Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Six People Killed in a Shoot Out Outside U.S. Consulate in Istanbul; A Show of Military Force by Iran; President Bush Heading Home After His Last G-8 Summit; Attack Ads Against Obama Using His Own Words
Aired July 09, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Also, we just want to let you know this Friday, we're going to be talking with another former presidential candidate, New Mexico governor and Barack Obama supporter, Bill Richardson -- John.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: We're crossing the top of the hour here and following breaking news out of turkey. A shooting near the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul that killed three police officers. Istanbul's governor says the attackers opened fire on a check point. Police immediately returned fire killing three of the gunmen. U.S. ambassador to Turkey called the attack terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS WILSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: No. As I said earlier, our countries stand together in the fight against international terrorism. This was an attack on an American diplomatic establishment here. Those who have lost their lives are Turkish citizens and we're very sad about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: We're going to have a live report coming up from Turkey in about ten minutes' time. Stay with us here.
Also breaking this morning, a show of military force by Iran. State Television says Tehran test fired nine medium and long range missiles during war games in the Persian Gulf including one capable of reaching Israel. Officials say it was in response to the threats from the U.S. and Israel.
Our State Department Correspondent Zain Verjee joins us now live from Washington.
What's been the reaction there, Zain, to this latest missile test?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: John, the U.S. has criticized the missile test saying Iran just needs to stop doing that to gain the trust of the world. The U.S. also says it just increases the isolation of the Iranian people.
Now, you know, the missile tests come as tensions have been increasing with Iran and the U.S. The State Department, John, just announced new financial sanctions against Iranian officials and companies basically accusing them of helping develop nuclear weapons.
But at the same time, the U.S. along with the Europeans, is also offering Iran an incentives package where the goal is basically to force Iran to get rid of its nuclear program.
John?
ROBERTS: Is this at all seen as just a public relations stunt by Iran considering that the U.S. and the Czech Republic just signed an agreement to put a missile defense radar system in the Czech Republic?
VERJEE: Well, the timing is definitely interesting because of exactly what you said, John. But the missile test also -- according to experts that I've spoken to, seem more a warning sign from Iran to Israel and a response to military exercise that Israel had done about a month ago that was seen in Iran as a practice run for attacking Iran.
Analysts have also said that the problem is that Iran right now is worried that the Israelis will do something that could drag the U.S. into a possible conflict. And that could be a key reason for these missile tests.
ROBERTS: A lot of saber rattling going on there in the Persian Gulf. Thanks very much. Zain Verjee for us from Washington this morning.
CHETRY: Well, President Bush is heading home this morning after his last G8 summit. He called the meeting, quote, "very productive," saying leaders from the major industrialized nations made significant progress on a number of pressing issues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The goal was to make progress in five key areas. Confronting climate change, reinforcing our commitment to a successful DOHA agreement, fighting disease in Africa, ensuring the G8 nations are accountable for their commitments and addressing the challenges of high energy prices. I'm pleased to report that we've had significant success in all of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: G8 nations also endorsed the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions around the world in half by 2050.
Also happening right now, polygamist leader Warren Jeffs is in a Las Vegas hospital under armed guard. He was taken there overnight from an Arizona jail for an unspecified medical problem.
Jeffs is awaiting trial on charges of having sex with underage girls. He was convicted by a Utah jury last year on two counts of rape as an accomplice for performing an underage marriage.
ROBERTS: Built on oil. How the big boom drove home prices in the middle of nowhere to levels that we see in San Francisco? Also ahead, Barack Obama's daughters give their first interview. Find out their first objective if dad wins the White House.
CHETRY: Then, it's a CNN exclusive. An armored vehicle crisis for troops in Iraq. Why so many critical military vehicles are out of service and waiting for parts in the war zone.
We're also following breaking news out of Turkey. At least six people killed in what the U.S. ambassador is calling a terrorist attack. We'll have details on exactly what happened. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: When was the last time you heard Jane's Addiction on CNN, huh? Caught Stealing. Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." Car thieves still love the Honda Civic, apparently. The 1995 model was the most stolen car for the fourth year in a row according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's annual "Hot Wheels" report.
Obviously, it can be stolen for spare parts. The 1991 Honda Accord, the 1989 Toyota Camry rounded at the top three. But overall, vehicle theft dropped nine percent last year.
(CROSSTALK)
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We're going to take the subway. Peter (ph) just taking the subway now.
CHETRY: I wouldn't find that '89 Accord the number one stolen car.
ROBERTS: Nobody's stealing new cars. They're stealing the old cars.
VELSHI: Yes. I guess they just don't make them like they used to.
ROBERTS: Yes. They don't make the parts anymore either, which is why they're so valuable.
So Ali Velshi here and he continue his hunt for energy.
