Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Turning Point in Iraq?; President Ford Released; Killings in Boston

Aired December 14, 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 to you, I'm Miles O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien.

The future of Iraq in the hand of its people as voting across the country gets under way in less than 24 hours. Already though, fake ballots discovered. We're going to take you live to Baghdad for an update.

Iraq is also front and center on the president's agenda today. Can part four of his Iraq strategy speeches change U.S. public opinion?

M. O'BRIEN: The deadliest shooting in 14 years in the city of Boston, four are dead, one of the bloodiest crimes in recent memory. We'll take you there live for the latest.

A health scare for former President Ford. He is back in his own bed this morning after a brief stay in the hospital. We'll check in on his condition.

And long live the king. Kong, the greatest of the apes, hitting theaters again today with sights on box office record books.

S. O'BRIEN: Welcome, everybody.

We begin with Iraq this morning. On the eve of elections there, already reports that thousands of fake ballots may have been discovered near the border with Iran.

Let's get right to Aneesh Raman. He's live for us in Baghdad this morning.

Aneesh, good morning. What's the latest on this discovery?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, good morning.

Multiple Iraqi police sources telling CNN that yesterday they stopped a large vehicle carrying thousands of fraudulent ballots ahead of Iraq's election. It happened in the town of Badra in the Wasit Province. It borders Iran. Those police sources also saying the driver of the vehicle was Iranian, as was the license plate, and that there could be a number of other vehicles carrying fraudulent ballots still out there. Now the U.S. military in that area says it is aware of the reports and is investigating. This morning, though, a senior Ministry of Interior official came out quickly and strongly denying any such report. But, Soledad, that denial will be seen as suspect by many Iraqis who think that within the Ministry of Interior there are strong factions aligned with Iran -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Another big issue, of course, Aneesh, is going to be security. How are things going on that front?

RAMAN: Yes, the country essentially a complete lock down. Baghdad itself a ghost town. Campaign ending tomorrow.

We do understand from Iraqi police in the city of Hilla (ph), south of the capital, a plot was thwarted to bomb multiple election centers there. They detained two insurgents. They found some 72 bombs in a raid on a farmhouse. It is why there is such extensive security at all the polling stations here. The ones in the capital have had Iraqi police forces there for some days now securing the facility -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Aneesh Raman with an update for us from Baghdad.

Thanks, Aneesh, we'll check in with you throughout the morning.

CNN also has special coverage of this "Turning Point in Iraq?" on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." It's live all week, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: The president is continuing his Iraq hard sell today, fourth in a series, trying to turn public opinion around on the war. And there are some signs it is working.

White House correspondent Elaine Quijano previews today's speech.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush is set to deliver his fourth and final address in a series of speeches leading up to Iraq's parliamentary elections on Thursday. As with all these speeches, including the one Monday in Philadelphia, the main goal is to try to convince the American people that the Bush administration does have a plan for winning in Iraq and that that plan is working.

This time, the president will take his message before a group of scholars and others at the Woodrow Wilson Center here in Washington. Look for the president to tie in all three elements of the U.S.' strategy in Iraq, working on the security, economic and political fronts.

But the latest CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll indicates the president has some convincing to do. When Americans were asked if the president has a plan to achieve victory in Iraq, only 38 percent said yes and 58 percent said no. (on camera): So expect the president to continue making the case that democracy is taking root in Iraq. And amid calls by some critics to withdraw U.S. forces from that country, expect the president once again to appeal to the American public for patience.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: The financial cost of the wars will soon reach a half trillion dollars. That's for Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon is planning to ask for yet another amount of money, $100 billion this time.

And CNN will bring you the president's speech, by the way, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 8:00 Pacific -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Lots of concern for former President Gerald Ford. He is back home this morning, but he spent Tuesday in the hospital undergoing tests.

CNN's Dan Simon is live for us this morning in Rancho Mirage in California.

Dan, good morning to you. How is Mr. Ford doing?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Soledad.

I'm not sure he's ready to get back out on the golf course, but he is at home, at his home here in Rancho Mirage, California. He was brought here to the hospital late Monday night for what has been described as a series of routine tests.

