Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
North Korea Calls U.N. Sanctions Declaration of War; Secretary Rice to Travel to Asia; Violent Upsurge in Iraq; GOP Rethinking Iraq Strategy
Aired October 17, 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, CO-HOST: And classes have resumed at Gallaudet University in Washington, the nation's premiere school for the deaf. One hundred thirty-three students were arrested on Friday, demanding the resignation of incoming president Jane Fernandez.
For more on these stories, log on to our website at CNN.com.
The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING begins right now.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Good morning to you. It is Tuesday, October 17. I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien. A lot happening this morning. Let's get right to the news wall.
More harsh words from North Korea. Pyongyang calling the U.N.- imposed sanctions a declaration of war. Condoleezza Rice is heading to the region this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: Also happening this morning, no let-up to the violence in Iraq. Explosions and gunfire killed nearly 50 people in widespread attacks Monday.
S. O'BRIEN: Counting down to a population milestone. The Census Bureau is projecting that the U.S. population will hit 300 million at 7:46 a.m. Eastern Time this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: And they're trying to clean up in Texas this morning. The Houston area dealing with the aftermath of severe deadly weather, even as more storms are threatening, which brings us to Chad Myers.
Chad, what's the outlook there?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: So far, so good for Houston. It looks like the front, the dry air has moved far enough to the east that the rain will be from about New Orleans into Mobile. But notice all of the big cities that are being affected by rain. Already an hour delay at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, and it's just starting.
We're going to have delays all the way up and down the East Coast. Travel forecast in 15 minutes -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thank you. North Korea saying this morning saying that it considers U.N. sanctions a declaration of war instigated by the United States. And there are signs that North Korea could be getting ready for a second nuclear test.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae live in Seoul, South Korea this morning for us.
Jie-Ae, good morning.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, we should be used to, by now, the bellicose statements from North Korea, but this one was North Korea's first official statement after the U.N. Security Council decided to sanction North Korea for its nuclear weapons program.
In its official Korea Central News Agency, also carried by North Korean TV, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying that "the U.N. Security Council resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of war against North Korea, because it was based on the scenario of the U.S. to destroy the socialist system of North Korea." And it was quite harsh.
Now, this statement comes as there are reports that North Korea may be preparing to test another nuclear weapon. Although unconfirmed, South Korea -- one South Korea high-level official did confirm that South Korea was looking very closely at suspicious activity in North Korea but not something that would be confirmed as preparations for another nuclear test.
And in the midst of all this, there's a flurry of diplomatic activity surrounding South Korea, countries that are trying to coordinate efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions. The Russian prime minister was in town to talk with the South Korean counterpart.
And in separate meetings, the United States, South Korea and Russia tried to coordinate their efforts to get North Korea back to the negotiating table -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae for us in South Korea. Thank you.
Let's turn from Seoul now to Washington, D.C., where the Bush administration this morning is telling North Korea that another nuclear test would be a "belligerent" -- that's a quote -- act.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is live for us at the White House.
Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, when Secretary Rice arrives in Asia, she'll be bringing a strong message from the Bush administration, particularly for her counterparts in South Korea, as well as China. She'll try to reiterate that it is in their best interest to enforce tough sanctions against their neighbor, North Korea. Already, Chinese officials have expressed reservations about actually intercepting cargo, not just inspecting cargo, at the border with North Korea.
Well, Secretary Rice yesterday tried to downplay those differences and at the same time stress that the stakes are certainly high.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: North Korea cannot endanger the world and then expect other nations to conduct business as usual in arms or missile parts. It cannot destabilize the international system and then expect to exploit elaborate financial networks built for peaceful commerce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now Secretary Rice's trip comes amid fears that North Korea may, in fact, be preparing for a second nuclear test.
A U.S. intelligence official tells CNN that there is activity, or there has been activity at several sites in North Korea, but the official says it's not clear whether or not that activity amounts to preparations for an actual test. The official tells CNN that they haven't actually ruled that out but that the intelligence right now is ambiguous and not conclusive.
Meantime, asked about that possibility, Secretary Rice said if a second test were to happen, that it would only deepen North Korea's isolation, and she says she hoped North Korea would not take such a, quote, "provocative act" -- Soledad
S. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning. Thanks, Elaine -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Let's turn to Iraq now, where the violence seems to grow worse by the day. More than 100 people killed and wounded just since the weekend. CNN's Cal Perry is there -- Cal.
