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American Morning

Tornadoes, High Winds Whipping Through Midsection of Nation; Jill Carroll Back Home With Family

Aired April 03, 2006 - 07:00   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Miles O'Brien.

Tornadoes and high winds whipping through the midsection of the nation. More than a dozen deaths reported. And as Chad just told you, severe weather affecting the southeast as we speak.

S. O'BRIEN: Jill Carroll is finally back home with her family this morning. She had something to say about a propaganda tape she was forced to make.

M. O'BRIEN: The house of Andy Card may be toppling even more. A new chief of staff coming in. More big names could be headed out.

S. O'BRIEN: And a warlord heads to court for the first time today to answer war crimes charges. We're live in Sierra Leone for the very latest. Those stories ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN: We begin with the weather. Severe weather warnings already in the southeast this morning. That line of strong storms brought tornadoes and high winds to five states yesterday. Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee all hit hard.

Northwest Tennessee bore the brunt of the severe weather. You can see some of the damage in these new pictures just coming in. The storm's being blamed now for at least 15 deaths there. There's two deaths in Missouri. Tornadoes caused massive damage, leading to some areas to be put under a state of emergency.

About a half dozen tornadoes hit northeast Arkansas. No injuries there, but many homes were destroyed or damaged. They also saw some softball-sized hail.

And in Illinois, they not only had to deal with tornadoes, but with straight-line winds, those 100-mile-an-hour winds are being blamed for at least one death there. Those high winds snapped tree limbs, and downed power lines all across southern Illinois. State of emergency officials now meeting in Springfield.

Our Jonathan Freed is just a few miles away. He is in Taylorville, Illinois.

Jonathan, how are things there?

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

I can give you a good look at what's typical of the damage here in Taylorville.

Right behind me over here, in the immediate foreground, you can see a concrete slab. And, Miles, there were some storage buildings here, and they were just shredded by the wind that came through yesterday, and all the wreckage was pushed back onto the homes that are right over there, just behind the slabs.

There was a severe weather front that ran north to south in this state yesterday. And the most powerful cell, Miles, was moving eastward along Interstate 72, which is about 25 miles or so north of our position here.

Now here in Christian County, dozens of homes and businesses were damaged. In the other counties in Illinois, utilities poles and trees were down. And in Fairview Heights, which is just east of St. Louis, a 54-year-old man was killed, Miles, when a clothing store collapsed. Now crews searched through the rubble there, trees were uprooted, power lines are down. Semitrailers were tipped over, and people lost control of their vehicles -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Jonathan Freed in Taylorville, Illinois, thank you very much -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: In Tennessee, Dyre County actually -- take a look at this -- this is videotape from a dashboard camera. This is a tornado hitting right there, from a sheriff's vehicle apparently. Twelve people killed in Dyre County, numerous homes destroyed, property damaged. This is a tornado that swept through the area on Sunday night. Three other people died nearby in a county nearby. But look at this. Pretty dramatic videotape as a tornado sweeps right through the area. Gosh, you wonder why that sheriff's deputy is out driving around on a night like that.

M. O'BRIEN: Dangerous job, it is a dangerous job. And look at that, there's a tree limb down there. Almost like snow. I don't know whether that's just -- it could be hail.

S. O'BRIEN: Debris.

M. O'BRIEN: Debris.

S. O'BRIEN: It's debris. And on top of it is hail and older debris.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Nearly three months after she was kidnapped in Iraq, reporter Jill Carroll finally back in the U.S. She reunited with her family in Boston on Sunday. Lots of hugs and tears, tears to go around.

We're still waiting, though, to hear more about her ordeal.

Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian is live for us this morning.

Hey, Dan, good morning.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Soledad.

I'm standing in front of "The Christian Science Monitor." This is the headquarters of the paper, and this is the paper that reporter Jill Carroll was freelancing for when she was kidnapped on January 7th. She did return to Boston yesterday in an emotional reunion, according to the description by her colleagues. The paper releasing photographs of that reunion with her father, her mother and her twin sister. We are told by the colleagues who have written an article on this reunion that she simply said I'm sorry as she walked in the door.

Now she arrived in Boston after departing from Baghdad, and then going to Germany, then hopping on a flight from Germany to the Boston area.

The only information about captivity we've been able to get about what happened to her in captivity, at least at this point, is the bit of information coming from the paper itself, in an article written by one of her colleagues, saying that she was moved several times while in captivity. She was threatened. She did feel that her life was threatened. And that she could only see sunlight a few times throughout that ordeal.

No doubt she will have much more to say about that captivity. We're waiting to hear when that press conference will take place. We're told that it will happen, perhaps as early as today, but certainly by this week -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: In captivity, too, Dan, she praised her captors, criticized the U.S. also. What's she said about that part of the videotape we have now seen.

