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American Morning

President Bush Declared Mission Accomplished In Iraq Three Years Ago; Undocumented Immigrant Takes Part In Prestigious Competition; Empire State Building Turns 75

Aired May 01, 2006 - 07:30   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Top stories for you this morning.
A massive immigration rally and boycott all across the nation. Millions expected to miss work and school on the so-called day without immigrants. We'll have live coverage for you coast to coast.

U.S. officials pressuring leaders in Sudan to keep talking. The deadline for peace talks extended 48 hours. Yesterday actor George Clooney among those attending a Darfur rally in Washington.

And jury selection beginning today in Maryland for convicted sniper John Muhammad. He's face trial for six of the 10 sniper shootings back in October of 2002 in the D.C. area. He's already on death row in Virginia for one of those killings.

Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

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

A couple of anniversaries we want to bring to you this morning. Three years ago today, President Bush declared mission accomplished in Iraq. The infamous now anniversary following the bloodiest month of the year for U.S. troops in Iraq. Let's get right to CNN's Ryan Chilcote. He's live for us in Baghdad.

Hey, Ryan, good morning.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Over those three years there's been some progress. Iraq has its first democratically elected government ever. There's been some obvious setbacks, like the violence. So we tried to take a look back at those three years and take stock of where Iraq stands today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE (voice-over): May 1, 2003.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended and the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.

CHILCOTE: Three years later, Iraq as it is known on your television screen. What happened? Let's rewind back to the invasion. American troops marched into Baghdad and occupation begins. Iraqi military is disbanded. And within a few months, the insurgency begins its own war. By the end of that year, Saddam is found hiding in a hole. His regime toppled. The insurgency gathers strength. Still, Iraqis go to the polls three times, forming their first democratically elected government.

Under pressure at home to produce an exit strategy, U.S. military intensifies the training of Iraq's security forces.

Three years ago, President Bush declared the U.S. military's mission accomplished here. Do you think that there was an under appreciation, an under estimation of the challenges that lay ahead?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wasn't here three years ago. I'm here today. And I realize we have challenges. But with soldiers like you saw today, we will, in fact, beat those challenges.

CHILCOTE: More than 30,000 Iraqis have been killed. More than 17,000 American troops wounded, another 2,350 plus fatalities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE: Well, one mission may have been accomplished, toppling the regime. It's the war on insurgents and the growing conflict between Iraq's religious groups that are really presenting the United States with a new challenge here. That's how do you form an exit policy, an exit strategy when the mission itself keeps changing? Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, a tough question for sure. Ryan Chilcote for us this morning in Baghdad. Ryan, thanks.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Soledad.

As immigrants and their supporters prepare for a national day without immigrants, let's not forget how fortunate we are to live in a country that people will risk their lives to enter and a country made great by immigration. AMERICAN MORNING's Alina Cho now with the story of one young man, a compelling story, a young man who is desperate to be a part of this country.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Miles.

In fact, for all of the thousands of people who will be fighting publicly today for legal status, we found a young man from New York who never wanted to be in the spotlight. It wasn't until he was faced with the prospect of being left behind as his teammates took part in a prestigious competition that he came forward with his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMADOU LY, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT: That's the new wheel?

CHO (voice-over): In many ways, Amadou Ly is just like the others on the East Harlem Tech Robotics Team.

LY: That one.

CHO: But in one significant way he is different.

LY: I'm not the same as them because they can do certain things that I can't do.

CHO: Eighteen-year-old Ly, originally from Senegal, is living in the United States illegally. But it's possible no one would have known had it not been for the good fortune of his team ...

LY: How come we don't have another grill (ph)?

CHO: ... which recently advanced to the International First Robotics Competition in Atlanta, a coup for a rookie team. Ly and his teammates called it a dream come true. Then, reality set in. Ly would have to reveal his secret. He couldn't fly from New York to Atlanta because he didn't have proper identification. Kris Breton is East Harlem Tech's team coordinator.

KRIS BRETON, EAST HARLEM TECH: I didn't really have time to focus on being sad about it. You know, we had to look at him and we had talk. We had to say, you know, how can we make it work?

CHO: The solution, the team would fly. Ly would make the trek 18 hours by train. Time enough to worry about his future.

LY: Every day I have to deal with it and think about the immigration case, think about how I may go to court today and they may send me back.

