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American Morning
It's the Economy: President Bush in New York; Cooked Books Over Global Warming?; Making it Official: Senator Joe Biden Announces '08 Presidential Bid Today
Aired January 31, 2007 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. British police raid a neighborhood overnight, arresting suspected terrorists. We'll bring you a live report.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The Iranian connection. New suggestions this morning that Iran was behind that sneak attack in Karbala, Iraq, that killed five U.S. soldiers.
S. O'BRIEN: Signs of life. New pictures of the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, up and about.
M. O'BRIEN: And the iceman cometh. What to do with thousands of pounds of ice stashed away for emergencies that never came. Tax dollars about to melt away on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome, everyone. It's Wednesday, January 31st. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you're with us this morning.
We begin in Great Britain and breaking news of an alleged terror plot foiled by police. Eight people in custody right now after a series of raids in Birmingham, England. CNN's Paula Hancocks in London where investigators expected to divulge some details.
Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
That's right, at 4:00 this morning, this Wednesday morning, there was what is being called a major anti-terrorism operation in Birmingham. That's about 100 miles north of London. Now different properties were raided by police and those properties still sealed off, still being searched by police at this point. And as you say, eight people have been arrested at this point on the suspicion of the commission, of partition (ph) and the instigation of acts of terrorism.
Now we also know that at this point British media and security sources are telling CNN that these terrorism arrests were linked to an alleged kidnapping plot. Now it is believed that the perpetrators of this alleged plot were planning to kidnap an individual, not a high- profile individual, and then there are also suggestions from these security sources that they would have carried out a beheading on video of this particular person who was going to be kidnapped. Now the home secretary has been kept abreast of exactly what is happening as this is ongoing, saying that this is just a reminder of the real and serious threat that Britain faces at this point.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Paula, what do we know about what sparked these raids and are the raids complete?
HANCOCKS: No, the raids aren't complete at this point. They're certainly going on in Birmingham as we speak. There are many different properties that are still completely sealed off to the public and the media and are being searched for further evidence by the police themselves.
And what actually sparked this is probably going to be the fact that police thought this alleged plot was going to come to fruition and it became a point where they realized they had to step in to stop this. Now British media is reporting that the actual operation by police had been ongoing for six months. So clearly it had got to such an advanced stage that they realized they had to step in.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Paula Hancocks at 10 Downing Street. Thank you.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Developing news in Iraq right now. Here's what's new this morning.
Two U.S. soldiers and a Marine are reported killed in attacks west of Baghdad.
Here at home, the military is suspending sales of old fighter jet parts. There are concerns that some of those parts are landing in the hands of the Iranian military.
And all of this as new reports suggest Iranian operatives may be responsible for that brazen attack that killed five U.S. soldiers in Iraq. CNN's Barbara Starr is working on that developing story for us this morning from the Pentagon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN has learned that military investigators are looking into the possibility that an attack on a Karbala compound on January 20th, that killed five U.S. troops, may have been carried out by Iranians or Iranian-trained operatives. Officials from several government agencies tell CNN that this is a leading theory of the investigation. At this point, one official saying, "people are looking at it seriously."
Officials say the reason they are going down this investigatory road is the sophistication of the attack and the level of coordination. They're looking at how it is the attackers got U.S.- type military uniforms, how they got SUVs, vehicles to those similar used by U.S. troops, and they also say that some of the attackers spoke English fairly well. Officials say all of this is far beyond the capabilities they have seen from foreign fighters or from Shia militias that have carried out previous attacks.
Five U.S. soldiers were killed in the attack, one at the site, but four of the U.S. troops were actually captured and taken away. Two of them later found chained together in the back of one of the vehicles and shot dead. Another one found on the road dead, also of gunshot wounds, and a fifth soldier actually found barely alive and he died on the way to the hospital.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama is offering up a new plan to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq. Introducing a bill to pull all U.S. troops out of Iraq by spring 2008 and putting the brakes on President Bush's plan to send more troops in soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) ILLINOIS: It is my firm belief, Mr. President, that the responsible course of action for the United States and for Iraq and for our troops is to oppose this reckless escalation and to pursue a new policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: Talk like that is setting the stage for an important meeting at the White House today. CNN's Ed Henry reports the president is inviting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats just back from Iraq and Afghanistan to try to forge an Iraq War strategy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN has learned that late Tuesday evening President Bush and the senior Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill agree to create some sort of a bipartisan working group on Iraq and the broader war on terror. Both sides saying what the aim here is to try to improve the dialogue amid deep partisan tensions and a divide over the war in Iraq and what are the next steps. The breakthrough came after a phone conversation, a conference call between the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi late on Tuesday afternoon.
