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American Morning

California Quakes; Battling Insurgents; Rare Meeting

Aired June 17, 2005 - 8:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. An overnight aftershock shaking California. Four quakes in a week in a rare earthquake cluster. We'll get a live report on what's happening today there.
Caught on tape. A Goodyear blimp goes down in a Florida thunderstorm, crashing into power lines and buildings. Two people trapped inside.

And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: Yes, I proposed to Katie last night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Tom Cruise pops the question in Paris. Katie Holmes says yes. There are wedding bells on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody.

Also ahead this morning, fighting in western Iraq today. There's some new pictures from Ramadi, where the U.S. troops are trying to retake parts of the city now held by insurgents.

HEMMER: And not far from where these pictures were taken, a new offensive. It's called Operation Spear near the Syrian border by about five miles, also in full force. We'll talk to a brigadier general in Iraq about that in a moment, also talk about the objectives ongoing there.

O'BRIEN: Before we get to any of that, though, let's get a look at the headlines with Carol Costello again.

Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning, everyone.

"Now in the News," a U.S. soldier in Iraq has been charged with murder. Staff Sergeant Alberto Martinez is accused of killing his company commander and operations officer at a U.S. base in northern Iraq. It was first thought that Captain Philip Esposito (ph) and 1st Lieutenant Louis Allen (ph) died in a June 7 mortar attack. The soldier charged is being held at an American base in Kuwait. More on this story from CNN's Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon in just a few minutes.

The helicopter flyover in Aruba fails to turn up any signs of Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager has been missing now for almost three weeks. Also today, an Aruban judge is expected to decide whether defense attorneys may see evidence gathered in the case. Three young men seen with Holloway the night she disappeared remain in custody.

President Bush is promoting Medicare's new prescription drug benefit today. The president left Andrews Air force Base just a short time ago. He's now heading to Minnesota. He'll talk to seniors there about signing up for the coverage which starts in January.

And talk show queen Oprah Winfrey tops this year's "Forbes" celebrity 100 list. Winfrey is up from number three last year. Even though she got the top spot, she's not the top earner. That would be "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. He comes in at number four on the list. Golf pro Tiger Woods is second.

"Forbes" says its power rankings give most way to earnings, but they also factor in popularity standards.

And Chad, for the 41st year in a row, you didn't make it either.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No. But you know what? Oprah can make or break a book. With her book club, she recommends a book, and, man, the guy's a bestseller. So, yes, she has that kind of power, absolutely.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.

Let's go right to California now. Another earthquake, this one overnight. The second since early Thursday, the fourth since Sunday.

Residents are no doubt wondering what's next. The latest quake, which was centered about 300 miles northwest of San Francisco, measured a magnitude 6.6.

CNN's Ted Rowlands live for us at the Caltech Seismology Lab in Pasadena.

Good morning, Ted. What are expects saying about what these number of earthquakes mean?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're not really sure if there's a connection. They are studying it. They say at this point there's no real link they can prove, but it is odd.

It has happened before. The last time was about 20 year ago. The 6.6 from last night they are considering an aftershock of a 7.2 that hit there Tuesday. There have been two here in southern California. The one here yesterday could be felt throughout the entire Los Angeles area.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are in the midst of an earthquake here in southern California...

ROWLANDS (voice-over): It was felt at the racetrack and in just about every living room in the Los Angeles area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in my power lounger, and it started shaking. And my wife was in the kitchen by the refrigerator, and she had to grab the wall and the refrigerator.

ROWLANDS: Yesterday's earthquake was the third in California in less than a week, leaving people to think, there must be a connection. Seismologists say that's possible, but think it's more likely that Mother Nature is just sending a reminder.

DR. LUCY JONES, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: This is not an unusual level of earthquake activity. We live in earthquake country, and we should remember it.

ROWLANDS: Yesterday's 4.9 earthquake was centered just north of the city of Yucaipa. Some people living near the epicenter reported minor damage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it did all the damages to porch and the eaves and everything, and to the chimney on the fireplace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was pretty scary. It was pretty like wavy, it felt like. A lot of things -- some stuff fell down.

ROWLANDS: Two earthquakes hit the state earlier in the week, a 5.6 near the city of Anza Sunday and a 7.2 90 miles off the coast of northern California on Monday. The northern quake set off a tsunami warning that turned out to be a false alarm. Also, a 7.8 quake killed at least 11 people in Chile Monday, and a 6.8 hit the Aleutian Islands off Alaska on Tuesday.

