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American Morning

Afghan Security; Fear of Quakes in Pakistan

Aired December 27, 2005 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to the headlines now.
More than 10,000 people taking to the streets in Baghdad. They're supporting a national unity government, one that would give more power to secular politicians instead of religious parties. Some of the demonstrators carried photos of the former prime minister, Iyad Allawi, and chanted, "No Sunnis, no Shiites. Yes for national unity."

The final results from the December 15 elections are expected next month.

People in Miami can rest a bit easier this morning. Late last night police recaptured a suspected serial rapist who escaped from jail last week.

Reynaldo Rapalo is accused of raping seven women ranging in age from 11 to 77. An alert citizen reportedly recognized him and called in the tip. When detectives approached Rapalo, he told them he was a homeless man and then he took off running. He was later captured with the help of search dogs.

Also in Florida, a 40-year-old bus driver is in jail after threatening to blow up a county bus. Police say the man's family told them about his threats. Bomb squad detectives later found a homemade bomb and two hollowed-out grenades in the man's home north of Miami.

The suspect was taken in without incident. It's not yet known why he would make such a threat.

The first deadly use of violence in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Take a look.

Police shot and killed a 38-year-old man who had been waving a knife. The officers have been reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation, but the police chief defends the officers, saying their lives were in danger.

You can't see from this video when he lunged at the officers with a knife. That's what they said happened. We'll have much more on this story later on AMERICAN MORNING.

Hundreds paying their respects to James Dungy, the son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy. The 18-year-old died in an apparent suicide last week. Tony Dungy and his wife stood for more than three hours, thanking each and every person for coming.

The funeral is set for today. It's not clear when Coach Dungy will return to the team.

And something is missing from Arnold Schwarzenegger's hometown in Austria. His name.

Under the cover of darkness, the California governor's name was removed from the town's sport stadium. The controversy began when Schwarzenegger denied clemency to death row inmate Tookie Williams. Disgusted, the town council began petitioning to have the stadium renamed, but the governor beat them to the punch, withdrawing the right to use his name.

Let's head to the forecast center to talk about that big storm out West.

Good morning, Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan now, the forgotten war. The battle there is taking a backseat to the war in Iraq, at least here in the U.S. in public perception. But there is, of course, plenty going on there.

CNN's Becky Diamond is embedded with U.S. soldiers in Gardez. That's about 70 miles south of the capital city of Kabul. She joins us by videophone.

Becky, tell us about the effort to train the Afghan army.

BECKY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has said that the latest reduction in U.S. troop levels was due in part because of the success and the expansion of the Afghan national army. I'm in a somewhat remote training area, a forward operating base, where about 80 U.S. soldiers are actually embedded with and training and mentoring Afghan army soldiers and officers.

These are soldiers who've graduated in basic training and are now going out in the field. They're conducting security patrols, staffing checkpoints, managing their weapons, and also conducting search missions where they're looking for either contraband or illegal weapons.

The soldiers, the U.S. soldiers here, say they're very, very proud of their mission and the Afghan army is progressing. But they also point out that there are challenges in training the Afghan army, that language is a barrier. Often these Afghan soldiers speak three different languages, so the translator needs a translator, who then needs a translator.

And also, the vast majority of Afghan enlisted soldiers are actually illiterate, about 70 percent. So they say that's a challenge. But despite these challenges, the U.S. soldiers here say that the Army soldiers, Afghan army soldiers, are making progress and are starting to take on missions of their own -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about the missions the U.S. is involved in, combat missions there. What kinds of missions are they engaged in right now? And do they feel like they're making any progress there?

DIAMOND: Well, the 82nd Airborne is here also in Gardez, operating in the mountains near this area. And they say that the insurgency has really, really diminished.

They say they're no longer seeing concentrated groups of insurgents fighting them. The soldiers I've spoken to say they're seeing basically criminals, crazies and thugs. Basically rogue elements. They say they don't often see more than 10 people at a time.

And they feel that they are winning this war up here. They say that the Taliban, despite the fact that this area has seen heavy fighting in Operation Anaconda, that right now the Taliban has really dispersed from this area and they see success.

O'BRIEN: Becky Diamond, embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan as they help train Afghan forces there, something you'll see only on CNN.

Thank you, Becky.

COSTELLO: Coming up, Andy's "Minding Your Business." He'll tell us why 2006 may be one of the best years ever to find a new job, especially if you're looking for a big, fat paycheck.

