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CNN Live Today
Lessons Learned; Storm Over Ports; Iraqi Violence; Navigating The Mortgage Rate Landscape Tips
Aired February 23, 2006 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. You guys have a great day in New York City.
We already have breaking news to get to, so we'll do that. The news coming out of Iraq. This just in to CNN. We're getting word that four U.S. soldiers were killed north of Baghdad when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb. We'll have more on that with a live report with our Aneesh Raman live from Baghdad in just a few minutes.
Right now let's take a look at what else is happening right "Now in the News."
Rescuers are cutting through concrete slabs and metal beams following a deadly marketplace roof collapse in Moscow. At least 40 people were killed and 29 injured when the roof came crashing down under heavy snow. Some victims are still trapped in the wreckage.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Lebanon need a forward- looking president who defends the country's sovereignty. She made the comments during a surprise visit to Beirut in which she did not meet with the pro-Syrian president. Rice's next stop is the United Arab Emirates where she plans to assure officials that the controversial ports deal will go through.
To Mexico. Rescuers say they may be zeroing in on two of 65 trapped coal miners. Crews have been working around the clock to reach the miners since a gas explosion last Sunday. Officials won't speculate on whether the miners may still be alive.
And a New York man is hospitalized in stable condition after becoming infected with anthrax. Health officials say he may have inhaled anthrax spores while working with animal hides from Africa. Officials call it an isolated case and they say terrorism is not suspected.
Good morning to you on this Thursday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.
We begin with the government's new strategy on handling disasters. Just about an hour ago, White House officials released a report on lessons learned following Hurricane Katrina. The report includes scores of recommendations, but no calls for anyone to step down. Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has had a first look at the report and she joins us with some of the highlights.
Suzanne, good morning. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Of course, you're not going to hear any calls or even scathing criticism against the president or Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security secretary. It is more of general criticism over all of the federal government's response. One line here, the response to Hurricane Katrina revealed a lack of familiarity with incident management, planning discipline and field level crisis leadership.
Essentially saying that people were not communicating with each other, that there were failures on many different levels. The president is looking forward here. There's no blame that they're placing on any one particular individual, but they are stressing that there are steps they're taking for the next hurricane season.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will learn from the lessons of the past to better protect the American people. We have made a strong commitment to people in the Gulf Coast and we will honor that commitment as well. The report helps us anticipate how to better respond to future disasters. In the meantime, our commitment to rebuild and help rebuild Mississippi and Louisiana is ongoing and robust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So some of the specific recommendations that they say must be implemented before June 1st, the start of the new hurricane season, include pre-positioning and interagency federal joint field office. Essentially one place to coordinate the federal response. Also to embed a single department of defense point of contact. A person on the ground who is helping coordinate the effort. Also, designate locations for receiving, staging, as well as moving military resources. And then develop a roster of individuals who are actually involved in this kind of relief effort.
Now, we talked to Homeland Security Advisor to the President Fran Townsend earlier this morning who said the most important point that they found, the flaw in the federal response, was communication.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRAN TOWNSEND, W.H. HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: Most important, I think, is the communication capability. That is understanding accurate timely facts on the ground to support good decision and timely decision making and the deployment of federal assets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So we'll find out a little bit about what she's talking about in the next hour or so. She's going to be briefing, talking a little bit more about the details of all this. But essentially in talking with senior administration officials, they say the flaw was really that people did not have a good sense of what was happening on the ground. They need to improve in communication so that there are people on the ground, military resources are in place, better coordination within federal agencies to make sure that the very least they know what's going on.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Suzanne, when I looked at it, I saw more than just military resources. I saw a big push for the military saying, you know what, in situations like this, the military might just have to take over.
MALVEAUX: Well, it's not that clear about whether or not they'd take over, but they certainly suggest that in situations where there's a catastrophic event, and national catastrophic event, and state and local first responders are overwhelmed, that the military should be the one that takes the lead role in that federal response.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Suzanne, thank you.
And as we were listening to Suzanne, we saw pictures of President Bush boarding Air Force One. There's live pictures from Andrews Air Force Base. The president headed to Indiana today for fundraising activities.
The president's Homeland Security advisor, Francis Townsend, will be giving details about the Katrina report next hour. You can watch the briefing live right here on CNN.
On to our CNN "Security Watch."
Administration officials are preparing to explain that controversial ports deal and why they say it will not raise the risk of terrorism. Officials will brief the Senate Armed Services Committee next hour. Our Andrea Koppel is in Washington with more.
Andrea, good morning.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, what started off as a political headache for this White House, is fast becoming a major migraine. As Republican leadership from both the House and the Senate have come out in recent days opposing the deal and calling for more time to review it. Some Republicans like Congresswoman Sue Myrick of North Carolina has been downright rude. In a one sentence letter to President Bush on Wednesday, Myrick wrote, "in regards to selling American ports to the United Arab Emirates, not just NO----but HELL NO!"
