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American Morning
On the USS John F. Kennedy; Battling Insurgents
Aired May 27, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien, live onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, one of the Navy's 12 active aircraft carriers, here in New York for Fleet Week. This morning, we're going to give you an amazing look at the ship they call Big John and the men and women who keep it going.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Bill Hemmer.
In Iraq, insurgents shooting down a U.S. helicopter, killing two Americans. I'll talk to U.S. general about the new offensive against insurgents there.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Jack Cafferty. That time of the year again. Graduates pouring out of the nation's schools, a lot with no idea what comes next. We'll put you at the lectern this morning for the commencement address and see what advice you have for them.
Also, from Atlanta, the sun coming up in a bizarre standoff, now in its 39th hour. Police still trying to get a murder suspect to come down from an 18-story crane, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome everybody, as we come to you live from on board the USS John F. Kennedy, one of the U.S. Navy's 12 active aircraft carriers, here in New York, of course, for Fleet Week. Everybody knows that these ships are big, but you truly cannot imagine just how awesome they are until you've been on one. And this morning, we're going to take you all around what's happening from the flight deck, where we are this morning, talking to some of the people who do all the different and very important jobs on the JFK, and there are so many of them, thousands of them. It is pretty incredible, in fact, what happens here.
Coming up this morning, we're going to talk to the ship's commander, Captain Dennis Fitzpatrick, about the JFK's most recent mission. They were part of the battle of Fallujah. We'll talk about what kind of support they provided, or of course be interrupted by some of these P.A. announcements that happen all morning as they bring everyone to muster. We'll also get an opportunity this morning to see inside the captain's quarters. Jackie Kennedy designed some part of the quarters, and he'll tell us about that. It's pretty remarkable.
Much more ahead this morning. But before we get to any of that, let's get right back to New York and our studios and Bill Hemmer.
Hey, Bill.
HEMMER: Hey, Soledad. Good morning. Looks great there. Back to the Kennedy in a moment. But first, a lot of other news to talk about this morning on this Friday, and we begin this morning in Iraq. Two U.S. pilots are dead, their helicopter shot down last night by small arms fire near Baqubah. It's about 40 miles north of Baghdad. A second chopper was damaged, but was able to fly back to base.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Brigadier General Donald Alston my guest now from Baghdad.
Sir, we appreciate your time here.
I want to begin with this helicopter incident from yesterday. Two helicopters involved. Apparently, one, the military says was shot down. Two U.S. soldiers are dead as a result. What more can you add to this situation?
BRIG. GEN. DONALD ALSTON, U.S. AIR FORCE: Well, Bill, last night we had some troops in contact and a couple of OH-58 helicopters were called to the scene. They came over target. They both took small arms fire. One of them safely recovered. Unfortunately, one of them was shot down, and we lost both crew members, and our heart goes out to the families.
HEMMER: This happened just hours after Operation Lightning was announced. This is the operation that will begin next week; 40,000 Iraqi forces will patrol the streets of Baghdad. The announcement was made public. Why tip off the insurgents with such a public announcement seven days in advance?
ALSTON: Well, Bill, you know, the Iraqi government, since they took power, have been challenged by the insurgents. And this upsurge in violence has had the government tackle it by doing some planning over the last few weeks, and I think it was important for them to communicate to the Iraqi people they're changing from a defensive posture to an offensive posture. And Operation Lightning is how they're demonstrating that. This has been an Iraqi planned operation and an Iraqi-led operation, and I think that they're conveying that sense of confidence to the public.
HEMMER: Forty-thousand forces in a city of six million, is that enough to make a difference, general?
ALSTON: I think there's no question that the -- with the effect they want to cause, which is to show the Iraqi people that they're taking on this insurgency, and to show their commitment. And in addition to that, it is a very focused operation as well. So I think that the troop levels are sized just right to achieve the effects.
HEMMER: Let me try and cut through it then -- is it a demonstration of force, or just a show of force?
ALSTON: I wouldn't characterize it as either of those. This is a well-designed military operation to achieve well defined objectives. And as much as I can't get into any of the operational details, this has all the ingredients to be a very successful operation.
HEMMER: On the topic of Zarqawi, Iraqi ministers just yesterday saying that they believe they have information that shows he indeed was injured in a raid, perhaps in Ramadi, that took place about a week ago. Does this story, and his injury, or the possibility that he is dead, does it get as much attention in Iraq throughout the U.S. military as we give it the headlines back here?
ALSTON: Well, I think that everyone can't ignore the headlines, and the focus that is on Zarqawi.