LOTHIAN: Well, obviously, a lot of the sort controversy that has come out of that has been disturbing for her. She's said that she felt that her life was being threatened. So in response to that criticism, through the paper, she did release a statement saying, quote, "I was living in a threatening environment under their control and wanted to go home alive. I agree, things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal view. They are not." -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Dan Lothian in Boston for us this morning. Dan, thanks.

Ahead this morning, we're going to talk to another former hostage, Roy Hallums, in just a little bit. That's ahead -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: A man who is on the money, so to speak, and one who is often in the limelight may soon be headed out the White House door. The incoming chief of staff Josh Bolten apparently making his mark with some personnel changes.

CNN's Kathleen Koch live at the White House for us this morning. Kathleen, what are you hearing?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

It's the favorite parlor game in Washington right now, figuring out is going to be next. And according to both administration and GOP insiders, we're hearing hear at CNN that Press Secretary Scott McClellan and Treasury Secretary John Snow could be the next ones to be shown to the door.

Now why McClellan? Several sources familiar with the thinking of new say that immediately right out of gate began focussing on improving White House communications in order to regenerate the White House's, the administration's message, the performance. Those poll numbers are really lagging right now. One White House insider says there's been, quote, a lot of dissatisfaction with the state of communications.

At the same time, though, very important to point out that there are many who insist that McClellan is very secure because of his close personal relationship with President Bush. We are hearing, if McClellan were to leave, that one name being floated as a possible replacement is White House Counselor Dan Bartlett.

When it comes to Treasury Secretary Snow, several GOP sources say that President Bush has been trying to find a replacement for him even before Bolten came on as chief of staff. Sources say that Mr. Bush actually even offered that job a couple of weeks ago to Time Warner, CEO, AOL-Time Warner CEO Dick Parsons, but Parsons turned down that offer, and sources within the White House are saying they're having a very difficult time filling that position.

And what we are told by several top officials is that the departure of these two men could be among, quote, "several senior staff announcements" to come in the coming weeks -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Interesting times in the West Wing.

Kathleen, tell us about another form of communication, dealing with Congress. That's been a big issue that's been discusses a lot lately. Do you think there might be a change, and maybe somebody whose focus is reeling in those Republicans in Congress?

KOCH: Miles, very, very good point. Obviously with the rebellions we've seen on Capitol Hill lately over issues like port security and the current immigration reform debate, it is clear that the White House must do something to improve its relations with Capitol Hill. So a couple of names that we're hearing out there right now are former Congressman Bill Paxon of New York, and also former Senator Phil Gramm of Texas. Both men, obviously, consummate Hill insiders and said also to be well liked in Washington. Very important if they want to accomplish that very tough mission -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Kathleen Koch at the White House this morning. Thank you -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: A court appearance today for former Liberian President Charles Taylor. He's facing a war crimes tribunal on charges in Sierra Leone on charges that he orchestrated civil wars there, and in his own country. He's expected to officially enter a plea to those charges. Let's get right to CNN's Jeff Koinange. He joins us by phone. He's outside the courtroom in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Hey, Jeff, good morning.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

And that's right, I can see courtroom number two, where they will be bringing Mr. Taylor in, in just under four hour's time. I can tell you, security is very, very tight there. There's a United Nations contingent heavily armed right across this compound, and also right off of Mr. Taylor's cell, which I can see about 50 yards from where I'm standing right now.

We understand from officials here at the special court Mr. Taylor in (INAUDIBLE) this morning, woke up, had some scrambled eggs and toast, orange juice and some coffee. And we understand, he's getting ready for his day in court. We also understand that through his sister, he has requested to get an American and a British lawyer. We understand further information that the American lawyer he has suggested is the Harvard law professor, Alan Dershowitz. So again, events are really speeding up right now. He has a court-appointed lawyer for today's hearings. After that, as you well know, Soledad, the venue has still has not been set. Whether it's going to be Freetown, Sierra Leone, or The Hague in the Nertherlands, that's be decided in the coming days. But for today, Taylor goes up for his initial hearing in just under four hour's time -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Alan Dershowitz, that's interesting.

Let me ask you a question, Jeff, about Taylor's claims that it was the Nigerian government that helped him escape from Nigeria last week when he sort of disappeared and then was recovered again.

KOINANGE: That's right. And you know what, Soledad, the Nigerians are already saying that's a case of sour grapes. But think about it, how else could he have made it the 1,200 kilometers, all the way to a remote border post. How would we have thought that this border post was so remote. And apparently, he had driven an SUV with diplomatic license plates, and had actually passed the first checkpoint, which was immigration. It was an alert custom's agent who wanted to actually check his bags. So, again, the Nigerians will obviously deny it, and they are already denying it vehemently. But for a while, it's going to be a he said, he said kind of thing. But you've got to think about that. How did he get to go so far?

Soledad?

