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American Morning
Power Shift; White House Summit, Take 2; Iraq Death Toll; Strategy Shift?; LAPD Violent Arrest; Minding Your Business
Aired November 11, 2005 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: True blue. Democrats take Virginia, the Senate and the House for total control of Congress. What now from the new party in power.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And how about lunch with the president? Senate's new leaders are coming to the White House today. Can they make a deal?
M. O'BRIEN: Total recall. Millions of bottles of store-brand acetaminophen pulled from shelves. We'll tell you why and what you should look for.
S. O'BRIEN: And caught on tape, a violent arrest. The LAPD is under fire again and the FBI is now on the case.
Those stories and much more ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
M. O'BRIEN: Good morning to you. It's Friday, November 10th. I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien. Thank you for being with us.
M. O'BRIEN: Politics at the top of the news again this morning. The Democrats' clean sweep of Congress apparently prompting a big change in the Republican leadership. The chairman of the Republican National Committee leaving his post. GOP sources telling CNN Ken Mehlman will not seek another term come January.
Democrats will now control the Senate with a razor thin 51 to 49 majority. That's official now that James Webb has won Virginia's Senate race.
And at the White House today, another power lunch. President Bush will break bread with the presumptive Senate majority leader Harry Reid.
On Capitol Hill, many Republicans a little shell-shocked this morning. The clean sweep is now official. Senator George Allen throwing in the towel, turning the Virginia seat in the Senate from red to blue. Here's the breakdown. Officially, 49 Democrats in the new Senate and then there are two independents who will caucus with them, giving them the majority. Republicans feeling blue in more ways than one as CNN's Andrea Koppel explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Twelve long years. That's how long Democrats have waited to regain control of Congress. And if you thought House Democrats were surprised when they learned they won on Tuesday, Senate Democrats were stunned. As one Democrat told me, it was completely unexpected.
And Republicans were equally shocked. One GOP leadership aide told me he hadn't mentally prepared himself for such a possibility. And that it took him a day before he brought the sharp objects back into his office.
Now while Republicans were still digging out from underneath this political earthquake, Democrats were getting ready to lead the Congress, running everything from A to Z, from deciding what bills get to the floor of the House and Senate, to what committee assignments they'll be, even what office space will be assigned.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Defeated Rhode Island Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee is thinking about bolting the GOP. Chafee says he hasn't made any decisions about where his place is. Reporters asked him if that means he's pondering a party switch. His response, that's fair. Chafee is the most liberal Republican in the Senate. He did not vote for George Bush and he was the only GOP senator not to vote for the war in Iraq.
And Chafee playing a pivotal role in another big setback for the White House. He is joining Democrats balking the nomination of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. President Bush appointed Bolton to serve temporarily at the U.N. more than a year ago. That appointment will expire at the end of this term of Congress. The president had hoped to get Bolton permanently installed before the new lawmakers are sworn in, but Democrats and Senator Chafee say they will block that move.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Senator Harry Reid of Nevada is the next Democratic leader to have a date at the White House today. He and the other new Senate leaders are having lunch with President Bush, who's extending invitations and challenges to the new congressional power players. We get more this morning from CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The question is, how long this honeymoon will last. Today President Bush will meet with Senator Harry Reid, as well as Dick Durbin, of course, to congratulate them, but to try to come up with an agenda. Something to get done in the next couple of years.
Yesterday the president met with the anticipated incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, having lunch. Pelosi saying they had chocolates, as well as pastas. The White House counselors to the president say it was time for Mr. Bush to eat crow. The president appeared with his cabinet, offering an olive branch to Democrats, but he also sent a very clear signal to Republicans to try to push through controversial legislation before the Democrats take over.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Some strong words this morning from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She says this week's election results will not change America's commitments to Iraq. Secretary Rice told a reporter for a newspaper in Singapore that "Iraq has to be successful for America to be secure." And she says the Bush administration is open to new ideas in Iraq, but that U.S. troops will not leave until they've achieved their goals there.
In Iraq, there is a new estimate this morning on the violence there. The Associated Press quotes a new survey from the Iraqi health ministry that 150,000 civilians have died over the past three years. Let's get to CNN's Arwa Damon. She's in Baghdad for us this morning.
