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American Morning
Iraqi Government Says Zarqawi Wounded; Defense Rests in Jackson Case
Aired May 26, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. It's 9:30 here in New York.
Coming up in just a moment, back to this developing story out of Iraq. The government there saying that it has information that Abu Musab Al Zarqawi is, in fact, wounded.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Our senior editor of Arab affairs watching reaction throughout the Arab world. We're going to talk with Octavia Nasr here in a few moments.
First, back to the top stories, and Carol Costello has those, out of Atlanta, too. Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, developing story out of Atlanta. This man who climbed up an 18-story-high crane. Let's go to the pictures right now. This man is wanted for murder in Florida. He climbed up this crane at 5:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon and he's been up there ever since.
I was looking through the wires and I found this from WSB. Apparently a tourist was sitting at a restaurant nearby -- because this is on very busy Peachtree Road in Buckhead (ph), and he saw his man on the crane toss his wallet down. It landed on Peachtree Street. His I.D. fell out, his library card fell out.
Sara Dorsey is live on the scene now. She has more for us. Tell us what's happening now, Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the man is still on top of the crane, Carol. As you said, this started at about 5:00 yesterday. And to go back to that wallet, a highly-placed Atlanta police source tells us that the information contained in that wallet matches that of Edward Roland. The 41-year-old man is actually wanted out of Pinellas Park, Florida, for the murder of his former girlfriend. Her badly beaten body was found in a retention pond there on Tuesday.
Now we've been watching and every once in a while, you'll see the man move up there. Police sources tell us they believe he's actually standing up because his legs are tired. He's been sitting there with his legs dangling since 5:00 yesterday. They're also telling they do not believe he has a gun, but possibly has some sort of sharp instrument. They aren't elaborating exactly, but they do have police officials up there in a basket and also another man on top of the crane itself. They are trying to negotiate with this gentleman, trying get him down, talk him down. They're telling us that he's not necessarily threatening to jump. They won't go that far, but they are just still talking to him, trying to just get him off of this crane so things don't get serious -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sara Dorsey, live in Atlanta, Georgia, this morning.
Turning our attention to Iraq now, major plans in the works to beef up security in Baghdad. It's being called Operation Thunder. Iraqi officials say more than 40,000 security forces will start patrolling Baghdad beginning next week.
In the meantime, at least eight people have been killed, a dozen others wounded, in a new wave of violence in the Iraqi capital today. No reports of any U.S. casualties.
This also just into CNN: all charges have been dismissed against Lieutenant Ilario Pantano. He was accused of murdering two suspected insurgents in Iraq in 2004. A U.S. Marine Corps general has now dismissed all charges.
An historic meeting between President Bush and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The two are set to hold talks in the next hour, and then they'll hold a joint news conference. It will be the first meeting for U.S. and Palestinian leaders since the Mideast peace talks broke down in 2000. CNN will have live coverage beginning at 11:25 a.m. Eastern. Should be quite interesting.
Back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Carol, thanks. Well, the Iraqi government says it has information backing up reports on Islamic Web sites that terrorist leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi has been wounded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAQER SULAGH, IRAQI MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR (through translator): Regarding Zarqawi, yes, we do have information, but they are not certified yet. We have had them since five days. They indicate that Zarqawi was wounded. We are not familiar with how bad this wound is and we are not quite sure if he is still alive or dead, but yes, we have had such information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: CNN's senior editor of Arab affairs is Octavia Nasr. She joins us from Atlanta. Octavia, good morning.
So confirmation now. What are you hearing in the Arab world about Zarqawi's condition?
OCTAVIA NASR, SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Basically, the rumor is still out that he is wounded, possibly seriously wounded, or even dead. The rumor mill is abuzz in the Arab world. Islamist Web sites -- if you say confusion, that's an understatement. They're so confused. It's a bit chaotic on Islamic Web sites. People posting messages saying that he's dead, others denying that he's dead, then others saying that he was moved out of Iraq already, and he's safe and sound. Then other reports saying that he was replaced already.
And then the latest is something that was posted a few minutes ago, as a matter of fact, denying all this, and saying that basically, he is all right, he is wounded and he's recovering nicely, and basically denying any news of replacement or even talk about replacement. This one, Soledad, is coming from the same person who is known to us as the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq, the Zarqawi group.
O'BRIEN: So knowing that, Octavia, those reports of Al Zarqawi being replaced, how credible do they seem to you?
NASR: They're not credible at all, as a matter of fact. See, you have to be very careful. These Web sites, they're just like any other chatting Web site. Anyone can go in, basically, and post a message. So we usually look for the language, we look for the source of the information. There are so many Islamist Web sites out there, with the same information. They all copy and paste the same information over and over. So we go for the source, the Web site source. In this case, it wasn't credible. And also, the person source. In this case, again, it wasn't credible.
