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American Morning
Attacks on Rise in Iraq; Soccer Shocker; '90-Second Pop'
Aired May 13, 2005 - 07:28 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: Welcome back, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York.
In a moment here, one of the U.S. commanders in Baghdad telling us how the military is now responding to the sudden increase in violence there. It's been tough all week long.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, a very tough couple of weeks there. We're going to get to that in a moment.
But first, though, a look at the headlines with Kelly Wallace, who is in for Carol this morning.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Happy Friday.
HEMMER: To you as well.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. Likewise.
WALLACE: There are lots of smiles here. Good morning again, everyone.
"Now in the News."
Pope John Paul II is officially on his way to becoming a saint. Pope Benedict XVI is putting his predecessor on the fast track, waiving the usual five-year waiting period before that process begins. John Paul will first have to be beatified, then canonized. That process is still likely to take years.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is set to announce recommendations for the closing of some military bases in the United States. The cuts are projected to save the military almost $50 billion over the next two decades. Secretary Rumsfeld says the list will be shorter than previously thought, but still some military communities are on edge this morning awaiting word.
New England has carried out its first execution in almost five decades. Serial killer Michael Ross was put to death by lethal injection in Connecticut earlier this morning. He had been sentenced to death for the killings of four women in the 1980s, but confessed to killing at least four others. Ross had rejected efforts to postpone his execution, saying he wanted to die. And the Michael Jackson trial could hear testimony today from Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos. A judge rejected a request by Geragos' attorney to delay his appearance, threatening him with arrest if he doesn't show.
Meanwhile, another former Jackson attorney has testified that Jackson's aides diverted nearly a million dollars of the pop star's money. The defense is trying to show Jackson was exploited by his associates. So, I'm wondering, do you think we'll be talking about this trial in August, in July?
HEMMER: Maybe not that long, but close.
WALLACE: OK.
O'BRIEN: Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Well, there has been no letup in insurgent attacks today in Iraq. A roadside bomb took out a Humvee in Baghdad this morning. No word, though, on any casualties. There are reports of another American patrol attacked by bombers, a gun battle between insurgents and Iraqi police, a sniper attack on a government official and a car bomb that killed three people; all of this, as U.S. troops continue their major offensive against insurgents in western Iraq.
Colonel Joseph Disalvo commands the 2nd Brigade Combat Team responsible for eastern Baghdad. He joins us this morning.
Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for talking with us. When you look at the numbers, 420 Iraqis killed in the last two weeks alone, on Wednesday 66 people, another 21 people the following day, yesterday, any indication, when you look at these numbers that actually progress is being made?
COL. JOSEPH DISALVO, U.S. ARMY: Well, it's hard to see, I know, from your vantage point. I can tell you from my area of responsibility, there's a lot of progress being made. What we're seeing is the terrorists are in desperation. They're targeting innocent civilians with the suicide-homicide bombers and their cars. The actual number of events has decreased, to tell you the truth over the past month. However, the fewer events are a little bit more lethal, because they're targeting innocent civilians.
What you don't see, though, is the job that the Iraqi security forces are assuming each day. They're assuming more responsibility, and they have also prevented a lot more of these attacks from incurring more damage and more murder. I think what you're seeing is the Iraqi security forces are now stepping up. They're showing their bravery. They're just as vulnerable as the coalition forces, and they are showing extreme courage and also good competency in preventing the attacks.
It's very difficult to prevent a suicide bomber, but the Iraqi security forces are not being intimidated by it. They're doing all they can. And the people also are not being intimidated by this. They are committed to a course of democracy. They're not going to be intimidated by the terrorism. How do I know this? I speak to the people every day, to the senior municipal leaders, government leaders, clerics, the ordinary citizens, and they are dedicated to democracy and are not going to tolerate terrorism or its intimidation.
O'BRIEN: They may be dedicated, but they're also clearly angry after one of the bombings. The crowd essentially attacked a photographer, a very frustrated, I think it's fair to say, almost as if they expected to be better protected by this point. At what point do you think that the local Iraqi security forces will be able to deal with attacks like a car bombing or suicide bombers? Or are you saying that they'll never be able to protect the people from things like that?
DISALVO: Well, I've got to be perfectly honest. You're never going to be able to protect us 100 percent of the time. A suicide bomber in a car is a needle in a haystack. However, I think over the course of this summer you're going to see the Iraqi police, along with the Iraqi army, being very capable of assuming more responsibility in independent operations for the security of their people. And we're seeing this right now, especially with the Iraqi army units.
I've got two brigades in my zone right now that by July will be performing independent operations for security. The people see this, and they're encouraged by what they're seeing.
O'BRIEN: What about the impact, though, of these attacks on the security forces? As you know, many of these attacks have targeted the security forces, people who have lined up even just to interview for jobs. Are you seeing an impact of recruits, meaning that there are a few of them now who don't want to come forward?
DISALVO: Exactly. It's the exact opposite. One, we're very sensitive to the losses that the Iraqi security forces are getting by these suicide attacks. But I'll tell you, the next day after an attack has occurred there are more people in line ready to take the place of their fallen comrades. There is the quota for recruitment right now. There are more volunteers than what can be trained right now.
