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American Morning

Pandemic Flu Plan; Subway Bomb Plot; Iran Women's Rights

Aired May 03, 2006 - 08:59   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The White House planning now for the worst case scenario. Is the new pandemic flu plan to be announced today a realistic goal? We'll take a look.
Soft drink makers take a big step to help control childhood obesity. We'll have that.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Testing a new fuel-friendly car. But get ready for just how much this new car costs. We're talking seven figures.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, but you do get to drive in the carpool lane with it. So there you go.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: And illusionist David Blaine, he's at it again. There he is. Live pictures. We're going to pay a visit to the giant fishbowl, hear how he's doing with our remote cam that he's attached to.

That's all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN: Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

Look forward to seeing him.

S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. And talking -- and asking him the big question, why?

M. O'BRIEN: Over and over. Why?

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Just why? Why?

I'm Soledad O'Brien, everybody.

First, our top story. The worst that could happen, that's what the White House is taking a look at as part of its new plan to battle a pandemic flu. The worst-case scenario would include, according to the White House, a death toll of two million, at least 50 million people infected, and 40 percent of the American workforce off the job.

Let's get right to CNN's Ed Henry. He's live for us at the White House.

Hey, Ed. Good morning. Lay out the plan for us. ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. More than 300 recommendations for the public and private sectors contained in this White House report for a possible pandemic, stockpiling vaccines. One key recommendation, the federal government will have about 20 million doses of vaccines on hand to prepare for this, voluntary quarantines, and also there will be mandatory evacuations only in extreme cases.

Also talking in the report about restricting travel. Also trying to encourage business practices that would minimize the contact among employees, try to prevent this from spreading too much, such as liberal leave policies, as well as teleconferences.

The White House stressing they have no evidence that a pandemic is at hand. But obviously, they were pilloried for their response to Hurricane Katrina. They want to make sure they get ahead of this, make sure they're prepared.

Take a listen to the president's special assistant for bio- defense.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAJEEV VENKAYYA, PRESIDENT'S ASSISTANT FOR BIO-DEFENSE: There's no guarantee that the H5N1 virus is even going to lead to a pandemic. We think that it might, and we think that it has shown remarkable spread in birds. Just to be very clear, it's a bird virus, not a human virus. But because there's a chance that it could become a pandemic virus, we're taking the steps to prepare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Questions already being raised about why the White House report doesn't include an option for closing off the borders. White House officials say that's not really realistic. It would not prevent an outbreak, it would only slow it down temporarily.

Other experts pointing out the White House could be under- counting the 50 million people they say who would be infected. It could be a lot more than that -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: And, in addition to those two complaints that you lay out there, critics are also not necessarily loving this plan, right, Ed?

HENRY: Well, yes. There are experts like Clark Kent Ervin, the CNN security analyst, former inspector general at the Department of Homeland Security, who's saying you also have to take a look at the fact that a report is one thing, but getting all of these federal agencies to actually coordinate, getting the federal government and state and local agencies to actually communicate, as we saw in Hurricane Katrina, is a whole other issue. But the bottom line for the White House, they want to at least take this first step, they think it's a big step to get the ball rolling -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: All right. Ed Henry at the White House for us. Ed, thank you, as always.

More now on what's been down outside of Washington, D.C., to fight any flu pandemic. An experimental bird flu vaccine showing potential to protect not only against bird flu, but other strains of flu as well. Researchers, though, stress that so far they've only tested it on mice. Creating a universal vaccine like this one would make it easier, of course, to stockpile vaccines.

Also, there's a new survey out suggesting that many U.S. companies are completely unprepared to deal with a potential pandemic. Illinois is taking the lead, apparently, in preparing for that. Yesterday, emergency crews launched a three-day disaster drill simulating a bird flu epidemic.

You'll want to stay tuned to CNN for live coverage of the White House unveiling of the pandemic flu plan. That's going to happen this afternoon, 12:30 Eastern Time. CNN Pipeline is going to carry that even live as well.

M. O'BRIEN: If you're a parent, you, no doubt, like me, worry about all those sugar-laden soda pops your kids are probably addicted to. The worst thing is, they're there for the buying in school cafeterias. But not for long.

The beverage makers are yanking the drinks from vending machines in schools. In elementary and middle schools, kids will soon be able to buy only water, non-sweetened juice and low-fat milk.

In high schools, diet soda, unsweetened teas, fitness waters, sports drinks, flavored water, and seltzers, but no sugar-saturated drinks. The industry cutting the deal with former president Bill Clinton's foundation and the American Heart Association.

