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American Morning

Change of Course in Iraq?; Major Fires Roaring Across Country; London Terror Verdict

Aired July 09, 2007 - 07:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, and thanks for joining us. It's Monday, the 9th of July.
I'm John Roberts, along with Kiran Chetry.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you this morning.

(NEWSBREAK)

CHETRY: And is there a war over the war within the White House? This morning's "New York Times" is reporting that there is a growing debate on troop pullback in Iraq as the Senate takes up a military spending discussion yet again today.

CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash is live on Capitol Hill.

And, you know, if you want to look at it this way, they're falling like dominoes when it comes to GOP senators showing support for the ongoing effort, the so-called troop surge in Iraq.

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kiran. And the White House knows full well that GOP frustration when it comes to Iraq is going to spill out into open on the Senate floor this week. And not only that, Republicans and Democrats, but especially obviously we're focused on Republicans here, they're going to be coming back from a week at home, July 4th recess, hearing first hand from frustrated constituents. And they're also coming back to a debate on the Senate floor and an interim report that they're expecting to get from the White House, something that Republicans actually came up with and decided to mandate on whether or not the Iraqi government is making progress.

But the reality is, even though this was mandated just about six weeks ago or so, no Republicans that you talk to really publicly or privately, actually, expect this report to show much progress when it comes to the Iraqi government. And more and more, as you alluded to, over the past couple of weeks we have heard from significant Republican players in the Senate saying forget about benchmarks, it's time for the White House to come up with an exit strategy.

CHETRY: You know, the interesting thing as we are waiting for this September, mid-September report from General Petraeus about it, when you talk to some of the generals that are on the ground -- and I know CNN did over the weekend -- they're saying things like, we just finally got our "surge" up and running and we are having an impact. So why the growing impatience?

BASH: Public opinion. I think it's as basic as that, Kiran.

You're right, the generals, and publicly, at least, from the president himself, you have heard more and more calls over the past couple of weeks for patience. But what is interesting about the "New York Times" report you alluded to, Kiran, suggesting that there is a debate inside the White House about whether or not there should be an exit strategy, essentially, a plan to get out, is, when you talk to these Republicans who have come out recently and said enough is enough, Republicans like Richard Lugar of Indiana, and even George Voinovich of Ohio, what they have said is that they're not necessarily ready to vote to have a timeline or a deadline for troop withdrawal, or even to cut off funding.

What they've been trying to do and have done so publicly now is get the White House to come up with a plan. And that appears -- not to be a cynic, but that appears to be what the White House is trying to do by getting this reported to "The New York Times," sending a signal to Republicans here, we get it, we're coming up with some kind of plan, trying essentially to stop the revolt from getting even -- from growing even more this coming week. It might not be enough -- Kiran.

CHETRY: Dana Bash on Capitol Hill for us today. Thank you.

And what is the way forward? In just a couple of minutes, we're going to be speaking with Maine senator Susan Collins about the issue of Iraq -- John.

ROBERTS: Major fires roaring across the country this morning. Fourteen states from Alaska to Florida are being hit, but none worse than Utah.

This is what is looks like to dive into an inferno. A police officer in Milford Flat, Utah, caught these images with his patrol car's dash cam.

Let's get to our Kara Finnstrom. She's in Cove Fort, Utah, this morning.

How is it looking there, Kara?

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Calm this morning, but this is already the largest wildfire in the state's history, and it is continuing to burn, largely uncontrolled. Containment right now at zero percent, 283,000 acres charred.

The hope is that, though, we can kind of put a spin on this today. That's because the containment of this fire and the fighting of it has up until now been under state authorities. Well, today that's going to switch over to federal authorities. And they're going to bring in much more resources.

We're going to go from about a hundred firefighters on the front line battling this to about 500. They're also going to bring in more air tankers and other resources to really try and get this under control.

It was started with a lightning strike, but it really spread quickly because of the dry conditions out here, because of the wind gusts. And today we do have another red flag warning in effect. So those conditions will continue. And the hope is that, as folks get out here, more support that they can get this under control.