Good morning, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And it is actually quite rare that we hear the ministry of health releasing this kind of a figure. There have been varying reports about the civilian death toll here. Estimates ranging as low as 50,000, as high as 600,000. And it is incredibly difficult to actually get an accurate number on how many civilians have died in the violence here for the last three plus years.
When you speak with hospital officials, often time you will get one estimate, a different estimate from the Iraqi police, a different estimate from other government agencies. In fact, the government agencies that are tracking the death toll here function with very little efficiency when it comes to the specifics of how many civilians have died in this country. And oftentimes, as we have seen in the past, Soledad, the true civilian death toll is not apparent until many years after a war has ended.
S. O'BRIEN: Also there's some bad news to talk about on this eve of Veteran's Day, an announcement from the U.S. military. What can you tell us about that?
DAMON: That's right, Soledad. The U.S. military announced the death of another three servicemen here in Iraq. A Marine was killed in al Anbar Province, that volatile province west of Baghdad, and two more soldiers were killed in Baghdad itself. This makes October's total, a we are just 10 days into October, a total of 24 U.S. soldiers that have died here in Iraq. And this follows one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops, 105 troops were killed in October. Many people will be remembering them on Veteran's Day.
Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: Yes. And I think you mean November, but, yes, either way you put it, it's terrible, terrible news. Arwa Damon for us this morning.
Thank you, Arwa. She's in Baghdad.
This weekend, CNN Presents "Combat Hospital." It's an extraordinary hour inside a combat support hospital in Baghdad where literally every second counts, where every moment could bring disaster. CNN Presents "Combat Hospital" airs this Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
With Donald Rumsfeld out, or on the way out, and Robert Gates on the way in as the next secretary of defense, what's going to happen next in Iraq? CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more this morning on the options and what the new strategy might look like.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Now that he's a short timer, even outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admits the current strategy in Iraq is not working.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It has not been going well enough or fast enough.
MCINTYRE: In an exchange with students at Kansas State University, Rumsfeld urged perseverance and resolve as adjustments to the strategy are made by the man nominated to replace him. Former CIA director, Robert Gates, who is one of 10 members of the bipartisan Iraq study group charged with finding a way out of Iraq. The options include stay the course, which is already seen as failing, strategic redeployment, pulling the troops back perhaps as far as Kuwait. Under that option, advocated by Representative John Murtha and other Democrats, overall troop levels would stay the same. But many troops would be pulled off the front lines to be used as a quick reaction force only if Iraqis got in trouble.
Other possibilities, more U.S. troops which U.S. commanders say won't help in the long term, and partition along sectarian lines, something the White House has labeled a non-starter. So the most likely options appear to be a phased withdrawal under a carefully planned time line to force the Iraqis to take responsible for their own security.
LAWRENCE KORB, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: I think, basically, unless we start a phase withdrawal, the Iraqis will never make the political compromises necessary to create an Iraq that's worth fighting and dying for.
MCINTYRE: Another likely proposal is engaging Iraq's neighbors, Iran and Syria. An option vigorously oppose by hardliners.
FRANK GAFFNEY, CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY: Will we be negotiating with enemies like the regime in Iran in the hopes that they'll somehow help us solve the problem they're creating in no small measure in Iraq. And I think that's going to be a mistake, potentially very strategic and long-standing dimensions.
MCINTYRE: Also taking the long view is lame duck Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, who insists America is on the right side of history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you were going to give yourself a letter grade for your performance as secretary of defense, what grade would that be?
RUMSFELD: Oh, I'd let history worry about that.
MCINTYRE: Senate confirmation hearings for Robert Gates are on the fast track set for early December. And the recommendations of the Iraq study group are expected shortly therefore.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: President Bush told Democratic leaders that he was open to new ideas on Iraq and a former Democratic senator and presidential candidate, formally, has one. George McGovern says he's going to recommend a strategy to get U.S. troops out of Iraq by June. He says he's going to meet with more than 60 members of Congress next week. McGovern, of course, was a leading opponent of the Vietnam War and ran for president back in 1972. He lost to Richard Nixon.
