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American Morning
President Bush Revealing His Victory Plan for Iraq in Speech This Morning
Aired November 30, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
A developing story now. President Bush revealing his victory plan for Iraq in a speech this morning. What's new? Have we heard it before? We're going to take you to the White House for a preview.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Miles O'Brien.
The key to the president's strategy a strong Iraqi military. But are those Iraqi soldiers anywhere near ready to takeover? We'll take a look.
S. O'BRIEN: And three months after hurricane Katrina, some families are still waiting to bury their dead. Outrage over repeated delays in DNA testing. That story on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
8:00 a.m. here on the East Coast just slightly after a reminder, we start at 6:00 a.m. each and every day here on AMERICAN MORNING. It's a new time for us starting this week. We hope that you'll join us right then.
M. O'BRIEN: We're up bright eyed and bushy tailed and we hope you'll be joining us every morning.
We've got a lot to talk about this morning, the president's speech coming up about an hour and 45 minutes from now.
S. O'BRIEN: Much of the speech, of course, is going to be working off this document, which is the National Strategy for Victory In Iraq. The White House released this 35-page document that outlines some of the U.S. goals there. In less than two hours, we are expecting to hear from the president.
Let's get right to Dana Bash.
She's been following the events in Washington this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The goal of the president's speech and a newly released "Strategy for Victory" is to reassure a skeptical public that there is a plan in Iraq and also to hit back at critics, stating clearly: "No war has ever been won on a timetable and neither will this one."
(voice-over): In a preview of what the White House is billing as a major speech on Iraq, the president suggested troops could start coming home soon, but warned too soon would be a terrible mistake.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want our troops to come home. But I don't want them to come home without having achieved victory, and we've got a strategy for victory.
BASH: The president will try to define that strategy, aides say, in more detail than ever before, focusing on progress Iraqis are making in securing their own country. A senior official says Mr. Bush will admit it's taken more time than expected to properly train Iraqi security forces, but he'll cite some 120 Iraqi battalions in the fight, 40 leading missions and tout specific regions, like a road formerly known as Death Street, that are now safe and under Iraqi control.
The White House has tried several times before to turn around slumping support for Iraq, with speeches billed as major. After Cindy Sheehan captured August headlines, Bush aides promised to explain their Iraq policy better with this VFW speech. That was two months after using the same tactic with this prime time address.
BUSH: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it.
BASH: Yet they lost support. In June, 52 percent of Americans said it wasn't worth going to war. Two months later, 54 percent. Now, 60 percent, six in 10 Americans, say Iraq wasn't worth it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the headlines say every day in Iraq is how many poor people got blown up and how many American soldiers were killed. That's the reality that's shaping opinions about Iraq.
BASH (on camera): To try to change those opinions, the White House knows they have to convince Americans they do have a plan in Iraq and that's why they released this 35-page national strategy for victory, glossy cover and all. It's a declassified explanation of the political, economic and security goals the president has talked about and has been in place generally since 2003.
Now, it rejects a timetable for withdrawal, but does suggests if conditions are right, troops could start coming home as early as next year.
Dana Bash, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: We're going to bring you the president's speech live from the U.S. Naval Academy. That's this morning beginning at 9:45 a.m. Eastern time, right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Other stories making news.
For that, we go right to Carol Costello -- good morning again, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad.
And good morning to all of you.
The matter of abortion is before the nation's highest court today. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on a New Hampshire law requiring a parent be given 48 hours notice if their child seeks an abortion. A federal appeals court ruled the law unconstitutional and blocked it from taking effect. The case does not affect the "Row v. Wade" ruling.
As you fly off for the family fun this holiday, go ahead, think about bringing those small scissors with u. Yes, another change may be coming for those who fly. In fact, another change is coming. We got word of this earlier this morning and we checked with our Jeanne Meserve and her source says that the changes will come your way on December 20th and they will allow for some scissors, less than four inches long, and some tools, less than seven inches long. So that means nail scissors and some screwdrivers will now be allowed on board the plane in your carry-on bag.
