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American Morning
Saddam Hussein on Trial; Assassination Attempt?; Israel Bombing; Economic Optimism
Aired December 05, 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: Good morning, I'm Miles O'Brien.
As you've been watching, major developments in the Saddam Hussein trial. High drama as the defense team storms out. Now the trial back on again, as you can see. We'll go live to Baghdad.
S. O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien.
A story that is still breaking in this hour, a suicide bomber attacks a busy shopping mall in Israel. Four people are dead. Dozens are injured. We're live in Israel with the very latest on this story.
M. O'BRIEN: And the first major winter storm of the season making its way up the coast. The severe weather forecast is straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning to you.
The Saddam Hussein trial is back under way after the defense team for Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants stormed out. We'll get you to that very shortly.
S. O'BRIEN: They walked out, took a 10-minutes recess, which extended really into a more than 30-minute recess. And we'll update you on what's happening there in just a few moments.
First, though, a story out of Israel we want to get you to right away. A suicide bombing at a shopping mall in Netanya, which is a coastal town just north of Tel Aviv. It happened just a little more than two hours ago.
And take a look at this videotape. It was captured on a cell phone. Four people were killed in the explosion. Could be more. That number could rise. The bomber also. Thirty-five other people are reported hurt, 14 of them in serious condition.
Early reports have two different groups claiming responsibility. And again, this story is still breaking at this hour. We're going to try to update you with a live report out of Israel in just a few moments -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Another developing story for you, as we told you, in Iraq, and another day of wild swings in the Saddam Hussein trial. The trial is back on again, but it's been a real battle. The defendants shouting at the judge and U.S. Attorney Ramsey Clark leading defense lawyers in a 90-minute walkout. Aneesh Raman live in Baghdad.
Aneesh, once again another wild day there with the Saddam Hussein trial.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Miles, and essentially the battle over control of this court between Saddam's defense team and the chief judge hit a boiling point earlier today. Right now you're seeing delayed video, about 20 to 30 minutes, since it happened. Speaking right now is the former Qatari Justice Minister Najib Nuaimi. He is talking about the legality of this court overall.
But to walk our viewers through what happened earlier today, a newly confident judge, presiding judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, starting this session and almost immediately called for the first plaintiff, the first witness. He was interrupted by the prosecution who questioned whether Ramsey Clark could be added on to the defense team. That was dismissed.
And then, as he again tried to bring forth the first witness, a defiance really hitting to the forefront by the defense team. Khalil Dulaimi, Saddam Hussein's chief defense attorney, stood up and said we want to make oral arguments through Ramsey Clark and through the man you see there, the former Qatari Justice Minister, about not just the security situation that surrounds this trial, but also the legality of the court itself.
The judge said no, you do that in writing. We're going to move on. The defense attorney said no, then fine, we'll walk out. And that they did, forcing a 10-minute delay, which ended up being over an hour, by some count. And when they returned, the judges acquiesced the defense motion.
And just a short time ago, we heard from Ramsey Clark who really started talking about the context within which this trial is taking place. That if this trial is not fair, it will further divide Iraq. And that if the defense cannot get the security that it wants, it cannot participate in this trial -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: So far, Aneesh, what is on trial is the trial itself, not necessarily the specifics of the crime.
RAMAN: Exactly. This is a process that's being defined as it goes forward. And in terms of those who are watching, Iraqis especially, it is becoming chaos. The judge is essentially trying to define law as to whether he can go forward or whether he has to show difference to the defense in these open sessions. That is being seen as chaotic to those who are watching.
And a lot of this is falling upon the judge who was seen as weak, perhaps, in the first two sessions, who tried to come out as much more confident in this session, but a defiant Saddam Hussein, the defendants themselves, standing up at will, shouting we love Iraq. One of them saying why don't you just execute us? So as long as the defendants and the defense attorneys can talk at will, the trial, it seems, is not set to begin in earnest. M. O'BRIEN: Aneesh Raman watching it for us in Baghdad. We will keep you posted on this all throughout the morning -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Also out of Baghdad this morning, it looked like a possible assassination attempt on the former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. It happened at a mosque in Najaf. CNN was there. Our cameras were rolling when it happened.