VELSHI: Yes, really interesting story. We've been, you know -- at CNN, we're going to be looking for energy wherever we can find it -- finding, bringing to you creative ways of getting energy.
And our first stop was Fort McMurray, Canada. That's the town that sits on top of the world's largest reserve of oil. It's known as the oil sands. Now, this is part 2 of 3 stories we're doing on the oil sands of Canada.
The first one was yesterday. Got a lot of e-mails from some of you about the environmental impact. I am going to be doing a story on that tomorrow, so don't worry about that. However, today I want to show you one of the more interesting consequences of this oil boom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI (voice-over): This once sleepy little town in Northern Alberta, Canada is surrounded by forests, pristine lakes with lots of mosquitoes.
(on camera): You don't seem nearly as bothered by the bugs as my people are. Hey, there's one on you right there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not. Oh, no, that's friendly little critters.
VELSHI: Friendly little critters till they bite you.
(voice-over): But what sets this place apart is what's beneath it. Fort McMurray, Canada, population growing fast toward 100,000. It's the rapidly beating heart of the oil sands, the largest known oil deposit in the world. It is a bona fide boom town.
It has a major highway with traffic jams that would shame a city ten times its size. These people are all headed for work in the oil sands, 24/7, and almost everyone works the maximum allowed overtime. It's tough work, long hours, but for really good pay.
JESSE BRETHER, OIL WORKER: You can say all the bad things you want about this town. The traffic is terrible. You know, pollution. It stinks. You know what, for $50 an hour? I'll deal with it. I'll deal with being stuck in traffic for an hour. I can take it. I'm making over $100,000 a year and I'm 22 years old.
VELSHI: His story is typical. And with so many workers it's hard to find a place to live. The median price for a single family home is just under $700,000, roughly the same as San Francisco. Just buying a little piece of land and dropping a mobile home on it will set you back half a million bucks. Although plenty of people are doing it.
So what do you do with it?
Robert Cree was the chief of a local band of native Canadians whose people once thrived on the abundance of natural resources here -- hunting, fishing, trapping.
ROBERT CREE, GREGOIRE LAKE RESERVE RESIDENT: There's so much development happening. There's a shortage of housing. There's the medical, the health situation is right to the brink.
VELSHI: Problems have followed this boom town. Drugs are readily available. And drinking, lots of drinking. But to the opportunities outweigh the problems?
BRETHER: I come here and every teacher that ever told me -- you don't do good in school, you're never going to make it. I'm making triple what they make.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: People story out there. Not bad for an old Beaver pelt trading post. Fort McMurray has the highest per capita income in Canada, as well as the highest median home prices. It's commonly referred to by folks up there as "Fort McMoney."
ROBERTS: We should encourage kids to stay in school.
VELSHI: Right. Absolutely. I'm very happy for those folks who are earning the money they're earning up there. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't go to school. The teachers were right.
ROBERTS: So for all these people about to push the send button on the nasty e-mail to say Velshi, you're just a show for the oil company, what about the environmental impact of all of this?
VELSHI: I'm surprise. Actually, I got a very interesting one last night. I'm surprised it made it through our spam filter with some of the creative language. I will have a full story on the environmental impact and it is very serious.
When we look for oil, wherever we look for oil, we have to remember there is that impact. And here at CNN, we are committed to giving you that whole story. So I will not forget that. I guarantee. So just hold off on the nasty e-mail just a little bit longer.
ROBERTS: It's like e-mail turrets, isn't it? Not to diminish it all.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: I'm glad you get the message. And had I not been planning to do an environmental story, I certainly would be now.
ROBERTS: Yes. People would say things on e-mail that they would never say to you in person.
VELSHI: Oh yes, I'm one of those.
ROBERTS: Yes. All right.
VELSHI: I'm telling you, I'm one of those. I didn't mean to say that.
ROBERTS: Well, do me a favor. Never e-mail me again.
VELSHI: Fair enough. All right.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Ali.
CHETRY: We're going to update you now on some breaking news out of Istanbul, Turkey. At least six people killed in a shoot out outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul. The U.S. ambassador in Turkey is calling it a terrorist attack. Istanbul's governor says gunmen drove up to the building and began firing. Three Turkish police officers and three of the attackers were killed in the gun fight.
Well, it is one of the best protections out there for soldiers against roadside bombs but 1 in 5 mine-resistant vehicles known as MRAPS now out of commission in Iraq. We're going to have more details on what they hope to do about it.
ROBERTS: Attack ads against Barack Obama in his own voice. Could opponent use clips from his audio book against him in the general election?
CHETRY: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- the corporate psychic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you point to the person in the male room and say future CEO?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Lola talks to the woman company's hire to predict the future. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Johnny Cash this morning. Well, we are looking at a literal ring of fire here. These are amazing pictures of hot lava coming from the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii forming a 40-foot high mountain. And the pictures taken by the helicopter just remarkable to look at.