Federal officials are urging some food companies to improve the way they market think products to children. That means limits on ads that feature high-fat sugary foods. Some companies do that already. There's also talk of minimum nutritional standards for junk food.

Much more on what these changes mean for you and your children. Elizabeth Cohen making a "House Call" coming up shortly -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Some new information to give you in the Duke rape investigation. One of the lacrosse players breaking his silence, defending the coach, and the team, too. He spoke exclusively to our affiliate WTVD in Durham under the condition that they would not reveal his identity.

Here what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you certain that a rape did not occur that night at the party?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, ma'am. The team has stayed strong. I mean, from the get-go, we've only had each other to fall back on, because, you know, we've been convicted in the media, our university turned its back on us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you mean the university turned its back on you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that they didn't stand up for us. And we feel neglected and that our loyalty wasn't -- our loyalty to the university wasn't reciprocated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: The player also said he believes that the coach, Mike Pressler, did not resign but was forced out.

CNN "Security Watch" now.

For the first time, we're able to see what prosecutors say is proof of an alleged plot to blow up a busy New York subway station.

Let's get right to Carol Costello. She's live in the newsroom for us.

Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's pretty fascinating, Soledad. This illustrates how cities like New York are fighting terrorism in the post-9/11 world.

Investigators paid an Egyptian immigrant $100,000 to go undercover at a local mosque. They suspected this mosque sheltered Islamic militants.

Well, fast-forward to today and that Brooklyn courtroom. Police say they have absolute proof their informant led them to a 24-year-old suspect who was going plant a bomb on the subway.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you? You're not gonna do it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Am I going to do 34th?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe.

COSTELLO (voice over): Caught on camera, an FBI surveillance tape shows an alleged plot to blow up a New York City subway station. The man you see on the right is an FBI informant. The man on the left is James L. Shappe (ph). He's already pleaded guilty to taking part in this plot.

The man in the back seat is War Mateen Saraj (ph). He is now on trial, accused of conspiring to bomb the Herald Square subway station in Manhattan in 2004. The tape was made public Tuesday as part of the trial. Prosecutors say the plan was to smuggle backpack bombs into the subway station.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will work with the those brothers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a planner or whatever. But to put in there, I'm not sure. I have to think about it. Give me some time to feel comfortable with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

COSTELLO: The tape suggests Saraj (ph) was reluctant, refusing to place the bombs himself, but willing to guide others as to where to put the bombs, and telling the informant at one point that he'd have to ask his mother's permission.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will be not the person to put it, because if somebody dies, then the blame will come on me.

COSTELLO: The police informant seems frustrated by the suspect's reticence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mateen, you are out of jihad?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever you think, brother.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm asking you. I'm just...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not thinking about jihad. Planning is also jihad, brother.

COSTELLO: The two men were arrested in August of 2004, just days before the Republican National convention in New York's Madison Square Garden, not far from the alleged subway target. Prosecutors say the truth is on the tape. The defense insists its client was duped.

Legal experts are also weighing in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the defendants say the same thing in these kinds of cases, that they were set up. But when was the last time that we had a conversation with someone about using backpacks to bomb a subway?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: The informant, Osama el-Dawadi (ph), says he went undercover to prove he is a patriot, that he loved the United States. He felt he needed to do that after the FBI and New York police visited his home after 9/11 on a false tip.

The suspect in the bombing case, Saraj (ph) is -- if he's convicted, he could face 20 years behind bars.

Back to you, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: All right, Carol. Thank you very much.

You'll want to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the latest news about your security -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: This morning, divers are in the stormy waters of the Black Sea recovering bodies from an Armenian airliner. The Airbus A320 crashed on approach to the airport in Sochi, Russia. Officials there say all 113 passengers and crew are dead.

Bad weather being blamed for the terrible crash. The plane was actually on its second approach. The first landing aborted because of the bad weather.

A look inside Iran's society now from the point of view of women. Women's rights there had been getting more progressive over the past decade, but some say the new hard-line president is causing a backslide on that front.

Aneesh Raman gets a rare glimpse beneath the veil.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They march by the thousands, clad in a strict black Islamic veil. Stern faces underscoring a stern belief that Iranian women are becoming too Western, that more and more, they are only loosely wearing the traditional hijab, or head scarf, required by law.

(on camera): The debate has now come to the streets. These are members of a vocal minority who are pushing Iran's government for stricter laws on the hijab.

(voice over): And that's what's happening. Police here will now fine women whose hijab is not being worn properly.

Conservatives say there's been a slip in recent years with women showing too much hair, showing little respect for the laws that govern this Islamic republic. At this shop, for example, the sign says, "Only women with a proper hijab can enter."

