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American Morning
U.S.-Iraq Summit; More Troops to Baghdad; Massive Winter Storm
Aired November 30, 2006 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Best Buy says they're committed to living up to their name.
Ali Velshi is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Good morning, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Best Buy said yesterday in a conference with the CEO that they're going to match Wal-Mart's good pricing on electronics. And I put a call in to Best Buy this morning and couldn't get a hold of them to find out how that's going to happen. Do you have to take in a pamphlet and say the price is lower, or are they just going to know that the price is lower?
We're going to figure that out. But Best Buy, you know, a good time to be buying electronics. So that's not bad.
I want to talk about Wal-Mart for a second, though. Wal-Mart, a much bigger operation, 6,000 stores, 1.3 million employees, more than $300 billion in sales last year. Well, as of today, they've got a new problem.
The organization called Wake Up Wal-Mart, which is funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, is unrolling some 30-second ads which feature Wal-Mart employees in them. I think we may be able to listen to one of those very briefly.
OK. We're not going to listen to that, but it's got Wal-Mart workers in there talking about low wages, being locked in stores and not being able to leave to care for a sick child without being penalized.
We talked to Wal-Mart about this and they told us -- first of all, we asked them if these three workers who were featured in the ad are going to be fired. They said no comment on that. But they did mention that the three workers in the ads earn between -- earn $8.50 and $11.18 an hour.
They say that folks are getting tired of this campaign against Wal-Mart and they know exactly what it is. That's soon to be seen. Obviously this battle has been going on between Wal-Mart opponents and Wal-Mart for some time -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Ali Velshi for us this morning.
Thanks, Ali.
The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING begins right now.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Troop cuts. The Iraq Study Group poised to recommend bringing home American GIs from Iraq. This, as President Bush promises to keep up the fight and other presidents weigh in on whether the conflict should be called a civil war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are more and more people who think that they can get what they want by shooting or throwing up these roadside bombs rather than engaging in politics. And when that happens, others take up arms in defense and it just gets worse and worse and worse. And that's a normal definition of a civil war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: We're going to have more of my exclusive interview with President Clinton straight ahead this morning.
Also, November's icy exit. A major winter storm is bearing down on more than a dozen states, making a mess of travel. We'll talk about that.
M. O'BRIEN: And new insight of whether it's safe for pregnant women to take antidepressants.
That's ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. It's Thursday, November 30th.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien.
Thanks for being with us.
We begin this morning with Iraq. Some mixed signals on when U.S. troops might be coming home.
President Bush on his way home now after meeting in Amman, Jordan, just a few hours ago with the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri al- Maliki. The president insisting U.S. troops will stay in Iraq until the job is done. But in Washington, the Iraq Study Group is poised to recommend a gradual pullback of U.S. troops starting the first of the year. For now, though, the Pentagon is moving 1,600 troops into Baghdad, bolstering the 20,000 already there.
We have full coverage of this in three reports: Suzanne Malveaux from Amman. Arwa Damon in Baghdad. Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.
Let's begin with Suzanne and the president -- Suzanne.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Despite the serious doubts the White House has about Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's abilities to curb the violence in his country, President Bush today gave him a vote of confidence.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's the right guy for Iraq. And we're going to help him.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush is facing an increasingly unpopular war, with the new Congress actively seeking exit strategies. So the president is trying to push more responsibility on the Iraqi leader to govern and protect his people. Mr. Bush acknowledged the U.S. could do more to help.
BUSH: Part of the prime minister's frustration is, is that he doesn't have the tools necessary to take care of those who break the law.
MALVEAUX: The president promised more resources to speed up the training of Iraqi security forces, but he flatly refused to commit pulling out U.S. troops, even gradually, as recommended by a bipartisan commission, the Iraq Study Group.
BUSH: I know there's a lot of speculation that these reports in Washington mean there's going to be some kind of graceful exit out of Iraq. We're going to stay in Iraq to get the job done, so long as the government wants us there.
MALVEAUX: Even if that means U.S. troops would have to fight in what some consider a civil war.
BUSH: Killers taking -- taking innocent life is in some cases sectarian. I happen to view it as criminal.
MALVEAUX: Maliki also issued a thinly-veiled warning to his neighbors, Iran and Syria, for any role they may have in supporting the insurgents.
NURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): So everybody who is trying to make Iraq their own influence here on account of the Iraqi people need to recalculate.
MALVEAUX (on camera): As billed, there were no major, bold, new initiatives coming out of this summit, but rather, a recommitment from both leaders to keep plotting ahead.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Amman, Jordan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Prime Minister al-Maliki is already back in Baghdad, has some issues to confront there, of course, like Muqtada al-Sadr, who threatened to pull out of the government if al-Maliki went ahead with that meeting with President Bush.
CNN's Arwa Damon is live in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
Arwa, good morning to you.
So, how is it -- in the wake of this meeting now, what does it look like in the government?
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Soledad, the Iraqi prime minister most definitely faces a more fractured, more fragile government than when he left Baghdad less than 48 hours ago for that meeting with President Bush in Amman. In fact, he just wrapped up a press conference here in the capital at his residence in which he asked Muqtada al-Sadr's political bloc to review its decision to suspend activities in the government for the sake of the Iraqi people.
Now, according to the head of the political bloc, Hasan Shanshal, the group suspended its activities yesterday, they say, as a sign of protest that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki went ahead with his meeting with U.S. President Bush in Amman. From their perspective, they view this increasingly as it being the United States exerting what it wants done on Iraq, that it's not Iraq acting as a sovereign nation.
The prime minister asking them to review that. And some more interesting political developments here that we also know from Hasan Shanshal.
He said that some of the main Sunni groups here, Sunni politicians, some independent politicians and some Christian politicians are supporting the moves by Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc. According to Shanshal, they're planning on forming a national front within the Iraqi parliament, in part also to appeal to the United Nations with regards to the extension of the mandate for multinational forces here in Iraq.
That mandate was extended for another 12 months. They want that reviewed, and they want a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Arwa Damon in Baghdad for us this morning.
Arwa, thanks.
The Pentagon is moving some troops in Iraq, trying to get a lid on the unceasing violence in Baghdad.
CNN's Jamie McIntyre is at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Good morning, Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
You know, the U.S. eventually may pull troops out of Iraq, but for now they're sending more troops in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MCINTYRE (voice over): The failure of Iraqi forces to step up has forced U.S. troops to step in. Short 3,000 troops in Baghdad, U.S. commanders could no longer wait for Iraqi battalions to show up. So instead, General George Casey has ordered three U.S. battalions to move into the Iraqi capital, roughly 1,600 troops.
Even with more than 300,000 Iraqi forces in uniform, many are unwilling to leave their home areas and take on dangerous duty trying to restore order in Baghdad. Other troops, the Pentagon says, just might make things worse.
GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN: There are some units around Iraq that if moved into Baghdad would not be helpful. If a Sunni unit somewhere else in Iraq moved into a Shia neighborhood, or a Shia unit someplace else in Iraq moved into a Sunni neighborhood, it's not going to help the problem.
MCINTYRE: The additional forces are a last-ditch effort to bring stability to Iraq's capital, which is the linchpin of the U.S. strategy of securing Baghdad first and then moving to the rest of the country. But many experts argue it's only a temporary fix at best.
ANTHONY CORDESMAN, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: If what you want to do is lock down Baghdad, and you really put enough resources into it, you can probably lock down Baghdad. The problem is, so what?
It doesn't really stop anything. The violence, the tension is still there. All you've done is create enough roadblocks and separation to deal with it.
MCINTYRE: Meanwhile, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs dismissed a report from ABC News suggesting he was considering turning the insurgent stronghold of Al Anbar Province over to Iraqi security forces and moving the Marines there to Baghdad.
(on camera): Is that something that you're giving serious consideration to?
PACE: No.
MCINTYRE: Can you elaborate on that?
PACE: You gave me a very straight question. I gave you a very straight answer. No.
Why would we want to forfeit any part of Iraq to the enemy? We don't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: General Pace says he and the rest of the Joint Chiefs have been meeting with captains and colonels just back from Iraq to get their ideas on the best way ahead. But they won't issue any formal recommendations. Instead, General Pace will give his advice directly to the president -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Thanks, Jamie -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looking to jump-start the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Rice met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank this morning. Later she'll travel to Jerusalem to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Pope Benedict XVI on day three of his trip to Turkey. This morning at the Church of St. George in Istanbul, participating in what's called a divine liturgy with the head of the Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I.
