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American Morning

War on Terror; The Reality in Iraq; America Votes 2006

Aired September 05, 2006 - 08:59   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Grieving fans around the world pay tribute this morning to the "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin. New details about the moments before he died and a look at why he was driven to live life on the wild side.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elaine Quijano.

President Bush talks about the global war on terror in just a few hours. I'll have a preview coming up.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and the president talks about the war on terror. What's the reality on the ground here in Iraq?

I'm Michael Holmes. That, too, coming up.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Candy Crowley.

Labor Day week kicks off the fall elections. How much trouble are Republicans in? And can Democrats hang on to their momentum?

I'll tell you coming up.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And, listen up, men. If you're thinking of waiting until later in life to have kids, you may want to think again.

A possible new medical risk on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.

Defining the enemy, that's what President Bush says he's going to try to do today with a second in a series of speeches on fighting global terror. It's part of the run-up to the November elections and, of course, the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

Let's get a preview now from White House correspondent Elaine Quijano.

Hey, Elaine. Good morning.

QUIJANO: Good morning to you, Soledad. Well, the president's aides say that today's speech is going to focus on the nature of the enemy that the United States is facing, how they think, and also progress that the White House says has been made in weakening the enemy. And as part of that this morning, the White House released this updated document. It is called the "National Strategy for Combating Terrorism." It's basically a follow-on to similar documents released earlier this year, and also one in 2003.

Now, there is a discussion in this document of short-term priorities for the administration in the terrorism fight. They include preventing attacks by terrorist networks, denying weapons of mass destruction to rogue states, and terrorists denying support and sanctuary of rogue states, and denying control of any nation for use as a base. Certainly some familiar themes that we have heard from the White House over the years.

Now what is interesting, of course, what's different now, this is all happening just two months before the general election, at a time when Democrats have been trying to make the case that the president and his policies and support of those policies have made the country less safe. And they point to Iraq.

Well, today we heard the president's homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, as you know, Soledad, depending the Iraq strategy.

Here is what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRAN TOWNSEND, HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: We are there now, and we have to deal with, what are our options? Our options are either to stay and support the democratically elected government there, or to pull out. And there are serious consequences to American security if we were to pull out.

I understand what you're saying about whether or not we should be there, but the fact is we are there, and the fact is we have a responsibility for our own national security, as well as that of the Iraqi, people to stay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: So, as a political debate over Iraq continues, what we are hearing now from the administration in talking about Iraq is not necessarily touting progress on the ground there in light of reports of sectarian violence. Instead, we are hearing from the administration, imagining what it might look like if the U.S. pulled out. We're going to hear the president defend his policies today. He's going to be making a speech here in Washington, Soledad, to the military Officers Association of America -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Quite a friendly audience there.

Elaine Quijano for us this morning.

Thanks, Elaine -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: While President Bush today attempts to win more public support for the war on terror, what's the reality in Iraq today?

CNN's Michael Holmes joining us from Baghdad with more on that.

Hello, Michael.

HOLMES: Hi to you, Miles. Good morning.

Yes, the reality can be described as stark. It's good to take a bit of a look around the country. The south perhaps sees less violence. The insurgency does continue, but less violence than other parts of the country.

Why? Well, many observers will say it's partly because of the tight control of militias and Shia politicians, religious people, people who are said to be under considerable Iranian influence.

I'll tell you one thing, Miles. I was talking to a security consultant who walked into a government office in the south and said that on the wall was not a picture of the Iraqi prime minister, but the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini.

Now, in the north, Kurdistan, very peaceful. Almost like another country. A building boom under way.

Kurdish Peshmergas and the politicians up there keeping it very peaceful. But the center of the country, slightly south of here, parts west, problematic. Names familiar to many people, Ramadi, Baquba, Hillah, Mahmoudiya, of course, Baghdad, this is where no matter what the president says today, Iraqis are going to say, "What progress?"

And the death tolls speak for themselves. As you've been reporting, just yesterday 40 bodies, hands bound, signs of torture, shot in the head, just here in Baghdad -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Michael, what about Iraqi security forces, Iraqi police? We hear so many different figures and different status reports on whether they are being trained. What's -- as best we can tell, what's the reality?

HOLMES: Well, the training is continuing. A lot of them go to Jordan to get trained. But the reality on the ground, particularly in Sunni areas, is they are not trusted.