Here's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson who's got the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Iyad Allawi had gone to Iraq's holiest shrine in the city of Najaf. Had gone there on the campaign trail. Had gone to meet clerics. He had barely been inside about 10 minutes when the chanting grew. And as I watched, he started to run out from the shrine. People were throwing shoes at him.
His security was coming in around behind him. They tried to force him into his armored vehicle as quickly as they could. They broke down barriers to get there. And as that happened, the Iraqi army, the Iraqi police and Mr. Allawi's own security bodyguards began to shoot in the air, literally burning rubber, turning the convoy around in the street, driving out of the city of Najaf.
Mr. Allawi later said that he believed it was an assassination attempt. He believed it was an organized assassination attempt by people he indicated belonged to the Mehdi militia, the militia belonging to Muqtada al-Sadr, a religious Shi'a militia.
Now Mr. Allawi said he saw people with knives there. He says somebody tried to pull a handgun on him, but dropped the gun at the last minute.
To get Mr. Allawi away and out of the town of Najaf, he was escorted by Apache gunship helicopters back to the safety of a U.S. base before he was then flown back to Baghdad.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Now let's get back to that suicide bombing in Netanya, Israel. John Vause live in Jerusalem.
John, give us the details and who is claiming responsibility.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
Well, according to police, the suicide bomber waited in line outside the shopping mall in Netanya. When security guards and police thought something was up, they asked him to step away from the crowd. As he walked away, he detonated his explosives, killing at least 4 people, wounding another 25, 4 of them seriously. Conflicting claims of responsibility. Shortly after the blast, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade put out a claim. That was quickly followed by the Islamic group -- the Islamic Jihad group. That claim of responsibility being broadcast by Hezbollah Television from Lebanon. Islamic Jihad saying the bomber came from a village not far from the West Bank town of Hebron.
Whoever was responsible, though, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has -- denounces as an act of terrorism and says the perpetrators will be brought to justice. That's not enough for the Israeli government. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, calling a meeting of his security chiefs to decide what Israel's response will be -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: John Vause in Jerusalem, keep us posted there. Thank you -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well President Bush today is going to be boasting about some upbeat economic news since the president isn't doing so well in the polls lately. This could be a big turning point for the administration.
CNN's Elaine Quijano has our report this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): President Bush will focus the spotlight on the economy and tax relief when he visits a construction machinery plant in Kernersville, North Carolina. The president's visit there comes at a time when his approval ratings have been weighed down by Iraq and also high gas prices. But those gas prices recently have come down, and President Bush is expected to discuss that when he makes remarks to workers at that plant in North Carolina.
Aides say President Bush is also expected to expand upon a brief statement he made in the Rose Garden last week, touting the November jobs report. That report showed 215,000 new jobs were added last month and unemployment held steady at 5 percent.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: You can watch the president's speech on the economy and tax relief right here on CNN. We're going to have that one live at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time. That's obviously 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time.
Coming up in our next hour, we're going to talk to White House Counselor Dan Bartlett to find out why there is so much focus on the economy right now -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Now to the post-Katrina blame game back in the spotlight. More than three months later, thousands of pages of documents are shedding light on the political chaos that slowed help to the victims. Among the examples, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco asking the White House for help as the storm approached. Then this five days later, the White House saying Blanco's plea had not arrived. It was found on the state's Web site, but federal officials still wanted to see it in writing.
And in another e-mail, Blanco's aide accuses the White House of "working to make us scapegoats." That's a quote. Governor Blanco sent the documents on Friday. The congressional committee is investigating the delays.