One structure destroyed so far. That was a home. And a number of out structures, a gift shop. But not a lot of destruction as you might expect with this kind of acreage to homes, and that is largely because it's been in wilderness areas. There is concern about the wildlife out here because this land has really been parched and now really just devoid of the food that this wildlife feeds on.

So, again, John, the hope here today, to really start brining this back under control.

ROBERTS: Let's hope they get a little bit of luck there.

Kara Finnstrom for us in Cove Fort, Utah.

Kara, thanks.

Checking some other stories new this morning.

(NEWSBREAK)

CHETRY: Well, it's time to check in on some of our other big stories with our team of AMERICAN MORNING correspondents.

The extreme heat leading to fears of power outages. Our Jim Acosta has more for us today.

But actually, we're seeing Greg Hunter. There is Jim right in the heart of Times Square. Almost triple digits possibly today in New York City.

How does it feel now?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kiran, not too bad right now. It will be getting hot.

Temperatures are rising in the Northeast, but the region's power companies seem to be saying everything is cool, that places like New York's Times Square will have all the power that they need. They insist there will be no blackouts, the lights will not go out on Broadway -- Kiran.

CHETRY: All right. That's good news for sure.

Jim, we'll check back in with you a little later. Thanks so much.

Also, the great outdoors not so great if you don't know how to keep you and your family safe. Our Greg Hunter is live for us in Chicago right now with a look at some of the summer dangers.

And you did survive. You purified your own water, you drank it, and you're still up to talk to us now.

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did, Kiran. You know, when you're out in the wilderness, it is very unpredictable, from the weather, to the animals, to the terrain. And you have to be prepared for anything.

I'm going to tell you what you should have in the old backpack, and also what to look out for later in this hour -- Kiran.

CHETRY: All right, Greg. We look forward to it. Thanks.

There's also a new theory about what leads to violent crime. Is there a connection between lead paint and future criminals? Well, Elizabeth Cohen is in Atlanta following the latest on that story.

Hi, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kiran.

Kiran, we all know that politicians love to take credit for declining crime rates. But there's a theory out there that says maybe it's not them, maybe it's the fact that there's less lead in our environment, less lead in gasoline, less lead in household paint.

Well, when we come back I'm going to talk about what is the link between lead and the criminal mind.

CHETRY: Very interesting. We look forward to it. Elizabeth, thank you.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Eleven minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the most news in the morning here on CNN.

And more now on the verdict in a major terror trial just in from London. Three Muslim extremists have been convicted in a plot to bomb London's subway system. That was back on July 21, 2005, just a couple of weeks after the attacks that killed 52 people on the London underground and on a bus.

CNN international terror correspondent Paula Newton is live for us in London this morning.

And Paula, what were the verdicts? What did the guys have to say for themselves? And where is this case headed now?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, the verdicts came back on three of six suspects that have been on trial for the last six months now. Again, it's involving that July 21st scenario that seems so similar to the 7/7 attacks. Again, three tubes and one bus. The jury saying that those three suspects, two on an underground train and one on a bus, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and cause explosions.

We're still awaiting verdicts on the three other suspects. One of them, John, the prosecution alleges detonated his bomb on another underground train. Another, the prosecution alleges, dumped his bomb -- bailed out and dumped his bomb in a park. And another was seen to be an accomplice in this whole conspiracy.

It's interesting. Now the judge has sent the jury away for a lunch break, says they can come back with a 10-2 majority and they don't need the unanimous verdict that they had on the other three.

Interesting here, John, the defense all along saying that these were hoax bombs, they weren't supposed to work, they weren't going to kill anyone. But I can tell you, very dramatically, I sat through court as forensic experts went through exactly what would of happened to those bombs had they exploded, and it looked like quite the scene of carnage would have happened on those trains. And that is exactly what the experts testified to in court.

John, again, we're waiting for more verdicts coming up in the next few hours.

ROBERTS: Did the defendants try to claim that this was simply a protest, that these bombs were intentional duds? What did the forensic experts though say about those bombs?