So, no, we're seeing more and more young Iraqi men step up and want to join the Iraqi security forces and are not being deterred or being scared or being intimidated from joining the forces.
O'BRIEN: I know you're not involved in what's happening in Operation Matador on the western part of the country, but I'm curious to know why Iraqi security forces, we've been told, are not involved in that operation. Why is that?
DISALVO: Well, one, I am not involved in that operation. So, I don't know the particulars. All I can tell you in my zone, the Iraqi security forces have a very prominent role and are executing missions that are making a difference.
O'BRIEN: All right. Colonel Joseph Disalvo joining us this morning. Thanks for your time, colonel. Appreciate it.
DISALVO: OK, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Bill.
HEMMER: Back in this country now, Soledad, we're keeping a close eye on this rough commute now in the Northeast today. Amtrak trains are running slowly after a massive fire overnight on a drawbridge in New Jersey. Amtrak had to cancel some two dozen trains, divert passengers to local service. Things are slowly getting back to normal, we're told. No word yet on what caused that blaze.
And the northbound lanes of a major highway on the city's west side remains closed after a landslide. That slide was set in motion when a 50-foot-high retaining wall collapsed on the road. Believe it or not, no injuries, no reports there, just a few parked cars smothered in dirt and in trees there in Manhattan's way Upper West Side.
A check of the weather today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: We have the Yankees here on this side of the ocean. The world's most famous and apparently most valuable sports franchise, though, is a soccer team from England, Manchester United. This morning, the fans of that team are all upset over the sale of the club to an American.
Richard Quest, our man about London, joins us now.
Your countrymen haven't been this teed off since you guys lost the war. What's up?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I beg your pardon! Your history needs a bit of -- anyway, now, listen, Jack, an old warhorse like you may not think much of soccer, but to the rest of the world it's a religion. And the cathedral of that religion is Manchester United.
This isn't just any old Giants/Mets/Yankees nonsense. Look at the morning papers here. This is the "Sun" newspaper, "Red and Buried," the way they put it, "United Fan's Fury."
And this is the man, Malcolm Glazer, of the Buccaneers, who is now Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is now become an interloper and bought Manchester United.
Well, they're very angry up there, and for good cause, because they see him as somebody who is just coming in to take on debt and get what he can out of Man U.
CAFFERTY: But you know what? He took over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they were doing nothing, and they won the Super Bowl a couple years later. This interloper is a winner. And the way I read it, that club hasn't been doing so much winning lately. QUEST: If you had -- look, imagine if an Aussie or Brit came along and bought the...
CAFFERTY: The question has to do with whether the team is winning or not.
QUEST: The question has to do with how much debt he's going to have to take on to take over Manchester United. Now, look, I don't give a flying one thing or the other necessarily about who owns Manchester United, but...
CAFFERTY: Yes.
QUEST: ... I can tell you, in Manchester, they're red under the collar. And, in fact, somebody suggested that my tie this morning reflected this, because it is red for Manchester United and black for mourning.
CAFFERTY: Oh, now, now. Get over yourselves. The team is likely to do better under Mr. Glazer's tutelage than it's been doing on its own of late. They used to win everything in sight. They're not winning anymore. Why not? I mean, the fans are saying they're going to boycott Mr. Glazer. They even called him a parasite, that, you know, he has no business doing this. And yet, as I point out, the man has a history of winning. And it seems to me that that team maybe could use a little of that.
QUEST: The problem is the fans say he has no love of soccer. They believe that he's coming in. He can't necessarily afford it. He's going to have to borrow large sums of money. You see, we've got some experience of this over here, Jack. Roman Abramovich, a Russian, who came and bought Chelsea. Now, when Mr. Abramovich came and bought Chelsea, he bought a very large suitcase of cash, $150 million worth. Mr. Glazer is arriving with a large IOU.
CAFFERTY: Well, you know what? Here's my prediction. Give Mr. Glazer about three years marketing that team to the rest of the world outside England, and the stock will go up to dizzying heights from where it stands right now. We'll talk about this some more in the future. It's nice to have a chance to visit with you. It's been too long in between our little chats.
QUEST: Indeed. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: All right. Richard Quest in London.
O'BRIEN: You keep talking about winning, and he keeps deflecting to...
CAFFERTY: Yes, but that's true. They used to win all the time, and they're not winning anymore.
O'BRIEN: They've had a lot of problems.
CAFFERTY: And Glazer is a winner.
O'BRIEN: Right, right.
CAFFERTY: I mean, he took those Buccaneers and turned them into a Super Bowl champ just like that.
HEMMER: But Manchester United is like one of the most recognized sports franchises on the planet.
CAFFERTY: But they're not being effectively marketed, especially in the United States. The market potential where soccer is beginning to take off in this country is huge. And that's what he's got his eye on, I thin. I bet you he does just fine.
HEMMER: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: We will see. Jack, thanks.
Well, a major U.S. airline fights to fly another day, holding off a potential strike. Andy is "Minding Your Business" up next.
