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Foreign Ministers of Four Countries Meeting in Lebanon About International Peacekeeping Force; Gerald Ford Hospitalized; Racial Slur?

Aired August 16, 2006 - 08:59   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. I'm Miles O'Brien.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad.

O'BRIEN: The French foreign minister wants Israel to back off. He's calling on Israel to lift its air, sea and land blockade of Lebanon. That comes as the Lebanese cabinet convenes about an hour from now to discuss implementing that cease-fire in southern Lebanon.

Anthony Mills joining us live now from Beirut with more -- Anthony.

ANTHONY MILLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, the French foreign minister, Philipe Douste-Blazy, has indeed called for that blockade to be lifted. It is still in place in the ports. And, of course, the airport is still closed.

That was in the run-up to meetings throughout the day with four foreign ministers, the foreign ministers of France, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Turkey, with Lebanon's prime minister, Fouad Siniora. They will be talking about the international United Nations force for south Lebanon.

It's a sensitive topic. In the past, multinational forces here have incurred the wrath of Shiite Muslim groups and have departed, in the case of France and the United States, in the early '80s after suffering dozens of deaths in attacks on their barracks -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Anthony Mills in Beirut.

Thank you very much -- Carol.

COSTELLO: More bloodshed in Iraq today. Nine people killed, dozens more wounded after a bomb tore through central Baghdad. It happened in a crowd of day laborers waiting for work.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Another bomb hit a busy marketplace in Baghdad Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people and wounding 24. There was also an attack on a bridge in Baghdad, a bridge that connects the city's southern suburbs with the rest of the country. That bridge had been destroyed by Saddam Hussein's military forces at the start of the ground war to prevent U.S. troops from entering the city, but had since been rebuilt.

The latest violence comes as the Iraqi Ministry of Health says that the death toll in Iraq has once again increased. The morgue says it received nearly 20 percent more bodies in the month of July than it did in the month of June.

Meanwhile, U.S. military forces are accompanying Iraqi forces as they patrol some of the cities most violent cites in an effort to end the sectarian violence.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A closed-door hearing in London today on the alleged terror plot to blow up airplanes. A source tells CNN that investigators have found chemicals that could be used to make a bomb, and they have audio and video of incriminating conversations. Prosecutors need to convince a judge they have enough evidence to keep holding the suspects without filing any charges.

O'BRIEN: Nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks, newly discovered recordings of phone calls from that day set to be released this morning. Most of the 1,600 phone calls are between New York City Fire Department and EMS dispatchers. However, voices of 21 members of the New York City Fire Department who died that day also will be released. The city also plans to release a number of civilian 911 calls made on that fateful day.

Former president Gerald Ford admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for testing and evaluation. Ninety-three years old now, Ford is the oldest living ex president.

Brianna Keilar is in Rochester, Minnesota, with more on the president's -- former president's condition.

And Brianna, we don't know too much. Do we?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, we don't know too much.

Mayo Clinic officials and aides to the former president saying that he's here for testing and evaluation. That's the official word. And they are not talking about what those tests might be for. But former president Ford has been in the hospital several times in recent years.

In 2000, he suffered a stroke during the Republican National Convention. And in 2003, he had a spell of dizziness while golfing in 96-degree weather. And then this past December, he was also admitted to the hospital, although an aide said it was for tests that had been scheduled well in advance. Though, in January, that was not the case. He suffered pneumonia and was in the helicopter for 12 days.

And most recently, he was admitted in July for shortness of breath. And Miles, as far as we know, this is the first time that he has been admitted in recent years to a facility that is not in one of his home communities of Vale, Colorado, or Rancho Mirage, California.

O'BRIEN: All right. We'll sort of leave that on face value and we can interpret it as we might and wait for more information.

Thank you, Brianna Keilar, in Rochester, Minnesota -- Carol.

COSTELLO: By now maybe you know what "Macaca" means. If you don't, you soon will. Senator George Allen is taking a lot of heat for uttering that word, but Allen says he was misunderstood by the media.

But not everyone is so quick to forgive.

CNN Congressional Correspondent Andrea Koppel has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Senator George Allen's videotape to off-the-cuff remarks were e-mailed to journalists by his Democratic opponent's campaign.

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN (R), VIRGINIA: This fellow here, over here, with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is, he's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great.

KOPPEL: The fellow Senator Allen was referring to is 20-year-old S.R. Sidarth, an American college student of Indian descent, and, at least for the summer, a volunteer with the James Webb campaign.

