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Surprise Attack: Disguised as U.S. Troops; State of the Union: Iraq Strategy; Race for '08
Aired January 22, 2007 - 07:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A massive investigation under way this morning in Iraq after a daring Trojan horse attack on a U.S. military outpost in Karbala, south of Baghdad. Thirty gunmen wearing U.S. military garb, driving in a convoy of seven SUVs, talked their way past three checkpoints at a U.S.-Iraqi compound. Once inside, they started firing, targeting U.S. soldiers, killing at least five.
CNN's Michael Holmes live from Baghdad with more -- Michael.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Miles, hard to believe, isn't it? Yes, brazen attack, also unprecedented. We can't remember anything like this happening in the past.
What was happening in Karbala was there was a security meeting going on in what was meant to be a secure compound. U.S. and Iraqi officials discussing security arrangements for pilgrims arriving for Ashura. That's a major Shia religious event.
You can see there from the air this compound, a few buildings, a big parking area, and the roads around it had checkpoints on them. Well, what happened was, seven to eight SUVs, tinted windows, looking like official convoys that tear around Iraq, drove up to the compound. Thirty gunmen inside, many of them wearing military uniforms, we're told, similar to U.S. uniforms.
They flashed fake IDs. Some of them spoke English. And we've been told that they got through three Iraqi troop checkpoints.
Those police thought that they were U.S. soldiers. They didn't just get into the compound, Miles. They got into the building where that meeting was taking place, we're told, and opened fire.
Small arms, grenades targeting specifically U.S. soldiers. Five of those soldiers killed. Three were wounded. And then the gunmen made their escape. Some of their vehicles were found in a neighboring province, and we're told by Iraqi sources two wounded insurgents were captured.
Interestingly, Miles, throughout this whole thing, not one Iraqi casualty, we're told. And there is now a lockdown on that site, and a very intense investigation under way.
M. O'BRIEN: Obviously lots of questions, Michael, but one that comes to mind here is they went through three checkpoints. Did any of the guards there search those vehicles, and wouldn't that have tipped them off? HOLMES: Well, what we're told by Iraqi sources on the scene -- these are police sources on the scene -- was that Americans traditionally -- and if you have been here, you can see these convoys, diplomatic, otherwise security convoys. They drive around, often at speed, they don't stop normally at these checkpoints. They show their badges and they keep on going.
And these Iraqi police on the scene, they say, well, we thought it was the Americans coming in. Same sort of SUVs, U.S.-style uniforms, flashing IDs that obviously weren't valid, but flashing them, nonetheless, and keeping ongoing. So they thought they had an American convoy coming in for the meeting and basically waved them through.
So absolutely staggering stuff -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: So the irony is that the fact that they go through those checkpoints is meant to enhance security, and in the end it was -- turned out to be an Achilles heel, I guess.
All right. Michael Holmes in Baghdad.
HOLMES: Yes, it was well-organized too.
M. O'BRIEN: I think so.
Michael Holmes, thank you -- Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, after this very deadly weekend in Iraq, President Bush says he's going to use part of tomorrow's State of the Union Address to convince skeptics that he is right to send more troops into Iraq.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House this morning for us. She's got a preview of the president's speech.
Good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, a different dynamic for President Bush this year as he is facing a Congress now led by Democrats. But the skepticism over his Iraq plan is coming not just from Democrats, but from his fellow Republicans as well.
So President Bush will continue trying to make the case that his strategy to send some 21,000 additional U.S. forces to pacify Baghdad, as well as the Anwar Province, can be effective. Aides say that his comments, though, on the Iraq war will be within the context of the larger war on terror.
Now, Iraq this weekend was very much on the agenda. The president sat down before leaving for Camp David with his secretary of defense, Robert Gates, and his secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, to hear about their recent trips to the Middle East region. Now, as for his State of the Union Address, the White House clearly trying to shift some of the focus to President Bush's domestic agenda. Bush aides say that the president will focus on domestic issues, areas of possible common ground with Democrats. That includes healthcare. The president is set to unveil a proposal for a standard tax deduction for healthcare.
Other domestic issues, Soledad, include immigration, energy, and education policy -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano is at the White House for us.
Thanks, Elaine -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Hold on tight. It's going to be a wild ride. One year to the day for the New Hampshire primary, and the presidential wannabes seem to be growing on trees.
Hillary Clinton beaming out a Web cast, confirming she is filing papers to form a presidential exploratory committee. A cabinet member in her husband's administration, Bill Richardson, also making good on his hints to join the race of the weekend.
And on the other side of the aisle, Kansas senator Sam Brownback made his formal announcement in Topeka. Brownback, a fierce opponent of abortion. He describes himself as a compassionate conservative.
