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American Morning

Next Course of Action for War in Iraq Taking Shape at Pentagon; Baghdad Kidnappings; Gates Ready for Iraq?

Aired November 14, 2006 - 08:00   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news out of Iraq this morning. More than a hundred people kidnapped from a science lab in Baghdad. We're live with the very latest details straight ahead.

M. O'BRIEN: And you thought the elections were over. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani now laying the groundwork for a possible presidential bid. We're looking at 2008.

S. O'BRIEN: Plus, a health alert. A new study shows a troubling link between red meat and breast cancer.

Those stories and much more ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN: Good morning, Tuesday, November 14th.

I'm Miles O'Brien.

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

Thanks for being with us.

M. O'BRIEN: We begin in Iraq, that brazen attack in Baghdad this morning. And the next course of action for the war overall now taking shape at the Pentagon.

We have two reports. Michael Ware is in Baghdad. And Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon.

We begin with Barbara.

Barbara, good morning.

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

Well, the dilemma for the generals now, how to accommodate the new political reality after the midterm elections and still give their best military advice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice over): Senior U.S. military commanders are writing their own options for the next steps in Iraq, work they had secretly begun even before the midterm elections.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: They are scrubbing now possible options that they can recommend to the president.

STARR: The generals have known for weeks they must find a way to bring troops home sooner rather than later. Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace began closed-door meetings weeks ago with officers recently back from Iraq.

GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN: I think the serious issue on the table is, what are the strategic objectives of the United States in the war on terrorism? And what is going right in the pursuit of those objectives? And what is not going right and should be changed?

STARR: This Friday, Pace and the chiefs will meet in the tank, their highly-secure Pentagon conference room, to begin finalizing their plans.

In Baghdad, General John Abizaid told Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki Monday that his government must exert more control. Abizaid will be on Capitol Hill Wednesday, the first senior commander to testify since the election.

The incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee already is pressing for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops as a means of pressuring the Iraqis.

LEVIN: It's not a matter of training 100 percent or 90 percent or 80 percent, or equipping 100 percent or 90 percent or 80 percent of the Iraqi forces. It's a matter of political will in Iraq. That is the key ingredient which has been missing.

STARR: With Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on his way out, Levin thinks the generals will now be more candid.

LEVIN: Not just an understanding of the need to look at some new options, but also a willingness to do what perhaps we were too reluctant to do prior to the election, which is to state those publicly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: But Miles, if the generals decide to get more publicly candid now, the question might be, where was that public candor before the midterm elections -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Good question.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

More on that developing story.

Let's get right to Michael Ware in Baghdad. We'll ask him about the generals and potential change in strategy in Iraq in a moment. But first, Michael, bring us up to date on this brazen kidnapping that we saw unfold today.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's safe to say, Miles, that the capital, Baghdad, is reeling from this morning's developments.

What we saw a little over an hour ago is the minister for higher education, in a nationally televised address to parliament, confirmed that about six hours ago, approximately 10:00 a.m. local time, as many as 80 armed men in government uniforms driving more than 20 vehicles surrounded not just this government higher education facility, essentially a research institute, but also sealed off the streets around it. They then went in and had 20 minutes to systematically move through the four-story building, corralling women into one locked room and then physically taking away between what the minister said was 100 to 150 hostages.

Now, local police put the number somewhat lower. But nonetheless, this massive operation which required huge coordination took place in broad daylight in the heart of the capital. What does this say about this Iraqi government, about this American partner, during a period of American strategic limbo -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: That's the big question. That takes us back to what we were just talking about with Barbara Starr there.

If the U.S. is telling the prime minister, Maliki, there, you have to step up to the plate, it doesn't appear that the Iraqi government is anywhere close to being capable. Where were the authorities this morning?

WARE: Well, theoretically, the authorities protect this institution like they protect all others. And the area of Baghdad where this institution happens to be located is one of the most protected areas outside the Green Zone.

There's a number of ministers, there's the residence of the president, there's all sorts of security organizations within this area. So the generals -- the American generals are wrong. There's not a lack of political will on the part of this government to attack the militias. This government are the militias, and their political will is strong. It's just that it does not match American interests.