As far as we're concerned in terms of how we're conducting our operations, we haven't changed the way we're doing business. We continue to pursue him as aggressively as we have before. Our intention is to kill and capture him, and that just hasn't changed.
We're looking into this information as well as everybody else is. But right now, it hasn't distracted us and hasn't changed the course of action that we've taken.
HEMMER: Do you think if he's dead, the insurgency changes in any degree?
ALSTON: Well, I think that the insurgency is not dependent on one particular person. Clearly, his removal from the scene would have an impact, perhaps on financing and other elements of the insurgency. Day-to-day operations, he has been pursued so aggressively that I'm not sure exactly how much effect he has on day-to-day operations.
In addition to that, the nature of the cellular network, with the insurgency, doesn't depend a lot on those day-to-day communications with him. But I think that he has been on the run pretty well for quite some time, and so it will be interesting to see what his absence from the picture would mean to all of us.
HEMMER: Thank you, Air Force Brigadier General Donald Alston from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: That's the latest from Iraq. Six minutes past the hour. I want to go back to the Kennedy now and Soledad.
Good morning again.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Bill, good morning to you.
You know, thousands of sailors and Marines are strolling the streets of the Big Apple this week. Of course it's all part of the Navy's Fleet Week. The event gives more than 6,000 U.S. and international sailors as well, Marines and air coast -- Coast Guardsmen rather, the chance to meet with the public. This is the 18th annual Fleet Week. Ten ships are docked in New York City's harbor here in Manhattan, and also over in Staten Island as well. They're going to ship out again when Fleet Week ends on Wednesday. The USS John F. Kennedy is the largest of the flotilla of ships that are here in New York Harbor for Fleet Week, and it has an incredibly proud history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): They call her Big John. Named for the 35th president of the United States. The USS John F. Kennedy was christened in 1967 by Kennedy's then 9-year-old daughter, Caroline. She's the Navy's third oldest carrier, and one of only two in the fleet that's still powered by oil. The USS Kennedy has seen 37 years of service around the world, most recently in support of American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She returned home to Mayport, Florida in December after her 18th deployment. It may have been her last.
As a cost-cutting measure, the Navy wants to cut its fleet from 12 carriers to 11. And Big John may be the one to go. This week, sailors man the rails as the Kennedy sailed into New York for Fleet Week, a time for both ship and crew to get some well-deserved rest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Captain Dennis Fitzpatrick is the commander of the USS JFK and he joins us this morning.
First of all, thank you so much for all your kind hospitality in having us.
CAPT. DENNIS FITZPATRICK, CMDR., USS JOHN FITZPATRICK: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: We certainly appreciate it.
You took over command one month before the ship took part in the exercises in Fallujah. What was that like?
FITZPATRICK: I mean, it was exciting, obviously, to be deployed and be a part of the ship. I was very excited about assuming command. This is really the culmination of my career. It was where I wanted to be.
O'BRIEN: But you're assuming command and you go straight into the action.
FITZPATRICK: In a combat zone, yes, and that obviously makes it a little more exciting. So you got to get your feet on the ground, figure out who you're working with there. There are obviously some personalities and whatnot you need to get to know. But our training program is such that there's a lot of standardization there, so we can walk in and keep the organization moving in the right direction and be successful.
O'BRIEN: What did this ship do in support of not only the ground troops, but also the wing that's attached to it? FITZPATRICK: Well, (INAUDIBLE) 17 aircraft flying off JFK's deck, where supporting operations in Fallujah and surrounding areas of Iraq. And it takes 5,500 people to drop a single weapon in combat on that ship. Ever person has a little piece and a role to play. And we spent a lot of time making sure that everybody understands that they do have an important role to play, they need to do it right the first time and every time.
O'BRIEN: It's been amazing how many times the sailors that we've been talking to have talked about teamwork over and over, unprompted by their boss.
FITZPATRICK: I think it's the ultimate team sport, I really do.
O'BRIEN: When you consider then that the JFK's future is iffy. As you know, there are 12 carriers, they're thinking about cutting back to 11, and this is the one on the chopping block, give me a sense of, to be the commander, how that must feel.
FITZPATRICK: Well, obviously, a little anxiety among standard crew, so you've go to keep them informed with what you know as best as possible.
O'BRIEN: What do you know?
FITZPATRICK: Well, right now, we have to wait for the QDR to make a decision. Congress passed a law that we're going to keep 12 carriers until the QDR is released. So we're going to wait and see what the QDR says, and we'll make a decision at that point.
O'BRIEN: Of course everyone has family and their lives onboard this ship. Give me a sense of the anxiety that you talked about.
