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American Morning

Testimony on 9/11 Attacks; Compromise Over Controversial Ports Management Deal

Aired March 07, 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 CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
I'm Miles O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.

A compromise plan could salvage that controversial port deal.

M. O'BRIEN: Republicans are trying to distance themselves from the White House.

S. O'BRIEN: Also this morning, testimony on the 9/11 attacks. Sentencing now underway for an admitted al Qaeda member.

M. O'BRIEN: Saving American soldiers -- our special AMERICAN MORNING series looks at the special training that is keeping more soldiers alive in Iraq than in any other previous war.

S. O'BRIEN: And Faulk (ph) goes to the father. A strange case of very unsportsmanlike conduct on the tennis court.

M. O'BRIEN: And, are you Jonesing (ph) for some java? Probably this time of day. Find out what we think about some of the new brews. We'll also check in with some New Yorkers and see what they have to say. They're never shy about their opinions.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

There could be a deal in the works, a compromise over that controversial ports management deal. Key Republicans are offering a compromise, but no word yet from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Let's go live now to Kathleen Koch, who happens to be on the North Lawn at that address -- Kathleen, what do we know?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, you know, the White House is walking a real tightrope on this one, doing its best not to alienate an ally in the Middle East while also, at the same time, trying not to appear soft on national security.

Now, up to this point, two key Republicans, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Congressman Duncan Hunter of California, have come out opposing the current deal, saying it needs to be scrapped and the whole process reworked.

Another Republican, however, is now voicing his own concerns about this plan to give Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates primary responsibility for six key U.S. ports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER KING (R-NY), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: My concern today is since this is a government-owned company, where are those people? Are the people who supported the Taliban and bin Laden, are they still in the government? How can we be sure that they would have no influence over the company or they don't have their own people working in parts of the company?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Still, King is proposing a way to salvage the deal. And what he suggests is that the administration needs to make a U.S. company be a go-between, handle the access, the operations on the ground, while on paper, Dubai Ports World remains the primary contractor.

Now, sources here do say that an idea like this has been quietly under discussion behind the scenes for several days. However, no direct response from the White House to King's proposal. The administration is saying it's willing to listen to lawmakers' idea, willing to consider revamping the process, but the president still says he will veto any attempts to block the current deal -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Thank you, Kathleen Koch at the White House.

Be sure to catch "THE SITUATION ROOM." Wolf Blitzer, this afternoon, live from Dubai. That's 4:00 to 6:00 Eastern, and then again 7:00 to 8:00 Eastern, reporting you'll see only here on CNN.

Let's check some headlines.

Carol Costello with that -- hello, again, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Miles.

Good morning to all of you.

Perhaps a positive sign for families of four men being held hostage in Iraq. The Arab network, Al Jazeera, releasing this videotape. It shows three of the four missing Christian peacekeepers. The only American abducted is not shown in this footage. According to Al Jazeera, the men call on their governments to help win their release. The men have been missing since last November.

The penalty phase of the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui resumes in Virginia today. Moussaoui the only person charged in the United States in connection with the September 11 attacks. Prosecutors say he lied to cover-up the terror plot. Moussaoui admits he's al Qaeda, but says he did not know beforehand about the attacks. He could get the death penalty or life in prison.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay facing some opposition in today's Republican primary for his House seat. Quite unusual for him. It is the first time that he's been on the ballot since he was indicted on money laundering charges. He has to win at least 50 percent of the votes or face a runoff election next month.

And fans are remembering baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett. The Minnesota Twins star died Monday after a stroke. During his 12- year career, Puckett helped lead the Twins to two championships. But he stopped playing professionally in 1996 due to glaucoma. Kirby Puckett was 45 years old. And you can't help but remember his beautiful smile. And I don't know what national magazine it was on, Soledad, but there was a picture of Kirby Puckett and his son, who was quite small at the time, and they just looked identical.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh.

COSTELLO: It was the most wonderful picture.

S. O'BRIEN: Gosh, and he's so young, 45.

COSTELLO: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Gosh, that is just terrible news.

All right, Carol, thank you for those updates.

Weather now.

Chad Myers has that.

He's at the CNN Center -- good morning to you, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.

Sending Miles outside? Is he on his way?

S. O'BRIEN: He just left.

MYERS: Getting his coat on? Miles is going outside? Is he doing the old Tate (ph) stunt out there?

