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American Morning
Fidel Castro Out of Power; Israel Ready to Step up Ground War in southern Lebanon
Aired August 01, 2006 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Cuban leader Fidel Castro out of power for the first time in nearly 50 years. A medical emergency is forcing him to turn over control, temporarily, to his 75-year-old brother.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Israel now ready to step up the ground war in Southern Lebanon. That decision has leaders in Syria and Lebanon preparing their armies for possible action.
O'BRIEN: And get ready to sweat -- excessive heat warnings now for much of the eastern half of the country. Your full forecast is ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning.
Welcome everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez sitting in for Miles O'Brien.
Always good to be here with you.
O'BRIEN: And it's nice to have you.
Thank you for helping us out.
Let's get right to one of our top stories this morning, what's happening in Cuba. A surprise announcement there. Long time leader Fidel Castro has turned over control of the country while he recovers from intestinal surgery. But there is still a Castro in charge. It's Fidel's younger brother Raoul.
We've got reports from both Cuba and the U.S. this morning.
Shasta Darlington live in Havana; Susan Candiotti in Miami -- Shasta, let's begin with you.
Good morning.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Indeed, this morning, Cuba woke up with a new leader, although provisionally. We don't have any new developments on Fidel Castro's health. Cubans are going to work, treating this like another normal day. As a matter of fact, they really want to get that message across, that this is life the way it has always been. They're used to seeing Raoul next to his brother and they don't -- they want to get the message across that this is going to be just another day -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: What -- so what's been the fallout, outside of the sense that this is just another day, what by that I think you mean people going to work and going about their business?
What are people saying privately? are they concerned that this time is for real?
there have been many reports that Castro was near death or even dead.
DARLINGTON: Yes. People are concerned. This is the first time that he has relinquished power. And, as we know, he fainted a couple of years ago. He had a nasty accident. A spill shattered his knee; also caused other injuries. And during his recover period, in both of those cases, he did not relinquish power.
So Cubans are worried. Why this time? How is he doing? And it's definitely -- even if he recovers and takes over again, it's a wake up call. This is a man who will be turning 80 on August 13th. How much longer can he go on?
Even Fidel Castro himself has started to talk about succession. So it is obviously is making people think. Some are worried about what could come next. And that, I think, is why they're putting on a brave face. Let's just go to work. Let's just treat this like another day -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Shasta, thank you very much.
A totally different story about 90 miles or so north, in Florida, what is where we find CNN's Susan Candiotti -- hey, Susan, good morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
This is one of the headlines that people here in South Florida is waking up to. It says on the "Miami-Herald": "Castro Cedes Power" and you've got people celebrating on the front page.
Right now, I am standing in front of the Versailles Restaurant, where not 24 hours ago, President Bush was in Miami, you might recall, here, sipping some Cuban coffee with his brother and meeting with Cuban exile leaders, once again talking about the possibility of freedom in Cuba.
Last night, the streets in front of me here in Little Havana, home to many, many revelers. The streets were clogged, people bumper to bumper, waving flags, setting off fireworks and celebrating even the possibility, the notion that Fidel Castro might permanently -- might permanently one day be out of power now that his brother has stepped in. And, of course, revelers here were happy to share their opinions about what might lie ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All our lives, we've always wanted for Fidel to go down. I mean this is like the one moment of our lives that everybody is going crazy. It might be his brother, but this is the beginning of an end.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think this is a time where the Cubans from the past, the Cubans that just got here and the Cubans that are still over there need to unite and come together. This is our time and this is a time for democracy. It's what we've been waiting for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now, political leaders, including the mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz, told me last night that he's happy. This is a time for people to be celebrating. And he wants to allow people the valve to mark the occasion, the possibility that change might be afoot.
But, of course, there are no guarantees here. As you know, there have been rumors over the years that Castro was in failing health and on his deathbed. And so far he has bounced back every time.
Nevertheless, local authorities here do have an emergency operations center up and operating just in case there is a major change announced at the top, permanently, anyway.