NEWTON: They said that in fact that the instability of what they were working with, hydrogen peroxide and flour attached to detonators, they were so unstable they probably could have gone off just when they were putting the bombs together. When the forensic experts saw this stuff, they thought, look, this really could have gone off and it was very close to going off. And had it not been perhaps for poor storage -- it was a hot day, the detonators, for some reason, not quite connected the way they should have been -- this definitely would have gone off. And in those three cases the jury has bought that, saying, look, this didn't look like a hoax to us.

Again, we're waiting for another three -- another verdict involving three other suspects.

ROBERTS: All right. We'll get back to you as soon as that comes in.

Paula Newton for us in London this morning.

Paula, thanks.

CHETRY: An exit strategy for Iraq comes up again today in the Senate, with more Republicans breaking ranks with the White House. A report out this morning in "The New York Times" says the administration is so worried about losing support that they could be working on their own plan for pulling troops back.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine joins me now from Washington.

Good morning, Senator Collins. Good to see you.

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: Good morning.

CHETRY: Back in February, you voted to force a debate on that surge plan. That effort failed back then. Well, now more than a dozen of your fellow GOP senators have signaled that they could demand a new plan.

What is bringing more of them around to rethinking this at this point in time?

COLLINS: I think that it's two factors. One is the tremendous loss of life among our troops. June was one of the worst months for casualties.

And the second factor is the failure of the Iraqi government to pursue the political reforms that are necessary to quell the sectarian violence. When you combine the increased sacrifice of our troops and the unwillingness or inability of the Iraqi leaders to act, you see a steady erosion for the president's policy.

CHETRY: Senator, semantics aside, would a new plan translate into a pullout?

COLLINS: I think what many of us are looking for is a new strategy that would not be a precipitous pullout with all of the problems that that would cause, but rather a planned exit over the next year. A carefully planned one and new diplomatic effort. That's what many of us are seeking.

CHETRY: I want to let you listen for a moment to Major General Rick Lynch. He says that the surge really hasn't had time to work. Here is what he told Wolf Blitzer yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RICK LYNCH, MULTINATIONAL FORCE, IRAQ: We just got the surge brigades in the fight on the 15th of June. That was only three weeks ago. And we're already having great effect in my area.

We've killed 50 of the enemy, we've captured over 250 more. We've taken away 50 weapons caches. And we are having an effect.

So it's going to take time for these surge units to have the effect that we want. It can't happen overnight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: You know, why now are we seeing a rush for this? Do they need more time, Senator Collins?

COLLINS: Well, the president argued that we needed to undertake the surge in order to give the Iraqi government the time, the space to pursue the political reforms. That hasn't happened. Instead, it has been our troops who have made the sacrifice who are bearing the burden. And I think that's why you see a real change in support for the president's policy. The Iraqis are not stepping up to the plate, and it's been our American troops that are bearing the brunt of the burden.

CHETRY: You know, you're also the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. This morning there was a "Washington Post" report with a startling congressional report claiming that almost a quarter of the top positions at the Department of Homeland Security are vacant.

Why?

COLLINS: It's been a real problem to attract and retain people at the department. It's had growing pains, as it has been stood up over the past few years. And it is so critical for our security that we fill those positions.

So this is something that I continually push Secretary Chertoff on. It's absolutely essential that we have people in place.

CHETRY: All right.

Senator Susan Collins from Maine.

Great to talk to you. Thanks for being with us this morning.

COLLINS: Thank you.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

CHETRY: Well, could lead paint be linked to crime? A new study suggests there is a link.

Elizabeth Cohen is in Atlanta, and she's looking into this one for us.

Hi, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Hi. Good morning.

Interesting information here. Politicians love to take credit for decreases in crime rates, but there's been more and more information over the years that perhaps it's actually decreases in lead and the paint that we use, and also in gasoline. More and more information that shows that when there's lots of lead in the environment, 20 years later you get kids who were exposed to that lead committing more crimes 20 years later.

When you have lower levels of lead, you reap the benefits 20 years later with lower crime rates. Or at least that's the theory. CHETRY: Do you agree with it?

COHEN: There are a lot of experts out there who say, you know what? This is interesting. There's a lot to chew on here. But they don't completely buy it.