Seismologists say they plan to study any possible relationship between the earthquakes but don't anticipate proving any sort of link. Meanwhile, until the next one, life goes on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dark Beauty's a neck in front. Pleasant Thunder alongside. These two come to the wire in a shaker!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: And the big question is, will there be more of these shakers, and at what magnitude, if there are. People just having to wait and see. Seismologists continue to study the data as it comes in to see if they can link any of these earthquakes to possibly see what is coming next -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, Ted, you know, we heard the seismologist say, remember, we live in earthquake country. But I'm curious to know about how folks are feeling there. They must be pretty rattled.

ROWLANDS: Yes. You know, they say that, on average, California gets two 5s a year. But that hasn't happened in about a decade. So people forget that. Back in the '80s, it was more frequent.

Clearly, people have earthquake on their minds. And this last one, although it was only a 4.9, really, it could be felt by everybody in Los Angeles. So people -- people were a bit unnerved and crossing their fingers as to what -- what they should expect next.

O'BRIEN: All right. Expect that. All right. Ted Rowlands for us this morning. Ted, thanks -- Bill.

HEMMER: Investigators in south Florida want to know what caused the crash of a Goodyear blimp on Thursday afternoon. That airship came down in the power lines before landing on top of a self-storage facility in Coral Springs. That's about 35 miles northwest of Miami.

Two pilots briefly trapped in the wreckage. They managed to get out on their own. Investigators now looking at the external factors as a cause. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE MOSER, CORAL SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT: Weather may have had a part in that, because we were having some severe storms in the area during that time, and some fairly moderate winds. But again, the NTSB is going to be investigating exactly why that happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Emergency workers had to cut electricity to the power lines that came down on the crash before they could rescue those pilots. Again, south Florida -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A new offensive is now under way in Iraq. Operation Spear is a large-scale campaign to root out insurgents in western Iraq.

Brigadier General Donald Alston live in Baghdad for us this morning.

It's nice to see you, General. Thank you very much for talking with us.

BRIG. GEN. DONALD ALSTON, DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMAND: Nice to see you, too.

O'BRIEN: What's the status of this operation so far?

ALSTON: Well, the operation is in the early stages right now, and I can't talk too much about the specific details going on, but I can tell you that it's another part of our continuing effort to keep up the pressure on the insurgency. And in this particular area, it's to knock down that foreign component to the insurgency and to focus on people that will be coming across the border from Syria to do harm to Iraqis deeper into Iraq.

O'BRIEN: We've had a reporter reporting live for us in the area. She's embedded with some of the military there. And she said this area in western Iraq is described as almost lawless. Is that an accurate description?

ALSTON: I'm sorry. I couldn't hear that. Almost what?

O'BRIEN: Forgive me. "Lawless" is the word that she used. It's almost, you know, overrun, no military police, no sort of policing facilities, things like that. Is that an accurate way to put it?

ALSTON: I don't know that I would call it that. But certainly, I think that the -- the insurgents and the enemy think that they have the freedom to operate out there, and this is another indication that they will not have the freedom to operate there. And we're pressing to fight aggressively, as we are throughout the country of Iraq.

O'BRIEN: As you press that fight aggressively, how are you protecting the civilians, especially in light of the declaration from al-Zarqawi that it's OK to kill civilians?

ALSTON: Well, certainly when we're conducting -- planning and conducting these operations, we have our procedures and the way we do business in conjunction with the Iraqis. The plans are very detailed.

We've done great analysis. We know where our targets are. We know exactly who -- who we're going after. And the civilians, also, unfortunately, caught in the situation they're in, they do their best to the stay out of the way, and we take all the precautions that we can.

But it's the insurgents that are putting the people at risk. And we work through that and continue that fight against the insurgents.

O'BRIEN: The Marines, we're told, are making up the bulk of the fighting forces. To what degree are the Iraqi forces participating? How many are involved?

ALSTON: In this particular case, I think we have a little bit more than 100 are involved. They're playing a key role, particularly if we get into any particular sensitive targets. They always contribute a great deal because of their ability to communicate with the -- with the local Iraqis.

I think that the Iraqi people have great confidence in their Iraqi security forces. So their presence means a lot. And it means a lot more than just the combat capability they provide.

O'BRIEN: Yesterday, we were told of the arrest of a man named Abu Talha, and told that he is the leader of al Qaeda in Mosul. Give me a sense of just how significant this arrest is. ALSTON: Well, Talha was responsible for conducting operations in northern Iraq. So I think taking him out of the picture does two things in particular.

One of them is, it really does knock down the ability to conduct those operations. We still expect that the terrorists will still be able to extract, legitimize themselves up there, but we think this will have a long-term big impact there.

