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American Morning
Iraqi Prisoner Abuse?; Turning Point in Iraq?; Beirut Bombing
Aired December 12, 2005 - 06:00 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, welcome. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Miles O'Brien, good morning to you.
Coming up, new reports of prison abuse in Iraq. Again the Iraqi government is blamed for the mistreatment. We'll go live to Baghdad.
President Bush tries again today to push his policy on Iraq. We'll look at part three of his strategy.
S. O'BRIEN: We've got a developing story out of Beirut, a car bomb killing at least four people, including an important member of Parliament. We'll take you there live this morning.
And this developing story, firefighters are trying to finally put out that massive blaze near London. Toxic fumes, though, could already be spreading to the countryside.
M. O'BRIEN: And a TV tough guy facing murder charges in the death of a New York City police officer. Details straight ahead.
S. O'BRIEN: We begin with the story of prisoner abuse developing out of Iraq this morning. The prison is run by Iraqi forces. Its inspection was ordered after abuse was found in another Iraqi prison just last month. Thirteen inmates in the latest case now are hospitalized.
It brings us right to Aneesh Raman. He's live in Baghdad for us.
Hey, Aneesh, good morning.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, good morning.
As you mentioned, it is the second instance of apparent prisoner abuse by Iraqi security forces in just the past month. The country's human rights ministry today said that last week they found a detention facility where -- quote -- and we're going to put the statement up on the screen, "the inspection team discovered a number of problems, which the Ministries of Interior and Human Rights are working together to correct. Thirteen of the detainees were removed from the detention center to receive medical treatment." That, again, from Iraq's Human Rights Ministry.
Now they aren't saying what those -- quote -- "problems" were, aside from the fact that 13 had to be sent to the hospital. But "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post" today sourcing U.S. officials on the ground saying those 13 detainees suffered severe abuse.
Now, as you say, this discovery part of an overall investigation launched by the country's prime minister after the discovery in mid- November of a bunker, a hidden, essentially, detention facility that was being used by the security forces with the Ministry of Interior. One hundred sixty-nine detainees found there, many of them malnutrition, a number of them suffering severe abuse.
Sunni politicians had immediately called for an investigation. They have long alleged that Shi'a militias have infiltrated into Iraq's police force and are extra judicious in their dealings with Sunni prisoners -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, some of those details are really horrible.
Aneesh, I want to ask you another question on another front, voting. Early voting, really, has begun now in the general election. Walk us through what's going to happen next.
RAMAN: It has. Today we're seeing voting by those who are in the hospitals, by detainees who haven't been convicted, also by Iraqi security forces. Early voting just today. Then on Thursday, the critical day.
These are hugely consequential elections, Soledad. Up for grabs, 275 seats in the National Assembly. But this is the first permanent government Iraq has seen. The previous two were inherently lame duck.
This is the government that will, more than anything else, define what kind of country this will become, secular or theocratic, moderate or conservative. Countries, like Iran, will they be friends or simply neighbors. All of that will depend on who becomes prime minister. That depends on who forms the biggest coalition, and that could take weeks after Election Day. So a lot of political wrangling ahead -- Soledad.
Aneesh Raman updating us on both those fronts this morning out of Baghdad.
Aneesh, thanks -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Later this morning, President Bush takes his campaign to win support for the war in Iraq to the American people, his third time doing that.
A preview now from correspondent Kathleen Koch at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Today kicks off a critical week for President Bush when it comes to his strategy in Iraq. Mr. Bush heads to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania later this morning to make the third of four speeches outlining his plan for victory there. The speech before the World Affairs Council will tout political strides made in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein back in 2003.
Now on Wednesday, Mr. Bush will make the fourth of these policy speeches, followed on Thursday by the all-important parliamentary elections in Iraq.
The president's new focus on outlining his Iraq strategy in detail does appear to be bearing some fruit. New poll numbers out just days ago find that the president's job approval rating is up 5 percent over a month ago, while polling on his handling of the situation in Iraq is up 4 percent, with 41 percent of those surveyed saying they believe Mr. Bush is doing a good job.
