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American Morning

Do You Feel Safe From Terrorists in America?

Aired December 02, 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.

Do you feel safe from terrorists in America? Many questions still surround our security. We're going to get some answers from the nation's intelligence chief in an exclusive interview ahead.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: And Oprah and Dave together again. A much hyped celebrity feud is now over on this AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN:

AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: That's right.

M. O'BRIEN: Oprah, Dave, Dave, Oprah. It went well?

S. O'BRIEN: It went very well. The feud is officially over, although I think both sides are saying feud, what feud? I've always loved u. I don't know what you're talking about.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: But everybody else knew there was a feud and now it is done. We're going to talk more about that in just a little bit.

First, though, we want to get right to a CNN "Security Watch."

Here's a question for you -- is America any safer now from terrorists since 9/11?

National Intelligence Director John Negroponte says yes. Negroponte explained why he thanks so in an exclusive interview with CNN's national security correspondent, David Ensor.

David is in our Washington bureau this morning -- David, good morning.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Ambassador Negroponte talked about the new National Clandestine Service, which puts all operational officers, spies, if you will, under one boss, and the new national security branch at the FBI. He said the intelligence community is getting better organized to collect and analyze intelligence, as well as to go after terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN NEGROPONTE, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: I certainly believe America is safer since 9/11. And I believe that from an intelligence point of view, that our intelligence effort is better integrated today than it was previously. I think we're doing a good job at bringing together foreign, domestic and military intelligence.

And in addition to that, of course, we are on the offensive against al Qaeda and its affiliates around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: He did stress, Soledad, though, that there's a lot more work to do. These are early days for the DNI's office. There's much more to do to make the country safe -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: An important aspect of security is information sharing.

What did Negroponte have to say about that, David?

ENSOR: You know, talking about that, he raised the issue of -- I actually raised the issue of the New York subway situation some months ago and the Baltimore tunnel. Negroponte did not want to second guess what authorities in New York and Maryland did there. Some critics have said that Negroponte's office should have been more forceful, maybe even public, advising that the intelligence on the threats there was questionable.

He seemed to feel that things went about the way they should have in those cases.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEGROPONTE: I think you could say, in some respects, the system worked here. We had information. We had threat information which was of, perhaps, while perhaps of questionable reliability, nonetheless, because of the importance of the target and the magnitude of the risk, it was considered important to pass that information to local authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ENSOR: And, Soledad, there's much more to this exclusive first interview.

We talked about how he prepares to brief the president, whether he has enough control on the budget. And we also asked him about who will prepare Secretary Rice to answer questions about reports that there are CIA prisons in Europe on her upcoming trip there -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: All right, David Ensor.

Thanks, David, for a little bit of a preview there. You can see the full interview on "THE SITUATION ROOM," that interview with John Negroponte. It's hosted by Wolf Blitzer and airs at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time weekdays -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Democratic Congressman Jack Murtha made headlines last month saying the U.S. needs to get out of Iraq. Well, he's making headlines again. He says the military is broken and questions how long U.S. troops can continue even fighting the war.

Kathleen Koch live at the White House this morning -- Kathleen, what's the reaction there?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, no specific reaction to Murtha's words. The Democrats do just keep blasting away at the president's strategy in Iraq. Apparently Congressman Murtha was talking to a civic group in Pennsylvania when he made the comment that he believes most troops will return home within a year because he says the Army is "worn out."

Now, the White House yesterday did say that 2006 will be a period of significant transition and that the U.S. posture on the ground in Iraq will change. But Spokesman Scott McClellan says there are no guarantees.

President Bush mentioned the troops last night here in Washington during the lighting of the national Christmas tree.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America's military men and women stand for freedom and they serve the case of peace. Many of them are serving in distant lands tonight, but they are close to our hearts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now, helping President Bush to throw the switch to light the three last night were three schoolgirls. They launched a campaign to collect backpacks and school supplies for children on the hurricane stricken Gulf Coast -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Kathleen, tell us about the president getting a summons for jury duty? Really?