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles.
This was supposed to be a very peaceful time in Iraq, that is the holy month of Ramadan. We are in now week four of that month, and the violence seems to be unrelenting. As you said, over 100 people killed this weekend. And yesterday the violence continuing in Baghdad, six separate explosions killing at least 25 people, wounding dozens others.
And Iraq really finding itself fighting a two-front war, one against the insurgency, the other against sectarian violence.
The U.S. military saying today that fighting in and around the town of Balad over the weekend has killed at least 50 people -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: Cal, tell us about this weapons cache that was found in Yusufiya. What do we know about this?
PERRY: We know from reporting from CNN correspondent Arwa Damon, who's actually embedded with the 10th Mountain Division down in Yusufiya, which is in the Triangle of Death, the U.S. soldiers are sweeping through this area.
They have found hundreds of weapons caches down in this area, mainly insurgent type weapons, Miles. We're talking here about sniper rifles. We're talking about high amounts of explosives. The U.S. military saying that they have found enough explosives to make 1,000 roadside bombs, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Cal Perry in Baghdad. Thank you very much.
With violence on the rise, some Republicans are now calling for a way out of Iraq. CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Days before the midterm election, the war strategy for Iraq is under review by the Bush administration for one reason.
GEN. GEORGE CASEY, COMMANDER, U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ: We shouldn't try to sugarcoat this. The levels of violence over the last few weeks are as high as they have been.
STARR: The stay-the-course president has this message for General George Casey.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you're going to devise a new strategy, we're with you.
STARR: Republicans are now leading much of the call for change.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: We clearly need a new strategy. Obviously by any measurement, we're in a lot of trouble in Iraq. Our options are limited on how much influence we now have.
STARR: Senator John Warner put down this declaration.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: In two or three months if this thing hasn't come to fruition and if this level of violence is not under control and this government able to function, I think it's a responsibility of our government internally to determine is there a change of course that we should take.
STARR: The White House isn't arguing the point.
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You may recall the president told all of you that he agrees with Senator Warner, that you do have to adjust. STARR: One Pentagon option: force Iraqis to set target dates for taking over security, province by province. A commission co-chaired by former secretary of state, James Baker, is also expected to report its ideas on Iraq after the U.S. elections. But sources say the only consensus so far is the need for a change in strategy.
(on camera) The bottom line, the pressure is on the Bush administration to do exactly what the president said he didn't want to do: set a timetable for troop withdrawal. Think of it as turning "cut and run" into "a phased withdrawal."
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: To Hawaii now, where they're recovering quickly after that earthquake over the weekend. Emergency teams restored electricity to most of the residents. Crews are cleaning away the debris. No deaths, no serious injuries.
AMERICAN MORNING's Chris Lawrence is reporting from there this morning for us.
Chris, good morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the biggest jolt to the big island in more than 20 years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yikes.
LAWRENCE: Alex Magoon (ph) couldn't believe what the quake did to his school. Falling ceilings forced the principal to keep it closed on Wednesday.
OLAF JORGENSON, PRINCIPAL: It's definitely literally and figuratively shaken us up. But we're coming through.
LAWRENCE: Students are still dealing with the emotional aftershock of the quake, which hit Sunday morning when most were home.
MICHAEL SPETICH, STUDENT: And then I was kind of scared that the roof would fall on us because it was kind of starting to crack.
LAWRENCE: No one was hurt or killed. No major buildings collapsed.
The quake measured 6.7 magnitude, but it hit 24 miles below the surface. Compare that to 1994's North Ridge, California earthquake, which was less than 12 miles down.
(on camera) You can see where this road splintered, buckled and then just gave way. A few feet more at, say, a busier time of day, and it literally could have collapsed this entire lane of traffic.
VITA FLEMING, RESIDENT: Everything in our homes came crashing down.
LAWRENCE: The home next to Vita Fleming survived the shaking, but a power line snapped and set the house on fire. Fleming screamed at her neighbor to get out.
FLEMING: Then she come running out right through the fire, ran -- fell flat on her face. It was amazing.