The first meeting of this bipartisan working group will be at the White House some time next week. Between the Democratic leaders, some other key committee chairman, along with the president, to try to start mapping out some part of this new strategy, try to figure it all out.
Ed Henry, CNN, the White House. (END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Senator Joe Biden joins us in about a half hour. He's formally announcing his presidential bid today. That comes up at 6:40 Eastern. Stay tuned for that.
Also happening this morning.
President Bush heading to Wall Street today to offer up a bullish state of the economy speech. He will speak not far from the World Trade Center site, promising $25 million to help rescue workers who got sick after they responded to the 9/11 attacks.
In Georgia, charges back on the table against terror suspect Jose Padilla. Padilla and two others accused of hatching a plot to explode a radioactive bomb in a major U.S. city. A lower court had thrown the charges out, saying they duplicated other allegations. A trial could begin in mid-April.
In Ghent, West Virginia, south of Charleston, the search resumes this morning for more victims after an explosion at a gas station. At least four were killed, including two emergency workers. At least five hurt. Investigators suspect a leaky propane tank.
In Minnesota, an outbreak of a herpes-type virus forcing officials to suspend high school wrestling all across the state. Two dozen cases reported by 10 teams. The virus is spread by skin to skin contact.
In Tampa today, a 21-year-old alleged rape victim is free after two days in jail. She was arrested when police found she had an outstanding warrant for failing to pay restitution for theft in 2003. Her lawyer also says a jail nurse denied his client the morning after pill because of religious beliefs. Police now say they'll give officers more discretion when arresting a crime victim with outstanding warrants.
S. O'BRIEN: This morning we have our first look at Fidel Castro in more than three months. And it looks like he's actually feeling better. CNN is the only U.S. network to have a correspondent based in Cuba. Morgan Neill's been watching new pictures of Castro on Cuban television.
Morgan, good morning.
MORGAN NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
That's right. Last night we saw a new video for the first time since October showing President Fidel Castro greeting Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez on an unannounced visit. And while Castro did appeared it have put on weight, he still looks frail. Nevertheless, for many Cubans, it's reassuring just to see their president again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEILL, (voice over): Three months after disappearing from sight, Fidel Castro is back. In this new video, the ailing 80-year-old Cuban leader is on his feet greeting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. His voice is weak, but the message is clear.
"This is far from a lost battle," he says.
The video lasting some 10 minutes shows Castro and Chavez discussing everything from climate change to what the Venezuelan leader called the threats from the empire, a reference to the United States. Chavez says the video was shot during an unannounced visit Monday afternoon. Wednesday marks six months since intestinal surgery forced Castro to transfer power to his 75-year-old brother, Raul. With or without the new images, many Cubans say they have more pressing things to worry about than politics.
"I have so many things on my mind," she says. "I haven't been able to think about whether there are changes or not."
Both inside and outside Cuba, the president's health is a constant source of speculation. Most recently, the Spanish newspaper "El Pais," reported he had three failed operations to deal with diverticulitis, inflammation of a pouch in the intestinal wall. This has not been confirmed.
The latest video will do little to clear up uncertainty about just who is making the decisions, acting President Raul Castro or Fidel Castro from his bedside. Raul is officially in charge, but analysts say at this point he's not likely to take decisions that would directly contradict those of his brother. While Miami erupted with celebrations when Castro transferred power in July, the streets of Havana remain calm.
Analyst Hal Klepak says there's good reason for that.
