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CNN Live At Daybreak

Italy Accuses CIA of Kidnapping, Torturing Terror Suspect; U.S. Forces Reach Helicopter Crash Site; Family Sues Ford Over Fire Death

Aired June 30, 2005 - 05:30   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, HOST: Italian prosecutors believe the CIA was behind the kidnapping in a case that bears the hallmark of the CIA's extraordinary rendition program. The Milan prosecutors were investigating Abu Omar at the time of his kidnapping for alleged terrorism links.
Alessio Vinci sorts this all out for us. He's live in Rome this morning. Good morning, Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

After months of silence on this case, the Italian government in about two hours will now have to say how much they knew about this case, alleging the kidnapping of a suspected terrorist in Milan back in 2003 by CIA agents.

Italian intelligence officials this morning tell CNN that, most likely, the government will say that it knew nothing about this case, meaning basically that the CIA would have then operated on Italian territory illegally, violating Italy's sovereignty and breaking Italian law.

What is curious about this case, however, is the silence that has characterized this case coming from the Italian government. You may remember a few months back when an Italian intelligence officer was killed in Baghdad by U.S. forces. The Italian government, within hours, summoned the U.S. ambassador here in Rome. None of this is happening this time around. There is a great deal of silence coming from the U.S. government.

And it is also difficult to believe that this operation may have happened without the knowledge, at some point, or at some level of intelligence officials here in Italy, simply because the suspect was kidnapped while, indeed, as you said, a suspected terrorist under investigation and the watchful eye of the Italian intelligence services.

He was snatched in the middle of broad daylight in Milan and therefore, there are some questions how could the Italian government not know, or at least Italian intelligence not know that this man had been kidnapped, since this area where he was kidnapped was filled with Italian intelligence officers actually monitoring the entire area.

Meanwhile, last week and Italian prosecutor issued 13 arrest warrants against the CIA agents, and they're wanted here in this country. And they're now considered fugitives, although the prosecutor who has investigated the case is telling us that he has no hope the Italian -- that the U.S. government will actually hand over those agents to the Italians.

COSTELLO: OK. Alessio, just to put this in a nutshell, American CIA agents are accused of kidnapping the suspected terrorist and taking him into Egypt, where he was supposedly tortured. Do we know where this man is now?

VINCI: Well, no we don't. What the Italian prosecutors are telling us, that they believe he is still in Egypt. What happened is that after he was kidnapped, he was brought to Egypt, as you said. And he was interrogated and allegedly tortured by the Egyptian security services.

After that, we understand he was briefly released. And that is when he called his wife here in Milan. And his phone, of course, was being tapped. And that's where he actually told his wife that he had been -- he had been not only kidnapped but also tortured, both at the Aviano (ph) Air Base where he was first brought, allegedly, and then back in Egypt.

The -- after that we understand that he was arrested again in Egypt. And we do believe at this point that he is in the hands of the Egyptian security services. The Italian prosecutors have asked about his whereabouts to the Egyptian authorities. However, they have not responded yet.

COSTELLO: Alessio Vinci, live in Rome this morning.

Word coming in just minutes ago the U.S. military says coalition forces have secured the site near the Afghanistan-Pakistani border where a helicopter transport went down with 17 service members on board.

More now from our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The MH-47 is a Special Operations version of the Chinook twin rotor troop transport, and it was ferrying a quick reaction team of Navy commandos into a remote part of Eastern Afghanistan when it appears it was shot down by ground fire.

GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN: We think it was a rocket-propelled grenade, sir, but not 100 percent sure. And that will come out in time, as we're able to -- to get to the scene and do the investigation required. Our hearts go out to their families.

MCINTYRE: Getting to the scene, the side of a steep mountain close to the rugged Afghan-Pakistan border, has not been easy. But by nightfall Wednesday, more than a day after the crash, U.S. forces had moved in around the site, and an Air Force A-10 attack plane had fired at least three rockets to suppress enemy fire.

According to military officials, all 17 Americans on board the helicopter are believed dead. But no official confirmation will come until the bodies have been recovered. Sources say the eight-man SEAL team was being flown in to reinforce U.S. troops caught in a fierce fire fight with suspected al Qaeda militants.

COL. JAMES YONTS, U.S. ARMY: Coalition troops on the ground in this area came in contact with enemy forces and requested additional forces to be inserted into this operation.