FITZPATRICK: It's not overwhelming, obviously. Like I said, We spent a lot of time making sure that people understand where we stand. And we've been making sure that we maintain readiness. At the same time, we're -- we were preparing for the possible decom, so there was all a couple of different moving pieces going back and forth.
I think as long as you tell them what's going on and what the decision process is, and me they can kind of track it along with everybody else, that helps alleviate some of the anxiety.
O'BRIEN: I know you've been incredibly busy, but have a you had a chance to get off and check out New York City.
FITZPATRICK: Oh, Yes, I'm originally from upstate New York, so been to the city a couple times. But I have had the opportunity to get off and walk around a little bit, enjoy some New York hospitality. No finer hospitality than the city of New York. So, yes, going to go out and see a Yankees game.
O'BRIEN: Oh, good for you.
FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. O'BRIEN: Great. Well, thank you so much for talking with us, and again, thanks for your all hospitality and your crew as well. We certainly have appreciated it while we've been here.
FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. Thanks for coming. Thanks for hosting us.
O'BRIEN: Our pleasure.
We also want to mention the captain was kind enough, and we're going to show you later in the hour, to give us a tour of his living quarters. They were designed by the late Jacqueline Kennedy, and they are pretty impressive.
FITZPATRICK: Well, cities and towns across the country are preparing to honor the nation's war dead on Memorial Day. More than 220,000 of those killed in service to America are buried, in fact, at Arlington National Cemetery. U.S. troops traditionally place flags at each grave. Memorial Day services are going to be held on Monday.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. If you're planning to travel today, you better be ready for some record crowds out there. We'll tell you what you need to know.
And that bizarre crane standoff in Atlanta enters its third day. A fugitive ignoring police to give himself up.
And back to the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy. Soledad telling us today about this special room designed by Jackie Kennedy. That still to come this hour on a Friday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A little more than 39 hours and counting now for this man here out of Florida, wanted in his girlfriend's death. Remains still today on top of that 18-story crane in Atlanta. Carl Roland is his name. He climbed on board about 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. Negotiators there on the ground still trying to talk him down. Want to go live to Atlanta and Tony Harris.
Any progress for police this morning, Tony?
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, let me tell you, Bill, they're trying everything that they can. Just to sort of bring you up to speed on where we are. Roland, as you mentioned, is still up on that crane, 350 feet above the ground in this residential/commercial neighborhood in Atlanta, the trendy Buckhead neighborhood. And for Atlanta residents here on the ground, it means another day of road closures in the area. It's been a tremendous inconvenience for folks, not only commuters during the morning and afternoon rush, since Wednesday afternoon, as you mentioned, but also for businesses in the area, which essentially are closed down over the last couple days.
For authorities on the ground, they're just trying to get him down, trying to get Roland down safely without him hurting himself or others.
The back story a little bit, as you mentioned, Bill, Roland is linked to the beating death of his girlfriend in Pinellas Park, Florida. Jennifer Gonzalez's body was found earlier this week in a pond near their home. Roland then makes his way to Atlanta, where essentially he gets to this construction site, and he basically bum rushes one of the construction workers on the condominium complex. He jumps on the construction crane elevator, goes up to where he is right now, and that's where he's been for 39, almost 40 hours now.
I arrived on the scene just before 6:00 this morning, and I got to tell you, Roland, he was being serenaded with a bunch of sounds. We're talking about hammers, sirens, negotiators were yelling at him through a megaphone, or a bullhorn or something. And they've been doing everything they can to get him down. And at various times in the last 40 minutes or so, we've seen him just walking along the arm of the crane. He's got some kind of a rope that he's tied himself off on, and then at various points, he's untied himself and he has walked pretty freely up and down that crane. We'll stay here and watch this whole drama unfold.
HEMMER: All right, Tony, thanks.
And to viewers at home, too, there is a delay from the signal coming out of Atlanta. If the worst were to happen, we have the option, clearly, to breakaway from that.
Tony Harris, thanks, in Atlanta, along Peachtree Road down there.
With Americans traveling in record numbers this holiday weekend, chances are getting there will not be half the fun. Just the start of the busy summer travel season. There will be headaches today for sure.
Chris Huntington's live at LaGuardia this morning. We call it getaway day. How's it going, Chris? Good morning.
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, good morning to you.
As you'd expect, it is indeed busy. You give people three days off, they want to take four, and that seems to be the rule of thumb. Folks getting here very early this morning. We've been here since a little after 5:00 p.m. Of course, I'm at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, one of the busiest airports ordinarily in the country, but particularly busy today. The traffic on the roads backing up even more than usual.