And additionally, though, he is a key player in Zarqawi's network. And so, throughout the country of Iraq, and the relationship with al Qaeda, we also think that he's going to - his loss is going to hurt the network, too.

O'BRIEN: As you well know, there are some lawmakers who are calling for a timetable, who want a plan for the withdrawal of troops. What do you think of that?

ALSTON: Well, we, from here, the planning that we're doing, we're not looking at a timetable. We're looking at a conditions-based reduction strategy, a capabilities-based strategy, one where we can continue to grow the combat capability of the Iraqi forces. And when they reach that certain level of combat capability that they can conduct operations independently and sustain themselves independently, then that's the time that they're going to be ready to take over an additional part of Iraq.

And I think if we artificially strap a timetable to it, it -- it might not give us the clarity that we need in order to ensure that we make the right call when we turn over the defense of Iraq exclusively to the Iraqi security forces.

O'BRIEN: Brigadier General Donald Alston joining us this morning. He's the director of strategic communications. Thank you very much for your time.

HEMMER: Let's go from Iraq, Soledad, now, to South Korea, and North Korea, too, with the first meeting there in more than three years between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and a top representative from South Korea. It took place in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, and it's raising hopes for some at the future of talks over the north's nuclear ambitions.

Seoul bureau chief Sohn Jie-Ae joins us now by way of videophone.

How significant was this meeting today?

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, the significance, I think, lies more in its tone than in its substance. The tone today was very conciliatory.

South Korea's unification minister, Chung Dong-young, sat down for more than two hours with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. And when he came back to South Korea later today, he said the North Korean leader had told him that North Korea was willing to return to the six- party talks as early as July if the United States recognized North Korea as a partner and respected it. He also did say, however, that this was something that would have to be discussed more in detail with the United States.

Now, what we -- what we hear -- heard about what Kim Jong-il has said is not particularly new, though he did mention a month, and the tone was nice. And we did hear it from lower-level officials, and we have been hearing it from North Korea's official news agency.

But this time we heard tr from the man himself, Kim Jong-il, who is the ultimate ruler in North Korea. So overall, it does seem to paint a significant, or relatively a positive picture for the outside world, which actually wants to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program -- Bill.

HEMMER: Sohn Jie-Ae reporting from Seoul, Korea. Thanks for that -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a new development in the trial of Edgar Ray Killen. The former Klansman arriving for court just moments ago in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Will his trial go on after his health scare on Thursday?

HEMMER: Also, charges of murder in the military. A U.S. soldier stands accused of killing his commanders in Iraq. Live to the Pentagon, an update on that as we continue after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: New developments in Mississippi today. Eighty-year-old Edgar Ray Killen has been released from the hospital. Only a short time ago he arrived back at the courthouse for his murder trial to continue today. In the middle of testimony Thursday, he was taken by ambulance after complaining of chest pain and a headache.

Ed Lavandera is live at the courthouse in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Does this mean the trial's back on track, Ed, picking up where he left off yesterday?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Well, Edgar Ray Killen just walking in to the courtroom just a few minutes ago, so everyone in the process of making their way into the courtroom.

We suspect that testimony will pick up where it left off yesterday. And we'll see how far they can -- they can get today.

But Edgar Ray Killen smiling with officers who helped roll him into the courthouse this morning. Every morning he comes in, in a wheelchair. So the officers that were helping him in this morning were kind of laughing with him. And he seemed to be in much better condition today, but not everyone is believing his story from yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The public will know the facts of this case, and...

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Just as the first witness was about to testify, Edgar Ray Killen started complaining of chest pains and a headache. Less than an hour later, paramedics wheeled him out of the courthouse on a stretcher.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you feeling, Edgar?

LAVANDERA: Doctors say Killen was suffering from high blood pressure, which has been a problem for him since he broke both legs in a tree-cutting accident three months ago. Doctors say Killen is alert and in good condition.

DR. PATRICK EAKES, NESHOBA COUNTY HOSPITAL: Stress can do this, but also you have to consider his age and consider the injuries that he has had in the past that can actually make -- you have fluctuations in your blood pressure which can contribute to his symptoms.

LAVANDERA: A relative of James Chaney, one of the three civil rights workers murdered here in 1964, was skeptical of Killen's sudden departure from the courtroom, which came just at the widow of another victim was about to testify.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think it's a ploy that, you know, that he...

BARBARA CHANEY DALEY, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: Do you want me to really say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do.

DALEY: You honestly want me to say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am.

DALEY: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think it's a ploy?

DALEY: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you think that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, why do you think that?

DALEY: I'm sure the man is ill, but I think he's playing on his illness.

LAVANDERA: Killen's attorney says that's not true. He says his client is a frail, aging man who is battling to make it through the trial.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first question is, is he going to be OK? I don't know.

