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American Morning
Truth About Death of Pat Tillman
Aired March 26, 2007 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Thank you, Stephanie.
Farewell surprise, America's outgoing ambassador in Iraq reveals he tried to make peace with insurgents.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: The truth about the death of Pat Tillman, a new report due out today could explain who withheld the facts and why they did it.
O'BRIEN: On the heels of this shocking videotape, it looks like there may be another similar one, once again, involving off-duty cops, and it was caught on tape.
ROBERTS: And touchdown: Tornadoes in the Southwest, high water in the Midwest. Your extreme weather forecast ahead this morning.
We're live from Tehran, Chicago, Washington and New York on this AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: Good morning, welcome back, everybody. It's Monday, March 26th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Hi, John.
ROBERTS: Hey, good morning to you, Soledad. I'm John Roberts, in for Miles O'Brien in Washington today. I'll be up there in New York with you tomorrow.
Welcome to this AMERICAN MORNING on this Monday. Let's get the week started.
O'BRIEN: Let's begin, in fact, with that new report expected in a couple hours in the Pat Tillman case. You'll remember that was the former NFL star who turned Army Ranger. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan.
Well, today, four generals could take some of the blame for just how the truth about his death was withheld, not just from the Tillman family, but also from the American public.
AMERICAN MORNING's Bob Franken live in Washington, D.C., for us.
Good morning, Bob. BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, Good morning, Soledad.
This is going to once again reinforce the sadness of taking, stealing from Pat Tillman his legacy of idealism and turning it into a legacy of deception.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice over): Pat Tillman was a national symbol of unselfish patriotism when he turned away from his highly lucrative NFL stardom and to join the Army Rangers. Today, the handling of his death has become to his family and friends a story of military ineptitude and deceit.
We're now aware that U.S. officials knew almost right away what took five weeks for Pat Tillman's family to find out. That their son was killed by friendly fire in a remote area of Afghanistan.
Before the truth came out, the president had paid tribute to Tillman.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The loss of Army Corporal Pat Tillman, last week in Afghanistan, brought home the sorrow that comes with every loss, and reminds us of the character of the men and women who serve on our behalf.
FRANKEN: At a memorial service, 11 days after the incident, the Army repeated the claim that Tillman had been gunned down in a conventional ambush. Why it took so long for the truth to come out, and who bears responsibility is the subject of Defense Department reports due out today.
They will reportedly place blame on several high-ranking officers, but according to the Associated Press, they will rule out a conspiracy.
Congressman Mike Honda, a Democrat of San Jose, California, where Tillman was raised was one of the members who pushed for these reports, but he's angry at the way they've been leaked.
REP. MIKE HONDA (D-CA): This has happened at every juncture when a report is ready to be released that it seems to be leaked out before the family gets to know and that's -- I think it's very irritating to them, too.
FRANKEN: Tillman's father, Pat, Sr. said he had no intention of commenting until he had been briefed later today.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Well, since the shooting, seven have been punished, but none has received a court-martial, so far. The Army says it plans to take, Soledad, appropriate action.
O'BRIEN: We'll see what that appropriate action is. Bob Franken for us this morning. Thank you, Bob. Later this morning I'm going to talk to a member of Tillman's platoon. He says even he knew early on that it was friendly fire. So, we'll ask him why did it take so long for the truth to finally come out? That's coming up in our next hour.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad.
News out of Iraq this morning: New details in a suicide blast that seriously injured Iraq's deputy prime minister. You saw the first pictures of the bombing here on AMERICAN MORNING on Friday. Aides to the Minister Salam Al-Zubai now confirm one of his bodyguards helped carry out the attack.
It was an inside job. The guard apparently let the bomber into a room where Al-Zubai was praying and then took off. A group related to Al Qaeda is now taking responsibility for that attack. Nine people died in the blast. Al Zubai is recovering in a hospital.
News this morning from the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad. He gave his final news conference in Baghdad this morning. And in this morning's "New York Times" Khalilzad says he met with leaders of Iraqi insurgent groups trying to forge peace.
Khalilzad was honored at a farewell ceremony on Sunday and this morning was upbeat about the U.S. mission in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZALMAY KHALILZAD, OUTGOING U.S. AMB. TO IRAQ: In my view, though difficult challenges lie ahead, and there is a long way to go, Iraq is fundamentally headed in the right direction, and success is possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Khalilzad told "The New York Times" he talked with rebels early last year, but those talks stalled after that February bombing of that mosque in Samara.