The information I just gave you is coming from a man known as Abu Masayara Al Iraqi. He has been, for the past few months, the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. He has posted claims of responsibility for them, he has posted messages, statements and so forth. He's the one who's saying that -- they did announce that he's injured because they wanted -- he says they wanted to be transparent in their information. But he says that there will be good news soon.
O'BRIEN: Octavia Nasr, I guess we'll wait and see. Thanks for that update -- Bill.
HEMMER: Michael Jackson's case could be in the hands of the jury by next week. The defense rested Wednesday. Prosecutors now beginning their rebuttal, as of yesterday.
Attorney Anne Bremner's been in the courtroom throughout the trial. Back with us with Seattle today. You're chalking up some miles, Anne. Back and forth on the West Coast.
Listen, so the prosecution starts the rebuttal. What is their strategy they want to convey to the jurors?
ANNE BREMNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: What they want to convey -- they want to basically end, Bill, where they started, and that is with the core of their case, the accuser. They want to bring in a videotape of his interview with the police that the jury hasn't seen yet. Because their whole case really comes down to his credibility.
And in this videotape, apparently he is so reluctant to accuse Jackson, he says nothing happened, and he has a very long pause before he finally says, OK, and then he starts saying the things that happened. That will really bolster his credibility, at the end of the day, in this case. So they're basically going to end where they started, with the accuser.
HEMMER: So what I understand, if they play that videotape, the defense wants to bring the accuser back, put him on the stand. Is that right?
BREMNER: Exactly. What they said was -- they said, well, if the prosecutor can do that, then we're going to go ahead and bring him back to testify. Now does that really mean they're going to do it? I don't think that that would be a smart move. Do they want the last voice ringing in the ears of this jury to be that of the accuser? I don't think so.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff.
BREMNER: And do they want to...
HEMMER: Go ahead.
BREMNER: Yes, and they don't want to look like they're beating up on him, either. So I think it would be a mistake. That's what they say they want to do.
HEMMER: Let's move to closing arguments now. The prosecution lines its case up how to make it most effective in the end?
BREMNER: They need to hit a home run in their closing argument. They need basically for the jury to see and feel this case. What they need to start with is 46-year-old men don't have sleep-overs. One child alone, 365 nights. This jury can't buy the concept that sleeping with children is OK.. I mean, that's what we call out there kind of drinking the Kool-Aid.
They're going to -- they need to say this is not normal, and then go from there, the pattern evidence, this accuser, the pornography, fingerprints on pornography. Lay it out fort jury that they have a very strong case and make this jury think, you know, if we don't stop Michael Jackson, who will?
HEMMER: And what are you going to hear from Tom Mesereau, then? Defense closing arguments, their strongest point would be what?
BREMNER: Well a lot of -- it will be a lot of sound and fury. And what he has to say that is that Tom Sneddon is like Javert in "Les Miserables," he's been chasing Michael Jackson for years. 100 search warrants, you know, overzealous prosecution. And that Michael Jackson is not a child molester, he's just a child. He's misunderstood, he's a genius and he's somebody that's so sympathetic, somebody that people have complicated feelings for. Michael Jackson's become like family with this jury and you don't convict your own family.
That video was strong for the prosecution. Guess what? Better for the defense with Michael Jackson. The pattern evidence was in favor of the defense. Three of the five victims testified for the defense. There's reasonable doubt all over this case and it would be a tragedy to convict Michael Jackson.
HEMMER: It is Thursday. What day do you think the jury gets this case, based on the current schedule?
BREMNER: Thursday. I think closings Tuesday and Wednesday, one day each. Unless there's -- unless the defense calls the accuser, we could be bumped by a day or two. But we're finally near the end, Bill.
HEMMER: Maybe a week away. Anne Bremner, thanks, in Seattle this morning.
BREMNER: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thousands of U.S. military personnel and their families are in New York this morning for Fleet Week. The 18th annual celebration kicked off Wednesday with a parade of ships on the Hudson River. More events are planned over the next few days.
Alina Cho live for us in front of the aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, which is down on pier 88 in New York City.
Hey, Alina. Good morning.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Quite windy up here on the flight deck, by the way, and security, we should mention, is tight, as always, for this 18th annual Fleet Week. The Coast Guard is taking some special measures, including making the waters around where the ships are docked here frozen in a sense.
Now onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, where we are right now, they are also taking some special measures, armed personnel, bomb-sniffing and dog-sniffing dogs -- or drug-sniffing dogs rather, and escorts for anyone who is not part of the ship's company. Now there is also a buddy system here. Now that means that anyone who wants to leave the ship has to take a buddy or a friend, and that is to ensure that everyone comes back.