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, he is.

It's cold here this morning.

MYERS: It is 30 degrees outside. And that proves...

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, better Miles than me, then, is what I say.

MYERS: I know. But the wind is blowing, too, so it doesn't even feel that good.

Blue skies across New York City. A great shot there at Columbus Circle. Enjoy sunshine today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Have you heard those bizarre stories? This trial going on in France exposes pretty much the worst of what can happen in competitive kids' sports. A man is accused of being so obsessed with his daughter's tennis victories that he drugged her opponents.

Jim Bittermann has our story this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tennis is big in southwestern France, something for the whole family on a Sunday afternoon, something from which fathers hope their children might learn sportsmanship and fair play.

But events at this tennis club in the small town of Dax have left parents and players wondering. After the father of a young player, an ex-soldier named Christophe Fauviau, was charged with systematically drugging his daughter's opponents by spiking their water and orange juice, in one case, leading to the death of a young tennis competitor, who was killed in a car crash.

At Fauviau's trial, now underway, many of his victims have been called to testify. He does not deny the allegations, that he struck at least 27 times.

(on camera): Repeatedly in court, Fauviau openly admitted that he had dosed the drinks of his daughter's opponents with a powerful anti-anxiety drug and he said he'd become so crazed about his daughter's victories, that he began taking the drug himself.

(voice-over): His lawyer takes the position that the frantic tennis father had completely lost control and should not be held accountable. But one tennis player he admits to having drugged, once among the top 100 amateur players in the country, says there's no justification for what Fauviau did.

EMMANUELL DIGIACOMMO, WITNESS: He needs to pay. He did so much, like 27 players during four years. It's enormous. So he needs -- he needs to pay for this. He needs to pay, yes?

BITTERMANN: Those are the feelings, too, of the parents of Alexandre Lagardere, the drugging victim who died when he lost consciousness at the wheel of his car on the way home from a match with Fauviau's daughter.

Back at the Dax tennis club, members have planted an olive tree and named a tennis court in honor of the dead player. And they've begun a tennis tournament where winners will be judged on their sportsmanship, as well as their scores.

"Those who knew the obsessed tennis dad said they were surprised at all that's come out since the case has come to light. Said one father, "Everyone wants their kid to succeed, maybe even to become a champion. But what kind of lesson does this teach?"

Jim Bittermann, CNN, Dax, France.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: Here's kind of how it worked. Fauviau would be at the start of a tennis set with bottled water or cups of cola for his daughter and her opponent and then hand them out.

He faces 20 years in prison.

Ahead this morning, the star witness in the Enron trial gets set to take the stand. We're going to take a look at what Andrew Fastow could have to say about his old bosses.

And then coming up next, more wounded U.S. troops are surviving than ever before. Ninety percent of those wounded will survive. We're going to take you to the Army's only medic school in the U.S. and get a reason for those stats.

That's ahead.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: It seems like every day we hear about insurgents targeting American soldiers in Iraq. The numbers truly daunting -- more than 16,000 wounded. More than 2,300 dead.

But the number of deaths would, no doubt, be much higher if it weren't for some pretty special soldiers who put themselves in the line of fire to try to save the lives of their comrades.

AMERICAN MORNING'S Kelly Wallace has more in the second part of her series on Iraq's War Wounded.

Nice to see you -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nice to see you, Soledad.

You know, more men and women wounded in Iraq are surviving than compared to any previous conflict. And when you talk to people in the military, they say one of the key reasons -- more highly trained combat medics.

So we wanted to get a sense of how these soldiers learn to save lives on the battlefield.

And we take you now behind-the-scenes of the Army's only medic training school, here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): An explosion at a Baghdad market. U.S. Army medics rush in and within minutes must decide who needs to be treated first.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got one more there.

WALLACE: It's make believe but designed to feel, sound and look like the real thing...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got head injuries. WALLACE: ... all to prepare these would-be medics for combat.

CLAY WALKER, SIMULATION TECHNICIAN: We want to ingrain in them when they see it, it's an automatic reaction. It's just a response. I have a limb removed, I need to stop that bleeding.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who's the company commander?

WALLACE: Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, the site of the Army's only medic training school. Any soldier turned medic heading to Iraq or Afghanistan is trained here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to check your respiration again, all the way down to your chest.