But for now, they are simply monitoring the situation -- Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Lots of folks are monitoring the situation.
Susan Candiotti in Miami for us.
Susan, thanks -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: We are also following a significant development in the Middle East crisis.
The Israeli security cabinet has reversed a decision that it made four days ago. It is now giving the military the OK to expand the ground offensive in Southern Lebanon. And it's calling up more Reservists, we understand.
We've got reaction from both sides of the border.
Anthony Mills is going to be in Beirut following the story for us.
But first, let's go to Paula Hancocks.
You see her there on the bottom of the screen.
She is joining us from Jerusalem this morning -- good morning to you, Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Rick. Well, this is a significant development, the fact that the military commanders have got what they have been asking for, for the past four days. As you say, four days ago the politicians said no, this military operation will not be expanded.
But this time round, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in a meeting that went on for far more hours than was expected, they have unanimously decided that, yes, the ground operation can increase.
Now, we heard from the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, on Monday evening. He was talking about the operations, saying that Hezbollah has been dealt a very heavy blow by the Israeli military operation.
And he also had a word for the Lebanese people. He said that he was very sorry for their pain, caused by the Israeli air strikes, but did point out that it was Hezbollah that was holding the Lebanese people hostage. And he said that really Israel has no alternative but to react against Hezbollah.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We are not pursuing and persecuting innocent civilians. We are not fighting against the people of Lebanon nor do we wish to bring down its government. We are fighting terrorists who know no bounds and the war against them will not be stopped by us until we drive them from our borders.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: So, Olmert saying there are quite a few days ahead of fighting. Interestingly, he said days and not weeks. We have been hearing from military sources that they would like 10 to 14 days, ideally, to be able to continue to keep pounding Hezbollah targets, to try and reduce the chance of them sending more missiles into northern Israel.
Now, the ground forces have been continuing fierce fighting with Hezbollah, even though there has been a 48-hour suspension of air strikes, what Israel has not 100 percent kept to -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: All right, thanks so much.
Paula Hancocks following the story from Jerusalem.
Let's see now how this announcement of the expansion of the ground attack is being rcvd on the other side of the border.
So looking from Jerusalem now to the Lebanese capital in Beirut.
And that's where Anthony Mills is following the story for us -- good morning to you, Anthony.
ANTHONY MILLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.
There's been no official response here in Lebanon, at least today, to this ground invasion expansion by Israeli forces. But I did speak to a high ranking government official, who told me that the Lebanese Army would defend itself in positions in what it was located. And when I asked him if that meant coordination with Hezbollah, he said that although there would be no official coordination, there could be unofficial coordination. He said that both the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah "share the same enemy," what is an obvious reference to Israel.
And, of course, that's echoing comments made earlier in this conflict by the Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud, who has also said that the Lebanese Army would get involved, or at least would fight back if there was an expanded ground invasion.
That, on the official side, at least.
Now, Hezbollah hasn't officially reacted to this latest announcement. But they have, in the course of this conflict, said that they would welcome the chance to fight Israeli troops on the ground and not have to face them in jets in the air and in boats in the sea.
They're, of course, specialists, Hezbollah, at this kind of ground terrain fighting. They've had years to firmly etch themselves in the hilly terrain of Southern Lebanon. But, of course they've had years of experience fighting Israeli troops for the more than 20 years that Israel occupied South Lebanon, before its forces withdrew in May, 2000.
And Hezbollah, of course, claimed that as a victory.
SANCHEZ: Anthony Mills following that story for us from Beirut.
Certainly, we'll be keeping tabs on it throughout the day -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Another top story we're following this morning is the heat.
The eastern half of the country is bracing for what could be the hottest day of the year so far.
Allan Chernoff is in New York City, where it's going to be hot -- Allan, good morning.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
And I know that Miles is not in the studio with you this morning. So we found another Miles for you. Yes, Miles the yellow Lab. And he's having a great time here at the Cherry Hill fountain in Central Park. Of course, this is really not allowed here in Central Park, so we've got her -- we've got Miles's owner over here.