LAWRENCE: Crews are still inspecting roads and bridges for structural damage. But folks who live here realize it's those violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that actually created the beauty of the big island.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, Kona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Some of the other stories we're working on for you this morning, people in southeast Texas dealing with severe flooding caused by those deadly storms.
Plus, we're keeping a close eye on a major milestone. The U.S. population is set to hit the 300 million Mark in about a half hour or so. All that's ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Here are some of the stories we're following for you this morning. North Korea calls U.N. sanctions for exploding that nuclear bomb a declaration of war.
And a CNN poll finds the Mark Foley scandal not at the top of voters' lists of worries. Americans more concerned about the war in Iraq and the economy -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: In Southeast Texas, four people are dead after thunderstorms, tornadoes and torrential rains ripped through the Houston area. Four people drowned after floodwaters (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and then submerged their vehicles. A staggering 10 inches of rain fell in and around Houston yesterday.
Let's get right to Chad Myers. Got a check of the travelers' forecast and an update of what's happening in Houston.
Hey, Chad, good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Chad, thank you very much.
As you forecast accurately just a few moments ago, there's a head count change that we need to take pause and consider for just a moment: 300 million people in this country. It's a big milestone. It's been 39 years since we had such a similar milestone: 200 million people noted in 1967. So where will it be, who will it be? It's coming up, at least according to the projections from the Census Bureau, in about a half an hour time.
Let's look at what we're talking about here in this country.
1915 was when this country moved to 100 million people. At that time we were 88 percent white, 1 percent Hispanic, 10 percent black and barely registered on Asian and other.
Now let's move ahead to 1967, see how things change: 76 percent white then. Look at the growth in Hispanic -- the Hispanic population there: 6.5 percent in 1967 as we moved into the 200 million now.
Now, 39 years later, what are we all about now? Fifty-six percent white, 20 percent Hispanic, by far the fastest-growing group, 15 percent black, 3.9 percent Asian, 3.7 percent other.
Now we are growing by a rate of about 2.8 million people a year. That's a growth rate of about 1 percent. And 40 percent comes from immigration. The rest come from births.
Take a look at the nature of our population right now. In 2006 right now, 12.3 percent of us are 65 and older. In 1967, it was 9.5 percent. In 1915, 4.5 percent. The expected at-birth rate, the longevity was only about 55.
And now here you go. Look at the life expectancy: 77.8 now; 54.5 back in 1915 when we reached the 100 million mark.
So where will the baby be born or where will this person be? Could it have already happened? We don't know the answers to all that just yet, because we're -- some -- in many respects, this is just a projection that we're talking about right now.
But take a look at the counter right there. This is what you can do. Go to the Census Bureau site. We're now at 299,999,843. And if you look at some pictures, we have some live pictures for you at a couple places where this could all happen today.
New York's -- is this New York? OK, that's New York's Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital. Ten thousand patients born there -- and doing well so far today. Ten thousand babies born there every year. Obviously, those arrived a little early for this -- for this big mark.
In Chicago, 3,000 babies born at the University of Chicago Hospital's maternity ward there. Could this be the lucky place where 300 million occurs today.
Or will it be this location in California? San Ysidro, California, a border crossing. Fifty thousand northbound vehicles every day. A lot of immigrants as a part of our 300 million head count. It might have already happened. An illegal might have snuck across the border today, already giving us that 300 million mark. Of course, as the population grows, all those people are spreading around the U.S., causing urban sprawl. We have more of that from CNN's Rusty Dornin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A farmer all his life, Albert Cagle (ph) and his father started the family dairy more than 50 years ago. About 40 miles north of Atlanta, it was once a rural outpost. Now a stone's throw from their front porch, a developer's dream.
Along with these new homes come sky-rocketing land prices. That pushed the Cagles to sell so they can move the business even farther away from the city.
ALBERT CAGLE, GEORGIA FARMER: The cost of the land has gone up so much here that you can buy an operation much cheaper somewhere else.
DORNIN: Cheaper land. That's the big reason people move out of the city. Atlanta is considered a poster child for urban sprawl.
These satellite images from 1973 to '97 show the incredible growth. The metropolitan area's population has more than doubled in the last 25 years, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission, a trend that translates into familiar woes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, you're going to find delays in both directions.
DORNIN: Commutes of more than an hour, problems with air quality, water quality and loss of green space.
