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CNN Saturday Morning News
Iraqi Army Takes A Stand Against Insurgents On Haifa Street; A Battle That Could Turn the Tide Of The War
Aired January 27, 2007 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news on this Saturday, another deadly suicide attack in Baghdad this morning. As many as 13 people are dead following a pair of explosions in a crowded outdoor market, more than 50 others were wounded. We're going to take you live to Baghdad for the latest, that in just 30 minutes.
Also in Iraq this morning, new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She's in Baghdad meeting with Iraqi leaders. Pelosi's delegation is telling them it is past time for Iraq to take responsibility for the country's security. A
And top White House advisers could be called as witnesses in the Scooter Libby trial. A legal source says political adviser Karl Rove and counselor to the president Dan Bartlett have been subpoenaed by Libby's defense team. Libby is on trial for perjury and obstruction in a CIA leak investigation.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has his eyes on the White House. CNN has learned Huckabee will form a presidential exploratory committee within days. The ordained Baptist minister joins a pretty crowded field. Nine other Republicans are considering running in 2008.
The U.S. Navy is searching for three crewmembers missing after a navy helicopter crashed off southern California. A fourth sailor was pulled alive from the water but died later. The Seahawk helicopter was on a training mission when it went down near San Clemente Island yesterday.
Remembering America's first space disaster. A memorial set for later today, it's been 40 years now since the Apollo One space capsule caught fire during a training exercise killing all three astronauts on board. CNN's John Zarrella is covering the memorial services. He'll join us throughout the morning.
See combat up close. It's a battle for Haifa Street in Baghdad. Find out why this could be a turning point in the Iraq war.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING, it is January 27th; good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for starting your day with us.
More from Iraq in just a moment. But first a developing story to tell you about. Right now, police are searching for a Catholic priest out of Las Vegas. Police suspect the priest of attacking a woman who worked for the diocese. This all began about dinnertime last night. We pick up what's happening from Adrian Arambalo of affiliate KALAS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADRIAN ARAMBALO, KALAS: On Sunday's Father George Chaanine preaches to the parish of Our Lady of Las Vegas. He's the senior leader of the church, has been there for over a year. Tonight police want to talk to him regarding the beating of a woman who works with the Catholic Diocese.
CAPT. GARY SCHOFIELD, LAS VEGAS POLICE: A woman had run out of the inside of some of the church establishments here and claimed that she had been beaten. She was transported to University Medical Center for treatment. Any time that you arrive on a scene and a victim of a violent crime is on scene, it's disturbing.
ARAMBALO: Police received information that Chaanine might have a gun. So they locked down the area around the church including a building where kids were involved in an after school program. They are still searching for the priest, who they believe has fled and might be armed.
SCHOFIELD: We're just being told that he's armed. So out of safety concerns we just want the motorists out there, if they see his vehicle, to not approach him, to basically call the Metropolitan Police Department.
ARAMBALO: The parishioners are stunned by the allegations.
RAYMOND MORRELL, ATTENDS PRIEST'S CHURCH: I just can't see it. Not armed and dangerous. I don't know. You know, you just don't know about people. I don't -- I liked him a lot. I still do. And I still have faith in him.
ARAMBALO: Raymond Morrell attends Chaanine's church every Sunday.
MORRELL: Well, he just talked about love a lot. You know. He made mistakes. I know I do. And he just made me really feel good about myself, and being there on Sundays.
ARAMBALO: Chaanine would often visit with the children who attend the parish's school. One parent said he is highly regarded and beloved by the kids. Now he's wanted by police for questioning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And that report by Adrian Arambolo of affiliate KALAS. We do want to point out that CNN tried to reach at diocese in Las Vegas. No one returned our calls. But we're going to stay on top of this story all morning long. HOLMES: Targeting Iranians in the fight for Iraq. President Bush says U.S. troops authority to kill or capture Iranian agents deemed to be a threat. The administration says it's about protecting U.S. forces. But some members of Congress are concerned it's about expanding the war. Details now from White House correspondent Ed Henry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Bush is trying to step up the capture and killing of Iranians who are fighting in Iraq. And providing the most sophisticated and deadly improvised explosive devices to militias.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If somebody's trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goals, and killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them.