Later this hour on AMERICAN MORNING, we're going to be talking to General Peter Pace. He is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We'll talk about the Pentagon changes and how they affect what's going to happen next in Iraq, this morning.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning.
You better check your medicine cabinet. A big recall of store- brand acetaminophen. Eleven million bottles of the pain reliever being recalled because they may contain metal fragments. The pills were sold under store brands by more than 120 major retailers, including Wal-Mart and CVS.
President Bush lifts a ban on training troops from 21 countries. Half of them from Latin American and Caribbean (ph) countries as well. The move comes after leftist victories in Latin American elections, most recently the comeback of Daniel Ortega, the Sandinista in Nicaragua. The U.S. hopes the training will forge new links with countries in the region.
In Mexico City, same-sex civil unions legalize. Protesters demonstrated noisily as lawmakers there voted for the measure. The move paves the way for same-sex unions in the city of more than 8 million early next year. The law stopped short of allowing full marriage or adoption of children. Mexico is the world's second largest Roman Catholic nation. And another victory for gay rights activists. This one in Massachusetts. Lawmakers voted to delay a decision on whether to back a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. That means it is likely the proposed amendment will likely die. Massachusetts is the only U.S. state where same-sex marriage is currently legal.
A former aerospace engineer pleads not guilty to selling U.S. military secrets to China. Prosecutors say 62-year-old Nosher Gawadia (ph) gave China information to help develop hard to detect cruise missiles. He also faces charges of offering to sell classified stealth technology to foreign business, people in Israel, Germany and Switzerland. If convicted of the most serious charges, Gawadia could face the death penalty.
S. O'BRIEN: And the FBI is now investigating a violent arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department. It was caught on tape. The tape shows officers restraining a suspect and then repeatedly punching him in the face. Marti Johnson has more this morning from our Los Angeles affiliate KTLA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTI JOHNSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): The pictures are shocking. Two LAPD officer on top of a suspect pinned on the ground. One with his knee on the man's neck, punching his face. Arlen Pachecko (ph) shot the video on August 11th and says the suspect didn't have a chance.
ARLEN PACHECKO: They had him pinned to the ground and this gentleman is screaming "I can't breathe" while the officer is beating him in the face.
JOHNSON: The suspect, identified as 23-year-old William Cardenes. Wanted on a felony warrant, he was treated at a local hospital and charged with two count of felony resisting arrest. But the actions of the Hollywood division officers involved, Alexander Schlegel on the left, and Patrick Farrell on the right, are now being investigated on their own.
WILLIAM BRATTON, LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF: There's no denying that the video is disturbing, but as to whether the actions of the officer were appropriate in light of what he was experiencing, the totality of circumstances, that's what the investigation will hopefully determine.
JOHNSON: LAPD is under a federal consent order monitoring allegations of police brutality because of past problems. Bratton says Schlegel and Farrell filed the required report listing a level two, non-life threatening use of force. After seeing the tape, their supervisor pulled them from field duty and upgraded the use of force, but that's not enough according to Cardenes' attorney.
KWAKU DUREN, CARDENAS' ATTORNEY: He was brutally assaulted. And his human rights, not just civil rights, his human right were being violated. JOHNSON: Duren will file civil charges on his client's behalf, but one judge has already seen the video and ruled the officer's actions part of a fight, refusing to drop charges against Cardenas. An LAPD source told me the suspect is a known gang member, a 10 percenter, so-called because he's among the most violent of L.A. criminals with a record that includes both attempted murder and concealed weapons' charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: That was Marti Johnson from our affiliate KTLA reporting.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, those deadly floods in Washington state. Residents finding out just how long it could take to assess the damage there.
Plus, a huge settlement in a deadly oil refinery explosion in Texas. Andy's "Minding Your Business." That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Some of the top stories we're following for you this morning.
It is official, Virginia's senate race goes to James Webb and that means Democrats will control the House and the Senate.
And GOP sources are telling CNN that Ken Mehlman will not seek another term as leader of the Republican Party come January.
Fifteen minutes past the hour. If you're about to head out the door, let's first check in with Chad at the CNN Weather Center.