Now his longtime press aide told me he has been suffering a cold, it wouldn't go away, but she said that's not the reason why he was here. She said this was a prescheduled visit, he was simply undergoing some tests, and the doctors did what they needed to do. And Mr. Ford is back home.

Now, he has had some problems in recent years with his health. In the year 2000, of course, he suffered a mild stroke during the Republican National Convention. And then a few years later, while out on the golf course, he loves to play golf, it was 96 degrees and he had a dizzy spell and he was hospitalized again. But apparently, according to his longtime press aide, he's 92 years old. And she said, you know, look, for a guy who is 92, he is in as good a shape as anyone can be -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, for a guy who is 92, he looks pretty darn good.

Dan Simon for us this morning.

SIMON: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Some good news about the former President Gerald Ford. Thanks, Dan.

Weather-wise, another bitter cold morning in the northeast.

Jacqui Jeras at the CNN Center with a forecast for us.

Wow! Chilly overnight.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, really...

S. O'BRIEN: Colder today.

JERAS: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: What can we...

JERAS: Some of the coldest air of the season, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Back to you guys.

S. O'BRIEN: Jacqui Jeras with an update.

Thanks, Jacqui, appreciate it.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jacqui.

Coming up, reports of a new plan for protecting America. We'll tell you why some air marshals may be fanning out across the country and checking out the trains as well.

S. O'BRIEN: Also, the biggest fine ever in the history of the National Do-No-Call List, more than five million bucks. We're going to tell you just who is paying up.

M. O'BRIEN: And later, does the public buy in to the president's plan for victory in Iraq? We'll look at the latest poll numbers ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And do we want it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When do we want it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

M. O'BRIEN: There's kind of a little bit of anger there. Angry transit workers here in New York City. They're pumping up for a strike. It's now set to begin tomorrow night. Could spell chaos for millions of workers and holiday shoppers.

On Tuesday, a judge upheld a state law banning strikes by public employees. Bus and subway workers who do walk out face fines of two day's pay for every day they miss work. The city says a transit strike would be devastating, costing up to $600 million a day in lost business.

S. O'BRIEN: In Boston last night, a shocking crime, four young men shot to death in what's considered to be a relatively safe neighborhood. The murder rate has reached a 10-year high in the city of Boston.

Steve Cooper of our affiliate WHDH is live in Boston this morning.

Steve, good morning to you. What are the police saying?

STEVE COOPER, WHDH-TV REPORTER: Well, Soledad, at this point they are searching for at least one suspect. But you see behind us here, this is an active crime scene going on right now this morning. It's been that way for the past several hours. And this is the city's deadliest shooting in 15 years.

Now this happened around 10:00 last night. Police responding to a flurry of 911 calls of shots being fired in Dorchester. That's near the city's Field Corner (ph), a section of the city. The four male victims in their late teens and early 20s were gunned down in a rap music studio in the basement of a three-story home where your (ph) family members can only look on in shock and horror as the story began unfolding.

Three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, a fourth victim was pronounced dead at the hospital. The shooting ironically happened near the home of a community peace activist here in Boston. And last night's murder brings the murder rate in Boston to 71. That's the highest in 10 years. Again, no arrests as of this hour. The victims' names aren't being released. All we can tell you is the active investigation continues here in Boston this morning -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Highest rate, Steve, in 10 years. Have the police said what they are going to do to try to confront those numbers?

COOPER: Well there have been a lot of meetings and discussions over the past several weeks. In fact, Boston police have been doing a number of sweeps through the city, trying to make a number of arrests on outstanding warrants. They have been desperately trying to get a lot of firearms off of the streets. The mayor calling for a crackdown on all this. But now, of course, this certainly unfolding this morning and perhaps a step backwards. They thought they had a handle on this thing, and now we are up to that highest rate in 10 years.

S. O'BRIEN: Steve Cooper of our affiliate WHDH.

Thanks, Steve, we appreciate the update.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, let's get some other news in.

Carol Costello, good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and good morning to all of you.

