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American Morning
Iraq Mosque Attack; Battle Over Iraq; Faking Cancer; World Cup Distraction
Aired June 16, 2006 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Friday, June 16. I'm Miles O'Brien.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad this morning, happy Friday.
O'BRIEN: More sectarian violence to tell you about in Iraq. A suicide bomber targeting a Shiite mosque in Baghdad during Friday prayers. It happened less than two hours ago. At least 7 killed, another 25 wounded.
The House expected to vote this morning on that Iraq war resolution. The resolution rejects a timetable for pulling troops out of Iraq. It's expected to pass along party lines.
COSTELLO: A full House now takes up the suspension issue surrounding Democratic Congressman William Jefferson. House members of his own party voted Thursday to strip him of his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Groundbreaking today for the long-delayed Columbine memorial, as many as 5,000 people expected to attend the event, including former President Bill Clinton. The shooting rampage left 12 students and a teacher dead seven years ago.
In Indonesia this morning, new health worries for survivors of last month's devastating earthquake. Health officials say at least 18 have died of tetanus. A vaccination program under way.
In Colorado, firefighters warning folks across the state conditions are right for wildfires. A big fire 100 miles south of Denver has already forced about 100 people to evacuate.
Chad Myers at the CNN Center with a look at your Friday and weekend forecast.
Hello, -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, guys.
Carol, nice to see you up there. You still...
COSTELLO: And I dressed up and everything.
MYERS: And they still don't even give you a chair.
Good morning.
O'BRIEN: I don't have one either right now.
MYERS: We'll find you one.
O'BRIEN: You know none of us have a chair right now.
MYERS: I know. All right. Well, I can't sit down and do weather. It's kind of hard.
(WEATHER REPORT)
Back to you guys in New York.
O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much, Chad.
In Iraq, new sectarian violence in Baghdad this morning. Despite that huge security crackdown, a suicide bomber targeting a Shiite mosque in the midst of Friday prayers. Ten are dead, two dozen wounded. Not the first time suicide bombers have attacked this mosque.
CNN's Cal Perry live now from Baghdad with more -- Cal.
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
As you said, a bloody attack this morning, coming about an hour before noon prayers. What we know from Iraqi police at this point, a suicide vest bomber near to the mosque exploded themselves. Eleven people are dead. At least 20 others are wounded.
As you said, this comes amidst an incredible security crackdown, a show of force from the prime minister. This has been the issue he campaigned on. This is a huge issue for him. He has imposed a vehicle curfew. That is no cars allowed on the streets of Baghdad between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
This is not the first attack on this mosque. Ten weeks ago today, at about the very same time, at about the very same spot, three vest bombers killing over 70 people in what was considered one of the worst sectarian attacks the country has seen in months -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Cal, given all the security, given the no-car rule, how is it possible this attack could have occurred?
PERRY: Well it's very difficult to stop vest bombers. It's very difficult to stop one person who is willing to sacrifice their lives. We have seen this before time and time again on the streets of Baghdad, especially at these mosques, especially on Fridays. We have heard from the prime minister. He's put over 70,000 security forces on the streets. Violence has been down in the past couple of days. But again, today only underscores the difficulties they have in securing the streets -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Cal Perry in Baghdad, thank you very much -- Carol. COSTELLO: And on the subject of Iraq, in just a few hours, House members face-off again in what has become a bitter debate over the future of the war in Iraq. The key point of contention is whether the White House should set a timetable for troop withdrawals.
CNN's Andrea Koppel has the fiery debate from Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The sparks were flying until late Thursday night, emotions were running high on both sides, the battle lines were drawn. At the heart of the debate, a Republican resolution in support of President Bush's policy in Iraq, linking the war in Iraq to the broader war on terror, rejecting congressional demands by Democrats to set a timetable to bring American troops home.
The debate happened on the same day the Pentagon announced a grim new milestone, 2,500 American servicemen and women killed since the start of the war.
Democratic leaders were unable to present an alternative plan and blamed Republicans for an election year ploy, saying that for Democrats to vote against the resolution, they could be portrayed as not supporting American troops or as soft on terror. The debate resumes later this morning.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Unprepared for disaster, a new report from the Department of Homeland Security says state and local governments are not ready to handle major emergencies. The Associated Press reports gaps were found in disaster plans in all 50 states, but states in the so-called hurricane zone are better prepared. Those are the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states from Maine to Texas.
Among the main problems are failures to recognize special needs for people who can't help themselves, like the sick and the poor. Criticism also comes from states and major cities being too slow to issue disaster warnings and failures to designate a clear chain of command. Insufficient evacuation plans also called an area of major concern.