Jennifer, tell me, is this something that Miles does frequently? JENNIFER: Yes. It's a daily habit for us.
CHERNOFF: A daily habit, is it?
JENNIFER: You've got to take a shower every day. You've got to take a little bath everyday. Sure.
CHERNOFF: So you don't care about the rules of Central Park.
JENNIFER: What rules?
CHERNOFF: Apparently other people don't care either, because, you can see, there are plenty of dogs. In fact, we've seen more than half a dozen dogs this morning cooling off here in the fountain, enjoying this. And, of course, right now it's only about 90 degrees in Central Park. It's supposed to go way up, into the triple digits today. But, of course, the dog owners know exactly what to do for their puppies. And they're having a great time here in Central Park -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: There's so many things I could say about that Miles compared to my Miles, who's on a little vaca, but I won't. Or, well, I mean, I'll say they're both cute Mileses this morning.
Thank you, Allan.
Appreciate the update.
Let's go right to the forecast.
Chad's got that -- hello, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's why you don't put the kids in the water.
O'BRIEN: I know.
MYERS: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: Exactly.
You know what? When my kids run-over to touch that I'm like whoa, whoa, whoa.
MYERS: Right.
O'BRIEN: Do you know who's been in that water?
MYERS: Oh, no, don't even think about that.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Still to come, Syria's president orders his troops to step up their training. Is he preparing to enter the fray, the war in the Middle East?
O'BRIEN: Then, take a look at this. This machine here is supposed to make air travel not only safer, but more convenient, too. We'll tell you how it works and if it's working, ahead.
SANCHEZ: Also, the so-called morning after pill may soon be easier to get. We're going to tell you about this controversy.
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: With Israel increasing its operations in Lebanon and the talk of a cease-fire cooling off, there is concern that fighting in the Middle East could spread.
Today, Syria, what borders both Israel and Lebanon, is ordering its troops into a state of readiness.
CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Damascus, Syria for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Calling the war one of Israel aggression and genocide, Syria's president, Bashar Assad, in a statement to the country's armed forces, raised their readiness, essentially telling them to train harder and prepare for whatever might come next. But there was no mention of increasing troop numbers or any movement of military assets. Instead, it seems, it was a reminder of Syria's regional importance.
Amid the fury in the Muslim world following the Israeli attack on Qana, Lebanon, amid increasing international calls for an end to the conflict, Syria is posturing at an opportune moment.
(on camera): Across Damascus at cafes like this, TVs are locked onto Arabic news channels that are constantly showing images of the children killed in the Qana attack. It is, in part, why the Syrian government feels the tide is turning its way, as Arab opinion hardens against Israel and its ally, the United States.
(voice-over): One top official here says it's Washington that's out of step, not Damascus.
BUTHAYNA SHA'ABN, SYRIAN MINISTER OF EXPATRIATE AFFAIRS: Well, yesterday, the foreign minister of Egypt was here. Nine foreign ministers called our foreign minister and talked to him. So we don't feel lonely at all. Syria is not isolated. I think it's only in the minds of the U.S. administration that Syria is isolated. I think at this crisis, the U.S. is isolated in the Middle East and the U.S. has shown itself not to have any vision or any credibility in the Middle East.
RAMAN: Syria says the U.S. must directly engage both Damascus and Iran if a permanent solution to the crisis is to be achieved. And they say Hezbollah must agree to any international peacekeeping force planned for Southern Lebanon.
SHA'ABN: Of course, we will see international troops are occupying, of course, because they are not consulting with the resistance.
RAMAN: The resistance is how many here label Hezbollah, seen by Israel and the U.S. as a terrorist group. And as a diplomatic solution to the current crisis is being debated in capitals around the world, Syria's president has his own message -- his is a country essential to sustainable peace in the Middle East.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
O'BRIEN: Ahead in the next hour of AMERICAN MORNING, we're going to get the official position of the Syrian government from the Syrian ambassador to the United States.