I've been out with U.S. troops on the ground with Operation Together Forward, and when I've talked to Iraqi there, they say, "We're OK now. When the police come back we're not OK. They till kill us."

And the death squads that are coming and taking many Sunnis and killing them in the streets and dumping the bodies are wearing police uniforms. Now, whether they are actually police or not, that can be debated. We spent time with the interior minister the other day. He's a new guy on the block. He's coming in, he's been on the job two months. He's already fired 2,000 -- nearly 2,000 of his own staff. So there is an attempt to clean up the police force. But, Miles, they have a long way to go to win the trust of the Iraqi people.

M. O'BRIEN: Michael Holmes in Baghdad.

Thank you very much.

You can see the president's speech on global terrorism today on CNN, of course. Live coverage begins at 1:20 Eastern Time -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: With the unofficial end of summer comes the unofficial start of the fall campaign season. Republicans could be in a little bit of trouble this time around.

Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley joins us this morning with a look.

Good morning.

CROWLEY: Good morning, Soledad.

You're right. Labor Day, it's time to get on with the fall elections.

Democrats are very eager and excited. Republicans not so much.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWLEY (voice over): Want to know how much trouble Republicans are in? Go deep into the heartland to ruby red Indiana, to a Republican-leaning district, and you can hear this...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were always Republicans, and there's so many things going on now I'm just kind of backing off and not knowing -- more or less going Independent.

CROWLEY: Welcome to the 2nd district of Indiana, represented by two-term Republican Chris Chocola.

REP. CHRIS CHOCOLA (R), INDIANA: I think it's much like the rest of the country. There's a challenging environment for Republicans.

CROWLEY: Yes. Begin with this: the latest numbers from CNN and Opinion Research Corporation. An unpopular president, an unpopular war, and $3 a gallon gas is a trifecta. Democrats are looking for a big payoff and Republicans are looking at a big problem.

Depending on who you talk to nationwide, there are about 46 competitive House seats, 36 of which are now held by Republicans. With 62 days until the election, there's no time to pretty this up.

The Republican Congressional Committee called it "... a desperate situation nationwide..." Appealing for money, the committee warned, "Our candidates in targeted districts are in very serious danger of losing..."

The Senate worries Republicans less, but it is worrisome enough. To be in charge of the Senate, Democrats need to hold on to what they've got and pick up six seats. As it happens, six Republican seats look vulnerable.

The truth is, Democrats had little do with their catbird seat. Nationally, the new poll shows most people don't approve of either party.

JENNIFER DUFFY, COOK POLITICAL REPORT: In this cycle, voters don't like either party. They just dislike Democrats a little less.

CROWLEY: Which is to say, Democrats' biggest asset is they're not Republicans.

Back in Indiana, too, Democrat Joe Donnelly wants to cull his job.

JOE DONNELLY (D), INDIANA HOUSE CANDIDATE: People feel that instead of standing up for them, the government has stood up for the special interests. They want new representation. They want change.

CROWLEY: With voters clearly soured on the status quo and Democrats selling change, what's a Republican to do?

AMY WALTER, COOK POLITICAL REPORT: Well, so, you say to voters essentially, you know, "Here's your choice. I know you're mad at me. I know you don't like what's going on in Washington. But do you really want to elect this person? Can you really trust this person?"

CROWLEY: It's not over, but the prospects are dire enough that even Republicans don't talk about gaining seats, but about holding on to enough of them to keep control of Congress.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CROWLEY: Not that Democrats are completely comfortable, given their history. As one Democrat said, "Never underestimate our ability to embrace our inner defeatist."

S. O'BRIEN: Ooh. But it's not a given, is it, that Republicans in fact will lose seats?

CROWLEY: It's -- you know, look, even if you talk to Republicans, they are worried they are going to lose seats. The question is, you know, by how much?

I mean, the game here is, get the majority. And so Republicans want to maintain it, obviously. And their whole thing is this is not a national election. This is about, you know, two candidates up against each other, whereas the Democrats are...

S. O'BRIEN: The implications are less.

(CROSSTALK) CROWLEY: That's right.

S. O'BRIEN: It's not about the war, it's not about the country, it's about that person.

CROWLEY: It's not about Bush, it's not about Iraq. It's about you and me. Me and this guy.

