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U.S. Troops Fighting Wind, Rain Finally Reach Site of Chinook Helicopter Crash; New Developments in Natalee Holloway Disappearance

Aired June 30, 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: A developing story in Afghanistan. U.S. troops fighting wind and rain finally reach the site of that Chinook helicopter crash. Right now, they're determining the fate of the 17 people on board.
A live report from the Pentagon is ahead.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Miles O'Brien.

New developments in the Natalee Holloway disappearance. The Aruban judge held briefly as a suspect apparently advising his son the following, with no body, there is no case. A live report from Aruba.

S. O'BRIEN: And chilling accusations surrounding Iran's new president elect. Was he one of the terrorists who seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran 26 years ago. Two former hostages tell us what they remember, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN: Good morning to you.

S. O'BRIEN: There is some hope this morning that there could be some answers about what happened to that helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan.

M. O'BRIEN: Answers, but unfortunately not much hope for the crew onboard, 17 of them. That's where we begin this morning. Military officials say coalition forces have located and secured that crash site in Afghanistan. With more, Barbara Starr this morning live at the Pentagon.

Barbara, what kind of details are we learning now?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, as you say, the U.S. military is now reporting that forces are at the crash site. That comes after nearly two days of them not being able to get there because of poor weather, wind and rain. This is at 10,000 feet in the very remote rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Forces now are there. They have secured the site, and they have begun the effort to try and recover the remains or any information about the 17 service members that were onboard that aircraft.

To be clear, Miles, there is great fear here that all 17 did in fact perish onboard that aircraft when it crashed, and the belief is it crashed due to enemy fire.

What we can also tell you is that the family members across the country now of those 17 service members have been notified by the U.S. military that their loved ones were on board. There is no finding, of course, yet of about their official status. The family members are basically being told that their loved ones were onboard, and that in military terminology they're duty status is unknown. That's a typical term the military uses while they're in the process in these crashes and these hostile combat incidents of trying to recover the remains.

Miles, one of the indicators of just how rough this situation is on that mountainside, the U.S. military put out a statement this morning, talking about the site being secure, but they also said this, quote, "forces are also in position to impede any enemy movement into or away from the crash site, and that is a very strong indicator that the U.S. military is still facing insurgent activity directly in the area of this crash" -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: So they're even under fire now.

Barbara, how much do we know about what sort of weaponry was used to bring down this helicopter, and does it reflect some sort of new level of sophistication on the part of the Taliban?

STARR: Well, according to U.S. military officials, when other aircraft flying in the area saw the insurgent fire, their belief was it was a combination of small-arms and rocket fire. Now, they won't know that for sure until they recover the aircraft, the helicopter, and have a look and try to determine through military forensics exactly what struck it, but these are pretty much the typical types of tactics.

To be clear, Miles, there have been Taliban reports about a, quote, new weapon. The U.S. military at this point says they still believe it was small arms or some type of rocket fire.

M. O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you very much -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Aruba now for development in the Natalee Holloway case. Prosecutors are focusing on some comments made by the Aruban judge who'd been in police custody, but who is now free.

Chris Lawrence live for us in Palm Beach, Aruba this morning.

Good morning to you, Chris.

What did the judge say, and who was he talking to?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, prosecutors are saying that Paul Van Der Sloot coached his son and these two other suspects in the last days leading up to the day that they were arrested, giving them legal advice as to what could happen if, indeed, they did get arrested.

Here's what we're talking about. In the United States, district attorneys prosecute cases all times with little or no physical evidence. Under Dutch law, here in Aruba, no body, no confession, prosecuting that case is almost unheard of. Paul Van Der Sloot is a judge. He knows the law. Prosecutors are saying that once these three were arrested and under interrogation, one of them was defiant, and talked about advice that he received before he was arrested from Judge Van Der Sloot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARIN JANSSEN, CHIEF PROSECUTOR: I spoke with them about the situation that without a body, there is no case, so I think that it's the possibility that the three suspects remember that and well, and, well, they talked about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: Now, the prosecutor also says that Judge Van Der Sloot admitted that he did say something to that effect, but he clarified his remarks to say that he was talking in general terms, not specifically about this Natalee Holloway case. We have attempted to reach Judge Van Der Sloot and his attorneys to get clarification on what he said, but so far they have not wanted to talk about it -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: All right. Chris Lawrence for us in Aruba this morning. Chris, thank you -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: It seemed like an air-tight case against John Couey, the man who confessed to killing the 9-year-old Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford. But now a jury may not hear his detailed confession, and the case against him could be in trouble, as CNN's Susan Candiotti reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An alleged confession from a man who in chilling detail describes how he buried alive Jessica Lunsford might never be heard by a jury. The potential problem? These words from John Couey.