Here at home today, the Senate begins debate on its war spending bill and includes a plan to bring troops home from Iraq by March of next year. Many Senate Republicans say that decision should be left to military commanders. On Friday the House passed a $124 million spending bill -- and, boy did they spend on a lot of other things other than the war, as well. It calls for troops to leave Iraq by September of next year -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: New this morning, an historic meeting in Northern Ireland. The leaders of the region's two feuding political parties are attending their first ever face-to-face meeting. Protestant cleric Ian Paisley and the Catholic politician Gerry Adams are sitting down in Belfast.
Until now Paisley has refused to meet with Adams because his Sinn Fein political party is linked to the IRA; the IRA behind countless deadly attacks in the 30 year conflict with Britain.
But they are finally sitting down, meeting face-to-face. We'll see what comes from that meeting.
Republican support for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is slipping. Three top GOP senators are questioning the attorney general's credibility over the firing of those eight U.S. attorneys. Now, Gonzales has said he was not involved in any discussions about the firings but some newly released documents seem to contradict that. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER, (R-PA): There is no doubt that what has happened has had a very chilling effect on the United States attorneys.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R-NB): Unfortunately the attorney general is dealing with a cloud hanging over his credibility and the president will have to deal with that.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): But he has been wounded. He will have to come to the Senate and reestablish his credibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Let's get right to White House Correspondent Ed Henry.
Ed, good morning to you.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: How likely is it the president will continue to stand behind Gonzales when you hear from more and more Republicans each and every day?
HENRY: Well, the good news is for Gonzales, if you can call it good news, is all three of those Republicans stop short of calling for him to resign right now. They did basically throw him a short-term lifeline, by saying they don't want to pre-judge him completely and push him out until they hear from him on Capitol Hill, with testimony.
We are now learning that is going to be in mid-April. So that gives Gonzales a few weeks here to try to regain his credibility.
But the bad news is based on those comments patience clearly wearing thin among Republicans. Those senators also added that they think it's a bad idea for the White House to insist there be no transcript when Karl Rove and other White House aides testify.
Also, the attorney general has to be bracing for this Thursday, that's when his former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, is going to finally testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Is Sampson going to further contradict the attorney general on whether or not he was out of the loop? Is Sampson going to implicate White House aides and say they knew more about this controversy than they have let on?
That's one big wildcard here, the Sampson testimony, a second wildcard, will there be more documents coming out of the Justice Department. We've have been hearing about how forthcoming they've been. They've been putting out documents and then late on Friday night they put out this other document, that you noted, that basically contradicts what the attorney general earlier said about being out of the loop.
Now, there is an Washington adage, when you've got bad news you dump it out on Friday night when everybody has gone home for the weekend. So, I think if you're going to look for signs about what's next in the story, look for Thursday and Sampson's testimony. And let's see whether or not there is another document dump this coming Friday night, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Lot's to watch. It really is the story that just will not go away for the White House today. All right, Ed Henry for us this morning at the White House. Thanks, Ed.
John.
ROBERTS: It is the story that keeps on giving, Soledad.
The British and the Iranians turning up the heat in the standoff over captured British troops. Iran is now refusing to release 15 British sailors and marines seized in what they said was the Iranian side of a channel between Iraq and Iran. British Prime Minister Tony Blair insists his troops were on the Iraqi side of that waterway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: I hope this can be resolved over the next few days. But, the quicker it is resolved, the easier it will be for all of us. But they should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: An Arab newspaper published in London says Iran may try to trade the British troops for Iranians that are being held by the United States in Iraq. That will involve the U.S. in this whole mess.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Jordan this morning to talk Mid East peace. She is meeting again with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Jordan's King Abdullah. This is Secretary Rice's seventh visit to the region in eight months -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elizabeth Edwards is front and center today on the campaign trail for her husband. They're both fighting on, despite the return of her cancer. Mrs. Edwards told "60 Minutes" last night that the cancer may have spread to her hip. CNN's Mary Snow is in Cleveland this morning.
Good morning to you, Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
While Elizabeth Edwards has been out on the campaign trail with her husband the last couple days, here, later today in Cleveland, this will mark the first time where she has spoken publicly since announcing last week that the cancer had spread.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice over): John and Elizabeth Edwards very personal cancer battle is very front and center in an unprecedented public arena, the presidential campaign trail. Their choice to continue his presidential run has brought both support and criticism. At a Democratic presidential forum in Nevada over the weekend Edwards was asked about the decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say to people who are thinking about supporting you, thinking about contributing to your campaign, but are really worried about your ability to take care of two all consuming things at one time? Will you be in this race for the duration?
JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, I'm definitely in the race for the duration.
SNOW: In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" Edwards was steadfast in his decision to run, welcoming the scrutiny.
EDWARDS: I mean, you offer yourself up for service to the country as the president of the United States, you deserve to be evaluated. I am perfectly open to that evaluation.
SNOW: John and Elizabeth Edwards say they've dealt with personal crisis before. Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 when her husband ran for vice president alongside John Kerry. In 1996 the couple's oldest son, Wade, was killed in a car accident.