Frankly, getting an early start probably isn't going to help too much this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTINGTON (voice-over): Memorial Day is finally upon us, the unofficial start of summer. Even though in much of the country, it feels more like Groundhog Day outside. Still, there is no more American way to honor America's war heroes than to get away for the long weekend, you and just about every other patriot. The Travel Industry Association of America says business is booming. It chalks that up to a national passion for vacations.
SUZANNE COOK, TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSN.: The resilience of the American traveler is what's most exciting about the story this year. We expect the summer to kick off with a record-breaking Memorial Day, and then to continue that strong growth throughout the summer.
HUNTINGTON: AAA also sees a record this weekend, predicting more than 37 million Americans will take a trip of at least 50 miles. The vast majority by car. Even though prices at the pump are higher than for any previous Memorial Day weekend, Americans are sucking up the extra cost and sucking down the fuel.
JUSTIN MCNAUL, AAA: The reality of gas prices is the extra $5, $10 that it might cost you to gas up versus when gas was at $1.70 or $1.50 isn't a deal breaker for most people. If you told your boss a couple weeks ago you're going, you promised your kids a couple months ago you're headed to the beach, you're going to go.
HUNTINGTON: Gas prices, in fact, have come down considerably in the past few weeks and now average just six cents a gallon more than they did a year ago and nearly 25 cents below where the Energy Department predicted prices would be on Memorial Day.
Flyers are benefiting from cutthroat competition and continuing shake-out in the airline industry, with ticket prices on average down 10 percent from a year ago. Rental car rates are off about 4 percent. Hotel rooms, however, are more expensive. So if you're on a budget, you might consider camping like Clark Griswold did.
CHEVY CHASE, ACTOR: We'd like three tents for the night, please.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTINGTON: So where is everybody going? Well, of course, the national parks, theme parks, and Las Vegas, always popular. Here in the New York City area, where, frankly, the weather for the last month or so has been unbearably or unseasonably cold, certainly, Florida very, very popular destination. And as you can see from the folks pulling up here, it's, indeed, very, very busy -- Bill.
HEMMER: Pack your patience, right? Thanks, Chris. Out of La Guardia. Back to the Kennedy now and Soledad again. Hello out there.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Bill, good morning again. You know, this entire ship, obviously, is a tribute to the late John F. Kennedy, and all of it begins with a very special cabin that was designed by his wife, Jackie.
Also this morning, we're going to talk to some of the men and women of the USS John F. Kennedy, who are here for the 18th Annual Fleet Week. We'll bring you those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back. Long awaited legal action against the insurance giant AIG, and on the same day, Ohio goes after its former CEO. Tough day going. Here's Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business." Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": Good morning to you, Bill. The nation's largest insurance company in the cross hair of two state attorney generals this morning. AIG, American International Group is the company we're talking about. First, here in Manhattan. New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filing the first formal charges against this company, which has been under investigation for many months now. The charges include manipulating results, propping up the stock, hiding losses and arranging fraudulent transactions. It's a long list there, as you can see.
There's an interesting part of this lawsuit, a situation where there's notes from one AIG staffer, saying that Hank Greenberg asked about a particular transaction. He said, are we legal? And the staffer responded if we were, we wouldn't be in business. To which Hank Greenberg started laughing. That doesn't look very good.
HEMMER: Smoking gun?
SERWER: Yes, well, it was a joke. But still, you don't want to joke around about stuff like that.
Meanwhile over in Ohio, the state attorney general there, Jim Petro (ph) has filed a suit against Hank Greenberg because of a stock transaction that we reported several weeks ago. Two days before Greenberg stepped down as CEO, he transferred $2.6 billion to his wife Corinne (ph). That doesn't look so great and so that's a lot of stuff for these guys to be looking into.
HEMMER: Ever made a commencement address?
SERWER: No, I haven't.
HEMMER: Really?
SERWER: No.
HEMMER: He has. Here's Jack, talking about graduation. Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Good morning. It's that time of the year again. President Bush set to address the graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis today. These were students who were freshmen when terrorists knocked down the World Trade Center and attacked the Pentagon in 2001. Now they're graduating. Many will go on to military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, their futures very much unknown.
As graduates all over the country hear these send-offs, many are undoubtedly thinking now what? Most of us have listened to the speeches, some of us have given them. It's very much an open question whether they make any lasting difference or not. But here's your chance to put yourself at the podium for the class of 2005. What advice would you give this year's graduates?
HEMMER: Very appropriate, too. Cool, thanks, Jack.