Rob Marciano at the CNN weather center in Atlanta with some new information on Bertha as well. But those pictures amazing, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: This morning Senator Barack Obama is firing back at his critics appearing on the "Today" show. The presumptive nominee addressed those who say he is moving to the center on Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I'm also going to be taking into account is the prime minister of Iraq, Prime Minister Maliki, saying that we should have a timetable for withdrawal. The American people believe we need a timetable, the Iraqi government believes that it's ready to stand up and take on these responsibilities.
We are seeing a declining security situation in Afghanistan that has to be shored up. We've got enormous burdens on our military families and we're spending $10 billion to $12 billion a month in Iraq that could be used to put people back to work here in the United States and to create an energy policy that frees ourselves from dependence on foreign oil.
So my job as commander-in-chief is to listen to the commanders but to shape a strategy based on all the factors that go into American security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Obama also commented on Iran's reported missile test that we learned about this morning, saying it's proof that the U.S. needs to open up direct channels of communications with Tehran, that is if Washington wants them to change their behavior.
Some high-profile family time for Senator Obama. The entertainment television show "Access Hollywood" landing the first interview with the entire Obama family, putting the couple's young children in the campaign spotlight.
It happened over the Fourth of July weekend when the family was vacationing in Montana. Here's some of what 10-year-old Malia and 7- year-old Sasha said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALIA OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA'S DAUGHTER: I read the People magazines and everything and they always have those sections with, you know, how much people's dresses cost, and I saw that magazine and was like, "Oh mommy, you're in this" because I've never seen mommy in that and it was pretty cool. Because I usually see people like Angelina Jolie and real important people, no offense.
MICHELLE OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA'S WIFE: I've always loved clothes. He knows that. I think it's funny that he's involved in this fashion icon stuff, because these pants he's had for probably about ten years.
MALIA OBAMA: And that belt!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: The belt is a little worn, too, actually now that I look at it.
MICHELLE OBAMA: And don't pan down to the shoes because we talked about getting new shoes for him. So I think --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Senator, I don't know. I think they got you here. I mean, I don't want to jump on the bandwagon or anything.
B. OBAMA: Well, listen, listen --
MICHELLE OBAMA: Just don't look too close.
B. OBAMA: I'm baffled by this whole thing myself because I hate to shop.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: Malia Obama says that she is looking -- the thing that she is looking forward to the most if her dad wins in November is decorating her room in the White House. And of course we've talked about this before, too, Kiran, that the kids are also looking forward to getting a puppy.
CHETRY: That's right. In fact, they have an online poll to decide what kind of dog they should get, because one of them has an allergy.
ROBERTS: Not the Chinese Crested. I don't want that one.
CHETRY: Well, that one -- all right, it's not winning the race online right now. I think it's the -- what? The Bichon is winning.
ROBERTS: I haven't check lately, you know.
CHETRY: I care about the Obama's dog. I really do. They need to make the right choice.
Well, Barack Obama's memoir, by the way, best seller. The audio book, in fact, won a Grammy. But could his own words be fire power for those running against him in the general election?
Also, new rules could make it a lot more expensive for Americans wanting to visit family members in Cuba. We're going to look at how this could hurt those who are trying to help out their loved ones. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- breakdown. Life-saving vehicles sitting in the shop.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Defense Department is accepting risk here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: How a rush to production left the Army waiting for parts. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This bright green electric motorcycle is the bright idea of a team of teams from Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Aspiring engineers assigned a real-life challenge, designed and build a fuel-efficient vehicle.
MARK WESTLAKE, SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY: They work six days a week for 12 months building this.
LEVS: We met up with the teams in New York City as they took their bike on tour.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It can go 40, 50 miles on charge.
LEVS: Charging time -- three hours. Top speed -- 60 miles per hour. And that colorful steel shell is actually a safety feature.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has a roll cage that goes right up and over the driver and in the back it protects him in the event of an accident.
LEVS: But don't look for this bike at your local dealer. That's part of an M.I.T. program to inspire young inventors. The team's teacher will be the only one commuting with this creation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. The next step in this project is the solar charging station so that when the motorcycle comes to work with me in the morning, I'll just plug it in. By the end of the day, it will be fully recharged.
LEVS: And eventually the bike's parts will be cannibalized for some future student's bright idea. Josh Levs, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: The "Most Politics in the Morning" now. Issue number one at the forefront of the presidential campaign. Earlier this morning, we spoke with former candidate, former Massachusetts governor, and now McCain supporter Mitt Romney. I asked him about the recent calls to lower gas prices by opening a strategic petroleum reserve. He told us it's not a long-term solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is not enough oil being pumped out of the earth for the demand worldwide. And as a result, if we're going to see long-term energy prices brought down, we're going to have to have more supply and we're going to have to have more supply here in this country.