CHO: As an illegal immigrant, Ly doesn't have much of a chance of staying in the U.S. unless the federal government makes an exception. For now, this modest apartment building in Harlem is home. A home he shares with a distant relative. He hasn't seen his family in years. Since going public with his story, Ly has received support from his teammates.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're not just a robotics team, we're a family.

CHO: Others have offered to pay for his college. Even to adopt him. His lawyer says none of that would change his immigration status. Something his math teacher calls a shame.

RHONDA CREED-HARRY, TEACHER: This country is -- has a history of immigrants, you know? Built the country. And hard working people like Amadou and his family, they shouldn't be turned away.

CHO: So as he and his teammates compete to win the robotics championship, Ly has a bigger goal.

LY: I'm here illegally but at least I'm making a difference.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHO: Now in case you're wondering how Amadou Ly's team fared in the competition. East Harlem Tech did not win. But remember, this is a bit of a Cinderella story. They're a rookie team. Just competing in this event was a very big deal and an even bigger deal for Ly. In fact, taking part in this was so important to him, as you know very well now well, Miles, he was willing to go public with his story.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, and going public at great risk, obviously. I mean he could be, in theory, rounded up and deported any moment, right?

CHO: At any moment. That's right. His next court appearance is in July. Essentially what happened was, he was faced with the prospect of not being able to go to Atlanta. Remember, this is a kid who doesn't have family here. His teammates are his family. And he really wanted to take part in this. And so his lawyer, ultimately, I'll be honest, called "The New York Times." It made the front page and here we are today.

M. O'BRIEN: So, obviously . . .

CHO: And he does think it will help.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, the public road, it's risky, but that does put him in position where a lot of people will say, this is somebody who should be a part of this country.

CHO: That's right.

M. O'BRIEN: A lot of important people, right?

CHO: Hillary Rodham Clinton for one. Charles Rangel, New York congressman, for another. One thing to keep in mind is that though his chances are slim, his one great hope is something called The Dream Act. You've heard about this. Congress is considering it right now.

And essentially what it is, is for people who have been in the United States for at least five years, of good character, who have been accepted to college, who have graduated from high school, it allows some of these people to pursue citizenship essentially. And, of course, his lawyer is hoping that Amadou will fall into that category.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Well, let's follow this one, won't you, and keep us posted, OK, Alina.

CHO: Oh, we certainly will. We will.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Alina Cho, thank you very much.

CNN has the day without immigrants covered coast to coast. We have a team of CNN reporters standing by across America and in New Mexico. From L.A., to Chicago, to New York City and beyond. You'll also see live reports on our Spanish language news network CNN En Espanol. And if you're away from your television, go online. You can get the latest on CNN Pipeline. It's all there at CNN.com, as well. We've got you covered -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Happening in America this morning, two boys arrested in Florida. Allegedly they started some brush fires. The boys aged only 10 and 12 are being held on charges of intentional and reckless burning of land. Police say they're still looking for a third suspect. Brush fires in southwestern Florida have charred already 1,500 acres, destroyed a number of home there is.

Investigators still do not know what caused a massive fire at a vacant mill in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. About 35 homes were evacuated. When the fire spread to the surrounding neighborhood, at least two homes were damaged. Took 40 fire companies to help to put the fire out.

In New Orleans, Bruce Springsteen headlined the opening weekend at the annual Jazz Fest. Other superstars like Bob Dylan and Dave Matthews are also joining local musicians to support the city and its music. The festival itself was in doubt after it was hit by Hurricane Katrina and now a symbol of the city's struggle to rebuild.

Jacqui Jeras is in the Weather Center for us this morning. She's in for Chad.

Hey, Jacqui, good morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: It is May 1st, May Day. And in a communist world, what's left of it, that's a big deal. Hundreds of thousands of workers taking to the streets for a rally in Cuba, no doubt mandatory. These are pictures from the scene there, as a matter of fact, in the mandatory red as well. They're celebrating May Day. That's a day set aside for workers. And, of course, el presidente will be there. I suspect he'll be wearing olive drab, though. That's usually what he goes with, not the red.

S. O'BRIEN: It is so fascinating the way the way in Cuba they get people together to come to these rallies where they have literally set up buses and just, you know, everyone gets on a bus and they drag them into this main square which holds, you know, just hundreds of thousands of people. And a very coordinated effort and, you know, maybe they're not working today, but it's not like you're home watching TV.