HENRY: This allows the president, sitting with his newly confirmed commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus to try and achieve two goals, improve security in Iraq and get tough with Iran, which experts say has over 100,000 agents in Iraq. And at the same time, is moving ominously closer to obtaining nuclear weapons.
But the president's action against Iranian agents also provides fuel to the fire, fanned by Democrats that the White House is really gunning to expand the war in Iraq into Iran.
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: We want the American troops protected in Iraq. But for the president to escalate this conflict outside Iraq is something he has to come back and ask us permission to do.
HENRY: Democrats charge some of the president's rhetoric against Iran, like this last week, is reminiscent of the so-called cowboy diplomacy that led to the war in Iraq.
BUSH: If they're moving weapons inside Iraq, that will hurt the cause of democracy and more particularly hurt our soldiers, we'll take care of business there.
HENRY: But on Friday the president insisted Democrats are wrong.
BUSH: Some are trying to say that because we're enforcing helping ourselves in Iraq, by stopping outside influence and killing their soldiers or hurting Iraqi people that we want to expand this beyond the borders, that's, that's, that's a presumption that simply is not accurate.
HENRY: The president again stressed he's committed to solving the crisis in Iran through diplomacy, not war. But Democrats are skeptical. Especially with the president brushing off bipartisan congressional opposition to increasing troops in Iraq.
BUSH: Most people recognize that failure would be a disaster for the United States. And that I'm the decision maker. I had to come up with a way forward that precluded disaster.
HENRY: Top Democrats privately believe the president is prepping for war with Iran to divert attention from mistakes in Iraq. White House officials call that nonsense. And insist the president is committed to solving the Iranian crises through diplomatic means.
Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Also, a warning from the top man at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any move by Congress to change the president's plan for adding more troops in Iraq would send a dangerous message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It's pretty clear that a -- that a resolution that in effect says that the general going out to take command of the arena shouldn't have the resources he thinks he needs to be successful certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The criticism isn't just coming from Congress. Later this morning thousands of Americans against the war will rally in Washington. We'll take you there live in our 10:00 a.m. Eastern hour.
Also we want to know what you think. This criticism of the war in Iraq hurt the troops on the battlefield? You can e-mail us at WEEKENDS@CNN.com. We will read some of your responses on the air a little bit later in the newscast.
NGUYEN: Right now we are learning more about last week's deadly attack on American troops in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala. Five U.S. soldiers were killed. How they died is even more disturbing. CNN's Tom Foreman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): New details suggest the attack in Karbala was precise, well-rehearsed, and very different from the assault the Pentagon first described, 5:00 in the afternoon, a dozen American troops are reviewing security plans for an upcoming Shia pilgrimage to two important shrines. And a dozen gunmen wearing uniforms much like the Americans are heading straight toward them.
They travel in a convoy of at least five American-made SUVs, such as those used by high-level military brass. Three times the gunmen stop at Iraqi checkpoints. Three times they apparently pass themselves off as Americans and are waved through. When they reach the compound where U.S. troops are working, they unleash gunfire and explosives.
Five U.S. soldiers were killed, the governor of the town first reports. But the defense department now says only one American soldier is killed on the spot. Four others are abducted. The convoy speeds away. Outside town, the kidnappers hit another checkpoint. Iraqi police let them through again, but suspicious, start following them. The convoy heads east, then north, and finally the insurgents abandon their vehicles.
The Pentagon says two American soldiers are found handcuffed together, dead in the back of one SUV. Each shot through the head. A third is dead on the ground nearby, and a fourth found alive, dies on the way to a hospital. It is a much more complex story than the first version from the military.
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I've just been made aware of the discrepancy in account. I've asked for the specifics about it.
FOREMAN: This tactic of enemies posing as friends is not new. Two years ago, a suicide bomber dressed as an Iraqi soldier struck a mess tent. In Saudi Arabia, when terrorists hit a U.S. compound, they even made a training tape showing how they painted an SUV to look like a police car. And military analysts say this attack was exceedingly well planned. Pat Lang is retired from military intelligence.
COL. PAT LANG, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Whoever was involved in this is a professional who really knew how to do this.
FOREMAN: But investigators still want to know if the kidnappers had help from someone the Americans trusted, someone on the inside.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right over here. You can see the corner of a building, OK? They run between there, and that blue door. See, there they go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The insurgents are so close the Americans can see them without binoculars.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go. That's a moneymaker right there.