There is word this morning of a new test program that might help you feel safer as you ride to work. Air marshal teams are reportedly spreading out across the country to train and bus station. They will even be at ferry crossings. According to "The Washington Post," the so-called viper teams will include undercover marshals, but there will also be some uniformed officers. They will continue to control flight (INAUDIBLE) as well.

A fourth and final pitch, President Bush is set to make his case once again for staying the course in Iraq. As you know, he's been delivering a series of speeches. This morning he'll be in Washington. Today's speech coming one day ahead of parliamentary elections in Iraq. It also comes as a CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll finds 59 percent of you disapprove of how he is handling the war. CNN will bring you live coverage of the president's speech. That will come your way at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

The U.S. House expected to vote today on renewing several provisions in the Patriot Act. Those provisions will expire at the end of the year unless extended. But the fate of the bill could hit a snag in the Senate. Some Democrats, even some Republicans, are moving to block a vote on the act, saying it gives police too much power.

Let's head to the movies, because can it really be that good? Today is the day for that big ape to come back into your lives, you know, "King Kong." Peter Jackson's remake of the classic movie opens today. Listen to this review from the "Rolling Stone." It's jaw dropping, eye popping, heart stopping. It's the movie epic you've been waiting for all year. It will spin your head six ways from Sunday. I don't know if it's that good, but one thing we do know, it was certainly expensive to make, around $200 million.

So, Jacqui, are you on your way?

JERAS: Never been that big of a "King Kong" fan, actually. COSTELLO: But this is different.

JERAS: But -- maybe. Yes, it does look, with all the special effects, I think that certainly could make a difference. It might get me out there. You never know.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Jacqui, appreciate the update.

The government enforcing the do-not-call rules in a very big way. One company really paying for it in a very big way.

Carrie Lee has got a "Financial News Update" for us.

Who are we talking about?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A multimillion dollar way, Soledad. We're talking about DirecTV, the satellite television provider, settling with the FTC, Federal Trade Commission, for $5.3 million. This over alleged violations of the do-not-call registry.

What happened is five telemarketing firms representing DirecTV called people they shouldn't have who are on the registry. So the FTC saying they're trying to send the message here that companies cannot use unauthorized telemarketing and basically send their calls to affiliates and then basically turn their back and pretend they don't know what's going on. So DirecTV paying this money.

The do-not-call registry has been in effect since October of 2003.

S. O'BRIEN: And this is the biggest fine by far, isn't it?

LEE: By far. By far. Before this, half a million was the biggest amount paid.

M. O'BRIEN: Why would you call someone who has said they don't want to receive those calls? What a waste of time.

LEE: I think. Exactly. Exactly. I think it's one of those things just maybe fell through the cracks. DirecTV gave them list of phone numbers and they shouldn't have called those people.

M. O'BRIEN: I see.

LEE: Perhaps it was a technicality.

S. O'BRIEN: And, boy, now they know that.

LEE: But 110 million names on the registry, and FTC and other surveys say a lot of people are getting much fewer calls. I can say anecdotally I hardly get any calls anymore and I signed up for it, so.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm a big fan of those lists, big fan. LEE: Yes, definitely made...

S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

LEE: ... has made life better, right?

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Carrie.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carrie.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, "Morning Coffee" is coming up. Carol has got a preview for us.

COSTELLO: I certainly do. Thank you.

For all of those people who think Disney World is a little too upbeat, listen up, one company wants to turn Katrina's aftermath into a tourist attraction. And I'm not kidding. That story in "Morning Coffee."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: So who will the person of the year be? CNN's Anderson Cooper takes a look at other possibilities this Sunday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. And Monday on AMERICAN MORNING, an editor from "TIME" will join us to talk about how the choice was made.

Coming up, why did so many things go so horribly wrong after Hurricane Katrina? Congress is demanding answers this morning from top officials in Louisiana. We'll go live to Washington for a preview of the grilling. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Delimitri (ph).

M. O'BRIEN: I knew the song, but, well, you tell them.

S. O'BRIEN: Delimitri.

M. O'BRIEN: Everybody knows that.

S. O'BRIEN: Isn't that Delimitri?

COSTELLO: I think they were a one-hit wonder. I don't know. That's a great song.