But at the same time, Mr. Bush did pick up support Wednesday from a couple of big name GOP lawmakers, Senator John McCain, certainly someone who hasn't been shy in the past to break ranks with the White House, and Senator John Warner, the powerful chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. As you pointed out, Daryn, today Warner's committee is going to get a briefing about the deal from administration officials. But as of this morning, CNN was only able to confirm that Senator Warner and Democrat Hillary Clinton were expected to be there. In an interview with CNN, Senator Warner indicated that he is predisposed to support the deal and said it is important to keep an open mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN WARNER, (R) ARMED SERVICES CHAIRMAN: You don't want to walk into the room and say my mind's locked. You don't want to do that. And that's not the way to conduct business here. We should go into those hearings with the assumption that the administration acted fairly, thoroughly and accurately. And I go in with that assumption. But I'm there to learn, as will others.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: Warner also told CNN that earlier this week he met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for about an hour and he explained why the United Arab Emirates is such a close U.S. ally. Saying that there are more U.S. ships docked in the UAE than anywhere else in the region. The U.S. uses UAE air fields. And also, Daryn, it uses its ports to run supplies in the war in Iraq and the war on terror.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Andrea Koppel live from Washington D.C., thank you.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
The White House recognizing the mistakes of Hurricane Katrina in that report that was released this morning. We heard about that from Suzanne Malveaux. But will the federal response be better next time? Ahead this hour, the steps that FEMA's new man in charge says his agency is taking to improve its response rate.
But first, on the brink of civil war. Shiites versus Sunnis in Iraq. A rash of attacks. The death toll just since yesterday has topped 100. We're live from Baghdad.
And later, if you're a fan of the movie "Rudy," the story of Jason Macalwayn (ph) will tug at your heart just as much. His only time on the basketball court proves to be a night that he and his high school will never forget.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: To Iraq now. Revenge attacks continue after the bombing of a Shiite shrine. CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad. He has a closer look at the escalating violence and concerns about what might happen next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): A war ravaged country again on high alert. Throughout Iraq, fear rising that sectarian strife has hit a breaking point after an attack on Shia Islam's revered Askariya mosque. Iraq security personnel on leave have been called back to duty. Curfews have been extended.
In Baghdad alone, more than 50 Sunnis have been killed. An equal number of Sunni mosques have been attacked. Five of them destroyed. Throughout the country, Sunni officials say, some 100 Sunni sites have been targeted.
In Samarra, the bodies of three Iraqi journalists working for Al- Arabiya were found all executed, including a well-known reporter, Atwar Bahjat, a Sunni from Samarra in her 20s. Amid the ruins of the sacred shrine and amid angry crowds, the country's interior minister, Bayan Jabur, a Shia, called for calm. This aggression of the holy place as a whole is an aggression against 1.5 billion Muslims, he said. It is not an aggression on one community rather than other.
Divide is deepening as well on the political front. The country's biggest Sunni political block now boycotting talks to form a new government after accusing Kurdish and Shia leaders of not condemning the reprisal attacks, playing sectarian politics. Just last week U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad threatened to withhold funding for Iraq security forces if the new government had sectarian ties. And now Shia leaders are placing blame for the recent attacks on the U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, (through translator): The ambassador's statements have give the green light for terrorist groups to carry out more violence. Consequently, he bears some responsibility.
RAMAN: The bombings come at a critical time, which is why virtually every Iraqi leader is appealing for calm. But one notable voice, that of fire brand Shia Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose Mahdi militia have taken up arms and threatened revenge, has been publicly silent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: And, Daryn, in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, protests there continue as they also found a gruesome discovery. A number of bodies, presumably those of prisoners, suspected insurgents that were kidnaped from the prison yesterday by Shia militias, seeming executed.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Aneesh, we had some breaking news just a few minutes ago about four U.S. soldiers that were killed north of Baghdad. What can you tell us about that?
RAMAN: Yes, very little coming from the U.S. military. Simply a statement that says four U.S. soldiers were killed, again, as you say, north of the capital after they hit a roadside bomb. Again, these IEDs, improvised explosive devices, which have long been the biggest killer of U.S. forces, again today claiming U.S. casualties.
Daryn. KAGAN: Then I know kidnapings have been a problem in Iraq. This latest story, though, really caught our attention. A number of factory workers taken off of a bus and kidnaped.
RAMAN: Yes, coming amid all of this existent sectarian strife related to Wednesday morning's attack, we also found out from Iraqi police that north of the capital today 47 civilians were killed, factory workers gunned down as they were heading to work. It is unclear what their identities are, whether they were Sunni or Shia in the most basic sense, and also whether this has anything to do with the strife we're seeing erupting after Wednesday morning's attack.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Aneesh Raman live from Baghdad. Thank you for all of those updates.
Back here in the U.S., let's check what's on our legal docket today with a look at legal briefs.
A stringent abortion bill goes back to the state house in South Dakota a day after it was approved by the senate. The bill would ban all abortions except those who save the mother's life. If it's approved, it will likely renew the debate over Roe versus Wade.
In South Carolina, a military judge found a Marine swimming instructor not guilty in the drowning death of a recruit. Staff Sergeant Nadia Lopez had been charged with negligence. Authorities said Lopez either failed to recognize or ignored signs that Jason Tharp could not continue swimming.