LAVANDERA: To help keep Killen comfortable, there's a separate room in the courthouse with a hospital bed and a nurse. The judge even plans to take breaks every two hours so Killen can stretch his legs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name was Michael, your Honor, correct?

LAVANDERA: Prosecutors are eager to get the trial back on track. They want people to remember the words of witnesses, like Rita Bender, who talked of what it was like to lose her husband, Michael Schwerner.

JAMES HOOD, MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL: Unfortunately, you know, all the talk about the Klan and other -- other issues in this case, it really boils down to a family member who has lost her husband. And those memories don't fade, and I think it shows...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: Now, the doctor that treated Mr. Killen yesterday in the emergency room says that anyone who would have been brought up -- brought in with the symptoms that Mr. Killen was showing would have been kept at that hospital overnight, or for at least 24 hours, to go through a battery of tests -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed, the prosecutors told the jury not to allows Killen's frail appearance to sway them. How much of that is a concern for the prosecution in this case?

LAVANDERA: It has been, and it's actually been a lot of talk leading up to this trial. The defense has been saying that -- of course, that Mr. Killen is too old to be going through something like this.

And one of interesting things that happens during the course of this trial, any time that Mr. Killen is taken in or out of the courtroom in his wheelchair, that is done outside of the presence of the jury. The concern is, is that that might influence them in some way -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed Lavandera, live in Philadelphia, Mississippi -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi still the most dangerous man in Iraq? One CNN expert says two other insurgent groups could be just as deadly.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: As many of you may already know, today is Bill Hemmer's last day. He goes on to big e and better things. Bill has been at CNN for 10 years. He has, I don't know, what, a million friends and colleagues? And all of them wanted to wish him well.

We wanted to hear it, too. So here's just a little sampling.

HEMMER: Thank you. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": We'll wish you, Hemmer. Keep in touch.

PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": Good luck, Hemmer Head, my friend Bill.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, good luck to you. We'll miss you.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Every time you were on the air, Bill, you made us all better. It's a great loss for CNN, but I know you're going on to a lot bigger and better things. And you have a great and exciting future. And I wish you all the best.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Bill, we've all enjoyed working with you here at CNN, and we wish you all of the best in your future endeavors. It's been a pleasure working with you over the years.

All the best. Take care. Have fun.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good luck, Bill. We love you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Bill Hemmer, in honor of your service and your friendship, I wish to deliver my rendition of the Ohio state song.

(SINGING): Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Even at 5:00 a.m., you are fired up about the news, passionate about getting the story right, and always looking to be better. Your enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us. I will miss you, my friend.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Anybody that knows Bill Hemmer knows that his life is like a rocket, always accelerating and always moving up. So here's to you, my friend. Here's to blue skies always. And as they say, go catch a dream.

Farewell.

NANCY GRACE, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, you've been here 10 years. You came as baby reporter, now you're headed off to the sunset. I only have one thing to say to you, Bill Hemmer, goodbye, friend. Walk slow and hurry back.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Best of luck. We're going to miss you, but you know you won't go far. I will come find you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That was...

HEMMER: Nice. Very well done.

O'BRIEN: Who knew Bill Schneider could sing? You were serenaded.

HEMMER: I've never knew that song from Ohio, and I lived there for 30 years.

O'BRIEN: Really? Well, I've got to tell you something first.

HEMMER: Yes?

O'BRIEN: That is such a tiny percentage of all of the people who love you and who also want us to give you their fond farewell. So we're going to gather all of those as well and give those to you personally.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what to say.

HEMMER: Well, give it a try.

(LAUGHTER)

HEMMER: Carol, you are never short of words.

COSTELLO: I know. I am never at a loss for words, but one of the truly genuine, loyal, sincere, honest people in this really weird business that we're all in. And you will truly be missed.

HEMMER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: You've been such a good friend to me.

HEMMER: Thanks.

O'BRIEN: We've got 35 minutes to go. We're not saying our final good-byes yet. We're all getting teary up here. That's not right, not yet.

HEMMER: Well, you know what? I think it's a reflection of friendship, and it's a reflection of the experience we share together through this crazy business, and behind the camera, and outside of the cathode ray tube, if they still exist out there, you find people that make this place go.

So I'll put that to the side and I'll talk about that in 30 minutes, all right? It's been a long time since I've cried.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

HEMMER: Keep pushing.

O'BRIEN: Bring your tissues in, Ruth (ph). We're going to need them. We're going to need them.

HEMMER: You might get me there.

O'BRIEN: But in the short time, let's take a short break. We're going to continue on, on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.

