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American Morning
Search Continues for Steve Fossett; Tribute in Light; Change in Russian Government; Earthquake in Indonesia
Aired September 12, 2007 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, full throttle. What's behind a dramatic jump in motorcycle crashes and deaths? The new call for safety solutions. Many riders still fight. On this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning and welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Thanks very much for joining us on Wednesday, the 12th of September. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us. We have breaking news right now.
ROBERTS: Shake-up in Russia's government. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has handed in his resignation to President Vladimir Putin. His likely successor Sergei Ivanov who has been the foreign minister for a long time has been named as a possible Putin successor in that country's 2008 elections. We will get more on this story as it develops this morning.
CHETRY: All right. Meantime, President Bush taking his top General's recommendation. He's expected to announce a plan to bring 30,000 troops home from Iraq by next summer. It comes after General David Petraeus told Congress that the president's troop buildup has met its military objectives in "large measure." Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the late-breaking details for us.
Hi, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Kiran. Well, after all of this testimony on Capitol Hill, maybe the question is this just a blinding flash of the obvious? The surge was going to start ending in April no matter what. The army and the Marine Corps didn't have enough troops to keep it going.
General Petraeus fundamentally is recommending the surge draw down instead of beginning in April begins a little bit earlier. He's going to start sending some troops home in December from the surge and not replacing them. That's not a major surprise. General Petraeus saying that 15-month tour of duty on the ground is really very, very tough on the troops. And he knows he can't really keep them on hand any longer than that.
Fundamentally, what is the bottom line here now? What about the 130,000 U.S. troops that will be left in Iraq after the surge is over? What General Petraeus did not say this week in testimony is what his recommendation might be about when they can come home -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for with us the latest. Thank you.
Also, we are going to be talking with Senator John McCain from the campaign trail in the next hour of AMERICAN MORNING. CNN's going to be carrying President Bush's prime time address at 9:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow.
ROBERTS: A quick correction, misspoke. Sergei Ivanov former defense minister, not foreign minister. Igor Ivanov is the foreign minister.
Other headlines new this morning. State TV in Russia says military successfully tests what it claims the world east most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Video shows it being dropped from a plane and exploding. The Russians call it the dad of all bombs. They say it is four times more powerful than the U.S. counterpart, the mother of all bombs.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced today he will resign after less than a year in office. Abe's party has seen several scandals and the loss of control of parliament. Abe also says Japan needs a new leader to fight against terrorism. His resignation takes effect once a successor is chosen.
President Bush is said to be close to choosing a nominee to replace Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. Former Solicitor General, Ted Olson, appears to be the leading candidate. He represented the Bush campaign in the Supreme Court case that decided the year 2000 election -- Kiran.
CHETRY: News for anyone planning to fly. The FAA issuing an ultimatum to the airlines to try to ease flight delays. The FAA says airlines need to cut their schedule to reduce congestion or the government will do it for them. On-time performance has been the worst this year since records were kept.
And hopes are dwindling for finding Steve Fossett. His plane vanished in the Nevada desert shortly after take off last Monday. Rescue crews say that there have been no hits from his plane's emergency beacon or his watch. His watch was capable of sending a signal. They say that they are betting on Fossett's sheer grit and determination that he would be able to make it. It would be day ten today -- John.
ROBERTS: He has been lost for so long now.
A Rutgers University basketball player is dropping her slander and defamation lawsuit against former radio host Don Imus. Kia Vaughn claims Imus damaged her reputation by making a racist and sexist remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Imus was fired as a result of that, you remember. Vaughn's attorney that says she decided to drop the suit so that she can focus on school and training for the upcoming season.
The changing face of a nation is reflected in new census data. Figures for last year show that one in five people speak a language at home other than English. The number of immigrants nationwide reached an all-time high of 37.5 million in 2006 with the state of California leading the way.
Burger King is set to offer healthier food for kids. It is going to sell flame broiled chicken tenders instead of fried chicken tenders and will have apples that are cut to look just like French fries. How do you think those will sell?
CHETRY: That will trick the kids. Thanks, John.
Well it's time to check in with our AMERICAN MORNING team of correspondents for other stories new this morning. As we just heard from Ali, China saying they will stop with the lead in their toys that are exported to the U.S. Well, top toy executives will be on Capitol Hill today after millions of toys made in China had to be yanked off our shelves.
AMERICAN MORNING's Alina Cho is at our National desk with details on that.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kiran. Good morning.
The CEOs of both Mattel and Toys "R" Us will go before that Senate panel today and will be joined by members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The topic, of course, something all of us are all too familiar with, how to prevent dangerous toys from getting into the hands of consumers.