Anderson Cooper has got a look at what's coming up on his program tonight -- Anderson.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, tonight on "360," live from the Middle East, the money that was supposed to rebuild Iraq, your money. New allegations that millions were wasted and the people in charge covered it up. You paid for it. We're keeping them honest.
That's tonight on "360," 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Anderson Cooper, thank you very much.
Coming up next, an exclusive look at the future of airline baggage screening. It could make travel a whole lot easier. We'll tell you how.
SANCHEZ: And then later, cracking down on illegal immigration -- thousands of extra National Guard troops are on the border.
Is this operation working, though?
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
A CNN Security Watch now and something you'll see only on CNN.
We all want travel to be safe, of course, but easy, too. At the airport in Atlanta, there is a new baggage screening system. It may be the answer, according to many officials.
CNN has been given a rare, exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the system and how it works.
Here's Melissa Long.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
WILLIE WILLIAMS, TSA FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR: It's going to remove all of these machines, these one and two ton machines that have been in the lobbies.
MELISSA LONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You may soon start to notice small changes at major airports that could bring back some pre-9/11 travel conveniences.
BENJAMIN DECOSTA, HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT: You come through the ticketing lobby and they'll do their ticketing and drop their bag and be on their way, instead of having it screened by TSA employees here in the lobby.
LONG: Atlanta's airport handles anywhere from 12,000 to 20,000 bags a day. Now, passengers won't have to lug their suitcases to a bomb detection machine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The check-in is great, you know, when you can pre-board and then all you have to do is check the bag right there and go quick.
LONG (on camera): So these are bags that are coming in from the original terminal where people checked in?
UNIDENTIFIED SECURITY OFFICIAL: Right.
The bags that are coming down this belt have been checked to the airlines. The airlines take it, put it on their belt, it's interconnected with ours. It'll come down here like that bag. It'll eventually go around here and into one of our almost a dozen explosive detection systems.
LONG (voice-over): If the machine detects anything suspicious, it diverts the luggage to a separate belt and sends an image to a TSA officer.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE, TSA: This is the room where images are sent for closer inspection. If they make the determination that there is no threat in the bag, it's automatically routed right back to the airline. We've never touched it again. If the bag does require additional scrutiny, it's routed to our physical inspection room.
LONG: This is the only area where officers physically inspect questionable luggage. The system is not completely operational yet. It's expected to be in line with the entire airport, including the international airlines, by the end of the year. While other airports have similar screenings, the federal security director says Atlanta's is the best.
WILLIAMS: It will be probably the safest and most efficient way to clear bags in the country.
LONG: And they hope a model for all airports to emulate.
Melissa Long, CNN, Atlanta. (END VIDEO TAPE)
SANCHEZ: By the way, the TSA says it hopes the new baggage screening system will allow more officers to work security lines and move passengers quicker.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
O'BRIEN: Actor/director Mel Gibson in rehab today. He checked himself in following Friday's arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities in Los Angeles released his mug shot. There it is. That doesn't look so bad.
Gibson apparently made anti-Semitic and sexist comments while he was being arrested. The sheriff's deputy who arrested him told the Associated Press this: "I don't take pride in hurting Mr. Gibson. What I had hoped out of this is that he would think twice because he got behind the wheel of a car when he was drinking. That would be my hope, that this would accomplish that. I don't want to ruin his career. I don't want to defame him in any way or hurt him."
We're going to continue to talk more about Mel Gibson and his trials and tribulations of late just ahead.
SANCHEZ: You know, he's such a wealthy man. You'd think he'd be able to afford a driver.
O'BRIEN: Yes, there's no rea...
SANCHEZ: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And apparently people at the restaurant also said that many people offered him a ride home.
SANCHEZ: And he just...
O'BRIEN: they could tell that he needed a ride. And he turned them all down and said he was fine.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What, if you believe the local tabloids, anyway.