No crying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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Aired June 17, 2005 - 8:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. An overnight aftershock shaking California. Four quakes in a week in a rare earthquake cluster. We'll get a live report on what's happening today there.
Caught on tape. A Goodyear blimp goes down in a Florida thunderstorm, crashing into power lines and buildings. Two people trapped inside.

And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: Yes, I proposed to Katie last night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Tom Cruise pops the question in Paris. Katie Holmes says yes. There are wedding bells on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody.

Also ahead this morning, fighting in western Iraq today. There's some new pictures from Ramadi, where the U.S. troops are trying to retake parts of the city now held by insurgents.

HEMMER: And not far from where these pictures were taken, a new offensive. It's called Operation Spear near the Syrian border by about five miles, also in full force. We'll talk to a brigadier general in Iraq about that in a moment, also talk about the objectives ongoing there.

O'BRIEN: Before we get to any of that, though, let's get a look at the headlines with Carol Costello again.

Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning, everyone.

"Now in the News," a U.S. soldier in Iraq has been charged with murder. Staff Sergeant Alberto Martinez is accused of killing his company commander and operations officer at a U.S. base in northern Iraq. It was first thought that Captain Philip Esposito (ph) and 1st Lieutenant Louis Allen (ph) died in a June 7 mortar attack. The soldier charged is being held at an American base in Kuwait. More on this story from CNN's Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon in just a few minutes.

The helicopter flyover in Aruba fails to turn up any signs of Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager has been missing now for almost three weeks. Also today, an Aruban judge is expected to decide whether defense attorneys may see evidence gathered in the case. Three young men seen with Holloway the night she disappeared remain in custody.

President Bush is promoting Medicare's new prescription drug benefit today. The president left Andrews Air force Base just a short time ago. He's now heading to Minnesota. He'll talk to seniors there about signing up for the coverage which starts in January.

And talk show queen Oprah Winfrey tops this year's "Forbes" celebrity 100 list. Winfrey is up from number three last year. Even though she got the top spot, she's not the top earner. That would be "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. He comes in at number four on the list. Golf pro Tiger Woods is second.

"Forbes" says its power rankings give most way to earnings, but they also factor in popularity standards.

And Chad, for the 41st year in a row, you didn't make it either.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No. But you know what? Oprah can make or break a book. With her book club, she recommends a book, and, man, the guy's a bestseller. So, yes, she has that kind of power, absolutely.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.

Let's go right to California now. Another earthquake, this one overnight. The second since early Thursday, the fourth since Sunday.

Residents are no doubt wondering what's next. The latest quake, which was centered about 300 miles northwest of San Francisco, measured a magnitude 6.6.

CNN's Ted Rowlands live for us at the Caltech Seismology Lab in Pasadena.

Good morning, Ted. What are expects saying about what these number of earthquakes mean?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're not really sure if there's a connection. They are studying it. They say at this point there's no real link they can prove, but it is odd.

It has happened before. The last time was about 20 year ago. The 6.6 from last night they are considering an aftershock of a 7.2 that hit there Tuesday. There have been two here in southern California. The one here yesterday could be felt throughout the entire Los Angeles area.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are in the midst of an earthquake here in southern California...

ROWLANDS (voice-over): It was felt at the racetrack and in just about every living room in the Los Angeles area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in my power lounger, and it started shaking. And my wife was in the kitchen by the refrigerator, and she had to grab the wall and the refrigerator.

ROWLANDS: Yesterday's earthquake was the third in California in less than a week, leaving people to think, there must be a connection. Seismologists say that's possible, but think it's more likely that Mother Nature is just sending a reminder.

DR. LUCY JONES, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: This is not an unusual level of earthquake activity. We live in earthquake country, and we should remember it.

ROWLANDS: Yesterday's 4.9 earthquake was centered just north of the city of Yucaipa. Some people living near the epicenter reported minor damage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it did all the damages to porch and the eaves and everything, and to the chimney on the fireplace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was pretty scary. It was pretty like wavy, it felt like. A lot of things -- some stuff fell down.

ROWLANDS: Two earthquakes hit the state earlier in the week, a 5.6 near the city of Anza Sunday and a 7.2 90 miles off the coast of northern California on Monday. The northern quake set off a tsunami warning that turned out to be a false alarm. Also, a 7.8 quake killed at least 11 people in Chile Monday, and a 6.8 hit the Aleutian Islands off Alaska on Tuesday.

