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American Morning

President Bush, Indonesian President Hold Join Press Conference; Media Reports Say Powerful Senator Will Try To Bring Back Military Draft

Aired November 20, 2006 - 07:00   ET

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

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's called flex fuels automobiles. And so there's -- we're on the beginning stages of really a change in how we consume energy. And it's in the world's interests that we promote bio fuels.
Where the United States needs to go, though, is that we can't rely upon corn only to develop our ethanols, so we're spending a lot of money on cellulostic (ph) research, and that is the ability to convert wood chips, for example, to ethanol.

And as those technologies become feasible and economic we will share them with other countries. It's in our interest -- it's in the U.S.'s interest that others use bio fuels as well as our own.

I'm optimistic about the technologies that are developing. I'm also realistic to understand it's going to take a while to get them -- to bring them to the -- to make them economics. But we're spending a lot of money on this type of research. The president needs to know when it comes commercially capable, we'll share it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Microphone, please.

QUESTION: President Bush, you're in the world's most populous Muslim nation, thousands of demonstrators, for days --

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: We're going to leave the news conference right now. Continue to monitor it. And we'll dip back into it as events warrant.

In the meantime, the next hour of AMERICAN MORNING begins right now.

S. O'BRIEN: We continue to bring you live coverage from Indonesia where President Bush right now is speaking inside the presidential palace. Outside, though, there are protests and also some fears of suicide bombings.

M. O'BRIEN: Back to the draft? It's one of several new ideas being kicked around to help the military and the situation in Iraq. We'll take a closer look at that.

S. O'BRIEN: And shopping and safety, the holiday season's hottest video games draw big crowds for stores. Big risks, though, for unsuspecting customers. We'll take a look at that and much more, straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Welcome back, everybody. It's Monday, November 20th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you're with us. We begin in Indonesia and a tense, brief visit by the president amid protest and threats. President Bush and the Indonesian President Yudhoyono fielding questions as we speak. Atika Shubert is in Bogor.

Atika, give us the latest.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Well, Miles, they've just completed their bilateral talks. President Bush called the talks very constructive. President Yudhoyono saying they were candid, open and hopeful.

In particular, President Bush holding up Indonesia as an example of how democracy and modernization is an alternative to extremism. He held up as an example of democracy Indonesia's Bambang Yudhoyono; he is the first president to be directly elected here in Indonesia.

Now, while that was happening inside the presidential palace, outside, earlier this afternoon, before President Bush's arrival, there were actually protests. More than 1,000 people gathered on the outskirts of the town protesting President Bush's visit, demanding that he return to the United States. Their intention was to actually march to the presidential palace and deliver a message, but they didn't get very far. They only ended up about a mile away from here. They were cut off by the security perimeter there, by riot police.

They were shouting slogans such as a Bush is a terrorist, a war criminal. Specifically they cited Iraq, Afghanistan, but also the issue of Palestine, Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. Instances of U.S. foreign policy targeting the Islamic community. And as you know, Miles, Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation. Many here are not happy about his visit.

M. O'BRIEN: Atika Shubert live in Bogor. Thank you.

Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Three options for Iraq are on the table at the Pentagon. "The Washington Post" is reporting a key panel of experts are calling the options: 'Go home, go big, and go long.'

The go home option is a speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops. The go big option is sending in several 100,000 more troops. The go long option, cutting combat troops while increasing efforts to train Iraqis and staying longer. "The Post" report says that the choice that seems to have the most traction is that last one.

Meanwhile, more violence in Iraq to tell you about this morning. We're following a developing story. The Iraqi deputy health minister coming under attack by gunmen. Two of his guards are dead this morning. CNN's Arwa Damon has the latest details from Baghdad.

Good morning, Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad.

Now, that attack happened earlier this morning. This is the second attack against a deputy health minister with Iraq's ministry of health in less than 24 hours.

There was the attack, you just mentioned, against one of the deputy health ministers, that happened in central Baghdad. He was not in the convoy at the time. But two of his bodyguards were killed, another one was wounded. This follows an attack that happened yesterday evening against Iraq's other deputy minister of health, Ammar al-Safar. He was kidnapped from his home when a least two dozen gunmen stormed into his house. They were masquerading as Iraqi police and Iraqi government officials.