Later the pope will visit a museum in the center of a fight between Muslims and Christians. Christians would like it as a church. Muslims want to restore it as a mosque.
In California, a big scare at San Diego's Sea World. A whale trainer is in the hospital after being attacked by a killer whale.
It happened last night during the Shamu show. Hundreds of people there watching. A dominant female whale named Kusaka (ph) grabbed the trainer's foot, pulled him under water as the horrified audience looked on. The trainer is hospitalized in good condition after being pinned for about a minute under water.
The 2006 hurricane season officially ends today with more of a whimper than a bang. Not a single hurricane. Only three tropical storms hit the U.S. mainland. That's the first time that's happened since 2001.
More weather in just a moment.
A major winter storm on the move causing headaches on highways and airports. You name it, you got trouble out there. The snowy forecast is just ahead with Chad.
Plus, important new guidelines on antidepressants for expectant moms. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look in "House Call" ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Top stories this morning.
President Bush pledging to keep U.S. troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future. He made the promise during an overnight meeting with Iraq's prime minister.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today, and later with Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, trying to jump-start the Mideast peace process -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: Severe weather alert to tell you about for much of the country this morning as a winter storm takes aim at the heartland. And it's moving east.
CNN's Jonathan Freed is in Kansas City for us this morning.
Hey, Jonathan. Good morning.
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
As the sun is coming up here in Kansas City, we're getting a better look around at road conditions, among other things. And we've been seeing the salt trucks moving their way along the roads this morning in the predawn darkness. And we're actually seeing some of the pavement down there.
So, so far, the ice that built up yesterday, at least in this part of town, they seem to have gotten a handle on it. We're seeing a lot more activity around now.
If we swing over here, you can see the shovel crews out breaking up the ice, and the salting in front of various buildings. Everybody here, though, Soledad, bracing for what may be coming later today, anywhere from two to four inches of snow here in Kansas City, we are told.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREED (voice over): From the Southwest to the Midwest, fierce winter weather is roaring through at least a dozen states today. In New Mexico, heavy snow may have looked beautiful, but it made for treacherous conditions on Interstate 40.
ROBERTA PETERSON, STRANDED DRIVER: I went from back there where the gas station is to here, and I slid everywhere. So it's too dangerous for me to move anywhere.
FREED: Most drivers decided to pull over and wait for the plows. But there are always the adventurous ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm headed -- I'm going out here. I'm headed to Albuquerque. I'm headed straight for the Gulf of Mexico, to the south, until this turns away from snow to rain to something else, because we're not staying tonight. I don't want to stay here and get buried in this stuff.
FREED: In the heartland, they're getting ready for the second storm in a winter double whammy. The first storm left nearly half an inch of ice in eastern Kansas, causing accidents and power outages. A second storm expected this afternoon could dump a foot and a half of snow from Oklahoma to Missouri. Folks in St. Louis are bracing for the first big storm of the season, stocking up on the essentials.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREED: And as the sun is coming up here in Kansas City, the wind is picking up as well. From our vantage point, we're perched a bit higher up here over downtown. Definitely getting windy.
The temperature fluctuating a little bit. It felt like it was a little bit colder earlier. Feeling a little bit damp here right now.
So, clearly, as the system moves through, everybody here -- schools canceled, people just standing by and waiting to see just how much snow comes and what it might do with what's left of the ice, if there is any at that point underneath it -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: It sounds like a big old mess.
Jonathan Freed for us this morning.
Thanks, Jonathan.
Of course the big question if you're a traveler is, what should I expect from this? Chad's got that.
Hey, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I think he can expect more than four inches in Kansas City.
Good morning, Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, the president of Iran writes an open letter to the American people. We'll tell you what it says and why a lot of folks say it's nothing more than a stunt.
And does the city of Miami look like a third world country to you? We'll tell you why one congressman is under fire, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Tomorrow is World AIDS Day, and former president Bill Clinton is in India right now making a big announcement about the cost of AIDS drugs for children.
Earlier today I spoke with Mr. Clinton about the progress that he's seen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Twenty-five years since AIDS was discovered. Why should people in this country, around the globe, feel hopeful about the progress that's been made?
