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American Morning

Revenge Killings?; Rumsfeld In Afghanistan; North Korea Threat; Raid On Congress; Tunnel Collapse; Was It Suicide?; Constitutional Raid

Aired July 11, 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: Sectarian violence and the insurgency both driving up the death toll today. Frustrating, too, the effort to get that country back under control.
In Baghdad today, gunmen attacked a bus driving through a Sunni neighborhood. The passengers were Shiites on their way to a funeral. Ten people were killed in that violence. Then, just outside the green zone, a suicide bomber blew up his car near a restaurant popular with the Iraqi police forces. Five people died there. And a high-ranking official kidnapped today near his home in Baghdad. He's a member of Iraq's consulate to Iran.

Insurgents are also saying the two American soldiers killed for revenge. That claim coming on a new videotape shown on the Internet and it shows the mutilated bodies of two soldiers killed last month in Yusufiya. An insurgent group says their deaths were revenge for the alleged rape and murder of a girl in Mahmoudiya back in March.

The videotape very graphic. CNN's not showing any of that videotape out of respect to the soldiers' families.

Let's get right to Nic Robertson. He's live in Baghdad.

Nic, good morning.

Is there any way to verify that claim that, in fact, that this is a revenge, the killing of those two soldiers?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not, Soledad.

What the military is telling us so far is, number one, they condemn wholeheartedly this video that's been put out on the Internet. But they also say that as far as they're concerned, they've been given no direct evidence linking the abduction and the killing of those soldiers at the beginning of July with the alleged rape of Abir al Junabi (ph), a young Iraqi woman back in March earlier this year. And if you look at the timeline, when these soldiers were kidnapped, it wasn't yet public knowledge that there had been this alleged rape case against Abir al Junabi by soldiers.

Now on this video message it says this act by al Qaeda, they claim, was in revenge for this alleged rape. They say that their sister's honor was damaged and that's why they kidnapped these soldiers. It is very graphic, very brutal video, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Nic Robertson for us this morning. Nic, thanks.

Saddam Hussein's crimes against humanity trial has adjourned for two weeks. The former Iraqi dictator and his defense lawyers boycotted the trial for a second day in a row. They want the court to meet a list of demands, including better security. The judge is warning, though, that if the lawyers aren't back when the trial resumes, court appointed officers will hear those closing arguments.

Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S.-lead troops clashing with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan again this morning. As many as 30 insurgents killed by coalition troops and Afghan security forces. They raided a suspected Taliban stronghold in the south. The raid came as the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, was arriving unannounced in Afghanistan. CNN's Barbara Starr live now at the Pentagon with more.

Hello, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles.

Well, 30 insurgents, suspected extremists killed today. The coalition reporting 40 yesterday. Violence certainly does appear to continue to be on the rise in Afghanistan as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is there meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss the situation. When asked if the coalition, in the face of all of this, is winning in Afghanistan, here is what the secretary said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, I think if you look at the number of terrorists and Taliban and al Qaeda that are being killed every month, it would be hard for them to say that the coalition forces and the Afghan security forces were losing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Miles, that answer perhaps catching people by a bit of surprise because, of course, at the Pentagon, they've always said the body count, if you will, is not what matters and the secretary there talking about just that, the body count. Afghanistan continues, of course, to be a very toxic mix of al Qaeda, Taliban, drug lords, criminal activity, and it is of great concern to military commanders. There are a lot of operations going on as we all know in eastern Afghanistan, in southern Afghanistan. Most military commanders now say it's going to be economic progress, of course, that makes Afghanistan turn away from violence when people have jobs and an economy that is not so reliant on the drug trade.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, it's sad to say there aren't many real alternatives for farmers when you have a tremendous cash crop like poppies as an option. STARR: That is absolutely right, Miles. And we, of course, recently traveled there and that's what we continue to hear from military commanders. If they could get the economy moving, if they could get jobs for people. But make no mistake, there is clear evidence of Taliban fighters now in southern Afghanistan, fighting in larger numbers and with training and equipment that has caught the U.S. by surprise.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you very much.

Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: U.S. envoy Christopher Hill is in Beijing. He's meeting with Chinese officials negotiating with North Korea over Pyongyang's controversial missile tests. The White House, as they are somewhat encouraged by the Chinese efforts, and just about two hours from now National Intelligence Director John Negroponte will update the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. CNN's Kathleen Koch is standing by for us at the White House this morning.