Again, two attacks in less than 24 hours, against both of Iraq's deputy health ministers, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Arwa Damon, for us this morning. Thanks, Arwa.

Here at home it is a very anxious wait for the families of those four missing American contractors, who were kidnapped from a convoy in southern Iraq. AMERICAN MORNING's Dan Lothian spoke with the families of two of the missing men. He is live for us in Buffalo, New York, this morning.

Good morning to you, Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad.

This has obviously been very difficult for those relatives who have been waiting since last Thursday as U.S. troops, and others, on the ground there in Iraq search for the missing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN (voice over): In suburban Buffalo, and in Minneapolis, the families of two American contractors being held hostage in Iraq anxiously wait for good news. Twenty-three-year-old Jonathon Cote, and Army veteran, from the Buffalo area, served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan and Iraq. He had returned to the region as a private security guard last summer.

In a statement his father tells CNN, "We continue to request prayer and support from all concerned about Jonathon."

And 39-year-old Paul Reuben, a former police officer, near Minneapolis, went to the war zone three years ago, motivated by a high-paying security job. Now his mother wonders, is he OK?

JOHNNIE MAE REUBEN, MOTHER OF PAUL REUBEN: I sat up wondering if he's cold, if he's hungry, if he's injured -- or if he's here. LOTHIAN: They were part of a security team, four Americans and an Austrian abducted in southern Iraq last Thursday, while escorting a convoy. All work for the Crescent Security Group. Reuben had recently told his family that the job was becoming too dangerous and violent, and that he'd soon be returning home.

REUBEN: I always saw his strength, every time, when he could admit, that part of that fear. That was the reality fear, but not let it overtake him.

LOTHIAN: Cote understood the dangers, too. In a past interview with "The Buffalo News", the Iraq veteran said, "You go into a village, and you didn't know who was who. The bad guys blend in with the good guys."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN: All of the relatives say that they have been in touch with the U.S. State Department, but obviously no word yet on their whereabouts -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Sad story there. Dan Lothian, there for us this morning. Thank you, Dan.

Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning: British Prime Minister Tony Blair making a surprise visit to Afghanistan. He says defeating the Taliban there is vital for global security. Mr. Blair praising the 6,000 British troops currently fighting there.

A possible transatlantic market takeover brewing this morning. The Nasdaq making a play for the London Stock Exchange for $5 billion. If the deal goes through companies would be able to list on both Nasdaq and the London Exchange.

Scotland Yard is investigating the poisoning of a former Russian spy at a London sushi restaurant. Investigators say Alexander Litvinenko, a critic of the KGB, is sick from eating a toxin found in rat poison. It happened while he was meeting with a source about the murder of a Russian journalist. The KGB says it is not involved.

Here at home, gas prices on the rebound just in time for the drive to grandma's house. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is up a nickel, $2.23 is where it stands. Still well below the $3 a gallon we paid in August. Doubt you forgot that -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Coming up this morning, risky business. Gamers finally get their hands on the PlayStation3 and retailers answer the critics about things getting out of hand.

Plus, Tom and Katie tie the knot. Katie's dad walked her down the aisle, but who was Tom's best man? Some questions, and some dish from the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Cruise, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) M. O'BRIEN: Top stories we're following for you. President Bush and the president of Indonesia face-to-face with the international press corps, as we speak. We're monitoring that news conference.

And the U.S. top commander in Iraq speaking out this morning about the search for those missing contractors. We'll keep you up to date on that as well.

At 11 minutes past the hour. Some of you might be doing some traveling this week, or maybe on the road right now. Rob Marciano is at the Weather Center with more on that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Happening in America this morning, new details on that arson fire that killed five California firefighters. They were hit with 90-foot-high wall of flame last month. A report on the Esperanza blaze says that strong winds, sloping terrain that created those overpowering conditions. The report is going to be used to train other firefighters.