Today's hearing, of course, comes on the heels of numerous recalls of toys made in China. Including the largest ever recall by Mattel. Just yesterday, China signed an agreement to prohibit the use of lead paint in toys exported to the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY NORD, CPSC: These agreements represent a beginning. Not an end. They set in place mechanisms for closer cooperation between our respective agencies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Unfortunately, not everyone believes this can actually work. Democratic Senator Richard Durbin who is a chairman of the Senate panel holding today's hearing said this. "Lead paint has been banned on toys for 30 years in America. I'm very skeptical about the agreement but I hope the Chinese will prove me wrong."
Disney recently announced it would begin testing its own toys, you may recall. And Chinese government has promised it will step up inspections of exports as well and this is very big business.
Kiran, as you well know, nearly 90 percent of all of the toys sold in the U.S. come from China and it is not just toys as you know. It is fish, jewelry, even toothpaste. A lot of Chinese made products certainly in the spotlight right now.
CHETRY: That's right. As you said, Disney doing independent testing. Some of the other big retailers like Wal-Mart, following suit as well. All right. Thank you very much, Alina.
In the meantime, Rob Marciano tracking extreme weather for us. Our focus today, Texas could be looking at tropical weather.
Hi, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi Kiran.
And with tropical weather comes tropical moisture which is a whole lot more than your run of the mill moisture. They don't need any more moisture being in the form of rain or snow in Texas.
Here's what's happening. Take a look at the Gulf of Mexico satellite imagery. This is the area we are concerned about there, a flare-up of thunderstorms. No doubt about that. That's not good news for folks in Houston and Galveston and Beaumont and Port Arthur because moisture is heading in your general direction.
Look at it swirl. There is the center of circulation. The National Hurricane Center is not thrilled about this. This could have development. It is definitely getting more conducive with the exception of the fact that it is so darned close to land. We are probably not going to see a lot of action as far as it developing into a hurricane but moisture in the places that don't need it anymore.
And this area, right here, in the central Atlantic, that's becoming a little bit important scary to watch. Could become our next tropical storm as soon as today or tomorrow and cold across the upper Midwest.
Kiran, back over to you.
CHETRY: Sure is frosty. All right, Rob. Thank you -- John.
ROBERTS: A remarkable turnaround for Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. Just a day after doctors were describing his injuries as life threatening, Everett has started to move his arms and legs voluntarily. Everett suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury in the Bills' game Sunday.
Medical Correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen joins us with more. This is just, as we say, a remarkable turnaround, Elizabeth. And I have seen some people credit this to the fact that they induced mild hypothermia around the injury the minutes following the spectacular crash he had.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. One doctor compared it to if you hurt your arm you get a bruise and you put ice on it, right? That's what you do to treat that. It's sort of a similar thing. When you have compression on the spinal cord and a break between the third and fourth vertebrae like Everett had, you put ice on it in a big way. You lower the body temperature down. So that you can slow things down and get that swelling to go down.
When you think about it, we all just watched that incredible collision. He's lying on the field. He can't move. And then now they said that six hours after surgery, he did have some movement in his arms and legs. What they initially thought could be completely catastrophic, now they are saying that it is a possibility that he might walk again -- John.
ROBERTS: Might walk again. But would he ever play football again? I expect it is probably way too early to know.
COHEN: It is way too early to know. The first 72 hours are so volatile. Another doctor described it as dynamic. Things change, things change a lot.
So while it is incredible, what's happened here, I would also say that the doctors we talked to said that this does happen. You do see where someone has some kind of a horrible trauma and right at that point, they can't move. They do sometimes move after surgery or within the first couple of days.
It is interesting to note that even on the field, Everett had sensation in his body. He apparently couldn't move but he did have sensation. So there was some good signs from the very beginning.
ROBERTS: All right. Just remarkable what's going on there. We will see how he's going do and we'll keep following the story.
By the way, one of Kevin Everett's teammates, Robert Royal, joins us live in the next hour on AMERICAN MORNING. He has visited Everett in the hospital and he will give us an update on what he's like. Don't know if he had a chance to talk to him but certainly got in there and took a good look at him.
CHETRY: Breaking news out of Russia this morning. The prime minister handing in his resignation to President Vladimir Putin. What could that mean to the country's upcoming elections and for U.S. relations?
Our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, on assignment in Russia joins us now on the phone with more on this. Good morning, Matthew. What do you know?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you as well.
Well, it's quite dramatic developments in Russia. The prime minister Mikhail Fradkov handing in his resignation, and resignations of all of the cabinets members in Russia as well. The whole government -- Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has accepted those resignations. We expect to put in place a new prime minister.
I think we have to look at this in terms of Vladimir Putin imposing his will and choosing essentially a new team to take over running the country on a day to day absis (ph), as we approach the crucial elections coming up in Russia in three months from now, the parliamentary elections.