Hey, Kathleen, good morning.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

In the United States, though, the Bush administration does indeed believe that China might be able to persuade North Korea to return to the international disarmament talks. That's one reason why a vote has been delayed on the United Nations Security Council on Japan's very tough resolution that would have slapped sanctions on North Korea for those missile tests one week ago. China has condemned that resolution as being an overreaction, something that would increase tensions in the region and would split the Security Council. Russia and South Korea both opposed to that measure, whereas the United States, France and Great Britain supported it.

Now as you mentioned, U.S. envoy Christopher hill has returned to Beijing today, hoping to get a briefing on how China's ongoing diplomatic mission to North Korea, how it's going, whether it's having any success. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow insists the U.S. is aggressively pursuing a solution to the standoff.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Preemption is not merely a military doctrine, it's also a diplomatic doctrine. And, in this case, we are engaging in preemption at the diplomatic level by working as aggressively and assertively as we can with our allies to get the government of Pyongyang simply to abide by its past promises.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now the North Korean missile tests have prompted debate in Japan on whether or not it needs to have a preemptive military capability of its own to protect itself. As to that U.N. resolution, Japan says it does eventually want a vote on it. It would like to see one before the G-8 Summit begins Saturday in Russia.

Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Kathleen Koch for us at the White House. Kathleen, thanks.

President Bush also has the economy on his mind today. It turns out, the deficit not as big as first expected. The president's making his remarks at 9:40 a.m. Eastern Time and CNN's going to carry that for you live.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: A CNN "Security Watch" now. More details on that alleged plot to blow up New York City tunnels. Investigators say this man, Assem Hammoud, is the mastermind. This picture taken the day after he was arrested by police in Beirut, Lebanon. We're learning that Hammoud's plans may have also included backpack bombs in the New York City subway system and even setting wildfires in California. Last week, you'll recall, we told you about Hammoud's alleged plot to blow up tunnels linking New York and New Jersey. Supposedly it was an effort to flood the financial district. Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Some new developments in the legal battle over the FBI raid on Congressman William Jefferson's Capitol Hill offices in that bribery investigation. In essence, federal judges ruled members of Congress are not above the law. Bob Franken live from Washington with more.

Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, it's going to be interesting to see if the controversy reignites. You'll recall that there was quite an uproar following these raids, but that was so last May. And we'll have to see if there's going to be anything approximating that as compared to what happened back then.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN, (voice over): Judge Thomas Hogan, who authorized the raid in the first place, ruled again there was nothing inappropriate about the FBI seeking evidence of bribery from Congressman William Jefferson's office. Saying "the Department of Justice shall be free to regain custody of the seized materials and to resume its review thereof as of Monday, July 10th, 2006." But that's easy for the judge to say, not so easy for the White House, that had to call a 45-day cooling off period to deal with furious congressional leaders. It's still dealing with them.

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Talks are still ongoing between the Department of Justice and the House of Representatives and they seem to be making considerable progress.

FRANKEN: That would represent a huge change from the confrontation that broke out between legislative and executive branches of government. It followed the now infamous late night May 20th raid. That's when FBI agents forced their way into Jefferson's office and carted away boxes of evidence. In the entire history of the United States, there had never been such a raid on congressional offices.

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee wanted to call the top federal law enforcement officials under the congressional carpet and explain why they approved the raid.

REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, (R) WISCONSIN: I want to have Attorney General Gonzales and FBI Director Mueller up here to tell us how they reached the conclusion that they did.

FRANKEN: While that hasn't happened and there's no further word when it will or whether it will. And the judge says again, "there was no impermissible intrusion on the legislature."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Well, here's a surprise. Jefferson's lawyers say they're going to appeal and they're going to ask for a stay of the order allowing the Justice Department officials to pour through the records. The Justice Department itself put out a very careful statement saying it's going to continue negotiating with Congress -- don't want to make them mad again -- and also it will hold off on any action with the records until the judge rules on that stay.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, what's interesting, though, is, I don't think members of Congress realize the backlash that they would hear from their constituents once they tried to defend the sanctity of those offices.