One reason for the change is that it takes a good amount of screener time to look for those items and they want to put more focus on the risk of greatest consequence, which would be explosives. So get ready for those changes at the airport as you fly off for your holiday this year.
A 37-year-old Georgia woman has been indicted on child molestation charges. Lisa Clark married a 15-year-old boy November 8th. She is reportedly pregnant with the teenager's child. She's been ordered not to come within 100 feet of the young man.
And are you looking for a good paying job? It may be no surprise, but East Coast is best. New numbers from the Census Bureau suggest that's where the highest paying jobs are. In terms of the richest state, that would be Connecticut. The median household income is just over $56,000. The lowest income, Mississippi, at just over $32,000.
And keep in mind, though, the taxes in Connecticut, whoo, are they high.
And they're digging out. A massive blizzard is being blamed for at least five deaths across the Plains. The storm knocked out power to thousands and forced roads to close across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas. Officials in those states say most roads have now been reopened. The blizzard dropped snow as far south as the Texas Panhandle. Hopefully it's over -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Almost. Almost. Over with in the Plains, anyway, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: Also this morning, much more on the mounting frustration in New Orleans. Just to what degree has FEMA let people down? We're going to check with a former FEMA director, James Lee Witt, just ahead this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: Also, the gang at Sesame Street tries to lift the spirits of New Orleans' children. We're going to talk to Elmo in a little bit. Really.
S. O'BRIEN: And the latest in our series of online gift-giving ideas. Today, four Web sites to help you find the perfect gift for just about anybody.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today, the costliest year for hurricanes in the U.S. by far. It's been three months since hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.
Well, at a town hall meeting in New Orleans on Tuesday, victims blasted the government, saying it's failed them in their time of need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a hard thing to believe that the United States of America is spending nearly $1 billion per week in Iraq and here, in New Orleans, the United States, we're being neglected. Now, why do we have to beg and plead with our president, our congressmen, our elected leaders, to tell them that we need help when it's on the media every day?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: James Lee Witt is a former head of FEMA.
He's also a consultant to the State of Louisiana. He was hired by Governor Blanco, really, in the days just after hurricane Katrina.
He joins us this morning.
It's nice to see you, sir.
Thank you for talking with us.
JAMES LEE WITT, FORMER FEMA DIRECTOR: Good to see you.
S. O'BRIEN: It seems to be the story of FEMA, a story of everything behind schedule or maybe not ever going to happen in any kind of reasonable time line.
Why is that? Has this just overwhelmed FEMA? Is that what's happened? WITT: I think a lot has to do with that. I think, you know, last year they had four hurricanes in Florida. You know, they still have a lot of people there working. And then, too, in Louisiana and Texas and Mississippi this year, Katrina and Rita. And then also they had Wilma. And so, you know, it's taxed them greatly.
But I think they're moving forward. I know I've seen a lot of changes in the last few weeks and we're down there working and our people are working with them. And so it's starting to change and starting to move much faster now.
S. O'BRIEN: One of the stories we've been talking about this morning, sir, is this -- the DNA issue. People have given their DNA. The bodies are sitting at the morgue. And they can't quite get it together to get the money or to get a company to contract to do the DNA testing. I mean these are bodies that have been recovered. People just want to know if their loved ones, you know, if that's who they think it is there.
Listen to what the coroner had to say. This is Dr. Minyard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DRANK MINYARD, ORLEANS PARISH CORONER: So, you know, we have to rely on DNA and it should have been done, you know, at least started a month ago. But it hasn't been. And so now we just have to wait. And the families, of course, are the ones who are suffering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Why? Why has this happened?
WITT: You know, I can't answer that question. I can tell you what we did in the Oklahoma City bombing at the Murrah Building. We had the demort team and the DNA lab right there on site and we did that as victims were brought out. And so, you know, this can be improved and should be improved. And I know in Oklahoma City, we at FEMA did fund the DNA process there.