HEMMER: Also, another American movie classic is being made into a video game. How about this? "Taxi Driver." Is it an honor or a travesty? The poppers weigh in. I wonder what Scorsese has to say about that. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAFFERTY: So, when you get ready to retire, is there going to be any money to live on? Earlier this week, we talked about United Airlines walking away on its pension obligations. A federal court said that's fine, go ahead. We've got questions about Social Security. That supposedly is going broke. Other companies could decide to default on pension obligations. We'll get into all of this on "IN THE MONEY," Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. It's something that matters eventually to all of us, some of us sooner than later. That would be me.
O'BRIEN: You sooner, us a little later.
CAFFERTY: Yes. So, I'm very interested, because I'm coming up on that deal.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
Well, it looks as if two potentially crippling strikes might be headed off. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
What are we talking about?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: We're talking about United Airlines, first of all. This is a continuing story. Of course, they did scrap the pension recently, as Jack mentioned. But they're also looking to cut costs with other unions, existing union contracts today, including the machinists, the mechanics and the flight attendants. And that is a trial that's going on in Chicago. But it looks as if management is making progress with some of the unions, because they're having separate talks. And apparently, according to both sides, there seems to be a bit of progress.
Another strike, and this is pretty interesting stuff here, the factory that makes happy meal toys for McDonald's in Vietnam, workers there are staging a strike. Ten thousand workers went on strike. That also apparently has been resolved. It was a two-day strike there in DaNang. If you remember that city from the Vietnam war, that's where the factory is. Workers are complaining they were working 12- hour days, no water, and that their complaints to management were being blocked. But apparently, that is being resolved.
A quick look at the markets. Yesterday, kind of a bummer for investors. You can see here, the Dow down almost 111 points. You can point some fingers at Wal-Mart. The company announcing earnings were a little disappointing. That stock was down almost a dollar.
This morning, things are looking better. The world's largest computer maker, that would be Dell, announcing some good numbers after the bell yesterday.
O'BRIEN: So a bounce-back. All right, Andy, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to Jack, "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.
Politics made strange bedfellows, but none any stranger than this: Newt Gingrich and Hillary Clinton. They're hanging out. They're spending time together. They announced support for federal improvements in the health care system. Health care is the issue they fought tooth and nail over back when Mr. Clinton became president of the United States. Newt led the charge to impeach President Clinton, Hillary's husband. But now they're hanging out. They're working together on a Pentagon panel to improve the nation's military readiness.
What does it mean? What are Hillary and Newt up to? We're getting some very funny e-mails.
Dee in Connecticut: "It's called face time in the news. It resurrects Gingrich's career, keeps Hillary's face in front of us. Yuck to both of them."
Jeff in Indiana: "Hillary is trying to figure out how to lose the next election to the Democrats. Newt has been living under a rock. It's the same rock Tom DeLay crawled out from under."
Tony in Illinois writes: "I researched this on Google. A Newt is a semi-aquatic salamander, kind of a snake with legs. Hillary climbed the world's highest mountain." That would be Sir Edmund Hillary who climbed Everest back when I was a child. "I think the two that you mentioned are trying to meet somewhere in the middle for a bit of self-promotion."
Gene in New Hampshire writes: "Newt may not be an intern, but payback is hell."
And Jim in North Carolina writes: "Newt is just branching out, Jack. That's all. First, he's reaching out to the Democrats. Next he's going to join a band. How about Newtie and the Blowfish? No? Newt Doggy Dogg? Maybe he'll start a restaurant chain, Hard Newt Cafe."
SERWER: Wow! What is Newt doing these days?
CAFFERTY: Hanging out with Hillary.
SERWER: I mean, he doesn't have a job? Is he a professor?
CAFFERTY: He may run for president.
SERWER: Great.
HEMMER: And she may too.
CAFFERTY: Right. Well, that's what the country needs are those two clowns running for president.
SERWER: That would be fun.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack. More next hour.
"Monster-in-Law" is loaded with star power this weekend. Jennifer Lopez is on it. Jane Fonda. Does that do it for the poppers, though? They'll let us know what you need to see this weekend when we come back on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Yes, we're finally going to get it right, too. Finally on a Friday. "90-Second Pop." Here to play, Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent. What's happening?
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: I'm chilling.
HEMMER: Yes, look at you! Look at you!
Amy Barnett, managing editor for "Teen People."
What's going on, Amy?
AMY BARNETT, MANAGING EDITOR, "TEEN PEOPLE": Nothing, nothing.
HEMMER: You chilling?
BARNETT: I'm chilling as well.
HEMMER: You're chilling? I know B.J. is chilling. B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "Us Weekly."
How are we doing?
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Kicking back here.
HEMMER: OK. I am told it's a big weekend at the box office. Well, I hope, because, I tell you what, it has been nothing but average lately.
TOURE: Yes.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: Two big movies out, "Monster-in-Law" and "Kicking and Screaming." Where do you want to start?
SIGESMUND: Right Let's talk about "Monster-in-Law" first. This is, of course, Jennifer Lopez, she plays a dog walker who meets the perfect guy, a great looking doctor who is very nice to her named Michael Vartan -- sorry -- played by Michael Vartan. Only he comes with him attached with a domineering mother, played by Jane Fonda, who gets all the best lines, all the best scenes. She tries as best as she can to break off their engagement. She even gives the J.Lo character nuts to which she's allergic the night before her wedding. The problem is, it's kind of a mediocre movie.