S. O'BRIEN: Is that true, you think?

CROWLEY: And -- well, you know, some Republicans are doing that better than others. It sometimes can work, and it really depends on the candidate and how good they are. Democrats obviously just want it to be about Iraq and Bush.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. That would be easier for them, certainly.

CROWLEY: Absolutely.

S. O'BRIEN: We'll see how they do.

Candy Crowley, of course, part of the best political team on TV.

Thanks -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, mourners paying tribute today to the "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin. He died yesterday after being stung by a stingray. The attack captured on videotape. Irwin stayed conscious long enough to pull the stinger out of his chest.

An assassination attempt in Lebanon today. The target, a high- ranking security official. Four died in the convoy. They were security personnel. But the target, Colonel Samir Shehadeh, was only slightly hurt. He helped investigate the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

He's back. Cuba's Fidel Castro says the worst is over and he's in no hurry to rush his recovery. These pictures you see here prove he's lost 41 pounds since his intestinal surgery, now a month ago.

Authorities taking part in New York's largest manhunt ever say they are tightening the noose in the hunt around -- in the hunt for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips, the escaped inmate accused of shooting two troopers last week. One died, the other is in serious condition. Police are warning hunters to stay out of the woods in western New York for fear they might be mistaken for the fugitive.

Cleanup this morning in parts of Tampa after too much rain fell too fast. All the rain caused a two-block area of the city to flood. Cars stalled out in the high waters and residents worked to prevent a dangerous situation, putting manhole covers back in place after they popped off because of the rising water.

Heavy rains flooded parts of Rockford, Illinois, as well. Police say residents are most likely going to face standing water on many street this morning. Ability 50,000 lost power yesterday at the height of that storm.

And a pretty big tropical depression on the far horizon. Our severe weather expert, Chad Myers, is tracking what could be Flo.

Hello.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right, could be Florence. Good morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a look at thrill seekers. What makes people like Steve Irwin crave the rush of doing something dangerous? We'll take a look at those who seek danger.

M. O'BRIEN: Back to school time for children in Israel, but rebuilding those kids' confidence may be harder than repairing the schools in the wake of all those Hezbollah rocket attacks.

And searching for the causes of autism. Could the answer rest, at least in part, with the father's age?

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: New York Senator Charles Schumer is out with another report card on 9/11. This would be his fourth.

Senator Charles Schumer joining us now to talk about it.

Not very good grades, Senator Schumer. Tell us in essence what you found.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Well, what we basically found is a lack of resources, a lack of focus, some politics has made homeland security not close to what it should be. We're certainly safer than we were on September 10, 2001, but we have such a long way to go in area after area.

M. O'BRIEN: You give it a letter grade. The letter grade is C-.

SCHUMER: Right.

M. O'BRIEN: Tell us a little bit how you conducted the investigation. You said field troops out to...

SCHUMER: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: I mean, how do you -- how do you go about it?

SCHUMER: Well, first, homeland security has been an issue that I've cared about a lot as New York's senator ever since 9/11, and we've stayed on top of all of these issues. And second, yes, we go do updates and see how much better they are doing here, here, here, here. And it's just not very good.

The department is large. It's unwieldy. It shifts from issue to issue. And they don't have enough money. So, one example, a week or so before the London incident, where they were going to use liquid -- liquid explosives, they had cut in half the liquid explosive research budget to try and deal with detection devices for them.

M. O'BRIEN: It's a harsh report, though.

SCHUMER: It is harsh.

M. O'BRIEN: Nothing gets an A. To the extent that this feeds into a perception that Democrats are maybe whining about all of this, how do you respond to that?

SCHUMER: OK. First, you've got to call the shots as you see them. Second, you certainly don't want to be in the "what if" situation.

What if, god forbid, there's another terrorist incident and a day later we say, "What if we had done some of these things?" These things are obvious.

On truck security, Brazil does a better job than we do. On port security, Hong Kong checks 100 percent of its containers. We check five percent.

These are easy and simple things. And here's the problem: too many in the administration, too many in the Congress have walked the -- talked the talk, but they don't walk the walk. They say, "We have to do this, here's $5 million," when the program really requires a $100 million.

And so the Homeland Security Department is sort of like, you know, the proverbial bed, where there are eight kids in the bed and enough blankets for four. They keep pulling and pulling. It would cost more, but not close to what the war on terror overseas is costing us.