S. O'BRIEN: Who is to blame then? I mean what's changed between then and now?
WITT: I think...
S. O'BRIEN: Is the Department of Homeland Security, that has taken over, is that the main reason for the change?
WITT: Well, I don't know if that's the main reason. But I think there's a -- it's a little bit more bureaucracy now than it's ever been because FEMA is not -- basically they have to go through Homeland Security to get decision processes made and it takes a lot longer than it used to before. When I was a cabinet level position, you know, I could task those agencies to do what we needed done, and FEMA should be able to do that now.
S. O'BRIEN: We heard a lot of people in this town hall meeting saying that, where are the trailers, you know? And you look at -- if FEMA is having -- struggling so much on this relatively small level, in the face of a national catastrophe, it's a very scary scenario, but there are, what, 85,000 trailers that are needed? I think they've given 7,000 out.
Why?
WITT: The logistics of it is one of the big problems, finding sites to put trailers on is a big problem. And I know that they have put a lot of camper trailers in driveways, but they need more. I know they had ordered a hundred and something thousand trailers and I know a lot of those are down there.
A lot of the sites that are set up, Soledad, one of the problems with those sites was there was not a planned transportation capability to transport those people back and forth to jobs, to help clean up their homes and help recover.
S. O'BRIEN: You, as we mentioned, all right advising Governor Blanco. You also run a private consulting firm and you have private clients.
Are those private clients going to have a role in the reconstruction of New Orleans?
WITT: No. We, from day one we said we would not represent anyone in Louisiana except Louisiana. And we stick by that and are still doing that.
S. O'BRIEN: When you hear the fear, I guess, voiced by the people at the town hall meetings, what would you tell them if you were the one standing at the mike, to give them some kind of reassurance? What would you say?
WITT: Well...
S. O'BRIEN: Or would you say, you know, throw up your arms, forget it, it's not going to be rebuilt? Move.
WITT: Well, I think that there is hope and I think, you know, you've got 50,000 or 60,000 people back in New Orleans already. And I think each day we'll see it's starting to turn and change.
Governor Blanco has put in a very, very strong Louisiana Recovery Authority that I will be going down tomorrow to meet with them. And they are moving forward very aggressively, putting in mitigation and rebuilding efforts and long-term reconstruction.
So I think you're going to see, and I think the people there will see that working together on what they're doing now, trying to streamline things, and working with FEMA, I think they're going to see a big change. And I think over the next few months that there will be more people coming back. And I think they'll start putting their lives back together.
But, Soledad, you cannot rebuild a massive effort like this without doing the planning first and that's critical.
S. O'BRIEN: James Lee Witt is the former FEMA director.
Thank you for talking with us this morning.
WITT: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, we'll talk once again to our friend at Dailycandy.com. She's got more tips for smart online gift giving. Today, she'll tell us about four Web sites with something for everyone on your gift list. Your shopping will be done if you watch, so stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(AUDIO CLIP OF "I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS")
M. O'BRIEN: That's a good rendition. It kind of gets your feet a tapping there.
Let's talk about Dailycandy and four sites, just four sites -- go to these sites and get all your shopping done, right, Dannielle Romano?
She is the editor-at-large at Dailycandy.com.
She joins us from the CNN Center in Atlanta, looking very holidayesque.
DANNIELLE ROMANO, DAILYCANDY.COM: I have to get in the mood. We have to get this shopping done, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: And yesterday, I mean who couldn't use a little help with their online holiday shopping?
M. O'BRIEN: Exactly.
ROMANO: But I think you're a very special case. So I figured I will make it really easy. I picked four discoveries, four sites. If you can't find something for everyone on your list and let them think you are the most considerate and thoughtful gift giver -- well I tried to let my cranky -- make my cranky boss give us a money back guarantee, but he was like you're telling them this advice for free. What do you want from me, Dannielle?
M. O'BRIEN: What do you want?
ROMANO: So, let's do it.