Seismologists say they plan to study any possible relationship between the earthquakes but don't anticipate proving any sort of link. Meanwhile, until the next one, life goes on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dark Beauty's a neck in front. Pleasant Thunder alongside. These two come to the wire in a shaker!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: And the big question is, will there be more of these shakers, and at what magnitude, if there are. People just having to wait and see. Seismologists continue to study the data as it comes in to see if they can link any of these earthquakes to possibly see what is coming next -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, Ted, you know, we heard the seismologist say, remember, we live in earthquake country. But I'm curious to know about how folks are feeling there. They must be pretty rattled.

ROWLANDS: Yes. You know, they say that, on average, California gets two 5s a year. But that hasn't happened in about a decade. So people forget that. Back in the '80s, it was more frequent.

Clearly, people have earthquake on their minds. And this last one, although it was only a 4.9, really, it could be felt by everybody in Los Angeles. So people -- people were a bit unnerved and crossing their fingers as to what -- what they should expect next.

O'BRIEN: All right. Expect that. All right. Ted Rowlands for us this morning. Ted, thanks -- Bill.

HEMMER: Investigators in south Florida want to know what caused the crash of a Goodyear blimp on Thursday afternoon. That airship came down in the power lines before landing on top of a self-storage facility in Coral Springs. That's about 35 miles northwest of Miami.

Two pilots briefly trapped in the wreckage. They managed to get out on their own. Investigators now looking at the external factors as a cause. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE MOSER, CORAL SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT: Weather may have had a part in that, because we were having some severe storms in the area during that time, and some fairly moderate winds. But again, the NTSB is going to be investigating exactly why that happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Emergency workers had to cut electricity to the power lines that came down on the crash before they could rescue those pilots. Again, south Florida -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A new offensive is now under way in Iraq. Operation Spear is a large-scale campaign to root out insurgents in western Iraq.

Brigadier General Donald Alston live in Baghdad for us this morning.

It's nice to see you, General. Thank you very much for talking with us.

BRIG. GEN. DONALD ALSTON, DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMAND: Nice to see you, too.

O'BRIEN: What's the status of this operation so far?

ALSTON: Well, the operation is in the early stages right now, and I can't talk too much about the specific details going on, but I can tell you that it's another part of our continuing effort to keep up the pressure on the insurgency. And in this particular area, it's to knock down that foreign component to the insurgency and to focus on people that will be coming across the border from Syria to do harm to Iraqis deeper into Iraq.

O'BRIEN: We've had a reporter reporting live for us in the area. She's embedded with some of the military there. And she said this area in western Iraq is described as almost lawless. Is that an accurate description?

ALSTON: I'm sorry. I couldn't hear that. Almost what?

O'BRIEN: Forgive me. "Lawless" is the word that she used. It's almost, you know, overrun, no military police, no sort of policing facilities, things like that. Is that an accurate way to put it?

ALSTON: I don't know that I would call it that. But certainly, I think that the -- the insurgents and the enemy think that they have the freedom to operate out there, and this is another indication that they will not have the freedom to operate there. And we're pressing to fight aggressively, as we are throughout the country of Iraq.

O'BRIEN: As you press that fight aggressively, how are you protecting the civilians, especially in light of the declaration from al-Zarqawi that it's OK to kill civilians?

ALSTON: Well, certainly when we're conducting -- planning and conducting these operations, we have our procedures and the way we do business in conjunction with the Iraqis. The plans are very detailed.

We've done great analysis. We know where our targets are. We know exactly who -- who we're going after. And the civilians, also, unfortunately, caught in the situation they're in, they do their best to the stay out of the way, and we take all the precautions that we can.

But it's the insurgents that are putting the people at risk. And we work through that and continue that fight against the insurgents.

O'BRIEN: The Marines, we're told, are making up the bulk of the fighting forces. To what degree are the Iraqi forces participating? How many are involved?

ALSTON: In this particular case, I think we have a little bit more than 100 are involved. They're playing a key role, particularly if we get into any particular sensitive targets. They always contribute a great deal because of their ability to communicate with the -- with the local Iraqis.

I think that the Iraqi people have great confidence in their Iraqi security forces. So their presence means a lot. And it means a lot more than just the combat capability they provide.

O'BRIEN: Yesterday, we were told of the arrest of a man named Abu Talha, and told that he is the leader of al Qaeda in Mosul. Give me a sense of just how significant this arrest is. ALSTON: Well, Talha was responsible for conducting operations in northern Iraq. So I think taking him out of the picture does two things in particular.

One of them is, it really does knock down the ability to conduct those operations. We still expect that the terrorists will still be able to extract, legitimize themselves up there, but we think this will have a long-term big impact there.

And additionally, though, he is a key player in Zarqawi's network. And so, throughout the country of Iraq, and the relationship with al Qaeda, we also think that he's going to - his loss is going to hurt the network, too.