M. O'BRIEN: But the Republicans would tell you the proof is in the pudding. It's almost five years now since 9/11. No attack on U.S. soil.

SCHUMER: Well, that's -- thank god there hasn't been, but you have to do everything you can. You don't want it to happen just once. And there are just too many areas here where we're wide open.

The terrorists are on the Internet. They know what we're doing. And this is -- you know, when you think about how much effort the administration has put into the war on terror overseas, and then how little effort and resources in particular they put into the war at home, any basketball coach will tell you, you need a good offense and a good defense. This is a down-the-middle report. We give them credit in aviation security and in nuclear plant security, but in some areas they are doing virtually nothing. And when other countries that have lower budgets and less technology than we do are ahead of us, we shouldn't be very happy.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's shift gears here slightly and talk about Iraq. Many Democrats are advocating some sort of phased withdrawal from the country.

Let's listen to the homeland security adviser to the president, who was on just a few moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOWNSEND: We would leave the territory to them on which to operate and plan attacks against the United States and against U.S. interests and against our allies around the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

M. O'BRIEN: Well, we kind of upcut there.

SCHUMER: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: She said, "If we cut and run." And so, basically, the way that Fran Townsend has laid it out...

SCHUMER: Right.

M. O'BRIEN: ... is the option is to stay and support democracy or it is -- it is abandon that.

SCHUMER: Yes, it's a...

M. O'BRIEN: I mean, we can all do the Monday morning quarterback as to whether it was a good idea to go there in the first place.

SCHUMER: Right.

M. O'BRIEN: But what do you say to that?

SCHUMER: Miles, well, let me just say this, the choice is not simply continue to do what we're doing, which is not working, or just pick up and leave. There are lots of alternatives in between. Republicans like Chuck Hagel and John McCain have talked about some of those alternatives.

The bottom line is, this is devolving into a civil war, where the Sunnis and the Shiites and the Kurds all hate each other. We cannot end that civil war. We should not be patrolling that civil war.

We should be focused on terrorism. And what we Democrats have called for is a year of redeployment, where we focus on counter- terrorism, force protection, training and logistics. They do not have a plan. The American people see that. And this idea of calling names, you know, "cut and run," or "appeasement," isn't going to work.

You know, it worked in 2002 and it worked in 2004 because Americans were basically happy with our foreign policy. Now they are not. They're demanding answers.

They're getting some answers from Democrats, but none from Republicans, other than sloganeering. That's what is helping us in these elections.

M. O'BRIEN: Chuck Schumer, thanks for your time.

SCHUMER: Thank you, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: And we'll be back with more in a moment, including a link found between older men and autism. We'll ask one of the authors of the study about that suspected connection.

Plus, wild and crazy Megan Mullally from TV's "Will and Grace," she's got a new gig. She'll be a guest in our studio.

Stay with us for that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: In this morning's "House Call," a new study that suggests that men who became fathers in their 40s and beyond are even more likely to have autistic children.

Dr. Jeremy Silverman is professor of psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He's also one of the study's authors. And he joins us.

Nice to see you. Thanks for talking with us.

DR. JEREMY SILVERMAN, MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Nice to see you.

S. O'BRIEN: Who did you look at? Who did you study for this study?

SILVERMAN: What we did, we took advantage of the wonderful records that Israel has on its whole population, and we looked at the births that occurred in the 1980s. And then we looked at the -- that sample that -- where we had complete information about the age of the mothers and the fathers. And what we found was that those children who had fathers that were 40 and over when they were born were about six times more likely to have autism than -- than, say, the children of fathers that were -- were younger, were 15 and to about 30, or so.

S. O'BRIEN: It's a pretty startling result. Six times more likely if you're between the age of 40 and 49 to have a child who is autistic, compared to a younger father.

What do you think explains that -- I guess genetically speaking?

SILVERMAN: You know, we had seen -- members of our team had looked at something similar in schizophrenia. So we were already thinking a little bit about this question.

The fact is that older fathers are -- fathers -- males continue to produce sperm throughout their lives. And what happens is, as men get older there are just increasing numbers of mutations and other genetic anomalies that take place. So at least the working hypothesis that we're focused on is the possibility that there are just simply more genetic mutations that are occurring at those ages.