Nearly 6,000 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, half of them here on the JFK, along with sailors from Canada, France Pakistan and the U.K. are here for this year's Fleet Week. It is a Memorial Day weekend tradition. Every sailor, we should mention, dreams of coming to New York for Fleet Week, and we talked to a few of the lucky ones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLEEN THEODORE, U.S. NAVY: Right now it's really great, because this is, like, the first time for me, so I'm just kind of like trying to get the feel for everything and try to find my way around, so this is the first time out here. It was like, oh, man, I want to really go around and get the feel for the whole New York right now.
CHRIS ODOM, U.S. NAVY: Since I've been in the Navy, I've always wanted to do Fleet Week, so I finally got my chance.
CHO (on camera): How long have you been waiting?
ODOM: Eight years.
CHO: You're been waiting a long time.
ODOM: Yes, ma'am.
MICHAEL MITCHELL, U.S. NAVY: It's crazy, because everything's new, different. I get to see all of the landmarks I've all read in history books and all that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: The JFK, or "Big John," as it's called around here, was most recently staged in the Persian Gulf and provided air support in the war in Iraq, especially for the Falluja operation.
We should mention, Soledad, something interesting for you. In order to get up to the flight deck, we had to climb up four flights of stairs, which are really more like ladders. There's a saying around here, keep your head on a swivel. That means watch where you're going. One sailor told me there are great medical facilities onboard, but he doesn't want anyone to have to use them -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Excellent advice, and duly noted. Alina Cho for us. Thanks, Alina. Appreciate it.
And in fact, tomorrow morning, I'll be live onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, and that's morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Looking forward to that. It'll be good fun.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the FBI investigating another huge case of I.D. theft, this time at a major university. Andy has that, "Minding Your Business" in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And coming up next, Christopher Reeve's widow, Dana, joins us live in the studio. She's got a new project, inspired by the life of her late husband. We'll tell you about it in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: It's been seven months since Christopher Reeve passed away. And his widow, Dana, is now fighting for stem cell research as a potential cure for paralysis. Her new project, though, was inspired by her husband's life, and it's a book called "Dewey Do-It Helps Owlie Fly Again."
Dana Reeve joins us this morning. Nice to see you. It's a book for children really.
DANA REEVE, CHRISTOPHER REEVE'S WIDOW: It is a children's book.
O'BRIEN: And it's a story of an injured little owl who gets a little help from his friends.
REEVE: Yes, gets help from his friends, and he's able to fly again. It's not the same as before, but he's able to fly again, and I really think that's really a symbol of what Chris stood for as well.
O'BRIEN: Truly a metaphor. He was involved with the project, because of course it takes a long time.
REEVE: Yes, he was. He was. The writers came to him first, and said we have this thing, and we want to raise money for your foundation, and he said, let's go. And then when we started looking at the book more closely, I worked with the writers after Chris died, to change the ending a little bit. So that instead -- originally, Owlie got completely cured and flew off into the jungle.
O'BRIEN: Good, but unrealistic.
REEVE: Well, and also just that really what Chris stood for was the fact that he could fly with help, and support and community, and he really could fly. It just wasn't the normal definition of flying.
O'BRIEN: All about changing your definitions.
REEVE: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: How have the last seven months been? I mean, you have a child who is at that tricky 12-year-old age.
REEVE: Yes, it's been tumultuous. It's been pretty busy. I've been doing a lot of work for the foundation. We have a lot of new fund-raising initiatives, and you know, I have moments of, you know, that it's hard.
O'BRIEN: Craziness and dizziness.
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: You've taken up your singing career again...
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... after a long time.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: And you're also dealing with the stem cell research issue...
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... which is before Congress, which voted affirmatively. It looks like President Bush, though, would veto it if it goes through. What's the message you'd like to send to him, the president that is?
REEVE: Well, we're pretty confident it will go through the Senate. And I think that really, that he needs to listen to what the people are saying and what Congress is saying, that this should go through.
O'BRIEN: What's the message you hope this book sends? I mean, obviously the book is for kids, but it's the parents that read the book to the kids.
REEVE: It is. I mean, the message is really about getting to children while they're young, to say, you know, we're all part of a community. We need to help one another. You can be a part of helping. You can be part of a cure, and really it's very uplifting, and it's funny and it's a great book.
O'BRIEN: It's very, very cute. I read it to my kids last night. It's nice.
I noticed the dog tag, and it's -- for people who can't really see it, it's a Superman symbol.
REEVE: Superman symbol, and these are -- it says, "go forward," which is sort of our new rallying cry, and it's really sort of Chris's message, go forward. He worked so hard, and his work was so important that we really need to go forward.
O'BRIEN: You know that now that people have seen it on TV and that very tight shot of your neck, everyone's going to want one. Are you selling them?
REEVE: Yes, they are absolutely on our Web site, christopherreeve.org, and you can order them, and the proceeds go to the foundation, and Warner Brothers has been so nice to give us this logo for a year.
O'BRIEN: Fantastic.
Congratulations on all of the things that you're working on and accomplishing.
REEVE: Thank you very much.