HAL KLEPAK, ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE: Cubans are not surprised by whatever Miami or Washington or other capitols think. They see more stability, not less in the sense of here is what we said was going to be happening. It is happening, but without the absence of this 47- years ruler.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEILL: And so here we are six months after Fidel Castro first handed over power to his brother, but it's really the sense of continuity rather than change that we're seeing. And it looks like things are likely to stay that way as long as we continue to see videos like the most recent one in which the president appears to be recovering.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Morgan Neill for us this morning.
Thank you, Morgan.
And we've got some news this morning as well inside Hugo Chavez's homeland. Venezuela's national assembly today is expected to give Chavez some bold, new powers to have the government take over certain industries, like the power industry and term limits on the presidency. Going to be watching that for you.
Also coming up this morning, folks in the south are waking up to bitter cold temperatures and icy roads. Severe weather expert Chad Myers is going to tell us just how long it could all last.
And one state has a strange dilemma. More bags of ice than it knows what to do with. We'll tell you what's behind the icy overload.
And an exclusive interview with the prime minister of Iraq. His take on President Bush's plan for a troop increase.
Those stories and much more ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: A couple of big stories we're watching on the most news in the morning.
British police rounding up eight terror suspects during overnight raids. The suspects apparently plotting a kidnapping and beheading.
Here at home, Joe Biden set to make it official. The Delaware Democrat slated to announce his candidacy for president this morning. We'll talk with him in just a few minutes. Stay with us for that.
About quarter past the hour. Chad Myers at the CNN Weather Center. Bitter cold up and down the East Coast. A little bit of snow here in New York City this morning.
Good morning, Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is the man that the United States is counting on to take control of the violence in Iraq. Eventually, the theory goes, that will allow U.S. troops to come home. Well this morning, an exclusive interview with the Iraqi leader. He spoke to CNN's Michael Ware, who joins us this morning.
Good morning, Michael.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Yes, we've just spoken to the prime minister of Iraq. The man who America is looking to as the way out of this country for American troops.
Now the focus very much is on the security situation here in the capital Baghdad. When we met with Prime Minister al-Maliki, this is very much what he wanted to talk about. How he believes the new strategy that he and American commanders have launched upon will begin to curb the violence. Now while he says with more American support he believes his forces can take over in three to six months, something he's said before. What he also said, more surprisingly, is that if it goes the other way, he might ask for an escalation of American troops.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER, (through translator): One of the major issues for President Bush's plan, which we consider a support to our Baghdad security plan, is the extent to which there's a need for additional troops, American and multinational, to support the operations and we agree this will be assessed by those in the field. The military commanders. And if their assessment is for more, we will ask for these troops. But we believe that the existing number, with a slight addition, with do the job. But if there seems to be more need, we will ask for more troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now, one of the key targets of these troops, of course, are the militias that seem to have taken this country by a death threat (ph). That's certainly dominating the government of this prime minister. We asked him specifically about the rebel anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who does have an outstanding arrest warrant against him.
Now the Americans will very much be looking to the prime minister in how he handles Muqtada, the man who put the prime minister into his job, to test the true value of his commitment against the militias. When we asked what he was going to do with Muqtada, this is what the prime minister had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL-MALIKI: I will apply the law to everyone, as I said. On militias, political parties, on the participants in the political process. The law rules. And who is on my side in respecting the law and the government's will, will be an ally and a partner. And those who rebel against the law and the government's will, will be a foe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now it's difficult to read into that just exactly what he means, but he did, in fact, then go on to say that Muqtada al-Sadr, despite American intelligence claims of his violence against U.S. troops, had become potentially a model for other militias to follow in joining the political process, given recent commitments to disarm and lower the levels of violence.
The prime minister also said all of the neighboring countries, particularly Iran, Turkey, Jordan, want to interfere in Iraq. And, indeed, he said he would not correct American intelligence when they say Iran is working to kill U.S. soldiers.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: A fascinating interview. Michael Ware for us this morning with that.
Thanks, Michael.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, a sudden spike in oil prices. We'll find out what it means for your heating bills. Ali Velshi "Minding Your Business."
Plus, one town is handing out a bag after bag of ice. No beer with it, though. We'll find out why and wait till you hear how much it's costing you.
You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. You're watching the most news in the morning.