S. O'BRIEN: Does the correlation follow as you followed the parents older and older? Did fathers in their 50s have even more incidence of autism? And I don't know if you had anybody in their early 60s...

SILVERMAN: We didn't. But we did have -- we did have people in their -- in their -- in their 50s, and we did find there was a kind of a trend. But the numbers were smaller there. So that what we tended to do was really 40 and above for our major analyses. We really looked at that.

S. O'BRIEN: Otherwise, it wasn't really statistically significant.

SILVERMAN: Exactly.

S. O'BRIEN: So, outside of schizophrenia, were there other diseases that have been proven to have a correlation to the age of the father?

SILVERMAN: There are other genetic defects that have been shown. And that was one of the reasons why schizophrenia was first looked at, because there have been certain genetic defects that are associated with increased paternal age, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: My nephew is autistic, and so I'm so focused on the research in this. And it seems to me that there's been this explosion in autism almost over the last 10 years or so.

Is that the case? And would this explain the explosion in numbers, do you think?

SILVERMAN: Well, that's -- that's one of the things I think is so exciting really about this study, is that while there are all kinds of reasons that might explain this explosion, one is just increased awareness and detection, changes in criteria. All of these are important factors. But it may well be there is -- there has been a change in the age at which fathers become parents. That there's been a tendency for parenthood to take place later and later.

S. O'BRIEN: And that correlates with the growth in autism?

SILVERMAN: And so that that may well -- this may well be a factor that helps to explain why we see thin creased incidence in autism.

S. O'BRIEN: It's a fascinating study.

SILVERMAN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Dr. Jeremy Silverman, nice to see you.

He's from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Thanks a lot. We appreciate it.

SILVERMAN: Thank you.

S. O'BRIEN: Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, the "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin, certainly tempted fate. Was it more than an adrenaline rush? Was it in his genes?

And spying on the pope. Who was looking on -- in on John Paul II?

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Opening bell on Wall Street. Hear the bell now.

S. O'BRIEN: Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

M. O'BRIEN: Doesn't it do it at 45? No -- 50.

S. O'BRIEN: Three more seconds. Here we go, right here.

M. O'BRIEN: Sorry. I had my time off.

(BELL RINGING)

M. O'BRIEN: There we go. The Dow Jones Industrials average begins trading at 11,464, up 83 points Friday.

Thank you, gentlemen, for listening to our requests for ringing the bell.

Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.

The White House is putting out some new details in an anti- terrorism strategy this morning. It's ahead of the president's speech. The president is going to make the speech this afternoon about the war on terror. And all of this comes as some Republicans are now calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to step down.

CNN's Jamie McIntyre live for us at the Pentagon. Jamie, good morning.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, you know, the -- Secretary Rumsfeld is showing no signs at this point he's feeling the heat from all this criticism. Of course there have been calls for his resignation for over a year, probably over two years, and his defense to critics who say his speech last week was divisive and labeled his critics as unpatriotic is, read the speech. In fact, he sent a letter to Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill saying he wanted to constructive dialogue and that they should go back and look at his remarks.

Well, the Democrats have looked at them again, and they still don't like them a second time. And now they're pushing through this resolution, a vote of no confidence. In some ways, it's just symbolic, because of course the secretary serves at the pleasure of the president, not at the pleasure of the Congress. But it's a way of making this about Rumsfeld's war, much as critics of the Vietnam War tried to label that McNamara's war, and make it about Rumsfeld, who has become a lightning rod for criticism, as, frankly, things haven't been that well in Iraq -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Jamie, it's really a symbolic move. Do you think there's any real chance that the secretary would actually resign?

MCINTYRE: Knowing him, and he's very -- some people say he's stubborn. Others would say he's very determined and self-confident. He's not the kind of guy who would resign while he's under fire. He might leave if he had a health problem or the president obviously asked him to go, but you know, he offered his resignation twice in the past. President Bush said no. And he's pretty much made it clear that he's not offering again. So unless President Bush asked him to step down he's likely to stick it out to the very end just to stick it to his critics.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that could happen.

Jamie McIntyre for us at the Pentagon. Thanks, Jamie.

You can see the president's speech on global terrorism today on CNN. Our live coverage will begin at 1:20 p.m. Eastern Time.

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: That shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah still holding which is making for a nail biting return to school for kids. and parents, who spent a good part of their summer vacation in bomb shelters.