HOLMES: U.S. and Iraqi troops fight side by side on the bloody streets of Baghdad. It's the battle for Haifa Street. We'll take you there live in about 20 minutes.
NGUYEN: Look at this video. Hundreds of deadly accidents every day in China's capital city. We're going to take you to driving school in Beijing. That's in 38 minutes, strap yourselves in.
HOLMES: But first up, Reynolds Wolf with a sneak peek at some wintry weather. Good morning, sir.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you. Look who finally decided to show up. Old man winter is finally in the northeast, up in parts like say Boston over to Springfield, even to New Haven. We've got temperatures that are below zero in terms of those wind chills, single digits in others. Coming up I'll let you know how long it's going to last and what we can expect in other parts of the country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you had known that it was illegal for a 17-year-old to have sex with a 15-year-old, would you have done it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Rethinking his actions a bad decision landed this teenager in jail for ten years. Might not believe who's coming to his defense now. A fascinating legal drama that continues to unfold. The full story and the debate tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern in "The Newsroom" with CNN's Rick Sanchez.
We'll be back right here in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, folks in the northeast may want to just stay inside this weekend. Reynolds Wolf is here with the latest on that. The reason why I say it, Reynolds, yesterday, below zero temperatures.
WOLF: Yes, I know. I mean, it sure makes people wonder where this was during Christmastime. I mean, they didn't have any snow. They really didn't have any cold weather to deal with over the holidays.
NGUYEN: Then all of a sudden, boom.
WOLF: Take a look at some of these temperatures that we have right now. This does not include the wind chill. This is just as it stands. We currently have eight degrees in Albany. We have nine below up in Caribou. In Montreal we've got zero. That doesn't even include that crazy exchange rate. Take a look at what we have in Boston this hour. We're going to take a look at the shot of Boston. This is compliments of WHDH. Looks pretty good there. Partly cloudy skies to mostly cloudy. Later on in the day there will be a chance of light snowfall for Boston where it's currently eight degrees.
Meanwhile in New York it's 24 degrees as we speak. And we're expecting high temperatures in the Empire State, as well as in New York City; mainly it will be in the 30s. New York about 37 to 38 degrees, which normally this time of year they would be around 37 to 38 degrees. So things are finally getting back to normal.
Other temperatures across the nation for you in Dallas, Texas 50 degrees, 32 in Salt Lake City, 46 in Seattle. But in Seattle as well as Portland, expect some fog, especially along the coast and into the mouth of the Columbia River. It's going to be really thick at times. As you make your way into Dallas as well as Atlanta look for some scattered showers, New Orleans a rainy day with high temperatures into the 60s. That's your forecast across the nation. Let's send it back to you at the news desk.
NGUYEN: So bottom line, quit your whining, it's January. Is that what you're saying?
WOLF: You specifically? No.
NGUYEN: Hey, I wasn't whining about anything.
WOLF: I haven't had a chance to work with you guys in a couple weeks. I've got to give you a hard time when I can.
HOLMES: Welcome back.
NGUYEN: Yes exactly. Talk to you soon. Maybe.
In news today, a U.S. missile defense test designed to take out hostile targets is being called a success. The missile defense agency says it conducted the test yesterday from a missile range in Hawaii. The so-called hit to kill intercept is part of efforts to build a defense against short and medium range missiles and protect U.S. troops in population centers.
There are some ominous signs in the nuclear stalemate with Iran. Signs that the country may be moving closer to building a bomb.
HOLMES: Yes, Iran insists its nuclear program is for energy, not weapons. But the latest moves are causing new skepticism. Details now from CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A diplomat close to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency tells CNN, Iran's government is set to take a key step toward making a nuclear bomb. Citing reports from Iranian officials and U.N. inspectors in Iran, the diplomat says next month Iran will start installing modules at its under ground facility at Natanz, each capable of housing 3,000 centrifuges. What makes 3,000 an ominous number?
DAVID ALBRIGHT, FMR. U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: It can use that set of seine centrifuges to make enough enriched uranium for one or two nuclear weapons a year.
TODD: Former U.N. inspector David Albright says with this move it could take Iran just over two years to produce a bomb. Though technical problems could push it back several years. Still, a U.S. official is angry enough to call this a major miscalculation by Tehran.