He wants to put his favorite candidate in the post of prime minister, his favorite candidate for the new presidency but everything is coming to the end of his term in office. He wants to put his favorite person in a strong position as the prime minister in readiness for the presidential elections which are taking place in March. Mass resignation of the Russian government as a major reshuffle in the Kremlin, the head of those presidential elections.
CHETRY: All right. Matthew Chance getting us up to date on that news. Expected but happening earlier than expected, the resignation of the prime minister of Russia. Matthew Chance, thanks for being with us -- John.
ROBERTS: A dramatic rise in motorcycle deaths and a new call this morning to do something about it. Our Greg Hunter joins us live with what's behind the increase and what else is being done to try to stop it. Plus Moveon.org accuses General David Petraeus of exaggerating the progress is Iraq just to please the White House. It's making some lawmakers furious. Did Moveon.org go too far? Its executive director joins us live next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Fifteen minutes after the hour, for one night only the Manhattan skyline was complete again. The Tribute in Light shined from does to dawn to honor all of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The twin beams have been used every year since the attacks to symbolize the twin towers that came down, six years ago yesterday -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Thanks a lot, John.
After two days of testimony on Capitol Hill, General David Petraeus says that some U.S. troops can begin leaving Iraq this month. President Bush is expected to announce the draw down this week in an address to the country. Meantime, this ad on the Moveon.org Web site accuses the top commander in Iraq of "cooking the books for the White House," calling him General Betray Us and this is drumming up all kinds of anger.
Eli Pariser is Moveon.org's executive director and he joins us with more on it. Thanks for being with us.
ELI PARISER, MOVEON.ORG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Good morning.
CHETRY: Tell us why you chose this ad to go after the character of General Petraeus.
PARISER: Well, our concern was that the statistics that General Petraeus is presenting to the public is simply they aren't accurate. When you look at the violence in Iraq, General Petraeus is saying the surge made it go down. Actually a lot of other independent reports say violence has increased over the last ten months.
CHETRY: Clearly, you disagree with the assessment and you guys put a lot of -- attached a loft articles on your Web site to support your view on that. But why did you go after his character?
PARISER: Well, you know, our concern was that if you look at 2003, President Bush sent Colin Powell to the U.N. to make the case for war. If the people had looked more closely at the facts then and if they hadn't allowed President Bush to hide behind a general, you know, maybe we would be in a different place than we are right now. But that's how we got into this mess.
CHETRY: You know, it is interesting because a lot of Republicans denounced the ad. So do Democrats. You have people like John Kerry coming out. Kerry said "I don't like any kind of characterization in politics that call into question any active duty distinguished general who I think under any circumstances serve was the best interest of our country." Dick Durbin went on to criticize it as well as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Did you guys lose who you were looking to get support from, meaning the democratic establishment?
PARISER: Again, you know, the key question here is making sure that the facts are in front of the public. And frankly, again, if the media and if other people were doing a good job of fact checking what the general was saying, just as they should have back checked what Colin Powell was saying in 2003, we wouldn't have to be in this position. But unfortunately, there aren't a lot of people who are actually calling into question the facts behind this.
If you check out the facts, not a single person has raised serious questions about these facts. It is true that the major independent reports have found that what General Petraeus is simply -- is saying is simply spin. The surge is not working. This is the bloodiest summer in Iraq yet. And someone needs to be saying that.
CHETRY: What about all the testimony that's gone on for two days? You don't think Democrats have done as good a job as they should grilling the general about some of those things that you brought up?
PARISER: We have seen both democrats and republicans raising serious questions, especially yesterday about what the general is saying. That's exactly our point. The general's numbers are simply not adding up.
CHETRY: Your ad, though, is it getting in the way of getting across this message? Because your ad has been condemned by the right and the left. And it is also -- it seems that your ad has caused those who normally would support you to turn around and say wait a minute, I think they have gone too far this tie. Did your message get in the way of your message?
PARISER: Well, you know, the -- our allegiance ultimately, we're a membership organization who work for people that want to see the war come to a swift and responsible end. We are not responsible to the hill. We are responsible to the people in this country who think that it is time that someone stood up and checked the facts that President Bush and his administration are presenting here. And they are wrong. And someone needs to stand up and say, you know, that what General Petraeus is saying simply does not pass muster. We deserve better. It's a betrayal of trust.
CHETRY: You stand by saying betray us when you refer to Petraeus. PARISER: I think it is a betrayal of the American people's trust. You can call it whatever you want. When have you a general going before congress and telling congress that -- spinning the facts essentially about the truth on the ground, that is a problem.
CHETRY: The general obviously disagrees with you. He says that he gave an independent report, independent of the white house. And independent of the politics.