O'BRIEN: As you well know, there are some lawmakers who are calling for a timetable, who want a plan for the withdrawal of troops. What do you think of that?

ALSTON: Well, we, from here, the planning that we're doing, we're not looking at a timetable. We're looking at a conditions-based reduction strategy, a capabilities-based strategy, one where we can continue to grow the combat capability of the Iraqi forces. And when they reach that certain level of combat capability that they can conduct operations independently and sustain themselves independently, then that's the time that they're going to be ready to take over an additional part of Iraq.

And I think if we artificially strap a timetable to it, it -- it might not give us the clarity that we need in order to ensure that we make the right call when we turn over the defense of Iraq exclusively to the Iraqi security forces.

O'BRIEN: Brigadier General Donald Alston joining us this morning. He's the director of strategic communications. Thank you very much for your time.

HEMMER: Let's go from Iraq, Soledad, now, to South Korea, and North Korea, too, with the first meeting there in more than three years between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and a top representative from South Korea. It took place in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, and it's raising hopes for some at the future of talks over the north's nuclear ambitions.

Seoul bureau chief Sohn Jie-Ae joins us now by way of videophone.

How significant was this meeting today?

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, the significance, I think, lies more in its tone than in its substance. The tone today was very conciliatory.

South Korea's unification minister, Chung Dong-young, sat down for more than two hours with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. And when he came back to South Korea later today, he said the North Korean leader had told him that North Korea was willing to return to the six- party talks as early as July if the United States recognized North Korea as a partner and respected it. He also did say, however, that this was something that would have to be discussed more in detail with the United States.

Now, what we -- what we hear -- heard about what Kim Jong-il has said is not particularly new, though he did mention a month, and the tone was nice. And we did hear it from lower-level officials, and we have been hearing it from North Korea's official news agency.

But this time we heard tr from the man himself, Kim Jong-il, who is the ultimate ruler in North Korea. So overall, it does seem to paint a significant, or relatively a positive picture for the outside world, which actually wants to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program -- Bill.

HEMMER: Sohn Jie-Ae reporting from Seoul, Korea. Thanks for that -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a new development in the trial of Edgar Ray Killen. The former Klansman arriving for court just moments ago in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Will his trial go on after his health scare on Thursday?

HEMMER: Also, charges of murder in the military. A U.S. soldier stands accused of killing his commanders in Iraq. Live to the Pentagon, an update on that as we continue after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: New developments in Mississippi today. Eighty-year-old Edgar Ray Killen has been released from the hospital. Only a short time ago he arrived back at the courthouse for his murder trial to continue today. In the middle of testimony Thursday, he was taken by ambulance after complaining of chest pain and a headache.

Ed Lavandera is live at the courthouse in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Does this mean the trial's back on track, Ed, picking up where he left off yesterday?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Well, Edgar Ray Killen just walking in to the courtroom just a few minutes ago, so everyone in the process of making their way into the courtroom.

We suspect that testimony will pick up where it left off yesterday. And we'll see how far they can -- they can get today.

But Edgar Ray Killen smiling with officers who helped roll him into the courthouse this morning. Every morning he comes in, in a wheelchair. So the officers that were helping him in this morning were kind of laughing with him. And he seemed to be in much better condition today, but not everyone is believing his story from yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The public will know the facts of this case, and...

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Just as the first witness was about to testify, Edgar Ray Killen started complaining of chest pains and a headache. Less than an hour later, paramedics wheeled him out of the courthouse on a stretcher.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you feeling, Edgar?

LAVANDERA: Doctors say Killen was suffering from high blood pressure, which has been a problem for him since he broke both legs in a tree-cutting accident three months ago. Doctors say Killen is alert and in good condition.

DR. PATRICK EAKES, NESHOBA COUNTY HOSPITAL: Stress can do this, but also you have to consider his age and consider the injuries that he has had in the past that can actually make -- you have fluctuations in your blood pressure which can contribute to his symptoms.

LAVANDERA: A relative of James Chaney, one of the three civil rights workers murdered here in 1964, was skeptical of Killen's sudden departure from the courtroom, which came just at the widow of another victim was about to testify.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think it's a ploy that, you know, that he...

BARBARA CHANEY DALEY, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: Do you want me to really say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do.

DALEY: You honestly want me to say?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am.

DALEY: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think it's a ploy?

DALEY: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you think that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, why do you think that?

DALEY: I'm sure the man is ill, but I think he's playing on his illness.

LAVANDERA: Killen's attorney says that's not true. He says his client is a frail, aging man who is battling to make it through the trial.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first question is, is he going to be OK? I don't know.