FRANKEN: Well, you know, it's such an important issue and we're seeing so much about it now, the separation of powers. But it's not the kind of thing that sells out there in TV land.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, exactly. Bob Franken, thank you very much.

Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Federal investigators are on their way to Boston this morning after a woman was killed by a falling ceiling panel in an interstate tunnel. We'll get more from Steve Cooper of our affiliate WHDH in Boston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

: A stunning scene unfolding here in Boston overnight when several panels fall from a tunnel, connected to the Massachusetts Turnpike. And this is a pretty rare site because this stretch of the highway, a busily traveled highway at this time of day, is all shut down while this investigation is just getting under way.

This is the Mass Pike that connects the eastbound lanes to the Ted Williams Tunnel and then on to Logan Airport. This happened around 11:00 last night. Turn pike officials telling us that a 40- foot section of the ceiling fell to the roadway below crushing a car.

Now it appears a steel tie-back that holds the panels to the ceiling for some reason let go. The male driver crawls out of the car. The female passenger was pronounced dead.

Federal highway administration officials have now been summoned to the scene here in Boston to assist in this investigation and all the while it appears that this stretch of the Mass Pike will be closed at least through tomorrow and may go well beyond that as this massive investigation is just getting underway.

In Boston, Steve Cooper for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: At 11 minutes past the hour, let's get another check of the forecast with Chad.

Good morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, a building is reduced to rubble in New York City and it may be dramatic proof of just how bitter a divorce can be.

S. O'BRIEN: Plus, an elderly driver plows into a crowded festival, injuring dozens of people. Just how old is too old to be driving? We're going to take a closer look this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: And later, a mother accused of kidnapping her own baby boy. She said she was saving his life, but doctors insist she was doing just the opposite. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: An explosion in a small Wisconsin resort town blamed on a propane gas leak. It happened outside in Green Bay, near Green Bay at Cedar Grove yesterday. Two were killed, seven others injured, dozens of people out of their homes this morning.

A bitter divorce may be behind that natural gas explosion that leveled a four-story building in New York City Monday. We told you about it yesterday. CNN's Allan Chernoff with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Firefighters found Dr. Nicholas Bartha in the basement rubble of his multimillion- dollar home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could hear him saying, "could you help me? Could you help me?" CHERNOFF: Dr. Bartha's former divorce attorney, Ira Guard (ph), told CNN his client had been despondent about his divorce in his battle with his wife over their Manhattan townhouse. Live on CNN, New York's fire commissioner raised the possibility Bartha was trying to kill himself.

NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA, FDNY COMMISSIONER: There was a communication from inside the building to someone outside the building, some number of blocks away, that leads us to believe there is a potential to conclude now . . .

CHERNOFF: What sort of communication? What sort of communication?

SCOPPETTA: An e-mail to someone nearby.

CHERNOFF: Dr. Bartha had sent a rambling e-mail to his wife and others at 6:30 in the morning, about two hours before the blast. Garr (ph), who received the letter, told CNN, Bartha wrote to his wife, "you will be transformed from gold digger to ash and rubbish digger. You always wanted me to sell the house. I always told you I will leave the house only if I am dead." The e-mail concluded "my further staying alive does not make any sense."

A New York appellate court last year had determined Cordula Bartha was entitled to a share of the townhouse valued at more than $5 million.

Whatever did cause this explosion, fire department officials say it was not merely someone opening an oven and lighting a match. They say an explosion of this magnitude would have required a tremendous amount of gas. Indeed, right now, the demolition crew is searching for a broken gas pipe.

While there is evidence pointing to Dr. Bartha's intent to kill himself, fire officials have yet to find proof that Dr. Bartha actually blew up the home. Indeed the Con Edison utility meter reader on the block told CNN complaints about a gas leak last month led the utility to turn off the building's gas for repairs. And again last week there had been complaints about another gas leak.

Cordula Bartha's attorneys released a statement saying, "she was shocked. Ms. Bartha and her family are deeply saddened and terribly upset by today's occurrence. Ms. Bartha and her family with the best to Dr. Bartha in his recovery."

Dr. Bartha is at New York Presbyterian Hospital suffering from second and third degree burns. Four pedestrians also were injured walking in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: Now Dr. Bartha owned the multimillion-dollar townhouse since 1981. Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: There are estimates that it was worth, I read, up to $20 million maybe.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, that sounds high to me. That sounds a little high.

