARNETT: Well, you know, actually, a record label is going to bring out his band's pre-"American Idol" album, so actually they will all do well off of this, I think.
HEMMER: Oh, so we shall we see.
BARNETT: Yes, yes, exactly.
HEMMER: And by the way, don't believe the stuff with Tom and Katie. I'm not. Kyle, nice to have you, man. Have a great weekend.
SMITH: Great to see you.
HEMMER: Amy, B.J., see you later -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: In a moment, today's top stories. Plus, don't retire; rewire. Meet some baby boomers who are changing their careers to pursue their dream jobs. And guess what? It's paying off. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Insurgents launch a deadly wave of attacks in Iraq. Nine car bombs, 3 hours, 24 people killed. Plus, what could be a brand-new threat from Iraq's most-wanted terrorist, Abu Musab al Zarqawi. A new audiotape attributed to him with a message for President Bush.
And in a rare prime time news conference, the president focuses on rising fuel costs and Social Security. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Social Security problem since 1983. We haven't had an energy strategy in our country for decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Will the president get results? The hard sell continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
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Aired April 29, 2005 - 07:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's a busy Friday morning. Good morning, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good to have you along with us today.
How you doing?
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you. It's nice to be here.
HEMMER: (INAUDIBLE.)
O'BRIEN: I know.
HEMMER: You too as well.
In a moment here, right back to Iraq with this wave of attacks a few hours ago. The Pentagon's top grass brass saying just this week that U.S. and Iraqi forces are winning this fight. In a moment, we'll talk live with the U.S. commander of the 3rd ID about that conclusion, momentarily from Baghdad.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, remember those guys we had on the other day?
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: They were telling us about how they found all of that money. They were digging around in their yard, pulling out the tree. Well, now there are some serious questions about their story. Not quite clear if it's legit. It turns out they're talking not only to the news, but police as well.
HEMMER: Yes, what do you think?
O'BRIEN: We're going to have more on that ahead this morning. I don't know what to think.
HEMMER: Are we still to believe them?
O'BRIEN: I'm going to wait to hear what the police have to say.
HEMMER: What did Jack say, they were in the third ring of Saturn when they were sitting over there?
O'BRIEN: We'll see what police have to say when they hold their news conference later this morning. HEMMER: I mentioned 7:30 here. We're watching the situation from Iraq this morning. Al Qaeda's leader in that country, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, is calling for more suicide attacks on U.S. forces, the threats made on an audiotape posted on two Islamic Web sites. CNN has not authenticated that tape so far.
But also today, nine car bombings have killed 24 people. More than 100 others have been injured in and around Baghdad in the city and southeast of the Iraqi capital.
Major General William Webster, commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, is my guest now from Baghdad.
General, we certainly appreciate your time. It has been a busy day over there for you and your forces. Is the insurgency getting stronger, based on the news of the past two weeks, sir?
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM WEBSTER, JR., COMMANDER, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION: Absolutely not. We think the insurgency is weakening over time. Some of these attacks appear to be very spectacular and well-coordinated, but, in fact, are not. These attacks today, although they occurred over a span of about four hours, were widely separated and not coordinated very well at all.
HEMMER: The report we had, sir, earlier today was that 5 car bombs went off in a span of 15 minutes. Is that a fact? And if so, how is that not coordinated?
WEBSTER: Well, there were several car bombs that went off in a short time span. I don't know that it was 15 minutes. I think it was a little longer than that. But those were all part of the same attack. And we believe those VBIEDs were headed towards a hospital or an Iraqi police station, and they did not make to it their target.
HEMMER: Excuse me, the vernacular, a VBIED is what?
WEBSTER: That's a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device -- a car bomb.
HEMMER: Yesterday, there the cabinet members were sworn in, in Baghdad. Did these attacks today have anything to do with that yesterday, general?
WEBSTER: Well, we think so. We know that Zarqawi has been talking to insurgents here and inciting them towards more violence. We know that he planned to conduct additional attacks after the new government was announced. And so, we believe that this was connected directly to that. It was another desperate attempt to try to derail the emerging democratic government.