NICHOLAS BURNS, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: If Iran takes this step; it is going to confront universal international opposition.
TODD: An Iranian official at the United Nations tells CNN those machines cannot produce the grade of uranium needed for a nuclear bomb. And he repeats his government's assertion that its nuclear program is only for civilian energy. David Albright says the machines are flexible enough to do both. The U.N.'s top nuclear official wants everyone to cool down.
MOHAMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I call on all parties to take a simultaneous time-out. Iran take a time-out from its enrichment activities, the international community takes time-out from implicational sanction; go immediately to the negotiating table.
RODD: David Albright says that makes sense, but he doesn't think it's going to happen. What makes this so dangerous at the moment, Albright says, is that U.S. forces are now confronting Iranian agents inside Iraq.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Horrifying scene in western India, as we go global now. At least seven, or rather eleven girls were killed when a school building collapsed yesterday. The school's principal says he told authorities weeks ago the building needed repairs immediately.
An uneasy calm holding in Beirut, Lebanon. Mourners hold funerals for three people killed in violent clashes this week between pro and anti-government supporters.
And British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates joining forces at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. They urged wealthy nations to expand free trade to help developing countries, and Blair told CNN's Becky Anderson, Africa needs more aid and attention.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I also think it's just a question of taking a long-term view of our own strategic interests. If what happens in Sudan at the moment is appalling and terrible, and hundreds of thousands of people have died needlessly. What's happening in Somalia today is very, very difficult, indeed, and in other parts of Africa. If we don't address these problems, I think all the lesson of modern history is they end up eventually on our own doorstep.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And at the forum today, Blair will focus on how businesses can make progress on trade and environmental issues.
NGUYEN: All right. Check this out. Even crocodile hunter Steve Irwin wasn't this fearless. What is that guy doing? And just wait till you get the down and dirty info on this one. It's one you have to watch and it's coming up in the water cooler. Yes, we'll answer some of those questions as to why he's so close to the crocodile's mouth. But first --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was told that I was under restriction at the time. HOLMES: She couldn't get a credit card in her own name, so somebody else did. The same could happen to you. A warning from our Emmy Award winning documentary, how to rob a bank. That is straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: News across America this morning. A tense hostage situation going on right now in Cartersville, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. Police say they're negotiating with a man who allegedly shot his estranged wife and is now holding their 3-year-old daughter hostage. The man's son and another boy escaped the home earlier. His wife is in guarded condition.
A disturbing case of alleged child abuse near Philadelphia. John Warman was arrested after police found thousands of videotapes of him having sex with children, some as young as 3 months old. Now, the Delaware County district attorney wants to know if police actually let the sexual abuse go on even after a neighbor first became suspicious three years ago, and began keeping a record.
KEN CHRISTIAN, NEIGHBOR OF ACCUSED: The noises the girls would make over there, you know. Screams and no, don't. You know, and stop. And stuff like that. You know. And the crying, a lot of crying going on over there, 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, in Ohio, a man picked up for allegedly driving drunk is facing more serious charges now. James Lane took out his anger over the arrest on the inside of the police car. He actually broke one of the doors. Now, Lane faces assault, and vandalism charges to go along with that DUI charge.
And police across the southeast are searching for an escaped prisoner who was last seen driving a country music star's tour bus. Since escaping from a prison transport bus last Sunday Christopher Gaye allegedly stole a truck in South Carolina, and Crystal Gale's tour bus in Nashville. The bus was last seen in Lakeland, Florida.
NGUYEN: I don't even know what to say about that one. All right, T.J.
Next up, though, we're going to tell you how to rob a bank. No, we're not condoning, just cautioning. The CNN special investigations unit has been looking into how thieves steal your good name and our Drew Griffin has one story from the Emmy Ward winning documentary.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): David George was a modern-day Al Kempist (ph). He could turn junk mail into cold cash. Postal inspector Matthew Boyden and Harris County investigator Mike Kelly finally stopped him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably the most prolific criminal I've ever arrested. GRIFFIN: When they searched David George's suburban home, bundles of stolen mail were everywhere. In the drawers, the closets, an attic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It had to do with identity theft and credit card fraud; we found it at that house.
GRIFFIN: There were credit card applications in the bathroom, and 115 credit cards in every name but David George. Among them, Jessica Durrow, 22 years old. A student with a poor credit record.