MCINTYRE (on camera): Pentagon officials say the shoot-down may be more evidence the U.S. is facing a thinking enemy, one that may have adapted its tactics to target the helicopter directly, having learned that once U.S. forces are engaged on the ground, reinforcements are not far behind.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Thirty-three days and counting since Natalee Holloway disappeared. Holloway's mother says she is devastated by the release of Judge Paul Van Der Sloot. Aruba's chief prosecutor says Van Der Sloot counseled his son and two brothers still in custody.

The attorney general tells CNN the judge told them there's no case if the body is found. Janssen says Van Der Sloot's conversation with his son and the Kalpoe brothers took place some days after Holloway vanished and before the three were arrested.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, Ma Bell may soon be back in business. That story is just ahead. But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:38 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Florida police may have bungled the case against convicted sex offender John Couey. Police have said an alleged confession by Couey gives chilling detail of how he raped and then buried Jessica Lunsford alive. According to an audio tape of the interrogation, Couey asked for an attorney seven times, but he was not granted one.

The Senate has approved an emergency infusion of $1.5 billion for veterans health care. The number of disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is more than triple what the administration expected.

In money news, this country's largest pension fund, Calpers, says it supports the proposed purchase of AT&T by SBC Communications. SBC's $16 billion takeover of AT&T would create the largest U.S. telecommunications company.

In culture, Pearl Jam has announced plans to play a couple of casino concerts in Atlantic City. The late September and October shows come right after they open for the Rolling Stones in Pittsburgh. The band also working on their first new studio album in three years.

In sports, American Andy Roddick survived a marathon five-set match to advance to the Wimbledon semifinals. It's the third straight time he's made the semis. He's never won the championship. Roddick was the runner-up last year -- Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad. I thought you were going to get to some e-mails, because we're getting so many.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, I do have one from Kevin here and a couple more still on the printer. "I'm tired of the overpaid actors who think they are so far above us. They try to tell us how I should think and how I should live. Give me a break."

From -- from J.H. in Indiana, "Why I don't go to the movie theaters, because I don't want to spend $8-12 to see the back of a remade good movie. Can't Hollywood come up with an original idea any more? Now they're doing remakes of bad movies, like 'The Amityville Horror.'"

And from -- from Ron in Georgia: "Hollywood slumps? More like Hollywood dump. I'm tired of it. Pay $6-10 to get in, $20 for popcorn and a drink. That's for one person. Watching actors that can't act, sitting in theaters that are too small, putting popcorn in my ears to deafen the sound, fight the traffic to get there. He has to be kidding!"

COSTELLO: People just hate the movie experience.

MYERS: You know, I was just printing one off, and it didn't get printed off just quite yet, but I think a young lady that was e- mailing me really had a good idea, had the idea. She said it's nine bucks, eight bucks per person. If you take the family and you're still paying nine, nine, nine, nine, so then right there you've got $36. All of a sudden, it's the same as going to a baseball game.

Then you've got the popcorn. Then you've got the stuff like this. Or you can sit at home, rent it for $3.99 or buy the whole darn movie for $15.

COSTELLO: Well, Hollywood's going to have to figure something out.

MYERS: They might have to do like the four-fer pass, the family pass or something like that, you know? Try to get these movie theaters filled up.

COSTELLO: Maybe so.

MYERS: Or make kids a little cheaper ticket, too.

COSTELLO: I know. For little kids, it's like $6.50 here. I mean, that's not much of a break.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: I know. Anyway, keep the e-mails coming. We're interested in what you have to say this morning, Daybreak@CNN.com. Hollywood slump: why are not you going to the movies? I read that in the Shakespearean way. Why aren't you going to the movies? E-mail us at Daybreak@CNN.com.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A few weeks back, we told you about a problem with some four vehicles built before 2004, catching on fire while parked and turned off. Hundreds of cases have been reported across the country and now possibly the first death.

CNN's investigative correspondent Drew Griffin has an exclusive interview with an Iowa family who is speaking out for the first time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a beautiful house that Earl Mohlis built with his own hands years ago. This year, on May 2, it burned to the ground. There was nothing he could do to stop it.

EARL MOHLIS, FIRE VICTIM: Dolly woke me up about 5 a.m. in the morning. She says, "Earl" -- she says, "There's smoke in the basement."

His 74-year-old wife, Dolly, weakened by arthritis, called 911.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nine-one-one. What is the address of your emergency?

DOLLY MOHLIS, FIRE VICTIM: My garage is on fire!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your garage is on fire?

D. MOHLIS: I've got to get out of the house.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is the garage attached to the house?