Hey, Chad, good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Happening in America this morning.
In Oklahoma, four men are dead in what police say was a dispute over a fence. Investigators say it looks like Howard Hawthorn (ph) shot and killed his neighbor, his neighbor's son and another man. And then, as police arrived, shot and killed himself. Hawthorn apparently started firing when his neighbor started dismantling the fence and, apparently, it had been part of a long-running feud.
A rude awakening and a very close call for an Oregon couple. Lynette and Terry Dobson (ph) were asleep when the oak tree -- you see there -- came crash into their bedroom. The couple says the tree landed just inches from their heads. Apparently all that rain out there loosened the soil around the tree and that caused it to come down. In Florida, former New York Mets and Yankees' pitcher Dwight Gooden is a free man this morning, walking out of a Gainesville prison after serving seven months of a year and a day sentence for violating probation. Last April, the four-time all-star chose jail time instead of more probation when he was caught using cocaine.
Outgoing Florida Governor Jeb Bush not pulling any punches when describing the Democrat's Election Day sweep. Governor Bush called Tuesday's outcome, and we quote him now, "a butt kicking." He also gave kudos to the Democrats for a well run campaign. Jeb Bush was not on the ballot Tuesday because Florida has term limits.
In Atlantic City, New Jersey, a gambling mecca is closing its doors. The Sand Hotel and Casinos shuts it down at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. The owners plan to tear the building down and build a bigger, more luxurious casino. Just like Las Vegas.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: After some shocking, shocking news, friends and colleagues are remembering legendary newsman Ed Bradley this morning. Bradley died at a New York City hospital of complications from leukemia. Bradley was born in Philadelphia, got his start in radio, spent 43 years, 43 years with CBS. Many of them with "60 Minutes." He won 19 Emmys during his storied career. He was just 65 years old.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats say they're ready to work with the president once they take control of Capitol Hill. But a couple of key issues may soon test that spirit of bipartisanship.
And is defense secretary nominee Robert Gates the right man to fix the problems in Iraq? The Joint Chiefs chairman, General Peter Pace, will join us, hopefully have an answer to that question. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back. Top stories we're following for you this morning.
A power shift on display at the White House again today. President Bush breaking bread with Senate Democrats, including Harry Reid, who is expected to be the new Senate majority leader.
And landmark legislation passes in Mexico City legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: New York Congressman Charlie Rangel eating some crow this morning. It's all over a comment that made some folks in Mississippi furious. Rangel is quoted in a recent "New York Times" article talking about federal money given to states. In it he says, listen up to this, "Mississippi gets its fair share, but who the hell would want to live in Mississippi."
ANDY SERWER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, no.
M. O'BRIEN: That's Charlie Rangel's words, folks, not mine. Lawmakers in Mississippi say Rangel should apologize. You might expect that. Rangel says he was only trying to joke that everyone should want to live in his home state of New York.
S. O'BRIEN: Spoken like a true politician. What I really meant was . . .
SERWER: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: I wonder how that Mississippi crow tastes.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Probably not very good.
M. O'BRIEN: No, probably not good.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's talk business news, shall we? BP settling a lawsuit related to a refinery fire. Andy's got that. He's "Minding Our Business."
Good morning.
SERWER: Good morning you guys.
A landmark settlement stemming from that Texas City, Texas, refinery explosion last year that killed 15 people and wounded 170. The last lawsuit just settled. A young woman named Eva Rowe, 22, who lost both of her parent in that explosion. Settled for an undisclosed amount.
But what intriguing here was the part of the settlement that didn't entitle what money she actually got, $38 million will be granted to the school system from BP where she lived and also the adult burn unit at the medical center there will get $12.5 million. And also documents will continue to be released by BP. So she really wanted to get something more than just money for herself out of this.
M. O'BRIEN: Good for her.
SERWER: Yes, exactly. We'll have some more details on that actually coming up later in the program.
Remember the chief's ethic officer of Hewlett-Packard, one gentlemen named Kevin Hunsaker, of course wrapped up in that whole scandal involving that giant technology company. He has pleaded not guilty yesterday. You may remember also that Mr. Hunsaker refused to resign that position and was fired. So, more spin and news coming out of that story as well.