Back to the Kennedy in a moment here, back to Soledad out there first. Plus this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired May 27, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien, live onboard the USS John F. Kennedy, one of the Navy's 12 active aircraft carriers, here in New York for Fleet Week. This morning, we're going to give you an amazing look at the ship they call Big John and the men and women who keep it going.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Bill Hemmer.
In Iraq, insurgents shooting down a U.S. helicopter, killing two Americans. I'll talk to U.S. general about the new offensive against insurgents there.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Jack Cafferty. That time of the year again. Graduates pouring out of the nation's schools, a lot with no idea what comes next. We'll put you at the lectern this morning for the commencement address and see what advice you have for them.
Also, from Atlanta, the sun coming up in a bizarre standoff, now in its 39th hour. Police still trying to get a murder suspect to come down from an 18-story crane, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome everybody, as we come to you live from on board the USS John F. Kennedy, one of the U.S. Navy's 12 active aircraft carriers, here in New York, of course, for Fleet Week. Everybody knows that these ships are big, but you truly cannot imagine just how awesome they are until you've been on one. And this morning, we're going to take you all around what's happening from the flight deck, where we are this morning, talking to some of the people who do all the different and very important jobs on the JFK, and there are so many of them, thousands of them. It is pretty incredible, in fact, what happens here.
Coming up this morning, we're going to talk to the ship's commander, Captain Dennis Fitzpatrick, about the JFK's most recent mission. They were part of the battle of Fallujah. We'll talk about what kind of support they provided, or of course be interrupted by some of these P.A. announcements that happen all morning as they bring everyone to muster. We'll also get an opportunity this morning to see inside the captain's quarters. Jackie Kennedy designed some part of the quarters, and he'll tell us about that. It's pretty remarkable.
Much more ahead this morning. But before we get to any of that, let's get right back to New York and our studios and Bill Hemmer.
Hey, Bill.
HEMMER: Hey, Soledad. Good morning. Looks great there. Back to the Kennedy in a moment. But first, a lot of other news to talk about this morning on this Friday, and we begin this morning in Iraq. Two U.S. pilots are dead, their helicopter shot down last night by small arms fire near Baqubah. It's about 40 miles north of Baghdad. A second chopper was damaged, but was able to fly back to base.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Brigadier General Donald Alston my guest now from Baghdad.
Sir, we appreciate your time here.
I want to begin with this helicopter incident from yesterday. Two helicopters involved. Apparently, one, the military says was shot down. Two U.S. soldiers are dead as a result. What more can you add to this situation?
BRIG. GEN. DONALD ALSTON, U.S. AIR FORCE: Well, Bill, last night we had some troops in contact and a couple of OH-58 helicopters were called to the scene. They came over target. They both took small arms fire. One of them safely recovered. Unfortunately, one of them was shot down, and we lost both crew members, and our heart goes out to the families.
HEMMER: This happened just hours after Operation Lightning was announced. This is the operation that will begin next week; 40,000 Iraqi forces will patrol the streets of Baghdad. The announcement was made public. Why tip off the insurgents with such a public announcement seven days in advance?
ALSTON: Well, Bill, you know, the Iraqi government, since they took power, have been challenged by the insurgents. And this upsurge in violence has had the government tackle it by doing some planning over the last few weeks, and I think it was important for them to communicate to the Iraqi people they're changing from a defensive posture to an offensive posture. And Operation Lightning is how they're demonstrating that. This has been an Iraqi planned operation and an Iraqi-led operation, and I think that they're conveying that sense of confidence to the public.
HEMMER: Forty-thousand forces in a city of six million, is that enough to make a difference, general?
ALSTON: I think there's no question that the -- with the effect they want to cause, which is to show the Iraqi people that they're taking on this insurgency, and to show their commitment. And in addition to that, it is a very focused operation as well. So I think that the troop levels are sized just right to achieve the effects.
HEMMER: Let me try and cut through it then -- is it a demonstration of force, or just a show of force?
ALSTON: I wouldn't characterize it as either of those. This is a well-designed military operation to achieve well defined objectives. And as much as I can't get into any of the operational details, this has all the ingredients to be a very successful operation.
HEMMER: On the topic of Zarqawi, Iraqi ministers just yesterday saying that they believe they have information that shows he indeed was injured in a raid, perhaps in Ramadi, that took place about a week ago. Does this story, and his injury, or the possibility that he is dead, does it get as much attention in Iraq throughout the U.S. military as we give it the headlines back here?
ALSTON: Well, I think that everyone can't ignore the headlines, and the focus that is on Zarqawi.