First to New Hampshire, where things happen first in the political world. AMERICAN MORNING'S Bob Franken is there.
Good morning, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
We should mention, Miles, that the first in the nation presidential debates are going to be held here in April. We should absolutely mention that they're cosponsored by CNN, along with WMUR TV, which is part of the political tradition here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice over): Most states have a state bird, a state song. But in New Hampshire...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Politics is our state sport, and I'm delighted that you're here to play this game with all of us.
FRANKEN: They've been playing the first primary game here since 1920. While Hillary Rodham Clinton's announcement causes palpitations everywhere else, here it's join the crowd.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really feel that we have a chance as citizens of New Hampshire to really -- to meet all of the candidates. And so until I have an opportunity to meet all of the candidates, I will make a decision after that. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really haven't seen Hillary and we haven't seen Barack Obama, except once over in Manchester. And it will take us a while to figure out who they are.
FRANKEN: Actually, Hillary Clinton goes back to 1992 in New Hampshire, when as the wife of candidate Bill Clinton, she was traipsing through all of the snow and scandal.
CLINTON: If anything about our marriage is important to the people of New Hampshire as to whether or not they will have a chance to keep their own families together and to...
FRANKEN: Now Hillary Clinton herself is seeking the embrace of New Hampshire's voters, along with many, many others, including lots of Republicans -- McCain, Brownback, Romney, Giuliani. Among the Democrats, Obama, Edwards, Biden, Richardson.
Vilsack was here on Friday, Dodd on Saturday.
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I apologize being a few minutes late. I'm not Bill Clinton. I'm not an hour late.
FRANKEN: Did he say "Clinton"? Actually, Hillary Clinton has not been here for a while.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of the candidates have to come to New Hampshire if they want to win. It's not, it's just the way that it is.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: So, the primary -- the primary is going to be exactly a year from today, unless the state officials move it back a little bit because they're concerned about other states trying to steal their first in the nation primary status. In any case, by then we'll find out whether the number of candidates, Miles, outnumbers the population.
M. O'BRIEN: Which it often seems like up there. Certainly with the press corps attached it does.
What are the chances they will move that day?
FRANKEN: Well, there's a lot of grousing right now about the Democratic Party moving the Nevada caucus in there somewhere, and the South Carolina primary coming much earlier than it was going to. I think the key is going to be whether the candidates take it seriously, and right now we have every evidence in the world that they are going to continue to do so.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Bob Franken in New Hampshire.
You might as well just say stay there, Bob. See you. Enjoy the year -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: Lawyers for Michael Devlin say they want their client moved to another jail. They are furious that a reporter for "The New York Post" was allowed to interview Devlin, who is accused of kidnapping two young boys, one of whom he allegedly held for four years. The interview is revealing, to say the least.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN (voice over): He's 6'4", weighs 300 pounds. Not the kind of man you think of as timid and scared. Still, Michael Devlin says that he is afraid to confront his mother and father now that he has been arrested.
In two separate 15-minute interviews, the Missouri pizza shop manager accused of kidnapping two boys tells "The New York Post," "I don't know how I'm going to explain myself to my parents. It's much easier talking to a stranger about these things than your own parents."
Devlin says he had few friends, telling "The Post," "I guess you could say I was lonely. All my friends started getting married and having kids. Hanging out with friends just becomes a lower priority."
When asked about girlfriends, Devlin says, "I was never really interested in that." Did he like women at all? Devlin says, "I can't talk about that because it has to do with the case."
Shawn Hornbeck's parents are concerned their son will have to testify in court about his four-year ordeal with Devlin.
PAM AKERS, SHAWN HORNBECK'S MOTHER: It's something that I'm sure Shawn is wanting to do. It's something that I really don't want to have to put Shawn through that again. You know, he lived it for four and a half years. Why make him relive it?
S. O'BRIEN: Michael Devlin says that his time in jail is difficult. He can't sleep, he says, and he's isolated. "They keep me away from everyone because they think I'm dangerous." He insists he is not.
In spite of the trauma Devlin may have inflicted on Shawn Hornbeck for four long years, Devlin claims that for him, at least, life with the boy had been good. "I guess I was relatively happy," he says."
Not happy it Devlin's attorney. He is furious the interview ever happened.
ETHAN CORLIJA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Any time you have unauthorized, unrestricted access into a jailing facility, you've got problems. Especially with a case like this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Michael Devlin pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of kidnapping Ben Ownby. He is charged with kidnapping Shawn Hornbeck, but has not entered a plea yet in that case.
And federal agents are joining the search now for a mother and her four children in the Chicago area. Kimberly Walker and her children, who are between the ages of 16 months and 9 years old, were allegedly kidnapped by Jerry White. There's his picture right there. He is the children's father.