And that's why John McCain is focused on saying let's have additional drilling, let's build nuclear plants so we can have less expensive electric energy that will power some of our plug-in cars, and let's also use coal and gas in more aggressive ways.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: I also asked Governor Romney about the possibility of becoming John McCain's vice president. Shockingly, he wouldn't answer the question this morning. He said any Republican would be honored to join McCain's team.
John?
ROBERTS: 25 minutes after the hour. Barack Obama attack ads in his own words. Could opponents be using clips of his Grammy-award winning audio book "Dreams From My Father" for political attack ads?
Joining me now to talk more about this, another campaign news radio host, Joe Pagliarulo -- "Joe Pags" and Laura Flanders is also a host on Grittv.org.
Good morning. Welcome back to both of you.
JOE "PAGS" PAGLIARULO, RADIO/TV TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
ROBERTS: You guys did such a great job last week that we invited you back.
PAGLIARULO: Oh, great.
ROBERTS: It was the Fourth of July, too, and not enough people saw you. So we want to bring you back prime time here.
So Joe, you told me, you're thinking about maybe running this on your show tonight. It is an excerpt from "Dreams From My Father," the audio book in which Barack Obama is talking about his past drug use.
PAGLIARULO: Right.
ROBERTS: He's talked about this before. It's been in print. Many, many people have written it -- have read it, at least what's down in print. But let's listen to what he said in the audio book.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I kept playing basketball, attended classes sparingly, drank beer heavily and tried drugs enthusiastically. And if the high didn't solve whatever it was that was getting you down, it could at least help you laugh at world's ongoing folly and see through all the hypocrisy and (BLEEP) and cheap moralism. That's how it seemed to me then anyway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So there you have the senator talking about drug use as a kid. I mean, sounds to me like the perfect thing to go into some sort of attack ad or on some conservative radio show.
LAURA FLANDERS, RADIO/TV TALK SHOW HOST: Well, you know, it was the story the other day about John McCain and how he has a special place on the bus for reporters who he likes?
I think there are a whole lot of people, with all due respect, on talk radio side of the right wing, part of the spectrum, who want a nice seat on that bus. This is a silly story. The last time this story was investigated, you know, "The New York Times" ran a whole piece about Barack Obama's drug use.
The headline -- he didn't use as much as maybe he claimed in the book. This is just a right wing message coming out to us through mainstream media. You know, we run some pretty wacky stories on progressive radio why don't they show up (INAUDIBLE).
PAGLIARULO: It is so not. I mean, first of all, I'm a conservative radio talk show host. I also fill up for Glenn Beck on "CNN HEADLINE NEWS." I'll be on again tonight. And I'm not using this. I'm not going to attack that part of this. I mean, everybody made mistake when they were kids. This is not a conservative --
(CROSSTALK)
FLANDERS: He was overstating it.
ROBERTS: So why are you going to use it?
PAGLIARULO: Well, again, I'm not going to use that. I'll use the other part where Barack Obama had a tear in his eye about his reverend. Which in return, we're going to talk about in a second here. But, again, people make mistakes when they are younger.
(CROSSTALK)
PAGLIARULO: We didn't write that book, Laura. We didn't have that. We didn't make that audio -- you know, that sound bite where he's bleeped out. He's enthusiastic about his drug use.
(CROSSTALK)
PAGLIARULO: You're acting as if he pulled it out of the air. He did that. It's on him. He put it out there. It's perfectly open to discuss.
FLANDERS: If you want to go down this road, go forward, be my guest.
PAGLIARULO: But I don't care of his drug use and he's enthusiastic about drinking beer. Whatever. That doesn't bother. What bothers me is about his fundamental lack of ability to use good judgment here. He runs away from his reverend once the reverend attacks him, but he also talks about his reverend. He brought a tear to his eye because the reverend was so moving back in the day.
FLANDERS: Do I hear a rerun? I think we've been there on that.
PAGLIARULO: Well, he said it again. I mean, it is in his own words.
FLANDERS: Move on, Joe. The Americans have move on.
PAGLIARULO: I think you have. I think Barack Obama can't move on from his past.
ROBERTS: Well, let's move way on here. Way on to the year 2013, when John McCain says he's going to balance the budget. How does he do it? When you look at the math now, if you look at current budget assumptions, current economic assumptions, the year 2013 -- if you enact John McCain's tax cuts and you stick with President Bush's tax cuts, AMT -- if you're looking at a deficit of about $446 billion, that's a whole lot of cash he has got to come up with.
PAGLIARULO: It is. And he can't balance a budget by 2013. I'm not a John McCain supporter. I'm not Mitt Romney who's going to (INAUDIBLE), the vice president. He knows what's going on with that. He can't balance it by 2013. Even the economists who are on his side about his ideas were good and we can get there eventually. 2013 is way too progressive, if you will. I don't think it is going to happen. It is a nice pie in the sky, but it is not going to happen.