S. O'BRIEN: I don't know, that real estate -- that's very, very pricey real estate in New York City. So it could be. Four floors.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. It's a bit of a fixer upper now, you might say.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, certainly.

Coming up this morning, the new tactic for some Democrats running for president. Remind folks that you're not Hillary Clinton. We'll explain that strategy just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Henry Paulson takes over as the nation's Treasury secretary. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business" looking at that.

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Business news coming out of Washington. First, yesterday Hank Paulson was sworn in as the nation's 74th Treasury secretary. Chief Justice John Roberts doing the honors there. The president was there, of course, and Ben Bernanke. That's in the cash room, it's called, in the Department of Treasury. Aply (ph) named, wouldn't you say?

S. O'BRIEN: Is it somebody cash or just cash cash?

M. O'BRIEN: Is it really because of cash?

SERWER: We think it's just because it's cash. We couldn't find that it's named after a person called cash. It's like cash, money.

S. O'BRIEN: That can't be.

SERWER: We'll check it out.

S. O'BRIEN: Isn't that tasteless?

SERWER: We will check -- well, it's big money.

S. O'BRIEN: That's strange.

SERWER: He will be the third Treasury secretary in the president's administration after Paul O'Neill, you'll remember, and John Snow. Mr. Paulson's remarks were about the global economy and how important it was for the United States to remain a vital part of the global economy. The president hopes that Paulson will attain the same stature as Robert Rubin, who was also head of Goldman Sachs, during the Clinton administration.

Now this morning, at around 9:40 Eastern, the president will be talking about the economy at the White House. It's expected that the president will highlight the fact that the budget deficit will come in less than expected. This because of higher taxes paid by corporations and wealthy citizens. The president will no doubt say that that is because of his tax cuts.

M. O'BRIEN: Maybe he should do that in the cash room.

SERWER: Well, or the White House. Either place would probably work, right.

And this is according to some observers, probably a wise move by the president, they say. Some say the president has ignored the economy and the fact that it's relatively strong at the expense of talking about the war in Iraq.

Still, speaking of the war in Iraq, the cost of the war and the cost of the Katrina cleanup still weigh heavily on the government, so the budget deficit will still be around $300 billion, but less than expected, and it will be interesting to hear what the president has to say now that he has a new Treasury secretary and it will be interesting to see if he uses this as an opportunity to develop a new economic plan and focus more on the economy than he has previously.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, what's next?

SERWER: Next we're going to be talking about a new touch and go system that is being piloted here in New York City, the subway system, starting today. And it could be a template for systems around the country.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, instead of those slide cards.

SERWER: Instead of a slot, you just kind of touch it with the thing (ph).

M. O'BRIEN: Which slows the thing down quite a bit.

SERWER: Indeed.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, you still have a card but you hold it up.

SERWER: You have a card and you just touch it and . . .

M. O'BRIEN: And I'm sliding it.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, the sliding is a nightmare. That's bad.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, it is.

All right, thank you, Andy. SERWER: You're welcome.

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, that FBI raid on a congressman's office was legal after all, so says a judge. So now what for the target of the investigation, William Jefferson? And what about lawmaker who see this as unconstitutional?

Plus, the road to the White House for Democrats. We'll tell you why a lot of them think the key to victory is that they aren't Hillary Clinton. That story is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning.

The United Nation Security Council holding off an a resolution condemning North Korea's missile tests. The delay is intended to give Chinese officials a chance to talk with their North Korean counterparts.

Louisiana officials say they are disappointed with the new hurricane protection report from the Army Corps of Engineers. The report says it's too early for any specific steps to be taken or to recommend any particular projects.

And it's day eight in space for Discovery's crew. They're going to spend today cleaning up the International Space Station and preparing for another space walk tomorrow.

Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.

M. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, Soledad O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: Thank you. Thank you.

M. O'BRIEN: Did you have a great vacation?

S. O'BRIEN: I had a fabulous vacation till the last day when I got sick as a dog.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, well at least it happened the last day.

S. O'BRIEN: Exactly. True. True.

M. O'BRIEN: Welcome back. Enjoy.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks.

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