(on camera): In your mind, where do things stand for women in Iran? Are women's rights getting less, are they getting better?

SIMIN BEHBAHANI, IRANIAN POET: No. It's not better.

RAMAN (voice over): Simin Behbahani is a leading poet in Iran, a leading feminist as well. One who is concerned about where things are heading.

"Years ago we had to wear it this way," she shows. "But as you can see now, we wear it this way. And women struggled a lot until they reached this stage, and I don't think they will go back now."

Since this hijab became law, Iranian women have made it part of their increasingly modern look, adapting the old rule to new times.

"For this small progress," she says, "women will fight and stand for their rights. They don't mind being beaten or disrespected. They will never retreat."

It is just one issue, but in its own way, the hijab and how Iranian women choose to wear it is a visible sign of where things stand and how far Iranian women are willing to push the limit.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: Twelve minutes past the hour. Let's get a look at the forecast for the day ahead.

Chad Myers at the CNN Center.

What's your focus on, Chad?

MYERS: Oh, we'll talk about the airports for now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Back to you guys.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Even if you expect it, though, it doesn't make it much easier, does it?

MYERS: Yes. You need to be prepared for it, though.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, you sure do. Thank you.

MYERS: You're welcome.

S. O'BRIEN: Here's a question for you. What kind of person fakes being the recipient of a Medal of Honor? We're going to talk this morning to a real war hero who's now working with the FBI to try to track down not just the fake medals, but also the fakes themselves.

M. O'BRIEN: Beneath contempt, you might say.

Also, fuel sells for more than $3 a gallon, making many people think about fuel cells. That's with a "C". We'll tell you about a rather high-tech test drive under way in Florida.

S. O'BRIEN: And then later this morning, we talk live with illusionist David Blaine. How's that possible, you might say. Look, there he is, underwater in his little man -- man bowl -- fishbowl.

M. O'BRIEN: Man bowl. It's...

S. O'BRIEN: His human aquarium.

M. O'BRIEN: It's good he's got bubbles. The bubbles are a good sign. S. O'BRIEN: His human aquarium was what I was trying to say. We're going to check in with him and have a live interview with David Blaine right after this short break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: The vice president, Dick Cheney, tonight leaves on a six-day trip to some former Iron Curtain countries. The administration staff reshuffle in Washington. Insiders are seeing a different kind of Dick Cheney.

Our chief national correspondent, John King, looks at what is different.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In Philadelphia Monday, reading Henry Kissinger and reminiscing...

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As I mentioned, he and I go back a long ways to the Ford administration, when he was secretary of state and I was White House chief of staff. The old days, when I had real power.

KING: Anyone who thinks the vice president doesn't have real power isn't paying attention. New budget director Rob Portman and new press secretary Tony Snow are both long-time Cheney favorites. Yet there also are West Wing rumblings.

Some Bush aides and advisers say an always-independent Cheney operation is more detached now. Something they trace back to friction over how he handled his hunting accident back in February.

"He and the president are fine," one senior official put it. "It's just a lot of disconnect and disengagement at the staff level."

A White House adviser close to Mr. Cheney described his current staff as "second team," but also said, "He has lowered his profile because he feels it serves the president."

It's not as if the vice president has disappeared. He's off to Europe for a six-day diplomatic mission. Military bases are a Cheney favorite.

CHENEY: It's good to be back in Texas.

KING: It is Texas (INAUDIBLE) one of 23 midterm election fund- raisers just this year.

Adviser Mary Matalin chalks up any West Wing grumbling to jitters stemming from the White House staff shake-up.

MARY MATALIN, CHENEY ADVISER: The relationship that matters most would be the one between the president and the vice president. And whatever other staff issues, mattress mice gaggle that's going on, needs to reflect more about what that real relationship is.

KING: But many Republicans see a lower Washington profile and a political calculation. For all the president's struggles, many see Mr. Cheney as a more flawed spokesman on the major issues of the day: Iraq and gas prices.

STANLEY GREENBERG, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: As bad as, you know, the president's standing is, the vice president's standing is even lower, and significantly, you know, lower.

KING: Opening day was one pitch to soften his image. This playful speech another...

CHENEY: The lighting could be better. I can still see the whites of your eyes.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: The shooting accident was gold for late-night comedians. Long retired, though, are punch lines about a vice president really in charge. And along with the jokes, voter perceptions about this relationship have changed significantly.