PARISER: Let's remember that General Petraeus was on daily and his staff were on daily conference calls with the white house. We learned this from "The Washington Post" the other week. Daily calls to coordinate how to, "sell the surge." So this is not an independent actor. This is someone who like Colin Powell in 2003 is on a political agenda, working with the white house. This is a shell game that the white house plays to put generals out to carry their message.
CHETRY: I'm wondering who is the candidate you are going to get behind, since none of the candidates are supporting, including Barack Obama who had nice things to say yesterday about General Petraeus. Who are you going to put your support behind if you are so unhappy with everything that's going on and the establishment in Washington?
PARISER: Well, you know, I wouldn't say we are unhappy with everything that's going on. We -- but, you know, ultimately ...
CHETRY: Is there a candidate you believe is listening to you and carry out what you want to see happen?
PARISER: Well I think we have seen a lot of people, presidential candidates and other people calling into question what General Petraeus is saying. That's exactly the purpose of our act. As for who we'll support, you know we will leave it to our members.
CHETRY: All right. Thanks for being with us and thanks for sharing your point of view, Eli Pariser from Moveon.org -- John.
ROBERTS: 67,000 people in Tennessee had their personal information lost by a health insurer. A CD with the names and social security numbers of 67,000 enrollees was sent by UPS but never arrived. The people whose data is at risk were notified by a letter of the situation there.
Some police officers in Florida could be in big trouble today for taking on an eight-foot alligator. Why the officers were disciplined, ahead, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Controversial gator trapping caught on tape. Police in Altamonte Springs, Florida got into a wrestling match of sorts with an alligator after residents of an apartment complex called the cops when they saw the gator roaming around. The police hopped on its back, tied it up, then threw it back into a nearby lake.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Department wants to know why they didn't call a trained alligator trapper. The police department disciplined the officers for what they call taking an unnecessary risk. They say that they actually tied it up for a while to a tree to take pictures, et cetera, not really the department policy.
ROBERTS: Yes, and apparently released it close to where it was captured. Residents think that's a risk because the gator can come back again.
Twenty-five minutes after the hour, Ali Velshi "MINDING YOUR BUSINESS" this morning. If you want to pay for oil, you have to pay a lot more for it today.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everything I'm telling you today is about pricing going up. The price for a barrel of oil hit the highest level that it's ever settled at in New York. $78.23 yesterday, up 74 cents. That beats the last record by two cents a barrel. This is interested because this happened yesterday, as OPEC was meeting to talk about the fact that it is putting more oil into the system.
As of November 1, OPEC is going to add 500,000 barrels to its quota. Most people say OPEC countries don't stick to their quotas. They already produce way more oil than they are supposed to. This is based on the actual amount of oil produced. Not the quotas. So we're going to add a half a million barrels of oil to the system. That still isn't easing concerns about the prices of oil.
Now gasoline prices actually dropped a little earlier this week which is interesting because usually you see those gas prices follow oil prices. Over the long term that's what you can expect.
Stock markets in the U.S. did well yesterday, unrelated to this. Overnight we saw Asian markets drop quite a bit because the prime minister of Japan resigned unexpectedly. We are waiting to see how much of that filters into U.S. markets and at last check, U.S. futures did show that markets here will open lower but not as much as we were looking at earlier in the day. So it's a whole mixed bag of stuff right now to consider. But bottom line for you, oil prices are higher, gasoline prices probably headed that way, too.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much.
CHETRY: Coming up, a story you can't miss. Motorcycle deaths account for more than 10 percent of highway deaths. Some new statistics showing that they are up. Renewing the helmet law debate. Right now, 20 states require riders wear helmets.
ROBERTS: Mandatory for adults, graduated helmet laws in other states and a couple of states that have no helmet laws at all. Motorcyclists that were calling for a different safety approach, Greg Hunter takes a look.
Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHETRY: There it is. There's a shot coming to us from central Florida. News 13 in Orlando, beautiful blue skies in Orlando this morning.
ROBERTS: It is a beautiful day there. Look at that. It looks so tranquil. Warm, humid, probably the order of the day there as well.
CHETRY: Welcome back. It is Wednesday, September 12th. I'm Kiran Chetry.
ROBERTS: Good morning to you. I'm John Roberts. Thanks for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING.
CHETRY: Following breaking news we just heard about a few moments ago, a powerful earthquake hitting Indonesia just moments ago. They have now issued a tsunami warning. Rob Marciano is in the CNN Weather Center with the latest on this.
Hi, Rob.
MARCIANO: Hi, Kiran.
We are get a numerous reports. What the USGS typically does is kind of vets them, analyzes them, and there will be probably be a number of revisions before this is all said and done. But, bottom line, anywhere from a 7.8 to 8.0 magnitude earthquake has struck parts of Indonesia. And, yes, because of that, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has put out a tsunami watch, tsunami watch at this point, in this general rather.
