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American Morning
Former Head of FEMA to Testify on Hill; New Tape of American Hostage Jill Carroll
Aired February 10, 2006 - 08:00 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.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Verjee in for Soledad.
O'BRIEN: On the Hill with more than a hill of beans to spill. Former FEMA chief Mike Brown may be ready to spill the beans on government missteps post-Katrina. We're live in Washington. "Scooter" Libby may not have acted alone. New information now that may link the vice president to information in that CIA leak case. We'll take you live to the White House.
VERJEE: New tape of American hostage Jill Carroll. We're live from Baghdad with a closer look at the third message since she was kidnapped.
The cartoon controversy on the Internet, but just how do you stage an online protest?
O'BRIEN: And they say you are what you eat. But are you as old as you eat? Our 30, 40, 50 series is ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
So, what can Brown do to you? The White House may be concerned the former head of FEMA will reveal too much when he testifies today before a Senate committee investigating the Katrina response.
Jeanne Meserve in Washington with more on Michael Brown's testimony and a preview for us -- good morning, Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
And, first, the backdrop for Brown's appearance. A compilation of 30 instances in which federal and local government officials warned of extensive flooding in New Orleans the Monday Katrina hit, the first at 8:30 in the morning. But President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff have both said the levees didn't break until late Monday or Tuesday.
Senator Joseph Lieberman, ranking Democrat on the committee investigating Katrina, says it is inexplicable how those responsible for the federal response could have been unaware until Tuesday and there are specific things he wants to ask Michael Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Why wasn't the federal government rushing to proposition resources to be ready to rescue the people of New Orleans? Those are critical questions. And, obviously, part of that is where was the White House? What, if anything, was the White House doing to lead this preparation and rescue operation?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: At the request of the White House, Brown has, until now, refused to answer questions about his communications with top government officials. But that may change today. Brown is now a private citizen and he will be under oath. His lawyer has asked the White House for direction and an assurance of legal counsel if Brown refuses to answer some questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY LESTER, BROWN'S ATTORNEY: This is an issue between the Senate committee, on the one hand, and the executive branch on the other hand. Our concern is not to be caught in the middle of that intra-governmental dispute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Mr. Lester says Michael Brown would like to answer all questions from the committee, that he believes the facts will vindicate him -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Jeanne Meserve in Washington watching it for us.
And we, of course, we'll bring it to you as soon as Michael Brown begins his testimony. We expect that should happen about 9:30 Eastern time. You'll see it here live on CNN.
The latest now on that CIA leak case. Who at the White House decided it was OK to reveal secrets?
Word that Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the ex-chief of staff for Vice President Cheney, had the green light from above to talk to reporters about classified intelligence.
Suzanne Malveaux live now at the White House -- Suzanne, good morning to you.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Walk us through this, would you?
MALVEAUX: Well, certainly.
It starts with "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to the vice president. Last year he was indicted for lying to federal agents, a grand jury, specifically about the identity of CIA operative Valeria Plame, and when he talked to reporters about this.
Now, the person who is prosecuting this case, that is Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, is trying to build this case, essentially saying that Libby had a history of discussing, disclosing classified information with reporters.
Exhibit A is this letter that we're showing you here in court records. He essentially is saying that Libby told the grand jury that he was authorized to discuss information about the NIE. That is the National Intelligence Estimate -- it's a super secret classified document about Iraq's weapons programs -- to the press by his superiors.
Now, the question here, his superiors, it is not mentioned in the letter whether or not that is Vice President Cheney. The "National Journal" says it is. A source close to this investigation to this case also tells CNN that that would be very much a possibility.
But the same source making it very clear, Miles, that that is not what that they say that Libby testified before the grand jury that any administration official, including Cheney, authorized the outing of Valerie Plame.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne, let's try to clarify one point for folks.
Who in the government has the authority to declassify these important national intelligence estimates?
MALVEAUX: Well, certainly the vice president, the president, and usually this happens in consultation with the head of the CIA. It is very rare that they -- that they would not at least consult with the CIA.