As far as we're concerned in terms of how we're conducting our operations, we haven't changed the way we're doing business. We continue to pursue him as aggressively as we have before. Our intention is to kill and capture him, and that just hasn't changed.
We're looking into this information as well as everybody else is. But right now, it hasn't distracted us and hasn't changed the course of action that we've taken.
HEMMER: Do you think if he's dead, the insurgency changes in any degree?
ALSTON: Well, I think that the insurgency is not dependent on one particular person. Clearly, his removal from the scene would have an impact, perhaps on financing and other elements of the insurgency. Day-to-day operations, he has been pursued so aggressively that I'm not sure exactly how much effect he has on day-to-day operations.
In addition to that, the nature of the cellular network, with the insurgency, doesn't depend a lot on those day-to-day communications with him. But I think that he has been on the run pretty well for quite some time, and so it will be interesting to see what his absence from the picture would mean to all of us.
HEMMER: Thank you, Air Force Brigadier General Donald Alston from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: That's the latest from Iraq. Six minutes past the hour. I want to go back to the Kennedy now and Soledad.
Good morning again.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Bill, good morning to you.
You know, thousands of sailors and Marines are strolling the streets of the Big Apple this week. Of course it's all part of the Navy's Fleet Week. The event gives more than 6,000 U.S. and international sailors as well, Marines and air coast -- Coast Guardsmen rather, the chance to meet with the public. This is the 18th annual Fleet Week. Ten ships are docked in New York City's harbor here in Manhattan, and also over in Staten Island as well. They're going to ship out again when Fleet Week ends on Wednesday. The USS John F. Kennedy is the largest of the flotilla of ships that are here in New York Harbor for Fleet Week, and it has an incredibly proud history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): They call her Big John. Named for the 35th president of the United States. The USS John F. Kennedy was christened in 1967 by Kennedy's then 9-year-old daughter, Caroline. She's the Navy's third oldest carrier, and one of only two in the fleet that's still powered by oil. The USS Kennedy has seen 37 years of service around the world, most recently in support of American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She returned home to Mayport, Florida in December after her 18th deployment. It may have been her last.
As a cost-cutting measure, the Navy wants to cut its fleet from 12 carriers to 11. And Big John may be the one to go. This week, sailors man the rails as the Kennedy sailed into New York for Fleet Week, a time for both ship and crew to get some well-deserved rest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Captain Dennis Fitzpatrick is the commander of the USS JFK and he joins us this morning.
First of all, thank you so much for all your kind hospitality in having us.
CAPT. DENNIS FITZPATRICK, CMDR., USS JOHN FITZPATRICK: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: We certainly appreciate it.
You took over command one month before the ship took part in the exercises in Fallujah. What was that like?
FITZPATRICK: I mean, it was exciting, obviously, to be deployed and be a part of the ship. I was very excited about assuming command. This is really the culmination of my career. It was where I wanted to be.
O'BRIEN: But you're assuming command and you go straight into the action.
FITZPATRICK: In a combat zone, yes, and that obviously makes it a little more exciting. So you got to get your feet on the ground, figure out who you're working with there. There are obviously some personalities and whatnot you need to get to know. But our training program is such that there's a lot of standardization there, so we can walk in and keep the organization moving in the right direction and be successful.
O'BRIEN: What did this ship do in support of not only the ground troops, but also the wing that's attached to it? FITZPATRICK: Well, (INAUDIBLE) 17 aircraft flying off JFK's deck, where supporting operations in Fallujah and surrounding areas of Iraq. And it takes 5,500 people to drop a single weapon in combat on that ship. Ever person has a little piece and a role to play. And we spent a lot of time making sure that everybody understands that they do have an important role to play, they need to do it right the first time and every time.
O'BRIEN: It's been amazing how many times the sailors that we've been talking to have talked about teamwork over and over, unprompted by their boss.
FITZPATRICK: I think it's the ultimate team sport, I really do.
O'BRIEN: When you consider then that the JFK's future is iffy. As you know, there are 12 carriers, they're thinking about cutting back to 11, and this is the one on the chopping block, give me a sense of, to be the commander, how that must feel.
FITZPATRICK: Well, obviously, a little anxiety among standard crew, so you've go to keep them informed with what you know as best as possible.
O'BRIEN: What do you know?
FITZPATRICK: Well, right now, we have to wait for the QDR to make a decision. Congress passed a law that we're going to keep 12 carriers until the QDR is released. So we're going to wait and see what the QDR says, and we'll make a decision at that point.
O'BRIEN: Of course everyone has family and their lives onboard this ship. Give me a sense of the anxiety that you talked about.