M. O'BRIEN: Let's get right to Flight 001.
ROMANO: Flight 001. M. O'BRIEN: This is for the traveler on your list.
ROMANO: For the jet setter on your list.
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
ROMANO: Or maybe your crazy uncle who just likes to live like he maybe is going to go on a trip. They have not just really cool luggage and sleep masks for the plane, cashmere blankets, miniature games so you can, you know...
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: But it's stuff you can use around the house, too.
M. O'BRIEN: They have a View Master here.
ROMANO: Yes!
M. O'BRIEN: When was the last time you saw a View Master?
ROMANO: Probably like, I don't know, when I was five.
M. O'BRIEN: I mean, you know, most people are traveling now with DVD players. Can you imagine seeing somebody in first class with a View Master?
ROMANO: Hey, let's make it really old school. I would want to talk to them, or maybe not. I don't know.
M. O'BRIEN: Kind of retro. I'd stay away from them. OK...
ROMANO: Ah, you know...
M. O'BRIEN: Let's go to this one.
The next one is Bigelow Apothecaries. Now, you -- I don't think much about going to the pharmacy online as a gift, but there might be some lotions and potions that would be good for Sandy, huh? Yes?
ROMANO: Let's -- yes, let's think of it, you know, an apothecary is filled with lotions and potions. C.O. Bigelow is one of most famous New York institutions. It's been there for like 170 years. They have built a really robust online presence and there are candles, there are, you know, like lip balms that are really cool, from old classics that you can't find anywhere else...
M. O'BRIEN: Oh come on! Lip balms are never cool. Can a lip balm be cool?
ROMANO: Lip balms are so cool. There are lip balms that editors are obsessed with and people steal from each other's purses. Miles, you just need to run in some different circles, I think.
M. O'BRIEN: I guess I do.
ROMANO: That's a great stocking stuffer -- hair care, makeup. There's lots of men shaving stuff.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's good.
ROMANO: So, baby...
M. O'BRIEN: That's good.
ROMANO: ... you know, salves and things. So...
M. O'BRIEN: Cool lip balms.
All right, let's -- Elsewares is the next one on our list. And check out this totally rad watch. This is -- the guy who has the View Master would never wear this watch.
ROMANO: If he wore...
M. O'BRIEN: Look at the dots.
ROMANO: It is totally futuristic.
M. O'BRIEN: It's 12 dots...
ROMANO: I think we are moving into a different age.
M. O'BRIEN: ... that means it's 9:43 or something like that, you know, just to be different, I guess, huh?
ROMANO: Well, you wouldn't really know what time it was ever, but it would look good. Elsewares.com is...
M. O'BRIEN: More important.
ROMANO: ... is like your coolest friend shopped for everyone on your list. They are all about finding really neat, really talented, independent designers and artists. They're a very socially minded company, so they're all about sustainability, all about good stuff. They have everything from jewelry made out of beer cans...
M. O'BRIEN: Oh, really?
ROMANO: ... to fancy cuff links to dinner plates that will wow your guests to Baby Onesies with Chinese zodiac symbols.
M. O'BRIEN: Wow! This is...
ROMANO: So from the fancy to the...
M. O'BRIEN: That's quite an eclectic mix, you might say.
ROMANO: It's very eclectic and that's why it's a good choice.
M. O'BRIEN: And then who knows...
ROMANO: They have everything.
M. O'BRIEN: ... they might have cool lip balm, too. You never know.
ROMANO: Well, you know where to get the cool lip balm.
Are you paying attention, Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, I was.
I'm sorry. I was taking notes.
ROMANO: OK, good. Good.
M. O'BRIEN: Now, clothing. This is quite an interesting item, Le Train Bleu.
ROMANO: Le Train Bleu. Our French is very good today, isn't it?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, that was pretty lame, actually, on my part. But Le Train Bleu. All right.