FLANDERS: It is way too much of a figment of his imagination. Even his own campaign budget guys came out yesterday and said, you know, that four-year number, that's just going to be an eight-year number. This is the new re-shaken up McCain campaign? I don't see it.
ROBERTS: The big question is if he wants to get to a balanced budget by 2013, what does he cut? Because he has got to cut the equivalent of the current non-security discretionary budget.
PAGLIARULO: Right.
ROBERTS: Which would mean, if he wanted to get to the number right away, you can eliminate the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, yadda yadda, yadda.
FLANDERS: Don't forget the guy wants to invade Iran as well.
PAGLIARULO: He doesn't want to invade Iran. Let's not throw that out there. (INAUDIBLE). Come on!
ROBERTS: What does he cut? What does he cut?
PAGLIARULO: Well, I think that cutting the public education system would be a good place to start. It stinks right now, but no he can't do that. I don't know what he cuts. I got to be honest with you. He's got to go back and reel back all that big government spending that George W. Bush did that people like me are very unhappy about. I don't know specifically what he has to cut, but by 2013, not going to happen.
FLANDERS: Well, you know, what, I hope you hear the glibness about the public school system. I know you didn't mean it, but --
PAGLIARULO: Oh, I didn't mean it. It stinks.
FLANDERS: We're doing a town hall meeting in Miami this weekend. People really care about these issues. Want some serious conversation about it. Personally last night I heard Barack Obama give a very serious speech about health care, education, immigration. He got a standing ovation. John McCain gave a reheated version word for word the same as a speech he gave the day before. He's got a clear contrast here.
ROBERTS: We should mention that Lulac is the League of United Latin American Citizens. Great to see you folks again. We'll get you back soon. Joe, Laura, thanks for being with us this morning -- Kiran.
CHETRY: We are following breaking news. Security surrounding U.S. diplomatic missions in Turkey now beefed up after an attack outside a U.S. consulate in Istanbul. At least six people killed including three police officers. Earlier we spoke with NPR reporter Ivan Watson who describes the U.S. ambassador is calling it a terrorist attack.
IVAN WATSON, NPR REPORTER: Two eyewitnesses described a gray Ford Focus pulling up outside the entrance to the U.S. consulate. There were four passengers inside. Three men got out and the driver then slowly moved off with the car. The three men who got out were armed and then proceeded to open fire on the Turkish police who stand just outside the entrance of the U.S. consulate. They attacked the police in their guard booth and in the ensuing battle, the three attackers were killed.
CHETRY: We'll continue to follow that story.
Also breaking this morning, Iran's flexing some military muscle in response to what it says are threats from the U.S. and Israel. State television says Tehran test fired nine medium and long ranged missiles during war games in the Persian Gulf including one capable of reaching Israel. The White House is condemning Iran's actions.
The U.S. general who led efforts to train Iraqi forces will tell congress today U.S. forces are still need on the ground in Iraq for the foreseeable future. Army Lieutenant General James Dubick will testify before a house panel today. Iraqi leaders are calling for a timetable for troops to withdraw as a condition of signing a new security deal with the U.S.
The military's toughest trucks help in saving countless American lives in Iraq but an alarming number of these armored fighting vehicles known as MRAPs are breaking down and the pentagon can't keep up with the repairs.
Our Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon with the CNN exclusive this morning.
Hi, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran. Well, as you say, the MRAP is one of most critical programs for soldiers, and it is a program in trouble.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: It is the best protection for soldiers against roadside bombs. The mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP. It's kept thousands of U.S. troops safe. But in the last several weeks, as many as 1 in 5 of the blast-resistant vehicles in Iraq has been out of commission. There haven't been enough spare parts to keep the fleet in working order, several military officials tell CNN. Commanders insist it's not a crisis, at least not yet. The problem, as U.S. fatalities rose from roadside bombs last year, the Pentagon began rushing more than 5,000 vehicles to Iraq, but the supply chain for spare parts couldn't keep up.
LT. COL. DAKOTA WOOD (RET.), MARINE CORPS/IRAQ VETERAN: You went from a production base of just a handful per month, to several hundred in a very quick order of time. One of the limiting factors when these were rushed into production was the availability of heavy duty transmissions and engines and axles and tires.
STARR: Soldiers are now using armored Humvees, or waiting for MRAPs to be fixed. The Pentagon predicted much of this last year.
JOHN YOUNG, DIR., DEFENSE RESEARCH & ENGINEERING: This is an extremely aggressive program and the defense department is accepting risk here.