Police say White also shot Walker's boyfriend. The boyfriend is in serious condition -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: More now on a hidden danger you need to know about when you travel. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless gas, and it can kill you while you sleep. We've seen it happen recently around the country. So what are hotels doing to protect you?
CNN's Susan Candiotti with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the last seven months, at least four guests at hotels around the country have died from carbon monoxide fumes, and several others have been sickened.
It was a nice room. You know, there was -- we had no complaints about it whatsoever.
CANDIOTTI: When Richard Lueders lost his son Thomas to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in room 416 of the DoubleTree hotel in Key West, he had no idea they were next to the boiler room. Investigators suspect a boiler spewing odorless, noxious fumes is what killed Lueders' son and left his father unconscious. A week before Lueders died, guests who stayed in the same room were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.
A lawsuit has been filed, and this week plaintiffs' lawyers inspected the hotel, providing their video to CNN. They're calling for state and federal laws to make CO monitors mandatory in hotels.
IRA LEESFIELD, CIVIL LIABILITY ATTORNEY: It's like so many other things in life. It takes a tragedy to make a change.
CANDIOTTI: Two years ago, Barbara Bertot lost her daughter to carbon monoxide poisoning and got a law passed in Hialeah, Florida, requiring CO monitors in homes and businesses.
BARBARA BERTOT, VICTIM'S MOTHER: Every business should have, you know, this monitor. This monitor, you know, costs pennies compared to losing a life.
CANDIOTTI: Only seven states mandate hotels to have carbon monoxide detectors. Florida is not one of them.
(on camera): What about the hotel industry policing itself? The American Hotel and Lodging Association offers no reasons why it does not set its own guidelines, adding it's up to its members to comply with state and local building codes.
(voice over): Marriott says it has CO detectors in all its properties. La Quinta and the Intercontinental Hotel Group, which includes Holiday Inn, say some locations have monitors.
ASST. CHIEF STEVE MCINERNY, FORT LAUDERDALE FIRE DEPT.: And I think it's just a lack of education on the dangers of carbon monoxide.
CANDIOTTI: Hilton Hotels, including DoubleTree, says it has no policy on CO detectors. The DoubleTree in Key West, where Lueders last month, says it plans to install CO detectors before it reopens.
Advice for consumers? If you are worried, ask for a hotel's policy ahead of time, or bring your own monitor.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Key West, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Now, the hotel and its management responded, saying, "Heartland and hotel management staff want to be part of and support and any and all efforts to raise code standards across the state so that Florida becomes a model for hotel boiler safety" -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, Warrior One has a new owner. The founder of real estate giant RE/MAX International bid $1 million for the renovated Hummer that was used by CNN to cover the war in Iraq. The money all goes to charity.
We're going to hear from the winning bidder straight ahead in our next half hour.
M. O'BRIEN: Of course the real story is the runner-up, who tossed in $250,000.
S. O'BRIEN: A quarter of a million. It's good to be rich. That's what I would say.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. That's a nice way to end it.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's good.
M. O'BRIEN: The match-up for Super Bowl XLI is set. In case you haven't heard, the Chicago Bears go to the game for the first time in 21 years. They knocked off the New Orleans Saints 39-14, to win the NFC championship.
Who dat say if you're going to beat them Saints -- da Bears, da Bears.
The Bears will face the Indianapolis Colts, who beat New England. Past my bedtime, but it was supposed to be quite a game -- 38-34. It was quite a comeback. As a matter of fact, the biggest comeback ever in playoff history in the NFL. They were down 15 points at the half.
History will be made in the Super Bowl on Sunday. For the first time, not one, but two African-American head coaches. The Bears' Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy of the Colts will be on opposite sidelines.
S. O'BRIEN: It's going to be a good game. I watched last night the whole thing.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm impressed.
S. O'BRIEN: And how rare is it when I watch the game and you don't watch the game?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I'm sorry. Yes -- no.
S. O'BRIEN: That's a first, too.
M. O'BRIEN: I need my beauty sleep.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, big businesses and environmentalists teaming up to fight global warming. The question is, will the president go along?
And does a Golden Globe award mean gold at the box office?
You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Some of the headlines we're following. The most news in the morning right here.
Some choice words for the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. Does he ever have anything else besides choice words? This one, "Go to hell, gringos." He says he is angry over U.S. meddling. I think he's just generally angry.
And the Transportation Security Administration is starting a nationwide tracking system to determine how long railcars filled with lethal materials are stopped on tracks without being unguarded.
Let's see what time it is here. I don't have a watch in front of me. A little -- quarter past the hour, and there's Chad Myers in the wall.