HEMMER: Really?
SIGESMUND: It should have been a lot funnier.
HEMMER: Just average?
SIGESMUND: It should have been a lot funnier.
TOURE: I mean, it was totally dreadful. I mean, you can have fun watching, like, Jane and J. Lo together and how Jane is out-acting J.Lo by a mile. But, I mean, for the most part, it's like oh, god. Oh! It's just a mess.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
BARNETT: And also, Jane Fonda does not have all of the best lines. Wanda Sykes has all of the best lines.
HEMMER: So I hear.
BARNETT: Thank god for Wanda Sykes in this movie. She saves it.
HEMMER: What about Will Ferrell? Have you seen it, "Kicking and Screaming?"
SIGESMUND: Yes, "Kicking and Screaming"...
HEMMER: He's like a soccer mom, isn't he?
SIGESMUND: Yes. You know, this is probably going to be the number one movie of the weekend. Will Ferrell plays kind of a weak guy who is always under the thumb of his domineering father, played by Robert Duvall. And he channels all of his frustrations into coaching his son's pathetic soccer team. So it's more like the "Bad News Bears," though, than old school.
HEMMER: Are you recommending this movie?
SIGESMUND: We gave it two-and-a-half stars in "Us Weekly." It's sort of a loose recommendation.
HEMMER: It's 0 for 2.
SIGESMUND: It's a family movie.
TOURE: Oh, Hollywood is 0 for 2.
BARNETT: Will Ferrell is so funny, though. Will Ferrell is so funny. I would show up to watch him reading a phone book. I think he's hysterical.
HEMMER: Next topic, Dave Chappelle, you guy, apparently he's having a tough time. Whatever the truth is, we do not know. He's in a mental health clinic in South Africa?
TOURE: Yes, yes.
HEMMER: What's true?
TOURE: Well, I mean, we know that's been confirmed. We know that. I mean, he feels like he seems to have gone as far away from America as possible. And I think what's happened is like we did this. It's our fault. We put this gigantic crown on his head which said the number one comic in America. But even like...
HEMMER: What do you mean we? You got a mouse in your pocket?
TOURE: No. But, I mean, like, all of us who just fell so in love with him those first two seasons. He rocketed to this elite level.
HEMMER: He can't handle the pressure?
TOURE: He couldn't. I mean, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock did not go through this same super rapid ascent.
SIGESMUND: Right, right.
TOURE: And he couldn't handle it. It was too much for him. So, all of us who said, Chappelle, Chappelle, Chappelle, it's our fault.
BARNETT: But there's a certain darkness to comedians, I think. And maybe he's just fallen prey to that. I mean, it really is -- you know, it's a sad story, because I just think he's brilliant. He's a brilliant man, obviously. Clearly, the pressures have gotten to him.
TOURE: Yes.
BARNETT: But I think he's fighting his own demons.
SIGESMUND: I agree with Toure. I think it's a case probably of too much too soon. This guy went from having a good time, making a show he really loved to all of a sudden having this $50 million deal with Comedy Central and all of these huge expectations on his shoulders. It looks like he may have crashed.
HEMMER: Whatever the case, we wish him the best.
TOURE: The show is written by two people...
HEMMER: That he gets better.
TOURE: ... him and his partner, Neal. It's an extraordinary amount of money.
HEMMER: Quickly next topic here, "Taxi Driver." You talking to me? There's no one else here. It's a computer game.
BARNETT: But that's great, though. I understand that this is blasphemous to certain sort of, you know, classic movie fans. But honestly, I just think it speaks to the growing legitimacy and credibility of the video game industry. Gaming is one of the biggest pastimes in America right now. And honestly, it's not like we're making, you know, "Terms of Endearment" into a video game. I mean, it's perfect.
TOURE: Hey, that's a good idea.
SIGESMUND: Yes, I don't...
TOURE: I would play that. That's cool.
BARNETT: "Taxi Driver" is perfect for a video game. It's got cars, guns...
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: No, it's not. I have to disagree. It is OK to make a video game out of "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars." And, of course, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, "Lord of the Rings," they've all -- you know, they've all gone to the video game business as an extension of their movies. But to start turning "The Godfather" and "Taxi Driver" into video games.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: They have violence, but the violence is incidental to the story. It's like making a video game out of "The Sopranos."
HEMMER: Here it is. Check it out. Check it out. I think he's coming out of Belmont Cafe right here.
TOURE: It doesn't change the movie that it becomes a video game. You can still watch "The Godfather" or "Scarface" or "Taxi Driver" and enjoy it as an amazing piece of art...
SIGESMUND: Yes, but it kind of...
TOURE: ... while your cousin and plays the video game.
SIGESMUND: I would say that it degrades the movie.
BARNETT: You work for "Us Weekly." What are you talking about, it degrades the movie? Video gaming is one of the most...
SIGESMUND: Oh, excuse me.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Talk to the hand.
HEMMER: Hey, guys.
TOURE: It's getting nasty over here.
HEMMER: Take it outside! Have a good Friday. We'll see you later. Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: I think they're going to hit each other.
HEMMER: Maybe.
O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness. Thanks, guys.