But when people flee the core city, this is what can happen. Sociologist Bob Bullard went to college in this downtown Atlanta neighborhood. Now he studies what killed it and others like it.
BOB BULLARD, SOCIOLOGIST: We are so in love with our cars that we're willing to be -- you know, spend an hour, an hour and a half in the car and drive to everything. And so the fact that we have not really invested in public transportation means that you have to have a car. And so that's a major reason: cars, highways, freeways and driving to get to everywhere.
DORNIN: But those fed up with sprawl in Atlanta and other U.S. cities are fostering another movement.
BULLARD: In some cases, people are -- don't want to spend their lives in the suburbs on freeways anymore. And people want to be close in, be able to walk, jog or bike to work or to cultural events. And so it's a matter of lifestyle changes. And younger people now realize that it's not so bad living in the city. As a matter of fact, it's really great!
DORNIN: It's called the back to city movement. Buildings, once abandoned, are slowly coming back to life as residential lofts and businesses that are considered hip places to live and work.
(on camera) The only problem, say urban planners, is when places become too hip, they also become too expensive. And once again, there will be a push even further outward, taking urban sprawl to new extremes.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Again, that 300 million mark is projected for 7:46 Eastern. There you see the live information from the Census Bureau web site. Stay with us, and we'll mark the milestone together -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Quick look at some of the stories we're following for you this morning. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heading to Asia, trying to build support for U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
And the former head of the FDA strikes a plea deal on charges he left out some important information about his stock portfolio.
Much more in a moment. We're back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Some of the top stories we're following, North Korea is calling the sanctions imposed on it after its nuclear test a declaration of war.
And the maker of the injected form of flu vaccine for children 3 and under says U.S. supply will be delayed for at least three weeks -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: The former head of the FDA is in hot water over some information he failed to give to regulators. That's always a big problem, legal problem, generally.
Andy Serwer is minding your business. Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Morning, Soledad.
And you wonder where this guy's lawyer is, was. We are talking about the former head of the FDA, Lester Crawford, who will plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges. No. 1, for not disclosing stock holdings; and No. 2, for conflict of interest.
Now Crawford resigned as head of the FDA in September of 2005.
These are government forms that you fill out when you become a high government official, and he did not do it correctly. His lawyer says this is all inadvertent. But, still, it's sloppy; it's stupid; and it's hard to imagine why he got this stuff wrong.
Let's look at some of the stocks that he held that he didn't tell the government about. We've got them here: Pepsico. S. O'BRIEN: They're the big ones too.
SERWER: Yes, these are big companies.
S. O'BRIEN: They're not the kind you necessarily would forget.
SERWER: Right, $62,000 worth of Pepsi; $78,000 worth of Sysco, which is a food company. Kimberly-Clark is a problem right there, because they make some medical devices. Embrex is a biotechnology company. And he actually exercised some options of that company while he was at the FDA.
Now the problem you can see there with, say, Kimberly-Clark and Embrex, you know, those are direct problems because those are companies that the FDA may have oversight over.
As far as some of these other companies like Pepsico and Sysco, what's the problem there? Well, listen to this: he chaired a committee, a FDA working group, on obesity while he held stocks in those companies, and the outcome of that group -- in other words, they might have had findings that would affect the business of a Sysco or of a Pepsi. So you can see, that's the conflict of interest of the portion of the charge that he pled guilty for.
So you know, the stock options and stock holdings seem to be getting a lot of people in trouble these days. Not just executives of companies but also government officials, as well, we're finding out.
S. O'BRIEN: Eventually they track you down and find you.
SERWER: You've just got to come clean and disclose.
S. O'BRIEN: You know, at the beginning. Right, exactly.
What do you have ahead this morning?
SERWER: We're going to be talking about Bono. Of course, he wants to save the world and wants his native country of Ireland to do so, as well. But is he paying his fair share of taxes in Ireland? Interesting question.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that is an interesting question. Andy, thanks.
SERWER: Thanks, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: More on the stories we're working on in just a moment. Dozens of Muslim scholars send a letter to Pope Benedict pointing out mistakes in that controversial speech on Islam that he made.
Plus, we're closely watching for that major milestone: the U.S. population hitting the 300 million mark in less than 30 minutes.
Back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us. Let's go right to the news wall for some of the stories we're following this morning.