Some experts will tell you it's a little bit of a coincidence, maybe this explains it, maybe it doesn't. And, of course, the people who espouse this theory say, look, we see this in country after country after country. Crime rates change with lead exposure rates.

CHETRY: So how do they figure it out, the science behind the theory?

COHEN: The science behind it is very interesting. I actually just got off on the phone with a researcher who first made this link back in 1990, and she said, look, we have shown that lead can have certain effects on the brain.

Lead can make -- lead exposure makes you more aggressive and makes you more impulsive. Aggressive and impulsive people commit more crimes. That's just the way that it works. And she says there are also secondary effects.

If you're exposed to lots of lead, you're more likely to have mental retardation. You're more likely to have learning disabilities. Tough to get a job, more likely you're going to commit crime.

CHETRY: Well, I guess they could make the link for the politicians, because they could say, well, we made law saying that you had to reduce lead paint. You can't have it in blinds, you can't have it, you know, in paint, you can't have it in children's toys. So maybe in a way they can claim responsibility. You know they will try to anyway, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Right. That's true. But those aren't really the claims they're making.

The claims they're making is they're saying, we put in x, y, z laws, we got tougher on criminals and, we put more people in jail. Those are the kinds of things the politicians say. And they say, look, we did this and a year or two years later you saw the crime rates going down. What these scientists are saying, this is much longer term, it has much more to do with lead than with tougher policies.

CHETRY: Right. Decades long is how they define this.

COHEN: Right.

CHETRY: Very interesting, by the way. Elizabeth, thank you.

COHEN: Thanks.

ROBERTS: A symbolic burial for the n-word. Will the ceremony really get people to stop using it? We'll talk about that next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Well, it is Monday, July 9th. Glad you're with us.

I'm Kiran Chetry, along with John Roberts this morning.

ROBERTS: Hey, good morning to you.

Hey, just a few minutes ago we promised you an interview with a woman who went without products from China for a year. She also wrote a book about it called "A Year Without Made in China".

Unfortunately, though, we got some serious technical difficulties in our studios down in New Orleans and we're going to have to get to that tomorrow. But they started doing this Christmas 2004, when they counted up all of the presents they had, and out of all of the presents that they gave each other for Christmas, 25 of then were from China, 14 were from somewhere else.

And they said, let's see if we can do without China for a year. And it was very, very, very difficult, because it's just -- it's ubiquitous. It is just literally through everything in our lives top to bottom. So we'll talk with her tomorrow.

CHETRY: Yes. And some of the things that are just parts of what we use come from China, as well. So I was really looking forward to that. Hopefully we can't blame it on China, the bad connection. We'll just have to find out tomorrow.

ROBERTS: I don't know. We're looking back and sourcing the equipment to see if there's a made in China component somewhere in there. Apparently the phone system went down there. So...

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROBERTS: Wow. All right Chad, thanks very much for that. Thirty- one minutes after the hour.

A funeral for the N-word. Today at the 98th Annual Convention of the NAACP in Detroit African American leaders, intellectuals and rap artists, will join together for a symbolic burial of the N-word. Will it make a difference? Joining us from Washington is Dr. Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown University.

He is the author of "Know What I Mean? Reflections on Hip-Hop." Also joining us from Chicago is CNN contributor Roland Martin he is the host of the Roland Martin Radio Show, and by the way this segment is being simulcast right now on WVON Radio. Roland let me start with you. Why is this taking place now? ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, because we've had lots of discussion about it, of course, out of the Don Imus situation in terms of what words you can and cannot say. It's a raising of the consciousness of African Americans in terms of the use of the word, finding it offensive. You know, when I ran the "Chicago Defender" as Executive Editor, I put it on our front page saying that it's time for aver American Americans to make a decision.

Either we say it is an acceptable word, or we say it is not. But, you have to make a decision because some find it offensive, or other say hey it's a term of endearment. I disagree. I find it offensive and I personally stopped using it.

ROBERTS: Dr. Dyson, what are your views on the word, and is this symbolic burial a good idea?

MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR: Well, I think it may be a good idea for white America. I think white America or other non-black people certainly should bury the use of that particular nefarious term that has been odious and offensive throughout the history. But I think for African-American people, the use of that term has sometimes been, yes, as a determine of endearment.

I know Mr. Martin disagrees with that, but having used the word myself and he having used it as he said and himself and stopped using it, obviously one of the use was a term of endearment, a term of love, a term of circulating brotherhood. It also can be something that's negative.

My point is that you can't legislate the use of the word itself to deal with the realities that the word underscores, so that lynching is much worst than the use of the word. I'm not saying the word used by white people is offensive, it is. I'm saying, but African-American rappers or other people who deploy that term are not necessarily signifying hatred, their signifying love. Their saying, I'm not going to let you determine my life by the use of a word over which I have no control.

ROBERTS: Kurtis Blow --

MARTIN: John, let me --

ROBERTS: Yes, go ahead, Roland.

MARTIN: I want to put it in context a bit. In that, in terms of growing up, in terms of you hearing it at the park and in the school, all over the place, it became so ingrained. But growing up, my dad didn't call me that. My mom didn't call me that. They called Roland. And so, I reached a point, where again, it was so much a part of hearing it, it became accepted.

And, I reached a point where I said wait a minute. This is not a word I should accept. Even if somebody said, hey, you know, that's my man, that's my boy, I would rather use those phrases than frankly saying that is my nigger. It is not a term of endearment. DYSON: Yes, but for Roland, for you that's absolutely fine. I'm not suggesting that that's not a prerogative you exercise, but to suggest that's a universal term that everybody has to subscribe to would be different. I think that, if you feel that way that is fine. But, there are many other African-American people, which is why it shows you that the burying of the N-word will not be effective.

There will be some -- Martin Luther King, Jr. the night he was killed said to Andrew Young, little nigger, where you been? He used it as a term of endearment. Now, there is a difference because rap music has now made it accessible to the world because of it's circulation throughout the country and throughout the globe.

But the point is, I think under a ductive and narrow and simplistic understanding of that term, misses the use of it by history and suggests to us that white people are exercising control over our lives that we don't have. Don Imus cannot be the leader of black America. Let's within our own ranks suggest that there are differences and complexities and nuances that we should respect and acknowledge on both sides.

ROBERTS: Roland, what about this view -- Roland, let me just interject here. What about this idea of one set of rules for the white community and another for the black community? Kurtis Blow who is one of the original rap artists said by this, quote, "By reforming our minds, we will change society by changing the way you think of yourself, you will change the way others think of you."

So he is not in the camp of it's all right for the black community to use this. So, what do you think?

MARTIN: Well, look. I think you have to remove it. I have a piece in the July issue of "Ebony" magazine talking about the reality that certain groups use words certain words that others cannot. So, women may refer to each other as B's, but if a man says it, it is a whole different context. Hispanics may call someone a different word that they may find offensive if I say it, but if they say it to one another it's not offensive.

So, that's a reality in terms among groups. I prefer not to use it, so when Kanye West has a song called Gold Digger, and you have two young white girls -- as Joseph Fillums (ph) talks about in one of his columns, two young white girls singing the song, their playing they say -- "I ain't messing with a gold digger, she aint messing with a broke nigger."

They're just simply repeating the words, but not fully understanding even the context. And so, you might hear that and say, what are they saying? I just don't think you have to say it. You can have another word that you want to say. It's just simply not a term of endearment.

DYSON: Just let me say this, I think that Roland makes a very compelling point. But,here is the point Dick Gregory says. Why would we remove from broad public circulation a term? Black people didn't die for the N-word, they died for nigger. White people did not use the N-word, I'm going to kill you N-word, they said I'm going to kill you nigger.

So, his point was historically speaking and to be linguistically accurate you want to underscore the very term that was used to lynch black people. But beyond that, I think what I am suggesting simply is that I understand the sentiment of people like brother Martin who say this is offensive. But, I think we should open our minds and say that there are ways in which that word has been used as a term of not only endearment, but love and signifying solidarity.