CLINTON: Well, I think you should feel hopeful, first of all, because in America, it was rifling through our society. It started out as a disease primarily found among gay men and then among intravenous drug users. And then it got into the heterosexual population generally. And then we just basically turned it around with education prevention and treatment. And what we did can be done everywhere. So we should be hopeful, even though we still have problems in America with some segments of our population fighting increasing infection. But we've proved that this can be done.
If you look at Europe, if you look at Canada, if you look at other countries that have high levels of income or well-developed health systems, they've been able to turn it around. We now have strategies and dramatically cheaper medicine which enable us to do the same thing in lower-income countries.
So there's no reason this can't be done, you just have to focus on it. It becomes an important problem to everybody, and if we make a commitment to it and if we follow proven strategies we'll have predictable results, and they'll be good. And a lot of people will live as a result of it.
Not just a few people, tens of millions of people will live who otherwise would have died way before their time. But we can do this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Tomorrow, on World AIDS Day, we're going to have my full interview with Mr. Clinton, plus we talk exclusively to Senator Barack Obama. Supermodel Iman joins us as well. And evangelist Rick Warren and Kay Warren will talk about World AIDS Day.
Our coverage, which begins tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, CBS might be getting a little boost in the ratings, thanks to YouTube. How is that possible?
Ali Velshi, maybe this is a new marketing campaign...
VELSHI: Well, I have yet to see what the $1.6 billion of Google paid for YouTube is going to be used for. But this is interesting.
CBS, on October 18th, started posting things from its shows to YouTube. They put about 300 clips on between October 18th and now. And those 300 clips have had about 29.2 daily viewings, about 857,000 a day.
What does that do for CBS? Well, CBS says -- and it doesn't attribute all of this to YouTube -- but says that in that period it's seen a 200,000 viewer gain on "The Late Show With David Letterman," and a 100,000 viewer gain on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" because they post these things that are so -- sort of interesting that you didn't see if you didn't watch the show. So it drives people to say, hey, I don't want to miss this.
S. O'BRIEN: It makes sense.
VELSHI: Must-see TV.
NBC had claimed a similar bump for its show "The Office." It had started selling "The Office" on iTunes. So, you know, while it may not be the primary distribution method, the fact that someone can see it somewhere else may draw them to the main channel.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, so when will it be the primary distribution channel? Is it just a matter of time?
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: Oh, yes. I mean, I think the trend is definitely moving in that direction.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
VELSHI: But this is maybe why it makes sense for Google to have paid $1.6 billion for something nobody else could make that kind of sense of. So that's a -- that's an interesting story.
The other interesting story is guacamole. I don't believe I've ever had guacamole that wasn't just, you know, made guacamole. Maybe I bought it.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, the problem with guacamole is it turns brown in like 10 seconds.
VELSHI: Right. And that's what I thought. So I never thought to buy it.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
VELSHI: Well, apparently, Kraft store-bought guacamole dip, it doesn't have a whole lot of guacamole in it. It's less than 2 percent guacamole, and they're being sued by someone who's...
S. O'BRIEN: Well, what is it if it's not guacamole?
VELSHI: It's a whole lot of other stuff: water, partially hydrogenated coconut and soybean oil, corn syrup, whey protein concentrate, food starch, modified food starch, and then it's got potato, salt, avocado and soy flour.
S. O'BRIEN: Wow.
M. O'BRIEN: Two percent avocado.
VELSHI: Yes. And I should say, the person who is bringing this suit has been involved in other suits. She seems to like to sue people.
Peanut butter does have to have 90 percent peanuts, by the way, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
M. O'BRIEN: But there's no rule on this?
VELSHI: No rule on guacamole, except the FDA says your labeling has to be honest and truthful. Now, theoretically, we saw the label there. If you read it, you'd see it says less than 2 percent avocado. This person who is suing is saying, but the impression is, it's avocado.
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
VELSHI: Kraft says it's dip.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, you'd think if the thing is this big -- 2 percent is like a tiny little piece of avocado in there.
M. O'BRIEN: So it doesn't say guacamole-flavored dip. It just says...
VELSHI: It does say "dip" on the container. So...
M. O'BRIEN: Not flavored.
VELSHI: You know, this was, by the way, started by the Aztec 700 years ago. It was called Oacamole (ph), which roughly translates to avocado mixture.
M. O'BRIEN: OK. And was Kraft making stuff for the Aztecs?
VELSHI: Kraft did not have a contract with the Aztecs.