S. O'BRIEN: More bluster from North Korea. Pyongyang calling the U.N.-imposed sanctions a declaration of war. Condoleezza Rice is heading to the region this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: We're counting down to a population milestone. The Census Bureau projecting the U.S. population to hit 300 million at 7:46 Eastern Time this morning, about 16 minutes from now. We're less than 100 people away.
S. O'BRIEN: Overwhelming, the deadline.
M. O'BRIEN: Do they get to go to Disney World or anything? I mean, do they get prizes, packages, gift items. Nothing.
S. O'BRIEN: No, no. No, not a thing.
(NEWSBREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Some tough talk and some ominous signs from North Korea this morning. The Kim Jong-Il regime saying the United Nations sanctions are nothing more than a declaration of war. And there are signs the north may be prepping to explode yet another nuclear bomb. Into this fray, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her way to the region this morning.
CNN's Aneesh Raman in Tokyo to pull it altogether for us.
Aneesh, good morning.
ANEESH RAMAN, CN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, good morning to you. As Japan prepares to welcome the secretary of state tomorrow, in Pyongyang today, Kim Jong-Il decided to raise the stakes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN (voice-over): Secretary Rice is coming to rally a region, to persuade Asian allies to hold the line against a newly nuclear North Korea. And on the eve of her arrival came a diplomatic blessing, in the form of a searing statement from the regime of Kim Jong-Il.
Read on North Korean Television, it called the U.N. resolution, passed over the weekend, a declaration of war. It's just the sort of statement that may help the U.S. get wavering countries to enforce the sanctions passed by the U.N. Australia is already banning North Korean ships from its ports. And Japan, Rice's first stop, started doing so, even before the U.N. Resolution.
But there's also here a sense of practical limits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I think the Japanese government knows very well that the only thing that really matters is what China and South Korea do.
RAMAN: And that's where Secretary Rice will face a tougher audience. China condemned the statements by Pyongyang, but has stopped short of saying it will forcibly inspect all cargo going to or from North Korea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inspections, yes, but inspection is different from interception and interdiction. I think in that area, different countries will do it in different ways.
RAMAN: U.S. officials have downplayed differences, but getting China and South Korea to tighten the grip is key. And both are anxious that tough action against North Korea could destabilize the regime or cause a humanitarian crisis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: For the moment, the secretary of state, Miles, may have timing on her side. In addition to those bellicose statements, suggestions from U.S. and Japanese officials this morning, that North Korea could be preparing for a second nuclear test. All of this just underscores the threat Kim Jong-Il poses, not just to the region, but to the world -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Aneesh, the possibility of a second test here, could it be because the first one was a bit of a fizzle?
RAMAN: Yes, we've seen the long delay it to verify the tests was because it was such a small test. It was not at the level North Korea told china it was going to test its nuclear weapon. So they could, the regime of Kim Jong-Il, be essentially doing what they tried to do the last time, do a test that shows they have the capability that could be taken seriously.
At the same time, though, the timing is interesting. If they test while the secretary of state is here, it certainly rises the tension in the region. It gives her some clout to get leverage into South Korean and to China to take action, but it also underscores for both of those countries how dangerous the situation is, and how eager they are to find a diplomatic solution -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Aneesh Raman in Tokyo, thank you -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: A group of Muslim scholars is issuing a formal response to Pope Benedict for his controversial remarks about Islam. Their open letter criticizes the pope for, quote, "misreading the Koran" in a speech that pope gave last month.
Now the pope's comments triggered violent protests throughout the Muslim world. AMERICAN MORNING's Delia Gallagher joins us with an update on this story.
Nice to see you, Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH & VALUES CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
S. O'BRIEN: There are 38 leaders Muslim leaders, who got to together to draft this open letter, which is kind of a long and very specific letter. Who are these leaders?
GALLAGHER: Well, the important thing about this letter is that these are the big Muslim leaders around the world. You've got the grand muftiya (ph) of Russia, grand muftiya of Syria, of Egypt. You've got numerous scholars from many countries around the world, including two Americans.
And the interesting thing in terms of the Muslim community is you've got Shiite and Sunni schools of Islamic thought, which generally don't come together.