So, at this stage, we don't know if this was a militia or insurgent operation, but it's one of the most stunning and breathtaking we've seen for some time -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Michael Ware in Baghdad.

Thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: A rare public split between Iraq war allies. British Prime Minister Tony Blair calling on President Bush to talk to Iran and Syria as a way to end the fighting in Iraq. President Bush is resisting those calls, though. Will his nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon have a different opinion?

AMERICAN MORNING'S Dan Lothian has a look this morning. He's in Washington, D.C.

Good morning, Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, President Bush says he's looking forward to interesting ideas in the search for solutions in Iraq, but every step of this process is being closely scrutinized. And Robert Gates' past and present is in the spotlight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN (voice over): It's a tall order for secretary of defense nominee Robert Gates -- find a solution for success in Iraq.

LAWRENCE KORB, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: In many ways, the expectations may be too high.

LOTHIAN: With so much at stake, there's no shortage of options.

LEVIN: We should pressure the White House to commence the phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq in four to six months.

LOTHIAN: Timetables are being discussed, along with once unthinkable partnerships with countries like Iran and Syria.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: A major part of the answer to Iraq lies not in Iraq itself but outside it.

LOTHIAN: Gates, fresh from his stint at the Iraq study Group, has, perhaps, a fresh perspective. But will that make his job any easier? And what can he do that Donald Rumsfeld couldn't?

KORB: He's not going to come in with a world view that Rumsfeld had that, you know, America could basically solve all the world's problems. Bob Gates will pay more attention to his staff and to the professionals.

LOTHIAN: But Frank Gaffney, at the Center for Security Policy, says changing the guard doesn't guarantee success.

FRANK GAFFNEY, CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY: You're going to get some changes, all right, but I think they're going to make things worse, not better.

LOTHIAN: Gaffney says Rumsfeld had a better understanding of the nature of the problem. And there are still lingering questions about Gates' past, accusations that the former CIA director slanted intelligence on the Soviet Union and Contra rebels to support his administration's policy.

LEVIN: The important thing with Mr. Gates is whether or not he's independent, whether or not he's going to speak truth to power. LOTHIAN: But Gates has always maintained his analysis was honest. Larry Korb, at the Center for American Progress, agrees.

KORB: That was Gates' view rather than him trying to please his civilian masters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN: To point out that while so much attention is being focused on the office at the Pentagon, ultimately the decision on what happens in Iraq is up to the president -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Dan Lothian for us this morning.

Thank you, Dan.

Let's get into a look at what else is happening this morning.

A new study about red meat and breast cancer out of Harvard. It took a look at more than 90,000 women, and here's what they found. The more red meat the women ate in their 20s and 30s and 40s, the greater the risk for breast cancer. Women who ate red meat nearly one and a half times a day face nearly twice the risk of breast cancer.

Just in time for flu season, there is a warning about one of the most popular flu medicines. The government is urging warning labels for Tamiflu after some concerns overseas in Japan about patients' strange behavior and possible hallucinations. It's not clear if the behavior is linked to the drug, Tamiflu, or if it's a side-effect of the flu itself.

Lots of damage, no deaths, though, following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Warplanes blew up a storage facility there overnight. Civilians were warned to evacuate, urged to evacuate. Israel has been targeting Palestinian militants who had been launching rockets.

The Bush administration says the antiterrorism laws used to hold detainees in Guantanamo Bay also applies right here in the U.S. This opens a new legal front in the rights of immigrants who may be held indefinitely if they're suspected of being terrorists. The law also says that detainees cannot challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts.

The movie "Borat" is once again at the top of the box office, becoming a big target, too. Two fraternity brothers in the movie -- well, you've seen this movie, Miles. You know these guys were drinking heavily and making really just appalling remarks -- now suing "Borat's" filmmakers. They say the producer of the movie got them drunk before the shooting.

I think they were also told that the movie would only be shown in Europe.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: I'm not sure if that clears you in the offensive remark category, but...

M. O'BRIEN: They signed an awful long release, but I think there might have been some things in the fine print there, as they say.