CNN's Chris Lawrence has more from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In northern Israel, this is the new normal. Student who used to show off school trophies show us where rockets ripped through the school. Classrooms blasted apart in the cleanup will take months.

TEREZ ABU MURAD, ISRAELI STUDENT: It's not easy to go through something like this when you're 15, or 16 or 17 years old.

LAWRENCE: And almost impossible when you're 10.

Ten-year-old Noa says she helped look after her grandparents, whose home was hit by a Katyusha. Her friend, Cher (ph), is still afraid, because of speeches she heard from the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

More than 1,000 rockets landed here Kiryat Shmona. The girls' classroom took a direct hit. It's one of the few places where repairs were finished in time for the first day.

(on camera): Eventually the bomb shelters can be reinforced, the schools rebuilt. But restoring some children since the security could be a lot harder.

ALAN COHEN, PSYCHOLOGIST: Some of them are so reluctant to leave their parents, they won't go to the shower or bathroom by themselves.

LAWRENCE (voice-over): Teams of psychologists are being dispatched to northern Israel to support the parents and teachers there.

COHEN: Children want assurance from the parents it's not going to happen again, and they can't in all honesty give that.

LAWRENCE: Students are coming back to class having spent half the summer in bomb shelters.

MURAD: It's not easy to forget war especially when people die and soldiers die.

LAWRENCE: Some kids are naturally resilient. They've already bounced back. After all, these are Israeli children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First of all, it's not our first war.

LAWRENCE: Almog Bitton is starting his last year of school.

ALMOG BITTON, ISRAELI STUDENT: My life I've experienced, like at least I remember three wars. I know there were more.

LAWRENCE: Almog and other seniors are keeping a close eye on the peace process. Because of Israel's mandatory military service, this time next year there'll be soldiers, not students.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Kiryat Shmona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: The Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin may have been a natural-born risk taker. There's new science out that says some of us can't live without putting ourselves in danger.

M. O'BRIEN: These days it's no longer Macy's versus Gymbal's (ph); it's Macy's versus Macy's -- in the same mall. We ask, why?

And Megan Mullally is our guest. You heard her wisecracks and one-liners on "Will and Grace." Got a lot more to say about her new talk show. That's ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Steve Irwin's zoo in Australia is open again today. One park worker said he'd kick our butts if we didn't. Fans still adding flowers and notes to a makeshift memorial at the park. Irwin killed in a stingray attack yesterday. He was stung as he swam over the ray. The camera was rolling, and the tape shows Irwin pulling that stingray barb out of his chest before lost consciousness. Irwin rocketed to worldwide fame by taking on all kinds of scary reptiles, from big crocodiles to poisonous snakes. Risky business indeed. What makes people like Irwin risk life and limb for that rush of adrenaline.

Here's CNN's Peter Viles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE IRWIN, "THE CROCODILE HUNTER": Have a go at this whopper.

PETER VILES (voice-over): Why did he do it? A lifetime stalking dangerous, wild animals. And why do these kids barrel down a mountain on skateboards? Why do some surfers need 40-foot waves? In short, what makes some of us thrill seekers?

The legendary big wave rider Greg Noel (ph) says it's about adrenaline.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just have your adrenaline dripping out of your ears, paddle back out, do it again.

VILES: Scientists at UCLA believe it's genetic, that thrill seekers brains are wired differently, causing them to get less pleasure from everyday life than the rest of us.

DR. DAVID FEINBERG, UCLA: Regular pleasurable activity is not as pleasurable to them as it is to others. We're talking probably close to 20 percent of the population.

VILES: When they push the limit, they often find what's missing.

FEINBERG: Being a thrill seeker has positives and negatives. The negatives that we've looked at, and shown very clearly at UCLA, that these thrill-seeking genes are associated with increased rates of alcoholism and substance abuse. On the other hand, thrill seekers are the explorers are that extremely valuable to our society.

VILES: The gene theory, though, is just that -- a theory.

FRANK FARLEY, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY: There is no way that the complexity of human risk taking can be reduced to a gene.

VILES: Psychologist Frank Farley coined the phrase type-T personality, 'T' for thrills. He says Einstein was a type T, and so was Steve Irwin.

FARLEY: They thrive on risk and on uncertainty, the unknown. They're adventurers. They're self confident. They believe that they control their destiny. They tend to be rule breakers, and they're often very innovative and creative.

