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American Morning

Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies; New Videotape Released by Insurgents Holding Jill Carroll Hostage

Aired February 10, 2006 - 08:33   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Day one of the Olympics-day opening ceremonies coming up in a few hours. It will be taped delayed in primetime for us here in the U.S., courtesy of NBC. But Mark Mckay is there in Torino, Italy. We have word already of a -- well, potential blood-doping scandal. A couple of athletes going to be sitting on the sidelines for a little while. What would the Olympics be, Mark, without something like this?
Hello.

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, I went through this -- Hello.

I went through this in Athens, and here we go again. Although this probably is satisfied under the "not so big of a deal" category. We will have to follow this. But eight Olympic cross-country skiers have been suspended by the International Ski Federation after they had high red blood cell counts in pregame testing. The group includes a pair of U.S. skiers, Leif Zimmerman and Kikkan Randall. What it said is that this is more of a measure for health issues than any kind of sanction against something being done wrong. Now an Italian sports ministry official, meanwhile, has come out and claimed that several Olympic athletes, no names, no countries involved, have tested positive for the blood-boosting agent EPO. That is a banned substance. But the International Olympic Committee at the moment is holding a press briefing, Miles. They say the information from the Italian sports minister is incorrect.

O'BRIEN: Hey, Mark, blood doping, which involves kind of just adding red blood cells giving you more oxygen in your blood system, is that, in and of itself, illegal?

MCKAY: Blood doping itself is illegal if, in fact, there is a substance involved. It has to be tested.

Now, the issue with the cross-country skiers is that they came up with perhaps a natural higher level of red blood cell counts in their system. It may be just an issue with the altitudes here, Miles, here in the Italian Alps and not necessarily an issue with any kind of wrongdoing. We will have follow that one.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Isn't there a way that you can train in a different altitude and actually enrich your oxygen content in your blood, right, and that would be legal?

MCKAY: Athletes are looking for any kind of edge that they can get, but you know, the Olympic people and WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, they're going to will crack down. There's going to be a whole lot more testing here than in Salt Lake.

O'BRIEN: Undoubtedly. All right, Mark Mckay, thank you very much. Enjoy the today. I hope you can don't have to work too hard. I hope you can enjoy the spectacle. Thanks very much -- Zain.

VERJEE: Miles, it's been more than a month since the disappearance of journalist Jill Carroll. Now, a new videotape has been released by the insurgents that are holding her hostage. Jill's message, I'm fine, but the kidnappers demands must be met.

AMERICAN MORNING's Dan Lothian has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Appearing stronger than she did in the last two videotapes, kidnapped journalist Jill Carroll issued a plea that her captors' demands be met soon.

JILL CARROLL, KIDNAPPED JOURNALIST: I'm here. I'm fine. Please just do whatever they want. Give them whatever they want as quickly as possible. There is very short time. Please do it fast. That's all.

LOTHIAN: Carroll's kidnappers have been calling on the U.S. to release all Iraqi female prisoners or she would be killed. A 72-hour deadline expired three weeks ago. Now comes a much stronger, direct appeal.

CARROLL: I sent you a letter written by my hand that you wanted more evidence, so we're sending you this new letter now just to prove that I am with the mujahedeen.

LOTHIAN (on camera): Carroll was snatched off the dangerous streets of Baghdad while on assignment for the Boston-based "Christian Science Monitor." Her translator was killed. The driver escaped.

(voice over): The "Monitor" says: "It is always difficult to see someone speaking under coercion and under these circumstances. We are seeking more information about the letter that Jill refers to in the video."

This drawn-out crisis is agony for family and friends.

William Martel, an international security expert from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, says, terrorist organizations not only fight for a cause, but feed on attention.

PROF. WILLIAM MARTEL, TUFTS UNIVERSITY: The longer they can draw out this story, the more media attention they can gain.