In that same CBS' "60 Minutes'" interview Elizabeth Edwards passionately explained why she wouldn't want her husband to pull out of the race.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS WIFE: That would be my legacy, wouldn't it, Katie? That I had taken out this fine man from the possibility of giving a great service. I mean I don't want that to be my legacy.
SNOW: Another part of Elizabeth Edwards' legacy will be dealing with cancer treatments for stage four breast cancer, while raising two young children, and stumping for her husband. She says she'll scale back on campaign duties, if necessary, but expects to be out on the trail. Some doctors say that can help.
DR. RUTH O'REGAN, WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE, EMORY U.: In many cases patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer do better mentally when they keep themselves busy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Exactly what kind of cancer treatment Elizabeth Edwards will be getting, her doctor said late last week that is still being determined. But Elizabeth Edwards has said she expects to have a less debilitating form of chemotherapy than she had when she was treated for her last bout of cancer -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Mary Snow, in Cleveland for us this morning, where Elizabeth Edwards will be later today. Thanks, Mary.
John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad. Coming up, tornadoes send people running for cover. Take a look at this twister caught on tape. Chad is tracking today's extreme weather for you.
Also more aftershocks early this morning, a day after a powerful earthquake in Japan. We're checking on the aftermath there.
And remember this tape, an off-duty Chicago cop accused of beating a female bartender? Well, it may have happen again. Different bar, different cop. A live update from Chicago ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, you're watching the most news in the morning right here on CNN.
People in western Japan are nervous about more aftershocks this morning; a 6.9 magnitude quake hit under the ocean on Sunday. It was about 300 miles west of Tokyo. The quake buckled roads, flattened homes, triggered landslides, too. One person was killed; 200 people injured. The quake triggered several aftershocks, as well, including one that happened this morning. There have been no injuries or any serious damage reported in the aftershocks.
It's 15 minutes past the hour. Time for Chad who is watching extreme weather around the country, particularly in Texas and New Mexico today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: As you're watching the severe weather we're here in Washington watching several developing stories today. The Pentagon's report on the death of Pat Tillman, the Senate vote on the war spending, and as always, the race for the White House.
Elizabeth Edwards is campaigning for her husband in Ohio today. Her decision to campaign while fighting cancer takes the country into new political territory.
John Dickerson is the chief political correspondent for "Slate" and he's with us.
John, yesterday in that "60 Minutes" interview John Edwards said, look, we don't want the sympathy vote. Don't vote for me just because my wife has cancer. That would be a mistake. He also said that it is inappropriate for critics to call this, quote, "a case of insatiable ambition over common sense." I mean, understandable that he would say things like that, but by saying them doesn't he draw attention to both of those ideas?
JOHN DICKERSON, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, "SLATE": Sure. But I think what he has to do is confront this head on. And this is what they think is that this is, he can't shimmy away from these questions, he can't duck them. And people are out there talking about this. So, if he confronts them head on and says just watch me and he is up front about it, people won't think he is using this as a political sort of shield, to both benefit from it while trying to duck the hard parts of it and the hard questions about it.
ROBERTS: I've heard some people say, you know, why is he doing this? He should be looking after his wife. But she's got stage four cancer. There is no big stroke treatment that is going to cure her. She can't have any kind of operation, and round of chemotherapy, so why not just live your life, while you've got it?
DICKERSON: That's right. Well, in the interview, last night, they were very compelling. And she said, basically, if we don't continue, you choose to die. And what's extraordinary about this, that political campaigns can get frivolous pretty fast. And this one has gotten very serious, very fast.
So, for the rest of this campaign, you know, the Edwards -- even if they're not talking about it -- it raises the issues they're talking about up a certain couple of notches, because they've decided to talk about those issues, instead of retreating and living some other kind of life as they deal with this illness.
ROBERTS: What do you think this will do to the campaign from the standpoint of some very important people to the campaign are going to be looking at his saying, is he going to stay in it all the way, and should we remain committed to it?
DICKERSON: We'll see how much that dogs them. I mean, there will be people who are making tactical decisions. Who may say we support Senator Edwards, but, you know, will he make it all the way through? The campaign says, of course, they've had this extraordinary outpouring of support, e-mails supporting him, and supporting Elizabeth Edwards. And so we'll see how the fundraising comes in, and what it does in terms of the polls, and in terms of where people are thinking about him for the long haul.
ROBERTS: Alberto Gonzales, what is your prediction? Will he stay or will he go?
DICKERSON: Well, it's tough to make these predictions with this White House because when they tell you he's not going to go, then they go. And when they say they're -- and so you're never quite sure. Things were cooling down for Gonzales at the end of last week, he has gotten some bad news over the weekend. He was more involved in these firings than he says.