M. O'BRIEN: OK.
VELSHI: As far as we know. We're hearing that -- we're working on...
S. O'BRIEN: That certainly is a lot of information on the guacamole.
M. O'BRIEN: He's a linguist, too. It's amazing.
All right. Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Ali.
VELSHI: See you.
S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, much more on that blue ribbon panel's recommendations for Iraq. We're going to take a look at what it means for U.S. troops who are stationed there.
And should pregnant women take antidepressants? Dr. Sanjay Gupta is back with some new guidelines in "House Call" straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Troop cuts. New information from the Iraq Study Group about when American GIs might come home from Iraq.
"Dear America." Iran's president sends a letter to the American people, and its tone offers a few surprises.
S. O'BRIEN: New insight on whether it's safe for pregnant women to take antidepressants.
And best-selling author Michael Crichton joins us for a new speak peek at his new medical thriller, it's called "Next." That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. It's Thursday, November 30th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
Happening this morning, new pictures of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank this morning. She'll sit down with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later today. Rice is trying to firm up a shaky cease-fire between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Pope Benedict XVI on day three of his fence-mending visit to Turkey. He celebrated mass in Istanbul this morning. He'll soon visit one of Turkey's most contested religious landmarks. Muslims would like it restored as a mosque. Christians want it for a church.
Some unkind comments about Miami from a Colorado Congressman. Republican Tom Tancredo told an online news site that Miami and we're quoting him now, "is a third world country." Tancredo is the leader of the House anti-immigration faction. Florida's Governor Jeb Bush fired off a letter to Tancredo saying Miami benefits from ethnic diversity just like the rest of America. Tancredo responded, accusing Bush of, let me quote him again, "politically correct happy talk" -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Here's a look at what's new in Iraq this morning. President Bush is on his way home after that meeting in Amman Jordan, happened just a few hours ago with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki. The president insisting that U.S. troops will stay in Iraq until the job is done. But in Washington, the Iraq Study Group said to be poised to recommend a gradual pullback of U.S. troops, perhaps as soon as the start of the new year.
For now though, the Pentagon moving 1,600 troops into Baghdad to bolster the 20,000 troops that are already there. And President Bush using today's news conference to smooth over any hard feelings with the Iraqi prime minister.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Amman, the site of today's summit.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Soledad. President Bush was at pains to show that his administration does have confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. And of course, that confidence came into doubt following the publication of that memo from national security adviser Steven Hadley yesterday.
Now President Bush told reporters, that in his opinion, Mr. al- Maliki is the right guy for the job. He said the U.S. will try to expand the Iraqi government's role in maintaining and establishing security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My plan, and his plan, is to accelerate the Iraqis' responsibility. See, here's a man who's been elected by the people. The people expect him to respond and he doesn't have the capacity to respond. So we want to accelerate that capacity. We want him to be in the lead in taking the fight against the enemies of his own country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Now, one of the main concerns in Baghdad at the moment is this variety of sectarian militias that are now operating throughout the country. And also, the unwillingness, or inability of the Iraqi government to bring them under control. But Prime Minister al-Maliki stressed that the militias will not be tolerated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We want to emphasize that we will not allow anybody to exert their control over any part of Iraq. If there's any talk about intervention in Iraq, and all the discussion, all the talks about people, or other nations exerting control over Iraq, this is not true. This is a political process in Iraq. We want good relationships with our neighbors.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Now, that's what the two leaders said in Amman. We shall see, Soledad, if they carry out their words in Baghdad.
S. O'BRIEN: We shall see. Ben Wedeman for us in Amman this morning. Thanks, Ben -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: The Iranian president wants to speak directly to you. But are you listening? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is releasing an open letter to the American people and it's notable for what he left unsaid -- like a call to erase Israel from the map, or a claim the Holocaust is a myth, or even a single word on why he persists in pushing a nuclear program.
CNN's Richard Roth joining us with more on this message from Tehran. Good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles. You might say a kindlier, gentler tone. Here's the letter. I don't know if you got yours in the mail.
M. O'BRIEN: In the mail.
ROTH: The Iranian president is trying to drive a bit of a wedge between the President of the United States and the American people.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROTH: Who says people don't write letters anymore. A letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the American people condemns the U.S.-led war in Iraq and urges the American people to demand the pullout of U.S.troops there.