Armed with this digital handycam, Sidarth had been assigned to track Senator Allen all last week, a common practice among some campaigns. But Sidarth says it wasn't until Friday, during a speech near the Kentucky border, and with Sidarth's camera rolling, that Allen singled him out in the crowd, twice referring to him as "Macaca," the scientific grouping for a type of monkey, and, in some European countries, "Makak" is used as a racial slur.

ALLEN: So, welcome -- let's give a welcome to Macaca here.

(APPLAUSE)

ALLEN: Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.

S.R. SIDARTH, VIRGINIA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE JAMES WEBB CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I was disappointed that someone like a senator of the United States would use something completely offensive.

KOPPEL: Allen's communications director denies the senator was deliberately making a racially charged remark, telling CNN, the senator didn't know Sidarth's name. He said Allen staffers had nicknamed Sidarth "Mohawk" for the young man's short haircut, and perhaps the senator was confusing that nickname when he called him "Macaca."

In an interview with "The Washington Post," Allen apologized, saying he didn't know what the word "Macaca" meant, and that he would -- quote -- "never want to demean Sidarth."

But Sidarth says, he had introduced himself to Allen earlier that week.

(CROSSTALK)

KOPPEL (on camera): And you said, "My name is Sidarth"?

SIDARTH: Yes. And he shook my hand. He also is very good with names, legendarily, that he tries very hard to learn people's name when he's meeting them.

KOPPEL: In Allen's written statement, he also said his comments about a "welcome to America" and the "real world of Virginia" were aimed at his opponent, who Allen said had never been to that part of Virginia.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, Washington

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: So there you have it.

Happening "In America," a Virginia teenager's battle to skip conventional cancer treatment is expected in court today. Sixteen- year-old Abraham Cherok (ph) has tried chemotherapy but says it makes him ill. So he stopped taking chemo and began herbal treatments. Juvenile court stepped in and required the teen to continue with chemo.

An NBA player was arrested by the Secret Service this morning after gunshots were reported near the White House. Lonny Baxter, who plays for the Charlotte Bobcats, and a passenger were pulled over and arrested around 2:30 this morning. A Secret Service spokesman says a gun and shell casings were in plain view.

In Tennessee, the woman accused of killing her minister husband back in March is free. Mary Winkler was released on $750,000 bond. The 32-year-old plans to live with a friend and work at a dry cleaner until her murder trial in October.

Up to 10,000 fans are expected to visit Graceland today to remember Elvis. The king died 29 years ago today. Thousands were already there last night for a candlelight vigil. The White House sent a letter which was read to those attending this vigil.

It is the house that Ruth built, but three years from now, the New York Yankees will no longer call Yankee Stadium their home. The Yankees break ground on their new ballpark today. Actual construction begins tomorrow.

Yesterday, a state judge struck down an environmental challenge, saying trees don't have legal protection. And, yes, there are trees in New York City.

A flashflood watch is in effect for much of New Mexico right now. These pictures are from Hatch, where neighborhoods are simply flooded. Residents waking up this morning in evacuation centers, and schools are closed through Thursday.

And that brings us to the weather.

Any relief in sight for those folks?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not at all, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much.

MYERS: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, the politics of fear. How candidates might use the war on terror to try to win in November.

COSTELLO: Also, the fight over cell phones in schools. Who gets to decide whether your children have them in school? We'll take a look at the battle brewing between the schools and the parents.

O'BRIEN: And later, it's not Blue's Clues, but it's kind of like that. AOL digging for gold, quite literally. We'll tell you why one guy says, "You're not digging in my backyard."

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Less than a hundred days now to the midterm elections, and it's shaping up to be a real donnybrook. It could change the balance of power in Washington. The question is, what will move voters this time? Could it possibly be fear of a terror plot, a la the one we just saw unfold and be thwarted in London?

David Drucker, political reporter for "Roll Call," joins us now from Washington to walk through the political intricacies of the moment, which, of course, we will stress are of the moment. They can change in an instant, can't they?

In a sense, David, we're kind of too early to even talk about November, right?

DAVID DRUCKER, "ROLL CALL": Yes. Good morning, Miles. Thanks a lot for having me.

And in a sense, we are far too early. And it's especially because the world is so fluid. The situation in Iraq is fluid. Impending possible terrorist attacks very fluid. And so this far out from the election, as close as we are, it's hard to tell what's going to happen. O'BRIEN: It's interesting listening to the Democrats as they try to figure out a way to respond in the wake of this terror plot. Harry Reid, Senate minority leader, just said last Tuesday, just the other day -- that would be a few days ago, that -- that would be yesterday -- very sorry.

Let me just put up the screen and bail me out of this.