The larger question here, too, Miles, which is very interesting, is that it happens so rarely here, it really speaks to the efforts the administration went through to really push their argument, their case for going to war.
O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.
Thank you very much -- Zain.
VERJEE: Miles, a deadly car bombing near a Shia mosque in Baghdad just about three hours ago. The bomb killed seven civilians and injured 22 others. Police say the bomb was in a parked car near the mosque in a mixed Sunni-Shia neighborhood. The bomb went off just as prayers were set to begin.
There is new video being shown on Kuwaiti television of abducted American journalist Jill Carroll. She says she's fine, but adds, "Do whatever the kidnappers want and do it as quickly as possible."
Carroll was abducted in Baghdad back in early January.
We want to go live now to the Iraqi capital and to CNN's Aneesh Raman with more on this -- good morning, Aneesh.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, good morning.
It's the third tape we've seen, but it's the first time we have heard directly from Jill Carroll.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RAMAN (voice-over): A new videotape of hostage Jill Carroll and a new urgency to her appeal.
JILL CARROLL, KIDNAPPED AMERICAN JOURNALIST: Today is Thursday, February 6 -- February 2, 2006. I'm with the Mujahedeen. I sent you a letter written by my hand that you wanted more evidence. So I'm sending you this letter now to prove I'm with the Mujahedeen. I'm here. I'm fine. Please just do whatever they want. Give them whatever they want as quickly as possible. There is a very short time. Please do it fast. That's all.
RAMAN: Carroll gives the date as February 2. The video aired late Thursday on the private Kuwaiti satellite channel Al Rai. The network says the tape was dropped off at its Baghdad office, along with a copy of the letter.
The last time we saw Jill Carroll was on January 30, wearing a traditional veil, as she did in this latest tape. She was distraught, crying. Her voice not broadcast by Al Jazeera, to whom the tape was sent.
Just days ago, on February 7, supporters gathered in several cities, including Paris, to mark one month since Jill Carroll's abduction. Their aim? To make sure the 28-year-old freelance journalist does not fade from the world's attention.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
RAMAN: Now, Zain, the demands of those holding Jill Carroll are the release of all female Iraqi prisoners currently in U.S. custody. The only real deadline they set was back on January 20. Since then, we have seen two more tapes. That gives hope that her life may yet be spared -- Zain.
VERJEE: Aneesh, I just want to focus on the letter that you mentioned.
What is the network doing with the letter? What more can you tell us about that?
RAMAN: Well, the network says a copy of that tape that you saw, along with a copy of the letter that Jill Carroll describes, was dropped off at their Baghdad office. They are handing over that letter to authorities. It's unclear whether here or in Kuwait. That letter, we're not sure what was written, but one can presume it is, if nothing else, a sign of life, proof of life, from Jill Carroll to the authorities here -- Zain.
VERJEE: Aneesh Raman in Baghdad.
Thanks, Aneesh.
let's check in now with Carol Costello with the headlines -- Carol, good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Zain.
Good morning to all of you.
A surprising twist in the Entwistle case. Instead of fighting extradition this morning, he decided to come back to the United States and face a judge. This happened earlier in London.
Neil Entwistle is the man suspected of killing his wife and baby daughter. Entwistle skipped town after his wife and daughter were found shot dead in their Massachusetts home last month. He was arrested on Thursday in England, but now, as I said, he will return to the States, and he'll do that within a week, to face charges.
It was his job to save lives in the case of the fire, and he did -- in his own home, and it cost him his life. In New Jersey, firefighter Edward Marbett (ph) died in a fire at his own home on Thursday, but not without saving his fiance and his father first. Investigators are now looking into what sparked the fire.
The Winter Games open in Torino today, but not without a bit of controversy. Two American skiers are among eight athletes barred from competing on Monday. They'll have to sit out for five days for high hemoglobin levels, which, in essence, could increase endurance by carrying more oxygen to the lungs. The tests were carried out by the International Ski Federation. The athletes will be retested next week.