We will zoom in a little bit more. This is a hot bed for earthquakes, as you know. Same general area of the earthquake and massive tsunami that was generated back in December of 2004. And the red dot there, you see your screen, that's the area where the earthquake was noticed. Twenty miles deep was the initial depth that we saw. We saw another report out of USGS that was only a one mile deep. We are still trying to get clarification on that.
The important thing is that with this type of earthquake, with this size of earthquake, they put out a tsunami watch because the sheer magnitude of it will shake the ground enough to potentially, historically, put out a tsunami. Watch in effect for Indonesia, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, a number of countries.
John, this is similar to -- they are pretty much covering all the countries hit by the tsunami in 2004. And then we are going to have to wait and see. There are no buoys out there. Much like we have lined up across the Pacific to kind of sense that wave coming. We will have to wait and see.
Obviously, folks over there heading for the hills, so to speak, for the possible tsunami in that area.
ROBERTS: I guess, too, Rob, it depends on what type of earthquake it was, if it was sort of a slip strike where it slipped sideways, that might not cause a tsunami. But if it was a thrust fault, that definitely could.
MARCIANO: Yes. There's no way of knowing that. The only real reason that the tsunami watch issued was due to sheer magnitude. And we know that earthquakes of that magnitude can generate tsunamis. So, a tsunami watch out for the countries basically in the surrounding area of the Indian Ocean.
ROBERTS: All right, Rob. Stay on it. Get back to us the second you hear anything for us, would you?
MARCIANO: You bet.
ROBERTS: Also late-breaking news this morning. A shake-up in Russia's government. The prime minister Mikhail Fradkov (ph) is handing in his resignation to President Vladimir Putin. His likely successor is Sergei Ivanov (ph), the long-time defense minister, now the deputy prime minister. He has been named as a possible Putin successor in that country's 2008 elections.
Ending the surge: President Bush expected to announce a plan to bring home 30,000 troops from Iraq starting later this month. Ending by July of next year. Critics in Congress are fearing the remaining 130,000 could be there for years to come. CNN will carry President Bush's prime-time address. It is at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow.
CHETRY: Fred Thompson gaining some ground quickly since entering the race officially for the Republican presidential nomination. The latest CNN poll shows that Rudy Giuliani still leads the field with 28 percent of registered Republicans. But Thompson has 27 percent which means he's in a dead heat, and could mean he's leading the field. Thompson has only been in the race for a week.
Senator John McCain, meanwhile, in Iowa, preparing to kick off his "No Surrender" bus tour. He joins us live from Iowa in our next half-hour; 8:15 Eastern Time.
On the Democratic side Hillary Clinton opening a large lead over her closest competitor, Senator Barack Obama. Clinton was the choice of 46 percent of registered Democrats surveyed, while Obama only got 23 percent. John Edwards still in third place with 16 percent.
ROBERTS: The car-mounted video camera is more commonly used by police, not against them. But that is just what's happening outside of St. Louis after a police officer's loud and threatening confrontation was caught by a video camera mounted in 20-year-old Brett Darrow's car. Take a listen to the conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. JAMES KUEHNLEIN, ST. GEORGE POLICE: You want to try me? You want to try me tonight? You think you have a bad night? I'm going to ruin your (BLEEP) night. Do you want to try me? Do you want to try me, young boy? Do you want to try me tonight, young boy? Do you want to go to jail for some (BLEEP) reason I come up with? Do you want to see who knows the law better, me or you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Yikes! The officer involved in that confrontation now on suspension after the entire encounter was posted on Google and YouTube. A lot more coming up in this story in the next hour when we speak with Brett Darrow live.
CHETRY: We are going to play more of that tape. He taped a big 20-minute confrontation.
ROBERTS: Pretty incredible.
CHETRY: Yeah. Also a wild scene in a central Ohio courtroom. Police Taser a man in a wheelchair when he tries to attack his defense attorney. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SOUNDS OF STRUGGLING, SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: There he is. There's the kick. The officer pulls out a Taser and accidentally also Tasers a fellow officer.
Police say that 43-year-old Wendell Hollingsworth robbed parishioners of a Catholic church. He says he tried to fire his lawyer, but the court wouldn't let him. That's why he started kicking the guy. Hollingsworth was later wheeled back into the courtroom. There you see it he is strapped to a chair, wearing a spit guard. Reminiscent of Hannibal Lechter in "Silence of the Lambs."
ROBERTS: Incredible.
A remarkable turnaround for an injured NFL player who doctors said may never walk again. We will talk with one of Kevin Everett's Buffalo Bills teammates coming up here.