And then finally this morning, the stock market yesterday gave up some ground, down 73 points. And you can see the Nasdaq and S&P down as well. There are some concerns that the Democratic Congress would be anti-business. That's what some people are saying. But it's actually, of course, a fiction that the stock market does not do well in Democratic administrations. It does well in both types of administrations. And, actually, it did pretty well in the 1990s, which I think was when President Clinton ran?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, I think he was there. But you were saying yesterday that what they like is gridlock. No action. Do nothing.
SERWER: Right. Exactly. The real thing is, the market had gone up for the past couple days and was looking for an excuse to sell-off.
M. O'BRIEN: There you go.
SERWER: On the one hand, right, Soledad?
S. O'BRIEN: On the one hand.
M. O'BRIEN: Andy Serwer, thank you.
SERWER: Thank you, guys.
M. O'BRIEN: Stories we're watching for you this morning. Millions of bottles of a generic pain killer recalled by the manufacturer. How did some of those pills end up with metal in them?
And can defense secretary nominee Robert Gates come up with a winning strategy in Iraq? Joint Chief's Chairman General Peter Pace will join us live ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: As goes Virginia, so does the Senate. And now Democrats get ready to take control of Congress. We'll tell you what's next for Washington's new power party.
S. O'BRIEN: Starting with a power lunch, the White House, President Bush breaking bread with the presumptive Senate majority leader Harry Reid. Can they get their past or really past their past, which was pretty rocky.
M. O'BRIEN: And a pain relief recall. Millions of bottles of store-brand acetaminophen could be contaminated with shards of metal.
S. O'BRIEN: Plus, outcry in L.A. as a videotape surfaces of another violent arrest. Now the FBI's involved. Those stories and much more ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
And welcome back, everybody. It's Friday, November 10th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's talk about Washington, D.C., shall we. This morning, of course, it's a whole lot different than it was at the start of the week. Democrats now officially in control of both parties of Congress. It could mean some very sweeping changes. We begin with Brianna Keilar. She's in Washington this morning. Good morning, Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, good morning to you.
And we've heard so much talk in the last few days from Democrats and Republicans about bipartisanship, getting along, working together and it's already being put to the test.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR, (voice over): President Bush posing for the cameras Thursday with top Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, now in line to be the speaker of the House. Both talking across the aisle cooperation.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to work together to address those challenges in a constructive way.
REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) CALIFORNIA: We both extended the hand of friendship, a partnership to solve the problems facing our country.
KEILAR: A few hours later . . .
SEN. GEORGE ALLEN, (R) VIRGINIA: And today I've called and congratulated Jim Webb and his team for their victory.
KEILAR: ... a concession speech from Virginia Republican George Allen made it official. Come January, Democrats control the Senate, as well as the House.
Democrats celebrated at a victory rally. Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised bipartisanship, but first he took one more shot at Republicans with this promise...
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: They've set a very bad example in not working with us. We're not following in that example.
KEILAR: President Bush quickly tested the new rhetoric of bipartisan goodwill, resubmitting the nomination of John Bolton for U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Bolton's initial nomination was opposed by Democrats and some Republicans, forcing the president to appoint him on a temporary basis. And the president asked the current Republican Congress to take on another controversial measure before its term ends.
BUSH: Another important priority in the war on terror for the Congress to pass the Terrorist Surveillance Act.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: In response to the resubmission of Bolton's nomination, Democrat Joe Biden, soon to be the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said, "John Bolton's going nowhere" -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Brianna Keilar for us this morning.
Thanks, Brianna -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: And now another GOP (INAUDIBLE) is dropping. Sources telling CNN Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman, will step down in January.
President Bush will have Senate Democratic leaders over to the White House for lunch today. He had a similar meeting yesterday with the House speaker-to-be, Nancy Pelosi, lunching on pasta and promises.
Here's CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The question is how long this honeymoon will last.
Today President Bush will meet with Senator Harry Reid, as well as Dick Durbin, of course to congratulate them, but to try to come up with an agenda, something to get done in the next couple of years.