So you know, this is sort of a delayed response, but on the other hand, they've been working together in Jordan, putting this response together, it's very detailed, and really represents a kind of start of this dialogue, of these two different schools of thought kind of coming together.
S. O'BRIEN: It's really an academic response. One of the things that they take issue with clearly, you see in the letter, is to set the record straight, they seem to indicate, with the term holy war. They write this, "We would like to point out that holy war is a term that does not exist in Islamic languages." Why is that important.
GALLAGHER: Well, this is the term jihad," "jihad" that everybody talks about so much. They tried to distinguish between jihad meaning struggle in a sort of general sense and the idea of holy war, which they say doesn't exist. Of course they do go on to say that jihad can mean -- it means struggle in the way of God, but it can include use of force, they do admit that much, but they say that it doesn't necessarily mean war.
S. O'BRIEN: The forced conversion is another thing they take issue with, from the pope's speech that they addressed in their letter, and they write this, "The notion that Muslims are commanded to spread their faith 'by the sword'" -- that part's in quotes -- "does not hold up to scrutiny." Why was that such an important part of really what was in the pope's speech, too?
GALLAGHER: Well, because they're trying to make this distinction between the idea that the Koran says one should have forced conversion, and that maybe politically historically Islam has had forced conversion. And they say that, in fact, this been something dictated by the Koran, there would be no churches or synagogues left. So they use this kind of very sort of strong language to make their point that this is not something which is in the Koran, and they cite many, many passages throughout the Koran, of God being compassionate and not a God compelled to violence.
S. O'BRIEN: The letter goes on and on and on in pointing out sort of what they see as various discrepancies. What happens next? I mean, at some point, it sounds as if they want from the pope a, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I mean, isn't a lot about what we know about pope is, at least for Catholics, the pope's infallible. For him to say I was wrong, it's not just a, hey, my bad; it's much bigger and more significant to the church for that to happen.
GALLAGHER: Well, the pope did apologized for the reaction to the remarks.
S. O'BRIEN: But not the remarks themself.
GALLAGHER: Correct, and that's not because he's considered infallible. I mean, to be infallible is only when he's speaking on some very specific things about church doctrine, that he's infallible and that he declares himself as such. But this is clearly not a case where he was infallible. I mean, he could clearly be wrong.
But I think the whole point was to start this dialogue. I mean, we always hear about inter-religious dialogue, let's have dialogue. I mean, what is it? And really this is what it is.
And so I think that this will be welcomed by the Vatican, because this is the Muslim community taking the time to go point by point and address some of those issues. And you know, if that's not dialogue, what is? At least they're kind of getting to the real sort of intellectual points that the pope is pointing out, so (INAUDIBLE) be happy about it.
S. O'BRIEN: A big, positive first step maybe.
GALLAGHER: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Delia Gallagher. Thanks, Delia, our faith and values correspondent -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're working on this morning, parts of Texas dealing with the aftermath of some deadly storms, and all morning long we're keeping a close watch on the growing U.S. population. It'll hit the 300 million mark in less than 10 minutes, or so we're told.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Let's look at the Census Bureau site right now. This is live information. Obviously, it's a projection. Really we could have passed 300 million already. But here we are -- 299,999 -- they just took the number again -- 980. If you can put this through the telestrator for me, I'll run through the math for you.
Here we go. It' a little of math. There's one birth every seven seconds, OK? Well, that's not on TV either. And then there's one death every 13 seconds. And what happens then is an international migrant net every 31 seconds, and then the net gain of one person every 11 seconds. That number is changing every 11 seconds, and we're homing in on that 300 million mark.
There we are. This is New York. And these are some babies that showed up a little too early for the honors, but they're doing well, right? Should we listen to them? Are they still fine? OK, cue the babies. That's New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital. They do 10,000 babies a year are born there. So that could be the place. Could be Boise, Idaho.
And what are we looking at here. This is a newborn. Is that in New York? This is in the University of Chicago. Who's this lovely thing? Are these live pictures? Do we know the names?
All right, well, welcome to the world? Looks like mom, and dad, and baby are doing just fine there. Unfortunately, not 300 million, but I'm sure they're still happy this morning, nonetheless.
The other option is, given the way things go, 60 percent are from births, 40 percent from immigration.