"The lessons of 9/11 are being ignored by the White House and the do nothing Republican Congress." He's referring, of course, to the 9/11 Commission recommendations, 41 of them, and only a handful of them have actually embraced.

Will the Democrats get much traction with that line of argument?

DRUCKER: It's hard to tell. And the reason it's hard to tell is because at any moment, things could change on the ground. I really believe that what's going to drive this election is the war in Iraq.

People feel -- voters in particular, obviously -- feel very insecure about the world situation about terrorism. And I believe that that would be different if the war in Iraq were perceived to be going better. So, as long as the war in Iraq is difficult, I think voters are going to feel more insecure about the terrorist threat, and that can potentially can benefit the Democrats.

O'BRIEN: All right. So that -- it's interesting. If the Republicans are successful in linking Iraq to the war on terror, that might help them, but nevertheless, every time is Iraq is mentioned that is a negative.

Let's look at a couple of poll items to share with you.

This is a CBS poll conducted August 11th through the 13th. That would about few days ago. And the question that was asked to people, "How is the president handling the war on terror?"

Fifty-one percent of the people approve. That's plus or minus 3 percent.

Now, then, this goes right to the heart of what you were just saying. "How is Mr. Bush handling Iraq?" And only 30 percent approve. Large numbers disapprove of it. So, depending on which party you're on, you're going to latch on to one of those polls there.

I guess, can the Democrats will they have -- what will it take for them to succeed in focusing strictly on Iraq when, as you say, you're one plot away from that being drowned out?

DRUCKER: Well, I think we're going to see -- it's going to be the result of a very intense political debate. Iraq and terrorism are two of the top issues that voters are going to be most concerned about in November.

If Republicans can succeed in tying the war in Iraq to the war on terror, then they can have the political advantage. But if Democrats can do the job of making sure these things stay decoupled, then they're going to have the advantage, especially if the defining issue in the election is Iraq, as opposed to greater war on terror.

I also think what you're going to see is the Democrats have a much different policy standpoint than the Republicans. They're arguing for more money on the ports, more money to protect airports, to protect energy and oil refineries, and that's more of a defense posture. If Americans agree with that more than Republicans' offensive posture, which I don't mean negatively or positively either way, but just more in terms of fighting overseas, then Republicans can have the advantage.

O'BRIEN: It will be interesting to see how -- you know, how they're able to -- who's able to kind of control the debate. And as you say, events can have so much to do with this.

Give us a sense right now -- so much has been said how important this midterm election is. A lot of people saying it could be a shift. Perhaps even in both sides of the capital.

Do you want to give a quick prediction? Do you care to go out on a limb for us?

DRUCKER: You know, I'll go out on a limb. Why not? I got up early this morning.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.

DRUCKER: I'm willing -- I'm willing to predict now that the Republicans are going to lose 10 to 12 seats in the House, but they're going to retain control by a slim margin. The prevailing opinion in this town -- I have to tell you, I feel like I'm in a minority -- people feel that a wave is coming. I'm not yet there.

O'BRIEN: Right.

DRUCKER: In the Senate, I see three to four seats, possibly five, but probably no more than four going Democratic.

O'BRIEN: So, Democratic gain, but status quo as far as control of the committees and control of the agenda?

DRUCKER: Status -- status quo, but this sets up an interesting debate and in interesting fight in '08, when it only will take few more seats for things to change.

O'BRIEN: Interesting.

David Drucker, thanks for being with us.

He is the political reporter for "Roll Call," and went out on a limb for us. We like that.

Thanks.

DRUCKER: Thanks. Thanks for having me. O'BRIEN: All right -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We do.

Coming up, the whistleblower in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal speaks out. Find out why he came forward and still lives in fear to this day.

Plus, the first verdict in an insurance lawsuit over Katrina damage. We'll tell you why both sides are claiming victor and how it could affect other cases, even yours, if you have one against an insurance company.

That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's everything you ever wanted to know about one of rock's biggest stars. Jon Bon Jovi talks to Larry King tonight about topics ranging from music, to acting, to philanthropy, to football, and, oh, yes, you can just gaze upon him, if you wish.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": You're bandmate, Richie Sambora, made a lot of headlines with the breakup of his marriage to Heather Locklear.

How did that affect the band?

JOHN BON JOVI, ROCKER: It's been a hard year for Richie. He celebrated a birthday this week. And we -- you know, as I talked to the guys on the way out to the stage last night, I said, "You know, just let's just start the year fresh. Happy birthday, pal. Last year's behind you."

He didn't look for this to happen, he didn't want it to happen. He's a doting dad who adores his daughter. And it's heartbreaking not only for him and his parents and his daughter, but for Heather, too.