Well, the prom is a night, of course, that many high school seniors dream about but many parents worry about. Ahead, our special series on the serious pressures of prom night. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired May 13, 2005 - 07:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. It's 7:30 here in New York.
In a moment here, one of the U.S. commanders in Baghdad telling us how the military is now responding to the sudden increase in violence there. It's been tough all week long.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, a very tough couple of weeks there. We're going to get to that in a moment.
But first, though, a look at the headlines with Kelly Wallace, who is in for Carol this morning.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Happy Friday.
HEMMER: To you as well.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. Likewise.
WALLACE: There are lots of smiles here. Good morning again, everyone.
"Now in the News."
Pope John Paul II is officially on his way to becoming a saint. Pope Benedict XVI is putting his predecessor on the fast track, waiving the usual five-year waiting period before that process begins. John Paul will first have to be beatified, then canonized. That process is still likely to take years.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is set to announce recommendations for the closing of some military bases in the United States. The cuts are projected to save the military almost $50 billion over the next two decades. Secretary Rumsfeld says the list will be shorter than previously thought, but still some military communities are on edge this morning awaiting word.
New England has carried out its first execution in almost five decades. Serial killer Michael Ross was put to death by lethal injection in Connecticut earlier this morning. He had been sentenced to death for the killings of four women in the 1980s, but confessed to killing at least four others. Ross had rejected efforts to postpone his execution, saying he wanted to die. And the Michael Jackson trial could hear testimony today from Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos. A judge rejected a request by Geragos' attorney to delay his appearance, threatening him with arrest if he doesn't show.
Meanwhile, another former Jackson attorney has testified that Jackson's aides diverted nearly a million dollars of the pop star's money. The defense is trying to show Jackson was exploited by his associates. So, I'm wondering, do you think we'll be talking about this trial in August, in July?
HEMMER: Maybe not that long, but close.
WALLACE: OK.
O'BRIEN: Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Well, there has been no letup in insurgent attacks today in Iraq. A roadside bomb took out a Humvee in Baghdad this morning. No word, though, on any casualties. There are reports of another American patrol attacked by bombers, a gun battle between insurgents and Iraqi police, a sniper attack on a government official and a car bomb that killed three people; all of this, as U.S. troops continue their major offensive against insurgents in western Iraq.
Colonel Joseph Disalvo commands the 2nd Brigade Combat Team responsible for eastern Baghdad. He joins us this morning.
Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for talking with us. When you look at the numbers, 420 Iraqis killed in the last two weeks alone, on Wednesday 66 people, another 21 people the following day, yesterday, any indication, when you look at these numbers that actually progress is being made?
COL. JOSEPH DISALVO, U.S. ARMY: Well, it's hard to see, I know, from your vantage point. I can tell you from my area of responsibility, there's a lot of progress being made. What we're seeing is the terrorists are in desperation. They're targeting innocent civilians with the suicide-homicide bombers and their cars. The actual number of events has decreased, to tell you the truth over the past month. However, the fewer events are a little bit more lethal, because they're targeting innocent civilians.
What you don't see, though, is the job that the Iraqi security forces are assuming each day. They're assuming more responsibility, and they have also prevented a lot more of these attacks from incurring more damage and more murder. I think what you're seeing is the Iraqi security forces are now stepping up. They're showing their bravery. They're just as vulnerable as the coalition forces, and they are showing extreme courage and also good competency in preventing the attacks.
It's very difficult to prevent a suicide bomber, but the Iraqi security forces are not being intimidated by it. They're doing all they can. And the people also are not being intimidated by this. They are committed to a course of democracy. They're not going to be intimidated by the terrorism. How do I know this? I speak to the people every day, to the senior municipal leaders, government leaders, clerics, the ordinary citizens, and they are dedicated to democracy and are not going to tolerate terrorism or its intimidation.
O'BRIEN: They may be dedicated, but they're also clearly angry after one of the bombings. The crowd essentially attacked a photographer, a very frustrated, I think it's fair to say, almost as if they expected to be better protected by this point. At what point do you think that the local Iraqi security forces will be able to deal with attacks like a car bombing or suicide bombers? Or are you saying that they'll never be able to protect the people from things like that?
DISALVO: Well, I've got to be perfectly honest. You're never going to be able to protect us 100 percent of the time. A suicide bomber in a car is a needle in a haystack. However, I think over the course of this summer you're going to see the Iraqi police, along with the Iraqi army, being very capable of assuming more responsibility in independent operations for the security of their people. And we're seeing this right now, especially with the Iraqi army units.
I've got two brigades in my zone right now that by July will be performing independent operations for security. The people see this, and they're encouraged by what they're seeing.
O'BRIEN: What about the impact, though, of these attacks on the security forces? As you know, many of these attacks have targeted the security forces, people who have lined up even just to interview for jobs. Are you seeing an impact of recruits, meaning that there are a few of them now who don't want to come forward?
DISALVO: Exactly. It's the exact opposite. One, we're very sensitive to the losses that the Iraqi security forces are getting by these suicide attacks. But I'll tell you, the next day after an attack has occurred there are more people in line ready to take the place of their fallen comrades. There is the quota for recruitment right now. There are more volunteers than what can be trained right now.
So, no, we're seeing more and more young Iraqi men step up and want to join the Iraqi security forces and are not being deterred or being scared or being intimidated from joining the forces.
