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American Morning
Tornado Hits New Orleans Suburb; Mitt Romney to Announce Presidential Run; Marine Speaks Out about Murder Charges; Cause of Helicopter Crash Determined
Aired February 13, 2007 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Morning, welcome back, everybody. It's Tuesday February 13. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's begin with the weather, shall we? That blast of dangerous winter weather is bearing down right now. A tornado hit right outside of New Orleans just a short time ago. A number of tornado warnings to tell you about as well this morning. We have coverage for you. CNN's Alan Chernoff is in Indianapolis for us. Severe Weather Expert Chad Myers is going to break it down for us this morning as well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
We want to get to Susan Roesgen joining us by phone from Westwego, which is just outside of New Orleans. You heard Chad talking about what is believed to be a tornado that swept through that area.
Susan, good morning. How bad is it?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Good morning, Soledad.
Well, it is pretty bad where I am. I am on foot. I am walking around this hotel, a small hotel, maybe two dozen rooms, that have basically had the roof blown off of it. I don't know what video you may have in house that you are showing right now, but I'll tell you what I see.
I see broken glass everywhere. Pink tufts of insulation in the trees. Some brightly colored comforters, all of the same style wrapped in plastic, strewn across the road that cuts in front of this motel. Apparently there were about 40 people inside. Mostly displaced Katrina evacuees. The Red Cross has already taken them away to a shelter in the area.
I just ran into the mayor of Westwego out here. He says it's pretty bad. Worse than what they got in Katrina. They did get some flooding here, but not this kind of structural damage. Firefighters are still going door to door, Soledad, and really in pitch black neighborhoods. They've thrown up generators here, right in front of the motel, but other than that, it's -- there's no power in this area. There are about 2,000 people without power across the area.
The mayor told me that it has been only minor injuries, which they're really surprised by, when you look at the damage, except for one person who was taken to the hospital in shock. He had a bump on his head. He may have a back problem, basically, in shock. He was taken out of home in this area behind this motel.
So, a lot of splintered wood, a lot of power lines down. I may get kicked out because I probably shouldn't be walking around here, but that's it for now, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Stop walking, stop. Don't walk over any power lines because I know visibility is very bad. We're going to let you go.
We're looking at pretty dramatic pictures, as you say, Susan, of this motel that looks like the roof just popped right off of it. Susan Roesgen for us, by phone. We're going to continue to have Susan update us on her reports as she works that story this morning.
As Chad said, that tornado is connecting to this massive storm system that's been bringing snow and ice into the Heartland. CNN's Alan Chernoff joins us. He is in Indianapolis this morning.
Hey, Alan, good morning.
ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Indiana is not known for its skiing, but I just checked the web, and about 90 miles from here Paoli Peaks, vertical drop, 300 feet. Hey, at least it's something. This snow is good stuff for skiing, very dry. It's not easy to make a snowball at all, but it's perfect for skiing.
School is out today. It should be a lot of fun for the kids, at least in the morning. Come later on today it's going to get messy. Especially to the south of Indianapolis, and really this highway here, I-70, pretty much is the dividing line.
To the south of this highway they're saying accumulation of maybe about half a foot, but it's going to get very, very messy; lots of ice and sleet. To the north of the city they're predicting maybe a foot, perhaps even a little more snow. Not quite as messy. The traffic certainly later on today is going to really be a problem because we will have very, very slick conditions. Soledad, back to you.
S. O'BRIEN: We keep hearing that same thing. Alan Chernoff for us. Traffic will be a big problem later this morning. Thanks, Alan.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: They came, they saw, they measured. The National Weather Service toting up an official 140 inches of snow in Redfield, New York, this morning. Another foot or so could be on the ground by tomorrow. CNN's Gary Tuchman is the king of the hill in Redfield.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This is the town in New York state that's gotten the most lake-effect snow over the last 10 days than any other town. Redfield, New York, 141 inches.
I am literally on the roof of a house right now, 17 feet above the ground, and this snow permits me to do a demonstration for how much snow there is. I can safely walk down from the roof to the ground. There are many towns here in New York state north to northeast of Syracuse that have gotten a lot of snow, but this town has gotten the most.
No tremendous problem in this area so far because they're used to having this snow, but they do have a problem getting rid of all these piles. There's really nowhere to put this. They just continue to pile up. They pile up against people's doors and windows. They can't get out of their houses unless they dig a hole, which most of them have to do.