There are Republican senators now fleeing from him raising questions about his candor. And his former chief of staff will testify this week, returning the spotlight to Gonzales. The question is, was he involved, and has he not been candid? Or is he just kind of clueless? Those are both pretty bad options.
ROBERTS: Yes, I tell you that hearing on Thursday, that testimony will be very interesting. John Dickerson, thanks very much.
DICKERSON: Glad to be here.
ROBERTS: He is the chief political correspondent for "Slate". Appreciate you coming in.
Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, not very far from where you are, John, the South Lawn of the White House will turn into a parking lot of sorts this morning. We'll explain what that is all about. And whether Detroit will step up and build more fuel efficient cars.
And remember the beating that cause caught on tape, in Chicago? That's an off-duty cop, a female bartender, and now there's word of a similar incident again involving off-duty Chicago cops. And, again, apparently caught on tape. We'll tell you about that story, as well.
That's straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Another black eye this morning for the Chicago Police Department. The department is reeling after this video surfaced last week allegedly showing an off-duty police officer beating a female bartender. There is obviously somebody beating on her there pretty seriously. Now, there's word of another incident, also caught on tape involving Chicago cops. CNN's Keith Oppenheim is in Chicago for us this morning.
Keith, what do we know about this latest incident?
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's really quite something that we now have two incidents, John, both of police allegedly attacking people in bars and both have been caught on surveillance tape. We don't have the videotape of this latest incident we heard about, but the fact that it exists is putting Chicago police on the defensive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPPENHEIM (voice over): Chicago police officials confirm they are investigating allegations that six off-duty cops beat four men at a bar in an upscale area of Chicago.
Attorneys for the victims say their clients were attacked last December and that one man suffered broken ribs, and another man needed reconstructive surgery on his face. It was a beating, they say, that was captured by surveillance cameras.
You may remember last week we reported about another incident caught on tape.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is one hit.
OPPENHEIM: This woman, Karolina Obrycka, came forward saying she, too, was beaten by an off-duty police officer last month. When she refused to serve him any more alcohol. That officer, Anthony Abbate (ph), is now facing charges of felony aggravated battery. In the video, he punches her repeatedly.
Karolina gets up despite multiple hits to her head, back, head and ribs. As bystanders keeps a distance, Officer Abbate walks away.
(On camera): Carolina, what is your reaction that the person who beat you was a police officer?
KAROLINA OBRYCKA, BARTENDER: I thought police were supposed to serve and protect, not beat up people.
OPPENHEIM: In both cases the police department is now investigating the actions of their officers caught on tape.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPENHEIM: Getting back to this latest incident we heard about, John. We talked to one of the attorneys who are representing the four men who were attacked in the bar and the attorney says this attack from the Chicago police officers involved was unprovoked. In the meantime, the state's attorney office has the videotape. And they are mulling over what charges, or whether they're going to be charges in this case. Back to you.
ROBERTS: Keith, as you said, we have heard from the attorney, but we haven't heard from the victims. We're hearing some reports that they may be fearful of coming forward?
OPPENHEIM: Yeah. We're getting that information, as well. That they are frustrated that it is taking so long for there to be charges in this case. But they've been advised by their attorneys to lay kind of low, because they're nervous about bringing a case against Chicago police officers.
ROBERTS: And, as we heard, the other victim, Karolina Obrycka, also complained she was being intimidated by some of Abbate's fellow officers. Keith Oppenheim in Chicago, thanks.
Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The parking lot -- uh, the parking lot, essentially, on the South Lawn of the White House, I guess is the way we can put it. As President Bush is scheduled to meet with top automakers but one big, big name not invited. It's 26 minutes pas the hour. Stephanie is "Minding Your Business".
Good morning.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Remember how we used to refer to them as the Detroit, the Big Three? We call them the Detroit Three, now because they're not the Big Three, because Toyota is now in there. And that is the one name that is missing from this group that is meeting here with the president at the White House today. That would be Ford, GM, Chrysler.
Mainly, Toyota is not viewed as part of the American infrastructure when it comes to autos, just yet. And so that is part of the reason why they're probably not there.
They are going to discuss the U.S. reliance on foreign oil. And they're trying to find ways to get around that. Bush wants to cut gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years and he says there is a big push for flex-fuel vehicles, those are ones that can use a blend of gas and ethanol. In fact, the automakers have already pledged to have 2 million flex-fuel vehicles by 2010.
And the other thing that is of issue here? Will there be enough ethanol to make this work? There is this gasoline that's called -- well, I should say it is a fuel called E-85 and it is a blend of both, but only 1 percent of gas stations in America actually offer that.
O'BRIEN: There is that. That is
ELAM: A problem.
O'BRIEN: And a big one.