O'BRIEN: I know you're not involved in what's happening in Operation Matador on the western part of the country, but I'm curious to know why Iraqi security forces, we've been told, are not involved in that operation. Why is that?
DISALVO: Well, one, I am not involved in that operation. So, I don't know the particulars. All I can tell you in my zone, the Iraqi security forces have a very prominent role and are executing missions that are making a difference.
O'BRIEN: All right. Colonel Joseph Disalvo joining us this morning. Thanks for your time, colonel. Appreciate it.
DISALVO: OK, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Bill.
HEMMER: Back in this country now, Soledad, we're keeping a close eye on this rough commute now in the Northeast today. Amtrak trains are running slowly after a massive fire overnight on a drawbridge in New Jersey. Amtrak had to cancel some two dozen trains, divert passengers to local service. Things are slowly getting back to normal, we're told. No word yet on what caused that blaze.
And the northbound lanes of a major highway on the city's west side remains closed after a landslide. That slide was set in motion when a 50-foot-high retaining wall collapsed on the road. Believe it or not, no injuries, no reports there, just a few parked cars smothered in dirt and in trees there in Manhattan's way Upper West Side.
A check of the weather today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: We have the Yankees here on this side of the ocean. The world's most famous and apparently most valuable sports franchise, though, is a soccer team from England, Manchester United. This morning, the fans of that team are all upset over the sale of the club to an American.
Richard Quest, our man about London, joins us now.
Your countrymen haven't been this teed off since you guys lost the war. What's up?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I beg your pardon! Your history needs a bit of -- anyway, now, listen, Jack, an old warhorse like you may not think much of soccer, but to the rest of the world it's a religion. And the cathedral of that religion is Manchester United.
This isn't just any old Giants/Mets/Yankees nonsense. Look at the morning papers here. This is the "Sun" newspaper, "Red and Buried," the way they put it, "United Fan's Fury."
And this is the man, Malcolm Glazer, of the Buccaneers, who is now Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is now become an interloper and bought Manchester United.
Well, they're very angry up there, and for good cause, because they see him as somebody who is just coming in to take on debt and get what he can out of Man U.
CAFFERTY: But you know what? He took over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they were doing nothing, and they won the Super Bowl a couple years later. This interloper is a winner. And the way I read it, that club hasn't been doing so much winning lately. QUEST: If you had -- look, imagine if an Aussie or Brit came along and bought the...
CAFFERTY: The question has to do with whether the team is winning or not.
QUEST: The question has to do with how much debt he's going to have to take on to take over Manchester United. Now, look, I don't give a flying one thing or the other necessarily about who owns Manchester United, but...
CAFFERTY: Yes.
QUEST: ... I can tell you, in Manchester, they're red under the collar. And, in fact, somebody suggested that my tie this morning reflected this, because it is red for Manchester United and black for mourning.
CAFFERTY: Oh, now, now. Get over yourselves. The team is likely to do better under Mr. Glazer's tutelage than it's been doing on its own of late. They used to win everything in sight. They're not winning anymore. Why not? I mean, the fans are saying they're going to boycott Mr. Glazer. They even called him a parasite, that, you know, he has no business doing this. And yet, as I point out, the man has a history of winning. And it seems to me that that team maybe could use a little of that.
QUEST: The problem is the fans say he has no love of soccer. They believe that he's coming in. He can't necessarily afford it. He's going to have to borrow large sums of money. You see, we've got some experience of this over here, Jack. Roman Abramovich, a Russian, who came and bought Chelsea. Now, when Mr. Abramovich came and bought Chelsea, he bought a very large suitcase of cash, $150 million worth. Mr. Glazer is arriving with a large IOU.
CAFFERTY: Well, you know what? Here's my prediction. Give Mr. Glazer about three years marketing that team to the rest of the world outside England, and the stock will go up to dizzying heights from where it stands right now. We'll talk about this some more in the future. It's nice to have a chance to visit with you. It's been too long in between our little chats.
QUEST: Indeed. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: All right. Richard Quest in London.
O'BRIEN: You keep talking about winning, and he keeps deflecting to...
CAFFERTY: Yes, but that's true. They used to win all the time, and they're not winning anymore.
O'BRIEN: They've had a lot of problems.
CAFFERTY: And Glazer is a winner.
O'BRIEN: Right, right.
CAFFERTY: I mean, he took those Buccaneers and turned them into a Super Bowl champ just like that.
HEMMER: But Manchester United is like one of the most recognized sports franchises on the planet.
CAFFERTY: But they're not being effectively marketed, especially in the United States. The market potential where soccer is beginning to take off in this country is huge. And that's what he's got his eye on, I thin. I bet you he does just fine.
HEMMER: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: We will see. Jack, thanks.
Well, a major U.S. airline fights to fly another day, holding off a potential strike. Andy is "Minding Your Business" up next.
HEMMER: Also, another American movie classic is being made into a video game. How about this? "Taxi Driver." Is it an honor or a travesty? The poppers weigh in. I wonder what Scorsese has to say about that. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAFFERTY: So, when you get ready to retire, is there going to be any money to live on? Earlier this week, we talked about United Airlines walking away on its pension obligations. A federal court said that's fine, go ahead. We've got questions about Social Security. That supposedly is going broke. Other companies could decide to default on pension obligations. We'll get into all of this on "IN THE MONEY," Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. It's something that matters eventually to all of us, some of us sooner than later. That would be me.