And a dramatic jump in the number of motorcycle deaths. Our Greg Hunter hit the streets to look into it and what is being done to stop it.
Hey, Greg.
GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John.
Lots more people are riding motorcycles, a lot more people are getting hurt. Who pays for it in the end? We will talk about that as AMERICAN MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. We are following breaking news out Indonesia. A 7.9 magnitude quake hitting -- this was an area of Sumatra. We will talk to Rob Marciano about what we are hearing. Apparently tsunami warnings and of course this reminds us of the devastation of 2004; an area similar to where this one hit. Causing the deaths of up to 230,000 people because of the tsunamis that followed.
MARCIANO: We have done a number of improvements on the Pacific side, the Pacific basin. NOAA has been putting out buoys that sense the possibility of a tsunami. Not so much in the Indian Ocean for a number of factors, including financing.
Here is where the earthquake is in Indonesia. This is the entire Indian Basin -- Indian Ocean Basin. It's 7.9 officially now that will probably change. Either way, a major earthquake shaking the ground here. Some of our producers in Singapore have said yes, we felt it there as well. That's over 400 miles away.
A tsunami watch has been issued for all the surrounding countries around the Indian Ocean Basin. So that is because this is such a large earthquake. Not because they know a tsunami is coming, but because history has told us that this large a tsunami can bring a -- this large of an earthquake can certainly bring a tsunami.
We will give you more information as they come -- as it comes in to us.
Watching this area in the tropics, Central Atlantic, that's a more organized and could well become our next tropical system. In this area of low pressure here, spinning towards Texas, heavy rain potentially flooding from Houston to Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur, and over towards Lake Charles.
Kiran, back over to you.
CHETRY: It is interesting because our own reporting is saying that -- we just got in, some conflicting information that it was actually two earthquakes. One that was an 8.0 magnitude, in rapid succession followed by another one?
MARCIANO: The USGS will shake this all out. I have three reports in, 7.8, 7.9 and 8.0. The 8.0 was only a mile deep. So they will revise these. And there may have only been one, but either way the earth shook, rattled and rolled. And likely some damage in that area. Hopefully not tsunami generated, but a tsunami watch in effect for all the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.
It may take, in some cases, as you know, anywhere from minutes to several hours for a tsunami to show up in places like Sri Lanka or Australia and things like that. We will watch it carefully in the Severe Weather Center.
CHETRY: We will check in with you throughout the morning for updates on that. Thanks, Rob.
ROBERTS: The number of motorcycle fatalities has nearly doubled in the last decade as a result there is now a push for a national helmet law that many riders are saying, no way to that. AMERICAN MORNING's Greg Hunter is live with details. Good morning to you, Greg.
HUNTER: Hey, John, good morning to you.
I'm at Harley-Davidson of New York City. These motorcycles are as much of a piece of artwork as they are a mode of transportation. In general, more people, as you said, are riding motorcycles. But who picks up the medical costs for these crashes. In many cases, you do.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTER (voice over): Motorcycle crashes can happen in an instant. Like this one caught on surveillance video. Or this crash with two riders, one was lucky enough to get up and walk away. The other was seriously hurt. The number of deaths and motorcycle crashes have more than doubled in the last 10 years.
ANNE MCCARTT, INSURANCE INST. FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY: Per mile driven, riding on a motorcycle means you are about 35 times more likely to die in a crash than riding in a passenger vehicle.
HUNTER: One reason why? More people are buying lighter weight, high-speed super sport bikes that can go over 150 miles per hour. Sports bikes make up only 10 percent of motorcycles on the road. But they are involved in a quarter of motorcycle deaths.
ANNOUNCER: We build a version for you.
HUNTER: The Institute says companies, like Honda, play up a racy image and encourage speeding.
MCCARTT: It is fine to push top speeds when you are -- when you are a professional driver on a racetrack. But not when you are sharing the road with other people.
HUNTER: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, who spoke on be half of Honda, told CNN, "We encourage and expect all motorcyclists to ride within their limits. Use common sense. Respect other roadway users. And to follow all traffic and safety laws."
Another reason the institute says injuries and deaths are on the rise, only 20 states have laws requiring all riders to wear helmets. Even though helmets protect against traumatic injuries.
RICHARD PAULKNER, CT. MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ASSN.: What we oppose is when the government steps in and decides that as adult riders we are not capable of making our own choices.
HUNTER: Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, an avid Harley rider, supports mandatory helmet laws. Two years ago, she survived a crash.
MARY PETERS, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: If I hadn't had this helmet on, I'm convinced I would be a head injury patient.
HUNTER: To Peters, deciding whether to wear a helmet should not just be up to the rider.
(on camera): Is somebody's freedom a taxpayer's burden?
PETERS: It often is. As brain injury patients have to be taken care of by the taxpayers, many times for the rest of their lives.