ELAM: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Stephanie Elam, thank you very much.
Top stories in the morning coming up next. Who can stop Iran escalating tensions? We've been telling you about all morning, British sailors now held, nuclear defiance, can sanctions really work? We'll take a closer look.
Living with breast cancer. With the news of Elizabeth Edwards' breast cancer recurrence, we thought we would take a closer look at what lies ahead for her, and for other women who are fighting incurable cancer.
Remember those two little old ladies who survived a beating at the hands of a heartless mugger? We'll cue the "Rocky" music. Come on, Steph, help me out.
Tell you what happened to them ever since. Here's a hint, they've become heroes. Most news in the morning is right here on CNN, back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. You're watching the most news in the morning. It is Monday, March 26th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
ROBERTS: I'm John Roberts in for Miles O'Brien in Washington, D.C., today, where we're watching a number of big stories. Thanks very much for joining us.
O'BRIEN: Yes, let's start with this one. The growing concern this morning about the escalating tensions with Iran, still holding 15 British troops seized off the coast of Iraq.
Also, the U.N. just passed a new round of sanctions, trying to get Iran to pull the plug on its nuclear ambitions.
Will sanctions really work? We're going to take a closer look this morning.
ROBERTS: Also, Elizabeth Edwards is living with cancer - treatable, but not curable. What is daily life really like for those who face a similar diagnosis? We'll see how one woman is coping and hear her message of hope.
And a tribute to two of New York's toughest ladies. Remember the 101-year-old and her young friends - just 85 - attacked by a heartless mugger? One of them has choice new words for their attacker. We're going to hear from her just ahead, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Let's begin with those new developments, though, inside and outside of Iran.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Tehran for us. Zain Verjee is at the State Department.
Aneesh, let's start with you. First and foremost, the very latest on those captured British soldiers. What do we know?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, TEHRAN, IRAN: Yes, Soledad, good morning.
Those captured marines and sailors are in Iranian custody still. We understand they're being held in Tehran, transported to the capital over the weekend.
A top Iranian military commander says all of them have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters. No further information was given about the confessions - this as the British government continues to maintain their military personnel were in Iraqi, not Iranian waters.
Now, the big question is, how long will this standoff last. A similar incident in 2004 saw British military personnel taken by Iran, but released after three days.
The environment, though, right now within this country suggests this standoff could last a good deal longer - Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a question. Since you're in Tehran, what do the people there on the ground, you know, everyday folks, feel about the sanctions? How concerned are they about what it's going to mean for their lives?
RAMAN: Not that much. The reaction to this latest round of sanctions was, at best, subdued. The reason is two-fold.
First, when you talk about sanctions to Iranians, their eyes sort of gloss over. They've dealt with sanctions since 1979.
The other reason is that these are targeted sanctions. They really impact those involved in the country's nuclear program.
If we see sanctions down the line on commodities like gas or oil, that is when the Iranian people will start to feel pressure. That is when what still remains as broad-based support for their country's nuclear program could start to fray.
But for the moment, no real reaction on the Iranian streets, just another step in this nuclear dispute - Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Aneesh Raman for us this morning in Tehran. Thank you, Aneesh - John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad. We want to get more on the sanctions in Iran and whether they have a chance to work.
We turn now to Zain Verjee. She's live at the State Department.
Zain, the United Nations keeps passing resolutions. Iran keeps thumbing its nose at the United Nations.
Why is this time going to be any different?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: Well, this resolution, specifically, John, doesn't really have sharp teeth.
I mean, economic sanctions may not directly affect the economic situation in Iran. But what it does do is that it contributes to a sanctions climate in the country.
You have foreign investment that's dried up, local businesses and investors in Iran may say, hang on a minute, we don't want to put our money here. We'd rather put our money in places like Dubai or Turkey.
Also, there are many Iranian officials opposed to Ahmadinejad that don't really want to be isolated. They want to do business, do trade, do investment with the rest of the world. And a resolution like this will frustrate them and put pressure.
ROBERTS: Yes. So, that's really the U.S. strategy here, is to try to isolate them even further, not allow them to do business around the world, which is critical for them?
VERJEE: Right. Exactly.
I mean, the U.S. goal overall is to get Iran to change its behavior, to get it to stop enriching uranium, which it says that Iran is trying to build in order to make a nuclear bomb.
But the important thing here, though, is with the resolution for the U.S., John, is really symbolic. I mean, they have a piece of paper they can wave around and go, look. See, it's not just us that's against you. It's the rest of the world, including the Russians and the Chinese. So, you're over there in a corner all by yourself. What are you going to do about it?
It's also part of a series of pressures that the U.S. has put on Iran. You will remember Iranians being detained in Iraq, the U.S. warships being sent to the Persian Gulf.