The president writes, "Would it not be more beneficial to bring the U.S. officers and soldiers home and to spend the astronomical U.S. military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people." The Iranian leader says the U.S. government could spend the money instead on the victims of the Hurricane Katrina and to fight poverty.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: He really is not trying to reach out so much as make it sound like he's reaching out. Because, of course, he is trying to play a complicated game. He wants to drive us out of Iraq.
ROTH: The Iranian president also turned election analyst. He said the American people showed their discontent with President Bush by voting for a Democratic Congress. He also issued a word to the winners, saying, "now that you control an important branch of the U.S. government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history."
DAVID MALONE, FORMER CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: I think any effort by a leader to communicate with the outside world, particularly a leader of an embattled country, is interesting and potentially positive, if that leader actually is interested in engaging a dialogue. And that may be the case on Iraq or something else.
ROTH: But a brief survey of Americans on the streets revealed little interest in a dialogue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have very little faith in what he says. No respect for it whatsoever and give no credence to it. And won't accept a letter from him at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I might not agree with it, but I'd read it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say it's just propaganda. That's all it is, when the Iraqian government, Iranian, Iranian government, and working with the Iraqi government I'm pretty sure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: The most important reaction may not be from the American people for the Iranian president, it will be from the Iraq Study Group, Miles, which could really be recommending some overtures from the Bush Administration to Iran perhaps.
M. O'BRIEN: Is there a sense that Ahmadinejad really wants some sort of dialogue with the U.S. -- what we've seen is, he just thumbed his nose at the U.S.
ROTH: Well, some analysts certainly say this is an overture. This is a bit of an opening. But they also know that he's really not going to be dealing with the American people, it will be the elected administration. And which has a hard line on Iran. Certainly no diplomatic relations with Tehran.
M. O'BRIEN: And meanwhile that nuclear program, they say it's civilian, continues.
ROTH: Yes. They say it's peaceful, but the security council continues to weigh potential sanctions, but remains divided on how to go about that. Russia and China object to getting tough right now with Iran. It may be up to the International Atomic Energy Agency to really start putting the heat on by its reporting.
M. O'BRIEN: Could be interesting here, they may hold the key to peace in Iraq. Or at least part of the key.
ROTH: Yes. And some see this letter as an attempt to show it's a big player in the Mideast. To gain sympathy and support from the Arab people as this letter is very condemnatory on Israel and says America should not show blind loyalty to Israel.
M. O'BRIEN: Richard Roth, thank you very much -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's turn to this morning's "House Call." If you're pregnant, can you take antidepressants? There's a new warning about the drug Paxil. Senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN center in Atlanta. Good morning, Sanjay.
Dr. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad. You know, really interesting, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists releasing a statement just last night talking specifically about antidepressants and pregnancy.
Now this has been an issue that we've talked quite a bit, a lot of pregnant women think about. The statement reading specifically that women who are taking antidepressants during pregnancy should really evaluate the pros and cons. That was sort of a more subjective thing.
But also, really look at Paxil specifically and if they are taking Paxil, have been taking Paxil, they should consider some other options. A little bit of quick history here, Soledad. They talk about the fact that there have been two studies that have shown an increase in heart defects in the babies when they're born, increased amount of about 1.5 to two times more likely of developing heart defects. The company that makes Paxil, change the labeling in September of 2005 to reflect this. But now a stronger statement coming out from the obstetricians and gynecologists in this country, saying you really want to re-evaluate if you're taking Paxil.
S. O'BRIEN: Are they saying that if you're thinking about getting pregnant, you should stop taking your anti-depressants?
GUPTA: They specifically talked about Paxil with this statement. They did said all women taking antidepressants to reevaluate that. But because of the potential for heart defects increasing in women who are taking Paxil, they recommended that women find other options other than this specific medication.
S. O'BRIEN: What do you do if, you know a lot of women get pregnant and don't really realize it until they're well into their first trimester, which is when the baby is developing and growing and one would imagine that's when the Paxil could have the greatest effect. What do you do if you say, oh my gosh, now I'm pregnant, I've been taking Paxil and I'm in my first trimester.