Still ahead, Rudy may run. America's mayor taking his first steps to become America's president. A look at the race for '08 next.

And the image that forced Wal-Mart to make a change. Find out why when AMERICAN MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Top stories we're following for you.

President Bush leaves today for an eight-day trip through Asia.

And Microsoft looking to take a bite out of rival Apple today. Microsoft's new music player called Zune hits store shelves. The iPod challenger sells for 250 bucks and lets users share songs wirelessly.

Heading out the door? About 14 minutes past the hour. Chad Myers with a forecast for you.

Hello, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Take a look at this picture, Chad, before you go. Look at this. The new freshmen class of the 110th Congress.

They're in town, I think, for just about a week, where they basically have orientation to figure out where the -- oh, these are -- yes, right on the steps of the Capitol. That's a nice picture.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: About 50 of them or so.

M. O'BRIEN: It's kind of like Facebook.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, exactly like Facebook. They figure out where the cafeteria is.

M. O'BRIEN: Paperclips, restrooms, you know, all that stuff.

S. O'BRIEN: Right, yes, all the important stuff. They have to get in a lottery for their offices.

They have senior mentors. Did you know that?

M. O'BRIEN: No.

S. O'BRIEN: And then they sit down and go over the ethics rules. This trips some people up. Invariably, somebody gets tripped up by these ethics rules, like who can pay for your meals if they're a lobbyist. You're not allowed to make the fund-raising calls from inside the Capitol itself, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

So that is the freshmen class, Washington, D.C., on their first little trip. It may be a long career for some of them. And look, they're done.

M. O'BRIEN: Maybe two years for others. Who knows?

S. O'BRIEN: Exactly. And maybe a short career for others.

America votes 2006 kind of ancient history now. It's been days. But the focus is turning to 2008, and the former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, taking his first steps toward a possible run at the White House.

CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley is following that for us in Washington, D.C.

Good morning to you, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Filed some papers, which is really the first step, but not an actual definitive step. How likely do you think in fact that he is going to run in 2008, Candy?

CROWLEY: Look, he's made every signal that he's going to. What intrigues me at this point is the relationship between John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. They're friends, they both kind of look for voters in the same pool, that kind of tough guy, a little bit maverick, a little bit out of step with some of the party's favorite issues.

So, the two may be connected, and, you know, maybe as McCain goes, perhaps Rudy Giuliani doesn't. On the other hand, they say, no, no, they're going to make separate decisions. But that intrigues me. Certainly Giuliani has given every signal that he is ready to move forward with this.

S. O'BRIEN: You mentioned Giuliani and McCain, and if we throw up our poll here, CNN poll for choice for nominee among registered Republicans, they pick Giuliani, 29 percent, McCain right behind him, probably right within the sampling error there -- oh, there are the numbers -- 27 percent.

Does this poll say anything to you?

CROWLEY: It says they both have better name recognition than anybody else in the race. I mean, that's -- you know, two years out -- people know John McCain because he ran last time, because he has quite a story to tell, obviously was a POW in Vietnam. And Rudy Giuliani is the 9/11 mayor from New York.

So the two of them are really treated like rock stars on the Republican campaign trail. And we overuse that word, but I've got to tell you, I've been with both of them, and they just really can electrify a Republican crowd. Now, whether they can get that Republican crowd to vote for them in the primaries is an entirely different thing. But the two of them have the best name recognition in the '08 field.

S. O'BRIEN: Looking a little more closely at each of them, starting with McCain, he's been calling for more troops, not less troops, which is really going against the grain, certainly, to some degree. Do you think that's going to be a tactical error as he starts campaigning?

CROWLEY: You know, a lot of people don't think so. And here's why.

First of all, he does have these creds that we talked about. He has this sort of tough Navy pilot aura about him. He's been a strong supporter of President Bush on the war in Iraq, although he's differed with him on how the war has been prosecuted. And the main thing has been, we should send in more troops. He has said that all along, that, you know, we needed to sort of overwhelm Iraq with the kind of manpower that we have.

Now, everybody I talked to yesterday, because this was -- you know, this was brewing out there, because calling for more troops now looks different in light of the election we had. So this obviously comes to light as he looks ahead to '08. And everyone I talked to said, boy, '08? I mean, let's see where we are on the ground.