O'BRIEN: You sooner, us a little later.
CAFFERTY: Yes. So, I'm very interested, because I'm coming up on that deal.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
Well, it looks as if two potentially crippling strikes might be headed off. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
What are we talking about?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: We're talking about United Airlines, first of all. This is a continuing story. Of course, they did scrap the pension recently, as Jack mentioned. But they're also looking to cut costs with other unions, existing union contracts today, including the machinists, the mechanics and the flight attendants. And that is a trial that's going on in Chicago. But it looks as if management is making progress with some of the unions, because they're having separate talks. And apparently, according to both sides, there seems to be a bit of progress.
Another strike, and this is pretty interesting stuff here, the factory that makes happy meal toys for McDonald's in Vietnam, workers there are staging a strike. Ten thousand workers went on strike. That also apparently has been resolved. It was a two-day strike there in DaNang. If you remember that city from the Vietnam war, that's where the factory is. Workers are complaining they were working 12- hour days, no water, and that their complaints to management were being blocked. But apparently, that is being resolved.
A quick look at the markets. Yesterday, kind of a bummer for investors. You can see here, the Dow down almost 111 points. You can point some fingers at Wal-Mart. The company announcing earnings were a little disappointing. That stock was down almost a dollar.
This morning, things are looking better. The world's largest computer maker, that would be Dell, announcing some good numbers after the bell yesterday.
O'BRIEN: So a bounce-back. All right, Andy, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to Jack, "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.
Politics made strange bedfellows, but none any stranger than this: Newt Gingrich and Hillary Clinton. They're hanging out. They're spending time together. They announced support for federal improvements in the health care system. Health care is the issue they fought tooth and nail over back when Mr. Clinton became president of the United States. Newt led the charge to impeach President Clinton, Hillary's husband. But now they're hanging out. They're working together on a Pentagon panel to improve the nation's military readiness.
What does it mean? What are Hillary and Newt up to? We're getting some very funny e-mails.
Dee in Connecticut: "It's called face time in the news. It resurrects Gingrich's career, keeps Hillary's face in front of us. Yuck to both of them."
Jeff in Indiana: "Hillary is trying to figure out how to lose the next election to the Democrats. Newt has been living under a rock. It's the same rock Tom DeLay crawled out from under."
Tony in Illinois writes: "I researched this on Google. A Newt is a semi-aquatic salamander, kind of a snake with legs. Hillary climbed the world's highest mountain." That would be Sir Edmund Hillary who climbed Everest back when I was a child. "I think the two that you mentioned are trying to meet somewhere in the middle for a bit of self-promotion."
Gene in New Hampshire writes: "Newt may not be an intern, but payback is hell."
And Jim in North Carolina writes: "Newt is just branching out, Jack. That's all. First, he's reaching out to the Democrats. Next he's going to join a band. How about Newtie and the Blowfish? No? Newt Doggy Dogg? Maybe he'll start a restaurant chain, Hard Newt Cafe."
SERWER: Wow! What is Newt doing these days?
CAFFERTY: Hanging out with Hillary.
SERWER: I mean, he doesn't have a job? Is he a professor?
CAFFERTY: He may run for president.
SERWER: Great.
HEMMER: And she may too.
CAFFERTY: Right. Well, that's what the country needs are those two clowns running for president.
SERWER: That would be fun.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack. More next hour.
"Monster-in-Law" is loaded with star power this weekend. Jennifer Lopez is on it. Jane Fonda. Does that do it for the poppers, though? They'll let us know what you need to see this weekend when we come back on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Yes, we're finally going to get it right, too. Finally on a Friday. "90-Second Pop." Here to play, Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent. What's happening?
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: I'm chilling.
HEMMER: Yes, look at you! Look at you!
Amy Barnett, managing editor for "Teen People."
What's going on, Amy?
AMY BARNETT, MANAGING EDITOR, "TEEN PEOPLE": Nothing, nothing.
HEMMER: You chilling?
BARNETT: I'm chilling as well.
HEMMER: You're chilling? I know B.J. is chilling. B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "Us Weekly."
How are we doing?
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Kicking back here.
HEMMER: OK. I am told it's a big weekend at the box office. Well, I hope, because, I tell you what, it has been nothing but average lately.
TOURE: Yes.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: Two big movies out, "Monster-in-Law" and "Kicking and Screaming." Where do you want to start?
SIGESMUND: Right Let's talk about "Monster-in-Law" first. This is, of course, Jennifer Lopez, she plays a dog walker who meets the perfect guy, a great looking doctor who is very nice to her named Michael Vartan -- sorry -- played by Michael Vartan. Only he comes with him attached with a domineering mother, played by Jane Fonda, who gets all the best lines, all the best scenes. She tries as best as she can to break off their engagement. She even gives the J.Lo character nuts to which she's allergic the night before her wedding. The problem is, it's kind of a mediocre movie.
HEMMER: Really?
SIGESMUND: It should have been a lot funnier.