HEMMER: Yes, Zarqawi had an audiotape released earlier today, apparently a strong message directed to the U.S. military. Do you have a message directed back toward him?
WEBSTER: I have not heard those videotapes. But my message back to Zarqawi is that he's not going to win. This is just desperation what he's trying to do.
HEMMER: Yes, two more...
WEBSTER: The Iraqi...
HEMMER: I apologize.
WEBSTER: The Iraqi security forces...
HEMMER: I thought you were finished there. Go ahead.
WEBSTER: No, I just want to brag on these Iraqi security forces. The policemen and the army that we're working with on a daily basis, they're standing up more and more with more capability. And, in fact, today they helped foil most of these attacks in keeping them from getting to their final targets.
HEMMER: On that point, Donald Rumsfeld is suggesting just this past week that the U.S. has focused less on the counter-insurgency and focused more on training Iraqi forces. Is that the case on the ground in Iraq today?
WEBSTER: We're doing both with equal vigor. We are working very hard towards helping the Iraqi forces maintain the security here, while at the same time improving their capability to eventually take over the security of Iraq.
HEMMER: One more point, and let's get to General Richard Myers. Last week he said that the number of insurgents in that country is at about the same level today as it was a year ago. Is that your assessment also on the ground?
WEBSTER: Well, I won't argue with the chairman of the joint chiefs. I don't know what his information was. But from our position here in Baghdad, we certainly have seen a decline in attacks over the last year and especially since the election. The attacks are down, and their capabilities to sustain operations is significantly down. This today was just another spike that comes periodically.
HEMMER: We appreciate your time this morning, sir. And please come back anytime. William Webster, major general from Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Thank you. Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Other stories making headlines this morning. Let's get right to Carol Costello.
Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, soldier. Good morning to all of you.
"Now in the News."
NASA is pushing back the launch date for its space shuttle Discovery. CNN has learned that concerns over the foam insulation on the external fuel tanks led to the delay. The launch has been pushed back until at least July. NASA is set to make a formal announcement later this morning.
An Army sergeant who was found guilty of opening fire on his fellow soldiers in Kuwait is now on military death row. Hasan Akbar was sentenced to death on Thursday for killing 2 Americans and wounding 14 others in a grenade and rifle attack. Akbar's death sentence is under review.
Former Senator Zell Miller is in stable but guarded condition this morning. Miller was admitted to a hospital on Thursday night after feeling faint during a speech in Gainesville, Georgia. According to his wife, Miller had been suffering flu-like symptoms for a few days. The 73-year-old retired senator dismayed his party by endorsing President Bush and giving the keynote speech at the Republican Convention last year, and a fiery speech it was.
Southern California needs just one more inch of rain to make this the wettest year on record. A fast-moving storm Thursday caused dozens of spin-outs and jackknifed big rigs. Police reported more than 50 crashes in 45 minutes, causing at least one death.
And in northern Utah, flooding and possible mudslides. Officials say it's just going to get worse. The snowcapped mountains are starting to melt, because, of course, it's springtime and it's getting warmer. So April is almost over, though.
HEMMER: It's OK. We'll take spring.
COSTELLO: Well, summer is coming soon. I'll take that over spring.
HEMMER: Yes, eventually.
O'BRIEN: We're just going to whine about it all the time. All right, you guys, thanks.
In his prime time appearance on Thursday night, President Bush talked about Social Security. He says he is -- quote -- "Willing to listen to any good idea from either party." And that it's a serious matter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I propose a Social Security system in the future where benefits for low-income workers will grow faster than benefits for people who are better off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: CNN's Ed Henry joins us from Capitol Hill this morning.
Ed -- good morning to you.
Give us a sense of what the members of Congress from both sides are saying about what they thought of the president's news conference.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Soledad, the president's latest gamut on Social Security is facing a brick wall of opposition from Democrats up here, and only lukewarm support from Republicans.
What Democrats say is they now believe this is the worst of both worlds. The president is still pushing private accounts, which will cost trillions of dollars. And they say he's now admitting he's going to pay for it with future benefit cuts to Social Security beneficiaries.