Nearly everybody expects that six months, certainly a year from now, Iraq will look very different on the ground than it looks right now, whether because it has gotten peaceful or because the U.S. has begun to withdraws troops. And that's when the position begins to matter.

And remember, everybody that's in this race that is a sitting congressperson or senator voted in favor of this war. So they all start out on an equal footing.

McCain obviously is a little bit more aggressive than the others. But things change. And he sort of feels like he brings those credentials and that people will at least give him points for sticking with what his viewpoint was.

S. O'BRIEN: What about Giuliani though? I mean, obviously he's very, very popular. Where does he stand on the issues as regards to sort of the mainstream Republican voter come 2008?

CROWLEY: Well, certainly the primary voters who are more conservative in general than Republicans who vote at large in the general election. Rudy Giuliani is at odds with the party on social issues, on abortion, on gay rights, on gun control. So there's that, but Giuliani has always said, look, the great thing that unites Republicans is that we believe in a smaller government and more power to the people.

He cut crime when he was the mayor of New York, he cut taxes when he was the mayor of New York. So his entire approach to the problem he has with these social issues and some of the more conservative base of the party has been, here's what unites us -- it's these economic values, it's this approach to government that smaller is better.

So he just wants to change the dialogue. And, in fact, when you come out of this election and Republicans basically get their head handed to them, there is thinking around those who were around Giuliani that perhaps this now does call for a new template for Republicans that perhaps the social issues are not as important as, A, defense in the country, where he has some credibility as mayor of New York after 9/11, and B, the economic issues.

So, if he can change the dialogue, this is a very strong candidate. There are a lot of people who don't think that in the primaries when the social conservatives are out in force that's something -- that's a hurdle that Giuliani can leap.

S. O'BRIEN: Candy Crowley for us this morning.

Thank you, Candy, as always.

CROWLEY: Sure.

S. O'BRIEN: Coming up, how would you like to make advertising history? Get your spot in the Super Bowl and not have to pay that pesky $2 million fee? Business news up next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: You know, a lot of people watch the Super Bowl just for the ads. And every year they think, you know, "I could do a better ad than that." Well, this year you have the opportunity to actually participate.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: So, who's happier, Republicans or Democrats? Not right at this moment, we mean. Up next, Dr. Sanjay Gupta drops in to let us know who is generally happier among us and why.

And shaken not stirred; blonde, not brunette. A look at the new James Bond about to make his world debut.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Here come the freshmen. It's orientation day for some new members of Congress. We're live on Capitol Hill as they learn the ropes of Washington.

S. O'BRIEN: The truth about happiness. What makes you happy, your bank account? Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, we'll take a closer look with Sanjay straight ahead.

M. O'BRIEN: And backlash over "Borat". America's number one movie the target of lawsuits.

That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

M. O'BRIEN: ... America's number one movie, the target of lawsuits. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: And welcome back, everybody. It's Tuesday, November 14th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us this morning.

Happening this morning, a developing story -- up to 150 people kidnapped from a university in Baghdad. Officials say the kidnappers surrounded the school with at least 20 vehicles, took guards, employees and students. Also in Baghdad this morning, two car bombs exploded killing 12 people and wounding at least 35

Lots of damage, but no deaths following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Meanwhile, warplanes blew up a storage facility there overnight. Civilians were warned and urged to evacuate. Israel has been targeting Palestinian militants who have been launching rockets.

The Bush Administration says the anti-terrorism law also used to hold detainees in Guantanamo Bay also applies here in the U.S. This opens a new legal front in the rights of immigrants who may be held indefinitely if they're suspected of being terrorists. The law also says detainees can't challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts.

Just in time for the flu season, a warning about one of the most popular flu medicines. The government urging warning labels for Tamiflu after concerns in Japan about patients' strange behavior and possible hallucinations. It's not clear if the behavior is linked to Tamiflu or a side effect of the flu itself.