D. MOHLIS: Yes!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

D. MOHLIS: The car is on fire!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The car is on fire?

D. MOHLIS: Yes.

GRIFFIN: Dolly's 1996 Ford F-150 truck was in the garage attached to their home.

(on camera) This is where you say flames?

E. MOHLIS: Well, it was more like...

GRIFFIN: Right there?

E. MOHLIS: See, that's what was shot. The glass was in there yet.

GRIFFIN: Right.

E. MOHLIS: She was coming out here. Right there. Right there is where she was coming out.

GRIFFIN: You saw the front of that pickup truck burning. That's what you saw?

E. MOHLIS: You bet you. She was burning.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Wearing only his shorts, Earl Mohlis ran to get a tractor, trying to save the house.

E. MOHLIS: I wanted to drag that pickup out of that garage.

GRIFFIN: But the tractor wouldn't start.

E. MOHLIS: Nothing worked that morning for me.

GRIFFIN: The fire quickly engulfed the house.

E. MOHLIS: It was burning so fast. The wind was blowing 50 miles an hour from the northwest. I says to Dotty, "You've got to get out of that house." She -- she come running and she never made it.

GRIFFIN: Darletta "Dolly" Mohlis, Earl's wife of 34 years, was later found just steps inside the door.

E. MOHLIS: It hurts, boy. She ain't here no more.

GRIFFIN: What hurts even more is what Earl Mohlis says he found out after the fire. His wife's 1996 Ford pickup contained a part that was under investigation by the federal government, a part that may now be linked to at least 660 vehicle fires across the country, a part that critics, lawyers and some automotive experts claim is faulty and can ignite on its own, even if the car is turned off, sitting in a garage.

And in this case, according to Earl Mohlis, not even moved in four days.

E. MOHLIS: I don't care what make it is and model, when you set that switch off, that truck should be dead, shouldn't it? There was something wrong.

GRIFFIN: The part in question, a speed control deactivation switch. This same of similar switch is found on 16 million Ford vehicles. It is the switch that turns off the cruise control when a driver firmly presses the brake pedal. What makes the Ford design unique is in nearly every case, the switch has electricity flowing through it, whether the vehicle is running or not. A thin film inside can crack, and that electrical current, combined with leaking brake fluid, has, according to Ford, led some switches to ignite.

The company has recalled more than a million cars and trucks to replace the switch but not the 1996 Ford F-150 pickup.

Dolly's three children say they had no idea there was a history of fires in some Fords equipped with cruise control until the day their mother died. Now, in a wrongful death lawsuit, the family is suing Ford, along with Texas Instruments, the company that assembled the switch, and Dupont, the company that supplied that thin film.

Dolly Mohlis may be the first person to die in a fire linked to Ford's cruise control switch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want any more deaths. There can't be any more deaths.

GRIFFIN: Texas Instruments insists it followed Ford's instructions and it's not responsible for overseeing how Ford uses their products. But the company insists its switch is safe.

Dupont says it only supplied raw material to Texas Instruments and was not involved in the design or use of the switch.

What the family doesn't understand is why Ford didn't recall their mother's truck when the first Ford fires, including many F-150s, were documented years ago. The car company has been selective in its recalls, saying it will only recall vehicles where "a trend pattern" of fires can be detected. According to Ford, there was apparently no trend pattern for the 1996 F-150 truck, even though it contained what Ford acknowledges is the same or similar switch and even though this Ford document shows the company had reports of fires in this same model.

(on camera) You think someone at Ford made a business decision...

CAROLYN HOWE, MOTHER DIED IN FIRE: Definitely.

GRIFFIN: ... and gambled on your mother's life?

HOWE: Exactly. Unless it's a dollar (ph), and they said -- whatever decision, they probably decided it was cheaper just to pay for burned vehicles and maybe an occasional death.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): A few weeks ago, investigators from Ford and the federal government were at Earl Mohlis' farm, examining the scene. CNN was there, too, watching as they spent hours going through the rubble.

Also there, experts hired by the family's lawyers. Judd Clayton is an electrical engineer, and Keith Fowler is a certified vehicle fire investigator from Canada.

(on camera) Right now, you guys believe that that fire started right where, or in the general vicinity, of the deactivation switch?

JUDD CLAYTON, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Yes. That's correct.

GRIFFIN: Further testing will determine that it was?