Meanwhile, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is making the rounds, inviting tens of thousands of residents forced out by the storm to return. But in Atlanta on Saturday, Nagin got an earful from frustrated evacuees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What about (INAUDIBLE) work? I'm not on welfare. I'm not on food stamps. I'm not going to accept it. I can't get no welfare. I'm sick of it. I want some help. And they tell me who is threatening (INAUDIBLE). Isn't no threatening because it's not felt (ph). (INAUDIBLE) ahead and I'm sick and I'm here putting in a prayer for hope. But I've got to get out. I've done had it. I'm finished. I just need somewhere to go. I want to go home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: A lot of frustration there, obviously.
At least 42,000 Katrina evacuees are living in Atlanta. In the next hour, we'll hear from Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well a wintry blast is on the way for the East Coast. We have seen snow from Syracuse to Chicago.
And Jacqui Jeras is following the forecast for us this morning.
More tonight, right, Jacqui, good morning.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
Back to you guys.
S. O'BRIEN: That's a bunch of bad news for us. All right.
M. O'BRIEN: Snow day for us tomorrow, right?
S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
JERAS: Maybe.
S. O'BRIEN: We never actually get a snow day.
M. O'BRIEN: We don't get a snow day?
S. O'BRIEN: No, we don't.
M. O'BRIEN: Thank you very much, Jacqui.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Jacqui.
M. O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, Saddam Hussein's defense team gets its way after a walkout, but does the defiance really change anything? We'll talk with an expert on these kinds of cases.
S. O'BRIEN: And some much-needed relief is coming for homeowners who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Andy Serwer is going to join us with that.
M. O'BRIEN: And is your car safe? We'll sift through the test crashes and tell you which cars fared best. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: We can start with the Stones anytime.
M. O'BRIEN: Rolling Stones on a Monday. That will get you going, sure.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
M. O'BRIEN: Good to have you back with us.
Carol Costello got some headlines for us.
Good morning -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I have them right here. Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
Saddam Hussein's lawyers back in court. We've been telling you about that this morning, and it was drama from the get go. About 20 minutes into the trial, Saddam's defense team argued with the judge and then they walked out. The judge appointed new lawyers, at which point Saddam shook his fist and shouted "long live Iraq." The trial then recessed. The original lawyers now back in the courtroom and the trial is ongoing.
A suicide bombing in northern Israel. The explosion happened outside of a mall in the northern part of that country. We're told now at least 5 people are dead, 35 others are hurt. Police are going through the rubble now looking for the explosive device.
U.S. security is getting a failing grade from the 9/11 Commission. It says the United States is not prepared for another terrorist attack. The commission claims security changes aren't -- quote -- "a priority for the government right now." Among the top concerns, exclusive radio frequencies for first responders. The commission will release its report in about four hours. How low can they go? I'm talking about gas prices. Well, apparently not much lower. Gas prices fell 11 cents in the past two weeks. The average for a gallon of regular is now $2.13. But analysts say do not expect those prices to keep falling. They point to high demand and crude oil costs. So $2.13 is what you'll get for a while, probably.
It was a rough day at the White House. First, three cars in the president's motorcade collide. Everyone is fine. And then this guy, an Arkansas man, hops the White House fence. The Secret Service says 29-year-old Shawn Cox scaled the fence and jumped onto the North Lawn. Secret Service doesn't mess around, he was nabbed quickly. He's set to appear in court today on unlawful entry charges. No word on exactly why he hopped the fence.
A star-studded affair in Washington, President Bush presenting this year's Kennedy Center awards to actors Robert Redford and Julie Harris. Singers Tina Turner and Tony Bennett and dancer Suzanne Farrell.
Here's what some of the honorees had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Probably the greatest part is that this award and the reason it feels like such an honor is that it puts art above politics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA TURNER, SINGER: Well this is my first time ever in the White House. I can't think of anything else that I want to do because it's all done now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BENNETT, SINGER: I couldn't feel better. I think it's the best night of my life, as far as I'm concerned, and I'll remember it forever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: When I come back again, I want to be Tina Turner. She looks terrific, still.