And younger women who eat red meat regularly appear to face an increased risk of breast cancer. A Harvard study of more than 90,000 women found that the more red meat the women ate in their 20s, 30s and 40s, the greatest their risk for breast cancer. Those who consumed the most red meat face nearly twice the risk of those that ate less -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Congress' freshmen class getting their bearings on the hill. More than 50 new members of Congress are walking the halls, learning the ropes. CNN's Congressional Correspondent Andrea Koppel is on Capitol Hill with more. We just saw the class photo, Andrea. Looks pretty good.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, well, Soledad. As one of the new members told me, he said, I'm 48 years old and I feel like I'm a freshman in high school all over again. In fact, they hand out this facebook. This is really the pictures and the biographies of all the different members because a lot of these guys are going to have to get to know one another over the next week, form alliances. What they're doing behind the scenes is really sort of A-to-Z administration. How do you set up an office? One member has been a sheriff for the last 25 years. He has to learn basically how many staff can you hire? What's the travel budget to and from their District. How many district offices will they be allowed to have? They're also getting briefings on ethics: how much they can accept from various lobbyists if they go out to dinner or if they were to receive a gift. And then on Thursday later this week they're going to have their leadership election. So right now they're cramming behind closed doors trying to learn the A to Zs, how do you be a Congressman and how do you run your office -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: A lot to learn. Where are the ladies' room? Where are the men's rooms. Where's the cafeteria... etc...etc. Andrea Koppel for us this morning, thanks, Andrea -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Republicans are plotting their comeback this morning. Senator Trent Lott is casting his lot to be part of the GOP leadership, once again. He's looking to be minority whip in the new Congress, that's the party's number two position. Lott, you will recall, quit as majority leader in 2002 after making racially insensitive remarks at a birthday party for the late Senator Strom Thurman.

And Rudy Giuliani is headed down the road to a presidential bid. The former New York Mayor forming the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee. Giuliani is the top choice among Republican voters to be the party's nominee in 2008. That's just ahead of John McCain in our recent CNN poll. Of course, all the day's political news is available on the CNN political ticker. It's available anytime day or night -- CNN.com/ticker.

In today's "House Call" -- Are you feeling happy this morning?

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, I am.

M. O'BRIEN: Is that the way you are always?

S. O'BRIEN: Almost always.

M. O'BRIEN: You are. You are Miss Mary Sunshine. Me, I'm a sad sap most of the time. The question is why. Why is that? Well, we're happy to have Dr. Sanjay Gupta join us this morning. Another installment of the series on happiness. Sanjay, what makes you happy?

Dr. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are a lot of things that make me happy, but the thing that I found interesting about this special is those things that we think make us happy, we're often wrong about those. Completely wrong, whether it's a new car, lots of money, your kids. You might be completely wrong about that. And scientists have known this for some time, but they're now starting to learn the secrets of why that is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice-over): Dan Gottlieb is doing something he loves. He's a successful radio talk show host in Philadelphia and a family therapist. DAN GOTTLIEB, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: At the moment I'm very grateful.

GUPTA: What may surprise you is that Gottlieb is paralyzed from the chest down, the result of a freak accident, a truck tire bouncing across the highway crushing his car and his spine. He says he's happier now than before his accident.

GOTTLIEB: I'm a happy man. But I would have struggled with that question when I was 30 years old.

DANIEL GILBERT, AUTHOR "STUMBLING ON HAPPINESS": Studies suggest that most people who are in Dan's situation lead reasonably happy lives -- that surprises most of us.

GUPTA: Harvard professor Daniel Gilbert studies what makes people happy. He has found most people are incredibly bad at predicting what will bring them joy.

GUPTA: (on-camera): Does money buy happiness?

GILBERT: Well, you bet it does if you're living under a bridge in a cardboard box because when people are moved from abject poverty into the middle class, their happiness increases dramatically, but it stops increasing thereafter.

GUPTA (voice-over): So what does bring us happiness? According to a Pew Research Center survey -- age. Older people are happier than younger. The happiest, men, 60 to 69. The least happy, men 20 to 29. Education. College graduates are happier than high school graduates. Religion. Religious people are happier than those who aren't religious. Climate. Sunbelt residents are happier than residents elsewhere in the United States. Marriage. Married people are happier than singles. Political affiliations. Republicans are happier than Democrats -- both are happier than Independents. No kids. Married couples with no children are happier than those with kids. The least happy group? Single parents with children under 18.