LOTHIAN: Carroll's supporters are trying to get attention, too. It's a growing global effort. In Rome, this large banner hangs from City Hall. Officials say it will stay there until she's set free. In Paris this week, the group Reporters Without Borders staged a show of solidarity. French actress Juliette Binoche, known for her roles in "Chocolat" and "The English Patient," says Carroll should not be abandoned.

JULIETTE BINOCHE, FRENCH ACTRESS: (INAUDIBLE) here, it's a way to sustain the possibility of freedom.

LOTHIAN: The "Monitor's" chief European correspondent, who took part in the Paris event, says public appeals tend to catch the attention of kidnappers.

PETER FORD, "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR": I would say to her, hold on, Jill that we will get you out, that you will soon be free.

LOTHIAN: As readers show their support on the "Monitor's" Web site, the message here remains the same: Every option is being exploited to secure their freelance reporter's safe return.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: This was the third tape released since Carroll's kidnapping. The second one showed the logo of a group known the Brigades of Vengeance. Now that group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All over the Muslim world, protesters have been rallying against the publication of those cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Now some are turning to the Internet. With a form of virtual graffiti, if you will.

Technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg live now from Atlanta with more on this new dimension to this ongoing story.

Daniel, good morning.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

This type of a high-tech protest has actually been around since the early days of the Web. But now it's spreading as the cartoon controversy heats up. And caught in the middle are many Danish small businesses and organizations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIEBERG (voice-over): Angry Muslim protests like this have spilled over into the cyberworld, as hundreds of Danish Web sites have been targeted in apparent response to the cartoon controversy.

ALI AL-AHMED, INST. FOR GULF AFFAIRS: Several Web site popped up requiring visitors to take action by destroying Danish Web sites. There is actually a Web site dedicated to this issue, to the boycott issue, listing companies, products, and even fatwas, religious edicts designed to further attack, not only Denmark, but other Western countries.

SIEBERG: But for sites that have been victimized by hackers, it's a case of washing off the digital graffiti and plugging the security holes.

NED MORAN, SECURITY ANALYST: Cyberactivism is, in essence, a protest, if you will, online in cyberspace. Something that we see commonly as a Web site defacement.

SIEBERG: According to a group that tracks Web site defacements. more than a thousand such digital attacks have been carried out in recent days on Web sites. That's up from just a handful before the explosion of cartoon protests.

However, some several vandals are only interested in causing mischief.

MORAN: A lot is it's a great excuse. There's not a great deal of possibility they're going to get caught.

SIEBERG: Moran provided us with this video, that purports to show a hacking in progress on the Danish newspaper site that published the cartoon. But Moran couldn't verify its authenticity. He also demonstrated for us how easily this type of attack can be carried out.

MORAN: I think it's the kinds of thing that anybody with almost a little bit of know-how could do. Any bit of computer sophistication and knowledge, you could carry these attacks out.

SIEBERG: Cyberactivists on both sides also clashed during the Chinese/American dispute over a fighter jet collision in 2001, as did Israeli and Palestinian hackers after renewed violence in the territories in 2000.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIEBERG: It's difficult for the authorities to trace these hacktivisits, as they're known. And this type of crime is really considered more of annoyance, although victims could suffer some kind of losses while the sites are down. Major sites, though, usually withstand such attacks because of stronger security -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about the goals of hackers. You know, when you talk to hackers they consider themselves altruistic. They're trying to crusade against something they see as wrong. Is that what this is in this case, or is this just malicious?

SIEBERG: It depends on who you ask. There's probably quite a mix here of those who just want to cause trouble and those who actually have a political agenda. The proponents of this type of activity do say it can be a useful tool when protesting issues like a development of nuclear weapons, human rights violations, or say, censorship on the Internet. Obviously, though, a controversial tool, at best.

O'BRIEN: Daniel Sieberg, appreciate it. Zain.

(WEATHER REPORT)

VERJEE: Andy is "Minding Your Business." What's coming up?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" COLUMNIST: Listen to this. News flash. This just in. French fries are bad for you.

O'BRIEN: What?