JESSICA DURROW: I wanted a credit card, but I was told that I was under restriction at the time, that I could not apply for any or get any until I had some hospital debts cleared up.
GRIFFIN: But if Jessica couldn't get a card in her name, David George would do it for her. It took a combination of junk mail, a stolen identity, and a phony address. Days later, he had a credit card in Jessica's name.
DURROW: Gold, like money.
GRIFFIN: Gold like money for Bank of America. It would charge as much as 64.58% in finance charges, and interest.
DURROW: It's ridiculously high. They figure they got a sucker. They should make a ton of money off of that.
GRIFFIN: But, in fact, it was the other way around.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What would you like to do?
GRIFFIN: David George used the credit card for cash advances. Essentially, loans totaling $2,100.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't forget to take your cash.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: You know it almost seems easy and that's why it's so frightening. You don't want to miss the Emmy-Award winning "How to Rob a Bank" on the all-new series. CNN's special investigations unit tonight at 8:00 Eastern. T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Betty. A lot of folks just waking up, of course, it is about 7:25 on the east coast. We're going to get you all caught up on the top stories straight ahead.
NGUYEN: Also survival skills in China's fast lane. Oh. Survival skills is right, some amazing video this morning.
HOLMES: Ouch.
NGUYEN: Ouch is right. We will show you more in just a moment. Plus, --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoo!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: A bloody battle on a Baghdad street. Why is there so much focus on this fight? We'll talk to a top U.S. military commander on the ground about the battle for Haifa Street. That is when CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: "Now in the News": Another deadly suicide attack in Baghdad this morning. As many as 13 people are dead following a pair of explosions in a crowded outdoor market. More than 50 others were injured. We'll take you live to Baghdad in just a minute.
Also in Iraq, showing support for the troops, that is what the new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she doing there. Pelosi delegation is telling Iraq's leaders it is past time for Iraq to take full responsibility for the country's security.
And a man hunt in Las Vegas for a priest? Police there suspect a priest may have attacked a woman who worked at the diocese. The woman was treated at a local hospital and released. The priest have fled. And police warn he may be armed.
NGUYEN: Well, top White House advisors could be witnesses for the defense. A legal source says political advisor Karl Rove and a Counselor to the President Dan Bartlett have been subpoenaed by Scooter Libby's defense team. Libby, as you know, is on trial for perjury and obstruction in the CIA leak investigation, but it's not clear whether Rove or Bartlett will actually be called to testify.
The Hillary Clinton campaign is hoping to pick up a little steam today in Iowa. The senator making her first trip there since announcing last week that she's in the race. She held three nights of web chats with online users this week. And today's trip is billed as a conversation with Iowans.
A Mississippi judge has rejected the proposed State Farm Insurance settlement to some of that state's Katrina victims. The judge issued an order yesterday, saying the plan did not establish a procedure that is fair, just, balanced, or reasonable. The class action lawsuit would have impacted nearly 35,000 homeowners whose property was damaged or destroyed by Katrina. Lawyers will be able to submit a new agreement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY MORNING (voice over): To drive in China is to risk some of the deadliest roads on Earth. Each day a staggering 600 people are killed in traffic accidents, according to the World Health Organization. More than 200,000 killed every year.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: That's a high number. Killer crashes on China's roads. You're going to want to stick around for the rest of the story from our John Vause. That is coming up in about 15 minutes. Brace yourself for that. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
HOLMES: Scary video.
NGUYEN: Yes. Welcome back, everybody. It is Saturday morning, we thank you for being here. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. We thank you so much for starting your day right here with us.
NGUYEN: Speaking of roadways. We're going to take you to Baghdad's Broadway, Haifa Street was once a major route through the city. But now it is battered and bloody. And an active battlefield, pitting insurgent attackers and coalition forces. While the area continues to boil over, violence is also flaring up in other parts of Iraq's capital city. CNN's Arwa Damon joins us live in Baghdad.
I do have to ask you, has the violence slowed any?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: Well, Betty, not really. Especially when we look at the violence that takes place throughout the capital as a whole.
Just today we've had in a single attack at least 13 Iraqis killed, another 50 wounded. In that case it was double bombings at a market; one of them a suicide car bomber, the other a bomb hidden inside a vehicle.