KOCH: Yes, Miles, and apparently the White House found out about it through media reports. It learned that the president, apparently, was sent a summons to appear for jury duty Monday morning in McLennan County, Texas.

Now, Scott McClellan says apparently that summons never arrived at the president's address in Crawford, so the White House contacted the judge in the case. He said the president had some prior commitments for Monday, he would like to reschedule, and the judge agreed -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Now, I wonder if it ever came to it if he'd make the jury. It'll be interesting, huh?

KOCH: Very interesting. I asked. I said, well, when are they researching it for, once he leaves office? And Scott said well, we're working that out with the judge. So that was what they said.

M. O'BRIEN: Everybody has their civic duty and he's there in August, so who knows? Maybe they'll find something for him.

Kathleen Koch, thanks very much.

KOCH: You bet.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's get some other headlines in.

Carol Costello with that -- good morning, again, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Can you imagine being on trial and in the jury box is President Bush?

M. O'BRIEN: Well, yes, I mean would they allow the Secret Service in the jury room?

COSTELLO: They'd have to, wouldn't they?

M. O'BRIEN: I guess so.

COSTELLO: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

We've been telling you about security changes at the airports. The TSA is making the official announcement within the hour.

Here's what we know.

You will be able to take small scissors and some tools aboard with you, but will it save you time in line? Maybe not, because new patdown procedures are also part of the changes. Screeners will now be able to patdown your arms and your legs below mid-thigh if they feel it's necessary.

Convicted killer Kenneth Boyd is now a statistic. Boyd was executed in North Carolina just about six hours ago. He becomes number 1,000 to be executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated nearly 30 years ago. Boyd admitted to killing his wife, his estranged wife and his father-in-law.

The issue of capital punishment, as you know, sparks some serious debate. Police arrested about 20 protesters outside the prison where that death sentence was carried out. They were opposed to Boyd's execution.

Convicted killer Joseph Smith could join that list. A Florida jury has recommended the death penalty for him. Smith was convicted of abducting, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. You certainly remember the car wash surveillance video of the girl's abduction. It will now be up to the judge to decide if Smith is executed or sent to prison for life.

A first of its kind procedure in France is sparking a bit of an ethics debate. But doctors who carried out the first partial face transplant said the surgery was required because the patient's case was exceptional. She couldn't speak or eat.

The woman who underwent the procedure was mauled by a dog. The donor was a brain-dead woman. Doctors say there were no problems post-surgery and that the patient's first words upon waking up from surgery were thank you.

Surely you remember this young woman on the cell phone? This is Candice Martinez, the so-called cell phone bandit. She was on the phone while robbing four banks in northern Virginia. Well, it has been confirmed she was talking on the phone to her boyfriend. David Williams is pleading guilty. He was in court on Thursday. He says he helped plan the robberies and he was on the phone with her the entire time, you know, coaching her.

S. O'BRIEN: Telling her what?

COSTELLO: Coaching her.

S. O'BRIEN: On what?

COSTELLO: Telling her what to ask, how to pass the note. I don't know.

M. O'BRIEN: You know, when you said coaching, I thought it was phone sex. It's not.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, hi.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, it's the boyfriend. I don't know. I just thought of that.

COSTELLO: I don't know what to say.

No, it definitely was not that...

S. O'BRIEN: No, he was...

COSTELLO: ... because he wouldn't be going to jail for that.

S. O'BRIEN: Right.

That would just be creepy, but he wouldn't be going to jail for that.

M. O'BRIEN: Love you, honey.

Got to get -- got to get this teller.

S. O'BRIEN: Carol, thank you.

COSTELLO: Sure.

S. O'BRIEN: Let's get another look at the weather.

Jacqui has got that -- hey, again.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, man, it's hard to recover from that.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, it is, isn't it?

JERAS: Oh my goodness.

Anyway...

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, information or misinformation? The U.S. is accused of planting slanted stories in the Iraqi media. We'll take you live to Washington for a closer look on that story.

M. O'BRIEN: Then war time leaders. Is President Bush learning from his predecessors? Our Jeff Greenfield will join us with his take.