And Valentine's Day is coming up, so here's something you can pick up in Tokyo for $5 million. Of course, you have to pay for the trip, too, so it's more. You're looking at 107 diamonds being carefully placed among the notes of a Mozart manuscript made up entirely of chocolate. The candy sculpture is a tribute to commemorate Mozart's 250th birthday.
But if you can't get there, I don't know, get your sweetheart a chocolate bar.
O'BRIEN: Well, I would think if you can afford the $5 million thing, you're in the Gulf Stream and it's not an issue, right?
So, but, let me ask you this, do you eat it? And -- I don't get it, you know what I mean? Is it an objet d'art or is it something to chow down on and...
COSTELLO: I don't either, because...
O'BRIEN: ... be careful you don't eat the diamonds, right?
COSTELLO: Well, I'd rather just have one big honking diamond. For five million bucks?
O'BRIEN: I thought you were going to say one big honking bonbon or something.
COSTELLO: No.
O'BRIEN: No, you want the diamond.
COSTELLO: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, thank you, Carol.
Yet another -- Danielle Romano should have mentioned that one to us.
Let's get another check on the weather.
Chad Myers is -- he's on his way to Japan after this cast, to pick up that wonderful Mozart diamond thingie.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, if there are so many diamonds in the world that they can do this, don't you think they're over priced?
O'BRIEN: I have always thought the whole thing was artificial. It is, as a matter of fact, isn't it? The whole thing is controlled.
MYERS: Of course it is.
O'BRIEN: But that's another statement.
MYERS: Just don't tell my wife. She doesn't know that yet.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
MYERS: She still thinks that's a good present. And you know what? I can (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
O'BRIEN: Hey, you know what? C.Z. is good. C.Z. works fine. She won't know the difference. She might, actually.
MYERS: You'll be seeing C.Z.
There you go.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: That's a biggin'. That's a big nor'easter there.
VERJEE: A big nor'easter.
O'BRIEN: The first one.
VERJEE: A biggin'.
O'BRIEN: All right, buy some -- what is it? What do they do? Everybody wants to make French toast when it comes over. They buy eggs, milk and bread.
VERJEE: Right.
O'BRIEN: Everybody starts running to the market now.
VERJEE: Right.
O'BRIEN: So go get it now, all right?
VERJEE: Yes, we'll stock my larder.
O'BRIEN: All right. Stock the larder.
Coming up, Muslim anger over those controversial cartoons enters cyberspace. Danish Web sites are now under attack. Ahead, we'll tell you about the online outrage.
VERJEE: And, also, more on that latest twist in the CIA leak case. It looks like Lewis "Scooter" Libby pointed fingers at his bosses. We're going to look at what it could mean for Vice President Dick Cheney.
O'BRIEN: And what foods will keep you in peak condition as you get older? Our health series for people in the 30s, 40s and 50s, you know, bread, milk, eggs, that's the key.
VERJEE: Let thy food be thy medicine. Let thy medicine be thy food.
O'BRIEN: Oh, thus sayeth the prophet.
VERJEE: Indeedeth.
O'BRIEN: Stayeth witheth us.
VERJEE: Yes, sir. AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: For moreth.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VERJEE: Two stories reaching into the top levels of the White House today. "Scooter" Libby's testimony that his bosses green lighted him to leak secrets to reporters and lobbyist Jack Abramoff saying that President Bush knew him better than the president really let on.
Joining us now, our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. And from Washington, D.C. our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
Let's start with you, Jeffrey.
Will pointing fingers like this, in "Scooter" Libby's case, actually help him legally?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: In this circumstance, probably not, because he's not charged with illegally disclosing classified information, which is the subject of the disclosure today. He's charged with lying to the grand jury, and there's no claim that anyone authorized him to do that. I think yesterday's disclosure is much more significant politically than it is legally because it suggests that the White House is authorizing leaks of classified information at the same time that they're complaining about leaks of classified information.
VERJEE: But legally, who can authorize a leak?
TOOBIN: That is an actually unsettled legal question. Clearly, the president can disclose classified information. Yesterday's speech, where he talked about the possible attack on the West Coast, that was very highly classified at one point. The CIA director can leak -- can declassify information.