Outside of Chicago an autopsy is confirming that a police bullet killed a man who asked officers to shoot him. The death of Johnny Russell ended a four and a half hour-long standoff at the hospital on Saturday. He was armed, he was holding another patient hostage. Police say they fired after he aimed his gun at them.

The unmanned Global Hawk drone is on its first mission over the U.S. today. The Air Force already uses the drone over Iraq and Afghanistan. Beal Air Force Base, in Northern California, is the only base to have the Global Hawk drone in space. It's going to own seven by 2009.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Or if you have a match big enough for this one. Take a look at the world's longest cigar, 101 feet long, 53 pounds. Took about 75 hours to roll it in Tampa. And that beats the old record by a lot. The old record was 66-foot-long super stogie, which was stuff in Havana, Cuba last year.

M. O'BRIEN: There were a lot of people waiting in lines for PlayStations, it's close but no cigar. A lot of people worry that video games spur violent behavior, usually they're talking about the content of the games, not the pursuit of the system itself.

The hunt for PlayStations leading to scenes like this. A Wal-Mart in Palmdale, California shut down after shoppers got into a little rowdy melee, kind of thing there. Other locations, armed robberies, beatings, a stabbing, shootings, a stampede, demand far outstripping the supply. So how to keep shoppers safe amid all of this? CNN's Allan Chernoff live now from Secaucus, New Jersey with more on that.

Good morning, Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Miles. Certainly a question people are asking. Would people actually risk their life for one of these video game systems? That's the predicament some shoppers did get into as they tried to get their hands on the new PlayStation3. What was supposed to be fun turned violent for early birds who were hoping to bring home the new hottest toy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHERNOFF (voice over): Shoppers stampede a Best Buy store in Fresno, California in pursuit of a PlayStation3, one of the season's hottest toys. In Wisconsin, a rushing crowd catapults a 19 year old into a flagpole.

CRAIG WESTON, INJURED SHOPPER: I was completely airborne when I hit the pole.

CHERNOFF: Even worse, elsewhere for retailers and shoppers hoping to lay hands on the PlayStation3, which costs up to $600. This Wal-Mart in Connecticut, robbers shot a man waiting on line, in the middle of the night, when he refused to hand over his money. In Kentucky, waiting shoppers, even reporters, turned sitting ducks, shot at with a BB gun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ouch, that really, really hurt.

CHERNOFF: Across the country the volatile mix of hype, aggressive shoppers, and criminal minds, seeing opportunities in the lines of people carrying large sums of money late at night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up!

CHERNOFF: By allowing gamers to line up for days outside of their stores, some with first sales at midnight, retailers were trying to build excitement and get free publicity from the growing crowds. A strategy that backfired.

JOSEPH FELDMAN, TELSEY GROUP: If there's a mad rush into the store, you could argue that, yes, maybe the store should have kept some better order and structure in place, in order for that to not occur.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got number 19. They won't even let me in, then.

CHERNOFF: A retailer in Boston tried to keep control, handing out coupons to those first on line, but there weren't enough PlayStations for all the players.

MAYOR TOM MENINO, BOSTON: It's wrong. And to take advantage of the public the way they are. It's wrong by the manufacturer and by the retailer.

CHERNOFF: Best Buy told CNN it tried to play it all down well before opening day. DAN PROCTER, BEST BUY: Because we were very tight with the group that was waiting online, from the very moment that line formed, we were very clear about expectations.

CHERNOFF: Wal-Mart tells CNN that that the safety and security of its customers is a top priority. One that it will keep in mind for future sales.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHERNOFF: Some are blaming Sony for delivering only very limited quantities for the launch, but Sony says it delivered every single PlayStation3 it possibly could have, and that it has great concern over these acts of violence -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Allan Chernoff in Secaucus. Thank you very much.

Soledad.

Coming up this morning, U.S. Air Marshals are sworn to save lives, but one says he was fired for doing that. The whistleblower shares his story straight ahead.