To Chicago where a federal judge, Joan Lefkow, says the murders of her husband and mother almost a year ago and the Atlanta courthouse shootings highlight the need for more security for judges. In a statement, Lefkow also thanked those who helped her through the tragedy. She said "the outpouring of sympathy and goodwill which were shown to my family and me have been so helpful in our own rebirth since that time, and so deeply appreciated by all of us. We were sustained through the difficult days and nights with the knowledge that so many of you cared."
It sounds like a Hollywood script. A big, and I mean a big bank heist in England. The take, as much as $74 million. How it went down ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.
And no need for a loan if you have that kind of money. But for those without as much cash, a mortgage is a fact of life. Gerri Willis is here with some advice on those of you looking at home financing.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn, good to see you.
You know, rates may be rising, but you may still have an edge in the mortgage market and we'll show you how. "Five Tips" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: The markets have been open about 51 minutes. Not the best start to the day. The Dow is down 62 points and the Nasdaq is in negative territory as well. It is down 7.
It is Thursday and that means we like to do a home edition of "Top Five Tips." For today, some of you may be shopping for a mortgage. Maybe you've already bought a house but it is time for a refresher course because the rules have changed. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here to bring us an update.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn, good to see you.
You know, you may be looking forward to an advantage in the housing market this season because it slowed down just a little bit and you may be looking forward to getting a better price for the house. That's great, but watch out, interest rates are rising. In fact, rates could go up not just once but maybe twice this spring compared to last year. The 30-year fixed rates right now at 6.22 percent. This time last year they were at 5.6 percent.
Daryn.
KAGAN: And so if you're going for the new mortgage or thinking of refinancing, it's time to think traditional.
WILLIS: I think so. You know the old fashioned 30-year fixed rate mortgage may be the best thing out there right now. If you make the comparison between that and adjustable rate mortgages where the interest rate fluctuates, you're going to find there's not a huge difference between them like there was this time last year. So you might want to stay plain vanilla simple, go with a 30-year fixed.
KAGAN: And think beyond the interest rate when you're shopping around.
WILLIS: Absolutely. What you want to look for is the annual percentage rate. Ask for that number when you're shopping for a mortgage. That's the APR. That will allow you to compare rates between mortgage products so you can get a sense of who has the best deal out there.
Daryn.
KAGAN: How do you find a lender when you're shopping around?
WILLIS: Well, you've got to shop around, a. Let me tell you, the number of loans out there is going down and down dramatically. The Mortgage Bankers Association just reported that loan originations were down last week 20 percent year-over-year. That means that there are a lot of bankers out there looking for business. This is good news for you. So you can definitely make sure that you're getting the best deal out there. If you want to make comparisons on rates in your area, two websites to know here, bankrate.com and hsh.com. They'll both give you offers out there, the rates that are being offered by local banks in your area.
KAGAN: So what's the best way to use your leverage when you're playing one bank against the other?
WILLIS: Well, since there are so many operators out there, the opportunity is up to you to say -- to bring comparative offers around to lenders and make sure you're getting the best deal you can. You not only can negotiate, though, the fees, which I always encourage people to do, but there's so much leverage in the market place this spring that you might want to also ask for a better interest rate. Let me tell you, there's a little room out there with so many players out there bidding for so much less business.
Daryn.
KAGAN: What are we going to see on "Open House" this weekend, Gerri.
WILLIS: Well, we will talk about this topic, but we've got some more fun stuff going on. Eminent domain. Always a favorite topic of the show. We've got a fabulous story out of New Jersey. You won't believe what the government is offering people for their home there. Not even market value. It's a very important story you'll want to hear. We'll also show you how to sell your stuff on eBay. It's "Open House," 9:30 a.m. Eastern Saturday mornings right here on CNN.
KAGAN: Looking forward to it. Gerri Willis, thank you.
WILLIS: Thank you.
KAGAN: We're going to be talking port security just ahead. That's what they're thinking about on Capitol Hill. A Senate oversight committee is looking into the deal to sell operations of six U.S. ports to a company based in the United Arab Emirates. A look at this latest political storm for the president ahead on LIVE TODAY.
And the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina can be summed up in one word, disaster. So what's being done to prevent a repeat of this hurricane season?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening right "Now in the News."
Hurricane evacuees in Louisiana and Mississippi are getting more time to make long-term living plans and at the government's expense. FEMA today announced an extension of hotel and motel accommodations until March 15th. That move effects more than 7,400 families. The government plans to continue offering housing referrals to evacuees.
Russian officials say at least 40 people were killed today in a Moscow roof collapse. At least 29 people were injured. Some of the victims are still trapped under the rubble. The market place roof gave way after a heavy snowfall. Officials suggest that the snow, bad maintenance or design or any combination of those may have triggered the collapse.
A new wave of violence is sweeping across Iraq. Some of it in response to the bombing of a Shiite shrine. These pictures show the aftermath of a blast in Baquba today that killed 16 people. The casualties included Iraqi troops, civilians, and children. More than 100 people have been killed in Iraq since yesterday.
British police are searching for an armed gang that's pulled off one of the country's biggest bank heists every. The group stole tens of millions of dollars from a cash depot yesterday.
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