WALLACE: In essence, they're getting one year of medical school in a 16-week course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then I'm going to go ahead and administer.

WALKER: Learning primary care, emergency medical techniques and combat medicine all at once.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're working on him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was.

WALLACE: It's tough. About 15 percent don't make it past the first few weeks.

WALKER: It took you three-and-a-half minutes to realize that he was missing his leg.

WALLACE: They could mean the difference between life and death. Nearly 90 percent of military men and women wounded in Iraq survive, which is higher than the 78 percent survival rate for the first Gulf War and 73 percent for Vietnam. Leaders here say that's partly because there are more highly trained combat medics, more soldiers on the front lines with basic medical knowledge.

COL. PATRICIA HASTINGS, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, MEDIC TRAINING: The combat medic allows the patient to come in as a patient and not a victim, so that the physicians and nurses at the upper echelons of care can take care of them and get them back to the States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you hear me? Can you hear me? One, two, three?

WALLACE: The training is constantly updated based on what soldiers are now seeing regularly on the battlefields of Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. And how is his breathing?

WALLACE: For instance, new types of injuries from IEDs can be woven into the training here in less than 90 days.

WALKER: We get feedback from our doctors and our P.A.s back from the war and this is the injuries they're seeing.

WALLACE: Eight of the 16 weeks are devoted entirely to combat medicine. Can they work in the darkness? What if they come under fire? Can they handle the seriously wounded?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is he looking, doc?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's doing good. He's doing good.

WALLACE: In this scenario, four soldiers come across an infantryman whose hand has been blown off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, doc, hurry up.

WALLACE: These soldiers have been here now for 12 weeks and say the highly specialized training is invaluable.

PFC RUBEN RYAN, MEDIC TRAINEE: By the time we're released to go with the regular line units, we're going to be that much more advanced or be able to pick up the slack where we need to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Calm down. Hurry up. We've got to get going. They're coming back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right.

WALLACE: Trying to give these soon-to-be medics a sense of what they'll see on the battlefield before they actually see it for themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hang in there, buddy. We'll take good care of you and get you out of here.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WALLACE: And some 7,000 soldiers will be trained at the school this year. A third of those soldiers going off to Iraq within six months of graduation.

And, Soledad, the numbers definitely higher since the September 11 attacks. About 2,000 more soldiers trained annually now than before 2001.

S. O'BRIEN: So, the question for is, is there the sense that it's just the sheer numbers that have improved that are helping? Is it the training that's improved? Is it their flexibility that's improved?

WALLACE: I think it's fair to probably say a combination of both the numbers -- more combat medics there on the front lines, but also the training. I mean at this program here at the Army's only medic training school, they have really improved things. They have, again, taken what they're learning on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan...

S. O'BRIEN: And turning it around. WALLACE: ... and turning it around very quickly so that these soldiers can see what they're going to see for themselves.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, that is some great news. Ninety percent, that's a, you know, as horrible as, you know, some of the wounds are, that is a really terrific number.

WALLACE: I know, because the gentleman we focused on yesterday, a double amputee, I mean he said to ourselves that, you know, he wouldn't really necessarily be here if it were for combat medics and some of this other stuff.

S. O'BRIEN: Right. Right. Yes, absolutely.

All right, Kelly, thank you.

WALLACE: Sure.

S. O'BRIEN: Stick around because, you know, Kelly, we are doing this coffee taste test. We have sent Miles out into the bitter cold so he can help...

WALLACE: Who drew the smaller straw on that one, I think.

S. O'BRIEN: I drew the big straw.

WALLACE: We can tell.

S. O'BRIEN: But there he is, and look at Miles meeting with New Yorkers...

M. O'BRIEN: Hello.

Hello...

S. O'BRIEN: ... getting close and handing out free coffee.

I told you people would love it.

He was worried they wouldn't love it.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, well, I believe the bet was -- what was the bet?

S. O'BRIEN: Five dollars.

M. O'BRIEN: The bet was every New Yorker would do this. And we've had several nos, right, Michelle Cumbo (ph)? Yes?

Several nos, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: That's because they're late for work.

M. O'BRIEN: Something about being busy and having to get to work.

S. O'BRIEN: OK.

So...

M. O'BRIEN: Some late to work thing, you know? Is that a good excuse? I don't know.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that counts. And I'm still winning.