O'BRIEN: We'll come back for the next in the series, because I know it's a continuing series.
REEVE: Yes, we do it as a series.
O'BRIEN: Terrific. Thanks, Dana -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks, Soledad. Good luck, Dana.
REEVE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Sure.
Eleven minutes now before the hour.
Checking in on Daryn Kagan right now.
What you working on? What's coming up next hour?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We got a lot for you, Bill.
At the top of the hour, all of the talk about hot housing markets. How do you know if your area has hit its peak? You're going to find out in our top five tips.
And as you take off for the summer, is it better to drive or fly for the summer travel season? We'll let you know which one is better for your bank account.
Plus, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas visits President Bush at the White House. We'll hear from them at a news conference from the Rose Garden later today. You're going to see it live right here on CNN.
For now, back to you.
HEMMER: See you in 11 minutes, Daryn.
KAGAN: You got it.
HEMMER: Andy is "Minding Your Business" in a moment here, with news of yet another security breach, 10,000 now at risk in the latest one. What you need to know in a moment here, when we come back here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, one final check with Andy. Another major security breach, this time at a top university. With that and a check on Wall Street, too, here's Mr. Serwer. Where do you want to start?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": I want to start with the security breach. Stanford University is reporting that hackers or a hacker have broken into the computer system at the university, accessing files of 10,000 individuals at the career placement center, where students get jobs. 9,600 students, 300 recruiters. How about that? Yes, there were some Social Security numbers involved and possibly credit cards. This happened on May 11th.
HEMMER: So you don't even have to be a student, you're getting ripped off.
SERWER: Yes. Let's talk about the markets here. We have a nice open to the trading day, a look at the big board. Up 42 points, 41 points. One stock on the move at Toll Brothers, that homebuilder, announcing that earnings doubled. We're talking about the housing boom here, folks. Stock is up 4 percent, almost $89. The stock -- listen to this. The stock is up ten times almost over the past five years. That is the housing boom. GDP revision for the first quarter coming across the tape at 8:30 Eastern, 3.5 percent as opposed to 3.1 percent. So that's moving the market forward this morning.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a final look at the "Wish List" this morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, it's Bill and Maya's (ph) anniversary. He pointed it's been three years.
SERWER: Oh, congratulations, you two.
HEMMER: Not yet. This weekend. Just for the audience...
SERWER: Oh, we're going to celebrating for four or five days.
HEMMER: I came to New York on a Sunday, I called Paula at home. And she said, OK, well, you know, we'll get together, you know, I'll see you on Tuesday, because she was off that Monday. Called Jack at home, and he's goes, here's the deal. We go on the air at 7:00, we get off the air at 10:00, we go home. See you in the morning. Click.
CAFFERTY: What was I, wrong?
O'BRIEN: That was warm.
HEMMER: You were dead on.
CAFFERTY: That was kind of the drill. Happy anniversary.
HEMMER: You, as well.
CAFFERTY: What are the odds it will last three more years?
HEMMER: Ooh!
SERWER: Ooh!
CAFFERTY: Boy, there's a hot question.
SERWER: Wow.
CAFFERTY: That's not the "Question of the Day," because I'd get fired if I explored that in any detail. The "Question of the Day" is this: how should your state spend its extra money? There are some budget surpluses beginning to turn up around the country.
Rosie in Virginia: "Any extra state funds should be used to pay teachers and cops more, but it will probably go to pay crooked contractors for cost overruns on highway projects due to lousy planning and no oversight." This in Hampton, Virginia. Hey, Virginia is just like New York. Paul in New York writes: "Extra tax dollars should be spent on cigarette prevention programs. Every $1 spent saves $6 on healthcare costs. Where else can American get a 6-to-1 return on its investment?"
And Jimmy writes from Savannah, Georgia: "I don't care what Georgia spends its extra money on, as long as it's not on another new flag!"
SERWER: Very good.
O'BRIEN: I think it's some really good advice you got this morning.
CAFFERTY: They should let the people that watch this program run the country, we'd be a hell of lot better off.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Don't forget, tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, I'm going to be on board the USS John F. Kennedy with some special coverage of New York's...
CAFFERTY: Going out to meet the sailors, are you?
O'BRIEN: That's right, baby! Hey, sailor, come on over here!
CAFFERTY: You know how hard she lobbied for this assignment? I want to go meet the sailors.
O'BRIEN: It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it, Jack.
SERWER: Better you than us.
O'BRIEN: And tomorrow, I'm your girl. That's tomorrow morning, 7:00 a.m. Eastern. A short break. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We got to run. Soledad's on the ship tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: Um-hum.
HEMMER: We're all here.
O'BRIEN: Um-hum.
COSTELLO: We're onshore.
SERWER: Ship to shore.
COSTELLO: Yes.
HEMMER: Want to get to Daryn Kagan right now down at the CNN Center. You're watching the situation in Atlanta, too. Daryn, good morning, there. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 26, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome, everybody. It's 9:30 here in New York.