Yesterday the president met with the anticipated incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, having lunch. Pelosi saying they had chocolates, as well as pasta. The White House counselor to the president saying it was time for Mr. Bush to eat crow.
The President appeared with his cabinet, offering an olive branch to Democrats, but he also sent a very clear signal to Republicans to try to push through controversial legislation before the Democrats take over.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: A major drug recall to tell you about this morning. It involves a commonly used pain reliever.
Millions of bottles of store-branded versions of acetaminophen are being pulled off of shelves across the country.
CNN's Allan Chernoff has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The drug recall affects 11 million bottles of generic store-branded versions of the popular painkiller acetaminophen sold at supermarkets and drugstores around the country. The generic drug manufacturer, Perrigo Company, found small pieces of metal in some caplets.
ERNIE SCHENK, PERRIGO COMPANY SPOKESMAN: Early this morning Perrigo announced a voluntary recall of certain lots of our store brand acetaminophen 500 milligram tablets.
CHERNOFF: Last month, Perrigo noticed its tablet-making machines at this factory in Michigan were suddenly wearing down. To find out why, the company put 70 million caplets of acetaminophen through a metal detector and discovered 200 of them contained little pieces of metal, which Perrigo concluded came from raw material from an outside supplier. The metal was only found in caplets of 500 milligram doses.
(on camera): Perrigo is also offering refunds. There's a help line to call: 877-546-0454.
But there's no person for consumers to talk to there. It's a recording that tells you how to get a rebate through the mail.
(voice over): Perrigo says it has no reports of illness and doesn't anticipate any, but the FDA says swallowing one of the affected tablets could cause an upset stomach and even small cuts in the throat or mouth.
DR. ROSHINI RAJAPASKA, GASTROENTEROLOGIST: It's very small. The risk is really minimal of anything dangerous happening. But we do worry about any sharp object being swallowed because there is a potential of a tear occurring.
CHERNOFF: You can find a full list of the batch numbers affected and retailers that sell Perrigo-made acetaminophen at CNN.com.
Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Johnson & Johnson, the maker of Tylenol, which is the number one brand of acetaminophen, says it doesn't make generics and that Tylenol brand is safe for consumers -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, another L.A. police beating caught on tape, and the FBI is on the case. The tape, as you see there, shows an officer repeatedly punching a pinned suspect in the face as the man complains that he can't breathe. The incident happened in August. The officers involved have been transferred to desk duty while this investigation goes on.
In Iraq, three American service members died yesterday in two attacks. Two soldiers were killed in Baghdad when their vehicle was blasted by a roadside bomb, and a Marine died in fighting in the Anbar province.
Those three deaths bring the total U.S. combat deaths in Iraq to 2,842. Twenty-four were killed in the first nine days of November. That's after 105 deaths in October, which was the deadliest month in two years.
Protests in the streets of Gaza this morning. Palestinians angry over the Israeli shelling of civilians in Beit Hanoun -- were left 18 dead, many from the same extended family. Many women and children. The Israelis say the attack was a mistake and they will conduct a full investigation.
History in Mexico City. Legislators voting to legalize same-sex civil unions. The move paves the way for same-sex unions in the city of more than eight million early next year. The measure allows property, pension and inheritance rights but falls short of allowing full-fledge marriage.
And in Massachusetts, lawmakers voted to delay a decision on whether to back a constitutional amendment that would have given voters a chance to ban same-sex marriage in 2008. That all but assures the proposed amendment won't be taken up and will be likely killed. Massachusetts the only U.S. state where same-sex marriage is currently legal.
A former aerospace engineer pleading not guilty to selling U.S. military secrets to China. Prosecutors say 62-year-old Noshir Gowadia gave China information to help develop hard-to-detect cruise missiles. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
S. O'BRIEN: It was such shocking news when we got the news yesterday and, of course, today friends and colleagues are remembering the legendary newsman Ed Bradley this morning. Ed Bradley died of leukemia on Thursday at a hospital in New York City. He was born in Philadelphia, got his start in radio, and spent 43 years with CBS News, eventually becoming a "60 Minutes" correspondent back in 1981. He won 19 Emmys in his career.