STARR: There are other problems. These three army Special Forces soldiers drowned in Afghanistan last month when their MRAP vehicle rolled into a river. Investigators found the heavy weight and high center of gravity made the vehicle vulnerable to catastrophic rollovers. The Pentagon still plans to spend $22 billion to eventually put 12,000 MRAPs on the front lines.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Kiran, now the Pentagon says things have gotten a bit better in recent days as more spare parts have arrived but the MRAP still is vulnerable to those roadside bombs. They're now putting more armor on the sides of the vehicles to try and better protect soldiers still.
Kiran?
CHETRY: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon with those details, thank you.
ROBERTS: New this morning, two of the left wing guerrillas taken into custody during last week's dramatic rescue of 15 hostages in the Colombian jungle may soon face charges in the United States. The federal government plans to ask Colombia to extradite the two men today. And the leader of a rebel group in a letter to Colombia's government has proposed peace talks. Officials say the letter was dated before the deceptive raid was carried out.
Rescued FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt receiving a standing ovation from French lawmakers. The president of the French senate told the former Colombian presidential candidate she was always in their thoughts during the six years of captivity. And you're not going to want to miss a special Larry King Live. He is going to be speaking with Ingrid Betancourt tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern.
CHETRY: Well you know it is a tougher choice for women to conceive after 40, but does a man's age matter? Dr. Sanjay Gupta with a new report on 40-plus dads and how it could affect per fertility.
Also ahead, in these rough economic times, would you pay a psychic $10,000 a month to tell you what to do? Meet the woman who gets big bucks for her intuition and we put her to the test.
ROBERTS: Why new rules could double some airfares. Some Florida residents especially are not going to be happy about it. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Updating you now on some breaking news this morning. At least six people killed in a shoot out. It happened outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The U.S. ambassador to Turkey calls it an obvious act of terrorism. Istanbul's governor says gunmen drove up to the building opening fire killing three Turkish police officers. Police shot back. A gun battle lasted between three and five minutes. Three of the attackers were also killed.
ROBERTS: It's coming up on 39 minutes after the hour.
Americans wanting to visit family in Cuba can only go once every three years and they need a special license to go. Our Shasta Darlington reports they could soon need an awful lot of money thanks to a new law.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Kiran. You know very few Americans have ever been here to Cuba. But there are actually direct flights connecting the politically embattled countries every day. This scene is played out again and again in Cuba. Families divided by the Florida straits and feuding governments are reunited.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Roberto lives in Miami. His 2-year-old son is meeting his grandmother for the first time. She lives in Havana. "Because of American laws we can only come every three years," he says.
The U.S. embargo makes it difficult for most Americans to travel to the communist island. Still, there are some 30 direct passenger charter flights a week connecting Miami to Havana. For Cuban- Americans, it is a bridge to families left behind. And for relatives here, it's a lifeline of money and sorely needed goods.
This is basically where everyone arriving picks up all their bags. You can see there are tons of bags when people haven't been here for three years, they've got a lot of gifts and a lot of necessities people can't buy here that they want to bring in. Roberto brought a baby stroller for his nephew. Jerry and his parents brought medicine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like ice cream and some -- most of my family is diabetics so we bring them shots.
DARLINGTON: Direct flights were introduced in 1977 during a brief thaw on relations between Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro. Now thousands of people take them every year, after obtaining a special license from the U.S. treasury.
These families say things could get even harder if a new Florida law goes into effect imposing additional fees on travel agencies booking the flights to Cuba. Some believe prices could nearly double to $800 for the 45-minute flight. "We're the only ones they impose laws on," says this man. "We can't visit our own country but we're not at war."
Supporters of the law call it an attempt to cut down on travel fraud, and deny resources to the Cuban government. But these families are looking ahead to the U.S. presidential election, saying family ties, not politics, will determine who gets their vote.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DARLINGTON: But in the meantime, a federal court will hear arguments for and against the proposed Florida law in August. John? Kiran?
ROBERTS: Shasta Darlington this morning in Havana, thanks.
CHETRY: There is some new research saying older men have fertility problems as well, not just lower pregnancy rates but higher miscarriages as well. Our Sanjay Gupta is going to take a look.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, the corporate psychic.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Can you point to the person in the mail room and say future CEO?
LAURA DAY, INTUITIONIST: Yes.
CHETRY: Lola talks to the woman companies hire to predict the future. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Just in to CNN, Barack Obama now saying that he's had second thoughts after his entire family gave an interview to "Access Hollywood." We played some of it just a few minutes ago. He told ABC's "Good Morning America" today that things got a little bit carried away and he says he's going to be avoiding those kinds of interviews in the future. "Access Hollywood" sat down with the family, including the two children over the Fourth of July weekend. They were very articulate with a lot of interesting things to say. But apparently Senator Obama's decided that he's probably going to put the kibosh on that in the future.
Kiran?
CHETRY: When businesses and celebrities need a crystal ball they turn to one woman for her intuition. Don't call this woman a psychic. Here's CNN's Lola Ogunnaike.