It's not clear whether the vice president, on his own, can do that.
VERJEE: Bill Schneider, what are the political implications here?
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It implicates Dick Cheney in the authorization. He's specifically saying that Dick Cheney was part of a campaign to leak information to the public about national intelligence estimates in order to make the case for the war in Iraq, which had just happened a few months before.
Now, he didn't say that Cheney -- Libby is not arguing, in the documents that we've seen -- that Cheney authorized him to leak the name of Valerie Plame specifically. But he's talking about national intelligence estimates to help make the argument that the administration was making that Iraq was gathering weapons of mass destruction and represented a threat.
That is involving Dick Cheney, which is a very high level, indeed, in the White House.
VERJEE: What kind of effect, Bill, would it have on midterm elections?
SCHNEIDER: Ah, well, that could be very serious because you see the argument is being made and will be made by the administration's critics that there was an effort, a deliberate effort to create a case and misuse the intelligence in order to go to war, that, in fact, there was an effort at deception...
TOOBIN: But...
SCHNEIDER: ... and that this was delivered from the highest levels of the White House.
And now you have a former CIA officer arguing that the intelligence was used and misused and misrepresented...
VERJEE: OK, Jeff?
SCHNEIDER: So all of this builds a case.
TOOBIN: Fortunately for the administration, the trial is not scheduled until 2007, after the midterm elections.
VERJEE: January 8.
TOOBIN: Right. So, if Dick Cheney has to testify, which, of course, would be a major embarrassment, that won't be until after the elections. But this story shows how the case is going to stay in the news before the midterm elections. And, look, you know, even in today's "New York Times," you have an op-ed piece by Porter Goss, the CIA director. And it says leaks to the press are endangering American lives.
You know, at the same time, you have "Scooter" Libby apparently saying that leaks were authorized as part of a P.R. campaign.
It's embarrassing and it's contradictory and it's not going away.
VERJEE: Another case that may be embarrassing, also contradictory, I want to focus on Jack Abramoff.
Bill Schneider, just comment on some of the e-mails that were made public yesterday.
In one of them, Jack Abramoff describing his relationship with the president. And this was addressed to the editor of the "Washingtonian" magazine.
I just want to read this one: "The guy saw me in almost a dozen settings and joked with me about a bunch of things, including details of my kids. Perhaps he's forgotten everything. Who knows?"
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
VERJEE: What do you make of it, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, he's trying to argue he had friends in very high places, right in the Oval Office itself; that he was, in fact, someone who President Bush knew, had seen many times. He asked him about his kids.
The president, the White House has said repeatedly we don't know of any connections between Jack Abramoff and the president. We -- the president doesn't remember meeting him. Well, there may be some photographs, but the president takes photographs of a lot of people.
And Jack Abramoff is saying, you know, I have a closer relationship than that.
VERJEE: OK...
SCHNEIDER: And he, as a fundraiser, he was invited, he said, once to Texas.
VERJEE: OK, so there's an e-mail like this.
But that doesn't mean, Jeffrey, that the president's guilty of anything? TOOBIN: Right. And even if there are -- there apparently are photographs of the two together. But everyone knows the president takes thousands of photographs with people.
VERJEE: Right.
TOOBIN: But the Democrats are clearly, in the 2006 elections, are going to make what they call the culture of corruption in Washington, involving these lobbyists, a big part of their campaign.
It's important to remember, this investigation isn't over. Tom DeLay is still under investigation. If there are more shoes to drop, it could only be worse. It's bad enough as it is, but it could still get worse for the Republicans.
VERJEE: Jeffrey Toobin, Bill Schneider, gentlemen, thank you -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, what should you be eating in your 30s, 40s and 50s to stay in tip top shape?
I'll give you a clue. You're not super sizing on this diet, all right?
Plus, the latest on that super sized NHL gambling scandal. Was Wayne Gretzky playing a little defense on behalf of his wife?