O'BRIEN: Also happening in America, Hooters wants to pick up the tab. The restaurant chain says it will write a $200 check to FEMA for that bottle of Dom Perignon champagne bought with Hurricane Katrina relief money. Just one small step in reimbursing taxpayers. FEMA concedes about a billion dollars of our tax money earmarked for hurricane victims paid for strippers, trips, even a sex change operation.
A deadly ending to a high-speed car chase in Memphis, Tennessee. Began yesterday morning. Police spotted a carjacked Honda. You saw it highlighted there. The driver led them on a 30-minute chase before, as you see, slamming into a blue Lincoln. A woman passenger in the Honda was killed. Four others were injured.
Young teenagers now have the legal right to walk down the aisle in Colorado. A state appeals court has ruled a 15-year-old girl can enter into a common-law marriage. The ruling sets the minimum age for marriage at 12 for girls and 14 for boys.
A man in LaConia, New Hampshire, says he's alive thanks to his neighbor. Twenty-nine-year-old Gene Batchelder was replacing an oil filter in his car when it fell off the jack. His neighbor, Sandra Avellino, heard a faint cry for help. That's when she sprang into action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA AVELLINO, SAVED NEIGHBOR: I came running out. And you know I jacked it -- I had to jack up the car again and pull him out. And I looked at his chest and he had big bolt indentations in his chest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Whoa, you go, girl. Batchelder says he'll never get under a car again. Good idea.
In Massachusetts, a former special education teacher headed to prison. She scammed friends out of more than $35,000 by pretending she had cancer.
The story from Jim Boyd of our affiliate WCVB in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOYD, WCVB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Twenty-seven-year-old Heather Faria stood silently, staring straight ahead, as the words determining her fate echoed throughout the courtroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is the order of the court that you be punished by confinement to the house of correction for a term of two years committed.
BOYD: The former special education teacher pleaded guilty to larceny and fraud. She had played on the sympathies of those who cared about her, telling them in 2003 she had stomach cancer and had to choose between buying either food or expensive treatments.
TED HAHN, TEACHER: And she took money from the kids. She took money from the teachers. The teachers walked up and gave her cash so that she could you know help survive. And here she is in one of the islands having a great party.
BOYD: Her attorney says Faria initially believed she did have cancer after her doctor spotted a lump on her arm. But even after learning otherwise, she continued to accept up to $37,000 in charity.
CHERYL MARSHALL, FARIA'S COLLEGE ROOMMATE: I could never understand why she didn't let me visit her in the hospital. Now I know that is because she never was hospitalized.
BOYD: Faria admits deceiving her friends. She says that she spent the money on a vacation in St. Martin, on jewelry and a giant screen TV.
ELAINE PHANEUF, CANCER SURVIVOR: I have never seen any remorse. I have never seen or heard a sorry or nothing, nothing.
BOYD: But Faria did have supporters.
"HELEN," FARIA'S AUNT: She is not a bad person. She's always been a wonderful girl. And everybody at the school loved her as a teacher.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All rise.
BOYD: Faria resigned from Dighton-Rehoboth High School in June of last year after her deception became known.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: That report from Jim Boyd of our affiliate WCVB.
Heather Faria will be eligible for parole in about a year. She'll have to pay back the $37,000.
COSTELLO: Yes, I bet she will, too, huh?
O'BRIEN: Yes, well,...
COSTELLO: Thirty-seven...
O'BRIEN: ... I don't know if she's going to be making much money...
COSTELLO: No.
O'BRIEN: ... in the meantime, you know?
COSTELLO: And I'm sure she's probably spent it.
From the devastated earthquake ruins in Indonesia, a touching story of a boy and his love of soccer. Up next, how the World Cup is helping him cope amidst the anguish that surrounds him.
O'BRIEN: Then later, watch how McCartney may be changing the words to one of his most famous songs.
COSTELLO: And Britney Spears. Did you see this? Candid about her marriage and her baby, but find out what caused her to break down into tears.
And Andy is here with business headlines.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol. Business. Bill Gates will be giving up his daily role at Microsoft in 2008. And the stock market soars. Two stories not necessarily connected. Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, sectarian violence in Baghdad. A suicide bomber attacks a Shiite mosque during Friday prayers, at least 11 people killed.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers ready to decide the fate of Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson. Democratic House members voted last night to strip him of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee. Jefferson the target of a bribery investigation.
And in Colorado, a red flag warning, that means conditions are right for wildfires. A fire south of Denver already has forced about a hundred to leave their homes -- Carol.