Hello, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Miles.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
S. O'BRIEN: Historic race for the White House filling up. Three more candidates announced that they were running over the weekend.
Anne Kornblut is a national political reporter for "The Washington Post." She joins us this morning.
Nice to see you, Anne, as always.
ANNE KORNBLUT, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Hi.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks for talking with us.
OK. Let's talk about Hillary Clinton, first and foremost, because that's a lead story out of the weekend.
We know that she's got some big pluses, but you've covered her for a long time. What do you think the biggest challenge is to her candidacy?
KORNBLUT: Well, she has a number. The campaign would tell you that the first real challenge she has is to reintroduce herself to the country. That she's the least known, most famous candidate out there. They really want to reintroduce her as somebody who has won in New York -- now, obviously, two elections -- who has worked across the aisle, who is extremely substantive.
At a more practical level, she obviously now has challengers within her own party. She's got Senator Barack Obama, who has generated a lot of attention recently. And then she also, of course, has her husband, who she is compared to inevitably -- her performance style, everything about her, all that goes with Bill Clinton.
So, she does have -- she does have some sizable advantages, but you are right, she also has some significant challenges.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. Let's break down some of those answers then.
First, Barack Obama. It almost seemed like he took people by surprise a little bit. Do you think that her -- her campaign was a little surprised that he came out in front? She had all the traction first.
KORNBLUT: The thing about Hillary Clinton is, she's had the traction for so many years that her advisers always knew there was going to be somebody or something that was going to come along. It wasn't going to be some sort of straight shot to the White House. But I will tell you, a year ago, having these conversations, nobody predicted that it would be Barack Obama. No one really thought he was going to run, and no one thought that he would generate the level of excitement that he has generated.
So, yes, you are right. I would say that for her it's been a long time in the frontrunner's seat. And this has come as unexpected.
S. O'BRIEN: You know, when you saw her at her first event, she is surrounded by children. It was some kind of healthcare event. Surrounded by small children. When you look at her Web announcement, she's sort of on the couch, a lamp glowing behind her.
How much of this do you think is how she's going to pitch herself in campaign? I mean, is this -- is this an overt pitch sort of for a mom vote, do you think?
KORNBLUT: It's really interesting. If you had asked me that same question six months ago, I would have predicted that she would announce at a naval base or something, to do the sort of Margaret Thatcher, tough on the war thing, because, you know, there's been a lot of talk about running as a woman, that she needs to show that she's tough and can do defense.
What we're seeing now is actually not that different from what we've seen from Nancy Pelosi. It's more of the sort of mom party -- Democrats who care about domestic issues, and it's -- for lack of a better phrase, I would say it's the softer side of Hillary Clinton. It's showing that she's a mother, that she connects with people.
And, you know, she's very consistent. This is an issue she has been dealing with for many decades.
S. O'BRIEN: We'll see it if it works.
Anne Kornblut this morning for us.
Nice to see you.
KORNBLUT: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: She's a national political reporter for "The Washington Post."
As always, we appreciate it.
Want to hear from you, too. We invite your questions for the candidates or for our coverage. Just drop me an email at cnn.com/am. Click on the link about halfway down the page.
I'm going to answer your questions, also give you a little glimpse of what we do hear on AMERICAN MORNING.
We're back in just a moment.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Happening now, at least 75 killed in a pair of coordinated car bombs in Iraq. The blast went off in a central Baghdad marketplace. At least 160 wounded.
And Iran flexing its muscle, announcing new plans to test-fire missiles -- short-range missiles.
Two small movies getting the golden glow from the Golden Globes.
About 25 minutes past the hour. Stephanie Elam is "Minding Your Business."
Stephanie, good morning. STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
Well, "Stomp the Yard" was still the number one movie this week. And it's had a nice run, the movie about stepping. Still taking in a lot of money, but there's a small number of movies that have done really well thanks to the Golden Globes.
Let's start off by taking a look at "The Last King of Scotland." It stars Forest Whittaker as -- his portrayal as Idi Amin. Well, he won for best actor in a drama, and since then the studio expanded the film from four theaters to 495 theaters.
So the film took in an estimated $1.8 million from Friday to Sunday. So having a nice run-up there.
After that, take a look at "Babel," the movie that stars Cate Blanchett, as well as Brad Pitt. It increased its ticket sales by 500 percent from last weekend and won the best drama at the Golden Globes.
As a start, "Babel" wasn't even in the top 20 list of the box office earners, but then it jumped to the 12th place just that past weekend, making $2.3 million. Overall, it's made $24 million.
Also worth mentioning, "The Queen," which stars Helen Mirren, who took away the Golden Globe for best actress in that -- in her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II. It came in at the ninth spot. She also won a Golden Globe for playing Queen Elizabeth I. So she's really doing a great job.