An inside discourse and language that folk outside the community can't. I think white people just get upset. They now have a word that they can't use. They invented the term, we took the meaning of that term away from them and now they want it back.

And, I say to them, you used the term nefariously, odiously and defensively; now that we use it as a term of endearment you can't have in, that's the restriction of your white supremacist and racist mindset, you got to deal with that.

MARTIN: John, real quick if I can. I'll ask Michael, if you had someone who you call a colleague, who is a friend who is white, and he said hey Mike, what's up my nigger? Would your response be you're cool to say that?

DYSON: Absolutely not. That's what I told you, I said white people -- that is not a term that white people can use. And you know what --

MARTIN: Even if he is a friend of yours.

DYSON: White people are grownups understand you can't use the term. You can't go home and call your momma the B-word even if you call your girl that. The point is there are restrictions and limitations.

ROBERTS: Your momma would certainly have something to say about that.

DYSON: She would beat you down brother.

ROBERTS: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and Roland Martin thanks very much for that. Great opinion on both sides. Appreciate you coming in.

MARTIN: Thanks, John.

DYSON: Thank you, sir.

CHETRY: I would argue your girl would have some trouble with that term, too. Not just your mother.

ROBERTS: Yes.

CHETRY: Well, an American terror trial is beginning today. Topping our Quick Hits now. Jury selection starts in Scranton, Pennsylvania for Michael Reynolds, he's accused of trying to get al Qaeda to help him blow up the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan want's House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impeach President Bush, or Sheehan says she'll run against Pelosi in the next election. Sheehan says Americans feel betrayed by the Democratic leadership they elected to bring an end to the war.

From bear attacks to scorching heat. A lot of dangers out there if you're going to be out in the summer heat, and trying to enjoy yourself on a camping trip.

Our Greg Hunter is on the case. Hi, Greg.

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kiran. What do you need to know when things go wrong in the wilderness? What do you need to have in your backpack? We will talk about that as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

ROBERTS: Many people are headed to the great outdoors for some summer fun, but there are some serious risks out there, and it's best to be prepared before you go.

AMERICAN MORNING's Greg Hunter is live in Chicago this morning where is he braving the Da Bears and giving us some tips on staying safe.

Good morning to you, Greg.

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John.

Well, you know, millions and millions people go camping every year, and that's why you have to have a few tricks in your bag, because it's unpredictable out there. Here's what can happen when things go wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the Utah wilderness last month, a black bear dragged an 11-year-old boy from his family tent at night, killing him.

BRIAN BRAWDY, OUTDOOR SURVIVAL TEACHER: What happened to him was so far beyond anything that could have been expected.

HUNTER: Two other campgrounds in Utah were closed last week after bears were spotted nearby. As people move into bear territory, or wildcat country, encounters are more and more common.

BRAWDY: They don't get found because they didn't tell anyone where they were headed.

HUNTER: Outdoor survival teacher Brian Brawdy says one way to protect yourself, don't sleep in the clothes you cook in. Put them far away from your tent, along with leftover food. BRAWDY: A lot of folks will forget the clothing we use to cook the meal, it smells as good to a bear -- a black bear or grizzly bear -- it smells as good as if that cheeseburger were on the grill right then.

HUNTER: But bear attacks are rare -- only 59 deaths in North America in the last 100 years. A much more common hazard -- dehydration.

BRAWDY: Heat stroke, you forget where you are, your vision starts to go, you start to get the shivers, your skin gets clammy. And sometimes you can even stop sweating.

HUNTER: Take plenty of water. Or a purification kit like this. This bottle can filter up to 29 gallons. Brawdy says to keep in touch in the woods. Don't rely only on high-tech devices like walkie- talkies. Take a whistle. And let someone know your itinerary, so they'll send help if they don't hear from you.

BRAWDY: A lot of the stuff that you and I are talking about is a good emergency-preparedness plan.

HUNTER: In an emergency, stay calm. Last month, this 5-year-old girl survived two nights alone in the Illinois woods after her grandfather drowned. We talked with her and her parents on AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANNAH KLAMECKI, SURVIVED ALONE IN WOODS: Well, I don't really know what I did in the forest.