OGUNNAIKE: You've seen psychics like Miss Cleo on television but you've probably never met anyone quite like Laura Day. That's why companies pay her $10,000 a month for what she calls her intuition.
DAY: It is an ability to gather information that you haven't been exposed to before. Once you add psychic, we talk to dead people --
OGUNNAIKE: Whatever you call her, she's busy. She's helped talent agencies choose new clients, tech companies revamp their marketing team, and law firms have even used her to help select juries.
When you walk into a company can you point to the person in the mail room and say "future CEO"?
DAY: Yes.
OGUNNAIKE: Do you ever tell the person who's hires you, I think you're the problem?
DAY: Yes, I have actually done that. My job is not to lie to people.
OGUNNAIKE: How does a fortune 500 company call a psychic and say, we're turning this over to you, tell us what to do.
KAREN PAGE, MARYLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL NETWORK OF WOMEN ALLIANCE: Actually makes a lot of sense when you think about the fact that businesses know the way they operate. What they don't know is the unknown. What they don't know is what the future holds.
OGUNNAIKE: It's not just companies. Her celebrity clients, they include Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman and Demi Moore who calls Laura a remarkable woman all because after power Laura believes we all have, a power she claims she just uses more than most of us.
DAY: An ER nurse in a bad neighborhood in an understaffed hospital. Unbelievable intuitive. Our soldiers, you know, bless them, they're intuitive.
OGUNNAIKE: We put my intuition to the test when Laura asked me to figure out what was in a room in her apartment.
For some reason, sun came to me.
DAY: Okay, keep going.
OGUNNAIKE: Wood. Color. These are just things coming to me. I don't know why. Almost something hanging like a crescent-shaped something.
DAY: We can stop there. There is a room with sun, and it actually has a rainbow quilt on it. There are hanging sheer curtains over. And you walk through an arch to get there. I would say very good for your first time around the block, friend.
OGUNNAIKE: Not bad. Not bad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: What was it?
OGUNNAIKE: She started having me free associate and all these things started coming to me. One of the things was a crescent. We went in the room and there was a rainbow quilt. CHETRY: You could possibly make 10 grand as well.
OGUNNAIKE: Quit my day job.
CHETRY: What did she say about your future? You had her sort of read you.
OGUNNAIKE: Of course I had to ask her if I had money in my future. You know it is all about the Benjamins. She said she actually saw a lot of money in my future but by the time I got it I wouldn't care about it anymore, I'd want to make a big difference. A big difference in my bank account maybe? She said, no, a real big difference.
CHETRY: Do you buy it?
OGUNNAIKE: You know I have to say I went into it really skeptical. I think I kind of buy it actually. I thought she was really cool and really accessible actually. I was kind of surprised. And it is hard to surprise me.
CHETRY: She says it's in all of us.
OGUNNAIKE: She says it's in all of us.
CHETRY: The money in our future, too, hopefully is in all of us. Thanks, Lola.
John?
ROBERTS: "CNN NEWSROOM" just minutes away now. Tony Harris at the CNN Center in Atlanta with a look at what's ahead. Good morning, Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey John. Good morning to you. Good morning, everyone. Warning shots in the "NEWSROOM" this morning. Iran test firing nine missiles, one of them it says could reach Israel.
Falling oil prices reverse course on the new tensions. 40 homes up in flames north of Sacramento. Erratic winds may mean new evacuations.
The FDA orders warning labels on certain antibiotics. Dr. Gupta tells us why we should be worried.
Did your car make the hot wheels list, the most stolen rides in the "NEWSROOM" top of hour on CNN. John, back to you.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to it. Tony, thanks.
Viral videos. All the rage on the internet. But can you really make popcorn with ringing cell phones? We reveal the secret for you this morning.
CHETRY: Also, new concerns for older men trying to become dads. Not only is it more difficult it can be risky for the pregnancy. AMERICAN MORNING'S Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look. Hey, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That ominous ticking of the biological clock is well established in women but what about in men? I'll have it for you after the break here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Eight minutes now to the top of the hour. 40-plus celebrities Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman welcome a baby girl after Kidman's well publicized attempts to get pregnant. Some new research this morning on older parents. French researchers have found conceiving is harder for men over age 40. The pregnancy is also more likely to end in miscarriage.
CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has read the research and joins us now live from Atlanta.
You know Sanjay, we hear with Charlie Chaplain fathering a child at 73, Anthony Quinn at 81, our own Larry King at 66. But the biological clock is doing this for both men and women?
GUPTA: Yeah. It turns out the answer to that question is probably yes. It's interesting because a lot of them made it sort of the biological clock for women. A third of women over 35 having trouble getting pregnant, that number going up by half as a woman hits 40. But you're right. You can also add Tony Randall to the list, having a baby in his 70s.