LAVANDERA: To help keep Killen comfortable, there's a separate room in the courthouse with a hospital bed and a nurse. The judge even plans to take breaks every two hours so Killen can stretch his legs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name was Michael, your Honor, correct?

LAVANDERA: Prosecutors are eager to get the trial back on track. They want people to remember the words of witnesses, like Rita Bender, who talked of what it was like to lose her husband, Michael Schwerner.

JAMES HOOD, MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL: Unfortunately, you know, all the talk about the Klan and other -- other issues in this case, it really boils down to a family member who has lost her husband. And those memories don't fade, and I think it shows...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: Now, the doctor that treated Mr. Killen yesterday in the emergency room says that anyone who would have been brought up -- brought in with the symptoms that Mr. Killen was showing would have been kept at that hospital overnight, or for at least 24 hours, to go through a battery of tests -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed, the prosecutors told the jury not to allows Killen's frail appearance to sway them. How much of that is a concern for the prosecution in this case?

LAVANDERA: It has been, and it's actually been a lot of talk leading up to this trial. The defense has been saying that -- of course, that Mr. Killen is too old to be going through something like this.

And one of interesting things that happens during the course of this trial, any time that Mr. Killen is taken in or out of the courtroom in his wheelchair, that is done outside of the presence of the jury. The concern is, is that that might influence them in some way -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ed Lavandera, live in Philadelphia, Mississippi -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi still the most dangerous man in Iraq? One CNN expert says two other insurgent groups could be just as deadly.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: As many of you may already know, today is Bill Hemmer's last day. He goes on to big e and better things. Bill has been at CNN for 10 years. He has, I don't know, what, a million friends and colleagues? And all of them wanted to wish him well.

We wanted to hear it, too. So here's just a little sampling.

HEMMER: Thank you. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": We'll wish you, Hemmer. Keep in touch.

PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": Good luck, Hemmer Head, my friend Bill.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, good luck to you. We'll miss you.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Every time you were on the air, Bill, you made us all better. It's a great loss for CNN, but I know you're going on to a lot bigger and better things. And you have a great and exciting future. And I wish you all the best.

LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Bill, we've all enjoyed working with you here at CNN, and we wish you all of the best in your future endeavors. It's been a pleasure working with you over the years.

All the best. Take care. Have fun.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good luck, Bill. We love you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Bill Hemmer, in honor of your service and your friendship, I wish to deliver my rendition of the Ohio state song.

(SINGING): Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Even at 5:00 a.m., you are fired up about the news, passionate about getting the story right, and always looking to be better. Your enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us. I will miss you, my friend.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Anybody that knows Bill Hemmer knows that his life is like a rocket, always accelerating and always moving up. So here's to you, my friend. Here's to blue skies always. And as they say, go catch a dream.

Farewell.

NANCY GRACE, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, you've been here 10 years. You came as baby reporter, now you're headed off to the sunset. I only have one thing to say to you, Bill Hemmer, goodbye, friend. Walk slow and hurry back.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Best of luck. We're going to miss you, but you know you won't go far. I will come find you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That was...

HEMMER: Nice. Very well done.

O'BRIEN: Who knew Bill Schneider could sing? You were serenaded.

HEMMER: I've never knew that song from Ohio, and I lived there for 30 years.

O'BRIEN: Really? Well, I've got to tell you something first.

HEMMER: Yes?

O'BRIEN: That is such a tiny percentage of all of the people who love you and who also want us to give you their fond farewell. So we're going to gather all of those as well and give those to you personally.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what to say.

HEMMER: Well, give it a try.

(LAUGHTER)

HEMMER: Carol, you are never short of words.

COSTELLO: I know. I am never at a loss for words, but one of the truly genuine, loyal, sincere, honest people in this really weird business that we're all in. And you will truly be missed.

HEMMER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: You've been such a good friend to me.

HEMMER: Thanks.

O'BRIEN: We've got 35 minutes to go. We're not saying our final good-byes yet. We're all getting teary up here. That's not right, not yet.

HEMMER: Well, you know what? I think it's a reflection of friendship, and it's a reflection of the experience we share together through this crazy business, and behind the camera, and outside of the cathode ray tube, if they still exist out there, you find people that make this place go.

So I'll put that to the side and I'll talk about that in 30 minutes, all right? It's been a long time since I've cried.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

HEMMER: Keep pushing.

O'BRIEN: Bring your tissues in, Ruth (ph). We're going to need them. We're going to need them.

HEMMER: You might get me there.

O'BRIEN: But in the short time, let's take a short break. We're going to continue on, on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.

No crying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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