BILL MCINTURFF, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: The other thing that's totally evaporated is -- is the notion that somehow we have a co- presidency or that Cheney's really the guy, or that Cheney sets policy, or that, you know, Cheney is the behind-the-scenes player. That has totally evaporated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: That was from John King. And his report first aired on "THE SITUATION ROOM". You can catch that program weekdays, 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time with Wolf Blitzer and "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, a pretty surprising move by soft drink makers to tell you about. They're agreeing to pull their sugary sodas out of school cafeterias. We're going to break down the highlights and the groundbreaking deal in "House Call" just ahead.

And then later, a despicable scam, people pretending, pretending to be Medal of Honor recipients. We're going to check in with a real war hero who's now helping track down the fakes.

Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Health headlines on a Wednesday morning.

There could be help for the nation's estimated eight million alcoholics. There's a new study out that shows that there are some effective ways to keep alcoholism in check. Motivation could just be the key. The study shows that alcoholics were able to dramatically cut back drinking no matter what kind of treatment they had as long as they badly wanted to quit and as long as they received medical counseling.

Who would have thought of this one? Researchers in England say people who are born in the spring or in the early summer in the northern hemisphere have a 17 percent increased risk of committing suicide than people who are born in the autumn or in early winter.

Hmm. Kind of a head-scratcher there.

And many of the nation's governors are behind a campaign to get more people to stop smoking, eat less and exercise more. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says -- we're quoting here -- "The health issue is begin to eclipse the healthcare issue."

In this morning "House Call," we're taking a look at two big medical headlines. One, the decision to yank sugary sodas from schools. And two, the Bush administration's flu pandemic plan.

Let's get right to Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. She's live for us from the CNN Center.

Hey, Elizabeth. Good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, if you have children in public school, in the next couple of years they might not be drinking sodas. This is a joint effort from the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, and they announced today that by the fall of 2008, they hope 75 percent of public schools will be on board with this plan, that in elementary and middle schools, there will be no sodas, no diet sodas, and no full-fat milk. Your child would only be able to get low-fat milk. And at high schools, those same restrictions, except diet sodas would be allowed.

There have been calls for more wide-reaching, farther-reaching changes in school lunches to make them lower in fat and lower in calories, but many people believe that starting with the beverages is a good place to begin -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about the flu pandemic, then, before I let you go. What do you think of the Bush plan? And, you know, there are many critics out there who say it doesn't really go far enough.

COHEN: Right. Certainly, there are critics who say that more needs to happen, but a lot of people, even some people who you might expect to be critical of this plan, say, you know what? This is a great place to start, that the public health infrastructure in this country just isn't prepared for any kind of flu pandemic.

Usually we think of the bird flu pandemic, but really, many different flu viruses, if they mutated to become a virus that people have no immunity to, that those could also cause a pandemic. So, many people say that starting with beefing up this infrastructure, making labs better, getting more places where you could separate these people out, get these -- get people are sick out of the way of the rest of us, so to speak, so that they wouldn't get the rest of the population sick, that that is a good place to start. And certainly, it's calling for quite a bit of money.

S. O'BRIEN: They're going to be announcing it, 12:30 today.

Thanks, Elizabeth. Appreciate it.

If you want to know more about any of these stories or any health story, go right to CNN.com.

Ahead this morning, if you're tired of high gas prices, if you're looking for better mileage, hydrogen-fueled cars could be the answer for you. We're going to take a look at that and tell you how long it's going to be before you could actually go and buy one.

Then later, we're going to check in live with illusionist David Blaine. He's in the middle, as you know, of his week-long stay in a big old giant fishbowl. That's the big blue globe right there. He's going to do a live interview with us and tell us how he's doing.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. As we approach the half- hour, let's get right to Carol Costello with a look at some of the headlines making news today. She's in the newsroom.

Hey, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning, Soledad.

Good morning to all of you.

A day of mourning in Russia and in Armenia. An Armenian jetliner crashed in Russia's Black Sea, killing 113 people. Crews on boats pulling out debris. You can see chunks of the plane on that boat you see there. Officials are blaming bad weather for the crash.

Rescue crews in southern Australia are now digging to free two miners trapped half a mile underground. Crews began digging an escape tunnel about five hours ago. The dig is being guided by a small digital camera. The men below are said to be fine, even though they've been stuck for more than a week. Rescuers sent down some iPods earlier today to help them pass the time.

And the world's biggest cruise liner is making its first transatlantic voyage. The Freedom of the Sea has left port in South Hampton, England, just about three hours ago. She's heading to New York for a naming ceremony, and that's where they'll do the official champagne against the bow. You know, when they crush the bottle.

The ship can carry some 4,000 passengers, along with a water park, a full-size boxing ring, an ice rink, and a climbing wall. And, no doubt, mountains of food.

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