So anyone who says the Golden Globes don't make money for people -- for movies, they can see here that they actually have. So they're doing a lot better.
M. O'BRIEN: Direct link right there.
ELAM: Completely.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you, Stephanie.
ELAM: Sure.
M. O'BRIEN: Appreciate that.
Top stories of the morning coming up next.
The military investigating a bold attack in Karbala, Iraq. Gunmen appearing to wear U.S. uniforms, plus a coordinated attack leaves at least 75 dead in a crowded marketplace in Baghdad.
And he was wounded in Iraq, now he fights to come back from the brink here at home. Part one of our new series looking at the battles on the homefront.
You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: New this morning in Iraq, at least 75 killed by simultaneous car bombs in a central Baghdad marketplace.
S. O'BRIEN: Sticker shock. CNN's Warrior One Hummer from the Iraq invasion is auctioned for a huge sum. We're going to introduce you to the winning bidder.
M. O'BRIEN: And politics on film. Filmmakers taking strong points of view and airing them at the Sundance Film Festival.
Those stories and more ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning to you, Monday, January 22nd.
I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Thanks for being with us.
(NEWSBREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: A massive investigation underway this morning in Iraq after a daring Trojan horse attack on a U.S.-Iraqi military compound in Karbala south of Baghdad. Thirty gunmen wearing U.S. military garb driving in a convoy of seven U.S.-made SUVs talked their way past three checkpoints into a U.S.-Iraqi compound. Once inside they started firing, targeting U.S. soldiers, killing five.
CNN's Michael Holmes is live in Baghdad with more -- Michael.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Miles, we're still waiting to get the U.S. version of what went on, but Iraqi police sources are telling us that this occurred during a security meeting, ironically, going on in what was meant to be a secure compound. The U.S. and Iraqi officials discussing arrangements to keep safe the pilgrims who are going to be arriving for a major Shia religious event in Karbala, and as you said, eight or seven SUVs, tinted windows, looking very much like official convoys that travel around Iraq, drove up to the compound. These gunmen, as you said, wearing similar to U.S. uniforms, flashing fake IDs, some of them speaking English. They talked their way through three checkpoints. They didn't just get into the compound, Miles; they got into the building where this meeting was taking place, according to police sources. They opened fire, small arms, also grenades involved. Five U.S. servicemen killed. Three were wounded. Then gunmen then high-tailed out of there. Some of the SUVs found in a neighboring province later.
According to a police source, there were two wounded insurgents in one of those vehicles. Obviously, lockdown at this compound now, a major investigations underway -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, Michael. You said earlier that the custom is that these U.S. convoys tend to flash their IDs and go through these checkpoints. What's also interesting about this is it seems as if these gunmen specifically targeted Americans only.
HOLMES: Yes, that's right, on both those points. The Iraqi police say whenever they do get a genuine U.S. convoy coming through, diplomatic or military in these SUVs, the Americans don't like to stop, don't like to be searched by Iraqi police, so they do, they just go straight through. The police in this case thought the same thing was happening and let them go. And the other point was that security around this compound was meant to be pretty good, and, in fact, on paper it was. When they got in there, we're told by an Iraqi police source, not one Iraqi casualty. These guys were looking for American soldiers, and that's who they targeted.
M. O'BRIEN: Michael Holmes in Baghdad, thank you -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Nearly 23,000 American troops have been wounded in Iraq. And this morning in our new series we're calling "The Homefront" the story of a young man. He's 24 years old, and he's already had dozens and dozens of surgeries, and he faces many more. But his this morning is a story of survival and thriving.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Jim Benoit was one of the first U.S. soldiers deployed to Iraq in 2003. He spent a year, then returned for a second tour of duty in 2005. Just eight months after his return, an IED, an improvised explosive device, blew up under Jim's Humvee. Jim was driving.
JIM BENOIT, CRITICALLY INJURED IN IRAQ: I didn't know I was, you know, injured or anything. It was kind of like, right when all of a sudden my vision just kind of went black.
S. O'BRIEN: Doctors told Jim he died on the operating table four times. Barely alive, Jim was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical center where his mother, Missy, got the terrible news from doctors.
MISSY BENOIT, JIM BENOIT'S MOTHER: I said tell me straight out, I want to know the worst, and he said, I don't think he'll make it through the night, and if he does, we will probably have to amputate at his trunk.
S. O'BRIEN: Doctors wanted to amputate everything below Jim's waist. Missy refused.
M. BENOIT: And I looked at the doctor, and I said there's nothing wrong with my son's legs. Go in there and you fix the broken middle. I was just determined my son was walking out of that hospital.