S. O'BRIEN: And why is this woman on the front page? Her story shocked the people who thought they knew her well. We'll explain ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Reports that the Pentagon is planting stories in the Iraqi media are not sitting well in Washington. Senator John Warner, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has called on military brass to explain themselves today.

Former Pentagon Spokesman Kenneth Bacon is in our Washington bureau this morning.

Nice to see you, Mr. Bacon.

Thanks for talking with us.

How common is what's being alleged here, that the U.S. military essentially contracted out people to write positive stories and then plant those stories either with journalists, Iraqi journalists who were receptive, or just pay for them to run in the newspapers?

Is that a common practice?

KENNETH BACON, FORMER PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: No, I think this is really quite rare and that's one of the reasons it's so disturbing.

S. O'BRIEN: At the same time, in a war, propaganda obviously, on both sides, is going to happen.

Why is it so disturbing, do you think?

BACON: Well, I think you're right, that the Pentagon is dealing with a real problem here, and that is how do you get accurate information out to a country that we're occupying and trying to win over? It's much more difficult in today's information age where information flows across international boundaries in many, many different ways.

But the key, they have to remember, is that they have to protect good information sources and the press is something we're trying to build up in Iraq as a reliable, free source of information. So to undermine that by paying for stories shoots our own program in the foot.

S. O'BRIEN: It's coming from both sides, though. I mean we've seen a similar thing, it's been certainly alleged, many believe, from al-Zarqawi, trying to do his own propaganda on his side in Iraq, as well. You know, it's a battle over the hearts and minds of the people who are kind of stuck in the middle.

What kind of damage do you think it does to U.S. credibility when this is revealed, in this case, by the "L.A. Times?"

BACON: Well, I think it does -- it's not the revelation that's done the damage. What's done the damage is a program that confuses people about whether the press is free and independent and a reliable source of news or whether it's owned by one side or the other. The way we have to deal with Zarqawi and others who control the press is to show that the press is open for a free flow of news and information.

S. O'BRIEN: We got a report from Baghdad just a little while ago. The bottom line is, Nic Robertson said, you know, when the stories are really positive, Iraqi people don't believe it anyway.

Do you think there's more concern here in the U.S. than in Iraq, where, frankly, they don't have a history of a free press?

BACON: No, they don't, and that's one of the things we're trying to build up. We have the State Department and the Agency for International Development on the one hand working to train journalists and to create a sense of a free, independent press in Baghdad. And on the other hand, we have the Pentagon paying to have good news stories printed in the press.

So we have a bifurcated, confusing policy. It's no wonder that the Iraqis don't believe in a free press at this stage, given what they've been through and given what we're showing them.

The question is how do you build confidence in a free press? And you do that over a long period of time by building the institution, by training reporters and by teaching people the get reliable information from the press.

S. O'BRIEN: And when you say bifurcated, you really mean the U.S. is looking like a bunch of hypocrites here.

Did you have a similar incident or anything that would sort of rate on this scale when you were the spokesman at the Pentagon?

BACON: Well, nothing quite like this. But there is a natural tension between the military wanting to use information operations as a weapon in warfare and others who want to protect the press as a channel for accurate, legitimate information. And I had a brief scuffle after Kosovo in 1999-2000 over setting up a Web site dealing with the Balkans.

I had no objection to having the military set up a Web site, as long as the Web site was clearly labeled as coming from the military and not disguised as an office of public affairs Web site.

S. O'BRIEN: Did you win the scuffle?

BACON: I did win that scuffle and I think the military, at that point, saw that they didn't lose anything by being open and honest about where the information was coming from.

S. O'BRIEN: Former Pentagon Spokesman Kenneth Bacon.

Nice to see you, sir.

Thanks for talking with us.

BACON: Thank you, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, more tips from our series on online gift giving. Today, the people you really don't want to buy anything for, but you have to -- you know, the boss, the mother-in-law. We've got some good Web sites to help you out on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us for Daily Candy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: You know, when you think about it, every week is a week of giving here at CNN AMERICAN MORNING. We had one last week and this week we did, too, just a little more high tech version.

Dannielle Romano has been joining us.