Here's what's left of a hurricane season that didn't materialize. That's the good news. But now Florida has tons and, yes, we mean tons of ice on hand. And as CNN's John Zarrella tells us, that's left folks there in kind of a deep freeze.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): The folks in the town of Minneola, not far from Orlando, don't have to buy ice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to take anything extra that's going to go to waste. I just want to take what I can use. And I can use ten bags in the freezer.
ZARRELLA: It's free. At least until it melts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, (INAUDIBLE), you like playing with ice when you were a kid?
ZARRELLA: Minneola's mayor, David Yeager, is being charitable, while also helping out Florida taxpayers. That's because for the last year they've been paying $90,000 a month to store ice.
The state has some 200 truck loads of ice to get rid of. On each truck there are 22 pallets of ice. And on each pallet, some 360 bags.
After two brutal hurricane seasons that saw even the president and his brother, then Florida's governor, handing out ice . . .
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Can I give you some ice?
ZARRELLA: This past hurricane season, state officials were determined to have plenty on hand. It sounded like a great idea. Only one problem -- no hurricanes hit. So now, before the ice goes bad, the state is giving it away to any municipality for non-profit that wants it.
CRAIG FUGATE, FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: We're reaching the point where if we don't get people to take it, and we've had a few, not a lot, but a few people that had some use for that, then what we'll do is let it go ahead and melt.
ZARRELLA: Which is exactly what's happening back in Minneola. The mayor ordered 15 truck load. Some went to the residents, but most came here, to a park.
I was going to say, we could stand here and watch the ice melt, but that's going to take a while, isn't it?
MAYOR DAVID YEAGER, MINNEOLA, FLORIDA: How much time do you have?
ZARRELLA: Drought has left the area bone dry, the water table low. The mayor's idea wasn't based on any science, just a thought.
YEAGER: I thought it was a great opportunity to let it seep into the aquifer and, in the big scheme of things, will 70 gallons do anything? Not truly, but it's my little helping hand.
ZARRELLA: As for the state, it's out of the ice business. Bottled water will be stockpiled instead.
John Zarrella, CNN, Minneola, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Well, if good fences make good neighbors, what will a bad mailbox do? Two neighbors diving deep into a pool of discord over a mailbox shaped like a mermaid. A bear breasted mermaid at that. And Pam Lee says she's offended by the mailbox owned by her neighbor, Pixy Ray (ph). It's just a silhouette, right? Well, Lee and her husband actually destroyed the mailbox at one point, but that did not go so swimmingly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM LEE, OFFENDED BY MAILBOX: Because it's offensive to me. It's offensive to my family. I have a 17-year-old daughter who lives here. I have school buses that come by. And, you know, we have to look at this artwork that wouldn't be shown on the cover of a magazine in Wal-Mart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: The Lees want the town of Pomfret, Connecticut, to take some action. So far, though, the town leaders have claimed that the issue isn't necessarily black and white. They're debating a possible resolution.
Question for you, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: What would the resolution say? M. O'BRIEN: Postal items that go into a box like that, wouldn't they be female? Just a thought.
Cold snap sending oil prices sharply higher. You're feeling it as you dial your thermostat. Twenty-five minutes past the hour. Ali Velshi in front of the big board with the story.
Hello, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, folks.
Are you feeling this? This is a new little world from (ph) here.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm liking this. I like this. You even put a jacket on, so this is, obviously, a special occasion.
VELSHI: I'm going to -- the jacket's on because these angles are going to make me look exactly the size I am.
All right, oil, take a look at this. Almost $3 higher yesterday to almost $56 a barrel. This is the biggest one-day gain in about 16 months. You'll remember about 10 days ago oil was sitting at under $50 a barrel.
Why? Well, as Miles said, because it's cold. The cold weather means we use more oil, it's going to go up in price.
The other thing is, tomorrow there is a 500,000 barrel a day cut in oil. Now that's going to make gas prices go up. It's going to make natural gas prices go up and that sort of acts like a tax on consumers.
As a result of that, you're going to see inflation become a concern. That's something the Federal Reserve keeps a close eye on. Now the Fed is having its first meeting of the year today. It's going to wrap up at 2:15 with a decision on interest rates.