S. O'BRIEN: Jim had the first of what would be 79 surgeries. His muscles and tendons were cut and stretched over his backside, and he needed painful skin graphs taken from the side of his legs and back. Every step of the way keeping Jim company, a young woman named Pam Callahan. She'd been a casual friend, then a pen pal while Jim was overseas. Hour after hour, day after day Pam sat by Jim's bedside, and they talked. On July 1st, still in his hospital bed, Jim proposed to Pam and vowed he would walk by their wedding.
(on camera): Did you have any doubts about saying yes to the proposal?
PAM BENOIT, JIM BENOIT'S WIFE: No.
S. O'BRIEN: Not a moment?
P. BENOIT: No. I'd been with him and gone through so much with him already that I knew that he was the one.
S. O'BRIEN (voice-over): On November 18th, the soldier doctors said would never walk again escorted his bride down the aisle.
P. BENOIT: I was waiting for my turn to come up the aisle, and somebody came back and they were, like, he walked up the aisle.
M. BENOIT: When he got up and danced, no, he didn't leave a dry eye in there.
S. O'BRIEN: Then even more surprising, the breathtaking generosity of total strangers. Local school students raised $22,000 for Jim and Pam. The town is building them a home. So far just the foundation has been finished. The labor was donated. It's standing on land the town donated and volunteers designed it. Jim and Pam say they take it one day at a time. The soldier who was not expected to live, and never expected to walk, is now living a new life.
M. BENOIT: How are you, sweetie?
S. O'BRIEN: And his family is overwhelmed with gratitude.
M. BENOIT: Saying thank you, it's a simple word, but the impact it has, I can never thank these people enough for what they're doing for my son.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: An organization called Homes for Our Troops is building -- helping, rather, to build Jim and Pam's new home. And if you want more information, you can check out homeforourtroops.org, which is on the Web. Jim will go in for his 80th surgery next month.
M. O'BRIEN: Wow, 80 surgeries.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, 24 years old.
M. O'BRIEN: and these are not, you know, tonsillitis, tonsillectomy-type surgeries.
S. O'BRIEN: Months at a time recovering. It's a tough, tough road for him.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, we wish them all well. Thank you, Soledad. Some wounded troops are also getting a big boost, courtesy of CNN, and one man's very deep pockets, actually two guys. We'll talk to the proud owner of CNN's Warrior One. Actually we're going to call it Warrior One Million from now on.
And we'll also talk about the runner-up, who really put the cherry on top of the sundae for this up with. That's ahead on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: That's right, one million and change for Warrior One, the renovated, customized Hummer used originally by CNN to cover the initial stages of the war in Iraq. The top bidder, Dave Liniger, founder of real estate giant Re/Max. Dave bid a million bucks. Sold. But then the runner-up, Dave Ressler, of North Dakota, threw in additional quarter million just for good measure. Good measure for a good cause. The dough going straight to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for families of wounded vets near hospitals, where they're recuperating.
Dave Liniger joins us right now. He is in Denver.
Congratulations, Dave. A million bucks. I love this story about the runner up chipping in a quarter million. Tell us about that.
DAVE LINIGER, WARRIOR ONE AUCTION WINNER: Well, it was really cool. We got to the million dollar mark. He walked over and looked at the auctioneer and said let's call it quits. We stopped at this point. He said he would add $250,000 to the pot. It was a wonderful, wonderful gesture.
M. O'BRIEN: Not a dry eye in the house, I suspect, on that one. That's a great thing. Now, we're looking at some tape of you now, Dave, but I got to admit, in the midst of this you look like you needed a little help steadying yourself. Was it just hot in there? Were you getting a little bit with the amount of money involved, were you getting a little light-headed?
LINIGER: No, I was a little bit confused. I have a little hearing deficiency, and I was trying to understand what the auctioneer was saying, so I kind of got distracted listening. Then I saw it pop up on the video screen in front of me, so I understood what the bids were.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, got you. So, now you were clearly determined to buy this vehicle. Why did you go after it with such determination?
LINIGER: The Remax organization is heavily involved with the military. I went to a couple of the military hospitals and met some of the amputees a year ago and we started our own foundation. So it was very important for us. We thought that we could use the vehicle to tour the country for the next couple of years, trying to raise more awareness and more money.
M. O'BRIEN: And you, yourself are a veteran, correct?
LINIGER: Yes, I am.
M. O'BRIEN: And were in Vietnam. As you kind of watch this war unfold, it's kind of unfortunate that there is a need for this particular foundation, but the work they do is tremendous, isn't it?