O'BRIEN: And later, did you get an iPod for Christmas, one of those nanos? Well, it could make you a target for thieves on your morning commute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: In Pakistan, it is getting cold. Temperatures hovering below 20 degrees Fahrenheit at night, adding to the misery for many thousands of people still living in tents. They are the survivors of that devastating earthquake in October.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta visited one camp where fear of earthquakes remain strong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We had heard the numbers over and over, more than 80,000 dead and more dying every day. But it was numbers and just numbers. And it wasn't until I walked right into the middle of a funeral procession that it started to really sink in. It happened just moments after we arrived at the small village of Marathinolia (ph), in northeastern Pakistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much. GUPTA: The men of the village here, a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas, have all gathered for a scene that has replayed itself too many times over the past couple of months. Just behind me, the Latha-clothed (ph) body of a person who has recently died as a result of the earthquake here in Pakistan. A prayer will take place and then the body will be buried.

The communities here have always been tight-knit for sure. Nearly every man taking part in this ceremony. They face Mecca, bring their hands together and pray. But the strongest earthquake to strike Pakistan in more than 70 years has bound them closer than ever before. We learned quickly, and perhaps it was obvious, even if they lived, no one here escaped this earthquake.

(on-screen): I want to give you a little bit of a sense what happened here. If you take a look at this mountain, you can see an entire chunk of the mountain actually just fell straight down. What you're looking at that, all that rubble underneath there, beneath all that, was an entire village. As you might imagine, and as was the case here, nobody in this village survived.

(voice-over): The stories came quickly, the villagers anxious to share. Some told us what happened to that man in the funeral procession, what happened here.

(on-screen): The house that you're looking at was actually a house that was completely devastated by the earthquake. A man and two women lived in there, one his wife, one his child. The two women both died. The man was able to survive for a couple of months, but also passed away today.

(voice-over): These are the most dramatic images I have seen. And while you can never measure just how bad a natural disaster is, I've seen far too many this year, including the tsunami in South Asia and Katrina in New Orleans.

(on-screen): Malik Noranson (ph) has lived right here. His entire family now lives with him. On the morning of October 8th, you could actually see what happened, all the devastation. A crack appeared. The entire earth started moving. And parts of his home just completely washed away, wiped away by the earthquake, fallen down the hill.

This is what happened on that day. This is what happened as a result of this earthquake. Take a look in here.

(voice-over): Malik Noranson (ph) will try to brave the winter here in his own home, reluctant to ever leave his property. You see, there are no land deeds in many parts of Pakistan. He is worried he will never get his land back.

But many others didn't have that as an option. Their homes beyond ruined, they all have a new, and they hope temporary, way of life.

(on-screen): One of the things I was so struck by was just how massive this place is. Those are the Himalayan mountains all behind me. And we are in the foothills of those mountains.

This is one of the many villages of tents that sprung up immediately after the earthquake. There's about 6,000 people living here in about a thousand tents. That's six people per tent. That's actually considered pretty good.

I want to point out a couple of things, though, that are concerning. One is, these tents are not winterized. They will not protect against the rain. They will not protect against the immense cold, and it is colder here now, much more colder at night, below freezing for sure. The ground is hard. It's becoming increasingly difficult to dig, to even pound these stakes into the ground. Still, the U.N. informs these people they'll be living here for about six months.

At this altitude even, I'm becoming a little bit short of breath. Still, the people so concerned they are about aftershocks and more debris coming down from the mountains, they want to live as high as possible, so people are continuing to move up the hill.

(voice-over): Gulfaraz Khan (ph) used to live way up in the mountains. A herder of livestock, his home now gone. He looks older and has experienced far more than his 22 years of life would have you believe.

He has put together two tents for his family. He tells me this one sleeps six and has absolutely no heat. It is quite cold in there. Also, this is all the food for his entire family, a half a pot of rice, a quarter bag of flour, and a small handful of sprouts.

Even though he's optimistic, I couldn't help but wonder: Which would be more difficult for him to overcome, the cold or the starvation?

(on-screen): They live a little prayer to the dirt. And they throw the dirt onto the grave site.

(voice-over): These are all the stories, tales of so much death and the struggle to survive. At nearly 3,000 feet above sea level and 30 degree temperatures, as winter comes, roaring so far away from help.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Marathinolia (ph), Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: You can see more of Sanjay's report on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That's weeknights, 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.