ANDY SERWER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No.

M. O'BRIEN: This is -- look at that shot.

S. O'BRIEN: Wow. Look at that crowd.

M. O'BRIEN: That's pretty spectacular. But when you get the day off and you get the bus ride and you don't have a choice, you show up. There you go.

S. O'BRIEN: You do.

M. O'BRIEN: All right.

Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business."

Hello, Andy.

SERWER: Hello.

From the capitalist side of things now. Administration officials say there is no end in sight to higher gas prices. Just why are they saying that? We'll explain coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Pictures of the White House on this morning. With rising gas prices and the war in Iraq, there's not a lot to laugh about inside that building. But President Bush was able to laugh at himself quite literally. At a fancy dinner for the White House press corps over the weekend, he poking fun at himself with the help of an alter ego, impersonator Steve Bridges.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Members of the White House Corespondent's Association, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

STEVE BRIDGES, IMPERSONATOR: Here I am.

BUSH: I'm absolutely delighted to be here. As is Laura.

BRIDGES: She's hot.

BUSH: As you know, I always look forward to these dinners.

BRIDGES: It's just a bunch of media types. Hollywood liberals. Democrats like Joe Biden. How come I can't have dinner with the 36 percent of the people who like me?

BUSH: It's good to see so many influential guests here tonight, Justice Scalia, Justice Alito.

BRIDGES: Yes, all the usual suspects. Speaking of suspects, where's the great white hunter?

BUSH: I am sorry Vice President Cheney couldn't be here tonight.

So I want to talk about some serious issues, such as . . .

BRIDGES: OK. Here it comes. Nuclear proliferation. Nuclear proliferation. Nuclear proliferation.

BUSH: Nuclear proliferation.

Ladies and gentlemen, that rugged good looking guy right there is Steve Bridges. And he's a fine talent. In fact, Steve did all my debates with Senator Kerry. (END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: He's very good. I think Steve does a better president than the president himself.

SERWER: I couldn't tell which one was which at first . . .

S. O'BRIEN: Really?

M. O'BRIEN: When I first looked at it I was . . .

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, for a moment it was hard. That was pretty funny.

M. O'BRIEN: Trying to figure out who it is. A very nice job. That was fun.

SERWER: It sure was.

S. O'BRIEN: Business news.

SERWER: Business news. We're going to talk about oil and gas here.

First of all, a couple of officials from the administration talking over the weekend about high gas prices. First of all, Chief of Staff Bolten saying there's no silver bullet. No magic quick fix to high gasoline prices. Well, I think we probably know that.

Now, here's a man we haven't heard much from in all this talk of higher oil prices. Where has he been? Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. Where you been? This is kind of your per view, isn't he? He says the suppliers can't meet demand -- thank you for that -- and we can expect high gas prices for three years, maybe.

M. O'BRIEN: He used the c-word, too.

S. O'BRIEN: Crisis.

SERWER: Yes, he did.

M. O'BRIEN: Crisis.

S. O'BRIEN: Sure did.

SERWER: He did.

But I just want to know, where has he been? I haven't seen him around.

How about Americans not cutting back on gas consumption? That's a new story in "The Wall Street Journal" this morning. And listen to this, 3 percent of personal consumption spent on gasoline today, 5 percent in 1981. In other words, we're spending less of our money on gasoline today, even with these higher prices, than we were in 1981. And then finally a story in "USA Today" that's fascinating. We get more oil from Africa than we do from the Middle East. Last year, 18.7 percent of our oil came from Africa. Only 17 percent from the Middle East. Our top five countries, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nigeria, number five. We also get oil from Algeria and Angola. Most people don't realize that. That we're getting more oil from Africa and some of those nations are very unstable, too, though.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, all the kidnappings off those Nigerian oil rigs.

SERWER: That's right.

S. O'BRIEN: It actually is, when people say, you know, why should Americans care about Africa?

SERWER: Right, well . . .

S. O'BRIEN: This is why.

SERWER: There you go. Your pocketbook.

S. O'BRIEN: Because, you know, until you can figure out how to bring stability to Nigeria, then you're not going to be able to bring the prices down there to here.

SERWER: That's right. Good point.