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, and he's not the only one who has been claiming that the Nigerians have had a hand or had a role in that. Jeff Koinange by phone for us this morning in Freetown. Thanks, Jeff. Appreciate it. We'll check in with you again.

Ahead this morning, much more on Jill Carroll's release. She says she was forced to make that videotape where she denounced the U.S. just before her captors set her free. We're going to talk this morning to another former hostage about the pressures faced in captivity.

M. O'BRIEN: Also more on those deadly twisters all throughout the midsection of the country, in the South. We'll have a live damage update for you.

And there then there's this new report that said that thousands of kid are too big, just too heavy for most car seats. What's a parent to do?

Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Jill Carroll is back home now. We're still waiting to hear more from her about her ordeal in Iraq. Already, she said, she didn't really feel free to speak when we last saw her on Thursday. She also said she was forced to take part in a propaganda videotape before that.

Joining us this morning from Memphis, Roy Hallums. He was held hostage in Iraq for more than 10 months.

Nice to see you and talk to you again, Roy. thanks for being with us.

ROY HALLUMS, FMR. HOSTAGE: You're welcome.

S. O'BRIEN: One of the things that I thought was so interested that we heard from Jill was this: She said, "I feel finally like I'm alive again. I feel so good to be able to step outside anytime to feel the sun directly on your face, to see the whole sky. These are luxuries that we just don't appreciate everyday."

Is that how you felt when you first got freedom, like, wow, look, the sky, I can see? Look at the world again!

HALLUMS: Yes, very much so, because, I mean, I was held in a small space for all those months. And you couldn't see the sky, you couldn't see the sun, and so I felt much the way Jill describes it. And you're free and you can walk around and actually get out of that room.

S. O'BRIEN: Gosh, what an amazing feeling.

HALLUMS: The last videotape that Jill made in captivity, a propaganda tape, where she seemed very calm, but she very much criticize the United States and very much praised the mujahadeen as well. Let's listen to a little bit of what she said on this tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JILL CARROLL: There are a lot of lies that come out of American government calling the mujahadeen terrorists and other things. I think it's important that the people here from me, mujahadeen are only trying to defend their country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: You made a videotape as well. Your captors forced you to. What's the pressure like when you're in that room and they set up a video camera in front of you, and say this, do this. Tell me about that.

HALLUMS: Well, I mean, it's a tremendous amount of pressure, because they hand you the script and say, memorize this script, and then there are several people standing around with weapons, and they tell you to go through the script is. And if you don't repeat it exactly as they say, they'll do it again, or threaten you and say they're going kill you if you don't say every word they say -- they've written down in the script.

S. O'BRIEN: There are statements when we first saw Jill, as you know, when, you know, we saw her free. But you're not really sure if she knew he was free. She was in the Islamic Party Offices. There was this gift-giving ceremony, and she was doing this interview, and she said, I was never hurt, I was never threatened. What did you make of those comments that she said?

HALLUMS: Well, when I first saw that, I was surprised that they were having her do an interview just as soon as she was released, because I mean, I wasn't ready for any interview as soon as I got out. I mean, you're just in shock. And then situation she was in, I was thinking, she probably wasn't sure she was free yet or not, that, you know, She was in sort of a halfway world there, and I'm sure she was still carrying over from her hostage situation. And she might have thought she might be given back to the hostage if she didn't say that.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, interesting. The media has now descended on Jill and her family. Did you have a similar experience? What was that like? While you both -- everyone wants to hear your story at the same time that your looking for privacy and time alone.

HALLUMS: Yes, quite a bit. I mean, the news is trying to get the story, but coming out of that situation, you're just -- you're under so much pressure for so long, you just have to decompress, and try to relax and be with your family for a while. And I think that's the best thing she can do for a while.

S. O'BRIEN: Is it helpful for today to talk about these experiences, or do you sort of wish that no one ever revisited it with you?

HALLUMS: It doesn't bath me to talk bit. I mean, I think people need to know what's going on over there. I don't go out of my way to talk about it, because when you're out with friends or something, and you bring something up like that, it sort of kills the conversation.

S. O'BRIEN: What a great position for both of you to be in, to have that circumstance.

Roy Hallums, nice to check in with you. Thank you. We certainly appreciate you sharing your experiences with us. It's so illuminating to us. Thank you -- Miles.

HALLUMS: Thank you.

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, a report card for the nation's airlines. Doesn't look like anybody's making the honor roll, not even close.

Plus, the defense gets ready to make its case in the Enron trial. But Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay face an uphill battle to say the least. We'll take a closer look at their strategy, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Hey, you guys know that most states require kids under the age of three to ride in a car seat. But a new report out says that thousands of children that age are just too heavy, too big to fit in those car seats.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta tips for us this morning on what parents can do. Plus, we'll have more on those tornadoes and the severe weather that's causing some serious damage across much of the country today and last night. Chad's got a forecast, up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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