Dan Gottlieb says happiness boils down to love and gratitude for family and friends.

GOTTLIEB: I strongly encourage love who we love, only do it better.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (on-camera): I had a chance to spend time with Dan Gottlieb. He's a remarkable fellow. To be fair, he was depressed, significantly depressed for about three years after his accident. But he says, and he taught me this as well, really figuring out what makes you happy. Having the time to figure those things out out is what's really made a huge change in his life. And that's what he's trying to teach others as well now.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Sanjay, so you still haven't answered -- what makes you happy? S. O'BRIEN: His baby, his baby on the way. His lovely wife. I can name her for you.

(CROSSTALK)

GUPTA: You know me better than I know myself. You know what's interesting about kids, and you heard this with Daniel Gilbert talking specifically about kids. Most people if you poll them, we did some polling as part of this special, 77 percent of the people say their kids make them the happiest of anything. What we find, though ...

M. O'BRIEN: But then the tuition bill comes in.

GUPTA: Exactly.

S. O'BRIEN: And getting up at night and changing them.

M. O'BRIEN: The numbers show what though? I interrupted you.

GUPTA: Daniel Gilbert did some of his own research and found moment to moment people with children aren't really happier than anybody else, who either have children or whether they're at the gym exercising or doing anything else. But they remember the incredible moments of joy that their kids give them and that sort of exceeds everything else that they remember about maybe the bad times or those tuition bills or anything else.

S. O'BRIEN: So it not actually fun, but one day we'll look back and remember it being fun.

M. O'BRIEN: That was fun, yes. So what do you got coming up next?

GUPTA: You know, it was interesting as part of this we wanted to look at what you can tell about a person's smile. And just looking at you guys, you both have nice smiles. But, what does that really mean? Are there fake smiles, genuine smiles and can you tell the difference? And does it reflect happiness? That's what we're looking tomorrow in the ongoing series on happiness and health.

S. O'BRIEN: I believe it can. I buy that. I can always tell a fake smile. It's all in the eyes. Smile is in the eyes. Do you need me for your piece, Sanjay?

GUPTA: Do you guys want us to leave?

M. O'BRIEN: You've made us very happy Sanjay. Sanjay's week- long series on happiness leads up to -- is this my good smile? Yes.

"Happiness and your Health" is the program that leads up to the surprising connection. It's Sunday night 10:00 eastern right here on CNN. We invite you to tune in for that. It will uplift your day.

And can I have hot CNN anchors for $100 please Alex? The answer is tonight on "Celebrity Jeopardy."

S. O'BRIEN I like the hot part.

M. O'BRIEN: See, we made you happy. Care to ring -- push the buzzer.

S. O'BRIEN: That's right. I'll take Soledad O'Brien for $800, Alex.

M. O'BRIEN: You did okay, huh?

S. O'BRIEN: I cannot say. But, I'll tell you.

M. O'BRIEN: You can -- did you sign some kind of non-disclosure?

S. O'BRIEN: He's such a handsome man. I have to tell you. He's been doing the show for 23 seasons. Looks like a million bucks. Me, Isaac Mizrahi, Harry Shearer -- head to head.

M. O'BRIEN: And you can't say whether you won.

S. O'BRIEN: All I'll say is I have a Harvard degree and very good buzzer thumb.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, so you lost. Okay. We'll see you on TV tonight.

S. O'BRIEN: You'll have to watch and see how I did.

M. O'BRIEN: Check your local listings. Make sure you TIVO it or she'll be very unhappy with me.

All right. More heartache and uncertainty for some Katrina victims, by the way. They are getting the word they will have to uproot yet again. It's a Hollywood plot with a not-so-happy ending. We'll explain that.

And the birth of a new Bond -- running the tables at the premiere of "Casino Royale" when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: CNN's "NEWSROOM" is just minutes away. Heidi Collins at the CNN Center with a look at that.

Hello, Heidi.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Miles.