S. O'BRIEN: That's my two cents.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Andy Serwer.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Andy.

SERWER: Thank you guys.

S. O'BRIEN: A short break is ahead. We're back in just a moment. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: A diamond anniversary for a gem in New York City's skyline. The Empire State Building turns 75 years old today and it's the beginning of a year long celebration. AMERICAN MORNING's Carol Costello joins us this morning from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building.

Hey, Carol. That looks so beautiful behind you.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is gorgeous up here, but, boy, is it windy. We were down on the ground, 86 floors below, and it's about, oh, 20 degrees warmer down there. My point tail's just whipping around.

You know, 75 years ago today, they say Herbert Hoover, who was president then, switched on the lights here at the Empire State Building. He did that from Washington. I don't know if that was possible in 1931, but that's the story.

There are so many stories associated with this wonderful building. Let me tell you a few.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO, (voice-over): It's breathtaking in its architectural splendor. But that isn't it. There's something mythical about it. Nothing says romance like Gotham from the 86th floor. Hollywood knows it.

CARY GRANT, "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER": How about the top of the Empire State Building?

DEBORAH KERR, "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER": Oh, yes, that's perfect. It's the nearest thing to heaven we have in New York.

COSTELLO: OK, I have to ask you about the kiss. Because, to me, it sounds like a myth. That if you kiss atop the Empire State Building, literal sparks will fly.

LYDIA RUTH, PUBLIC RELATIONS, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING: Well, it has to be the right time of year and the right kind of temperatures. And if you're both out here, and I told you, you have to come with a really handsome man.

COSTELLO: I know, I've got to do that next time.

RUTH: On a really cold winter night and you kiss, you will, you will get that static charge.

COSTELLO: Wow. Maybe that's why 3.5 million people visit every year. And to think, the building cost $40 million and took just 410 days to build. But that was back in 1929 when they had more than romance on their minds.

Bill Torterelli, chief electrician, took us to where few have gone before. Beyond the 86th floor, to the 103rd. You know, when Fay Wray began her long descend with her simian love.

BILL TORTERELLI, CHIEF ELECTRICIAN, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING: That's my kind of woman, right? Climbing up all those ladders for a man, I don't know about that today.

COSTELLO: Except the 103rd floor was not meant for rendezvousing with a giant ape, but a docking station for blimps.

TORTERELLI: This is probably where the blimp was going to more (ph) to the top and they were going to have some kind of a ramp or like a Tarzan-type bridge going from the blimp to this very area. And they were going to walk on this and either come in this door or the door on the other side.

COSTELLO: A hundred and three stories up. They were, I think, crazy.

TORTERELLI: A hundred and three stories high. Yes, well.

COSTELLO: Yes, that's crazy. But every fiber of your being wants to go to the top and pound your chest like King Kong. Wow. This is exactly where King Kong sat in the movie. It's spectacular.

TORTERELLI: A major achievement, every part of the city. Some good.

COSTELLO: And, oh yes, they change the light bulbs up here.

TORTERELLI: And accepting the award for CNN.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

Takes seven men six hours to change them. Happy 75th anniversary, Empire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And to be more specific about those lights, 200 lights. One of those light bulbs, 1,000 watts. Although it was amazing to me that just 200 lights could light up the top of the Empire State Building, I have to burst a myth right now. You know in "Sleepless in Seattle" when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet for the first time on the Empire State Building, they're really not here. Actually they filmed here but the director did not like the way it looked so they went back to Hollywood, recreated the Empire State Building there and re-shot those scenes. Bummer.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh. It's a good story, though. All right, Carol, thank you. Wow, that's windy up there and, boy, the wind is even picking up where she is.

M. O'BRIEN: It's a good thing there's a cage there behind her so you don't get swept off. That would be bad.

S. O'BRIEN: Doesn't blow away.

M. O'BRIEN: That would be bad. Yes.

Well, happy birthday, Empire State. Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Massive demonstrations coming today. Immigrants taking to the streets of a show of political strength.

M. O'BRIEN: A gas crisis with no easy fix. The Bush administration admitting there is a problem, but what to do about it?

Three years after the president's victory call, the violence rages on in Iraq. The mission not yet accomplished.

S. O'BRIEN: And devastating brush fires in southern Florida to tell you about and they were set. Now two boys are in custody. We'll take you there live for the very latest ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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