Coming up in just a moment, back to this developing story out of Iraq. The government there saying that it has information that Abu Musab Al Zarqawi is, in fact, wounded.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Our senior editor of Arab affairs watching reaction throughout the Arab world. We're going to talk with Octavia Nasr here in a few moments.
First, back to the top stories, and Carol Costello has those, out of Atlanta, too. Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, developing story out of Atlanta. This man who climbed up an 18-story-high crane. Let's go to the pictures right now. This man is wanted for murder in Florida. He climbed up this crane at 5:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon and he's been up there ever since.
I was looking through the wires and I found this from WSB. Apparently a tourist was sitting at a restaurant nearby -- because this is on very busy Peachtree Road in Buckhead (ph), and he saw his man on the crane toss his wallet down. It landed on Peachtree Street. His I.D. fell out, his library card fell out.
Sara Dorsey is live on the scene now. She has more for us. Tell us what's happening now, Sara.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the man is still on top of the crane, Carol. As you said, this started at about 5:00 yesterday. And to go back to that wallet, a highly-placed Atlanta police source tells us that the information contained in that wallet matches that of Edward Roland. The 41-year-old man is actually wanted out of Pinellas Park, Florida, for the murder of his former girlfriend. Her badly beaten body was found in a retention pond there on Tuesday.
Now we've been watching and every once in a while, you'll see the man move up there. Police sources tell us they believe he's actually standing up because his legs are tired. He's been sitting there with his legs dangling since 5:00 yesterday. They're also telling they do not believe he has a gun, but possibly has some sort of sharp instrument. They aren't elaborating exactly, but they do have police officials up there in a basket and also another man on top of the crane itself. They are trying to negotiate with this gentleman, trying get him down, talk him down. They're telling us that he's not necessarily threatening to jump. They won't go that far, but they are just still talking to him, trying to just get him off of this crane so things don't get serious -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sara Dorsey, live in Atlanta, Georgia, this morning.
Turning our attention to Iraq now, major plans in the works to beef up security in Baghdad. It's being called Operation Thunder. Iraqi officials say more than 40,000 security forces will start patrolling Baghdad beginning next week.
In the meantime, at least eight people have been killed, a dozen others wounded, in a new wave of violence in the Iraqi capital today. No reports of any U.S. casualties.
This also just into CNN: all charges have been dismissed against Lieutenant Ilario Pantano. He was accused of murdering two suspected insurgents in Iraq in 2004. A U.S. Marine Corps general has now dismissed all charges.
An historic meeting between President Bush and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The two are set to hold talks in the next hour, and then they'll hold a joint news conference. It will be the first meeting for U.S. and Palestinian leaders since the Mideast peace talks broke down in 2000. CNN will have live coverage beginning at 11:25 a.m. Eastern. Should be quite interesting.
Back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Carol, thanks. Well, the Iraqi government says it has information backing up reports on Islamic Web sites that terrorist leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi has been wounded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAQER SULAGH, IRAQI MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR (through translator): Regarding Zarqawi, yes, we do have information, but they are not certified yet. We have had them since five days. They indicate that Zarqawi was wounded. We are not familiar with how bad this wound is and we are not quite sure if he is still alive or dead, but yes, we have had such information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: CNN's senior editor of Arab affairs is Octavia Nasr. She joins us from Atlanta. Octavia, good morning.
So confirmation now. What are you hearing in the Arab world about Zarqawi's condition?
OCTAVIA NASR, SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Basically, the rumor is still out that he is wounded, possibly seriously wounded, or even dead. The rumor mill is abuzz in the Arab world. Islamist Web sites -- if you say confusion, that's an understatement. They're so confused. It's a bit chaotic on Islamic Web sites. People posting messages saying that he's dead, others denying that he's dead, then others saying that he was moved out of Iraq already, and he's safe and sound. Then other reports saying that he was replaced already.
And then the latest is something that was posted a few minutes ago, as a matter of fact, denying all this, and saying that basically, he is all right, he is wounded and he's recovering nicely, and basically denying any news of replacement or even talk about replacement. This one, Soledad, is coming from the same person who is known to us as the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq, the Zarqawi group.
O'BRIEN: So knowing that, Octavia, those reports of Al Zarqawi being replaced, how credible do they seem to you?
NASR: They're not credible at all, as a matter of fact. See, you have to be very careful. These Web sites, they're just like any other chatting Web site. Anyone can go in, basically, and post a message. So we usually look for the language, we look for the source of the information. There are so many Islamist Web sites out there, with the same information. They all copy and paste the same information over and over. So we go for the source, the Web site source. In this case, it wasn't credible. And also, the person source. In this case, again, it wasn't credible.