COSTELLO: The World Cup soccer tournament is a pretty big -- it's a really big deal for millions of people all over the world. But for others it's much more than just a sporting event, it's a much- needed distraction from tragedy.
CNN's Dan Rivers has that for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After the death and anguish of the earthquake, they are finally clearing the rubble in the village of Jati. This devastated Indonesian community is trying to get back on its feet. Amidst such sorrow, you'd expect the World Cup to have been completely forgotten. That faced with such destruction, people would have given up caring about what's on TV.
But Indonesians are passionate about their football. For young avid fans, like 13-year-old Anga (ph), the World Cup matters a lot. It's all he has left. In the ruins of his bedroom, the treasured icons of his favorite team still cling to the crumbling wall. Anga has never been to England, but you'd struggle to find a more devoted fan.
In the sultry Java night, he watches each match on a salvaged TV that illuminates the tent he now shares with 11 relatives.
He says it's important for me to watch the match. It makes this tent feel like a home.
I join him to watch his beloved England play. For a few precious minutes, we're both absorbed in the agony so familiar to fans the world over.
(on camera): What are they doing?
For Anga, and thousands of other children in this disaster zone, the World Cup provides a vital form of escape. For 90 minutes he's no longer an earthquake survivor, he's just a boy watching a football match utterly absorbed in the game.
(voice-over): And what better way to forget the daily grind of survival here than your team winning and qualifying for the final stages of the World Cup.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Jati, Indonesia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: This is a critical time for former conjoined twins that have now been separated by surgery. Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros are in serious but stable condition in their first day following 22 hours of surgery. The 10-month-old girls were joined from the midsection all the way to the pelvis. They shared several organs. Doctors are confident, though, about their full recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JAMES STEIN, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES: We expect to spend a lot of time with the girls over the next few years. That may involve future surgeries, as we mentioned. It will certainly involve physical therapy. But, our expectation is that they will recover from this completely and go on to lead very, very normal lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: There were 80 people on the surgical team. Children's Hospital Los Angeles won't say what the operation cost, but it will be covered by a state health program. And you've got to believe it's going to be a very happy Father's Day for Mr. Fierros.
O'BRIEN: I should say so. Cute kids and in separate beds, that is a good Father's Day gift.
Time for a check of the forecast, Chad Myers at CNN Center.
Chad is a daddy. Happy Father's Day to you in advance.
MYERS: Thank you. Yes. Happy Father's Day to my father, too. Yes.
O'BRIEN: Good for you.
MYERS: I'm not taking him to the U.S. Open.
O'BRIEN: You're not?
MYERS: No, it's too hot.
O'BRIEN: It's too hot at Winged Foot, who knew?
MYERS: He'll stay in Orlando where it's cool.
O'BRIEN: It's going to be in the 90s.
MYERS: Exactly. COSTELLO: What kind of son is he?
MYERS: Look at that.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
MYERS: I'll take him to a NASCAR race some day.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Wow, 86. It gets down to negative 86 just a few months ago.
MYERS: Wind chill.
O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much, Chad Myers.
Dan Rather may be on his way out of Black Rock 44 years after he came to "CBS News." The trade magazine, "Television Week," saying Rather is in talks to leave CBS when his contract expires in November. Rather, you'll recall, left the anchor chair after his story questioning President Bush's National Guard service was discredited. But CBS told CNN's "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" there's nothing to announce at this time.
Still to come, Hooters tries to make good on its small part in the FEMA fraud scandal. We'll explain.
And Britney Spears addressing rumors surrounding her marriage and her mothering abilities and getting a little verklempt. Find out which issue made her break -- well, I clearly gave it away, didn't I?
Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Some of the most popular stories on CNN.com right now.
A Colorado court says it could be legal for girls as young as 12, 12, to enter into common-law marriages. But the state says actual wedding ceremonies are not legal for anyone under 16.
Hooters wants to give the government 200 bucks for a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne. The company made the offer after hearing that the champagne was bought at a San Antonio Hooters with money meant for Hurricane Katrina relief.
A guilty plea by the man who stole J.Lo's wedding video. He admitted to trying to sell the video back to Jennifer Lopez for a million dollars. The video was on hubby Marc Anthony's stolen laptop.
O'BRIEN: Lobster lovers will have to take Whole Foods off their shopping lists. The natural foods grocery store says it has stopped selling live lobsters and soft-shelled crabs because they say it is humane to the crustaceans. But Whole Foods says it will continue to sell frozen, raw and cooked lobster products. I guess that's being nicer to them...