Now, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert put out a statement last night giving the president high marks for showing courage and taking on a tough issue, but clearly did not endorse this specific plan. That's because Republicans up here are very nervous. They see a president who is a lame duck, while House and Senate Republicans will have to face the voters next year. And it's very clear from the polls that the public is still not sold on this plan, a point that House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi seized upon yesterday, even before the president's latest sales pitch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: What I'm hoping the president tonight will say about Social Security and his privatization plan is uncle. This is really, you know, 60 days, Sunday, is that the 60th day of the 60-city tour? I think it's been a dismal failure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now, the Republican response to that is that Democrats continue to throw stones, but they still have not put a plan of their own on the table. And the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Chuck Grassley, put out a statement last night, urging leaders in both parties to think about the next generation instead of the next election. But, Soledad, that's very difficult to do in such a politically-charged environment.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk a little bit, Ed, about judicial nominees. The president talked about it last night. Any indications on the horizon that the gridlock on that issue is going to ease up at all?
HENRY: Oh, not at all. Gridlock alive and well on judges. Also the energy bill that the president was talking about last night. The bottom line is the political climate up here has shifted a bit against the president since the last election. Right after the election, Republicans were riding high, increased majorities in the House and Senate. It looked like his agenda would be gliding through perhaps. But instead, Democrats insist that he has overreached politically. He's gotten bogged down with Congress focusing on issues like Terri Schiavo, also the John Bolton nomination is stalled up here, the Tom DeLay ethics investigation.
Republicans say, again, Democrats are just throwing stones, scoring political points on those issues, and that they are to blame for the gridlock. The bottom line is both sides can't get along on judges or very many any other issues. It's going to be difficult for the president to break through -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The gridlock is gridlocked. All right, Ed Henry for us on Capitol Hill this morning. Ed, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: What a trial we have in Santa Maria, California. The Michael Jackson prosecutors are now about to wrap up their case. But apparently the state is stumbling toward that finish line.
Here is Ted Rowlands with a wrap from yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Debbie Rowe was expected to be one of the prosecution's best witnesses. Instead, she may have ended up being one of their worst.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: They put her on. And it's like looking at a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is not the end of the tunnel, but it's a train coming right at the prosecution. And that train was being driven by Debbie Rowe. She was devastating.
ROWLANDS: Prosecutors said Rowe was important to their case, because she would tie Michael Jackson to a group of alleged co- conspirators. Instead, she said the people around Jackson were -- quote -- "opportunistic vultures" and were probably keeping information from him so they could profit at his expense.
At one point, Rowe broke down, crying as she looked at Jackson and described him as a -- quote -- "kind, generous to a fault, great father." She said, "There are two Michaels -- my Michael and the Michael everyone else sees."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, a prosecution witness, an ex-wife who ought to have a grudge to bear, comes forward and essentially endorses the defense theory. It's absolutely stunning.
ROWLANDS: Rowe did testify that she thought that her participation in a taped interview designed to rebut allegations about Jackson would lead to Jackson allowing her to see her children for the first time in three years.
In the morning, Jackson's defense team filed a motion to throw Rowe's testimony out. But by the end of cross-examination, Thomas Mesereau smiled and told the judge he was withdrawing that motion.
(on camera): Prosecutors were expected to finish their case by the end of the week. They now say it will take them at least until next Tuesday.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Well, now the prosecution does plan to call more witnesses today, several we're told, before resting on Tuesday of next week, which is two days later than first expected -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: A look at the weather again this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: It's 18 minutes before the hour. Much more to come on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER (voice over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," Hollywood's newest "it" couple or odd couple? Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes cozy up in Rome. And we have the pictures.
Plus, Paula cries, the rumors fly, and the favorite gets the boot. What's going on at "American Idol?" That's later on AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: How to fix Social Security is the "Question of the Day." Kind of a small topic to tackle.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush in his speech last night says he wants to cut Social Security benefits, future benefits for wealthier retirees. But don't be fooled. Social Security is called the third rail of American politics for a reason.