HUNTER: No insurance?
PETERS: No insurance.
HUNTER: That's an argument that opponents of mandatory helmet laws reject.
(on camera): Why should taxpayers pay for their health care when they could have just worn a helmet?
JEFF HENNIE, MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION: Why should I pay for childhood obesity and people's heart getting clogged with cholesterol? I'm healthy. Why should I pay for that?
HUNTER: That's a separate subject.
HENNIE: No, it's the same issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTER: Here is a DOT safety certified helmet. It looks like this. You can see all the padding in it. You can tell it is DOT certified, it has this safety seal in the back. Here is why you should have a DOT certified helmet.
A lot of people wear these. They are novelty helmets. They are called skid lids. They are just about a little better than nothing on your head. This is a DOT certified helmet. We had the helmets both cut in half. As you can see here, the -- novelty helmet, it is like a quarter inch of foam and a little, you know, plastic.
And the DOT certified helmet has major impact resistance. Tested helmet will protect your head in a crash. Another thing that motorcycle riders wear, and should wear, is leather. The reason they wear leather, not to look cool. Because once you get off the bike and start skidding on the pavement, leather will protect you.
Back to you, John.
ROBERTS: Not only is there DOT certification, you can go up another level to Snell certification, as well. Why would anybody in their right mind put on one of those skid lids?
HUNTER: Well, skid lids? I don't know why anybody would ride something that goes 80 miles per hour, or 50 miles an hour, with something like this. This is a skid lid. They say, here at the shop, which Harley-Davidson does not advise you to wear one of these. They advise you to wear -- and all motorcycle companies -- advises you to wear a DOT certified helmet. But people say these skid lids look better. And they are not as cumbersome. Again, it is really like wearing a hat on a motorcycle, according to the guys here. It is really not good protection. DOT certified can save live 700 lives a year. To me, it's a no-brainer.
Back to you.
ROBERTS: Looks great right until your head hits the pavement at 60 miles an hour. Greg Hunter for us this morning.
Greg, thanks.
Silver is hot. Your "Quick Hits" now. For the seventh year in a row, silver was the most popular color for cars, according to paint suppliers. About 20 to 25 percent of cars in this nation are silver.
And speaking of cars, check out the hottest car at the International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The new Lamborghini can top 200 miles an hour, go from 0 to 60 in about three seconds. The sticker price, very affordable, just $1.5 million. All 20 that will be built, by the way, already spoken for.
Fantasy football, it's a huge online sport. Should you be strategizing, trading and managing in the workplace? We will have that coming up.
There's new hope that Kevin Everett might be able to walk again despite his devastating football injury. One of his teammates who visited him in the hospital joins us ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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CHETRY: Following breaking news here on AMERICAN MORNING. A powerful earthquake hitting Indonesia just moments ago; now there are fears about the possibility of tsunamis. In fact, a tsunami watch has been posted there. We have CNN producers in many of the areas who were able to feel this. We have our Andy Saputra, who is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Andy, did you feel this quake?
ANDY SAPUTRA, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, Kiran, I do feel the quake. It started about 35 minutes ago. It's the end of the hours here in Jakarta. Many people are still sitting in their offices. They all felt the swaying of the building. All these buildings ordered emergency evacuations for all their employees.
CHETRY: Emergency evacuations? So where do you go in the case of an earthquake there?
SAPUTRA: Well, they go to the fire stairs and then we wait out in the streets, away from the buildings, away from potential dangers.
CHETRY: They have also been talking about a tsunami warning issued for much of the Indian Ocean region. You were right in that region, that they are talking about the possibility. Simply because of the size of this earthquake and the potential to generate widespread destructive tsunami. They say it can affect coastlines across that entire Indian Ocean Basin. What's the level of concern like coming almost three years from a devastating tsunami of 2004?
SAPUTRA: Yes. We have been told -- CNN has been told by the Indonesian (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Center and they have issued a tsunami warning. It will be in effect for at least another hour. The surge is because it is a pretty big earthquake, 7. 9 on the Richter scale. And the depth of the epicenter is only 10 kilometers. They are still trying to reach their counterparts. They are in Banguloo (ph), but they are still having difficulties going through the land lines.
CHETRY: Have you seen other service disruptions there because of the earthquake?
SAPUTRA: Not here in Jakarta. But I have been trying -- calling to the city closest to the epicenter, which is Banguloo. Their phones and their mobiles are still down as of now.
CHETRY: I got you. There's probably a lot of people wanting to check on loved ones as well, that could be tying up the situation. Have they made significant changes in the way people are notified or the way that these are monitored in the wake of the devastation of the 2004 tsunami and earthquake?