FITZPATRICK: It's not overwhelming, obviously. Like I said, We spent a lot of time making sure that people understand where we stand. And we've been making sure that we maintain readiness. At the same time, we're -- we were preparing for the possible decom, so there was all a couple of different moving pieces going back and forth.
I think as long as you tell them what's going on and what the decision process is, and me they can kind of track it along with everybody else, that helps alleviate some of the anxiety.
O'BRIEN: I know you've been incredibly busy, but have a you had a chance to get off and check out New York City.
FITZPATRICK: Oh, Yes, I'm originally from upstate New York, so been to the city a couple times. But I have had the opportunity to get off and walk around a little bit, enjoy some New York hospitality. No finer hospitality than the city of New York. So, yes, going to go out and see a Yankees game.
O'BRIEN: Oh, good for you.
FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. O'BRIEN: Great. Well, thank you so much for talking with us, and again, thanks for your all hospitality and your crew as well. We certainly have appreciated it while we've been here.
FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. Thanks for coming. Thanks for hosting us.
O'BRIEN: Our pleasure.
We also want to mention the captain was kind enough, and we're going to show you later in the hour, to give us a tour of his living quarters. They were designed by the late Jacqueline Kennedy, and they are pretty impressive.
FITZPATRICK: Well, cities and towns across the country are preparing to honor the nation's war dead on Memorial Day. More than 220,000 of those killed in service to America are buried, in fact, at Arlington National Cemetery. U.S. troops traditionally place flags at each grave. Memorial Day services are going to be held on Monday.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. If you're planning to travel today, you better be ready for some record crowds out there. We'll tell you what you need to know.
And that bizarre crane standoff in Atlanta enters its third day. A fugitive ignoring police to give himself up.
And back to the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy. Soledad telling us today about this special room designed by Jackie Kennedy. That still to come this hour on a Friday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A little more than 39 hours and counting now for this man here out of Florida, wanted in his girlfriend's death. Remains still today on top of that 18-story crane in Atlanta. Carl Roland is his name. He climbed on board about 4:00 Wednesday afternoon. Negotiators there on the ground still trying to talk him down. Want to go live to Atlanta and Tony Harris.
Any progress for police this morning, Tony?
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, let me tell you, Bill, they're trying everything that they can. Just to sort of bring you up to speed on where we are. Roland, as you mentioned, is still up on that crane, 350 feet above the ground in this residential/commercial neighborhood in Atlanta, the trendy Buckhead neighborhood. And for Atlanta residents here on the ground, it means another day of road closures in the area. It's been a tremendous inconvenience for folks, not only commuters during the morning and afternoon rush, since Wednesday afternoon, as you mentioned, but also for businesses in the area, which essentially are closed down over the last couple days.
For authorities on the ground, they're just trying to get him down, trying to get Roland down safely without him hurting himself or others.
The back story a little bit, as you mentioned, Bill, Roland is linked to the beating death of his girlfriend in Pinellas Park, Florida. Jennifer Gonzalez's body was found earlier this week in a pond near their home. Roland then makes his way to Atlanta, where essentially he gets to this construction site, and he basically bum rushes one of the construction workers on the condominium complex. He jumps on the construction crane elevator, goes up to where he is right now, and that's where he's been for 39, almost 40 hours now.
I arrived on the scene just before 6:00 this morning, and I got to tell you, Roland, he was being serenaded with a bunch of sounds. We're talking about hammers, sirens, negotiators were yelling at him through a megaphone, or a bullhorn or something. And they've been doing everything they can to get him down. And at various times in the last 40 minutes or so, we've seen him just walking along the arm of the crane. He's got some kind of a rope that he's tied himself off on, and then at various points, he's untied himself and he has walked pretty freely up and down that crane. We'll stay here and watch this whole drama unfold.
HEMMER: All right, Tony, thanks.
And to viewers at home, too, there is a delay from the signal coming out of Atlanta. If the worst were to happen, we have the option, clearly, to breakaway from that.
Tony Harris, thanks, in Atlanta, along Peachtree Road down there.
With Americans traveling in record numbers this holiday weekend, chances are getting there will not be half the fun. Just the start of the busy summer travel season. There will be headaches today for sure.
Chris Huntington's live at LaGuardia this morning. We call it getaway day. How's it going, Chris? Good morning.
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, good morning to you.
As you'd expect, it is indeed busy. You give people three days off, they want to take four, and that seems to be the rule of thumb. Folks getting here very early this morning. We've been here since a little after 5:00 p.m. Of course, I'm at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, one of the busiest airports ordinarily in the country, but particularly busy today. The traffic on the roads backing up even more than usual.