Absolutely nobody's expecting a rise in interest rates today, but we've got to watch it. We also have to watch what the Fed says about interest rates. Right now the Fed rate is 5.25. That means the prime rate to which most adjustable rates are tied is 8.25 percent.
The stock market will be responding to that and other economic reports today. The Dow and the S&P 500 finished a little bit higher today, typical of a week in which there is a Fed decision. It doesn't move a lot before that Fed decision. Depending on what the Fed says at 2:15 today, we'll get more of a reaction on the stock market.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: I think that went swimmingly. Very well done, Ali.
VELSHI: Well, thank you very much.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Excellent.
Top stories of the morning coming right up.
Add another name to the presidential sweepstakes. I think it's like phonebook thickness now. We're going to talk to Senator Joseph Biden, who's officially announcing today that he wants in.
And the first, new pictures of Fidel Castro in months. We think they're new pictures. We're not sure, right?
S. O'BRIEN: I think they're new.
M. O'BRIEN: Can't say. We think they're new. OK. What they might show us about his health ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Breaking news overnight. A series of terror raids in Great Britain. Eight suspects under arrest.
S. O'BRIEN: A contender. Democratic Senator Joe Biden is set to become a candidate for president this morning. We're going to talk to him about his decision and whether he can really beat Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
M. O'BRIEN: And turning up the heat. Scientists accuse the White House of distorting their research on global warming.
All that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. It's Wednesday, January 31st.
I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien.
(NEWSBREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: It didn't take long after the midterm elections for President Bush and congressional Democrats to resume the fight over the Iraq war. But this morning a new breakthrough pledge for cooperation.
The president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, are forming a bipartisan working group. It's aimed at opening up dialogue and ending the division over plans for Iraq and the wider war on terror.
As the president makes headway with Democrats, he is enduring new criticism from Republicans. GOP senator Arlen Specter reminding President Bush he is not the sole decision maker on Iraq and suggesting that Mr. Bush listen more closely to concerns about the war from both sides of the aisle.
Listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: These are friendly voices. I think the Democrats are friends, too, but there is an element of partisanship. But when Republicans speak out -- and I'm a -- I'm a friendly voice. I want to -- I want to work it out with the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: A friendly voice we saw earlier on "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Senator Specter went on to say that he doubts sending 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq will actually make a difference.
The president's bringing his economic message to the Big Apple today. A speech this morning that CNN's Ed Henry reports is part of an effort to turn the attention to the president's domestic agenda and away from Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The president will be at Federal Hall on Wall Street today trying to talk up good economic news. The second straight day for Mr. Bush to hit the road and try and shift the focus to the domestic agenda.
Yesterday he was in Peoria, Illinois, at a Caterpillar plant, and even hopped aboard a bulldozer. But what the president is finding, that issues like the economy, healthcare, energy, all completely overshadowed by Iraq, especially with an increasing number of Republican senators and House members coming out and challenging the president's war powers.
While he was in Peoria, the president also stopped by a diner and there was a chalkboard with the specials for breakfast. It included a dish called "Fried Mush," cornmeal fried in butter. Fried Mush -- obviously the president trying to make sure that's not a metaphor for the state of his domestic agenda now that Democrats are running Capitol Hill.
Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: The debate over global warming prompting a clash between science and politics on Capitol Hill. A House committee hearing from researchers who say the White House stopped them from making claims about global warming. They said the White House pressured the scientists to downplay the dangers of global warming.
CNN's Andrea Koppel with more on the hearing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but truth?
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One by one and under oath, each member of the panel told lawmakers how the Bush administration had deliberately distorted their research into global warming and injected politics into science.
Rick Piltz used to edit the work of 90 government scientists.
RICK PILTZ, WORKED ON CLIMATE CHANGE: During the 2001-2005 time frame, I came increasingly to the conclusion that the administration was acting to impede forthright communication of the state of climate science and its implications for society.
KOPPEL: Committee Chairman Henry Waxman released a memo claiming his staff reviewed documents showing how the White House and other agencies had pushed for more balance in a 2003 draft report on the environment, insisting that "Global climate change has beneficial effects as well as adverse impacts."