JOHN COUEY: I want a lawyer.

CANDIOTTI: Not just once, but again Couey says.

COUEY: I just want to talk to a lawyer.

CANDIOTTI: But at least seven times during questioning, Couey's voice recorded by investigators, the tapes released by the court Wednesday, Couey asked for an attorney.

COUEY: I want a lawyer here present. I want to talk to a lawyer, because I'm being -- people trying to accuse me of something I didn't do. I didn't do it. I ain't...

CANDIOTTI: The day before police say John Couey admitted he kidnapped, raped and murdered 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, he was interviewed by Citrus County, Florida detectives. According to that interview, taped for evidence, he denied knowing anything about Jessica. In Couey's words, "I swear to God I had -- I mean, I don't know where she is, period. But When investigators suggested a lie- detector test, Couey asked for an attorney. In his words, "I want to talk to a lawyer first."

Couey's public defender isn't talking publicly, but the suspect's request, say other criminal defense lawyers, should have stopped questioning immediately.

BRUCE FLEISHER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: The judge has to look at the totality of the circumstances to make sure that everything is freely and voluntarily given, and in this case that's suspect.

CANDIOTTI: Even after he asked for a lawyer, the questioning went on and on. The next day, law-enforcement sources say, Couey was read his rights and willingly took a polygraph in which he confessed, then made a statement to investigators. A former federal prosecutor says that could save police from a possible major blunder.

KENDALL COFFEY, FMR. U.S. ATTY.: It's ultimately a question of whether it's voluntary, but if a defendant is Mirandized three times before the interview begins, three times a chance to remain silent and chooses to speak, three strikes, he's out and that confession comes in.

CANDIOTTI: The sheriff would not directly answer questions about why the questioning continued after Couey asked for a lawyer.

A spokesman for the sheriff calls the case against Couey, quote, "rock solid." Other sources suggest there's enough blood and DNA evidence to convict with or without Couey's alleged confession.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: Despite the potential hitch, Jessica Lunsford's father, Mark Lunsford, is telling CNN he's confident John Couey will ultimately be convicted -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: President Bush is gearing up for next week's G-8 summit in Scotland. This morning he's speaking about it at the Freer (ph) gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Elaine Quijano is live at the White House this morning.

Aid to Africa, Elaine, obviously on the agenda. What's the president expected to say on that front?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the president is expected to say that the U.S. contributes significantly to African nations, and that coming, though, amidst criticisms by some that perhaps the U.S. could do even more.

Now, the G-8 summit, we're expecting to hear President Bush announce even more humanitarian aid to African countries. Unclear, though, exactly what the amount is. Now in that interview with "The London Times," President Bush explained his administration's approach to dealing with Africa. The president saying, quote, "The way I like to describe our relationship with Africa is one of partnership. That's different than a relationship of check-writer. Partnership means that we've got obligations, and so do the people we are trying to help." The president there referring to countries remaining true to Democratic ideals.

Now earlier this month, President Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Of course it is Mr. Blair who has made Africa one of the main focuses of this year's G-8 summit, and after that meeting the president announced a $674 million pledge for humanitarian aid, money the administration says is in addition to more than $1 billion that the U.S. is spending on similar needs this year -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano the at the White House for us this morning. Elaine, thanks for the update -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Now to the wildfires out west. Some of the worst is in Arizona, west of Phoenix, in Buckeye, Arizona. Bright orange flames and thick smoke from a brush fire there. Northeast of Phoenix, firefighters having trouble containing a wildfire there. It was 25 contained. Now only 20 percent contained. Going backwards. So far it has burned about 140,000 acres.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Sports now. A Texas Ranger could be in trouble with the law. We're talking Major League Baseball. Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers is going to be questioned by police today about an incident at the ballpark in Arlington last night. Rogers was accused of shoving two cameramen who were following him on the field. One of the photographers was treated in the hospital for injuries to his shoulder, and his arm and his leg. Rogers hasn't pitched since a bad outing on June 17th. He threw a fit in the dugout, knocked water coolers around and broke his pinky finger. The team's owner was asked if Rogers' Behavior is becoming a problem.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HICKS, TEXAS RANGERS OWNER: If he pitches as well as he has pitched before last week in L.A. I would say not. Kenny is a very competitive guy, and he probably needs lessons in anger management. But if he can channel that competitive nature of his to pitching, which he's done all year, he's been a very good pitcher.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: So if he pitches well, hitting the cameraman is not a problem?