He was 65 years old when he died. Sad, sad news there. Really a shock, I think.
M. O'BRIEN: I don't think many people knew how ill he was.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's true.
M. O'BRIEN: And he will be missed, definitely.
Coming up, we will talk with the Joint Chiefs chairman, General Peter Pace. We'll get his take on defense secretary nominee Robert Gates and sees whether he thinks Gates can turn around the war in Iraq.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Many people, of course, have the day off today, the eve of Veterans Day, which is tomorrow, which is the day that we remember and honor the contributions of the men and women who are serving and have served this nation.
Right now there are about 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, 23,000 in Afghanistan. More than 2,800 have died in Iraq. More than 340 have died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and elsewhere. And more than 21,000 have been wounded in Iraq, more than a thousand in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
So now, with Donald Rumsfeld leaving the Pentagon and a power shift in Washington, D.C., just what lies ahead for the nation's soldiers?
Joining us this morning from the Pentagon is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace. Nice to see you, sir. Thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.
GEN. PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Good morning, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: I want to talk to you a little bit about Veterans Day, which is tomorrow, in just a moment. First, let's ask you about the new guy coming in. He's made it very clear that he is going to make -- make changes. And you, of course, are the top military guy.
What changes will you recommend to the new secretary of defense?
PACE: Well, I'll be happy to answer that question, but first, I do want to take just a minute to say thank you to the 30 million living Americans who are veterans, and especially to their families who have sat at home and prayed for their veterans' safe return. What those families have done and what those veterans have done has been incredible for our country, and today is a chance to sit back and think about that.
It's also the birthday of our Marine Corps today, 231 years. And the Marine Corps is going to celebrate that by opening the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico.
And I should pay particular attention to the fact that we lost Mr. Ed Bradley last night, who himself served in combat as a correspondent, was wounded in Cambodia, and is a veteran, as are many of our journalists in a way that serve this country immeasurably well.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, you're absolutely right on all fronts, sir. No question about that. And I appreciate that. And we'll talk more about Veterans Day in just a moment.
So let's get back to my first question for a second.
PACE: Sure.
S. O'BRIEN: What would you -- I mean, do you have a list of things that you would say to your new boss, essentially, of here are the recommendations that I would make, since you say you want a change?
PACE: Well, we are constantly reviewing where we are in the war, what's going well and should be reinforced, what's not going well and should be changed, what are the better and more efficient ways to conduct business. So, regardless of who the secretary of defense is, whether it's Secretary Rumsfeld, who will be our secretary and is our secretary until the Senate confirms the next secretary -- he is sworn in -- or if it becomes Dr. Gates, as we suspect it will be, but pending Senate confirmation, regardless of who the secretary is, my responsibility and all senior military leaders' responsibility is to give our best military advice to solving the nation's military problems.
S. O'BRIEN: With the change of leadership, is there any chance at all that you would not want to remain as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs?
PACE: This is an incredible honor to serve this nation in this position under as many or as few secretary of defenses as the president deems appropriate. I will stay in this job as long as the president wants me to in and the Senate confirms me.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's talk about phased withdrawal, which as anybody who is bombarded with all the campaign ads over the last months has heard about over and over and over again. Is that a serious issue that is now on the table and being considered?
PACE: I think the serious issue on the table is, what are the strategic objectives of the United States in the war on terrorism? And what is going right in the pursuit of those objectives and what is not going right and should be changed?
And it's my responsibility, along with the other joint chiefs of staff, and in coordination with General Abizaid and General Casey, to review that continuously and to give our best military advice. And that's exactly what we're going to do.
S. O'BRIEN: I think there is a sense that regardless of where you stand on the war, whether you're for the war or against the war in Iraq, that Americans truly support the troops who are serving there, and in Afghanistan as well. And you touched on it a moment ago, but I'm curious about the message that you would like to send on this eve of Veterans Day, not just to the troops, but also to the American people, as well.