What's happening here? French researchers say they examined 1,200 infertile couples. They found the rate of miscarriage for a man around 30, about 14%. That's normal. If you get up to 45 years it more than doubles to 32%. They also found with this particular group of people in this study, over 1,200 infertile couples, most of the times the infertility problem was more on the man's side. This is something people don't think about as much. They typically look at the women, starting point for an investigation if there is trouble with infertility. But the man can also be the culprit as well.
ROBERTS: What's going - I mean it's well documented physiologically what happens with a woman. What's up with the guys?
GUPTA: What's up with the guy? Well they talk about the fact that there might be DNA damage in the sperm, for example. They talk about the fact that the overall sperm quality and sperm quantity decreases as you get older. Men's levels of testosterone also go down. Those are probably the primary culprits.
We looked at the study, something else emerged I thought was interesting. They talk a lot about Down's syndrome with older women, women over the age of 35 being more likely to have a child with Down's syndrome. Men over the age of 40 are more likely to have children with autism and schizophrenia. So not only is there problems with infertility and potential miscarriage but problems if the baby is born as well. It's an interesting topic for discussion. Pretty interesting results. ROBERTS: You know not to go off on too much of a tangent here but we talk about this dramatic increase in diagnosis of autism lately. Could that have something to do with people waiting until later in life to have babies?
GUPTA: That's exactly what I asked as well when I was thinking about it. It is hard to draw that connection now but on the one hand we don't know why there has been such an uptick in autism. We aren't sure about that. A lot of people say it could have something to do with the advanced age of the dad, in this case both parents in general.
ROBERTS: Something else to think about for sure. Sanjay, thanks. We should point out that Sanjay's getting the kids out of the way quite early in life.
Kiran?
CHETRY: Yes.
Coming up, who needs a microwave? The truth behind this startling video became an internet sensation, helped the company sell a ton of their products but what was making the popcorn pop? Was it really the cell phone?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: With the internet sensation, this viral video had people wondering if they could actually make popcorn colonels pop by using their cell phone. It turns out those viral videos that popped up last month were part of a guerrilla marketing campaign.
ROBERTS: When they first came out, a lot of people were wondering if you can use a cell phone to pop popcorn what's it doing to your brain when you've got it up to your ear? The company that made the video said that it won't reveal how it made the popcorn pop. But now in an exclusive in-depth interview with CNN, the man behind the videos lets us in on the secret.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These videos have become a global internet sensation. Friends making popcorn by simultaneously ringing their cell phones. But it turns out the videos were a hoax, and this is the man behind the joke.
ABRAHAM GLEZERMAN, CEO, CARDO SYSTEMS: I am happy that it surpassed our expectations.
CARROLL: Abraham Glezerman is the CEO of Credit Cardo Systems. He says the videos were actually an internet advertisement for the company's product, Bluetooth headsets. It is known as viral advertising because when consumers like what they see they pass them along, like a virus.
How did you come up with the concept for this? GLEZERMAN: We sat down and said how can we create something that's funny, hilarious and causes people to try and emulate it and eventually, of course, touching on our business.
CARROLL: And it worked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is mine.
CARROLL: Some posted their own video versions trying to solve the mystery of how they got those kernels to pop. One disassembled a microwave. Finally, for the first time the real answer.
GLEZERMAN: The real thing is a mixture between a kitchen stove and digital editing.
CARROLL: You fried the popcorn separately somewhere else and then just dropped it in there, then digitally removes the kernels.
GLEZERMAN: Absolutely. You got it.
CARROLL: Did it really make the point to buy the company's Bluetooth?
REUBEN HENDELL, CEO, MRM WORLDWIDE: You kind of get too quirky or too obtuse with what you're trying to say, people miss the whole idea. We really never meant to insinuate any of that. The truth is that it was funny.
CARROLL: And what about the idea of the media trying to scare people from holding cell phones close to their heads?
GLEZERMAN: We never meant to insinuate any of that.
CARROLL: This wasn't about scaring people.
CARROLL: It wasn't about scaring. It wasn't. If it was the reactions would have been totally different. People laughed.
CARROLL: How do you top yourself when you've done something like that?
GLEZERMAN: Stealth marketing has to maintain a secret and you don't use the world stage to let them know. But stay tuned. Next round is coming.
CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
ROBERTS: So, let's see. So, they made people believe you could pop popcorn with a cell phone to encourage them to buy -- encourage you to buy their Bluetooth. But they weren't...
CHETRY: I have to laugh because of all of our theories didn't work. They were not correct. We thought they were actually using some sort of heating element underneath the table to get the popcorn to pop.
ROBERTS: It's just like they make those "Star Wars" movies, folks. They're not real either.
CHETRY: Well, thanks so much for joining us this morning. We're going to see you back here tomorrow.
ROBERTS: Right now, CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins.