COSTELLO: Fascinating. Isn't that fascinating? They move up the mountain as far as they can because they're afraid debris will fall on them.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: Even though it might be dangerous to live up there. O'BRIEN: I know, but it's -- you know, it seems logical to do what they're doing. But you've got to worry about them trying to get through the winter in those tents.

COSTELLO: So cold. Eighteen degrees at night.

Andy is here, and he's "Minding Your Business" just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

What's up?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Carol, you've heard about the housing bubble. How about the poker bubble? We'll see if this trend is about to fold coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We're looking at a beautiful sunrise here in New York City. It's 6:48 Eastern.

Some headlines for you now.

A suspected serial rapist back in a Miami jail, and he is expected in court today. After a week on the run, police finally caught up with Reynaldo Rapalo. Someone apparently recognized him and called in a tip to the police. He's accused of raping seven women and girls ranging in age from 11 to 77.

The rights of suspected terrorists going before the Supreme Court. Attorneys for suspected terrorist Jose Padilla are expected to file court briefs today. At issue, the president's authority to hold enemy combatants without charges.

Padilla was arrested back in 2002. He's accused of planning to carry out an al Qaeda-backed plot.

In New Orleans, an investigation now under way into a deadly police shooting. Take a look at the video.

Police officers shot and killed this 38-year-old man. He was waving a knife. This is home video taken moments before the shooting.

Police say the man lunged toward one of the officers. A police spokesman says there was no choice but to shoot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ADAMS, NEW ORLEANS POLICE SPOKESMAN: You have several officers out here, police officers right in front of him. Life is in imminent danger. He has to back out of the way to keep from being stabbed in his chest. I don't think it's too much for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Locals say the man often appeared unbalanced but never really bothered anyone. Much more on this story to come on AMERICAN MORNING.

And mourning actor Vincent Schiavelli. You might not know his name, but you will certainly recognize his face.

He appeared in more than 120 films and TV shows, including "Ghost," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and "The X Files." Schiavelli died on Monday after a battle with lung cancer. He was just 57 years old.

Let's head to the forecast center to check in now with Jacqui.

Good morning.

JERAS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: A report out that Google's billion-dollar stake in AOL could point to a major new investment opportunity. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.

SERWER: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

SERWER: We're talking about AOL and Google here, and our parent company, Time Warner. Last week we told you that Google paid $1 billion for a five percent stake in AOL. Now "The Wall Street Journal" is reporting that according to a filing, Google could require that AOL go public in 2008.

Also, Time Warner may have the right to buy back that stake from Google. And this could be deja vu all over again for AOL.

Of course you'll remember in the 1990s AOL was one of the hottest stocks in the universe, making many, many investors very rich. So it could happen all over again, possibly.

O'BRIEN: So -- and just to clarify, this would spin the company out, AOL?

SERWER: That's correct. And of course there's been all sorts of discussions about that occurring over the past several weeks. But this is 2008 we're talking about. A lot could happen before then.

CareerBuilders.com is saying that bosses plan to increase salaries in the upcoming year for prospective employees and also for current employees. I think they always say that, kind of heading into the new year. So I wouldn't take too much stock in that. They try to be nice and make you feel good as you head into the new year.

And finally, we want to talk about the poker bubble. Of course poker has been red, red hot. You see it all over TV. And "The New York Times" even has a weekly column about it. I mean, that's got to be a sure sign of a top in something when there's a weekly column in the newspaper about it. O'BRIEN: Or it could be a sure sign that it's reached the bottom, in some respects. Or it's headed for the bottom, literally.

SERWER: Yes, that's true.

You've probably seen over the holiday that box sets of cards and chips were way discounted and put in the back of stores.

O'BRIEN: Right.

SERWER: Ratings for the TV show seem to have peaked. And so it will be something.

I find the show's pretty darn boring after a while.

COSTELLO: It's sort of like watching golf. I'm sorry, I can't watch golf.

SERWER: No, it's sort of like watching paint dry, I think. The same guys with crazy sunglasses looking at each other. And then, you know, it just sort of repeats every half-hour, if you ask me.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

SERWER: Some people like it, though.

O'BRIEN: It makes you long for the reality programming, for "Survivor" or something.

SERWER: Or CNN.

O'BRIEN: There you go. Come back to us, will you?