GUPTA: Yes, it's a good point because you're right, the first trimester is the most vulnerable period. They had a second part to the statement, which I found an interesting to your point, Soledad. They actually recommended that those babies actually get a fetal heart ultrasound. So if a woman was taking Paxil, subsequently found out she was pregnant, the baby should get a fetal heart ultrasound, or at least be recommended for it depending on the discretion of the doctor. So, you know, pretty impressive recommendation there.
S. O'BRIEN: It sure is. Dr. Sanjay Gupta for us this morning. Thanks, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, more on that frightening scene at Sea World. A shamu act gets out of control leaving a trainer injured. We'll hear from some of the stunned audience members.
Plus, "Jurrasic Park" author Michael Cricton goes from dinosaurs running amok to talking monkeys. His new book is called "Next." And he'll be with us a little later on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: A frightening scene to tell you about at Sea World this morning, one of the trainers in the shamu show is recovering after a killer whale attack that happened right in front of the audience. Leann Kim is with our San Diego affiliate KGTV and has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEANN KIM, KGTV REPORTER (voice-over): It's a show that's performed hundreds of times each year. But tonight, Kisacca (ph) a 30-year-old killer whale straight from her routine and trapped her trainer underwater. Audience members were horrified.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You could tell this was not part of the show.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I don't get why he would do that, bite the trainer. It looked like he was biting him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was just a tragedy. You weren't sure what was going on until the rest of the trainers started tapping the water. And you could see the panic coming over them. And then the nets coming out. Then you were, you know, instant reality, this is really happening.
KIM: Security evacuated the stadium as performers calmed down the whale and got the trapped trainer free. He was conscious and breathing and appeared to have foot injuries. Witnesses say at least twice he was forced underwater for at least a minute or two. Sea World officials say the whale had strayed from routines before but never to this extent.
MIKE SCARPUZZI, SEA WORLD HEAD TRAINER: There are times like this when they are killer whales, and she did choose to demonstrate her feelings in a way that obviously was unfortunate. We are unfortunate that our guests did have to see this, and you know, we obviously do not want this.
KIM: And this Dallas woman certainly didn't want her kids to see this. Especially as they were celebrating her 6-year-old daughter's birthday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just didn't want to watch a guy die. I mean, I know I wouldn't want shamu to die, but I think they should have had something in place where, you know, if it's between him or shamu, shamu's got to go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Leann Kim from or affiliate KGTV reporting for us this morning. The trainer reported to be in good condition. Sea World director said the trainer's experience and the trainer's close relationship with the killer whale Kisacca (ph) is really what played a big role in saving his life.
M. O'BRIEN: Do they have emergency air tanks at the bottom of those?
S. O'BRIEN: I don't think so. Because it didn't look like anybody in the reporting that anybody was going for those.
M. O'BRIEN: Interesting.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: "CNN NEWSROOM" just moments away, Heidi Collins at the CNN Center with a preview. Hello, Heidi
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there Miles. That's right we have these stories on the NEWSROOM rundown this morning. Strategy summit -- President Bush face-to-face with Iraq's leader. Our guests tell us what the two accomplished with their rendezvous in Jordan.
And radiation scare, low levels found on British Airways planes that flew between London and Moscow. A possible link between a poisoned Russian dissident and the Motherland. Then separate lives, conjoined Iraqi twins facing delicate surgery. After the Saudi Royal Family helps out. We'll tell you about that and many other stories. If you join Tony Harris and me in the NEWSROOM at the top of the hour on CNN -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: We will be there. Thanks very much Heidi.
Coming up, what's next for author Michael Crichton? How about a new thriller called "Next." And it might do for genetic engineering, what "Jurassic Park" did for dinosaurs. We'll explain.
Plus, it's Thursday, you know what that means?
S. O'BRIEN: Miles-cam!
M. O'BRIEN: Come on -- give me a little more enthusiasm. I've got to start paying you guys more. E-mail your questions to milescam@CNN.com. I'll give them a little bit more money so they sound enthused. And we will answer them on Pipeline -- cnn.com/pipleine, which you should check it out regardless whether I'm there or not, because it's a great product, 10:00 a.m. Eastern time is the place. Back in a moment.
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M. O'BRIEN: Best selling novelist Michael Crichton is out with a new book that will no doubt be on the silver screen before too long. For those of you who remember Crichton's "Andromeda Strain" or "Jurassic Park," the theme is familiar -- science running amok, technology meant to make life better, leading instead to a nightmare. What's next? A book entitled "Next," where he tackles genetic research and how it could lead to all kinds of mischief and horror.