That's right. Here are some of the stories that we're working on for the NEWSROOM this morning. Big Three bosses driving home their point with President Bush today. Struggling automakers say health care costs are wrecking the industry. They want Washington to do something. Tell you about that. And mass kidnapping: More than 100 people abducted from these Iraqi government offices today. Gunmen disguised as Iraqi police in a brazen raid.

And after the Iraq War, treating trauma with virtual reality, not antidepressants. I'm in the NEWSROOM with Tony Harris. We certainly hope that you will join us. We get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Heidi. See you then.

Well, this is not your father's Bond. Hollywood rolled the dice on "Casino Royale." And some critics say it's the best Bond in years. A sneak peak ahead.

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S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back. Here's a look at some of the top stories we're following for you this morning. The former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani is now a step closer to running for the presidency in 2008. He filed some paperwork for a presidential exploratory committee today.

And the hit movie "Borat" being sued by a pair of fraternity brothers. The two say producers of the film got them drunk before they shot the scenes that they made if you saw the film -- some pretty obnoxious remarks -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Bond lovers who were skeptical about the new actor cast to play 007 may have their opinions stirred, if not shaken. It's the premiere night for the latest James Bond film "Casino Royale" and it stars this time Craig, Daniel Craig. CNN's Paula Newton with more.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cue that music and enter the new Bond, James Bond. Throw in the Bond babes, the action, the cars...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't bother you, killing those people?

NEWTON: ... And shake, don't stir.

DANIEL CRAIG, ACTOR: Well, I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did.

NEWTON: It's been a bankable formula for almost 45 years, but this time they're starting from scratch. And what a gamble. Daniel Craig is the new incarnation of 007 as a back-to-the-basics Bond, no gadgets, more grit.

CRAIG: Someone that we could sort of maybe -- we could see the reality of and see somebody who got hurt and got knocked down and kind of how he stood up and dealt with things.

NEWTON: And deal he does. "Casino Royale" takes us back to Bond's first mission. 007 is younger, vulnerable, dare we even think it -- not so invincible.

MARTIN CAMPBELL, "CASINO ROYALE" DIRECTOR: He's got a lot of rough edges, makes mistakes, he bleeds, he falls in love. He's a much darker character. And in a word, we just wanted to make a more realistic feet-on-the-ground Bond.

NEWTON: Reality? That hasn't exactly been Bond's currency with fans happy to see 007 in a world they could escape to, not the one they live in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The man (INAUDIBLE). Private banker to the world's terrorists.

NEWTON: But this is the post 9/11 Bond, and producers felt it was time for a down-to-earth makeover and a new man. Daniel Craig was introduced as the new Bond in over-the-top style, coming out of the Thames and out of the blue for some. British tabs dubbed him Bland, James Bland.

CRAIG: I was just a bit kind of stunned by it. It was like, how do I respond to that. And there's nothing in fact I could have done. There's no response except to just get on with it and to make the movie.

NEWTON: Craig beefed up and anted up, doing many of his own stunts.

DAVID BLACK, JAMES BOND FAN CLUB: Well, I'm gobsmacked. A lot of people said at the beginning that perhaps he wasn't the man for the job. Well, they've been proved wrong, very wrong.

CRAIG: What about a drink at my place.

NEWTON: But can he carry this thing? Craig is Bond number six. But, the last 007, Pierce Brosnan, in "Die Another Day", banked almost a half a billion dollars worldwide. So cue that music again. If this Bond wants to keep his job, he can't just be licensed to kill, he has to be proven to sell.

Paula Newton, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: I'm still out here if they need me in case it doesn't work.

S. O'BRIEN: O'Brien, Miles O'Brien.

M. O'BRIEN: I just think I could be in the running potentially.

S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. You're just busy with your day job.

M. O'BRIEN: That's it, that's it.

All right -- coming up at the top of the hour. War vets, they are out of Iraq. Some come home to find they're also out of a job. And more on the tech news we've been telling you about. Will I- Podders swoon for the Zune? Microsoft comes out with its version of the I-Pod. ore in just a minute.

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S. O'BRIEN That's it for AMERICAN MORNING. CNN "NEWSROOM" with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins begins right now.

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