But Waxman says the Bush administration is refusing to turn over these documents.
REP. HENRY WAXMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: In this instance the committee isn't trying to obtain state secrets or documents that could affect our immediate national security. We are simply seeking answers to whether the White House's political staff is inappropriately censoring impartial government scientists.
KOPPEL: Waxman's memo also includes many examples of text he says the White House deleted. One set of edits include the original text, which said climate changes are "likely mostly the result of human activities." And the new government-approved text, which notes that "a causal link between the buildup of greenhouse gasses... and the observed climate changes... cannot be unequivocally established."
(on camera): But in an interview with CNN, the White House pointman on the environment disputes Waxman's claim, saying they've been working with the committee for the last six months, and that the only report that matters are the final published reports by these scientists, which have been peer reviewed and put in an academic journal.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up in our 8:00 Eastern hour, we begin a special focus here on AMERICAN MORNING. We're calling it the "Melting Point" series, looking that science and the politics of global warming.
What better way to begin than with Republican senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma. He's a major skeptic of the global warming threat. You've seen him here on the program before. It ought to be a feisty interview -- 8:15 Eastern Time. Stay tuned for that -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: That cold and icy weather is headed now for the South. Severe weather expert Chad Myers is going to tell us just who can expect the very worst.
And get out your presidential score card. We're adding another name to the pool of presidential contenders. We talk this morning to Democratic senator Joe Biden about his plan to run in '08.
You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: The most news in the morning. Here's what's happening right now.
British police rounding up eight terror suspect during overnight raids. This story is developing. Here's what we know now.
A high-level security source is telling CNN that the suspects were plotting to kidnap and behead a British soldier who happens to be Muslim.
And Sidney Sheldon dies of pneumonia at the age of 89. Sheldon behind the TV show "I Dream of Jeannie," and later in his life a series of best-selling novels, including "If Tomorrow Comes" -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, he hasn't exactly kept it a big secret. Democratic senator Joe Biden of Delaware is going to make his intentions official today, filing papers for his run for the White House.
Senator Biden joins us this morning from Wilmington, Delaware.
Nice to see you, Senator. Thanks you for talking with us.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: Hi, Soledad. Nice to see you.
S. O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
You know, I look at this list here, and I've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven -- you're the eighth Democrat who's now in this field. Why are you running for president?
BIDEN: Well, Soledad, I think we're -- I think we've been dug in a pretty deep hole. Our foreign policy has made us more vulnerable, and our domestic policy has made the middle class more vulnerable. And I think I have the experience and track record to help maybe turn it around. At least that's what I am going to be taking to the Democratic primary voters, that case.
S. O'BRIEN: OK. Of course, the bigger question is, do you have the money and do you have the votes?
BIDEN: That's true. S. O'BRIEN: You look at a poll like this one -- if we could throw it up -- well, that is the question. That's the brutal truth in politics.
BIDEN: Sure.
S. O'BRIEN: Thirty-four percent of the people say for Senator Clinton, Barack Obama behind her, Senator Edwards behind him. And then you come in at 3 percent. That's -- you know, who would you pick is essentially the question they were asking there.
How concerned are you about those numbers?
BIDEN: Well, the good news is I'm ahead of most of the other ones.
S. O'BRIEN: You're an optimist.
BIDEN: Look -- look, the truth of the matter is that last time, when John Kerry ran, you had John Dean -- I mea, excuse me -- John Dean -- you had Howard Dean running against John Kerry, and he was way ahead in the polls, had $50 million, Kerry didn't have any money. This is a process, this is a marathon, and ultimately it comes down to the living rooms and people's homes in Maquoketa, Iowa, and Merlen (ph), New Hampshire, and down in Sumter, South Carolina. And that's where the competition will be, and I think I can compete there, and I'll raise enough money to be able to be competitive in those states.
S. O'BRIEN: You're one of the co-sponsors of a resolution that says that the president's plan to increase troops instead of the number of troops in Iraq is the wrong way to go. And you have criticism, really, on both sides.
One side says, you know, that strategy undercuts the troops. And not only undercuts the troops, undercuts the brand-new generals who are there trying to direct these troops.