So while we are seeing at least, for now, Haifa Street, that you were just mentioning there, relatively calm, the violence has continued throughout the rest of Baghdad. It's not really been impacted by the operations that take place on Haifa Street.
And Betty, this really is an environment where the daily cycle of violence, which is so brutal, that on a normal day, like we had today, for example, this would be considered a low death toll. Thirteen Iraqis killed in a single bombing would be considered low on the violence scale for Baghdad these days, Betty.
NGUYEN: That is just staggering. Thirteen dead is a low death toll. So that being said, the folks who live near this area, what are they doing? Have they fled?
DAMON: Well, Betty, for the most part when we were down there during the two major gun battles that took place within two weeks, we do not see any civilians in those areas at all. Now that being said, we did hear stories from some of the U.S. military, such as a woman that was hanging her laundry in the middle of all of this fighting.
But most of the area where the fighting was centralized was deserted. There were a handful of people that were left behind. We got those reports from U.S. and Iraqi troops. They, for the most part, trying to stay safely indoors and avoiding the conflict. It was only just about 24 hours after the battle, on Wednesday, when we were able to get back down there was one of the Stryker platoons, that we actually had the opportunity ourselves to speak with some of the civilians.
And then one part of Haifa Street, the southern tip, where there was a lot less fighting. It was still quite dangerous. We had to call people in to doorways to be able to talk to them, and they were telling us horror stories about sniper attacks, about insurgent attacks on them. In fact, they referred to the part of Haifa Street, where the fighting was centralized, as being "down there". And when we did get to that area "down there" it was something of a ghost town. And the handful of civilians that we really spoke to really only had horror stories to tell, Betty.
NGUYEN: Goodness. Some good insight. We appreciate it. CNN's Arwa Damon in Baghdad. Thank you.
HOLMES: As we heard Arwa report there, American troops at the center of the battles on Haifa Street. All part of Operation Tomahawk Strike. For more now on the last few days of fighting there we're joined by Lieutenant Colonel Avanulas Smiley, commander of the 1st Battalion on the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Sir, thank you for being with us. Thank you for your time.
Can you tell us, first, is it clear to you all exactly who your enemy is, and who you're fighting there on Haifa Street?
LT. COL. AVANULAS SMILEY, U.S. ARMY: I will tell you, T.J., it is very clear to us we're fighting militia groups.
HOLMES: Do you know if they're Sunni, Shia, or who's down there shooting at you?
SMILEY: I think it kind of depends on where you are in the greater Cauki (ph) area and along Haifa Street. But in the area that we were in, basically you have enemy activity. We do not discriminate as to whether they're Sunni or Shia. Nor do I spend a whole lot of time on that when it comes to protecting my soldiers, and accomplishing the mission. We are an equal opportunity employer in that right.
HOLMES: Well, tell me how that mission is going. Give us an update. We understand from Arwa Damon that things are not as hectic, or a little more quiet than they were in the past, a few days, at least today. Give us an update on how the mission is going and how things stand right now.
SMILEY: Well, the purpose of the mission was basically to disrupt militia group activity there, in that area. And so far we're seeing violence levels reduced in the vicinity of Haifa Street.
HOLMES: And tell me, sir, how have -- I know Iraqi forces are with you. Tell me how have they performed in this latest battle on Haifa?
SMILEY: We've been paired or partnered with this Iraqi unit for a few months now. And from where they started to where they are now, we've seen a vast improvement in their performance. The bottom line is this was an Iraqi planned, an Iraqi-led event, and our purpose was to support them in this effort. The Iraqis have occupied certain locations around Haifa Street, and it is their battle space, and they control it.
Sir, can you address for me reports, at least certainly in "The New York Times", reports the group that you are with, some of the Iraqis, not necessarily performing that well. Showing up late, you all having to take the lead a lot of times. Not taking the job seriously even. Was a quote that was written. Can you address that? Has that happened? Have you had them showing up late? Have they acted professionally?
SMILEY: I can address both counts. On the first count, it's tough enough in this environment to make sure we're on time, we're just by ourselves. When you combine units like this, you have to cross cultural lines, language barriers, skill sets, and capabilities differences that are significant. And just getting from point A to point B can often be troublesome.