M. O'BRIEN: Don't pay any attention kids to that statement.

S. O'BRIEN: If he doesn't pitch well, he probably should get some anger management.

M. O'BRIEN: That's not the message we want to send out to the youth of America.

S. O'BRIEN: Needless to say, the league is also investigating that incident. That's just...

M. O'BRIEN: He's got some issues, got some issues, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, Iran's president elect, his face looks familiar to some former captives in the Iran hostage crisis. Was he one of their kidnappers?

O'BRIEN: Also thrill ride dangers. One lawmaker would like federal safety standards for big amusement parks. You'd be surprised how unregulated this whole industry is. We'll tell you why the industry is fighting them.

And after that shark attack on Monday, 16-year-old Craig Hutto now on the road to recovery. His mom and dad have a big thank you for the folks who saved the boy's life. We'll have that just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Five former hostages in Iran say the newly elected president was one of their captors. Twenty-years ago, militant revolutionaries took over the U.S. embassy in Iran and, held 52 American hostages for 444 days. On Saturday, the conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was elected Iran's new president. When some of the former hostages saw him on television, they were certain it was a man who participated in their captivity. Two of the five who say Iran's president-elect is their man is William Daugherty in Savannah, Georgia, and Don Sharer in New Bedford, Indiana.

Mr. Dougherty, let's begin with you. You were among the first to make this connection. When did it occur to you?

WILLIAM DAUGHERTY, FMR. IRAN HOSTAGE: I saw his picture in the "Washington Post" on Saturday morning, recognized that -- recognized it immediately, and then sent an e-mail out to some of my former colleagues just asking them to, you know -- and telling them what I thought and seeing what kind of responses they might have to it.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. We have picture of him here in 2005, and I believe we have a picture which dates back to that era right around 1979.

Mr. Sharer when you got that e-mail, first of all, the one on the left is the one that's most relevant. That's how you would remember that face. Was there any doubt in your mind?

DON SHARER, FMR. IRAN HOSTAGE: I saw his picture in "The Indianapolis Star." I haven't seen the 1979 picture. But as soon as I saw the face, it rang a lot of bells to me. And it was a recent picture, but he still looks like a man, take 20 years off of him, he was there. He was there in the background, more like an adviser, and one other incident he just called Colonel Scott and myself pigs and dogs,and we deserved to be locked up forever. When you're placed in a life-threatening situation of that nature, you just remember those things.

M. O'BRIEN: Mr. Dougherty...

SHARER: I'm 99...

M. O'BRIEN: Go ahead. Finish.

SHARER: I'm 99 percent sure.

M. O'BRIEN: Ninety-nine percent sure. Mr. Daugherty, what do you remember about him?

DAUGHERTY: I remember seeing him acting in a supervisory or leadership capacity during the first I would say two-and-a half weeks. On the 19th day, I was moved into solitary confinement and had very limited contact with even my Iranian guards after that.

But in those first 19 days or so, it was -- he was around the groups. He would come in, question the guards, more or less checking on things when sort of dignitaries would come through. There would be a group of the Iranian leadership, the student leadership, that would escort them as we were put on display as it were, and he would be part of that.

DAUGHERTY: Let's look at his resume just a little bit, give people a sense of who he is. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected mayor of Tehran in 2003. He holds a Phd in traffic and transport. Former Revolutionary Guard. Born in 1956. He would have been about 23 years old at the time of the hostage taking.

M. O'BRIEN: Now, Mr. Sharer, there are some hostages, one of them in particular, Colonel Thomas Schaeffer (ph), who says no, this is a mistake, this is not the same person.