She's from Dailycandy.com.

You might want to check that out because they have daily little insights, tips, places to shop, cool ideas, etc. etc.

DANNIELLE ROMANO, DAILYCANDY.COM: You've got it.

M. O'BRIEN: And she has been giving us, you know, themes for surfing this year. And this is my favorite one, gifts to people you really don't -- well, you may not even like them, but you've got to give them a gift, right?

ROMANO: Today we're giving until it hurts. I mean, really hurts. There are those people on our list who you can't just cross them off and say oh, a holiday card, here you are.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Boss.

ROMANO: Or Fruitcake.com.

M. O'BRIEN: Right.

ROMANO: So your mean boss, the office is like let's all get together. You have to get him something. This guy's Power Point presents make you cry. But it turns out I think he just needs to lighten up. So I thought if you have a cranky colleague or a boss at the office and everybody is going in on something, why not the Ubertap?

M. O'BRIEN: Ubertap.

ROMANO: Ubertap.

M. O'BRIEN: This is at Ubertap.com and...

ROMANO: Now, it's a little crazy. Don't get too excited.

M. O'BRIEN: I know. No, I'm very excited about this, actually.

ROMANO: Ubertap.com is for, yes, a keg of beer.

M. O'BRIEN: Right.

ROMANO: Now, what office isn't going to want this? Your boss would be happier if he could just have a drink at quitting time.

M. O'BRIEN: Right. And this...

ROMANO: This, the cool thing about this...

M. O'BRIEN: Why didn't they have this in college? It's got three spigots.

ROMANO: I know.

M. O'BRIEN: This is great.

ROMANO: I know. So this could be good for a cranky professor, too. It has three spigots so you can pour three beers at once and so you can do like some antics and all sorts of crazy stuff with your other hand. You pump it with your foot. It seems...

M. O'BRIEN: And here's what's interesting. They have a cocktail version, as well, for those of you who are not beer lovers.

ROMANO: Yes, this is the latest technology. So you mix a cocktail and it pours it out. M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

ROMANO: These people are all about like the very futuristic, you know, pouring and vacuuming. And however it works, I like it. Thank you, science, I say.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you. You know...

ROMANO: Thank you, Ubertap.

M. O'BRIEN: If we can send a man to the moon, why not have three spigots on a tap, for gosh sakes?

ROMANO: So I think that would make a great gift.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, now, this is an interesting one. Dr. Doormat. Who -- this is for a fussy auntie who doesn't, you know, has...

ROMANO: Do you have an aunt like that?

M. O'BRIEN: ... like plastic covers on the couches and such.

ROMANO: You haven't been allowed to touch a thing in her house since you've been alive. She's very fastidious.

M. O'BRIEN: Dr. Doormat.

Tell us about this.

ROMANO: Dr. Doormat. This is -- and these are all gifts that are sort of like you laugh because you know where the idea came from, but they'll actually appreciate. Drdoormat.com. These doormats are treated with an anti-microbial solution. So she...

M. O'BRIEN: And it's got a movie. We can watch the movie while we're talking.

ROMANO: We can watch the movie while we do this.

M. O'BRIEN: See how it works. There's the doormat.

ROMANO: So there you are. Think about all the dirt that you bring in.

M. O'BRIEN: You walk on...

ROMANO: And your aunt has a point. Your feet are dirty.

M. O'BRIEN: See, now look. Look what's on your feet there.

ROMANO: Ah! It's horrible.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, it's awful. It's horrendous. Now...

ROMANO: That doesn't say happy holidays. M. O'BRIEN: ... with Dr. Doormat there's after. Isn't that excellent? It's, of course, you know, it's better for the kids and all.

ROMANO: So you can buy into her obsession with germs by putting Dr. Doormat down. Now we can keep our shoes on in the house, ladies.

M. O'BRIEN: And no longer will you feel like a doormat in her house, hopefully.

All right, so...

ROMANO: That I can't guarantee.

M. O'BRIEN: Samovartea.com.

Who is this for?

ROMANO: Doesn't this relax you just looking this site?