And as you pointed out, the U.S. is trying to discourage countries from doing business with Iran.
So, it's all about putting pressure and giving the U.S. the upper hand. But the key is to pressure and not provoke.
ROBERTS: Right. Well, some people do have faith that this is going to work, so we'll see how it goes.
Zain Verjee at the State Department, thanks - Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Republican support for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is slipping. Three top GOP senators came out on Sunday questioning his honesty over the firing of those eight U.S. attorneys. It happened last fall.
Now, Gonzales says he wasn't involved in any of the discussions about the firing. Newly released documents show, though, that he was at a meeting to talk about the firings near the end of November. Some top Republicans say that raises some big credibility questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER, R-PENNSYLVANIA: There's no doubt that what has happened has had a very chilling effect on the United States attorneys.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, R-NEBRASKA: Unfortunately, the attorney general is dealing with a cloud hanging over his credibility, and the president is going to have to deal with that.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, R-SOUTH CAROLINA: But he has been wounded. He's going to have to come to the Senate and reestablish his credibility.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
O'BRIEN: Gonzales is going to get his chance to tell his side of the story to Congress next month in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Also new this morning, there's a surprising twist in that suicide blast that seriously injured Iraq's deputy prime minister. You remember we had these first pictures here on CNN on Friday.
Aides to Salam al-Zabaie are confirming now it was an inside job. A bodyguard, who by some reports indicate he was a distant relative of the deputy prime minister. Well, the bodyguard apparently let the bomber into the room where al-Zabaie was praying on Friday.
A group linked to al Qaeda now taking responsibility. Nine people were killed in that blast, and al-Zabaie is recovering at a hospital.
There's been a surprising revelation from America's outgoing ambassador in Iraq. Zalmay Khalilzad tells this morning's "New York Times" that he met with leaders of Iraqi insurgent groups last year trying to hammer out a plan for peace. Those talks fizzled after that deadly bombing in Samarra.
Khalilzad gave his final news conference in Baghdad this morning.
Back here at home today, the Senate is going to begin debate on its war spending bill. It includes a plan to bring troops home from Iraq by March of next year. Many Senate Republicans say that decision should be left to military commanders.
On Friday, the House passed a $124 billion bill calling for troops to leave Iraq by September of next year - John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad. That's one of the big stories that we're following here in Washington today. Here is another.
A new report expected today in the Pat Tillman case. The AP reports that nine officers, including four generals, could be held accountable for how the Army revealed how Tillman died.
Tillman turned away from his highly lucrative NFL career to join the Army Rangers after 9/11.
Here's what we know about the day that Tillman died.
His platoon was operating in eastern Afghanistan among the high ridges and deep valleys near the Pakistan border. When a Humvee broke down, they were ordered to split into two groups over the objections of the platoon leader.
Tillman's group was ordered along a narrow canyon road toward the town of Mana (ph). They made it there safely.
The other group tried a different route, but was forced by rugged terrain to take the same road that Tillman was on about half-an-hour behind them. That's when the second group was ambushed.
Hearing the gunfire behind him, Tillman doubled back and led a small rifle team to the top of a ridge to engage the enemy.
But his fellow platoon members, not knowing that Tillman had come to their aid, mistook a friendly Afghan soldier who was with him for the enemy, and started shooting at them.
Tillman and the Afghan died in a hail of friendly fire.
So, why has it taken so long for the truth to come out? We're going to talk with a member of Tillman's platoon, Sergeant Brad Jacobson, in our next half-hour. Stick around for that - Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And coming up this morning, living with cancer. Elizabeth Edwards is already back on the campaign trail. Is it too demanding for a woman who has been diagnosed with stage four cancer?
We're going to take a closer look this morning.
And Japan on the edge there after a major earthquake and some aftershocks this morning. We'll update you on the situation there.
You're watching AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning is right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Elizabeth Edwards is back on the campaign trail today. She and her husband, the Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, have been talking about their decision to carry on with the campaigning, despite her diagnosis that the cancer returned.
Mrs. Edwards talked with "60 Minutes" last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARD'S WIFE: I mean, either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday, or you start dying. That seems to me your only two choices.
I want to live. And I want to do the work that - I want next year to look like last year, and the year after that and the year after that. And the only way to do that is to say, I'm going to keep on with my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: They made the announcement, and then almost immediately afterwards, Mrs. Edwards was out campaigning. Clearly, she wants to be out there campaigning, but, of course, it's physically grueling.
Is it going to be possible?
CNN's Kiran Chetry took a look. Good morning.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, Soledad. Great to see you.
We wonder the same thing. How can you go with this diagnosis of cancer that's not even necessarily curable, and still go on with your life?
And her disease is considered treatable, but not curable. So that means medication, doctors' appointments, likely for the rest of her life.