Behind the scenes of the Tom-Kat wedding. Who was Tom's best man? I mean, who was he? He's no Hollywood A-lister. Stay with us. And we'll talk about that possible honeymoon, too, straight ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Well, is it Yahoo! -- or Ya-what? An executive writes a peanut butter manifesto, which may be the solution to the company's problems. Who knows? Eamon Javers of "BusinessWeek" is "Minding Your Business".

Good to have you with us, Eamon. Tell us what the peanut butter memo is all about.

EAMON JAVERS, "BUSINESSWEEK": This sounds like something that my kids would eat.

S. O'BRIEN: Yeah, it does.

M. O'BRIEN: Yeah, it does.

JAVERS: But this is a senior executive at Yahoo! named Brad Garlinghouse, who has written a memo, internally, somehow it leaked out to the press.

M. O'BRIEN: Somehow.

JAVERS: We don't know how.

He's arguing that the company is spread too thin, much like peanut butter on a piece of bread. He says the company is trying to be all things to all people. The company's got a lot of trouble. The stock is down 31.5 percent so far this year. And he's arguing that they might have to lay off as much as 20 percent of the Yahoo! workforce.

So, big changes possibly coming at Yahoo! Of course, they do offer so many different services. He saying we've got to figure out just what it is we're trying to be. The big competition, of course, is Google, which is focused like a laser beam on search and the ad revenues that come from search.

M. O'BRIEN: But they've got a lot of other things in their portfolio, too. It's interesting, so -- but they are so dominant. And they are so far behind at this point.

JAVERS: That's right. With that big YouTube deal that they just did. They're really making waves in the industry. Now, Yahoo! is trying to catch up a little bit. They have another deal out this week, 176 newspapers, in 38 states, are going to do a deal with Yahoo!, sharing ad revenue.

These are the newspapers, which are the oldest of old media really trying to catch up with that new media play. And trying to make some money online, that so far the Internet has really been eating the newspaper's lunch, when it comes to those classified ads. That's big trouble for the newspaper industry. This might be a way to solve that, might be a way for them to move forward.

M. O'BRIEN: And one of the strong parts of Yahoo! is their news sites, so maybe this is a place where they can make some money?

JAVERS: That's right. And hopefully by combining the old and the new, we'll see where they go from here.

S. O'BRIEN: Does that fit into the peanut butter manifesto?

JAVERS: I don't know. Maybe that's the jelly on top of the peanut manifesto.

M. O'BRIEN: Is it crunchy or creamy? Just out of curiosity.

JAVERS: I don't know. Depends on peanuts and all that.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. What you have next?

JAVERS: Coming up, we'll talk about what Ohio State football and the Ohio lottery have in common. Won't tell you the answer to that one yet.

S. O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right.

M. O'BRIEN: That was a tough one for Michigan fans. All right, thank you.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Eamon.

M. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Eamon. S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, caught on tape and available online, amateur video appears to catch police in the act. We'll tell you how it's changing the way cops do business.

And is the government ready to bring back the draft? We'll tell you about one congressman's proposal, straight ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: President Bush on the international stage in Indonesia, right now, facing questions, protests and possible terror threats.

S. O'BRIEN: Bringing back the draft. One lawmaker is trying to do it again. This time he holds a lot more power in Congress.

M. O'BRIEN: Fired for blowing the whistle, a former Air Marshal now suing the government. He says the case could affect your security.

S. O'BRIEN: And an inside look at the Tom-Kat wedding. We'll tell you what's next for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Welcome back, everybody. It is Monday, November 20th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.

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

S. O'BRIEN: Let's take a look at what's happening this morning. President Bush's choice to lead the Pentagon is heading to Capitol Hill today. It's familiar territory, of course, for the former CIA Director Robert Gates. He's going to meet with Senator Carl Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

Levin voted against Gates for CIA director back in 1991. Levin says he's going to wait and see what Gates has to say at confirmation hearings next month, before he decides what to do this time.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in Afghanistan this morning, reviewing British troops, meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai; 6,000 British troops are fighting Afghanistan, 41 have died since 2001. All but five of those deaths have come since July when British troops were deployed to southern Afghanistan.