The fact is, here in Redfield, not only have they gotten this amazing amount of snow over the past 10 days, but then more snow on the way. The all-time record for snow in this town for a year is 420 inches. They're already at 287 inches. With more snow on the way there are reports that they'll break the yearly record and this year, as well as this incredible amount over this nine-day period, of 11 feet, 9 inches. This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Redfield, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN: Let's get to those dramatic developments in downtown Salt Lake City. Police and witnesses say a young man with a shotgun stormed the Trolley Square Mall last night, and just started firing. Reports this morning an off duty police officer in the mall returned fire. Six people, including the gunmen himself, were killed.
Dozen of shoppers dove for cover. They were hiding in store closets, some of them hiding in the bathrooms as well. Listen:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just really scary, you're trying to protect your kids from physical harm, and emotional harm, and it's just very scary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: At least four other people were shot. There's been no ID yet on the gunman. Later this morning we'll be talking to a detective with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Another shootout to tell you about, last night. This one was in Philadelphia. It happened during a business meeting at an office complex in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Now, three people were killed there. A fourth person is reported in critical condition. The gunman shot himself after a shootout with police, and police believe it all started with a fight over money. M. O'BRIEN: The U.S. is grappling with nuclear threats posed by Iran and North Korea in different ways. New developments on both fronts this morning to tell you about. First let's start with North Korea. What could be a big breakthrough overnight to get North Korea to lay down its nuclear weapons. All six nations meeting in Beijing OKing the plan this morning.
It was would send fuel and other aid to the North so long as Pyongyang begins shutting down its nuclear operation. Bu no deal for getting rid of the nuclear weapons the country already has. Strong criticism from the Bush administration's former U.N. ambassador.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It sends exactly the wrong signal to would be proliferators around the world. If you hold out long enough and wear down the State Department negotiators, eventually you get rewarded. In this case with massive shipments of heavy fuel oil for doing only partially what needs to be done to complete dismantling of their nuclear program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: We'll talk live with the chief U.S. negotiator there, Christopher Hill, about this breakthrough. That's at 7:15 Eastern time. A few minutes from now.
So we have news from North Korea, and let's go to Iran now. President Bush is denying accusations his administration is trying to build a case to attack Iran. He called it all "noise" when he spoke with C-SPAN yesterday.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All major problems should be solved diplomatically. In other words, the military is the last resort to solve problems. And I believe we still have the capacity to solve this issue diplomatically because a lot of the world now understands the dangers of Iran having a nuclear weapon. We're working toward that end. We're pressuring the regime through diplomatic channels.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: Despite the softer tone, Bush called Tehran a belligerent regime, with nuclear ambition that is will lead Iranians to isolation -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Some other stories we're following for you this morning, also new this morning, three people killed in a pair of bus bombings in Lebanon. It happened early in a Christian province north of Beirut. One bus blew up, and then as people ran to help, the second bus exploded right behind it.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace says he sees no evidence to support those claims that Iran is giving deadly weapons to Iraq's Shiite militias. Other members of the U.S. military laid out evidence in Baghdad over the weekend of weapons that they say are linked to the deaths of 107 coalition troops.
General Pace tells today's "Washington Post" he is not convinced that Iranian government officials are the ones who are sending them to the Iraqi insurgents.
Mitt Romney getting ready for a big speech this morning in his home state of Michigan. The former governor of Massachusetts there to announce that he is a candidate for the presidency. He will make the announce am at 9:00 a.m. Eastern in front of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
M. O'BRIEN: On Capitol Hill today a political battle over the war in Iraq. Debate set to begin on a controversial resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. CNN's Andrea Koppel live from the Hill with more.
Good morning, Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
Well, House Democratic leaders are moving forward with their plan to put the Iraq war where they say it belongs, front and center here on Capitol Hill. And in just a few hours will launch the first of three days worth of debate and criticism, not just of the war, but of the president who started it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL (voice over): Even before members debate the war on the House floor, the battle over the resolution is already well underway. Democratic and Republican leaders squared off over a decision by Democrats to block Republicans from offering an alternative measure.
Instead Democrats are pushing for a vote on their own resolution which says simply, Congress will continue to support and protect U.S. troops serving in Iraq, and the Congress disapproves of President Bush's decision to deploy more than 20,000 combat troops.