Yet the Edwards say that they don't expect Elizabeth's life to change all that much. So we wanted to know, is that really possible?
Well, we spent the day with a woman right here in New York who is living with a similar diagnosis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): The pink ribbon might offer a hint. But looking at Anna Ortega, you would never know she has stage four breast cancer.
ANNA ORTEGA, LIVING WITH BREAST CANCER: I still remember the day that I found out it had metastasized to the bone. For me it was 10 days after my initial diagnosis.
And they're using words like "stage four" and using words like "terminal."
CHETRY: And yet ...
A. ORTEGA: I don't believe I'm going to die of cancer.
CHETRY: Little has changed in Anna's life since she was diagnosed with the cancer two years ago.
CHETRY (on camera): And you still work full-time, do a lot of things you did before and you have other hobbies.
How do you keep up?
A.ORTEGA: I listen to my body. If I need to sleep in a little bit in the morning, I do. If I need to leave early, I do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you having?
CHETRY (voice-over): And she plans for her future - vacations, a new car, bought with a five-year loan, one she fully intends to pay off.
And she still wears heels, even though a fall could put her in a wheelchair.
A. ORTEGA: Wearing high heels is basically who I am, and it makes me feel good about myself.
CHETRY: Optimism echoed by Elizabeth Edwards.
EDWARDS: I expect to do next week all the things I did last week.
CHETRY: Anna says she's helped by her strong faith and her husband, Robert.
ROBERT ORTEGA, HUSBAND OF ANNA ORTEGA: Oh, Heavenly Father, we just thank you for another day, Lord.
A. ORTEGA: We've gotten closer.
R. ORTEGA: Yes, amen.
CHETRY: She also puts her faith in her cancer doctor.
DR. ROBERT KLAFTER, ANNA ORTEGA'S ONCOLOGIST: I have every expectation for her to do great for a long time.
I expect her to be on this pill for years to come. If that fails, we have a lot more ideas.
CHETRY: He says women who respond well to the treatment are living four, five, 10 years. Anna expects to beat that.
A. ORTEGA: It's not the death sentence that it used to be. We can beat this. We can live with it.
And there's a difference between having had cancer, surviving cancer and living with cancer. And that's what we're doing. We're living with it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Now, since Anna's cancer is fed by estrogen, she's on a hormone-repressing drug. She takes that every day.
And she also gets a monthly treatment that coats her bones and actually strengthens them, since they become more brittle from taking the hormone drug.
She's says it's almost like instantly going into menopause at age 45.
O'BRIEN: Yet another thing to be dealing with ...
CHETRY: Right.
O'BRIEN: ... when you're - on top of the cancer.
You know, there's a big difference, as you well know, between being an office manager and going out on a grueling campaign trail - grueling even if you're healthy.
I mean, how much rest does Anna need?
CHETRY: Right. And she says it. She says that there are days when she doesn't feel well. She tries to get 10 to 12 hours a night. And no one on a campaign trail going from city to city is getting 10 to 12 hours a night. So, it certainly will be a test of endurance for Elizabeth Edwards.
The important thing that Anna said, though, is that she really does listen to her body. And if she doesn't feel well, she just simply bows out, which is something that Elizabeth Edwards said, as well, that if she has to dial it back at times, she will try to do that. O'BRIEN: How important is it for Anna to continue to work? I mean, just psychologically for her own mental health, to help fight the disease ...
CHETRY: Right.
O'BRIEN: ... she's got to go into work every day.
CHETRY: That's what she said. And she said that she enjoyed her job, she loved it and she didn't want cancer to rule her life, which was the same message that we got from the Edwards, that they just want to focus on something else, as well.
O'BRIEN: Right. You've been hearing that from a lot of cancer patients, right? Just sort of ...
CHETRY: It's amazing.
O'BRIEN: ... have got to get out there and live.
CHETRY: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks, Kiran.
CHETRY: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it - John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad.
A big development expected within the next couple of hours in the Anna Nicole Smith investigation. Plus, we're hearing again from the 101-year-old woman who faced off against a heartless thug in New York City.
She's got some choice words for him ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Happening in America today in New York, cue the rocking music and roll out the hero's welcome mat for 101-year-old Rose Morat, who survived a vicious mugging that was caught on tape.
Rose and her young friend, 85-year-old Solange Elizee, who were attacked at the same time - the same night at least - by the same man, were toasted on Sunday at a special luncheon.
Rose says the experience hasn't changed her outlook on life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSE MORAT, 101-YEAR-OLD MUGGING VICTIM: No, I haven't changed, and I don't intend changing. I have a lot of friends and I love people.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: What a pistol.
Police are still looking for the man who attacked both women. There's a picture of what it looked like. Ouch.