Scotland Yard is investigating a poisoning of a former Russian spy at a London sushi restaurant. Investigators say Alexander Litvinenko, a critic of the old KGB, is sick from eating a toxin that is found in rat poison. It happened while he was meeting with a source about the murder of a Russian journalist.

Researchers are reporting a new discovery about stem cells. Turns out they may be responsible for colon cancer tumors. Two new studies by Canadian and Italian researchers found specialized colon cancer stem cells appeared to cause the disease in mice. The findings are reported in the journal, "Nature". It could help support the idea that stem cells are key in cancer treatment, as well -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: Here at home, gas prices bouncing back just in time for the drive to Thanksgiving dinner. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded, up a nickel; $2.23 is where it stands. Still well below the $3 per gallon price that we paid in August.

A tense, brief visit to Indonesia by the president, amid protests and threats. President Bush and Indonesian President Yudhoyono, just wrapping up a news conference a short time ago. CNN's Ed Henry in Bogor -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Miles, that press conference, the bottom line, really no news. That's what happens a lot of times on these foreign trips, when the Indonesian press, the U.S. press, in this case, each get only two questions.

Really nothing new from the president. He was asked about this report in "The Washington Post" this morning about the Pentagon weighing whether or not to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. The president basically said, I ain't telling you. He said, I'll get back to you when we make a decision. A decision has not been made on whether to send more troops or to cut the U.S. troops levels in Iraq. So, no answer there, basically.

The president was asked, then, about the elephant in the room, those protests you're talking about, ringing around the presidential palace behind me; thousands in the streets over the weekend leading into today.

The president said two things. One, that's what freedom of speech is all about. Secondly, he tried to have a quip where he said he's getting used to these protests, a reference to his unpopularity around the world right now. Finally, I thought it was interesting, that when a reporter asked the Indonesia president, whether or not he had pressed the U.S. president about pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq, the U.S. president jumped in and said let me answer, no, he did not say that. Those protests, what's really fueling those protests, is a lot of anger in this Muslim country about the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Ed Henry in Bogor, thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: New this morning in the fight for Iraq, three options are said to be on the table at the Pentagon. The "Washington Post" is reporting a key panel of experts are calling the options -- go home, go big, and go long. OK, here's the go home option: a speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops. The go big option is send in several hundred thousand more troops. The go long option is cutting combat troops while increasing efforts to train Iraqis and staying longer. The "Post" report says that, the final one is the choice that seems to have the most traction at this point.

Meanwhile, the violence in Iraq rages on. 112 people died this weekend throughout the country. Syria's foreign minister is making his first diplomatic mission to Iraq calling for a timetable for the pullout of U.S. troops. He says it will help end Iraq's sectarian violence. And there have been increasing calls lately for the U.S. to cooperate with Syria and Iran to help resolve the situation in Iraq.

So, can the Iraq war be won? That was the subject of a very public debate this past weekend. It all started when the former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was on the BBC. He said that military victory in Iraq was impossible. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: If you mean by clear military victory, an Iraqi government that can be established (INAUDIBLE) across the old country that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don't believe that is possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: Iraq's ambassador to the U.S. appeared on CNN's "LATE EDITION" and disagreed with Kissinger's assessment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMIR Al-SUMAIDAIE, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: I still believe that is possible, and I think a lot of people in Iraq, the members of the government and members of the policy council for national security all believe that the situation is retrievable, it's doable, but we need to have support of the right kind. And now we have a lot of pressure on us, not only from our regional neighbors, who are interfering, but pressures from our own friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: Here at home, there's fresh debate this morning about the fight for Iraq including a new call to bring back the draft. New York Congressman Charles Rangel says America's all-volunteer military is stretched thin because of commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He plans to propose the draft measure early next year. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: I think in a time when national security is so important, having our young people commit themselves to a couple years of service in the great republic, whether it's our sea ports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals, and at the end of that to provide some educational benefits, is the best thing for our young people and the best thing for our country. I will be introducing that bill as soon as we start the new session.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN; Congressman Rangel is the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is also a Korean War veteran and he's unsuccessfully sponsored similar legislation before -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: A fired air Marshall is suing to get his job back. He was fired after telling a reporter back in 2003 about a risky budget cut by the Federal Air Marshal Service. The government says the leak undermined security, but he says his goal was to make us safer. CNN's Jeanne Meserve with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Federal air marshals are law enforcement officers sworn to protect lives. But Robert Maclean believes upholding that oath cost him his job. In July 2003 the nation was on edge because of the intelligence that al Qaeda might attack airliners, using weapons disguised as cameras and cellphones.