TONY SNOW, SPOKESMAN, WHITE HOUSE: We disagree and the president is commander in chief. And he has the obligation to do what he thinks is best to make this country safe, and that's what he is doing.
KOPPEL: Republicans concede the resolution will pass, but they're not giving up without a fight. Just off the House floor they staffed up a special room to offer members reports and speeches, talking points, as well as charts, graphs, and visual aids.
And during at least three days of debate, members will be encouraged to hammer away at key talking points, which say the resolutions weakens morale among U.S. troops and gives comfort to the enemy. And that Democrats have no plan for victory.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: Now, in addition to this resolution's two Democratic co- sponsors, North Carolina Republican Walter Jones, who initially supported the war back in 2002 and then had a change of heart, says that he has at least 15, perhaps as many as 25 other Republicans, Miles, who will -- who are prepared to follow his lead and also sign off on the resolution.
M. O'BRIEN: Andrea Koppel on the Hill, thank you.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Chad Myers is tracking severe weather for you, including that tornado that touched down this morning outside of New Orleans. That tornado watch is still in effect right now.
Plus, more on that deal to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program. We'll talk with the top U.S. negotiator on the scene from Beijing. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
At least 16 people were killed in Iraq this morning. For the second straight day insurgent detonated a truck bomb right outside of Baghdad marketplace.
And an early morning tornado to report just west of New Orleans. Lots of other property damage. Only minor injuries, as well.
It's about quarter past the hour. That means time for Chad Myers. He's watching it all for us from the Weather Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: After years of bluster, brinksmanship, and ominous testing, an apparent breakthrough. It appears North Korea is ready to make a deal that would end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The deal finalized in Beijing overnight.
Here's the broad outlines: North Korea will shut down its main nuclear reactor, dismantle its nuclear weapons program, allow the return of international inspectors. The U.S. will, in return, provide $400 million in aid, including fuel oil, begin removing North Korea from the terror list, and begin ending trade sanctions aimed at the North.
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator on the deal, joins us live from Beijing.
Mr. Hill, good to have you with us.
A lot of people are looking at the broad framework of this deal and say it looks awfully similar to the deal that the Clinton administration cobbled together at the end of its term. Let's listen to the former U.N. ambassador, John Bolton, what he said yesterday on Wolf Blitzer's program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: This is the same thing that the State Department was prepared to do six years ago. If we were going to cut this deal now, it's amazing we didn't cut it back then. I'm hoping that this is not really what's going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: Is this the same deal?
CHRISTOPHER HILL, ASSIST. SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, in fact, you left out one important detail, which is this is a six-party deal. This is not a bilateral deal between the U.S. and North Korea. This involves six parties, with China in the chair. So, I think the deal here is that North Korea has made certain commitments -- not only to us, but to all of it's neighbors.
M. O'BRIEN: So because there are six parties to that talk, you think that this somehow changes substantively whether the North Koreans will, in fact, honor this commitment?
HILL Well, certainly the fact that there are six parties, I think, is very important. It's one thing to walk away from one party. It's another thing to walk away from all of its neighbors.
But I think there's another aspect here, which is we have a September 2005 agreement which lays out a complete denuclearization. What's important about these initial actions that we are taking -- and I emphasize these are just initial actions at this point -- is that they begin a process aimed at complete denuclearization.
If our process were to stop just on these initial actions, I think we would be open for some criticism, but we don't plan to just stop with a shut down of this reactor. We plan to go from here to disable the reactor, eventually to dismantle it. And, finally, abandon it. I think that's what's important. We have an overall approach here.
M. O'BRIEN: Ambassador Bolton went on to say some things about the timing of this in particular. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLTON: It makes the administration look very weak at a time that Iraq and dealing with Iran it needs to look strong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: Does the administration look weak?
HILL: Well, look, Mr. Bolton is a private citizen, and he has every right to speak his mind and criticize this. And I'm sure there will be other criticism.
I feel it's been very important. We have worked very closely with these other countries, working very closely with Japan, Republic of Korea, China, and Russia. It's been a tough process, but I think we're beginning to make some progress. And the fact that we can work closely with them and to begin to implement a deal which aims at complete denuclearization I think is in our country's interest.
M. O'BRIEN: The president back in 2001 addressing the whole issue of dealing with North Korea talked about how difficult it is to verify, and to see if they would, in fact, honor their commitments. Let's listen to what he had to say.