M. O'BRIEN: Just looking at it, yes.

ROMANO: Tea is relaxing. OK, mother-in-law. A lot of us have them. They can be tough. It's not an easy relationship.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

ROMANO: I know a lot of mother-in-laws the complaint is their coffee tastes like mud. And isn't -- doesn't that set the stage for the whole day?

M. O'BRIEN: So bring them Downy Sprout, is that it?

ROMANO: Bring them Downy Sprout. Samovar Tea Lounge is an actual physical tea lounge in Senate Finance Committee.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, it is?

ROMANO: And the people who own it are really into the culture of tea, how it makes you relax. You can go Zen. I figure what mother- in-law -- no offense -- doesn't need a little more relaxation? She'll get the hint, she'll stop serving you her sludge-like coffee. They have all these really cool varietals. These people love tea.

M. O'BRIEN: And it's the same color as whiskey, so you can just bring a flask and, you know, have a great time, right?

ROMANO: I'm glad we're on the same page, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Now, a final thought here...

ROMANO: You can relax a lot more.

M. O'BRIEN: Evergreen Seasons.

What's that all about? ROMANO: This is for the flaky brother, the forgetful neighbor, that person who is just a space case who forgets to water the tree and you're afraid the block is going to be up in smoke because the Christmas tree is going to burn.

M. O'BRIEN: Right.

ROMANO: This is really cool. It looks like a present.

M. O'BRIEN: It's a watering system.

ROMANO: It looks like a present under the Christmas tree.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, look!

ROMANO: It's a secret watering system so you don't have to remember to water the tree every day.

M. O'BRIEN: It looks like a present.

ROMANO: And it's like $20, so it's a good gift for that flake on your list.

M. O'BRIEN: And for the...

ROMANO: Evergreenseasons.com.

M. O'BRIEN: Right. It can save the family some aggravation.

ROMANO: So, we feel better. We're less aggravated about these people we have to buy for.

M. O'BRIEN: It's been a great week.

ROMANO: We do what we can.

M. O'BRIEN: I feel, really, we've done all the shopping we need to do, I guess.

Well, we'll have you back, nevertheless.

ROMANO: Making our list, checking it twice.

Thank you.

M. O'BRIEN: Excellent.

Dannielle Romano from Dailycandy.com.

Thanks very much.

ROMANO: Of course.

M. O'BRIEN: Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: What have you got for the co-anchor you love? M. O'BRIEN: Oh.

ROMANO: Ooh, I wasn't -- I had a really good one. I wasn't allowed to say it.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, next week. We'll have to do that next week.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, really?

OK, we'll talk later.

ROMANO: We're saving that for the last minute.

M. O'BRIEN: You'll spoil the secret. We can't do it. Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, the old you spoiled the secret. Uh-huh. Now he's going to go out and buy it.

Still to come this morning, the two talk show titans out and about on the town. Dave and Oprah finally, finally together again. We'll tell you what happened when AMERICAN MORNING continues.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: This Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern our "Then And Now" special takes a look at some of the news makers of CNN's first 25 years and what they're doing now.

Here's Paula Zahn with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton was just out to catch a wave on a beautiful Hawaiian morning and ended up catching the attention of the nation after she was attacked by a shark. On October 31, 2003, Bethany lost 70 percent of her blood, her left arm and maybe her dream to surf professionally one day.

But, Bethany went on to surf again, without fear, on a specially made board.

BETHANY HAMILTON: I'm there to have fun and not be scared because it's pretty rare for someone to get attacked twice.

ZAHN: Only months after the shark attack, Bethany placed fifth in the National Scholastic Association Surfing Championships and secured a spot on the U.S. national surfing team. She also won the 2004 Espy Award from ESPN for best comeback athlete and a special courage award at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards.

Bethany has just launched a perfume, Stoked, for girls, and a fragrance, "Wired," for boys, and has written a book called "Soul Surfer" about her experiences and her desire to motivate others. HAMILTON: Encourage people and let them know that like they can do whatever they want if they just set their heart to it and just never give up. Just go out there and do it.

ZAHN: A movie based on the book begins filming this year.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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