GORDON ENGLAND, FORMER DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY: They're going to try and do everything they can to defeat the systems we put in place.

MESERVE: At almost the very same time, the Department of Homeland Security was telling air marshals they would stop flying on non-stop long distance flights to save money.

ROBERT MACLEAN, FIRED FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL: I thought the plan was crazy. Suddenly it was all of these planes that were targets were not going to have any protection.

MESERVE: MacLean says he was unsuccessful raising his concerns within his agency, so he leaked to MSNBC. There was an immediate uproar.

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: Cuts in air marshals should not happen now.

MESERVE: The policy was reversed. The leak was traced to MacLean and he was fired for unauthorized disclosure of sensitive security information which could reveal vulnerabilities and endanger the public.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: If terrorists know that there is absolutely no air marshal coverage on long-distance flights, then obviously they're more likely to take those long-distance flights and to use those flights to perpetrate terrorist attacks.

MESERVE: Because MacLean is suing to get his job back, the Federal air marshals declined to comment for this story. MacLean supporters argue the firing was an act of retaliation by a embarrassed agency.

JONATHAN TURLEY, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV. LAW SCHOOL: This guy hit an artery. He revealed a policy which was incredibly stupid and put passengers at risk.

MESERVE: But did MacLean break the law? The government says the order about cutbacks was sensitive security information or SSI. But MacLean says it wasn't marked as such when he received it via text message on an unencrypted cell phone.

NICK SCHWELLENBACK, PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT: That's not a very secure way of communicating these messages if they are indeed legitametly secret.

MESERVE (on-camera): MacLean's lawsuit may clarify currently fuzzy rules covering the release of SSI and whether people in national security positions have whistleblower protection.

MESERVE (voice over): MacLean says if he loses, the effect will be chilling.

MACLEAN: Nobody is going to come forward, everybody is going to turn a blind eye and ignore the oath that they took.

MESERVE: But the central question may be this -- did MacLean's actions make aviation more secure or less so?

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN; Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable information about your security -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN; You might call it the next generation's Rodney King moment happening all over southern California. In recent weeks, home video has captured police with suspects and then the video quickly makes it onto the internet and thousands around the world end up seeing it. Well, L.A.'s top cop is now responding. Peter Viles has our story this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At UCLA, a commotion caught on tape. A student is tasered by campus police after receiving to show his ID. Nearly a million people have seen the video on the website YouTube.

This incident at an anti-illegal immigration rally in L.A. in July also posted on YouTube.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't breathe.

VILES: So was this arrest in Hollywood in August. A neighbor taped it. Veteran police watchers saying all these videos seen by so many are changing police behavior.

JOE DOMANICK, CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERT, USC: Before police officers could simply deny eyewitness accounts or they could simply deny what a suspect, who had been roughed up or abused, had to say. But, now with these cameras, it's very difficult to deny what's right in front of your eyes.

VILES: No city knows better than Los Angeles the power of video. It was these images, the 1991 beating of Rodney King that divided the city leading to riots that killed 52 people.

William Cardenas, the man being arrested in this video, has been released from jail and is suing the Los Angeles police. His supporters say the video is what freed him.

JOAQUIN CIEFUEGOS, COP WATCH LOS ANGELES: They would have brushed this brutality under the rug and William Cardenas would still be in jail today. We forced the system and institution of the LAPD to take a step back and be on the defensive.

VILES: The police department is investigating the Cardenas arrest and denies that it handles cases differently if they are caught on tape.