BUSH: Part of the problem with dealing with North Korea, there's not very much transparency. We're not certain as to whether or not they're keeping all terms of all agreements. When you make an agreement with a country that is secretive, how do you -- how are you aware as to whether or not they're keeping the terms of the agreement?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. O'BRIEN: Put that question to you. How will we be aware if they're keeping to the terms?
HILL: Well, to be sure dealing with as an opaque place as North Korea is one of the big challenges. Now, what we have in mind, of course, is to bring in the IAEA inspectors, these are international inspectors who would verify this shut down.
But ultimately what we have to be able to do is work with other parties. We cannot keep North Korea from heading in the direction of nuclear weapons on our own. We need China. China is a key player there. North Korea really could not survive a day without a relationship with China. So that we have China on board, that we work with China, I think it bodes well for the potential of success.
It's not an easy process. No question about it. I think this is a good first step, and our hope, in fact, that we insist, that this step be followed by other steps.
M. O'BRIEN: Assistant Secretary of Sate Christopher Hill, thanks for your time.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Coming up this morning an American company with a wholesome image accused of making some trouble overseas. Ali Velshi is "Minding Your Business" straight ahead.
Plus, crash caught on tape. A whaling ship and a boatload of protesters collide. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Welcome back. The most news in the morning right here.
High drama on the high seas. Take a look at these pictures. A collision in the ocean south of New Zealand. Anti-whaling protesters chasing a Japanese whaling ship. Each crew is blaming the other for the collision.
The protest ship belongs to the Sea's Shepherd conservation group. There's a three-foot gash in its hull. The whaler's propeller is damaged. Now commercial whaling has been banned for 21 years. The Japanese say that ship was killing whales for research.
Killing whales for research? What kind of a research do they do on a dead whale? Pro-whaling nations are meeting in Tokyo today; they're trying to reverse that whaling ban.
S. O'BRIEN: I wonder what they were lobbing over into the other ship? Did you see that? At some point they were throwing things right over the hull. I'm curious.
M. O'BRIEN: I don't know,
S. O'BRIEN: Let's talk business news, shall we? Johnson & Johnson might be facing some heat for what it's called improper payments. It is 26 minutes past the hour. Ali Velshi is "Minding Your Business".
Good morning, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Maybe the way Johnson & Johnson has handled the situation might get the some of that heat off of them.
The company has said that an internal investigation has shown that they may have made improper payments, in two countries, two small markets, they described. They won't tell us what countries they are, in order to do business there.
Now, J&J says that that contravenes its own practices and it also may contravene the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prevents U.S. companies from paying money to influence or retain business in other countries.
J&J also said the executive in charge of the division that is involved, the medical devices and diagnostics division, which is actually a very big part of the company, has retired. According to the company, the -- they are moving away from this. They are making sure that nothing else has happened. They've independently reported it to the federal government, which has cracked down in recent years on companies which have been making payments or perhaps bribing foreign officials in order to get business.
The feeling from analysts right now is that J&J acted quickly to do the right thing. A company that is convicted of a felony can be prevented from participating in Medicare programs, so this is a big deal if J&J didn't come clean, and if the federal government is not satisfied, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Ali. Ali Velshi.
Top stories of the morning coming up next. Severe weather all across the country to tell you about. A tornado touching down in New Orleans. Blizzard warnings elsewhere. Chad Myers has it all.
And is America ready for a Mormon president? How Mitt Romney's religion could shape the race for the White House. Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, the most news in the morning right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Storm alert: a tornado cuts a path of damage near New Orleans just a couple of hours ago, and a blizzard threatens to roar to life in the Midwest.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Terror in the mall. A gunman opens fire on shoppers. Six people are killed. This morning, survivors tell a chilling story.
S. O'BRIEN: And a CNN exclusive. A Marine admits to killing an innocent civilian in Iraq. He tells us why he pulled the trigger but shouldn't be convicted of murder.
Those stories and much more on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Welcome back, everybody. It's Tuesday, February 13. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's begin with breaking news out of Louisiana this morning. Tornado, it appears, touched down in the town of Westwego. That's just west of New Orleans. Getting some reports of damage and three injuries so far.
CNN's Susan Roesgen is on the phone for us from Westwego.
Hey Susan, good morning. How's it looking?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, it's beginning to be daylight here, which will help the -- any rescue efforts considerably. We have an update on the number of injuries now. Now seven injuries. All minor, except for one, which did send a man to the hospital. Again, that was the one that the mayor told me about earlier. He believes this person is in shock and had a head injury perhaps, or perhaps a back injury.