The information I just gave you is coming from a man known as Abu Masayara Al Iraqi. He has been, for the past few months, the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. He has posted claims of responsibility for them, he has posted messages, statements and so forth. He's the one who's saying that -- they did announce that he's injured because they wanted -- he says they wanted to be transparent in their information. But he says that there will be good news soon.
O'BRIEN: Octavia Nasr, I guess we'll wait and see. Thanks for that update -- Bill.
HEMMER: Michael Jackson's case could be in the hands of the jury by next week. The defense rested Wednesday. Prosecutors now beginning their rebuttal, as of yesterday.
Attorney Anne Bremner's been in the courtroom throughout the trial. Back with us with Seattle today. You're chalking up some miles, Anne. Back and forth on the West Coast.
Listen, so the prosecution starts the rebuttal. What is their strategy they want to convey to the jurors?
ANNE BREMNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: What they want to convey -- they want to basically end, Bill, where they started, and that is with the core of their case, the accuser. They want to bring in a videotape of his interview with the police that the jury hasn't seen yet. Because their whole case really comes down to his credibility.
And in this videotape, apparently he is so reluctant to accuse Jackson, he says nothing happened, and he has a very long pause before he finally says, OK, and then he starts saying the things that happened. That will really bolster his credibility, at the end of the day, in this case. So they're basically going to end where they started, with the accuser.
HEMMER: So what I understand, if they play that videotape, the defense wants to bring the accuser back, put him on the stand. Is that right?
BREMNER: Exactly. What they said was -- they said, well, if the prosecutor can do that, then we're going to go ahead and bring him back to testify. Now does that really mean they're going to do it? I don't think that that would be a smart move. Do they want the last voice ringing in the ears of this jury to be that of the accuser? I don't think so.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff.
BREMNER: And do they want to...
HEMMER: Go ahead.
BREMNER: Yes, and they don't want to look like they're beating up on him, either. So I think it would be a mistake. That's what they say they want to do.
HEMMER: Let's move to closing arguments now. The prosecution lines its case up how to make it most effective in the end?
BREMNER: They need to hit a home run in their closing argument. They need basically for the jury to see and feel this case. What they need to start with is 46-year-old men don't have sleep-overs. One child alone, 365 nights. This jury can't buy the concept that sleeping with children is OK.. I mean, that's what we call out there kind of drinking the Kool-Aid.
They're going to -- they need to say this is not normal, and then go from there, the pattern evidence, this accuser, the pornography, fingerprints on pornography. Lay it out fort jury that they have a very strong case and make this jury think, you know, if we don't stop Michael Jackson, who will?
HEMMER: And what are you going to hear from Tom Mesereau, then? Defense closing arguments, their strongest point would be what?
BREMNER: Well a lot of -- it will be a lot of sound and fury. And what he has to say that is that Tom Sneddon is like Javert in "Les Miserables," he's been chasing Michael Jackson for years. 100 search warrants, you know, overzealous prosecution. And that Michael Jackson is not a child molester, he's just a child. He's misunderstood, he's a genius and he's somebody that's so sympathetic, somebody that people have complicated feelings for. Michael Jackson's become like family with this jury and you don't convict your own family.
That video was strong for the prosecution. Guess what? Better for the defense with Michael Jackson. The pattern evidence was in favor of the defense. Three of the five victims testified for the defense. There's reasonable doubt all over this case and it would be a tragedy to convict Michael Jackson.
HEMMER: It is Thursday. What day do you think the jury gets this case, based on the current schedule?
BREMNER: Thursday. I think closings Tuesday and Wednesday, one day each. Unless there's -- unless the defense calls the accuser, we could be bumped by a day or two. But we're finally near the end, Bill.
HEMMER: Maybe a week away. Anne Bremner, thanks, in Seattle this morning.
BREMNER: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thousands of U.S. military personnel and their families are in New York this morning for Fleet Week. The 18th annual celebration kicked off Wednesday with a parade of ships on the Hudson River. More events are planned over the next few days.
Alina Cho live for us in front of the aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, which is down on pier 88 in New York City.
Hey, Alina. Good morning.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Quite windy up here on the flight deck, by the way, and security, we should mention, is tight, as always, for this 18th annual Fleet Week. The Coast Guard is taking some special measures, including making the waters around where the ships are docked here frozen in a sense.
Now onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, where we are right now, they are also taking some special measures, armed personnel, bomb-sniffing and dog-sniffing dogs -- or drug-sniffing dogs rather, and escorts for anyone who is not part of the ship's company. Now there is also a buddy system here. Now that means that anyone who wants to leave the ship has to take a buddy or a friend, and that is to ensure that everyone comes back.
Nearly 6,000 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, half of them here on the JFK, along with sailors from Canada, France Pakistan and the U.K. are here for this year's Fleet Week. It is a Memorial Day weekend tradition. Every sailor, we should mention, dreams of coming to New York for Fleet Week, and we talked to a few of the lucky ones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLEEN THEODORE, U.S. NAVY: Right now it's really great, because this is, like, the first time for me, so I'm just kind of like trying to get the feel for everything and try to find my way around, so this is the first time out here. It was like, oh, man, I want to really go around and get the feel for the whole New York right now.