M. O'BRIEN: Anyway, this is Tim Iliya (ph) and Mandy (ph).

They've all had a little sample. They've all -- they're all coming to the conclusion on their favorites. I am personally going with B. So is Mandy. Iliya and Tim are still thinking about it.

We will unveil which is which after a break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: We've got some very sad news to report here at CNN.

This news just in to us.

Dana Reeve, who, of course, was married to Christopher Reeve, and who led his foundation, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, is dead. She has died of lung cancer. You'll recall that she announced that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, shocking many people, obviously, in the wake of her husband's untimely death after his long illness.

Much more coming on this story in just a few moments. But at this moment what we know is that Dana Reeve has died.

A short break.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Welcome back to CNN AMERICAN MORNING.

Miles O'Brien live on Columbus Circle, right on the edge of Central Park, where we've been doing a little coffee blind taste test.

One of these is Burger King, one of these is McDonald's, one of these is Dunkin' Donuts. And the reason we tell you about all of this is McDonald's is out with kind of a high scale, upwardly mobile gourmet coffee, trying to get in the fray there on the higher end coffees, because this coffee thing, it's a big deal, isn't it?

And we've had Mandy Marsteiner (ph).

MANDY MARSTEINER: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: And Tim Jones as part of our subjects here. You tested A, B and C.

First of all, was there a big difference?

MARSTEINER: Yes, there was.

M. O'BRIEN: What did you like best?

MARSTEINER: B.

M. O'BRIEN: What was different?

B was different?

What was it about B?

MARSTEINER: I don't know, it just tasted like there was -- I don't know, it just tasted more.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, normally what kind of coffee do you get when you buy a cup of coffee out of the household?

MARSTEINER: I kind of grind my own beans.

M. O'BRIEN: You do? You bring your own beans with you wherever you go?

MARSTEINER: No.

M. O'BRIEN: Really -- all right...

MARSTEINER: When I'm at home.

M. O'BRIEN: But do you buy Starbucks? Do you -- what do you do?

MARSTEINER: Or something. Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Whatever. OK. So you're not that picky.

MARSTEINER: Right.

M. O'BRIEN: So B is your choice.

Tim, you've tried all three.

JONES: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Normally what do you drink?

JONES: I usually drink whatever I can find.

M. O'BRIEN: Whatever you can find.

You're not too picky either.

Which one of these three did -- which flavor did you like the best?

JONES: B.

M. O'BRIEN: B wins for both.

And I've got to tell you, I chose B, as well.

Now, before we give away what B is, let's get back to the studio.

Now, Soledad, what was your choice?

S. O'BRIEN: Miles, I've got to say, I agree with your average New Yorkers, because I thought B was also a lot warmer...

M. O'BRIEN: Really?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: But I've got to tell you, you want me to guess what B is?

M. O'BRIEN: No, no, no. Ten out of 11 like B.

This is big. We're onto something here.

Do you know -- all right, do you know?

SERWER: I...

M. O'BRIEN: Soledad?

S. O'BRIEN: Can I guess?

M. O'BRIEN: Guess.

S. O'BRIEN: I have no idea, but I'm going to guess...

M. O'BRIEN: Yes?

S. O'BRIEN: ... that the B is the Dunkin' Donuts, because it tastes like Dunkin' Donuts.

M. O'BRIEN: OK.

S. O'BRIEN: I drink Dunkin' Donuts. Sorry, McDonald's, but B is Dunkin' Donuts, is my guess.

SERWER: I think...

S. O'BRIEN: Am I right?

SERWER: I like B...

M. O'BRIEN: And Andy Serwer?

SERWER: I like B the best and I'll tell you, though, I have a theory about B. I think B -- these are all supposed to be plain coffees, right?

S. O'BRIEN: Right.

M. O'BRIEN: Right.

SERWER: I think B has a little something in it, like a little hazelnut flavoring.

S. O'BRIEN: No! Oh, no.

COSTELLO: Cheating.

S. O'BRIEN: No.

SERWER: I do. I do.

S. O'BRIEN: No...

SERWER: I do.

S. O'BRIEN: ... because I hate flavoring.

M. O'BRIEN: No, no, no. No.

SERWER: I know. I don't like flavoring either, but that has the richest taste.