So, I would tell you that if any of the soldiers are late showing up to the battlefield, it's probably because some of our leaders are just trying to make sure they have the specifics of the plan ready, so when they do show up on the battlefield we're not putting soldiers' lives in danger.
With regards to soldiers not fighting with conviction, things like that, I would tell you that when you come under contact down there in a place like Haifa Street, you tend to take things pretty seriously.
HOLMES: All right, Lieutenant Colonel Avanules Smiley, sir, we appreciate your time. You all be safe.
SMILEY: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, the battle for Haifa Street does rage on, what happens in that one small location maybe a sign of what's to come in the Iraq war. CNN's Joshua Levs is here to explain the details of all of this.
Hey, there Josh.
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY MORNING: Hey, good morning. Good morning to all of you.
This is an unusual development in this war or in any war really. For everyone all of a sudden around the world to be focusing on one street. Think about it, when is the last time you ever heard that happen in a war here, Afghanistan or Iraq?
There are big reasons for this. It has to do with the fact that what's going on in Haifa Street and what happened this week represents where the war was, where it is right now, and quite possibly, where it's about to go.
And in order to explain that, what we're going to do here is tell you a little bit about the street's history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice over): While the battle for the war's future was taking place here, the battle to change the war, and beat the insurgents was here. Haifa Street, home to some of the bloodiest fighting. Why here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go, there you go. That's a money maker right there!
LEVS: Why here? Let's look at where it is. Located just outside the heavily protected green zone where Saddam Hussein's government was centered and just west of the Tigris River, Haifa Street was a wealthy area filled with many Saddam loyalists, many of them Sunnis.
After the fall of Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi military officials say Sunni insurgents holed up in buildings on Haifa Street, and gave safe haven to members of Al Qaeda in Iraq. This road running through the heart of the capital became a base of operations for insurgents, who are well armed.
This Iraqi army colonel says the terrorists are better equipped than his troops. So Iraq is looking to the U.S. for help, and not just on the ground. A U.S. aerial strike levels the building, ending the fierce battle. After that it's just sporadic violence on this two-lane road. The U.S. military calls the fighting along Haifa Street a shaping operation in advance of the new U.S. security plan for Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: And so that's why Haifa Street, itself, becomes this rallying point for people on both sides of the political divide over whether there should be more troops in Iraq. Those who want more troops, those who support President Bush's plan say see, look what happened there. Clearly U.S. troops are need in order to beat the insurgents.
Those who are against it say, look what happened there. Nearly four years after this war began, the Iraqi army still cannot take on the insurgents on its own, right there, inside Baghdad. And that it's time the United States send a signal that the Iraqi troops will not be able to count on the U.S. forever.
There you go. That's your little primer on why Haifa Street, itself, so significant this week.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, the debate on both sides of that is going to rage on until this war does eventually come to an end, and if it does.
LEVS: Yes. Thanks.
NGUYEN: Thank you, appreciate that, Joshua.
There is more on this bloody battle tomorrow night on CNN. Join Rick Sanchez for an up close look at the combat. Hear more from the soldiers, it's "The Battle for Haifa Street", Sunday at 7:30, only on CNN.
HOLMES: We're going to need you to buckle up for this next story, tell you about some deadly roads. China, the worst traffic record in the world, and you may understand why when we explain in just a moment.
NGUYEN: First, though, Reynolds has more on this morning's deep freeze.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here's a reminder about our e-mail question this morning. Send your thoughts in. Here it is: Does criticism of the war hurt the troops on the battlefield? What do you think? E-mail us, weekends@cnn.com. We're going to read some of those responses a little bit later today. We're back in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Oh it just looks cold.
HOLMES: It looks cold. We've got spoiled for a little while. A little way's back it was so nice, and the sun was out and we were in shorts and t-shirt around Christmastime. Now that winter's around we're all losing it.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: We're going to talk about this now, driving dangerously. Too many vehicles, and not enough experienced motorists. Yes, it is a deadly mix in China. CNN's John Vause reports now from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY MORNING (voice over): To drive in China is to risk some of the deadliest roads on Earth. Each day, a staggering 600 people are killed in traffic accidents according to the world health organization. More than 200,000 killed every year.
China accounts for 2 percent of cars worldwide, but get this, 15 percent of all global road fatalities. And the government says most are caused by incompetent drivers.