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Well, we all know that old saying you are what you eat. And science has proven that what we eat has a huge effect on our health.
In today's "30, 40, 50" report, CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more on eating well at every age.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DR. ANDREW WEIL, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA: You saw the orange cauliflowers?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's beautiful.
I was wondering about them.
WEIL: Yes, they've got a beta -- a high beta carotene in them.
And this is -- these are two varieties of kale. This is Red Russian kale and this is Italian black kale.
They can't be any fresher than getting them out of your own garden.
COHEN (voice-over): Studies show it time and time again -- a healthy diet helps prevent heart disease, cancer and a whole host of other diseases.
But are certain foods, certain nutrients, especially important at certain times of your life?
We asked author Dr. Andrew Weil, head of the University of Arizona's integrated medicine program.
WEIL: It's pretty stuff.
COHEN: He says your 30s, or even earlier, is the ideal time to eat well to keep diseases at bay in the decades to come.
WEIL: This is some salmon that we broiled last night and leftovers.
COHEN: For example, less salt to prevent hypertension, less fat to prevent heart disease, and women especially need to start thinking now about osteoporosis.
WEIL: Women can't just suddenly wake up at age 50 and said I'd better start worrying about my bones and take calcium now. Your bone health is really determined by how you've lived mostly up to your mid- 30s. You know, that's when you build bones.
COHEN: Then once you hit 40, your chances of hypertension go way up.
WEIL: To avoid eating or reduce consumption of processed and refined foods, which are often high in sodium, and eat more fruits and vegetables, which are high in potassium, that has an opposite relaxant effect on blood vessels.
Calcium and magnesium can also help lower blood pressure somewhat.
COHEN: By your 50s, Weil suggests eating lots of magnesium rich foods to keep your heart healthy. Leafy greens, whole grains, seeds and fish are high in magnesium.
WEIL: It has a protective effect on heart rhythm. It stabilizes the heart electrically. So for people who are prone to heart arrhythmias, I always recommend that they add magnesium to their diet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, this catfish, please.
COHEN: And your 50s is a good time to think about prevent Alzheimer's Disease. The omega 3 fatty acids in some fish have been shown to possibly help stave off Alzheimer's.
Weil offers this tip for all ages -- colorize your diet.
WEIL: A simple rule to follow is you want to try to eat across the color spectrum every day. So you really want to think about, you know, where did you get your purple thing today and where did you get your red thing. The more colors you have in your diet on a regular basis, the healthier you are. COHEN: And while supplements can sometimes be helpful, experts agree that getting your nutrients through fresh food is the best approach.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
O'BRIEN: Now, as always, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. Together, you can work out a diet plan that works for you and your lifestyle.
Now, speaking of food, McDonald's never promised you a salad garden. But their fries may be even worse than you thought.
Too bad they're so darned tasty, right?
VERJEE: Delicious.
O'BRIEN: Ummm.
Oh, anyway.
Plus, Ken under the knife. A little plastic surgery. But will the boy toy have a new look that works a little better with the ladies, if you know what I mean?
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.
VERJEE: Daylight kissing the skyline of Manhattan.
O'BRIEN: Oooh. A little poetry on a Friday.
VERJEE: I try.
O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) daylight kissing the skyline.
VERJEE: Warming up on a nice day.
O'BRIEN: The skyline hugging the daylight. New York, baby. Yes.
VERJEE: What's all the kicking going on, boys?
O'BRIEN: A little (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Anyway, the Olympics are underway today and what would an Olympics be without a bunch of dopes, you know? Blood doping is the latest thing.
VERJEE: Right. Naturally. O'BRIEN: Scandals and...
VERJEE: As one (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
O'BRIEN: Is it Torino or Torin? All important questions.
VERJEE: Torino.
O'BRIEN: Yes, but we don't say Macva (ph) or Paris, do we? I mean, anyway, we're just going along with the NBC thing here so...
VERJEE: We're also going to be focusing on the cartoon controversy, as well. There's a lot of interesting stuff going online -- protests online. Daniel Sieberg will tell us about that.
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