M. O'BRIEN: Apparently so.

COSTELLO: And we have some great stories in "Morning Coffee."

M. O'BRIEN: Please share. COSTELLO: This one out of Florida, because you have to ask yourself, why? It's cruel and you always get caught. A bus driver in Dunedin, Florida allegedly used a little duct tape to control a little boy, 5 years old. School bus won't have that little boy onboard for quite some time because Kyle Gerber's parents are of course driving him to school ever since the bus driver allegedly put duct tape over his mouth. There was even a bus monitor onboard who apparently did nothing to stop the supposed taping.

Listen to this little boy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYLE GERBER, 5 YEARS OLD: It will hurt when you take it off. And when you put it on you, it's a little bit sticky.

KATHY GERBER, MOTHER: And on the bottom of his lip it was sticky. I said what have you been eating? He said I didn't, mommy, he said they had tape on my mouth. I said they did what? I said who did? He said the bus driver. He said the bus driver put tape on my mouth. I said for what? He said talking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

M. O'BRIEN: Wow!

COSTELLO: Well, as you might expect, the parents have filed a criminal complaint that the sheriff's office is taking very, very seriously. They have already pulled the driver and the monitor off of the bus while they investigate. And, unfortunately, the video camera on the bus wasn't working that day.

M. O'BRIEN: Interesting it wasn't working.

COSTELLO: Interesting, yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: We'll keep you posted on that story.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: This one gives new meaning to the old saying about politicians and crooks. Did you hear this? Lee High University's sophomore class president is charged with robbing a bank. Police say he walked away with nearly 3,000 bucks after he gave the teller a hold up note. He was arrested later. He went back to the frat house afterwards. In fact, he had two frat brothers drive him to the bank. They said they had no idea what he was supposedly up to.

M. O'BRIEN: Thought he was just going to the ATM.

COSTELLO: Yes. Apparently this kid has a gambling problem and he owed online poker, he owed 5,000 bucks.

S. O'BRIEN: He's a finance and accounting major? COSTELLO: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Ironic.

COSTELLO: He didn't get enough money form the bank to pay off his debts, he only got 3,000 bucks.

M. O'BRIEN: That online poker is dangerous stuff. You have got to be careful.

COSTELLO: Yes, it is. It's very addictive, as this kid will testify to.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: How about the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Tour? You might think it's a bad joke or maybe you think it's a good idea. Gray Line New Orleans is having a tough time. They used to conduct tours of New Orleans' beautiful mansions and beautiful neighbors.

But, as you know, times are tough, hence, the Katrina Tour. The buses will now take you past some of the worst damage from the hurricane near the 17th Street levee, the Lakeview neighborhood that was devastated, take you past the Superdome. The Gray Line Bus Company will charge 35 bucks, $10 of that will go to the Katrina Relief Fund. But critics say not enough. Shouldn't do it.

S. O'BRIEN: I've got to imagine there are lots of people who want to go see the damage, you know, in person. And the truth is it looks so much worse in person than you could ever see on television. I think it's -- I mean...

M. O'BRIEN: People should see it.

COSTELLO: It's macabre.

M. O'BRIEN: They should see it. And if you go to the 17th Street levee, they are there anyway, and it's a big problem for the Corps of Engineers to control the crowds. And at least, in this case, it'd be controlled. And some of the money goes to a good cause, so I say do it.

COSTELLO: They're going to do it whether we like it or not.

S. O'BRIEN: They don't care what you think.

M. O'BRIEN: It got my seal of approval.

S. O'BRIEN: That's right.

COSTELLO: And they still don't care.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carol. Ahead this morning, we're going to take you to a place where the buffalo roam and then they refuse to go home. Unwelcome and unruly guests are making trouble for some folks in Minnesota. We'll bring you that story just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, are Americans buying into the White House plan for Iraq? We'll look at the latest poll numbers crucial for the president as he readies for his fourth speech on the hard sell. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, Katrina failures in the spotlight once again today. Intense testimony expected on Capitol Hill. Top leaders from Louisiana will be in the hot seat. And we'll preview what they will face in Washington.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com