Little wonder that for new drivers, like 42-year-old Sun Yuxia, heading into the real world is just terrifying.
"There are accidents all over the road," she says. "But when I get more training, I'm sure I'll be fine."
Across China, 5 million new drivers graduate each year after 58 hours at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) driving schools. Many learners are older, in their 50s and 60s, who've never driven before.
"The most difficult student is the one over 50," says the school's headmaster. "Their coordination is a little slow. And they take much more time."
Here, they slowly maneuver around a crowded track, never getting into top gear.
(On camera): And that's part of the problem. Once the student finishes the course, they take a test at a driving school just like this one. And if they pass, they get a license, without ever having driven on a highway, or a real city street.
(Voice over): Come April, municipal authorities in Beijing will change all that, sending students into this. China's heavily congested capital, where 1,000 new cars are registered each and every day. Competing with millions of others, with mostly new drivers behind the wheel, because private car ownership here took off just six years ago, when prices began to fall.
So in this bumper-to-bumper traffic, most have the driving experience of a teenager. And we all know what that means. John Vause, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Oh, do we know what that means. I have plenty of accidents under my belt as a teen, that's for sure.
HOLMES: Got a clean record over here, baby.
NGUYEN: Really? I'm impressed.
HOLMES: Very clean record as a teen.
NGUYEN: Two accidents, in the last few months.
HOLMES: Ah.
NGUYEN: Not a good --
HOLMES: Only one was your fault, though.
NGUYEN: That's true. But we'll move on.
HOLMES: One for two, ain't bad.
Well coming up, here, after the break, we've got the new hotness in crowd control. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
HOLMES: Yeah, it's the hotness, really.
NGUYEN: We're not joking.
HOLMES: Makes you feel like you are inside the sun.
NGUYEN: We're going to tell you about it next in "The Watercooler". Don't miss it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Yes, it is time for "The Watercooler," this is your chance to get caught up on some of the stranger news items that you may have missed.
NGUYEN: Stranger is right, because first up, if you ever see this Hummer, right there, coming your way -- run! Because others, along with yourself, are going to feel like this man -- in just a second.
Oh! Feeling like you're on fire, you've got to get out of it's way.
HOLMES: It's actually a prototype of a new kind of crowd control, developed by the military. People in its path may think it's killing them but the 130 degree heat ray is said to be non-lethal.
NGUYEN: OK, but not only is it extremely accurate and effective. It works from far, far away. So stay far, far away.
HOLMES: Next here, do you hate your job?
NGUYEN: No.
HOLMES: Of course, we don't. But Tiko Tarzan and his 17 foot, half ton partner, perform a croc and roll show every Sunday.
NGUYEN: Is he head butting that crocodile?
HOLMES: For tourists in Costa Rica.
NGUYEN: What is that? Well, the man says he -- what?
HOLMES: That's so cute. They're playing together.
NGUYEN: Would you stop?
Tiko rescued the wounded crocodile five years ago, and nursed it back to health. Apparently they have a very close relationship, as you can tell. They've been buddies ever since. And let me say, whatever he's paid, it's not enough.
HOLMES: If that didn't quite wake you up, how about a doughnut that will give you a buzz? We're not talking about liquor in it. NGUYEN: Not that kind of buzz.
HOLMES: The crew is going crazy in here. Scientists in North Carolina figured out how to get caffeine, actually, into baked goods without giving a bitter taste.
NGUYEN: Really? OK, well, he's already approached several well- known retailers and if the product does take off -- and we're guessing it will -- a single caffeinated doughnut, T.J., will be the equivalent of two cups of coffee. Watch out.
We'd be passed out with a bunch of doughnuts around here.
It is about three minutes before 8:00 on the East Coast. Grab another cup of Joe, would you? Not three cups, just one, and settle in. Because we're getting warmed up around here.
HOLMES: Of course, we all know kidnappings, but how about a bus-napping? Surveillance cameras taped one of the strangest getaways ever. We'll make the story crystal clear.
NGUYEN: A little hint there.
And later this morning, thousands of anti-war Americans will hit the streets in Washington. But does the criticism of the war hurt the troops on the battlefield? That's our e-mail question, let us know what you think. Weekends@cnn.com.
HOLMES: Your answers ahead in our next hour. CNN SATURDAY MORNING rolls on after we take a quick, quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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