SANCHEZ: Yes, right. Right.
O'BRIEN: I'm very well read on this story, but a lot of it's coming from the gossip pages.
SANCHEZ: The guy sitting at the bar.
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes.
Still to come this morning, more bad news for Floyd Landis, the winner of the Tour de France. A new report is raising questions about those doping test results. And remember those MTV ads, remember this? Oh, it was so long ago. Can you believe this network, 25 years old? Doesn't that make you feel old?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
O'BRIEN: We saw it from the very beginning.
SANCHEZ: The original videos.
O'BRIEN: Well, MTV is planning to stay hip. We'll tell you their plan ahead.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez sitting in for Miles O'Brien.
Good to be here.
O'BRIEN: Good to have you.
SANCHEZ: A lot of news on this day.
O'BRIEN: Lots going on today.
let's get some of the headlines.
Carol has got that -- good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I've got just some of it.
Good morning to you.
Good morning to all of you.
It is a first in Cuba in nearly 50 years. Fidel Castro handing over power for the first time while he undergoes treatment for intestinal trouble. His brother now holds the reigns. Words that Castro is stepping aside, by the way, have prompted celebrations in Miami. Many Cuban-Americans took to the streets shouting: "Cuba Libre!" or "Free Cuba!"
In the last couple of hours, firefighters have been battling a massive fire at a two-story building in Queens, New York. And keep in mind, it's already 82 degrees in the city and the humidity makes it feel like it's 87. the building was apparently empty at the time, but the flames soon spread through a row of stores. So far, no injuries. But three alarms have been sounded to fight this fire.
No letup to the violence in Iraq. Three car bombings left at least 39 people dead today, most of them Iraqi soldiers. Iraqi officials say a curfew was put into place in the area of the attacks to help authorities track down those responsible.
President Bush is getting his yearly checkup right now at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. And once again, he is expected to get a clean bill of health. The president, who turned 60 last month, exercises regularly. His only complaints are occasional acid reflux and stiffness in his knees.
How embarrassing.
O'BRIEN: Do we need to know that?
COSTELLO: How embarrassing to have to make that public.
O'BRIEN: Although, when you're 60, if that's the worst, well...
COSTELLO: Yes, that's true.
O'BRIEN: Not bad.
COSTELLO: He's walking pretty good.
SANCHEZ: Eating late, too, will get you every time.
COSTELLO: Well, you know, that's -- I guess that's the life of a president.
Some senators want to delay the vote to nominate a new FDA chief today. They want to first know if the morning after pill is going to be made available to adult women without a prescription. The FDA has announced the pill, also known as "Plan B," may soon be sold over the counter.
And a new report is casting some doubt on Floyd Landis's claims that he did not dope. The "New York Times" reports that tests taken during the Tour de France show some of the testosterone in Landis's urine was sync. Results from a second sample are expected this weekend. But things are not looking so good for Floyd.
O'BRIEN: Oh. He's had a lot of back and forth on this now. They've talked about how he was drinking, maybe it was beer, maybe it was something other than beer.
COSTELLO: Yes, but if sync testosterone is found...
O'BRIEN: Right. That takes you into a whole new...
COSTELLO: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Or something under that cap he keeps wearing.
O'BRIEN: Well, it's...
SANCHEZ: It's just every time I see the man, he's wearing a cap. I'm wondering what's going on with the cap. O'BRIEN: Well, he...
COSTELLO: I'm glad you explained that because I didn't...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: ... more of a statement of his hair than anything else.
SANCHEZ: Well, but maybe it's just me. I...
O'BRIEN: I think it might just be you, Rick.
I think it might be.
SANCHEZ: I'm overplaying the pictures, I suppose.
Well, let's move on to big news going on in the Middle East.
Israel now ready to ramp up its ground offensive in Southern Lebanon. That, as the United Nations prepares for more debate on the crisis. President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have their own plan for the U.N. and for eventual peace in the Middle East.
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