LINIGER: Oh, it's just fabulous what they're doing. The military only gives the wounded vets one or two tickets after they are wounded to bring a family member in. It's quite a financial hardship for the family to come. A lot of these vets are in the hospital for two years or more. What the Fisher Foundation is doing is just fabulous for those families.
M. O'BRIEN: So, as you drive through the country, not you personally but as the Warrior One drives through, what's the message that you want to get out there to people?
M. O'BRIEN: Well, there's two messages. Number one, the vehicle itself is a fabulous message. If you look at the paintings that are on it, it tells different very graphic versions of the memories of those photographers and reporters. It really brings the war to life.
The second message, obviously, is the war is not over. Even if the war was over today, the wounded will still need help two and three years from now, and so it's just to raise public awareness and try to generate some donated funds.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming on the heels of a particularly bloody weekend in Iraq. We've been telling people this morning about the brazen attack at a U.S. and Iraqi military compound. What are your thoughts about this war at this point?
LINIGER: You know, every war is horrible. The veterans are the ones that have been in it. They see it. They understand the damage that is done. It's just amazing to me that thousands of years and people are still killing each other.
M. O'BRIEN: Dave Liniger, congratulation on your successful bid, and keep up the good work on behalf of our veterans for whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. Thanks for your time.
LINIGER: You bet.
M. O'BRIEN: Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: CNN NEWSROOM just a few minutes away. Tony Harris is at the CNN Center. He's got a look at what's ahead for them. Good morning.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Soledad, good morning to you. We have the stories on the NEWSROOM rundown for you this morning.
Dozens killed and maimed in Iraq bloodshed. A double car bomb attack hits a Shiite neighborhood market.
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. Filmmaker Rory Kennedy is here to talk about her politically-charged project. It is stirring talk at Sundance.
It is getting crowded out there. Eight Democrats interested in the White House. Hotline's John Mercurrio is here to talk 2008.
And take a look at this big, burly bunny -- it's a bunny. What more is there to say?
Heidi Collins is with me in the NEWSROOM -- top of the hour. Soledad, back to you.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Tony.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- big business, and environmentalists too teaming up to fight global warming. Is the president going to go along with the deal? We'll take a look. And debuting at Sundance. The political, the personal. The messages found at America's most influential film festival. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING, the most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: There is some new information just coming in on what brought down that U.S. Blackhawk helicopter on Saturday that killed 12 soldiers.
CNN's Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon for us with this breaking news. Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad. U.S. military officials are now indicating the most likely scenario is that that UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter Saturday was brought down by hostile fire and there are now indications, we are told, that it was most likely a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile that brought that Blackhawk down, killing all 12 service members on board northeast of Baghdad in Diala (ph) Province.
Officials stress, Soledad, the entire matter, of course, is still under investigation, but they have recovered debris on the ground, and that debris is most likely showing, they say, it was brought down by a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile. Of course, all 12 service members on board were killed -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN; Barbara Starr with an update for us at the Pentagon. Thanks, Barbara -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: The president is putting the finishing touches on his state of the union address today, which he will deliver tomorrow. He is expected to talk a little bit about these guys, global warming, and the impact they have on polar bears and the rest of us, for that matter, and some ways the government can help fight climate change.
But do not expect the president to agree to any constraints on burning fossil fuels, a la the Kyoto Protocols. He spoke to "USA Today" this morning. Here is part of what he said. "The way to solve the problem is to promote new technology."
He has been saying that for a long time. Meanwhile, U.S. industry apparently seeing the writing on the scientific wall. A group called the United Climate Action Partnership includes some biggies -- Alcoa, General Electric, Dupont, Duke Energy Corporation, all of them intimately linked to greenhouse gases which cause the entire global warming effect we've been telling you about.
They're rolling out the findings of a year-long report today that will call for a nation-wide limit on carbon emissions. And even the most ardent -- among the most ardent skeptics of global warming, and any controls on the carbon emissions is changing its tune.
The "Wall Street Journal" last week reporting ExxonMobil, the largest oil company in the world, is softening its stance. Here's a quote from their VP for public affairs. "We know enough now, or society knows enough now, that the risk is serious, and the action should be taken."
Remember last year at this time the president in the state of the union address said the U.S. is addicted to oil. He said the U.S. should push for government incentives to come up with clean, home- grown alternatives. Incidentally, the alternatives that would relieve us from dependence on foreign oil. He promised a lot, but he has not delivered so much.
Tomorrow Ali Velshi will tick through the list of promises and what was delivered -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. Here's a quick look at what CNN NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour.
HARRIS (voice-over): See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Dozens dead in Baghdad. Twin car bombs target a Shiite business district.
Passport rules change tomorrow. Gerri Willis with information to sidestep travel troubles.