WILLIAM BRATTON, LAPD POLICE CHIEF: This vigilance, your vigilance, your attention, nothing wrong with it. because I get to tell a story that I think by and large is a story of transparency, a story of process, a story of commitment on the part of our officers, and a story going where the truth will take us. So, I have no problem with all this attention.

VILES: Attention also on UCLA's campus police investigating an incident that the whole nation can now watch.

Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, a scrubdown for the latest sick cruise ship. Hundreds of passengers come down with a virus. A few still in the hospital.

Plus, you know what they wore, you know who was at their side. The scoop on the TomKat wedding party and more ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: I know you want more details about the fairy tale TomKat wedding brought to you this morning by Armani. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes now husband and wife. They actually had a civil ceremony before they left L.A. We've got lots of details this morning about the Italian extravaganza. Galina Espinoza is a senior editor for "People" magazine She's in Rome this morning. Nice to see you Galina -- good morning to you.

I've got to tell you...

GALINA ESPINOZA, EDITOR "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Good morning Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: I was kind of surprised they didn't do, like many celebrities do, kind of that secret wedding where they run off and invite their friends secretly and then get hitched and nobody knows about it. Was there a bigger point at stake?

ESPINOZA: This was -- yes, this was certainly unusual with Tom Cruise publicly announcing not only the date of the wedding, but the location. I think it was a very calculated move on his part. He really wanted to reinvent himself as this romantic dashing guy, and I think he pulled it off.

S. O'BRIEN: OK, well then let's talk a little bit about the ceremony. Katie was walked down the aisle by her dad. Tom Cruise wasn't, he didn't have a sibling by his side, he had a guy from the Church of Scientology. Who was his guy?

ESPINOZA: David Miscavige (ph), who is the head of the Church of Scientology, but who also happens to be Tom Cruise's best friend. So, I think, you know, a lot of people were wondering what kind of wedding this would be and I think it ended up being a very traditional one. As you mentioned, Katie's dad walked her down the aisle. The decour of the he reception was filled with red roses. They had a cocktail hour after the ceremony ended -- all of the typical things you would expect at anyone's wedding, Katie and Tom had.

S. O'BRIEN: (INAUDIBLE) spectators, not only the locals who were trying to get a peek of the superstars, but also the media that was all assembled, and then really kind of bad weather. Overall what did you think of the whole thing?

ESPINOZA: Well, I think they were lucky and certainly we in the media were glad when it stopped raining at some point. Because it did start to come down pretty heavily early in the morning and everyone was kind of worried, like, well what are we going to do if it keeps raining all day? And fortunately it did clear up. The day turned out to be an absolutely beautiful one. At night, once it got dark, the entire castle was encircled with candles that had been put out along the low wall surrounding the castle. And in the windows there were these beautiful candles. It really just lit up the whole scene and it was pretty breathtaking.

S. O'BRIEN: Sounds very nice. Any good juicy details you want to share about the ceremony, the wedding, the party, and everything?

ESPINOZA: Oh, lots and lots. For starters, this is a party that went into the wee hours, which shouldn't be a surprise. You don't invite 150 people to Italy and then send them home at 11:00. We actually got a call from Jenna Elfman on the dance floor at 3:00 a.m. talking about how it was a totally rocking party, that things were still going strong and Katie and Tom had not sat down all night.

S. O'BRIEN: OK, but you know details like that, that's weird to be calling "People" magazine from the dance floor. Celebrities usually don't do that, right? Is this all part of a big rehab of the image that as you have reported a lot on, has taken a lot of hits over time. Don't you think that's kind of strange to have your friends call from the dance floor?

ESPINOZA: Well, I do think that certainly Tom was trying to rehab his image, but I do also believe that his friends were genuinely happy and excited for him. And let's not kid ourselves. Media interest in this event is huge. So, better for them to give out the information to be talking about it than to have people speculating, which people are doing anyway and there's so much misinformation out there that I think that it's kind of good that people are talking and giving us some insight into it, so we know what really happened because you know what, people do want to know.

S. O'BRIEN: I guess it's a way to control it, isn't there? They're off to the Maldeves (ph) is what I've heard. Is that right?