Frankly, getting an early start probably isn't going to help too much this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTINGTON (voice-over): Memorial Day is finally upon us, the unofficial start of summer. Even though in much of the country, it feels more like Groundhog Day outside. Still, there is no more American way to honor America's war heroes than to get away for the long weekend, you and just about every other patriot. The Travel Industry Association of America says business is booming. It chalks that up to a national passion for vacations.
SUZANNE COOK, TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSN.: The resilience of the American traveler is what's most exciting about the story this year. We expect the summer to kick off with a record-breaking Memorial Day, and then to continue that strong growth throughout the summer.
HUNTINGTON: AAA also sees a record this weekend, predicting more than 37 million Americans will take a trip of at least 50 miles. The vast majority by car. Even though prices at the pump are higher than for any previous Memorial Day weekend, Americans are sucking up the extra cost and sucking down the fuel.
JUSTIN MCNAUL, AAA: The reality of gas prices is the extra $5, $10 that it might cost you to gas up versus when gas was at $1.70 or $1.50 isn't a deal breaker for most people. If you told your boss a couple weeks ago you're going, you promised your kids a couple months ago you're headed to the beach, you're going to go.
HUNTINGTON: Gas prices, in fact, have come down considerably in the past few weeks and now average just six cents a gallon more than they did a year ago and nearly 25 cents below where the Energy Department predicted prices would be on Memorial Day.
Flyers are benefiting from cutthroat competition and continuing shake-out in the airline industry, with ticket prices on average down 10 percent from a year ago. Rental car rates are off about 4 percent. Hotel rooms, however, are more expensive. So if you're on a budget, you might consider camping like Clark Griswold did.
CHEVY CHASE, ACTOR: We'd like three tents for the night, please.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTINGTON: So where is everybody going? Well, of course, the national parks, theme parks, and Las Vegas, always popular. Here in the New York City area, where, frankly, the weather for the last month or so has been unbearably or unseasonably cold, certainly, Florida very, very popular destination. And as you can see from the folks pulling up here, it's, indeed, very, very busy -- Bill.
HEMMER: Pack your patience, right? Thanks, Chris. Out of La Guardia. Back to the Kennedy now and Soledad again. Hello out there.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Bill, good morning again. You know, this entire ship, obviously, is a tribute to the late John F. Kennedy, and all of it begins with a very special cabin that was designed by his wife, Jackie.
Also this morning, we're going to talk to some of the men and women of the USS John F. Kennedy, who are here for the 18th Annual Fleet Week. We'll bring you those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back. Long awaited legal action against the insurance giant AIG, and on the same day, Ohio goes after its former CEO. Tough day going. Here's Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business." Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": Good morning to you, Bill. The nation's largest insurance company in the cross hair of two state attorney generals this morning. AIG, American International Group is the company we're talking about. First, here in Manhattan. New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filing the first formal charges against this company, which has been under investigation for many months now. The charges include manipulating results, propping up the stock, hiding losses and arranging fraudulent transactions. It's a long list there, as you can see.
There's an interesting part of this lawsuit, a situation where there's notes from one AIG staffer, saying that Hank Greenberg asked about a particular transaction. He said, are we legal? And the staffer responded if we were, we wouldn't be in business. To which Hank Greenberg started laughing. That doesn't look very good.
HEMMER: Smoking gun?
SERWER: Yes, well, it was a joke. But still, you don't want to joke around about stuff like that.
Meanwhile over in Ohio, the state attorney general there, Jim Petro (ph) has filed a suit against Hank Greenberg because of a stock transaction that we reported several weeks ago. Two days before Greenberg stepped down as CEO, he transferred $2.6 billion to his wife Corinne (ph). That doesn't look so great and so that's a lot of stuff for these guys to be looking into.
HEMMER: Ever made a commencement address?
SERWER: No, I haven't.
HEMMER: Really?
SERWER: No.
HEMMER: He has. Here's Jack, talking about graduation. Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Good morning. It's that time of the year again. President Bush set to address the graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis today. These were students who were freshmen when terrorists knocked down the World Trade Center and attacked the Pentagon in 2001. Now they're graduating. Many will go on to military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, their futures very much unknown.
As graduates all over the country hear these send-offs, many are undoubtedly thinking now what? Most of us have listened to the speeches, some of us have given them. It's very much an open question whether they make any lasting difference or not. But here's your chance to put yourself at the podium for the class of 2005. What advice would you give this year's graduates?
HEMMER: Very appropriate, too. Cool, thanks, Jack.
Back to the Kennedy in a moment here, back to Soledad out there first. Plus this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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