The big problem right now, Soledad, is that the power company crews are preparing to shut off power in areas where they have it right now and preparing to shut off gas in areas where they have it right now, because they said that they have major gas leaks in this area. They're very concerned about that.
And I'm still on foot walking around the hotel. I just spoke to a guy who told me that he and three friends from Detroit had come down for Mardi Gras, and they were in the top floor of that hotel. If you've seen the video, there isn't a top floor left, really.
He said they heard a terrible noise. One of the buddies opened the door. He says the tornado came right through the door, lifted the ceiling off. Bits of the ceiling fell on them. They huddled on the bed. Everybody, believe it or not, Soledad, is OK, every guy in the room. There were four guys in the room. The entire ceiling and the entire roof was blown off. They're all OK.
So again, people have been taken to the Red Cross shelters in the area. Only minor injuries except for one man taken to the hospital. We really don't know much more about his condition except that he was in shock and he may have had some kind of head injury.
S. O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness. You look at these pictures, Susan, and you can really -- it is very surprising that you have those kinds of mostly minor injuries to report.
Let me ask you a question. So I see a home, and I also see the hotel damage in this videotape. Is that essentially the extent of the damage, or is there sort of this long tornado-like path that we're used to seeing when these things hit?
ROESGEN: Yes, absolutely, there is a long tornado path of destruction. It's only about four blocks wide, which makes sense. Tornadoes are limited in width, but a very long area that stretches from one side of the Mississippi River and apparently jumps over to the other side. There's more damage to New Orleans proper.
And behind that motel that you've been looking at, an area that we haven't yet been able to get into with our cameras, there are a lot of homes. The mayor told me some homes are simply slabs. He said that it hit homes, hit houses all right, but three houses around him have lost their roofs, and one house, he said, he was basically split in half.
So as far as we know, firefighters are still going door to door back behind that motel that you've been looking at and in other areas, in this four-block wide area and about a mile and a half long through Westwego, looking to see if there is anybody else injured, looking to see the extent of the damage. So we should get, really, an even better picture of worse damage as the morning goes on.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. So as the sun comes up, and also if you get a chance to kind of go back into that area that so far you haven't been able to get into.
Susan Roesgen by phone for us. Thanks, Susan. Please be careful. I know those downed power lines obviously very, very dangerous -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Whether is a big story this morning in all quadrants. Chad Myers is looking at a big winter storm that is moving across the nation's heartland and headed our way.
Hello, Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Wow. 35 inches. All right. Thank you, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're welcome.
M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning elsewhere, what could be a big breakthrough in those talks aimed at forcing the North Koreans to lay down their nuclear weapons. The deal coming out of those six- nation talks in Beijing, it would send fuel oil and other aid to the north, so long as Pyongyang begins shutting down its nuclear operation.
In Lebanon a pair of bus bombings northeast of Beirut. Details sketchy, at least three, perhaps as many as ten dead. A dozen hurt. It happened in a Christian province. The second bus exploded as it stopped at the scene of the first bomb blast.
On Capitol Hill today lawmakers will debate a resolution opposing the Bush buildup of troops in Iraq. The House will take up debate on a two-sentence war resolution in a matter of hours. The resolution simply states Congress will keep funding troops in Iraq, but it opposes accepting more troops in.
And Attorney General Alberto Gonzales travels to New Orleans today. He is expected to announce more money is coming to the city in the form of federal grants to help fight crime. No word on whether he will visit those areas hit by those tornadoes -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Police this morning are trying to figure out just who it was who walked into a mall and started shooting and why. It happened in the downtown Salt Lake City. Six people are now dead, including the gunman, who witnesses described as wearing a long coat and carrying a shotgun. Witnesses say he was shooting shoppers, and they were desperately diving for cover.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEETTA BARTTA, WITNESS: And we were sitting by the window, and all of a sudden we heard -- you know, it sounded like a car backfiring, and then there was one and two and three, and we looked out the window, and we went, oh, that's a gunshot.
RON MASON, WITNESS: I could see he had a gun. He had a long coat on, thick coat on. He was pumping and shooting rounds before he went in the building. Then he went into the building underneath us, and we heard shots inside of the building.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Four other people were shot. An off duty police officer finally returned fire, and it is he, reportedly, who killed the gunman.