PACE: Well, thank you for that opportunity, because it is true that regardless of their stand on the war, that the American people have been extremely supportive of their military in so many ways, whether it's greeting them when they come home at airports, or in the cases of those who have been wounded or killed in action, taking care of their families. There are organizations out there that provide scholarship for the children or provide special homes and the like for the wounded.
The American people have reached out in amazing ways to our returning veterans, and all of us in uniform thank them. And for all of our fellow citizens, I'd like to also thank especially those serving in the Gulf region right now for their sacrifice and to their families who are sacrificing for this country, as well as anybody has in the past.
S. O'BRIEN: I think we'll join you in that. Thank you, sir. And thank you for being with us. We appreciate it.
PACE: Thank you, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace joining us -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: It's a quarter of the hour. Chad Myers at the CNN weather center with a cold and flu report for us.
Hello, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Miles, that's a lovely tie you're wearing today. Are you upgrading your fashion statement here or did your wife buy that for you?
M. O'BRIEN: Well, thank you very much.
(CROSSTALK)
M. O'BRIEN: It kind of matches your map there, doesn't it? Yes. Actually, that's a cold front right there.
MYERS: You know, they say blue and green should never be seen, but good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, an unexpected way for parents to keep their kids from coming down with the sniffles during allergy season. We'll tell you about a surprising new study.
Plus, more on the changing of the guard in Congress, what it means for some of the president's more contentious initiatives. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Here's a look now at stories that CNN correspondents around the world are covering today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nic Robertson in London.
Today we are tracking very rare public comments by Dame Elizabeth Manningham-Buller, the head of Britain's domestic intelligence services, MI5. She says there are about 1,600 individuals with close ties to terrorist groupings or terrorist plots -- she says the intelligence services are currently following. She said there are about some 200 groupings or networks, and that currently there are about 30 active terrorist plots in Britain at this time.
Many of those, she said, are tied to al Qaeda in Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Paula Hancocks in Jerusalem.
The Gay Pride rally is well under way after the planned parade through the streets of Jerusalem had to be canceled. Religious leaders said that such a parade through the holy city would be an abomination, and the police said they couldn't guarantee security given the high number of threats of attacks on Israel over recent days. Gay leaders, though, say that they are just fighting for the same right and tolerance given to other minority groups.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jeff Koinange in Johannesburg.
He was one of the most brutal militia leaders in a vicious civil war in the Congo that is said to have cost millions of lives, but now Thomas Lubanga is in prison at The Hague, facing a judge who will determine whether he stands trial for war crimes. His main charge, that Lubanga used child soldiers, some of them as young as 8 years old, to do his dirty work.
More coming up only on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. I'm Atika Shubert in Tokyo, where hundreds of gamers are expected to flood in to electronic stores this weekend all because of this, the new Playstation 3. That, of course, is the latest version of Sony's best- selling gaming console. It goes on sale in Tokyo 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and it's not cheap -- $600.
But Sony says that's because it's not just for games, it's an entertainment center. It has a DVD reader so people can watch movies. It can also surf the Web, all with Sony's unrivaled graphics and image quality.
So, is it worth it to consumers? Those in the U.S. will have to wait to find out. It won't be available there for another week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: For more on these or any of our top stories, log on to our Web site at CNN.com.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, some advice for parents who have kids with hay fever. Send them out the door. Does that make sense? We'll explain.
Plus, disgraced pastor Ted Haggard going through spiritual restoration. We'll find out what that means and entails just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BUSINESS REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: True blue. The Democrats take Virginia, the Senate and the House for total control of Congress. What to look for as they move from minority to majority party.
M. O'BRIEN: Another power lunch. Perhaps a little bit of humble pie at the White House. President Bush invites the Senate's new leaders for lunch today.
S. O'BRIEN: Total recall. Millions of bottles of store-branded acetaminophen flagged amid safety fears. We're going to tell you what to look for this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: Another violent arrest videotaped in Los Angeles. The outcry is growing on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. It's Friday, November 10th.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien.
We're glad you're with us.
S. O'BRIEN: The ground keeps shifting truly in Washington, D.C. Here's a look at what's new this morning.
More fallout from the election. Another Republican leader out. This time it is the Republican National Committee chair. Sources say that Ken Mehlman is stepping down.
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