Kathleen Koch, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: And CNN will have live coverage of the president's speech this morning beginning 11:15 Eastern Time. And CNN has special coverage of this "Turning Point in Iraq?" on "ANDERSON COOPER 360" live all week, beginning tonight at 10:00 Eastern Time -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's turn to Beirut now, a massive car bombing this morning with pretty striking similarities to the assassination of the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. This time, though, an anti-Syrian member of Parliament is among the dead.
Let's get right to correspondent Ben Wedeman. He is in Beirut this morning.
Ben, good morning to you. No claims, officially, of responsibility, right?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Soledad, nobody has claimed responsibility for the killing of Gebran Tuenig, a Lebanese member of Parliament, and a very harsh critic of the Syrian involvement in Lebanon.
But we are already hearing from Lebanese politicians that they believe that Bashar al-Asad, the President of Syria, and what was described to me by one official as his gang of -- his gang -- his gangsters, basically, were behind the bombing.
Now this bombing took place at about 9:00 in the morning local time. Now this is the road down which Gebran Tuenig normally drives on his way to work. He's also the publisher of one of the main Lebanese newspapers.
Now, as you can see, severe damage. Several cars here destroyed by the car bomb that was on the right side of the road. Now Tuenig's car itself was thrown over this railing into the valley below. Now, at this point, we're told that in addition to Tuenig being killed in this attack, three others were killed as well, more than a dozen wounded. Now this attack comes at a time when many Lebanese had thought that a wave of assassinations against Lebanese critics of Syria had come to an end. But clearly, Soledad, it has not.
S. O'BRIEN: The timing certainly, Ben, is very interesting, especially because there is a report coming out about the assassination, really the first similar assassination of the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Can you hear me, Ben?
All right, it looks like they are having some kind of audio difficulties. We're going to try to get that question answered a little bit later this morning as soon as we can get Ben Wedeman back up for us. He was reporting from Beirut -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a bombing in Athens, Greece. It happened near the country's Finance Ministry. Two were hurt, according to the police and The Associated Press. No group has claimed responsibility, but the explosion coincides with the start of a large labor strike. A local newspaper was tipped off 40 minutes before the blast by an anonymous phone call.
Did you see what happened near London this weekend? Take a look at these pictures coming up. Firefighters still trying to put out a fire at a sprawling fuel depot, possibility the biggest fire of its kind ever in Europe. It all started with a series of explosions. Forty-three people were hurt. Officials think it was an accident, despite some concerns early on it could have been terrorism. The blaze is apparently under control. Crews are using a foam substance to completely snuff it out.
S. O'BRIEN: Wow, that's pretty amazing. I'm glad to see it's coming under control.
Let's get a check of the forecast this morning at seven minutes past the hour.
Bonnie Schneider is at the CNN Center.
Hello, Bonnie, good morning to you.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: Cold but comfortable.
SCHNEIDER: Right.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Bonnie.
M. O'BRIEN: Cold but comfortable.
Thank you, Bonnie. Coming up on the program, a possible lead in the investigation into last week's plane crash in Chicago. We'll tell you about a new clue investigators are looking at.
S. O'BRIEN: Also, have your travel plans now been saved? Andy has got news of a key development in that threatened pilot strike at Delta.
M. O'BRIEN: And later, our special series on post traumatic stress disorder. Are troops getting the help they need when they come home from Iraq? One soldier shares his emotional story with us ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Billy Joel.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, recognized it right away.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Long Islander.
M. O'BRIEN: That's a pretty good album. That's your people.
S. O'BRIEN: One of my people.
M. O'BRIEN: One of your peeps.
All right, let's check in and get some other headlines going.
Carol Costello, good morning to you.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, and good morning to all of you.
And what could be a milestone for Iraq, voting for a new Parliament under way right now, hospital patients, soldiers and prisoners being allowed to vote today. The actual Election Day is on Thursday, as you know, but Iraqis will be choosing the country's first Parliament after a Constitution was approved earlier this year. Iraq is closing its borders and taking other steps in an attempt to prevent disruptions to the elections.