What's your answer to that?
BIDEN: Well, the people who want to cut the troops are this administration. They sent them with too few fellow troops with them, they sent them without any real plan to win, they sent them without the necessary armor, they sent them with too few provisions. So, if anybody has undercut the troops, it's this administration's policy.
What I'm trying to do is stop an escalation of a war that everyone acknowledges can only be settled by a political settlement among the Iraqis. More American forces -- more American forces will not be able to change the Iraqi mentality. They need to get together a political solution.
S. O'BRIEN: Which brings us to another criticism which says, OK, under this resolution essentially you get to vent, but it doesn't have any real teeth. The president's made it clear he's going to go the direction he's going to go. So you get to vent with no real consequence. BIDEN: Well, let me point out to you, when I came on your program between Christmas and New Year's and said I'm going to oppose this escalation, there wasn't anybody out there saying that. And all of a sudden, now you hear it from John McCain, sending out benchmarks with "teeth in it."
You have John Warner with a resolution almost exactly the same as the one I put out. And I don't care which one passes.
And so what you have is, you haven't heard -- you haven't heard a single voice in the United States Congress stand up and say, I'm absolutely sure what the president is doing is right, this is the way to go. So, if the president does not respond to the voices, as well as the votes in the United States Congress representing the American people, then we're in real trouble. He will respond, as long as he understands there is virtually no support for this escalation of his war.
S. O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a quick question about some of the quotes you had in "The New York Observer." Very interesting, by the way. I encourage everybody to take a look at that.
One of the things you said about Hillary Clinton is her plan for Iraq is "nothing but disaster." That's your quote there.
Then you were talking about John Edwards and you said, "I don't think John Edwards knows whathut the heck he's talking about."
Both, by the way, ahead of you in the polls, I'd like to point out.
Are you saying that both of them are not qualified to be president?
BIDEN: Thank you for doing that.
No, no. Look, the context of the discussion was John Edwards' proposal relating to the troops. I was told by the -- by the reporter that John Edwards called for capping American troops and cutting off support for -- for the Iraqi troops. And Senator Clinton had a plan that she announced that we should cut off funding for the -- if there's not a response from the Maliki government, cut off funding for their -- their troops and training of their troops.
That is the exact opposite thing we should be doing if that's the plan that they were proposing. I wish the reporter had put in the question he had asked me so it would have a context.
S. O'BRIEN: Senator Joe Biden from Delaware joining us this morning.
BIDEN: Thanks.
S. O'BRIEN: We say this a lot, but he's throwing his hat into the ring.
Sir, thanks for talking with us.
BIDEN: Thank you very much, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: A bit of a cliche, but it works. Hat in the ring, it upsets the people in the control room. I think they're tired of that one.
We're going to move on now anyway. A quarter of the hour. Chad Myers at the CNN weather center.
Bracing themselves in Atlanta, Georgia. The city -- they're probably sending people home now from work to get ready, right?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: They're making reservations...
M. O'BRIEN: Getting the milk and the eggs and the bread and all that stuff, right?
MYERS: Making reservations at the hotel here for tonight.
M. O'BRIEN: It's booked. I'm sure it's booked already, right?
Are you going to stay at the Omni?
MYERS: I'm not sure yet. I'm going to wait.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the most news in the morning, we'll take you behind the scenes. We're going to show you the ingredients of today's news gumbo as we go to the grid.
Plus, heart disease and women. Why women are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to research.
Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: The most news in the morning right here. Let's take a look at the grid and watch some of the feeds, along with folks in the newsroom here this morning.
(NEWSBREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: We're "Minding Your Business" ahead this morning. JetBlue and US Airways are posting profits. That's good news for them. Is it going to be good news for us? Will they pass it along in a price break for the rest of us?
Plus, a CNN exclusive. We sit down with Iraq's prime minister, hear what he's saying this morning about President Bush's new plan for Iraq. It's just one of the new developments we're following for you on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Well, the airlines are still flying high. It's about five minutes before the hour. Ali Velshi "Minding Your Business."