VILES: And a little afraid. Big wave surfers say fear is part of the rush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paddling as if you are trying to catch a wave, only you're trying to get out of there.

VILES: Even the crocodile hunter felt it.

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: You must have fear?

IRWIN: Yes, yes, jammed in the back of my brain. I think everyone has got a fear mechanism, that I try and keep it, you know, suppressed.

VILES: Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: After a break we're going to talk to Gerri Willis. She's minding our business this morning. And Megan Mullally of "Will and Grace," is she really that crazy character she shows on that show, or awfully gifted actress, or fantastic talk show host? We're going to ask her all ahead. She's our guest. That's next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: "CNN NEWSROOM," with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins just a few moments ago.

Heidi Collins, how are you? Welcome. We're glad to have you with us.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, thank you very much, Miles. How're you guys doing up there.

We have a brand new show today, "CNN NEWSROOM." At the top of the hour today, Congress, as you know, is back in town. A quick 25 days of lawmaking, then the campaign trail. We look at the abbreviated agenda there. And also mourning in Australia. It could be a state funeral for TV's Croc Hunter Steve Irwin that we've been talking about.

And also chubby toddlers. Their cute waddle gets a lot of "awws" from grownups, but now evidence that pudgy babies actually run a greater risk of becoming fat teens. So not good news there. We will be watching all of those stories and anything else that happens over the next couple of hours starting at 10:00, guys.

Back to you.

M. O'BRIEN: See you in just a little bit. Thank you, Heidi.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

S. O'BRIEN: "A.M. Pop" this morning. Fresh off winning her second Emmy for playing the boozy socialite floozy Karen Walker on "Will and Grace," Megan Mullally is switching show business gears. Going to host her own talk show. "The Megan Mullally Show" debuts on September 18th.

Megan Mullally joins us this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGAN MULLALLY, "THE MEGAN MULLALLY SHOW": I think that sometimes when the actors are up for the same award and there's like debate like this, they settle it with an act-off. You game?

(APPLAUSE)

MULLALLY: Let the 2006 supporting act-off begin. Supporting actress act-off!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: I wanted to see the act-off. That's so funny. Nice to see you, Megan. Thanks for talking with us.

MULLALLY: Thanks for having me.

S. O'BRIEN: Debuts on Monday. Are you nervous?

MULLALLY: A week from Monday, the 18th.

S. O'BRIEN: The 18th, right. The 18th.

MULLALLY: I'm probably too dumb to be nervous, apparently. But I'm very excited, and we've been having a lot of fun.

S. O'BRIEN: Why did you decide to do a talk show?

MULLALLY: I grew up loving to watch talk shows and variety shows. And this is kind of a good blend of the two of those. When I was growing up, it was back in the day of "The Tonight Show," Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, all of those shows. And then Carol Burnett and "Laugh In" and the Smothers Brothers and a million variety shows.

S. O'BRIEN: So it's going to be more of a variety show than a talk -- than a classic talk show?

MULLALLY: It is.

S. O'BRIEN: Or a mixture of all that?

MULLALLY: Well, it's kind of a mix. But we have a celebrity guest on every show. We have also have non-celebrities. And we have this great interactive Web site where people can go and take part in these creative challenges that we're going to be throwing out there every day. But we're doing sketches. We have a live band. I'm going out in the field and doing comedic taped pieces. We've got correspondents out in the field. So we've got a lot going on, lady.

S. O'BRIEN: It sounds like a lot going on. It sounds really funny, too. And it sounds really different. Some of the past efforts that failed, where they basically take actor, put them in a chair and have them do interviews. I mean, you have to look for things -- you've got a list of actors who have tried to do talk shows, didn't work. Rosie, of course, widely successful. Ellen, widely successful.

MULLALLY: Yes, and Rosie is starting back again today.

S. O'BRIEN: That's right. Today at 11:00 a.m. here in New York, her big debut. So do you look at Rosie and Ellen and say, OK, here's what Ellen's doing, ooh, that was good, I was like that, ooh, I shouldn't do this?

MULLALLY: I shouldn't -- you know, I shouldn't wear a blonde wig and blue contact lenses? Oh, OK. No, you know, what we've tried to do is basically -- I'm kind of a nighttime talk show person. And I've basically gone through all the great talk shows that I've loved and stolen all of my favorite...