In Florida, we're going to hear the results of Anna Nicole Smith's autopsy in the next couple of hours.
Smith died February 8th in a hotel room in Hollywood, Florida. The autopsy results have been repeatedly delayed, in part because of additional evidence that the Broward County medical examiner reportedly received from investigators.
Here in Washington, White House spokesman, Tony Snow, is going to have surgery today to remove a small growth in his abdomen.
Snow had colon cancer two years ago. He says tests on the growth have been negative for cancer, but doctors decided to remove it out of "an aggressive sense of caution."
Of course, our best goes out to him this morning.
And in Wisconsin, a happy surprise for a blushing bride. Her wedding is no longer just a memory. Someone broke into her photographer's car after the wedding and stole all of his gear, including the camera. In other words, no photos of the big day, until a sudden find last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES BOESEN, WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: I'm going to ask you if you believe in miracles.
KAREN NORDLINER, NEWLYWED: Did you find my pictures? Oh, my God! Are you kidding me?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The camera was found in a field. It may have spent the last seven months in the harsh Wisconsin elements. Somehow the memory chip and the happy couple's precious photos survived intact.
The wonders of modern technology. Film would have probably been destroyed.
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. That never would have happened. But the little memory chip - all good.
A look at our top stories coming up this morning. The Pat Tillman investigation. We'll find out in just a few hours who is to blame for misleading the public about the death of the former NFL star, who was killed in Afghanistan. Will anyone be published (ph)? That straight ahead.
And then Attorney General Alberto Gonzales losing support from some top Republicans. We'll have the very latest fallout over those fired federal prosecutors.
That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. The most news in the morning right here on CNN.
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O'BRIEN: You know, when you sell your car, you usually have to spend all that time scraping all the stickers off the car. But there's actually one sticker that adds to the resale value.
Stephanie's (ph) got that as she minds your business. Good morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Normally, Soledad, I'd be mad if someone had a sticker on my car, because I just hate stickers. Like buying a car.
O'BRIEN: I know. You have to scrape them off.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But this one in California, it's a different thing here. What we're looking at here is the sticker that allows you to go in the carpool lane if you own a hybrid. A very different thing here.
O'BRIEN: Ah, that's a good sticker.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, it seems some Californians are OK paying more than $4,000 extra for a hybrid that has the sticker.
The reason why it's so valuable is because it allows you to go in the carpool lane, even if you're driving "sola." So, it is pretty big there. This is according to "USA Today," now.
So, now, the reason why the stickers are so valuable is because last month California stopped issuing more of these stickers after it hit its self-imposed limit of 85,000. These stickers are valid until 2011, and they stay on the car, so that's why it's increasing the sales value there.
And obviously, it's very important in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles where people have these long, mega commutes, with all the traffic and congestion.
O'BRIEN: Without the HOV lane in California, I mean, that's completely a nightmare.
But I wonder if there's going to be a market and people stealing those stickers off, just like in New York there's a market for the Easy Pass.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you know, those registration stickers, I remember those getting scraped off in California, growing up there.
So, I think there may be a case for that.
O'BRIEN: Hopefully we're not giving any criminal minds the idea. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know, but I wonder where they put them, because that could be a key part there.
Now, California legislators say that this all very good. It points out that their program to try to get more people buying hybrids worked. It is actually working, and so it's getting more people out there.
Now, who knows if they're going to start getting more stickers.
Other kinds of cars that are good for energy, like battery- running cars, they can get stickers, but there's not so many of those on the market.
O'BRIEN: Certainly not 85,000. Stephanie (ph), thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Let's send it back to John in Washington, D.C. Good morning again.
ROBERTS: Hey, good morning to you, Soledad. You know, here in Washington there are so many hybrids that are clogging the HOV lanes that they cut off that special allowance of letting them go in those HOV lanes.
Anyway, most popular on CNN.com right now, two passengers fall overboard, puzzling cruise line officials.
A couple fell off a cabin balcony on the Grand Princess, dropping 50 feet into the Gulf of Mexico.
The captain turned the ship around and, in about four hours, both of them were rescued.
The Coast Guard explained to us this morning that it's difficult to fall off a cruise ship, but if you do, the aerodynamics of the ship can push you out to sea. Apparently, it creates sort of like a bubble of winds, and sucks you right off the side - Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Yes, you don't necessarily fall down. You fall out.
ROBERTS: Can you imagine?
O'BRIEN: It's bad news. Right.
And this story from the "New York Times" this morning. Failing schools see a solution in a longer day. Around 10,000 schools nationwide about to get failing grades next year under a new federal law.
One solution that's been proposed is to extend school from 30 minutes to two hours in some states. In Massachusetts it's going to cost around $1,300 extra per student to have a longer day, but they're hoping the idea will work.
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