Let's go to San Ysedro (ph), California, and this is a big border crossing -- 50,000 vehicles cross this border every day, and that could be a location where an additional person will come, an immigrant or whatever. Now we're at 299,999,988, homing in on that 300 million record.
By the way, baby names. You want to know about baby names?
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, definitely.
Soledad, where is that on the list?
M. O'BRIEN: Soledad and miles did not make it.
In 2006, our current favorites are Jacob and Emily.
In 1967, when we hit the 200 million mark, it was Michael and Lisa. And in 1915, more traditional, when we hit 100 million, John and Mary were the favorite names. So I don't know if the little baby we just saw there just born...
S. O'BRIEN: Emily maybe. A good chance, a good chance that was Emily.
M. O'BRIEN: Could be an Emily.
All right, Motor vehicle registrations -- do you want to know about motor vehicle registrations?
S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. M. O'BRIEN: OK, well, in 1915, there weren't a lot of cars. I guess you could have got that. But 2.5 million, that's actually more than I would have predicted, right? You know, the car was still relatively new and relatively expensive then. Model T was around. That was when we were 100 million. In 1967, when we had 200 million people, 98.9 million, and now we've almost got as many cars as people in this country, which explains the rush hour traffic we see most every morning.
What else do we have? Other stats for you? Let's get the head count. Let's get the Web site up one more time, see where we are right now as we look at the babies. You can't get enough of the babies. And there it is, the U.S. population estimate, this is like -- ever been in your car when your odometer is about to roll over and your driving down the road and -- oh, there it is!
Do we have a drum roll? We have a trumpet fanfare. Cue the CNN orchestra. We now -- suddenly it feels a little more crowded in the studio here, 300 million people in this country. Good thing it's a big country -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Cue the screaming babies as we reach 300 million. Congratulations, everybody. How exciting! Big question, of course, now is what does the future hold? What will the U.S. look like by the time we're reaching 400 million? AMERICAN MORNING's Alina Cho has our look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amaelian Vail is just two months old. Wide eyed and full of life, he's the future of America. But the world around him has not yet caught up.
MARJURIE VAIL, AMAELIAN'S MOTHER: I mean, I wanted Social Security to change something for him, and they didn't even have an other box. You know, and I'm, like, well, what do I choose? Do I choose black? He's both.
CHO: Marjurie Vail is Amaelian's mother. Her family's from Haiti. Her husband, Roman, is from Russia. Their baby could be the poster child for the next generation.
(on camera): America is on the verge of becoming a majority of minorities. Around the time the U.S. population reaches 400 million, the year will be 2043, and the face of America will be drastically different.
(voice-over): The U.S. Census Bureau says by 2050 the non-Latino white population will dwindle to a bare majority, 50.1 percent, down from 69 percent in 2000. During the same time, the black population will double and the Asian, Latino and mixed race population, each will triple.
Where will they go? The Census Bureau says many will flee the nation's midsection and settle in the west and the south. GARY ORFIELD, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: It could be a change that makes us a much richer country, and much more globally competent, much more able to deal with various languages and cultures, or it could be a change that divides us.
CHO: Harvard university race relations expert Gary Orfield says if the U.S. wants to remain a superpower, it must do more to educate everyone. And that, he says, will help the next generation thrive in better jobs. Orfield says it's also important to remember the past, and to face the future without fear.
ORFIELD: When the Irish came, they were seen as the doom of American civilization. When Italians came, people said they were going to corrupt everything. These folks who are coming are coming for exactly the same reason our grandfathers and great grandfathers came and really had the same dream and really want to be part of the same society.
CHO: A society with a completely different look.
VAIL: Everyone is kind of like, yes, let's mix it all up, you know, let's take away the line.
CHO: Amaelian's parents are proud to have blurred the line. The future of America has never looked so good.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: We're now at 300 million plus. How many more have we passed now? It's got to be at least 302 million or 303 million. They're projecting 400 million, of course, and we're projecting to reach that in 37 years.
You know what, info on the baby you showed -- you want a little info?
M. O'BRIEN: You want a little info.
S. O'BRIEN: The baby's name is Alexandra Marcella Ruiz (ph). Mommy is Janet Noel. Daddy is Luis Ruiz. She looks good.
M. O'BRIEN: Can they hear us? They can't hear us.
S. O'BRIEN: No, they're not hooked up.
M. O'BRIEN: They kind of came close. It'd be nice to talk to them about it if they were thinking about that. I highly doubt it.