COSTELLO: I like A.

S. O'BRIEN: How about Carol?

SERWER: B has...

COSTELLO: I think A has the richest taste.

SERWER: No, I like B the most.

COSTELLO: And I bet B is the McDonald's coffee.

S. O'BRIEN: Really?

COSTELLO: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: OK. So are we finally -- actually, it turns out B has a little Kailua in it.

SERWER: That's why I like it.

M. O'BRIEN: No, we didn't do that. No.

SERWER: No wonder.

M. O'BRIEN: No, we didn't do that.

SERWER: Some tequila.

S. O'BRIEN: More B. More B.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, so the drum roll please.

S. O'BRIEN: OK.

M. O'BRIEN: A is Mc -- do we have a drum roll? We don't have one.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, I'll get one.

Here.

M. O'BRIEN: Can you pat on there for me, Bruce?

Yes, there you go.

A is McDonald's. B, Burger King.

COSTELLO: Oh!

M. O'BRIEN: C, Dunkin'.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, wow!

M. O'BRIEN: Burger King is the winner by big numbers here, folks.

SERWER: What's in that coffee?

M. O'BRIEN: I never would have guessed it.

Would you have guessed that one?

JONES: No way. Never.

S. O'BRIEN: Wow!

M. O'BRIEN: What do you think?

SERWER: There's something in there.

JONES: I thought it was...

SERWER: Yes, there's something in there, I'm telling you.

COSTELLO: There's something in there!

M. O'BRIEN: What do you think, Mandy?

COSTELLO: Well, give me some of that.

M. O'BRIEN: Were you surprised it's Burger King?

MARSTEINER: I didn't know what to expect to be in (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

M. O'BRIEN: All right. For participating in our program, we have some CNN mugs.

Thank you very much.

SERWER: Those are nice.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you for being a part of the program. CNN mugs. And enjoy your ground coffee beans and whatever you can find in the CNN mugs. And thanks for being a part 0f our program here.

Good luck.

And so, Soledad, it is interesting, people are very finicky about their coffee. They think they really know the taste. I, too, thought this was Dunkin'. I like Dunkin' Donuts. Burger King.

SERWER: What an endorsement for Burger King coffee.

S. O'BRIEN: I know. Wow! A shocker. A true shocker.

SERWER: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: All right, Miles.

SERWER: Well, go figure.

M. O'BRIEN: All right.

S. O'BRIEN: And, you know, he keeps calling the New Yorkers they and it's like huh, they're you now, Miles.

SERWER: You're one of them.

S. O'BRIEN: You've moved here. You live here.

We're going to transition to some very sad news that we mentioned right before our last break.

Dana Reeve, who announced back in August that she has lung cancer, has died. She was 44 years old. And, of course, you'll recall the just absolute admiration she won around the world, really, because of the way she stayed by her husband's side when he was dealing with his life post a horseback riding accident and became a quadriplegic.

Her announcement came, actually, not very long after the death of Peter Jennings, who died at the age of 67, and who was a smoker, of course. But Dana said, apparently, that she never -- she had never smoked and she appeared and said that she, in fact, was hoping that she would be soon sharing the news of her recovery.

We had her on our program, as well.

SERWER: Right.

S. O'BRIEN: And she said she was hoping that she would share the news of her recovery and her good health. And, of course, they have -- they have small -- a small child, he's 13 years old, lived outside of New York -- who now has lost both his mother and his father, which is just horrible to have to report.

SERWER: That's terrible.

COSTELLO: You know, I swear she appeared somewhere recently where she said she was getting better...

S. O'BRIEN: She did. She was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and she was hopeful.

COSTELLO: She sounded very positive.

S. O'BRIEN: She did.

COSTELLO: And that's why this comes as such a shock.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. It's very upsetting. It's very upsetting.

SERWER: She was a great person, I mean, a real class act and a real genteel persona.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. They were hopeful, too, because apparently the treatment for women with lung cancer who'd never smoked, they had much better chances in the treatment. But that treatment failed and Dana Reeve -- and I said she was 44. She was actually 45 years old. And, of course, who led her husband, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, died of lung cancer.

And that's being announced by that foundation today.

Just horrible news for that family and our hearts go out to all of her friends, and, of course, the couple's 13-year-old son.

A short break.

We're going to continue to follow this story and much more.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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