CHRIS ODOM, U.S. NAVY: Since I've been in the Navy, I've always wanted to do Fleet Week, so I finally got my chance.
CHO (on camera): How long have you been waiting?
ODOM: Eight years.
CHO: You're been waiting a long time.
ODOM: Yes, ma'am.
MICHAEL MITCHELL, U.S. NAVY: It's crazy, because everything's new, different. I get to see all of the landmarks I've all read in history books and all that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: The JFK, or "Big John," as it's called around here, was most recently staged in the Persian Gulf and provided air support in the war in Iraq, especially for the Falluja operation.
We should mention, Soledad, something interesting for you. In order to get up to the flight deck, we had to climb up four flights of stairs, which are really more like ladders. There's a saying around here, keep your head on a swivel. That means watch where you're going. One sailor told me there are great medical facilities onboard, but he doesn't want anyone to have to use them -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Excellent advice, and duly noted. Alina Cho for us. Thanks, Alina. Appreciate it.
And in fact, tomorrow morning, I'll be live onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, and that's morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Looking forward to that. It'll be good fun.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the FBI investigating another huge case of I.D. theft, this time at a major university. Andy has that, "Minding Your Business" in a moment.
O'BRIEN: And coming up next, Christopher Reeve's widow, Dana, joins us live in the studio. She's got a new project, inspired by the life of her late husband. We'll tell you about it in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: It's been seven months since Christopher Reeve passed away. And his widow, Dana, is now fighting for stem cell research as a potential cure for paralysis. Her new project, though, was inspired by her husband's life, and it's a book called "Dewey Do-It Helps Owlie Fly Again."
Dana Reeve joins us this morning. Nice to see you. It's a book for children really.
DANA REEVE, CHRISTOPHER REEVE'S WIDOW: It is a children's book.
O'BRIEN: And it's a story of an injured little owl who gets a little help from his friends.
REEVE: Yes, gets help from his friends, and he's able to fly again. It's not the same as before, but he's able to fly again, and I really think that's really a symbol of what Chris stood for as well.
O'BRIEN: Truly a metaphor. He was involved with the project, because of course it takes a long time.
REEVE: Yes, he was. He was. The writers came to him first, and said we have this thing, and we want to raise money for your foundation, and he said, let's go. And then when we started looking at the book more closely, I worked with the writers after Chris died, to change the ending a little bit. So that instead -- originally, Owlie got completely cured and flew off into the jungle.
O'BRIEN: Good, but unrealistic.
REEVE: Well, and also just that really what Chris stood for was the fact that he could fly with help, and support and community, and he really could fly. It just wasn't the normal definition of flying.
O'BRIEN: All about changing your definitions.
REEVE: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: How have the last seven months been? I mean, you have a child who is at that tricky 12-year-old age.
REEVE: Yes, it's been tumultuous. It's been pretty busy. I've been doing a lot of work for the foundation. We have a lot of new fund-raising initiatives, and you know, I have moments of, you know, that it's hard.
O'BRIEN: Craziness and dizziness.
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: You've taken up your singing career again...
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... after a long time.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: And you're also dealing with the stem cell research issue...
REEVE: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... which is before Congress, which voted affirmatively. It looks like President Bush, though, would veto it if it goes through. What's the message you'd like to send to him, the president that is?
REEVE: Well, we're pretty confident it will go through the Senate. And I think that really, that he needs to listen to what the people are saying and what Congress is saying, that this should go through.
O'BRIEN: What's the message you hope this book sends? I mean, obviously the book is for kids, but it's the parents that read the book to the kids.
REEVE: It is. I mean, the message is really about getting to children while they're young, to say, you know, we're all part of a community. We need to help one another. You can be a part of helping. You can be part of a cure, and really it's very uplifting, and it's funny and it's a great book.
O'BRIEN: It's very, very cute. I read it to my kids last night. It's nice.
I noticed the dog tag, and it's -- for people who can't really see it, it's a Superman symbol.
REEVE: Superman symbol, and these are -- it says, "go forward," which is sort of our new rallying cry, and it's really sort of Chris's message, go forward. He worked so hard, and his work was so important that we really need to go forward.
O'BRIEN: You know that now that people have seen it on TV and that very tight shot of your neck, everyone's going to want one. Are you selling them?
REEVE: Yes, they are absolutely on our Web site, christopherreeve.org, and you can order them, and the proceeds go to the foundation, and Warner Brothers has been so nice to give us this logo for a year.
O'BRIEN: Fantastic.
Congratulations on all of the things that you're working on and accomplishing.
REEVE: Thank you very much.
O'BRIEN: We'll come back for the next in the series, because I know it's a continuing series.