The Smithsonian opens its first exhibit on Vietnamese Americans. Betty Nguyen stops by with personal reflections.
And a beached cargo ship spills everything from shampoos to steering wheels. You're in the NEWSROOM, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Second week in a row "Stomp the Yard" is number one at the box office. The dance flick took in $13.3 million dollars over the weekend. Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum" came in second place. "Dreamgirls," "The Hitcher" and "The Pursuit of Happyness" round out the top five. Much of the focus at this year's Sundance Film Festival is politics and many of the best independent filmmakers in the world are in Utah for the festival. That's where we find CNN's Brooke Anderson. Brooke, good morning.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad. Yes, much of the focus here is about politics, and Robert Redford has been leading that charge, so the Sundance Film Festival is proving to be not only a platform for independent film making, but also and an arena for some people to vent their personal, political, and social frustrations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Anybody with a rationale mind with a sense of decency is being as positioned as a lefty by the behavior of the extreme right.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Sundance founder, Robert Redford, in the opening day news conference, harshly criticized the current administration, demanding an apology for events that have transpired on President Bush's watch.
REDFORD: I just believe in the fundamental tenants of Democracy and when they get pushed, shoved, compromised, or attempted to be snuffed, it pisses me off.
ANDERSON: A number of films, selected to debut at Sundance, don't shy away from hot button political issues.
It's like a combination of "Apocalypse Now meets the "Shining," except that, you know, this is real.
ANDERSON: The documentary "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" examines the abuses by American military personnel at the Iraqi prison, while feature film "Grace is Gone" starring John Cusack, reflects a growing anti-war sentiment.
JOHN CUSACK, ACTOR: I don't think anybody has to turn on the television or read the newspaper and feel very, very concerned about where the world is going, so, you know, it's just a movie, but that's what I do.
ANDERSON: "Hound Dog" starring 12-year-old Dakota Fanning is also just a movie, but one that is swirling in controversy.
DAKOTA FANNING, ACTRESS: You ain't nothing but a "Hound Dog" crying all the time
ANDERSON; Some are criticizing the filmmakers for featuring young Fanning in a brutal rape scene, but she told the "New York Times" she's mature enough to handle the part saying, quote, "I am getting older. I'll be 13 years old. I knew I was at the perfect age."
Films focussing on religious intolerance of the gay community are also capturing attention here. From the documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" to the feature film "Save Me."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Pastor is watching. I think you should stop this now.
ANDERSON: "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington's recent use of an anti-gay slur came up at a Sundance event thrown by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The head of Glaad plans to meet with the actor soon.
NEIL GIULIANO, GLAAD: If we can get to where it's coming from with his situation, maybe we can understand where it's come from with so many other Americans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And speaking of the uproar over Dakota Fanning's film "Hound Dog", the president of the Catholic League, William Donahue, is even asking for a federal investigation of the film to determine if federal child pornography laws were violated during filming.
Now, the director of the film told the "New York Times" that Dakota was was treated more than appropriately during shooting of the movie. "Hound Dog" will have its premier tonight. Soledad, the filmmakers are currently seeking theatrical distribution.
S. O'BRIEN: Interesting. Brooke Anderson for us this morning. Thank you Brooke. We're going to take you back live to Park City tomorrow. We have the Oscar nominations live as they happen. That's tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING. Thanks, Brooke.
Hey, are you feeling down today, Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Feeling a little blue.
M. O'BRIEN: It's Monday, yes. It's a wintry Monday.
S. O'BRIEN: Guys? Anybody? Sad? Depressed, a little bit? Take comfort in the fact -- and the music works too.
Not just you or you or you. In fact, according to the experts -- OK, stop. This day, January 22nd, is the unhappiest day of the year. I am not making this up. It's called blue Monday. Here's why.
Usually you have bad weather. There are all those unpaid Christmas bills that are suddenly coming due. Probably three weeks in, you have already failed at all your New Year's resolutions. I know I have. But, I'm about to restart again. Truly.
M. O'BRIEN: It's always a new year.
S. O'BRIEN: And this is a scientific -- this is a true scientific thing.
M. O'BRIEN: This is the day where it all comes together. S. O'BRIEN: It all comes together. They guy who came up with this depressing equation is a guy named Dr. Cliff Ornald (ph). He's a psychologist at Carnak (ph) University in Great Britain. And he says there is an upside, which is it only gets better.
M. O'BRIEN: It only gets better. Well, on that note, the sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar and more importantly in about 20 seconds, we're going to be turning it over.
S. O'BRIEN: Handing it over -- funny you should mention that ...
M. O'BRIEN: That's all the time we have.
S. O'BRIEN: We're out of time. let's send it right to CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins. It begins right now.
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