KEITH FOWLER, VEHICLE FIRE INVESTIGATOR: Yes. We recovered parts of the switch from the fire scene, and we'll be doing laboratory testing to examine that switch.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): A federal investigation is still ongoing, but Ford has already concluded the truck did not cause the fire. Company officials declined to talk on camera to CNN but did send an e- mail, saying "an inspection of the fire scene demonstrates conclusively that the fire did not originate from the 1996 Ford F-150, and specifically," says Ford, "not from its speed control deactivation switch. Remnants of the switch were found at the scene and reviewed by Ford investigators during their inspection. These remnants rule out the switch as the cause of the fire."

"Instead," the company says, "the evidence suggests that the fire started elsewhere in the garage, spreading to the F-150 and the Mohlis home."

(on camera) So how can Ford come out and say that this fire absolutely, conclusively, did not originate from the switch?

FOWLER: I don't know how they made this statement. The remnants that we collected at the scene were not examined in any detail. We brushed a little bit of the debris off and they've been collected and retained. But no testing or examination in detail has been done on those remnants. I'm not sure how they're able to make that statement.

GRIFFIN: I'm trying to be a little bit of devil's advocate here, guys, because I've got Ford Motor Company, which is a huge company, telling me this fire did not start in this switch. Am I missing anything? Are you missing anything? Is there anything they could possibly have that caused this fire that was not that switch?

FOWLER: Anything's possible. We found no evidence of any other potential fire cause at the scene at this point in time.

CLAYTON: The specific area of origin, as witnessed by Earl, I think it leaves little doubt as to which area of the vehicle was involved first in the fire.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): What's different about this case, they say, is Mohlis' firsthand account of what happened that night.

E. MOHLIS: I raised up the garage door. Sure enough, the left front end of that pickup was -- she was burning away.

GRIFFIN: Earl Mohlis is now living in a trailer on his farm overlooking what used to be his home. Dolly, he says, is always on his mind.

E. MOHLIS: She was my true love, too. Boy, I miss her. It hurts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Beginning with vehicles of the 2004 model year, Ford stopped using the switch that's blamed for causing hundreds of these fires. Ford insists the vehicles it has not recalled are safe, but experts we've spoken to advise owners of these cars and trucks to have the switch disconnected or replaced by a Ford dealer. In the meantime, say these experts, parking your vehicle away from your house might not be such a bad idea.

We'll keep you updated on the ongoing federal investigation into these fires.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, it's tough to be a military kid. You move around a lot. In the next hour of DAYBREAK, we'll talk to Cathy Franks. She's the wife of General Tommy Franks, and she's very involved with the Military Child Education Coalition.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time to get to our e-mail segment right now. We're asking this question: "Hollywood slump: why aren't you going to the movies?"

MYERS: Carol, we have some interesting answers this morning. I tried to get a little cross-section here.

From -- from George in San Francisco: "Why aren't I going to the movies? Because of arrogant actors like Tom Cruise. I don't care that he's so ecstatically in love. Lots of us are in love. I don't care to know his views on psychiatry or religion. He's not an expert on either. He's an actor. He needs to shut up and act. And he needs to get off Brooke Shields' back. Certainly, she's not the only actor to ever use an antidepressant. If you ask me, Mr. Cruise could use some Xanax himself." That's from George in San Francisco.

And from Kent: "No. 1, it's too expensive. No, 2, I have children I'm trying to teach morals to. Was the TV show 'Bewitched' labeled PG-13? Did 'The Cat in the Hat' book have cuss words in them? Filth. Filth is why I don't go to the movies. Hollywood is nothing but filth."

And from Art, "Listen, I've got a 64-inch high def TV with state of the art surround system and a comfortable couch. Why am I going to go spend $9 to go with people that I don't like to sit in my company. I could actually have anybody sit with me if I want to for three bucks and take two to three days to watch it. Too much stuff is produced, yet they look to blame everybody else for their decreased sales."

And John in Fort Lauderdale says, "Do you have to ask why people are not going to the movies? Do you remember the last election? Remember Jessica Lange's rantings in Europe? Cruise's -- Tom Cruise's weird behavior? The political speeches at the Oscars? Why would anyone want to support these idiots? And I'm a Democrat," says John in Fort Lauderdale.

COSTELLO: Interesting. So Tom Cruise may not be just affecting his own movie but movies in general?

MYERS: Sounds like they're all a little disgruntled with the actors and actresses.

COSTELLO: Yes, I think so. Thank you for your comments this morning. We always appreciate them.

The next hour of DAYBREAK starts in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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