Another shootout to tell you, as well, last night. This one in Philadelphia. It happened during a business meeting at an office complex in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Three people were killed there. A fourth person is reported in critical condition. The gunman shot himself after a shootout with police. And police believe the fight all started with some kind of altercation over money.
M. O'BRIEN: About an hour and a half from now, Mitt Romney is slated to make it official. The former governor of Massachusetts will announce his entry into the presidential race. He is launching his campaign in his home state of Michigan.
CNN's Candy Crowley with more on the candidate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Great to see you. Thanks for coming tonight.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even his detractors give him props for presentation, but Mitt Romney is more than just another pretty face. Harvard Law and Harvard Business, former management consultant, CEO, former head of the Olympics, and former governor of Massachusetts, where he developed his stiffest critics. They slammed him for using the governorship in one of the country's most liberal states to repackage himself as a conservative presidential candidate.
SALVATORE DIMASI, MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE SPEAKER: He changed a lot over the four years that he was here. His rhetoric and his positions on, like, abortion, like gay rights, like stem-cell research totally changed when he decided that his focus should be on conservative votes across the country.
ROMNEY: On abortion I wasn't always a Ronald Reagan conservative. Either was Ronald Reagan, by the way. But like him, I learned with experience.
CROWLEY: Romney's courtship of the conservative wing of his party has been particularly intense in the south, where he's been buffing up his conservative credentials for the better part of two years.
ROMNEY: We respect the value of human life and the sanctity of human life. We respect the foundation of the family. All of these elements are part of our society and our culture.
CROWLEY: Romney's emphasis on values is not just about moral issues. It's about religion, his.
DON WILTON, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA: Mormonism does make me nervous, because I'm a Christian and because the precepts and principles and, more importantly, the practices of Mormonism have cause for great concern.
CROWLEY: Romney is a Mormon, the Church of Latter Day Saints, viewed by some, mostly conservative evangelicals, as a non-Christian cult-like organization. All things they have heard before in Salt Lake City, home base for Mormons. DAVID MAGELBY, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY: I think there will be attacks on Romney that will be launched by third party groups about his religion. I think that's almost a certainty.
CROWLEY: It's unclear how much his religion will hurt, but it is a particular concern for Romney in conservative South Carolina, the first primary state. He has returned repeatedly there with explanations of his faith and his values to groups both big and small.
RICK BELTRAM, GOP CHAIRMAN, SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA: I have discussion also privately with Governor Romney and said to him that clearly the one issue that he's going to have to properly communicate is what the Mormon faith is all about.
CROWLEY: Romney aides have long held that he can overcome or at least mitigate the religion issue with a focus on shared values.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: That was Candy Crowley. And CNN will cover Mitt Romney's announcement this morning, live, 9 Eastern on CNN and CNN Pipeline. And of course, all the day's political news is available on the CNN Political Ticker any time day or night. You need a fix of politics, just go to CNN.com/ticker -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Stunning turn of events coming up on AMERICAN MORNING. A Marine accused of murder in Iraq will testify that he pulled the trigger and now says, well, he's not guilty. We'll have this exclusive interview straight ahead.
And take a look at this. A stash, $6 million worth of cocaine. We'll tell you the details of this sizable that went down bust down in Texas.
Plus, excess baggage is going to cost you more, lots more, to fly across the pond and back. We've got new details. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
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S. O'BRIEN: The most news in the morning is right here on CNN. A chilling murder spree to tell you about at a Salt Lake City mall. A gunman shot and killed five people last night before he was killed.
And Congress is trying its best to agree on two sentences today, debating a two-sentence resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Today at Camp Pendleton in California, one of eight U.S. Marines charged in the killing of an Iraqi man last year will appear for a court-martial.
Another defendant withdrew his plea last week. He now says, even though he pulled the trigger, he's not guilty. He talked exclusively to CNN's Jason Carroll.
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JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trent Thomas had long dreamed of being a Marine. He grew up in East Saint Louis amid drugs and desperation. But Thomas went his own way, attending church, becoming a devout Christian.
CPL. TRENT THOMAS, ACCUSED OF MURDER: I was either at school or at work or at church. And so there was really no time in between.
CARROLL: Soon Thomas joined the Marines. He served three tours in Iraq. But last April during his final tour, his regiment was searching for an insurgent in Hamdaniya, northwest of Baghdad.