Author Michael Crichton joining us now. Good to have you with us. The theme of science running amok set against genetic research. Give us the thumbnail of the book, first of all.
MICHAEL CRICHTON, AUTHOR: Well, the book is really a series of vignettes of different things, most of which have already happened. What's really occurring in genetics now is affecting people's lives in a variety of ways. And people have serious illnesses suddenly see the possibility of cures.
People who are 85 years old think that maybe they ought to have a child. Children of sperm donors, suddenly go out and seek their parents. It's a very different world from what it used to be. The laws are slow to catch up.
M. O'BRIEN: But this takes it another step, because you have hybrids between humans and orangutans, for example. It goes definitely into another realm.
CRICHTON: We've had human hybrids for about 20-odd years in terms of bacteria, maybe 30 years. So, it's not really new and the notion of having higher animals, or animals that have more complexities, absolutely going to happen. M. O'BRIEN: What you touch on though is that when this becomes a business, it becomes a whole issue of whose property are your genetic code. This gets into sticky areas where essentially a person's genetic capability, their cells, aren't their property anymore. Do you think that could really happen?
CRICHTON: It's already happened. It happened 20 years ago. This is the law of the land at the moment. It's an absurd law. What's going on, for example, is we now have very good Federal guidelines that the national institutes follows about tissues and the universities are refusing to keep up with it. They want to do something else. It's a very -- it's a wild situation.
M. O'BRIEN; You have a website, kind of a mock spoof website. Whatever you want to call it that is meant to go along with the book. On it, it has ads for a company, a fictious company that provides all sorts of genetic miracles, including the permapuppy. Let's look at this as we talk about this. The permapuppy, meaning, as you grow old, and it's got the cute music, and it's meant to be like an ad you'd see, you grow old and the permapuppy stays puppy cute and cuddly and always obedient because of genetic research. It's kind of cute and funny. You're obviously making light of all of this. Is there a serious message behind that, though?
CRICHTON: Well, I think there is in the sense that, you know, what we assume to be characteristics of living creatures may change. You know, we imagine that animals are going to grow old. And they don't stay puppies forever. Maybe one day they will.
M. O'BRIEN: You know, it's interesting, you have a background in science, Harvard Medical School, after all. And you've written consistently about science offering up all kinds of horrors in the future. Scientists being kind of bad guys in many respects. Are you as afraid of science as you paint a picture in your novels?
CRICHTON: No, actually, I'm not. I think, I feel we live in a society that's very much a booster for new technology, I'm always interested in doing the other side of that, saying, well, wait a minute. But actually, I have no concerns at all. I'm very optimistic about the future.
M. O'BRIEN: You don't think you rain on the parade of science and technology?
CRICHTON: No, not at all. In fact, you know, when "Jurassic Park" came out, people were very concerned, all the paleontologists had huge funding increases.
M. O'BRIEN: The book is "Next." Michael Crichton, thank you for being with us. Good luck with it -- Soledad.
CRICHTON: Thank you, Miles.
S. O'BRIEN: Here's a quick look at what CNN NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour. TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM. President Bush flying home. What does he have to show after a summit with Iraq's leader.
Cold facts, a major winter storm marching across the country with snow and ice.
Iowa's Democratic governor becomes the first, this morning his formal announcement. Tom Vilsack wants to be president.
You're in the NEWSROOM -- 9:00 eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Ladies and gentlemen, a special announcement for you. Our good friend, Chad Myers, in this week. It's been great having you here.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'll be in the house.
M. O'BRIEN: In the house, on the Milescam today. All right, milescam lovers. We'll put an extra seat in there for you.
MYERS: I just need a Diet Coke.
M. O'BRIEN: As a matter of fact, you could take the seat. I just stand off the to the side and you answer the questions for once. The milescam with a special guest appearance by Chad Myers. So guess what, weather questions would be a good idea.
MYERS: There you go.
M. O'BRIEN: He'll answer anything. Milescam@CNN.com. Place to watch it is on the Pipleine product. CNN.com/pipeline. 10:00 Eastern. See you there with Chad.
S. O'BRIEN; And we're out of time on AMERICAN MORNING. Let's get right to "CNN NEWSROOM" with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins. begins right now.
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