COSTELLO: Yes, inhumane to see them alive,...
O'BRIEN: In public.
COSTELLO: ... but it's not inhumane to see them already dead, so you can eat them.
O'BRIEN: I guess the kids tapping on the tanks is not very nice.
SERWER: No.
O'BRIEN: Bill Gates says he is ready to shut the window, so to speak, on a new phase in his life.
Andy Serwer, good morning.
SERWER: I guess he's entitled to that.
Good morning, -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
SERWER: Excuse me.
Fifty years old. Surprise announcement out of Redmond, Washington, home of Microsoft, the world's largest software company. Bill Gates, the co-founder of this company and the world's richest man, says he will give up his daily duties at the company he co- founded 20 years ago -- 21 years ago, I should say. He will give up those duties in July of 2008. He will stay chairman.
And what he is going to be doing is spending more time with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is the world's largest philanthropy with some $29 billion in assets. Very difficult to play an instrumental role at both institutions.
Why two years before he actually does this switch? It's to give markets, customers and employees time to understand the change. Software legend Ray Ozzie will be stepping in and assuming some of Gates' responsibilities.
O'BRIEN: Well, we saw a picture there of Steve Ballmer. He is not going to be running the show, huh?
SERWER: He is going to be running the show. I'm sorry, Miles, I should make that clear that Steve Ballmer will remain the company's CEO.
O'BRIEN: Yes. OK.
SERWER: Sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle with such...
O'BRIEN: Yes.
SERWER: ... a high-profile person as Gates there. O'BRIEN: And how rich is he?
SERWER: He is, I'd say, about $70 billion,...
O'BRIEN: Seventy billion.
SERWER: ... if you include the money in his philanthropies as well. It's a lot of money.
O'BRIEN: Wow! So he doesn't really need to work anymore...
SERWER: Well that's been true for a while.
O'BRIEN: OK.
SERWER: Let's talk about the stock market, which is in part how Bill Gates got rich, and everyone got a little bit richer yesterday if you were an investor. You can see here the Dow was up almost 200 points. This follows a 110-point rally the day before.
Now listen to this, from May 10 to June 13 the Dow was down 936 points. Over the past couple of days, we're back up 300 points plus, so, so much for market timing. You know, as they say, it's better to sort of ride these things out.
No word on of course whether this is actually the end of all the selling. It seems like we're back on firm ground, but it's unclear. And some comments from the new Fed Chief Ben Bernanke seemed to make investors feel a little bit more positive about stocks yesterday.
O'BRIEN: But if you could predict that, you wouldn't be getting up early...
SERWER: We wouldn't be sitting here, right.
O'BRIEN: ... $70 million. OK.
SERWER: That's right, yes.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, -- Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Carol.
COSTELLO: Did you see Britney Spears on TV last night? Yes. Well, Britney Spears has a message for the paparazzi. She says leave me alone. I am a person. In a very emotional and candid interview with NBC's Matt Lauer, the pop star said the tabloids have turned her into a target. In the interview, which appeared on last night's "Dateline," Spears says it's gotten out of control and has turned her into an emotional wreck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT LAUER, "DATELINE": What do you think it will take to get the paparazzi to leave you alone?
BRITNEY SPEARS, SINGER: I don't know. I don't know.
LAUER: Is that one of your biggest wishes?
SPEARS: Yes. It's OK. I would like for them to leave me alone.
LAUER: If you could talk to them as individuals, not as a group, what would you say to them?
SPEARS: I would just say that you have babies at home and you have a wife. And if you don't, you have to realize that we're people and that we need to -- we just need privacy and we need our respect. And those are things that you have to have as a human.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK, I admit I felt sorry for her. Spears also talked about motherhood and her marriage to KFed, Kevin Federline. And she says her marriage is -- quote -- "awesome."
O'BRIEN: There you have it, awesome.
COSTELLO: He didn't appear, though, anywhere during the interview.
O'BRIEN: Where was he?
COSTELLO: He was in the basement.
O'BRIEN: In the basement. He likes the basement from what I'm told, but anyway.
This morning's top stories straight ahead, including the latest on a developing story out of Iraq. A suicide attack on a Shiite mosque in Baghdad in the midst of that huge security crackdown.
And the war in Congress, that's the war over the war in Iraq. A look at how it could affect the midterm elections, which are upon us.
Stay with us for more CNN AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am.
Still to come on our program, they say it's his birthday. Yes, Beatles legend Paul McCartney is turning 64, a bittersweet birthday no doubt. Find out how Sir Paul plans to celebrate.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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