CHETRY: Well, you picked up some berries, didn't you?

KLAMECKI: Yes.

CHETRY: Were you scared?

KLAMECKI: Yes.

MIKE KLAMECKI, HANNAH'S FATHER: She told us that the forest was really scary, like a haunted house. I don't know how she did it. I couldn't have done that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTER: So what do you need to carry in that backpack? Well, a must, a first-aid kit. This thing has everything from wound care to Tylenol.

Also one of my favorites here -- it's a pocket-survival kit. It has wire, a whistle. It has even fishhooks if you need to catch fish.

And this is stuff that I carry this in my own personal car. It's a multipurpose tool. It's a pair of pliers. It is a screwdriver, a can opener. It's a knife. You can't carry this on a plane. You have to pack it in your luggage.

And last, but not least, the water, the filtration kit that can filter water. Do you love this? Look at this. This is like pond scum, OK? Now look at how dirty the water is and look at how it comes out over here. You start -- look at this. This is live, folks. This is what you see is what you get. Look at that. You filter the water. Look at this. You go from this to this. Is that amazing? You need to have this. You don't have to carry jugs and jugs of water.

Back to you guys.

ROBERTS: That's pretty impressive, Greg.

Now we should let folks know that about 90 minutes ago when you're reporter on the same thing, Kiran, she dared you to take a drink like she does with so many things, gets us to leap. Now I'm just wondering, you did take a drink. How are you feeling?

HUNTER: I did. I feel just fine. It takes all the chlorine, all the stuff out. And I guess you're wanting to see proof in the pudding?

CHETRY: Yes, one more time, please.

HUNTER: It's not exactly gin or orange juice.

CHETRY: Does it take the smell away, too.

ROBERTS: If you can turn water into a gin, Greg, you'd have a one-man industry going there.

HUNTER: I'd be a bootlegger.

ROBERTS: I'm glad you're still feeling all right. Greg Hunter for us from Chicago this morning.

HUNTER: Actually it's amazing. It tastes pretty good. It's clear. Look at this. Look at the difference in the water.

ROBERTS: Good stuff.

HUNTER: It's amazing.

ROBERTS: All right, Greg, thanks very much. We'll see you out in the forest this weekend.

HUNTER: OK.

CHETRY: Sometimes it looks like our early-morning coffee, doesn't it?

Well, CNN NEWSROOM is just a few minutes away. Tony Harris is at the CNN Center with a look what's ahead.

Hi, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That was insane. OK.

CHETRY Better him than us, right?

HARRIS: That's right.

CHETRY: There's no way I was drinking that.

HARRIS: No way.

Kiran, good morning to you.

Big Western wildfires in the NEWSROOM this morning. Flames scorched 440 square miles of brush in Utah. Barely a hundred firefighters battling the blaze, the biggest in state history.

Deadline for President Bush this morning. He is supposed to tell Congress why he won't hand over documents about fired federal prosecutors.

Antidepressant surge -- the government says they are now the most prescribed drugs in the U.S.

Betty's in for Heidi this morning. NEWSROOM, we get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN.

Kiran, back to you.

CHETRY: Tony, thanks so much.

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CHETRY: We're coming back in just a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, a red carpet who's who? But wait? Who's that? A 14-year-old joins the Hollywood paparazzi. Why he's spending summer vacation on the VIP scene, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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CHETRY: Well, you're used to seeing teen stars being caught in the glare of the paparazzi, but now some teens are actually becoming paparazzi. It's a cut-throat business as we've seen, but does being a kid actually help maybe in some circumstances when it comes to getting the big picture?

Joining us to talk about that this morning, Austin Visschedyk. He's shot plenty of celebs, and he's only 14 years old, joins me live from L.A. this morning. Good to see you.

AUSTIN VISSCHEDYK, 14-YEAR-OLD PAPARAZZO: It's kind of early for me, but yes, I guess. CHETRY: Yes, because you're used to being out late out at the clubs, right, because you're waiting out there to get your money shot?

VISSCHEDYK: Yes, I didn't go out last night but waking up this early, I'm not used to this.