Details of what happened next come from Thomas and other Marines during the court-martial testimony that would follow. Unable to find the insurgent at his house, they went next door, found Hashim Ibrahim Awad, not an insurgent but a 52-year-old father of 11.
Thomas and other Marines testified they bound Awad's hands and feet. Then Thomas says, he shot him.
(on camera) How many times did you fire at Mr. Awad?
THOMAS: Maybe five or six. Seven, eight, somewhere in there. I think maybe about eight altogether.
CARROLL (voice-over): The question of Thomas' defense ultimately would come down to this: what could have driven him to abandon his judgment and his faith and to commit such a heinous crime? Thomas says he hoped killing Awad would send a message.
THOMAS: I look at the situation as, maybe we just set an example. Maybe these people who are putting IEDs on the road...
CARROLL (on camera): A good example or a bad example?
THOMAS: Well, maybe we set an example for any future terrorists that are going to put an IED on this road.
CARROLL (voice-over): Eventually eight members of his squad were charged with offenses ranging from kidnapping to murder. Thomas initially pleaded guilty to second degree murder, kidnapping and making false statements.
He told us relentless battle turned him into a different person.
THOMAS: I'd never expect someone who's never been shot at or who's never seen someone get killed right next to them or who's never lost, who's never lost a loved one right in front of them to -- to feel and understand why certain things happen.
CARROLL: Thomas' commanding officer is also charged with murder. His attorney didn't return our calls.
(on camera): Were you ordered to do what you did?
THOMAS: I really can't say.
CARROLL (voice-over): Thomas has since changed his guilty plea to not guilty. His attorney says he killed an innocent man that day because he was ordered to do it.
THOMAS: A lot of people would argue that, but until you're put in the situation, the situation where everyone -- you take a face off to everyone through so many bad circumstances.
CARROLL (on camera): And when you say take a face off them, that means what?
THOMAS: You start -- you stop looking at people as people.
CARROLL: What Thomas may ultimately do is take a closer look at the person he is behind the Marine.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Camp Pendleton, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Before withdrawing his plea, Thomas faced a sentence of up to life in prison. Out of the seven Marines and a Navy Corpsman accused in the killing, four have pleaded guilty to lesser charges -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. We've got some breaking news for you coming to us from the Pentagon. It turns out that that sixth helicopter that was downed in Iraq was shot down. Details now on how the insurgents were able to do it. Let's get right to CNN's Barbara Starr live for us at the Pentagon.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
CNN has learned that the United States Marine Corps has now begun notifying Capitol Hill it does believe the CH-46 helicopter brought down near Fallujah last week, indeed, was shot down, most likely by a surface-to-air missile from insurgents, not by mechanical failure as first indicated by the Marines.
The Marines say they are changing their mind after looking at an insurgent video that was posted on the Web. A senior U.S. Marine Corps officer tells CNN that insurgent video, in his words, is very convincing.
Seven people died when that CH-46 went down.
Why are they relying on the insurgent video? Behind the scenes what is unfolding is the wreckage of the aircraft was destroyed by a fire on the ground, and also Marines coming along shortly afterwards. After they recovered seven bodies from the wreckage, they destroyed the rest of it so insurgents, of course, couldn't get their hands on it. And at that time they believed it was mechanical failure. All of that before the insurgent video was posted. Now, they believe it was -- the video is correct. They are going to have to go back and notify the families.
And in an even more tragic turn of events, Soledad, it turns out this helicopter was carrying medical supplies for wounded troops -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Terrible news there. All right. Barbara Starr with an update and the very latest from the Pentagon for us. Thanks, Barbara.
Short break. We're back in just a moment. Stay with us.
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S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. Here's what's happening in America this morning. In Texas, just east of Dallas, a major surprise during a traffic stop. Take a look at that: $6 million worth of cocaine in the back of a truck, 140 pounds. Now the officer found it hidden inside of four televisions. The driver's now in jail, could get life in prison.
In Miami, Florida, today, jury selection in the Jessica Lunsford case. Convicted sex offender John Couey is accused of kidnapping 9- year-old Jessica, raping her and then burying her alive. The case was moved from Central Florida to try to find an impartial jury.
In South Carolina on the Clemson campus, nearly 300 people marched for racial unity. It's in reaction to pictures that turned up on the Web sharing site, FaceBook. They showed white students mocking African-American stereotypes. It was taken on a party on the day before Martin Luther King Day -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm sorry. You talking to me? I was taking a nap. I apologize.