HEMMER: Just average?
SIGESMUND: It should have been a lot funnier.
TOURE: I mean, it was totally dreadful. I mean, you can have fun watching, like, Jane and J. Lo together and how Jane is out-acting J.Lo by a mile. But, I mean, for the most part, it's like oh, god. Oh! It's just a mess.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
BARNETT: And also, Jane Fonda does not have all of the best lines. Wanda Sykes has all of the best lines.
HEMMER: So I hear.
BARNETT: Thank god for Wanda Sykes in this movie. She saves it.
HEMMER: What about Will Ferrell? Have you seen it, "Kicking and Screaming?"
SIGESMUND: Yes, "Kicking and Screaming"...
HEMMER: He's like a soccer mom, isn't he?
SIGESMUND: Yes. You know, this is probably going to be the number one movie of the weekend. Will Ferrell plays kind of a weak guy who is always under the thumb of his domineering father, played by Robert Duvall. And he channels all of his frustrations into coaching his son's pathetic soccer team. So it's more like the "Bad News Bears," though, than old school.
HEMMER: Are you recommending this movie?
SIGESMUND: We gave it two-and-a-half stars in "Us Weekly." It's sort of a loose recommendation.
HEMMER: It's 0 for 2.
SIGESMUND: It's a family movie.
TOURE: Oh, Hollywood is 0 for 2.
BARNETT: Will Ferrell is so funny, though. Will Ferrell is so funny. I would show up to watch him reading a phone book. I think he's hysterical.
HEMMER: Next topic, Dave Chappelle, you guy, apparently he's having a tough time. Whatever the truth is, we do not know. He's in a mental health clinic in South Africa?
TOURE: Yes, yes.
HEMMER: What's true?
TOURE: Well, I mean, we know that's been confirmed. We know that. I mean, he feels like he seems to have gone as far away from America as possible. And I think what's happened is like we did this. It's our fault. We put this gigantic crown on his head which said the number one comic in America. But even like...
HEMMER: What do you mean we? You got a mouse in your pocket?
TOURE: No. But, I mean, like, all of us who just fell so in love with him those first two seasons. He rocketed to this elite level.
HEMMER: He can't handle the pressure?
TOURE: He couldn't. I mean, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock did not go through this same super rapid ascent.
SIGESMUND: Right, right.
TOURE: And he couldn't handle it. It was too much for him. So, all of us who said, Chappelle, Chappelle, Chappelle, it's our fault.
BARNETT: But there's a certain darkness to comedians, I think. And maybe he's just fallen prey to that. I mean, it really is -- you know, it's a sad story, because I just think he's brilliant. He's a brilliant man, obviously. Clearly, the pressures have gotten to him.
TOURE: Yes.
BARNETT: But I think he's fighting his own demons.
SIGESMUND: I agree with Toure. I think it's a case probably of too much too soon. This guy went from having a good time, making a show he really loved to all of a sudden having this $50 million deal with Comedy Central and all of these huge expectations on his shoulders. It looks like he may have crashed.
HEMMER: Whatever the case, we wish him the best.
TOURE: The show is written by two people...
HEMMER: That he gets better.
TOURE: ... him and his partner, Neal. It's an extraordinary amount of money.
HEMMER: Quickly next topic here, "Taxi Driver." You talking to me? There's no one else here. It's a computer game.
BARNETT: But that's great, though. I understand that this is blasphemous to certain sort of, you know, classic movie fans. But honestly, I just think it speaks to the growing legitimacy and credibility of the video game industry. Gaming is one of the biggest pastimes in America right now. And honestly, it's not like we're making, you know, "Terms of Endearment" into a video game. I mean, it's perfect.
TOURE: Hey, that's a good idea.
SIGESMUND: Yes, I don't...
TOURE: I would play that. That's cool.
BARNETT: "Taxi Driver" is perfect for a video game. It's got cars, guns...
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: No, it's not. I have to disagree. It is OK to make a video game out of "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars." And, of course, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, "Lord of the Rings," they've all -- you know, they've all gone to the video game business as an extension of their movies. But to start turning "The Godfather" and "Taxi Driver" into video games.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: They have violence, but the violence is incidental to the story. It's like making a video game out of "The Sopranos."
HEMMER: Here it is. Check it out. Check it out. I think he's coming out of Belmont Cafe right here.
TOURE: It doesn't change the movie that it becomes a video game. You can still watch "The Godfather" or "Scarface" or "Taxi Driver" and enjoy it as an amazing piece of art...
SIGESMUND: Yes, but it kind of...
TOURE: ... while your cousin and plays the video game.
SIGESMUND: I would say that it degrades the movie.
BARNETT: You work for "Us Weekly." What are you talking about, it degrades the movie? Video gaming is one of the most...
SIGESMUND: Oh, excuse me.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: Talk to the hand.
HEMMER: Hey, guys.
TOURE: It's getting nasty over here.
HEMMER: Take it outside! Have a good Friday. We'll see you later. Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: I think they're going to hit each other.
HEMMER: Maybe.
O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness. Thanks, guys.
Well, the prom is a night, of course, that many high school seniors dream about but many parents worry about. Ahead, our special series on the serious pressures of prom night. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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