Democrats already branded Bush's proposal a massive cut in Social Security. And conservative Republicans are worried that this new idea could cost them in next year's mid-term elections. But with support for the private accounts almost nonexistent, the president decided to gamble. His idea could save Social Security $3 trillion over 75 years.
The question is this: Is cutting benefits the way to solve Social Security's problems?
Alma writes: "What does George Bush mean by wealthier Americans? That would help answer the question of whether cuts would make sense. In the meantime, don't change Social Security without bipartisan input."
Dan in Minnesota: "I'd be willing to take a cut only if it would be in proportion to our political leaders' inflated pensions."
Paul in Ohio writes: "The only way to save Social Security is for Congress to put back all of the money they've borrowed over the years."
Arthur writes from New Jersey: "I never pay attention to anything printed in left-wing propaganda rags such as 'The New York Times' or the 'Washington Post.' Cutting benefits to people who do not really need such benefits doesn't seem to be a bad idea." And Bob in Vermont writes: "Cutting benefits is only a band-aid that will not fix the problems Social Security has. There is one simple change in Social Security that would save the program forever: Raise the cap from $90,000 to $1 million a year. That would generate $10 billion each year."
HEMMER: Ten billion with a "b?"
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It would.
HEMMER: You could take that Social Security check...
SERWER: That's a lot of money.
O'BRIEN: Really.
HEMMER: Yes, and buy a new airline ticket, too, because you might need it. One of the nation's airlines is raising fares. Andy has that.
What's happening?
SERWER: A couple of airline stories. First of all, American Airlines last night raising round trip fares by $10 a ticket. What's interesting here is that the airlines have tried to do this all year, and when the others don't match it, then it goes by the bye. This time, it certainly could stick.
Here is what's interesting. Over the past five years, the average fuel cost per round trip ticket for the airlines has climbed by $65. Meanwhile, the average cost of a ticket to you, the consumer, has fallen by $45. Something has got to give here.
Yesterday, the CEO of American Airlines, Gerard Arpey, said, don't look for a merger with American, though, even though a lot of people have been talking about airlines getting together.
And here is some more important news from the airlines. Spirit Airlines has a new plan for its spirits. You are no longer going to be able to use cash to buy drinks on their airplanes. You can only use credit cards. You know when they say, do you have a 5, do you have a 10, I'm going to bring the change back to you later?
HEMMER: That's right.
SERWER: Stewardesses and the stewards are sick of that. OK. They're sick of you people not having singles. At this airline, they're just only going to...
HEMMER: Yes, but they run your plastic, and it takes lot longer to get that bag of chips.
SERWER: You just swipe and swig. And what's going on if you don't have a card, they're going to sell prepaid cards, little cocktail cards at the gate. So, you can buy a little 5 or a little 10, depending upon how much drinking you intend to do while you're in the air.
HEMMER: Swipe and swig.
SERWER: You just swipe and swig.
HEMMER: Coined here. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: "90-Second Pop" in a moment here. Paula Abdul cried when Constantine got the boot the other night. And now she is crying foul, and the poppers tackle this. And Tom Cruise after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: That's Constantine. He's going to find another place to sing, folks. "90-Second Pop" on a Friday, starring B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "Us Weekly."
Good morning, B.J.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Have you seen the pictures yet, by the way? More in a moment.
Amy Barnett from "Teen People."
Amy, welcome back.
AMY BARNETT, "TEEN PEOPLE": Thank you.
HEMMER: And a first-time panelist, Kyle Smith, "New York Post" film critic and author of a book called "Love Monkey."
What is "Love Monkey?"
KYLE SMITH, "NEW YORK POST' MOVIE CRITIC: It's a comic novel. You've got to read it.
HEMMER: All right. Well, we'll check that out. First, Tom Cruise is cruising with Katie Holmes.
SMITH: Absolutely.
HEMMER: What kind of sham is this, by the way?