S. O'BRIEN: Good work. Good work. That's what they -- you know, flattery.

MULLALLY: Yes, that's the way I like to do it.

S. O'BRIEN: So do you -- did you want to -- does this mean you can't act anymore? I mean, because you had a busy schedule, if you're out in the field.

MULLALLY: I am not forbidden from acting.

S. O'BRIEN: You're not forbidden from...

(CROSSTALK)

MULLALLY: I don't think, any way.

S. O'BRIEN: But I mean, timewise.

MULLALLY: You know, I just did -- I'm doing an episode of "Campus Ladies," that show that -- Cheryl Hines is one of the producers of on Oxygen, I believe it is. Really funny show. I'm doing that next week. And I did a voice in an animated movie for Disney that Jerry Seinfeld wrote, is producing and is doing the lead for.

S. O'BRIEN: What animal are you?

MULLALLY: Well, it's called "Bee Story," B-E-E, and I'm playing the queen bee.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh!

MULLALLY: Yes. And I got to..

S. O'BRIEN: That's very nice.

MULLALLY: It was very nice.

S. O'BRIEN: If you're going to play bee, you should be the queen bee.

MULLALLY: Exactly. That's what I say.

S. O'BRIEN: Is it hard to kind of fit it all in, though?

MULLALLY: Yes, but, you know, once you kind of get going, it's easier to just keep going. And once you stop, that's when you're in trouble.

S. O'BRIEN: Don't stop, don't sleep, you'll be fine. You'll be absolutely fine. What can you tell us about your line-up on September 18? Who will see? It's the day before a big birthday, by the way, for me.

MULLALLY: Oh, really. Well, happy -- well, that's why we're doing it, then.

S. O'BRIEN: Thank you!

MULLALLY: In honor of your birthday.

S. O'BRIEN: Thank you. That's exciting. So who are we going to see?

MULLALLY: We're going to see Mr. Will Ferrell.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, love him.

MULLALLY: Yes. And Miss Jenny McCarthy.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, nice, nice.

MULLALLY: And a lot of high jinx.

S. O'BRIEN: High jinx shall ensue?

MULLALLY: Yes, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: I think they really will. I'm looking forward to this show.

MULLALLY: Thanks.

S. O'BRIEN: It sounds like it's going to be great.

MULLALLY: Thank you.

S. O'BRIEN: Megan Mullally joining us this morning. Best of luck to you.

MULLALLY: Thanks, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: I hope it goes off really well.

Miles?

M. O'BRIEN: You know, they never do shows with low jinx. Why not? There's always high jinx.

S. O'BRIEN: No, low jinx are less fun than high jinx.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, is that it? Go with the high jinx. All right, thank you very much. Good to be here.

Coming up at the top of the hour, a New York man hunt to tell you about. The break in the case that wasn't. The fugitive look-a-alike. We'll tell you about that.

And a late hit. Unnecessary roughness, too. A football coach making a tackle at a youth game. Now the penalty. More AMERICAN MORNING after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: This is sort of the mean person of the day. Look at this little girl. She's running through a laundromat. This video coming to us from Providence, Rhode Island. And then this guy, he's just grabbed a $20 bill from that 7-year-old. She was with her mom, trying to get change at the laundromat.

M. O'BRIEN: He just snatched it from her. He said, here, give me your $20, and he's gone. And she's like, but, what, wait?

S. O'BRIEN: So then, you can see, he kind of runs out of there. And -- but he was -- the little girl was able to give a description. And he was arrested. Or a suspect, I should say, was arrested and police now charge that suspect with second degree robbery. What kind of slimeball steals $20 from a 7-year-old? I mean, as they say there's a special place in hell reserved for people with those sorts of...

M. O'BRIEN: I mean, he had just come off a football field having tackled this young... S. O'BRIEN: Other story of the day.

M. O'BRIEN: ... kid. But we had a couple of winners today.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, and new lows, really. Winner of the new low award on AMERICAN MORNING, won by that gentlemen right there. We don't know your name, but maybe we'll see you in court.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, big loser.

All right. That's all from us for this edition of AMERICAN MORNING. We're glad you're with us. "CNN NEWSROOM" picks up the ball now. Tony Harris and Heidi Collins. Good to see you both there.

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