SERWER: And here's another shocker: whale burgers, they can't give them away. Stay tuned to AMERICAN MORNING. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VERJEE: Well, it looks like McDonald's makes a mistake, but it really shouldn't be catching anyone by surprise, right?

SERWER: Yes. Their french fries are not particularly good for you, but it turns out they are worse than the company had told us about. A large french fries, they've been telling us for years, had six grams of trans fat, which is the worst stuff around. Very bad for you. They redid their test, though, and discovered it actually has eight grams. And the USDA says you don't want more than two grams of this stuff a day.

O'BRIEN: So one order of fries is four times...

SERWER: Four days' worth, right? One order of fries. More fat than they thought, more calories than they thought. And McDonald's is sort of saying well, we sort of messed up the test and we keep testing things over to make sure our tests is right. That's what they say.

Now, would guys like a whale burger to go with the fries?

VERJEE: Yummy!

O'BRIEN: Fat free whale burger, right?

SERWER: Well, no that's not -- I think there's probably -- tastes like chicken is one of my favorite lines. I love that. Here's what's going on. In Japan, whale meat is considered by some -- yuck -- considered by some to be a delicacy. It's the new red meat.

VERJEE: Let's see that again.

O'BRIEN: No, we don't want to see that again! People are eating their Wheaties, or their whale burgers.

SERWER: Whale hunting is very controversial, because they kill the little whales and people don't like that. Well, they're killing so many whales now that there's a glut of whale meat. I love saying that. A glut of whale meat in Japan. And whale meat prices are plunging. Here's a person we found -- the AP found in Japan talking about whale meat. To put it simply, "whale meat tastes terrible," says the 30-year-old Kusuki Nokmoro (ph). Why? "Because it's tough and pungent."

VERJEE: I've even crocodile meat before.

SERWER: Was it like whale?

VERJEE: No -- whale, I didn't find it as tough as crocodile.

O'BRIEN: All right, enough blubbering on that. Let's move on.

SERWER: It does taste like chicken.

Did you hear this one about the sports broadcasting legend that was exchanged for a cartoon character? Serious stuff here. You probably heard that Al Michaels is moving from ABC to NBC. Well, what did they give up? What did NBC give up to get him? Turns out they gave up the rights to Oswald, the rabbit, which Walt Disney created in the 1920s. They always wanted him back. And there's a resemblance between Oswald and Mickey Mouse. He later went on to draw Mickey Mouse after he couldn't get Oswald.

And we have -- Miles, what will we exchange for Miles? Earlier, I said Clutch Cargo. Here's why. The cartoon character Clutch Cargo from 1959, vintage cartoon. That's why I thought about you.

O'BRIEN: He went to the moon. Did he? I did not know that. I missed that.

SERWER: He looks like you, and we would exchange him. There we go. See the resemblance? Yes, the lip thing, that's right. It's the space suit that I thought was actually more closely resembling you.

O'BRIEN: I like that look, actually, thank you.

SERWER: Happy whale meat to you.

VERJEE: We have a whale of a time with you. Are you finished?

SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: He's such a blow hole.

Coming up, that much ballyhooed makeover for the Ken doll. His fashion has never been much to write home about. He's kind a Docker's guy, wouldn't' you say, Ken is?

SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: But the ladies are not impressed, so will they be now?

And speaking of style, Fashion Week. Our series continues. Alina Cho with a good assignment. Designers work on these shows for months and months and then they're over in, you know, lickety split. Is it worth it?

SERWER: Lickety split.

O'BRIEN: Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Take a look at ken over the decades over my shoulder. Look at him in the '70s. That's kind of a Neil Diamond thing. In the '80s, I don't know what he's going on there. Look at the '90s, that thing. And then finally, in 2000, I think he has had sex-change operations. He kind of had some issues over the years. And for some reason, Barbie dumped him.

Well, apparently their love is back together after Ken finally got a little makeover that seemed a little more appropriate. It all happened at a little boutique in New York City.

Who else but Jeanne Moos would tell you about this story?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've all had looks we're ashamed of and Barbie's boy toy Ken is certainly no exception. Be it the lavender look or mod hair, Ken.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put a mustache on Ken or sideburns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any time he has anything with wheels on it gets a little scary to me.