SMITH: Only Tom Cruise would try to be the biggest story out of Rome this month. Wednesday night, Tom Cruise is seen holding hands with Katie Holmes at a premiere in Rome. Thursday, they were shown kissing in front of the photographers. I think Monday they're due to have their first baby. You'll recall back in 2001 when Tom Cruise had a little movie called "Vanilla Sky." All of a sudden he and Penelope Cruz were a big item. Now it's he and Katie Holmes just as the 60-day mark approaches for "War of the Worlds," in which his co-star is about 9 years old, so he can't be dating her. HEMMER: So, "Batman" begins June 16. June 29 is the "War of the Worlds," right? I'll say it right next time.
SMITH: "Batman" begins. It's the new Katie Holmes movie. And she needs a little boost, too.
HEMMER: How gullible do they think we are?
BARNETT: It's just a little suspicious, I have to say. I mean, it's a little convenient that this odd couple found love just a month before the media blitz for their two blockbuster summer movies.
HEMMER: Don't you think so?
BARNETT: I mean, it's ridiculous. And Katie Holmes, you know, she is sort of trying to resuscitate her "Dawson's Creek" career. I mean, it's a little obvious.
HEMMER: I think B.J. is buying a little bit of this, aren't you?
SIGESMUND: Well, I was...
HEMMER: Look at you over there.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: You are gullible America.
SIGESMUND: I watched them, and I was, like, wow, they are so great together. Look at that. No, I mean, I've been amazed at how quickly the general public has said this looks a lot like a publicity stunt. I mean, usually, it's media people that say that.
HEMMER: I think we're all getting a little smarter as we go through this.
Let's talk about the great American soap opera, and that is "American Idol." Paula is crying, Constantine is gone. What's going on?
BARNETT: It's kind of crazy. And I have to say, I mean, after just -- one week earlier, when she denied in "People" magazine that she's not on drugs, and she's also facing all of these accusations from former "American Idol" contestant Corey Clark that they were having an affair -- that they had an affair when he was on the show, for her to sob like a crazy person on the show over the heartthrob being voted off was maybe not the best timing.
HEMMER: Did you say they had an affair?
BARNETT: I am saying...
HEMMER: Is that what you just said?
BARNETT: No, no, no. All I know is that Paula obviously cares about the contestants, particularly the attractive male ones, if you believe Corey Clark.
HEMMER: Put that statement on a string, Amy, and pull it back in.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: I like the things that we learned this week about Bo Bice, thanks to our friends at thesmokinggun.com. First of all, his real name is Harold. Secondly, he, up until now, said that the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to him was falling off the stage. Well, we all know now that he has an arrest in his past for cocaine possession, and it's just amazing the things that come out about "American Idol."
HEMMER: It's the synergy here, isn't it?
SMITH: I don't know what the big deal is about Constantine in the first place. This guy was going to bring rock to "American Idol?" Hello, why don't you try to bring Julie Andrews to a Metallica concert.
HEMMER: What did he say? I'm going to keep rocking, right? What's the name of his band?
(CROSSTALK)
BARNETT: Well, you know, actually, a record label is going to bring out his band's pre-"American Idol" album, so actually they will all do well off of this, I think.
HEMMER: Oh, so we shall we see.
BARNETT: Yes, yes, exactly.
HEMMER: And by the way, don't believe the stuff with Tom and Katie. I'm not. Kyle, nice to have you, man. Have a great weekend.
SMITH: Great to see you.
HEMMER: Amy, B.J., see you later -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: In a moment, today's top stories. Plus, don't retire; rewire. Meet some baby boomers who are changing their careers to pursue their dream jobs. And guess what? It's paying off. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Insurgents launch a deadly wave of attacks in Iraq. Nine car bombs, 3 hours, 24 people killed. Plus, what could be a brand-new threat from Iraq's most-wanted terrorist, Abu Musab al Zarqawi. A new audiotape attributed to him with a message for President Bush.
And in a rare prime time news conference, the president focuses on rising fuel costs and Social Security. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Social Security problem since 1983. We haven't had an energy strategy in our country for decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Will the president get results? The hard sell continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
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