ROMANO: This is for the -- this is to trick the women in your life into thinking you're actually with it. Le Train Bleu is sort of like an online, a very well curated online boutique.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: They have all the coolest up and coming designers, not all of them, a very well edited selection. So for your teenaged niece...
M. O'BRIEN: Listen, wait a minute.
ROMANO: ... for your wife...
M. O'BRIEN: Wait a minute. Not my teenaged daughter for some of these outfits, you know what I mean?
ROMANO: Well, use your good judgment, sir.
M. O'BRIEN: A little risque, you might say, Dannielle. I don't know.
ROMANO: Well, risque, but a very appreciative gift and a very -- all the fashion conscious ladies will really...
M. O'BRIEN: That one's OK.
ROMANO: ... really love it.
M. O'BRIEN: This one's OK.
ROMANO: There are some very sensible things for teenagers on there.
M. O'BRIEN: That's not so bad. Yes.
ROMANO: And for more risque older women, you know? M. O'BRIEN: And all that.
ROMANO: And all that.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Maybe I'm just a stick in the mud.
Is that the problem with me, Dannielle? I don't know.
ROMANO: I will not call you a stick in a mud. I think you're very open to these ideas and I think you're progressing nicely.
M. O'BRIEN: It's a learning process.
ROMANO: We're working on you.
M. O'BRIEN: So why don't you come back, all right?
ROMANO: We have much more to do, so we're going to conquer the Internet, divide and conquer.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. our candy fetish will continue.
ROMANO: That sounds good.
M. O'BRIEN: Dannielle Romano from Dailycandy.com.
Our pleasure having you back.
ROMANO: Thanks, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Still ahead this morning, want a peek at this year's holiday decorations at the White House? First Lady Laura Bush is going to take us on a live tour just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: This Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, our "Then And Now" special with Larry King.
We'll take a look at some of the news makers of CNN's first 25 years and take a look at what they're doing right now.
Here's a sample.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
QUESTION: Heidi, do you think you'll give the names in the black books?
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the 1990s, Heidi Fleiss was one of Hollywood's most notorious characters. The then twenty-something daughter of a wealthy pediatrician used her family's connections to attract and service rich and famous clients as the Hollywood Madam.
Her arrest and trial became headline news. But she never did reveal the contents of her black book and was sentenced to three years in prison for procuring prostitution and selling cocaine.
When Fleiss was released from prison, she started capitalizing on her notoriety legally. Fleiss has a line of clothing called Heidi Wear and owns a West Hollywood boutique called The Little Shop of Sex. She also invested in her looks, undergoing plastic surgery.
HEIDI FLEISS: I had the party, did the party, threw the party, was the party. I'm partied out. And I live every day to its fullest. And there's lessons that I've learned.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Fleiss wrote a book about her experiences called "Pandering." She's also opening a legal brothel in Nevada.
On the personal side, she recently faced off in court against former boyfriend and actor Tom Sizemore, accusing him of abuse.
The Hollywood Madam turns 40 this year and would like to be remembered for one thing.
FLEISS: That I took the oldest profession on Earth and did it better than anyone on Earth. That's it. And that's all. Alexander the Great conquered the world at 32. I did it at 22.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And that is the statue of Christopher Columbus. Easy for me to say. Christopher Columbus.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes it is. And they call it Columbus Circle.
S. O'BRIEN: That's right.
M. O'BRIEN: What a coincidence that is, huh? Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Isn't that amazing, that's how it works.
Welcome back, everybody.
We have been on the air since 6:00 in the morning East Coast time, because that's our new start time.
We'd love to have you join us early in the morning taking in AMERICAN MORNING.
M. O'BRIEN: Please do. The first shift beginning a little differently than it has before. Carol still with us. Of course, you know, she was on at 6:00 for years and years, since the mid-50s, really.
COSTELLO: I actually was on at 5:00.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
That's right. That was that early. So she's getting an extra hour's sleep, we're losing a little but, you know, whatever. That's how it goes.
But we're glad you're with us.
We're going to be talking about the president's speech coming up.
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