S. O'BRIEN: They were like 299,999,996 or something. You know what, they don't care, they have a new baby, and that's all that matters.
M. O'BRIEN: No. Congratulations to them.
S. O'BRIEN: Congratulations to them.
M. O'BRIEN: It looks like everybody is doing well, and that's the most important thing.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, cute baby, huh?
M. O'BRIEN: There aren't any un-cute babies. Well, actually, there are a few. But let's not go there.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, let's not, shall we?
A look at the stories we're following for your this morning. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heading to Asia, trying to build support for U.N. sanctions against North Korea. We'll take a look at that.
Plus, Sean Callebs joins us with a look at the big problem in the waters along the Gulf Coast.
Sean, good morning.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
We know that Katrina changed the landscape in the Gulf Coast area. What you may not know is all that debris got sucked back into the Gulf waters, a big problem for the shrimping and fishing industry. We'll explain in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: We all know all too well about the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but attention is now moving from land to water. Katrina's storm surge pulled tons of trash right off the land and right into the Gulf of Mexico, and that's what's causing all of the problems.
CNN's Sean Callebs is in Biloxi, Mississippi this morning.
Good morning, Sean.
CALLEBS: Good morning, Soledad.
We're inside what used to be the Port of Biloxi office building. It looks kind of creepy right now with all the wires and stuff hanging down. But this is what happens when a 28-foot storm surge comes pounding through. You're exactly right, it changed the landscape of the entire Gulf Coast area, but it also brought a lot of that garbage back out into the Gulf of Mexico, and it's causing a lot more problems than you may imagine. The big challenge now, how to clean it all up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CALLEBS (voice-over): Mina Hasten shrimp boat survived Katrina.
MINA HASTEN, SHRIMP BOAT OWNER: These are called white shrimp.
CALLEBS: But each day she leaves the Biloxi port, she says it's like trying to navigate a mine field.
HASTEN: It's scary, it is really scary. Like I said, when a friend of ours went out in the channel and hit something and sunk his boat.
CALLEBS: Katrina's destruction up and down the Gulf Coast is well known, but what isn't is that when the surge retreated, it took a lot of wreckage with it.
Tim Osborne of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is charged with mapping the new floor of the Gulf in the wake of Katrina.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The things they're finding, couches, barca lounges, refrigerators.
CALLEBS (on camera): You're seeing things like (INAUDIBLE), bowling balls, all kinds of small things.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, home content. I mean, we have people that are bringing out king-sized mattresses. I mean, kitchen ware, step ladders.
CALLEBS (voice-over): This video shows just how murky the water is off the coast of Biloxi. Divers can barely see a foot or two in front.
NOAA's sonar-mapping machine is incredibly effective.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over here on your right, you can see debris. This is a debris field.
CALLEBS: It's much more than a nuisance. Shrimping, one of the economic linchpins in Mississippi, is down 40 percent post-Katrina, in part because the Gulf floor is still a mess.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The risks associated with what's in the water can be even higher than on land. On land, you have an opportunity to know where it is.
CALLEBS (on camera): And what it is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what it is.
CALLEBS: Eventually FEMA and the Coast Guard will use NOAA's maps to rid the gulf of debris.
HASTEN: It's just very disheartening and scary to go out there and run the risk of hitting something.
CALLEBS: But it's taken more than a year to haul away debris above ground in plain sight. Picking the Gulf floor clean will likely take years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CALLEBS: It is going to be a very tough job. The way it's going to play out, NOAA's going to continue to do its mapping, then it's going to turn over that information to FEMA and the Coast Guard that they'll send dredges, they'll ships out there to do the dredging, and slowly they'll begin pulling up automobiles, pieces of homes, everything you can imagine out there that right now are simply devastating the shrimp boats still operating in this area -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: It is amazing, when you don't see it right on the land, Sean, you don't really realize just how much junk is down there, making the same kind of impact that we see on the land still in the whole entire region.
Sean Callebs for us this morning. Thanks a lot, Sean -- Miles.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
M. O'BRIEN: A look at stories we're following for you this morning. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heading to Asia to build support for U.N. sanctions against New York. That and other top stories we're watching.
We'll be back in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