SERWER: Yes. The ultimate reality program.

O'BRIEN: Poker lovers come back.

SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Coming up, is your iPod putting you at risk during your commute?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you have them on, you've signed off mentally as to paying attention to anything other than you're doing, walking and listening to your music.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: We'll look at what one city is doing to try to keep folks safe while they commute and iPod ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Be sure to check out our Web site, CNN.com, for the latest on this morning's top stories, including these stories. You know, it's a very popular story because it's just so interesting and so confusing and so mysterious, these slayings in the D.C. suburbs.

So many people killed, and no one knows exactly why. A man apparently shot his mother, and then he went to a house in McLean, which is a very affluent suburb of Washington, D.C. He went into the house, shot two people beside their bedside, shot one person who was hiding in a closet.

Another person in the basement managed to escape. He was 20 years old. And then the shooter apparently shot himself in the head and committed suicide. But no one knows exactly why.

Another popular story on our Web site is Anna Nicole Smith and the Bush administration's lawyers wanting to go to bat for her in the U.S. Supreme Court. And really it's not because they believe so much in Anna Nicole Smith. They really want...

O'BRIEN: Well, they might.

COSTELLO: Well, maybe. I don't know. But it's sort of...

O'BRIEN: But that's irrelevant, isn't it?

COSTELLO: They're going to argue the case on technical merit...

O'BRIEN: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... to make sure that federal courts continue to have jurisdiction over state courts. So...

O'BRIEN: They say she has some good points.

COSTELLO: She certainly does, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes. Yes.

COSTELLO: And the other popular story on CNN.com is the finale of "Monday Night Football" on ABC. Really sad.

The weird thing about it is the score of last night's game was exactly the same score as the first game on "Monday Night Football."

O'BRIEN: Perfect symmetry after 36 years.

COSTELLO: Yes. And the Jets -- the Jets lost both games. So it is perfect symmetry.

O'BRIEN: I've got to tell you, since -- since Dandy Don Meredith, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford left, it's just -- you know, it's slow, steady downhill thing for me.

COSTELLO: I know.

O'BRIEN: That's just -- I kind of dated myself there, but that's the way it is. COSTELLO: But Howard Cosell was just incredible because you never knew what he was going to say.

O'BRIEN: You never knew what he'd say. All right.

Let's talk about iPods now.

Police in Boston are warning commuters with iPods to be especially vigilant. Of course when they warn them they're not listening. That's the problem, because they've got the things in their ears. They say thieves have bee targeting people who aren't paying attention because they're lost in their world of music.

More now from CNN's Dan Lothian.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The crushing crowds and deafening noise of Boston's busy rail commute a potential thief's paradise. Their targets? Passengers lost in their iPods.

LT. DET. MARK GILLESPIE, MASS. BAY TRANSIT POLICE: When you have them on, you've signed off mentally as to paying attention to anything other than you're doing than walking and listening to your music.

LOTHIAN: This passenger seems completely oblivious to a transit order wearing a bright-colored vest warning passengers to be on the lookout.

GILLESPIE: Sir? Sir?

Some of the people we have to actually take a couple extra steps after and actually physically touch them to hand out these flyers to get their attention.

LOTHIAN (on camera): Being zoned out has cost some commuters dearly. Investigators have seen a rise in robberies around the transit system. Cash, credit cards and other valuables snatched from the pockets and purses of commuters who are either listening to music or deep in a cell phone conversation.

GILLESPIE: If you have an iPod or you talk on a cell phone you should read this.

LOTHIAN (voice over): Fearing these crimes could escalate, especially during the busy holiday season, Boston Transit Police and other law enforcement agencies have launched a safety campaign, handing out flyers with tips like staying alert or removing earphones when entering or leaving a subway station at night.

GILLESPIE: But if people don't take these measures of safety, that they could potentially become victims.

LOTHIAN: Undercover officers will also be working the crowds at some stations. Elvis Hernandez loves his music but won't let the volume drown his sense of awareness. ELVIS HERNANDEZ, TRANSIT RIDER: But I do pay attention. I do be careful of my surroundings, especially in the holiday season. It gets a little crazy around here.

LOTHIAN: This commuter stays safe by dropping the stereo.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I usually keep one off, so I don't really -- I can still hear what's going on around me.

LOTHIAN: An effort to keep commuters tuned in to their surroundings and not just their iPod.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

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