President Bush makes a sales trip today. Actually, the president will be giving the third of four speeches meant to win more support for his plans in Iraq. This morning he's heading to Philadelphia to focus on Iraq's political progress and the December 15 elections. His speech is set for 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time. Of course we will bring it to you live.
Time is running out for convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams. The California Supreme Court turned down a request late Sunday to stop his execution. Williams co-founded the Crips street gang in Los Angeles and was convicted of killing four people in 1979. He's become an anti-gang crusader while on death row. Williams and his supporters are calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to grant clemency.
Investigators think they may have a lead in determining what caused a Southwest Airlines plane to run off a runway at Chicago's Midway Airport. Federal investigators spoke to the plane's crew and learned the thrust reversers did not immediately kick in when they should have. Now thrust reversers are meant to slow a plane as it rolls down a runway. The plane slid onto a busy street Thursday during a heavy snowstorm, killing a 6-year-old boy who was riding in a car with his family.
Richard Pryor is being remembered today as a comedian who broke racial barriers. Pryor died Saturday in southern California. He was known for his use of profanity. He influenced generations of stand-up comics. He was actually an important comic and an important figure in our history. Richard Pryor, who suffered from MS, died of a heart attack just days after his 65th birthday.
Actor Lillo Brancato Jr. is in big trouble. You may recognize him from "The Sopranos." He was also in the Robert De Niro film "A Bronx Tale." Well, the actor was arrested with another man in connection with the shooting death of an off-duty New York City police officer. Police say the off-duty officer was shot in an exchange of gunfire. He had gone next door to investigate a burglary report and that's when the shooting went down. We have much more on this to come on AMERICAN MORNING.
In the world of sports, the New York Giants' Jay Feely has got to be feeling pretty darn good this morning. Feely, who's really been struggling lately, kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime. There you see it. There you see it's good. It gave the Giants a 26-23 win over their archrival, the Philadelphia Eagles. He is feeling good this morning.
And fans of Indianapolis also are flying high this morning. The Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars to go 13 and 0 for the season. Only three other teams have ever done that in the NFL. I think Indianapolis is going to do it, Bonnie.
Bonnie Schneider at the CNN Center with a weather update.
Hey -- Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, I have already started. I got every -- it's not pretty, but I got it all.
SCHNEIDER: Great.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Bonnie.
Delta pilot strike, almost sounded imminent, really, for a while, but then there is some movement. ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It looks like some resolution, a step in the right direction, Soledad, in resolving the dispute between Delta Air Lines and its pilots. The two sides have agreed to a tentative interim agreement. Well that's better than nothing. Six thousand pilots...
S. O'BRIEN: Baby steps.
SERWER: Yes, that's right, it's a step in the right direction, as we're calling it. Six thousand pilots agreed to a 14 percent pay cut, another 1 percent cut in benefits, bringing it up to a 15 percent cut. A comprehensive deal will look to be struck by March 1.
Of course Delta went bankrupt in September. It's lost $1.1 billion in the latest quarter. And barring any unforeseen hiccup, this is the good news, there will be no strike. Everyone that has tickets on Delta and wants to fly over the holidays should be OK.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: And the airline...
SERWER: Yes,...
M. O'BRIEN: ... continues. So I mean that would (ph)...
SERWER: ... to march on.
M. O'BRIEN: ... really event (ph) in the end?
SERWER: That's right.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: In many respects.
SERWER: So good stuff there.
M. O'BRIEN: All right.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's good news...
SERWER: Right.
S. O'BRIEN: ... for passengers and Delta employees and everybody.
SERWER: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: All right.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome.
M. O'BRIEN: "Coffee Talk" is coming up. S. O'BRIEN: "Coffee Talk."
M. O'BRIEN: "Coffee Talk."
SERWER: As Billy Joel might say.