SAPUTRA: Yes. Yes. I believe there are some progress that because most of Indonesians are more aware of earthquakes, and possible tsunami danger because of what happened in 2004. And the Indonesian Material (ph) Center has promised us and have told us that they already issued the tsunami warning to the area that will most immediately be affected.
CHETRY: As you can see the red dot there on your screen is pointing to the epicenter of where this magnitude that's almost 8.0 magnitude quake hit. Not far up north, you see Singapore, and we have a producer in Singapore as well that reported feeling some of the rumblings and shaking of that quake.
Our producer in Andy Saputra, in Jakarta, Indonesia, about 400 or so miles away, also reporting feeling that quake. And there are reports of some of the buildings in the capital strongly swaying. Again, a tsunami warning issued for much of the Indian Ocean region.
Andy, thank you for giving us a first-hand account of what you have been feeling after this quake. Thank you.
ROBERTS: A stunning development in the case of Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett who suffered a life-threatening spinal cord injury in a game on Sunday. Doctors now say that Everett may indeed walk again after he voluntarily moved his arms and legs yesterday. Robert Royal is Everett's teammate on the Bills. Also, a tight end and joins us from Ralph Wilson stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
Robert, thanks for being with us. You saw Kevin in the hospital yesterday. Can you describe a little bit about that visit, how did he look? Did you get a chance to speak with him? ROBERT ROYAL, KEVIN EVERETT'S TEAMATE: He actually looked great compared to what he looked like when I saw him on Sunday. Yesterday was sight of relief for no only us as teammates, and but also for his mother, and his girlfriend who were there in attendance. You know, Kevin, when we were talking to him, he was responsive. Obviously, he couldn't talk because of the tubes that was in his mouth, but he was able to shake his head and smile a little bit, and actually move his arms and legs, just a slight -- just a little bit.
ROBERTS: Let me get to you back up on that. He was able to shake his head, move his arms and legs just a little bit? How much of a miracle is that compared to what the prognosis was on Sunday?
ROYAL: We always had faith that Kevin was going to be able to do those things. Obviously, you know, the doctors are experts at what they do. But us, as teammates, and us as loved ones, we always kept in mind that we wanted to stay with a positive heart and always thought Kevin would be able to do those things. Just seeing those things happen yesterday was just a case to show you that God is true.
ROBERTS: Wow. How much was he able to actually move?
ROYAL: Actually, it kind of scared me at first, because he was moving so much and he was so attentive to what we were talking about. You know, he was smiling. He was actually shaking his head up and down, moving so much to the point where I actually thought it was bad. But, obviously, those were some of the things that the nurses and doctors wanted to see him do.
ROBERTS: Oh, my goodness. That is just so amazing. When you saw him yesterday and saw him moving his arms and legs and shaking his head, how did that compare with when you saw him after that video, that we just showed there, where he just crumples to the ground during the Sunday game?
ROYAL: It was a different experience. Especially out there on Sunday. Not seeing him move at all, especially us, as the players, we try to look for some indication to see if our teammate is OK. At that particular time, he didn't show any indications. He didn't move any parts of his body. And then just going up in there, yesterday, seeing him able to be responsive to us and shaking and let us know he was OK. You know, we were happy to see that.
ROBERTS: It looks almost identical to the 1992 hit that Dennis Bird took, on the Jets, where he just -- he ran into his teammate and just went down like that. How's the family holding up? Are they doing all right? I imagine you fellows are trying to help them out as much as possible.
ROYAL: Everyone is doing wonderful. People are chipping in trying to help his mom and girlfriend be as comfortable as possible while they are there in Buffalo. Obviously, his mom is in great spirit. She's staying prayed up. And obviously from the indications that she saw from her son yesterday, she was very excited. Everyone is really excited right now and hopefully everything will keep on going in the right direction. ROBERTS: Knowing Kevin the way you do, do you think -- now that he can move his arms and legs and seems to have some mobility, do you think he will make a try to get back into football again?
ROYAL: You know, at this point we are not even concerned whether or not Kevin is trying to get back to football. We are making sure that for Kevin's future well-being that he is fine. That he's able to walk out of that hospital and able to do the things he wants to do in life. Football is just a game. And obviously some things are more important right now. The most important thing for Kevin is to make sure the healing process takes the right path and he can walk out of the hospital.
ROBERTS: Well, the prayers of the nation are with him. Good news thus far. Robert Royal from the Buffalo Bills, thanks for being with us. Good to see you.
ROYAL: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Kiran.
CHETRY: We're going to take a quick break. We're continuing to follow breaking news here on AMERICAN MORNING. An earthquake hit and now a tsunami warning in effect in Indonesia. We'll have more on our breaking news when we come right back. Rob Marciano has been track thing for us. He will let us know what to expect there coming up after the break.
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