CHETRY: Well, you know what? It's your big shot, your 15 minutes. So just go with me here.

Now how did you get into being a paparazzi in the first place?

VISSCHEDYK: Well, I've been doing freelance photography for like two years now, and like stills, and pictures of still life and animals, and then I just kind of got the idea to, you know, take pictures of celebrities and, you know, make some extra bucks over the summer.

CHETRY: Were your parents into it that you were doing that?

VISSCHEDYK: They were OK with it. But they're not, you know -- my grandfather was a photographer in Holland, and so I guess you can say I just kind of take up the family tradition, so I don't know.

CHETRY: All right, well, what was it like when you first started stepping out on to these red carpets and into some of these areas where there is a whole entire mass of photographers? Were they nice to you? Did they make room for you? Did they treat you differently?

VISSCHEDYK: At first they are like that's just a little kid with a camera, and he's not going to do this for a long time. But after I started going, you know, every single night, they started going, you know, he's actually serious about this, and he's, you know, going to actually do it. He's not just kidding around.

CHETRY: And I'm curious, how do you get to your locations? Because you can't drive yet.

VISSCHEDYK: Well, I usually take like skateboards, bikes, even a taxi if I need to get somewhere really fast.

CHETRY: OK, and how do you get tipped off? I know sometimes people text message or text messaging back and forth, if somebody spots a celebrity. Is that how you work it?

VISSCHEDYK: Well, I have a lot of connections in different places like, you know, shopping malls, and just different restaurants and clubs. They call me and tell me who's there and who's on the guest list and whatnot.

CHETRY: Wow. You're really adorable, by the way, Austin.

VISSCHEDYK: Thanks.

CHETRY: It was an exciting night when you had a chance to bump into Ryan Seacrest. Let's take a look at the exchange and then I'll ask you about it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are the youngest paparazzis in the history of paparazzi.

RYAN SEACREST: You make me feel guilty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I see a baby Ryan Seacrest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the new breed.

SEACREST: You're working harder than I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Now, Austin, I saw you talking back and forth a little bit with Ryan Seacrest. What is the reaction when celebrities see you?

VISSCHEDYK: They're usually like appalled, like that is their first reaction. But after they look at me like twice, they know what I'm doing and I think they respect it.

CHETRY: Because after awhile, it's the same circuit. The same celebrities sort of get used to seeing the same photographers, right?

VISSCHEDYK: Yes. I mean, there's only like -- there's only about 500 to 800 paparazzi in Los Angeles, so...

CHETRY: Only?

VISSCHEDYK: Well, I mean, that's actually not a lot. That's under a thousand.

CHETRY: No, I see what you're saying. We're seeing some pictures you took.

What was the one you got paid the most amount of money for?

VISSCHEDYK: The Adam Sandler picture. I think you guys might have...

CHETRY: Oh. So you took a shot of Adam Sandler, and how much did you get for it?

VISSCHEDYK: Five-hundred dollars.

CHETRY: Wow, not bad.

So you make good money doing this?

VISSCHEDYK: Oh, yes. I've made, you know, a couple bucks.

CHETRY: Not bad. Do you see it as a long-term career?

VISSCHEDYK: I mean, I'm just going to let it take me where it takes me. I'm not going to like force it to go anywhere.

CHETRY: Right. Well, wow, you seem like a very laid-back, really relaxed individual. And congratulations. Because you're making money. You're probably making more money than most of your friends.

Austin, thanks for being with us.

VISSCHEDYK: Thank you.

CHETRY: Wow. If he can do that well with a skateboard, imagine when he gets his license.

VISSCHEDYK: Exactly.

CHETRY: Here's a quick look now at what NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour.

HARRIS: See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM: Utah's largest wildfire ever burns unchecked north of Milford.

Stifling heat settling in over the northeast corridor.

Congress weighing options on Iraq troop withdrawals this week.

Iraq's prime minister reportedly facing a possible no-confidence vote in days.

And the bankrobber who disguised himself as a tree.

NEWSROOM just minutes away, at the top of the hour on CNN.

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