S. O'BRIEN: Exactly.
COSTELLO: Exactly. And it's kind of strange today, because we're going to tell you how a dead bird, I'm serious, a dead bird has become a national hero in Holland.
SERWER: Wow!
COSTELLO: Yes. Your "Morning Coffee" is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Isn't that the "Friends" theme song?
S. O'BRIEN: The people who say the "Friends" theme song.
COSTELLO: The Rembrandts.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: It's the flip side of the "Friends" theme song. I don't know.
S. O'BRIEN: Exactly.
M. O'BRIEN: I don't know.
COSTELLO: Actually, we're wrong, it's Jim Rossman (ph).
S. O'BRIEN: Who is that?
COSTELLO: I just got a little message. Jim Blossoms (ph).
S. O'BRIEN: The Jim Blossoms. The Jim Blossoms. I was like who is Jim Rossman.
Moving on, shall we?
M. O'BRIEN: (INAUDIBLE).
COSTELLO: It's hard to hear him sometimes.
S. O'BRIEN: It's time for "Morning Coffee..."
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: ... because I have noticed many interesting things this morning.
There's a really interesting article in "The New York Times" this morning. It's about Iraqi prisoner abuse, but I could not help but notice the very last paragraph of that article. It says an Iraq terrorist group called the Army of the Victorious (ph) is launching a contest for the design of its Web site. If you come up with the best design you get to fire three missiles at a U.S. military base in Iraq and you can trigger them from your very own home computer. This is true stuff. Not only that, you will win praise from Allah.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: My god, that's...
M. O'BRIEN: Is that for real?
COSTELLO: That is for real.
S. O'BRIEN: Horrible.
COSTELLO: That is in "The New York Times." Like I don't know if you can really like trigger the missiles from your home computer, but that is a true Web site.
Here's a news flash, boys and girls are different. Seriously though.
S. O'BRIEN: Really?
COSTELLO: Really. Seriously though, a series of studies are finding that boys' brains really are wired differently than girls'. The "Rutland Herald" in Vermont printed some of these items. Boys get the lying (ph) share of Ds and Fs in school. And the reason they think that is because their brains work differently and people really aren't paying attention to that anymore.
Twelve-year-old boys are also three times more likely to get medication for attention deficit disorder, and that has led some scientists to look to schools to change this. One expert even wants segregated classrooms separating the boys from the girls.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, at that age they are so far apart and so different, that's not a bad idea.
COSTELLO: And another interesting thing this article cited is parents are now suppressing boys' natural aggressive behavior. They are making them more, and I'm going to say feminine for lack of a better term, but they are saying that you should really allow boys just to be boys and then they won't be so confused.
S. O'BRIEN: So I should let my kids wale on each other with bats like boys do?
M. O'BRIEN: Let them wale. Let them wale.
S. O'BRIEN: OK.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, I guess.
COSTELLO: Well maybe you shouldn't take it that far, but I guess it's important for parents...
S. O'BRIEN: They like to hit each other with stuff.
COSTELLO: ... to realize that boys really are more aggressive as children.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, there's lots of interesting literature on this front, actually.
COSTELLO: Yes, interesting topic.
OK, let's celebrate the sparrow now. Yes, the sparrow, as in the bird, the sparrow. Holland's most infamous bird is now being immortalized. Did you hear about this? The sparrow was killed after it knocked over 23,000 dominoes. The dominoes were part of a nationally televised world record attempt. It took more than a month to set up.
M. O'BRIEN: Not seen here, though.
COSTELLO: No, this is...
M. O'BRIEN: Unfortunately.
COSTELLO: ... an example of a sparrow next to a man's face.
M. O'BRIEN: That's not the sparrow?
S. O'BRIEN: This isn't the sparrow.
M. O'BRIEN: That's not the sparrow...
COSTELLO: This -- no, the sparrow is dead.
M. O'BRIEN: ... because he's dead.
COSTELLO: He's stuffed now.
M. O'BRIEN: Well it looked like he was stuffed there. That could have been a stuffed sparrow, I don't know. That's...
COSTELLO: No, it's not. We didn't even show a dead sparrow...