The show, by the way, will air on December 27 on CBS, so you can catch it then.
And a major snowfall heading right for the East Coast. We're already seeing the first of it.
Jacqui is at the CNN Center. How much -- that looks terrible. JERAS: Well we'll fly you in, it'll look a little better. That's the northeast, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
Back over to you -- Soledad and Miles.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much. And, yes, I think she's exactly right about that.
If you're going to -- if you're in the market for a new car, let's get right to the list of this year's safest cars. You're going to need this information. This year the Insurance Institute not only rated cars in front and side crash tests but also rear impact.
In the large car category, the Ford Five Hundred and its corporate twin, the Mercury Montego, took first prize. Looking at small cars now, the Honda Civic four-door is rated the safest. And in midsize cars, the Saab 9-3 and the Subaru Legacy tied for gold.
Also recognized, the Audi A3, A4, A6, the Chevy Malibu, the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat. And these cars did well in the front and side tests and had what they call acceptable rear impact ratings.
Hurricane victims are getting a little bit of relief on the mortgage end.
Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
This is some good news. We don't really report a lot of great news when it comes to relief for hurricane victims.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It really is and coming from the feds. And we've been bashing the feds a lot, as well as private industry, the insurance business, for not providing relief. It really looks as if there will be relief for thousands of homeowners hurt by the hurricanes this fall.
This is assistance from the Federal Housing Authority, the FHA. If you have an FHA mortgage, they will be providing payment for a full year for 20,000 homeowners with FHA mortgages. Those are generally lower to middle income individuals. And these are in the five states, of course Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, hurt by the three hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
This program could cost as much as $200 million, Soledad. And these people would ultimately have to pay this money back, but it would be completely without interest and when they would be able to do it, so they would be able to recover.
S. O'BRIEN: So does that mean it's taxpayers and that $200 million we essentially pay for?
SERWER: No, actually, because the FHA has a reserve fund already in place. So it really looks as if this is a win-win.
S. O'BRIEN: Kind of win-win. Yes, really.
SERWER: Yes, exactly. So we really do have some good news to report on that front, it appears.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, thank you.
SERWER: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Carol.
COSTELLO: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, defiant again, Saddam Hussein in a Western suit and that kerchief in his pocket. The hidden meaning to this outfit. And poetry? Yes, in the midst of his trial for mass murder, Saddam Hussein is writing poetry. We'll show you a sample in "Morning Coffee." That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: A little early in the choir from about, what, 1979 thereabouts? No, earlier, '75 maybe.
S. O'BRIEN: Something like that.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm dating myself.
S. O'BRIEN: Just a little bit.
M. O'BRIEN: I was just a young man back in those days.
COSTELLO: What great music, though, wasn't it? I wish it would come back.
M. O'BRIEN: It's nice. It's the best.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
We should really update folks on what we're hearing as we monitor the Saddam Hussein trial. They're on a 20 or 30-minute delay, but apparently the first witness is on the stand. And apparently he has directly addressed the defendants and essentially telling...
M. O'BRIEN: He's told them to go to hell.
S. O'BRIEN: He said they could go to hell.
M. O'BRIEN: He told them, you know, quite frankly, told the defendants who had you know with their legal team had stormed out just a little while ago. You know of course everything about this is to shift the discussion to put the trial on trial.
COSTELLO: Yes. Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Right, the legitimacy is a problem.
M. O'BRIEN: And the legitimacy of the whole thing has nothing to do with the crimes that are -- they stand accused of.
S. O'BRIEN: But if you're talking about the first witness and you are 10 minutes into your first witness and already he's standing up addressing the defendants to their faces and saying I hope you all go to hell, it's going to be an interesting trial, won't it?