MOOS: Who better to give Ken a makeover than a flamboyant stylist who had dressed stars ranging from Johnny Depp to Pierce Brosnan, and who readily admits he goes way back with Barbie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since we were little kids, we were like this.

MOOS: Voila! The new Ken!

Well, actually there are two new Kens, the collector's edition in Italian jeans and leather jacket and the blonder version that will be sold in stores.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh!

MOOS (on camera): Is he manly enough for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A little bit feminine-y. But then...

MOOS: But when you see this one, it makes this one look like Mr. Butch.

(voice-over): The photo shows the last incarnation, back when Barbie dumped him two years ago. Barbie is being outsold in the U.S. by those pouty-lipped Brats dolls.

To rejuvenate Barbie, critics say Mattel announced she and Ken were splitting up, but now they're getting back together. The head of Brats dolls called it stupid publicity, and told "The New York Times" Ken is not going to save Barbie.

The new Ken is described as the kind of guy who does yoga. Girls like that sensitive type.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe like a Leonardo DiCaprio.

MOOS: Well, actually, Ken's look is Matthew McConaughey meets Orlando Bloom according to his stylist, who made it into "The New York Times" quotation of the day.

PHILLIP BLOCH, STYLIST: Oh, really? I'm the quote of the day? Wow, that's cool.

MOOS: It was cool when we ran into Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen.

VIRGINIA MADSEN, ACTRESS: Oh, my God! It's (INAUDIBLE).

MOOS (voice-over): No, it's Ken!

MADSEN: Ken? Oh my God, what has happened to you, Ken? He's come out! i know Ken, and Ken is a gay man.

MOOS: You're sure.

MADSEN: He's got streaks in his hair.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Now Matell says this is just the first step and that more dramatic changes will be coming to its dolls in 2007. So stay tuned now. Ken not the only one showing off a new look this week. New York City's Fashion Week is under way. And while it certainly looks glamorous, I don't have a front row seat. But we get to watch from here. And there's a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes on that makes those runway shows happen. Why do the designers go to the trouble? Well, so that we can watch their stuff. We'll explain a little further ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A lot people dream of retirement. I'm doing that right this moment. But what if you're not ready for the golf course and the hammock just yet?

Jennifer Westhoven takes a look at life after work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) HARRY WILGAR, RETIRED RAILROAD WORKER: If you got good eyes, I'm in there. 75, 94, it's the last steam locomotive that we built, brand new on this B&O railroad.

JENNIFER WESTHOVEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Harry Eck and Harry Wilgar spent their working lives building and running trains.

WILGAR: I was an apprentice machinist when I came here in 1947. I was an 18-year-old brat who knew it all. I started here building steam engines and rebuilding them here, here at Mount Claire.

WESTHOVEN: Both Harrys still work together, but now they are back at the tracks as volunteers at Baltimore's B&O railroad museum.

HARRY ECK, RETIRED RAILROAD WORKER: Well, after I had been retired about five years, the management asked me to come down and help prepare the locomotive that was going to be recognized as a national engineering, civil engineering landmark, and I just stayed. They've started a docent program, and I joined that. And here I am 15 years later.

WILGAR: Put your pajamas on, because we're going to talk all night long.

WESTHOVEN: With more than 80 years of experience, the two Harrys share their stories about life on the railroad with visitors.

WILGAR: Well, for me, I enjoy meeting and talking to people in here. And I have some knowledge that I can offer to people that do come in here, and we can help them understand what railroading is all about. So we perpetuate that.

ECK: My regular day is Thursday. That's a high point of the week for me.

WESTHOVEN: Jennifer Westhoven, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, what did the president know about Hurricane Katrina, and when did he know it? Senator Joseph Lieberman, our guest, will be asking some questions of the former FEMA director about that. You'll be listen in on that if you stay tuned to CNN, and you get a preview from the senator in just a moment if you stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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