ESPINOZA We've heard the same thing, but we haven't confirmed that, so I'm reluctant to say anything about their honeymoon. And given the public spectacle that their wedding was, it's no surprise that they'd want to try to keep their honeymoon location under wraps.

S. O'BRIEN; Well, what a change. First they are giving everybody, basically the date and time and location of the wedding and suddenly they get all secretive about the honeymoon. Galina Espinoza ...

ESPINOZA: Well, I don't think they want to be troubled by paparazzi while they're trying to have a romantic escape.

S. O'BRIEN; Yes, talk about killing the romantisicm, with you and 500 photographers on your really lovely honeymoon. Galina, always nice to see you ...

(CROSSTALK)

S. O'BRIEN: ... editor of "People" magazine in Rome this morning -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN; Maybe they like that, having all the pictures.

S. O'BRIEN; Well, of the wedding, but you want to be alone on your honeymoon.

M. O'BRIEN: I would -- yes I guess so. All right.

Coming up on the program, some top Democrats and Republicans say the U.S. can't win in Iraq without more troops. A fact check is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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(NEWS BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Stories we are following for you right now. President Bush is in Indonesia this morning responding to those angry protesters. The latest straight ahead. Plus, tough talk from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, his bleak take on the chances of a U.S. victory in Iraq -- ahead.

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S. O'BRIEN: Washington State is forming a commission to help promote one of its fine beers. Good morning.

EAMON JAVERS, "BUSINESSWEEK": It's a little early for beer this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: Is it really? JAVERS: Well, depends on the time zone you're in. You would think that beer would be the one product that would actually sell itself, right? But in Washington state, they're creating a state- sanctioned commission to market that state's frosty beverages. They've got 84 different micro breweries in Washington State and three-quarters of the nation's hops actually come from the Yakuma valley, so it's big business up there.

M. O'BRIEN: They got tired of apples. They're doing beer now.

JAVERS: That's right -- you've got to sell something. And what's interesting here is that most states and counties and commissions are regulating alcohol. They're trying to clamp down on sales. In this case you're seeing a state actually promoting alcohol.

S. O'BRIEN: They are going against the grain, to steal a pun from Miles so to speak.

(CROSSTALK)

JAVERS: And the other story this story, get this, the Ohio State football team held off a late surge from Michigan to win the game 42- 39 in the late stages. Depending on who you're rooting for, that's a tragedy.

S. O'BRIEN: Sanjay is crying this today by the way.

JAVERS: Shortly after the game, the Ohio Lottery Pick 4 selected the numbers for the lottery that day -- they were 4-2-3-9.

M. O'BRIEN: Get out!

JAVERS: The same score as the football game.

M. O'BRIEN: That's rigged.

JAVERS: They picked that a little after the game so you did have time to bet on the score of the game on the lottery. And about 401 people bet a dollar each and they each won $5,000 in the lottery betting on the score of the game. I'm not a mathematician. The chances of that have to be astronomical.

M. O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

S. O'BRIEN: Too bad 400 other people picked with you.

JAVERS: It's a business strategy, you know, depending on some people bet on stocks and bonds and other people bet on the score of the Ohio State game.

M. O'BRIEN: It's a good retirement plan.

JAVERS: Get your five grand there.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, what's you got next?

JAVERS: Coming up we're going to talk about the Boston Skyline and improvements there.

S. O'BRIEN: Really, interesting. We've both spent alot of time in Boston. That will be good. All right, thanks Eamon.

JAVERS: Thank you.

S. O'BRIEN: Next hour of AMERICAN MORNING begins right now.

M. O'BRIEN: President Bush is wrapping up a visit in Indonesia responding to protests and possible terror threats.

S. O'BRIEN: Back to the draft is one of the ideas coming out this morning in the fight over the fight for Iraq.

M. O'BRIEN: No laughing matter, the actor who played Kramer on "Sienfeld" under fire for racial slurs in his standup act.

S. O'BRIEN: And the business holiday travel rush takes off today. We'll tell you where the gridlock could be the very worst. Straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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