SHARER: We all have our personal recollections of that time. It was 25 years ago. Fog of time sets in sometimes.

I know what I think. And god bless Tom Schaeffer. He knows what he thinks. So it's individual memory, I guess.

And would you go along with that? Mr. Daugherty, go ahead.

DAUGHERTY: Well, The quotation that I saw from Tom Schaeffer said that he simply didn't remember, and I'm not sure that's the same thing as that individual not being there. It's simply Tom not remembering, which is certainly understandable.

As Don pointed out, we were all in different circumstances. We were exposed to some of the Iranians more than others. So, you know, if Tom was actually quoted correctly in saying he didn't remember, again, that's not the same thing as the guy not being there. I would point out that Ahmadinejad's own personal Web site listed him as one of the organizers of the embassy takeover, and it's a little hard, I think, for his press secretary now to say he wasn't involved now when, by his own words perhaps, he acknowledged his presence.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, we'll leave it at that. And we should point out that is the case. The aide to the president-elect said he was not involved if all this.

Gentlemen, thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate it. William Daugherty in Savannah, Georgia, Don Sharer in Bedford, Indiana, former hostages in the U.S. embassy in Iraq -- Soledad.

S, O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, breaking business news to tell you about. Another one of those multibillion dollar bank mergers. Andy's "Minding Your Business." That's up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Some breaking news out of the business world to tell you about this morning, A $35 billion merger between a major U.S. bank and a leading credit card company.

I've got the hick cups this morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: That's all right. Get it out.

Good morning, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: I was hoping I could get through without doing that. No, that didn't help at all.

Good morning.

SERWER: Good morning to you.

S. O'BRIEN: What are we talking about?

SERWER: This crossing the tape minutes ago, Soledad, One of the nation's largest banks, Bank of America, is buying a credit card giant, MBNA, for $35 billion. This is a mega-deal. MBNA one of the largest independent credit card companies out there. Bank of America, the new company will have 40 million customer accounts. That's doubling its size. They are announcing there will be 6,000 job cuts. MBNA has operations in Delaware and Maine. So people there should be watching this closely.

Bank of America has been on an acquisition spree over the past couple years, recently bought fleet bank up in New England, you may remember, and the stock has done very, very well. It's doubled over the past five years, at the same time, while the overall stock market has been down 15 percent. MBNA cards, you may be very familiar with them, they're big on those Infinity (ph) cards. So if you are, let's say, a San Francisco Giants fan, you have your San Francisco giants card. That may well be an MBNA card.

O'BRIEN: Any implications to all this? SERWER: If you're a credit card holder of one of these companies, your statement will probably at some point say Bank of America down the road. This is a consolidation play, and Bank of America is very much at the fore of that.

I want to talk about the markets quickly today, because we have a lot of action going on on Wall Street. Yesterday sort of a slow down here, down just slightly, particularly on the Nasdaq. The Fed is meeting, they met yesterday and they're meeting today, and the big announcement about interest rates. Soledad, comes at 2:15 Eastern. We're expecting another interest rate hike to be ninth consecutive time the Fed has done that. Futures are up slightly this morning.

S. O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks.

SERWER: You're welcome.

M. O'BRIEN: Taking a road trip this holiday weekend or maybe later this summer? Here's a list of the top five traffic bottlenecks according to the American Highway Users Alliance. Hurry up and wait if you're traveling between Portland, Oregon and the Pacific coast. The number of roads in Oregon's Williamette valley topped the list of slowest routes. It's not much better along Interstate 64 in the southeastern part of Virginia. Also beware of roads along the Maryland, Delaware shore, and then Branson, Missouri and along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

AAA expects nearly 34 million driver on the roadways this holiday weekend despite those gas prices. AAA recommends you take breaks, get rest, bring plenty of activities the for the kids, and never stop when they say they have to go. Just keeping going.

S. O'BRIEN: I'm surprised had the West Side Highway is not on that list. That's a nightmare always.

M. O'BRIEN: Branson, Missouri -0- where did that one come from?

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's an odd one.

M. O'BRIEN: The busses rolling through.

SERWER: Destination.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, still to come on the program, wrangling over safety standards at amusement parks. One lawmakers wants federal guidelines. Why is the industry is fighting back? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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