REEVE: Yes, we do it as a series.
O'BRIEN: Terrific. Thanks, Dana -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks, Soledad. Good luck, Dana.
REEVE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Sure.
Eleven minutes now before the hour.
Checking in on Daryn Kagan right now.
What you working on? What's coming up next hour?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We got a lot for you, Bill.
At the top of the hour, all of the talk about hot housing markets. How do you know if your area has hit its peak? You're going to find out in our top five tips.
And as you take off for the summer, is it better to drive or fly for the summer travel season? We'll let you know which one is better for your bank account.
Plus, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas visits President Bush at the White House. We'll hear from them at a news conference from the Rose Garden later today. You're going to see it live right here on CNN.
For now, back to you.
HEMMER: See you in 11 minutes, Daryn.
KAGAN: You got it.
HEMMER: Andy is "Minding Your Business" in a moment here, with news of yet another security breach, 10,000 now at risk in the latest one. What you need to know in a moment here, when we come back here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, one final check with Andy. Another major security breach, this time at a top university. With that and a check on Wall Street, too, here's Mr. Serwer. Where do you want to start?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": I want to start with the security breach. Stanford University is reporting that hackers or a hacker have broken into the computer system at the university, accessing files of 10,000 individuals at the career placement center, where students get jobs. 9,600 students, 300 recruiters. How about that? Yes, there were some Social Security numbers involved and possibly credit cards. This happened on May 11th.
HEMMER: So you don't even have to be a student, you're getting ripped off.
SERWER: Yes. Let's talk about the markets here. We have a nice open to the trading day, a look at the big board. Up 42 points, 41 points. One stock on the move at Toll Brothers, that homebuilder, announcing that earnings doubled. We're talking about the housing boom here, folks. Stock is up 4 percent, almost $89. The stock -- listen to this. The stock is up ten times almost over the past five years. That is the housing boom. GDP revision for the first quarter coming across the tape at 8:30 Eastern, 3.5 percent as opposed to 3.1 percent. So that's moving the market forward this morning.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a final look at the "Wish List" this morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, it's Bill and Maya's (ph) anniversary. He pointed it's been three years.
SERWER: Oh, congratulations, you two.
HEMMER: Not yet. This weekend. Just for the audience...
SERWER: Oh, we're going to celebrating for four or five days.
HEMMER: I came to New York on a Sunday, I called Paula at home. And she said, OK, well, you know, we'll get together, you know, I'll see you on Tuesday, because she was off that Monday. Called Jack at home, and he's goes, here's the deal. We go on the air at 7:00, we get off the air at 10:00, we go home. See you in the morning. Click.
CAFFERTY: What was I, wrong?
O'BRIEN: That was warm.
HEMMER: You were dead on.
CAFFERTY: That was kind of the drill. Happy anniversary.
HEMMER: You, as well.
CAFFERTY: What are the odds it will last three more years?
HEMMER: Ooh!
SERWER: Ooh!
CAFFERTY: Boy, there's a hot question.
SERWER: Wow.
CAFFERTY: That's not the "Question of the Day," because I'd get fired if I explored that in any detail. The "Question of the Day" is this: how should your state spend its extra money? There are some budget surpluses beginning to turn up around the country.
Rosie in Virginia: "Any extra state funds should be used to pay teachers and cops more, but it will probably go to pay crooked contractors for cost overruns on highway projects due to lousy planning and no oversight." This in Hampton, Virginia. Hey, Virginia is just like New York. Paul in New York writes: "Extra tax dollars should be spent on cigarette prevention programs. Every $1 spent saves $6 on healthcare costs. Where else can American get a 6-to-1 return on its investment?"
And Jimmy writes from Savannah, Georgia: "I don't care what Georgia spends its extra money on, as long as it's not on another new flag!"
SERWER: Very good.
O'BRIEN: I think it's some really good advice you got this morning.
CAFFERTY: They should let the people that watch this program run the country, we'd be a hell of lot better off.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Don't forget, tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, I'm going to be on board the USS John F. Kennedy with some special coverage of New York's...
CAFFERTY: Going out to meet the sailors, are you?
O'BRIEN: That's right, baby! Hey, sailor, come on over here!
CAFFERTY: You know how hard she lobbied for this assignment? I want to go meet the sailors.
O'BRIEN: It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it, Jack.
SERWER: Better you than us.
O'BRIEN: And tomorrow, I'm your girl. That's tomorrow morning, 7:00 a.m. Eastern. A short break. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We got to run. Soledad's on the ship tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: Um-hum.
HEMMER: We're all here.
O'BRIEN: Um-hum.
COSTELLO: We're onshore.
SERWER: Ship to shore.
COSTELLO: Yes.
HEMMER: Want to get to Daryn Kagan right now down at the CNN Center. You're watching the situation in Atlanta, too. Daryn, good morning, there. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