Actually, napping at work -- no, I really wasn't. Napping at work could help your ticker. Just don't get caught doing it. We'll tell you about the study ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning right here.
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S. O'BRIEN: The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
Diplomatic success at those six-party talks. Overnight North Korea agreed to end its nuclear program in exchange for millions of dollars' worth of aid.
And in just about an hour former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, is going to announce officially that he's running for president.
Business news now. Some people might say that Valentine's Day is a holiday created by greeting card companies. Those are the cynical people, aren't they?
M. O'BRIEN: True, though. It's true.
S. O'BRIEN: Now there are cards for those people, too. Fifty- six minutes past the hour, and Ali is "Minding Your Business:.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm a complete nonbeliever in this. I think this is amateur night.
S. O'BRIEN: Don't believe in love?
VELSHI: I believe in love. I just don't believe in the fact that you have to buy jacked up cards for Valentine's Day and flowers that are five times the price. So now the card companies, because they've figured out everything...
M. O'BRIEN: Such a romantic.
VELSHI: Well, look, it's the second biggest holiday for card makers other than Christmas. A hundred and ninety million Valentines are sent, according to American Greetings. Half of them by women.
And the only compelling thing for you guys out there to listen to is that for the first time, according to the Census Bureau, 51 percent of the nation's women are single, outnumbering married women for the first time.
But take a look at this. This is one of those cards that -- this is made by American Greetings.
S. O'BRIEN: Those statistics have been challenged, by the way.
VELSHI: Yes, but it's still a good reason, if you were on the fence about Valentine's Day, good reason to send a card. The front of this says, "It's Valentine's Day and love is in the air." When you open it up, it says, "It makes me want to puke. Happy Anti- Valentine's Day." That's a rough one.
S. O'BRIEN: I just did my Valentine's Day cards to the kids. It's so sweet. That's horrible.
VELSHI: But it's kids. And I think -- I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day. I don't know if I'd go this far.
Here's one that says, "They had a shared moment," and then on the inside it says, "A lifetime commitment was completely out of the question. Happy Anti-Valentine's Day."
M. O'BRIEN: Oh, man.
VELSHI: And this is for people who -- this is like an anti- commitment one, and then this one is about broken hearts. It's got a cover full of broken hearts, and then on the inside it says, "Broken hearts of the world unite."
So there's a -- my point here is that I'm a passive anti- Valentine's guy. I wouldn't go out and buy a card, first of all, for $4.50.
S. O'BRIEN: I don't think that makes a lot of money.
VELSHI: I bet you people...
S. O'BRIEN: Do you think there's a big anti-Valentine's business?
VELSHI: Apparently it's a growing...
S. O'BRIEN: That's sad. That's just tragic. It's a lovely holiday.
VELSHI: It's not against love. It's not against love. It's just against the commercialization of love.
S. O'BRIEN: You know, I bought Valentine's cards for you yesterday and for you yesterday.
VELSHI: I'm going to write one for both of you.
S. O'BRIEN: Liar.
M. O'BRIEN: The whole thing is heart breaking.
VELSHI: Well, you know what? Tomorrow what we're going to show you: we had a romance novel written for Soledad and me. Just a custom romance novel.
S. O'BRIEN: Maybe tomorrow is the day to be out sick.
M. O'BRIEN: God, that sounds like a bad idea.
All right, Ali. Thank you. Good luck finding that mate.
VELSHI: Thank you.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up at the top of the hour, Chad Myers is at the CNN weather center. Chad has got a look at this -- look at that blob behind him. Oh, my gosh.
MYERS: Yes, it gets worse.
M. O'BRIEN: We're in trouble.
MYERS: Sure. Really.
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MYERS: The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
S. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.
We've got some new pictures of all the damage from that tornado just coming in. That tornado that hit right near New Orleans. We've got a live report, as well, coming up. M. O'BRIEN: Murder at the mall. Witnesses describe the panic as a gunman opens fire on shoppers. Six people are dead, including the gunner.
S. O'BRIEN: Diplomatic breakthrough in an overnight agreement to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But could it create a whole new set of problems for the United States?
M. O'BRIEN: And shocking accusations. New claims the death of Anna Nicole Smith was no accident. That's ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Tuesday, February 13. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. We're glad you're with us.
We begin with breaking news out of Louisiana. A tornado touching down this morning in the town of Westwego. That's just west of New Orleans.
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