It can't last for long, can it, Ali?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And with oil prices up, Miles, you know, that's always something that weighs very heavily on airlines. But for the last three months of 2006, the final quarter, we're getting those results in now, and we're getting more profits than not.
We've seen JetBlue come in with a profit, US Airways come in with a profit. Earlier, we heard from AMR, the parent company of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Those were all profitable in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Continental and United Airlines, UAL, the parent company there, were not profitable in the fourth quarter, but we're yet to see the full-year results for 2006. Even though oil prices were at records for some part of the year, what we saw was increased demand, fuller planes -- they're obviously not using as many planes -- so there is money in the airline industry.
Now, tomorrow is the deadline for US Airways' offer to purchase Delta for almost $10 billion. Delta continues to fight that offer. US Airways reports there's been no progress. US Airways also says it has no intention of raising the offer, and if they don't hear from Delta by the end of tomorrow they will not extend the deadline.
They say it's a lot more attractive to merge with Delta while it's bankrupt because a bankrupt airline can get rid of some of its contracts and leases, and things like that. Delta says it's worth more as a standalone company.
We'll continue to follow that closely -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, the pilots don't like it, do they?
VELSHI: Correct, they don't.
M. O'BRIEN: All right.
VELSHI: Because you can get rid of their contracts.
M. O'BRIEN: Exactly.
All right. Ali Velshi, thank you very much.
Some of the other headlines we're looking at this morning.
Number one on CNN.com's most popular list, "Shootings kill sheriff's wife, deputy, and two suspects." This comes from Marianna, Florida. That's a panhandle town.
The woman involved in this was on her way home, Mellie McDaniel, wife of the sheriff, John McDaniel. On her way home. She calls in on the cell phone, says she's being followed, pursued by some people.
Not sure what the timeline is after that, but a shooting occurs at the house -- in front of the house there. A deputy is killed, two suspects, and the sheriff's wife. The sheriff was inside the home the whole time.
We're trying to sort that one out for you.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes. A lot of questions raised after that.
Also, this one coming to us from "The Tampa Tribune." "Rape Victim's Arrest Prompts New Policy." Police in Tampa, Florida, now say they're going to give officers more discretion when they're arresting a crime victim who has an outstanding warrant.
This comes after a 21-year-old alleged rape victim spent two days in jail. She was arrested when police found out she had an outstanding warrant. She had failed, I guess, to pay restitution for an auto theft back in 2003.
So, she goes to the cops, she's walking them through the crime scene...
M. O'BRIEN: Right?
S. O'BRIEN: ... they realize she's got the outstanding warrant. They arrest her, put her in jail for two days. She's the rape victim, allegedly.
M. O'BRIEN: So the victim gets arrested.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Spends two days in the slammer.
M. O'BRIEN: Just been through a horrific thing and she gets arrested. All right.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, now the mayor says they're going to consider everything case by case. But, of course, the needs of a victim should come first.
M. O'BRIEN: Discretion. That will be interesting to see what they mean by that.
All right. From Reuters this morning, check this out: "California May Ban Conventional Light Bulbs by 2012." The name of the act we're talking about here -- this is no joke -- "How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act?"
It would ban incandescent light bulbs in California by 2012 in favor of the more energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. You know, the incandescent bulb was invented 125 years ago now, Soledad. It hasn't changed a bit. S. O'BRIEN: Apparently...
(CROSSTALK)
M. O'BRIEN: It hasn't changed a bit. It's basically -- it's apparently only five percent efficient.
S. O'BRIEN: Which is low.
M. O'BRIEN: And CFL, the compact -- yes, it's a lot of heat that's generated. They're 25 percent more efficient. They last longer. They do cost a little more up front, but in the end a whole better deal for you economically, as well as for the environment.
S. O'BRIEN: Did they ever answer the question, how many lawmakers it takes? I'm going to guess more than one.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the top of the hour. Let's get right to Chad Myers at the CNN weather center.
Hey, Chad. Good morning.
MYERS: Hey. Good morning, Soledad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
S. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.
Breaking news this morning. British police raid a neighborhood overnight. They arrest suspected terrorists. And we've got new details on their plot that's alleged straight ahead in a live report.
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