That all said, it didn't do anything else to affect us. You know, he's -- he's a pillar of, you know, greatness.

KING: Who left who? She left him?

BON JOVI: You know, the tabloids will say one thing, but honestly it was a long time coming. They were both -- it was time.

KING: Mutual?

BON JOVI: Yes.

KING: How is it going with him and Denise Richards?

BON JOVI: I think it's actually going rather well. You know? And... KING: Have you seen them together?

BON JOVI: Sure. She's on the road with us occasionally. She seems like a very nice girl. And, you know, I hope he finds peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Dishing some dirt! Good dirt, too. "Jon Bon Jovi: Up Close and Personal." That's tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," beginning at 9:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The whistleblower in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal is speaking out. Army Reservist Joe Darby went into hiding soon after handing over those incriminating photos.

CNN's Randi Kaye has more of Darby's story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Growing up near the Appalachian Mountains, Joe Darby dreamed of a career in forestry. So he joined the military to help pay for college. Eventually, as an Army Reservist, he landed at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

(on camera) What was it like working there?

JOE DARBY, U.S. ARMY: Nerve-wracking at times, because we were constantly under mortar fire. We lived for the most part in prison cells.

KAYE (voice-over): It was bad. It would get worse in ways Darby never imagined.

DARBY: The first picture that was opened up was the picture of the pyramid of Iraqis, naked male Iraqis, and you know at first, I found it amusing, but it was more out of shock, because you know, it's something you would think a fraternity would do at college.

Then as I started to get more into flipping through more photos I realized exactly what I was looking at.

KAYE (on camera): And what did you think?

DARBY: I didn't know what to think.

KAYE (voice-over): Or what to do. The pictures, more than 100 on a CD, had been given to him by this man, Specialist Charles Graner. Graner is now serving 10 years for his part in the now infamous prison abuse.

Darby had asked him for travel photos.

DARBY: I think the picture that bothered me the most was the picture you see on the Internet and on TV of the -- the male Iraqi standing with the other male Iraqi kneeling in front of him with the sandbags over their heads.

KAYE: For weeks he struggled. Should he blow the whistle? Should he turn in the photos? Darby decided he should, anonymously.

(on camera) So what, in the end, made you decide to hand them over?

DARBY: Ultimately, it was just the right -- it needed to be done, and it was the right thing -- it had to be done.

KAYE: No matter what the consequences.

DARBY: No matter what the consequences.

KAYE: For you or the military.

DARBY: Yes.

KAYE (voice-over): The suspects were all told they were under investigation but all remained there working with Darby.

DARBY: They had their weapons. They slept in the same compound I did, and they were trying to find out who turned them in. And you know, for that four to six weeks, I lived in fear, worried that they would figure out it was me. I slept with a loaded weapon under my pillow until they left.

KAYE: Darby had special worries about Graner. He remembers a picture Graner showed him of a prisoner hand cuffed to his cell.

DARBY: There was water on the floor, and Graner looked at me and he says, "The Christian in me knows it's wrong, but the corrections officer in me can't help but love to make a grown man piss himself."

KAYE: Then, without warning, Darby was suddenly outed. He was in the mess hall watching as the world heard the news.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There are many who did their duty professionally, and we should mention that, as well. First, Specialist Joseph Darby, who alerted the appropriate authorities that abuses were occurring.

KAYE: Though proud of himself, others in the military and even in his own family called him a traitor, a rat, a whistleblower. He started getting hate mail. He and his family got threats.

Fearing for her safety, his wife called the Pentagon for protection.

(on camera): Are you a traitor?

DARBY: No.

KAYE: Do you see yourself as a rat?

DARBY: No. KAYE (voice-over): Back in the states, Darby and his wife had to move. They entered military protective custody.

(on camera): How do you feel about being called a whistleblower?

DARBY (voice-over): I don't like the name, the tag that much. I view it as I was a soldier and I was an M.P., and I was just doing my job. And it was the right thing to do. They violated the law.

KAYE: But now, they can't tell anyone where they live, or who they work for.

Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: At least 11 soldiers have been convicted in connection with this scandal. Randi's report first aired on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." You can catch it weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

O'BRIEN: Well, should your kid carry a cell phone to school? A lot of parents say, don't leave home without them, but New York's mayor says, they don't belong in those backpacks. It's a heated battle, and we'll dial you in.

Plus, an important verdict that could affect thousands of people affected by Hurricane Katrina, and other hurricanes, for that matter. Was it wind or water? Both sides declaring victory. We'll explain.

Stay with us.

(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, 9/11 commissioners still angry, pushing the government to make the country safer. We'll talk to the chairman of that committee in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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