COSTELLO: Well, it's going to -- it certainly is and it certainly fits into the tenders of what's already happened, because that is the topic of "Morning Coffee" this morning, because it is both disturbing and fascinating to watch this trial and to especially watch Saddam Hussein in court. He's swaggering again. He's defiant. He's shaking his fist. In fact, at one point he stood up and said "long live Iraq."
I want you to note his Western suit, again, with the open white collar and the kerchief in his pocket. It is a suit that symbolizes dispassion in the Arab world. In other words, he is really saying this is a Western proceeding, not connected to Iraq whatsoever. According to the "Times" of London, a Kurdish tailor made this suit. And the brand of the suit is called Cesur. I think that's the way you pronounce it. C-E-S-U-R.
Now before Hussein wore this suit in court, the tailor sold about 12,000 suits. Now he sells three times that many.
S. O'BRIEN: That's weird.
COSTELLO: He's based in Istanbul. And every -- you know Saddam always gets that pen out of his pocket, so you can see the label flash when the camera zooms in. And apparently...
M. O'BRIEN: So people are seeing that and buying it.
COSTELLO: Yes, they're using it for -- he says he's made $6 million in advertising since the trial began.
M. O'BRIEN: Wow!
COSTELLO: And his business has tripled.
S. O'BRIEN: Why would you want to own the suit that Saddam is wearing in court?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
COSTELLO: People think it looks jaunty, apparently. It's become quite the fashion statement in the Middle East.
S. O'BRIEN: OK, he's on trial for crimes against humanity, that might sway you.
COSTELLO: I know, it's very, very strange.
M. O'BRIEN: It's a jaunty look.
COSTELLO: With a jaunty look. And another thing that's interesting is his beard, because in the Arab world when you grow a beard, it's a sign of mourning. But since his beard is groomed, it's a sign of mourning, but it has nothing to do with religion. So he's mourning the fact that he's in court and being tried by Westerners, in essence.
S. O'BRIEN: Interesting.
M. O'BRIEN: And so the theory is that all the symbolism is quite on purpose.
COSTELLO: Seemingly so.
M. O'BRIEN: OK.
COSTELLO: I mean no one has ever talked...
M. O'BRIEN: But we don't know?
COSTELLO: ... to Saddam Hussein about it, but seemingly so.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Another note on Saddam, he's writing poetry. It's posted on an Arab Web site called Elaph. E-L-A-P-H. It's allegedly in Saddam Hussein's own handwriting. And here is a sample of Saddam Hussein's poetry. "Rise with Pride. Your dowry is gunpowder. If times get tough, you will rise again. We're determined to lead the battle. With hidden fire and unlimited trenches." And I suppose you can, you know, figure out the meaning of that. Interesting though.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, it's really interesting.
M. O'BRIEN: I feel like I'm back in English class. I don't have the interpretation right now, but all I can tell you is the author is...
S. O'BRIEN: He -- it sounds like he is supporting the insurgents to me.
COSTELLO: I think so, exactly.
S. O'BRIEN: Interesting stuff -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Sure.
S. O'BRIEN: That's one "Morning Coffee" this morning.
Still to come, sticker shock at the Christmas tree lot. Andy is going to talk to us about the latest and rising prices of holiday decorations. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. We're back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: You're watching AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: Morning commute not yet under way, as you can see, so sorry.
M. O'BRIEN: We can beat the traffic on this shift.
S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
M. O'BRIEN: That is for sure.
COSTELLO: It's so cold outside today.
S. O'BRIEN: I know, and the snow over the weekend yesterday.
COSTELLO: Yes, it's all freezing. It's really crunchy now.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yesterday it was kind of mushy because it was mixed with rain, but now it's cold this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: First snowman of the season made right there in the park. It was good. It was good.
COSTELLO: Cool.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Being from Atlanta, you liked that.
M. O'BRIEN: We did. The kids are quite excited, very excited about that.
S. O'BRIEN: Look snow, snow.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Lots to talk about this morning. Lots of news from overseas as well, Carol,
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