M. O'BRIEN: ... a sparrow, not unlike this.
COSTELLO: Right. Right, exactly.
S. O'BRIEN: Moving on.
COSTELLO: Anyway, this sparrow became an instant animal's rights cause after it was shot by an airgun after knocking down all those dominoes. Somebody shot it with an air rifle.
M. O'BRIEN: That will teach him. He won't do that again.
COSTELLO: No, because it's dead. M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Well, and anyway...
S. O'BRIEN: Somebody shot it because it knocked down all the dominoes?
COSTELLO: Yes, the sparrow came and knocked the dominoes down.
S. O'BRIEN: I get it.
COSTELLO: And then this guy was standing by with an air rifle and the sparrow was gone.
Well anyway, the sparrow is now getting a place of honor in a national museum. The display shows the sparrow on top of a box of dominoes.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: So it has a beautiful kind of ending.
M. O'BRIEN: Just like chicken for us, sparrows. All right, so sorry about the sparrow.
COSTELLO: Yes, me too, but it's immortalized now.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, it is, yes.
COSTELLO: I'm going to go get some coffee.
M. O'BRIEN: By the way, could we put the gizmo back up? Notice the gizmo. Can you put it in there one more time, Michael (ph)? It's very impressive. Did you notice this thing?
S. O'BRIEN: Our director is saying hold on, it's coming.
M. O'BRIEN: Look, it flashes and then it spins and there's even some steam.
S. O'BRIEN: The spin cup. It's got...
M. O'BRIEN: That's hot. That's hot.
S. O'BRIEN: There it is.
M. O'BRIEN: Stir it up.
COSTELLO: OK, I'm really going to get some coffee now.
M. O'BRIEN: All right.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure. M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, all the day's top stories, including the latest on that huge oil explosion near London. What caused it? Is there a terror connection possibly? We'll look at all that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: This Saturday night, 8:00 Eastern, our "THEN & NOW" special with Larry King. We'll look at some of the newsmakers of CNN's first 25 years, see what they are doing now.
Here is a sample.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): She was the first lady of the election night that lasted 36 days and the Sunshine State was in the spotlight. As Florida's Secretary of State, Katherine Harris ended the 2000 vote recount.
KATHERINE HARRIS, FLORIDA'S SECRETARY OF STATE: I hereby declare Governor George W. Bush the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes.
AL GORE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Many thousands of votes that were cast on Election Day have not yet been counted at all.
O'BRIEN: Her decision was challenged and overturned by the State Supreme Court but later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Throughout the election debacle, Harris endured ridicule about everything from her right-leaning politics to her hair and makeup.
HARRIS: No, I think they had to learn that I really wasn't Cruella De Vil. I think that was a learning curve.
O'BRIEN: Harris is now in her second term as a U.S. congresswoman representing Florida's 13th district. She keeps a bronze statue of the famous Florida ballot in her office on Capitol Hill, complete with pregnant and dangling chads.
HARRIS: Number one, it's in my office so that people don't feel awkward about bringing it up. It sort of kind of takes the edge away.
O'BRIEN: She has written a book called "Center of the Storm" about her experiences during election 2000.
HARRIS: It was a remarkable experience. I learned a great deal.
O'BRIEN: Harris makes her home in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and stepdaughter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Still to come, our special series on post traumatic stress disorder, what is life really like for the soldiers coming home from Iraq? A story you'll hear only on CNN ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: More charges of prison abuse in Iraq. Why are fingers pointed at the Iraqi government? We've got details just ahead.
Plus, Iraq on the agenda for President Bush, we're going to take a look at part three of his policy push.
And did Delta Air Lines escape a strike? A possible deal could rescue that airliner and salvage your travel plans, too.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: Good morning on a Monday. Good to have you back.
S. O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
M. O'BRIEN: Had a nice little break there.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, a couple of days off, very nice, and they're gone like that, you know?
M. O'BRIEN: Just like that.
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