Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Iran's Presidential Blog; More 9/11 Tapes Released; Are the Texas Three Victims of Racial Profiling?

Aired August 16, 2006 - 14:28   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Broiled in an international standoff, determined to process uranium regardless of the diplomatic fallout, well, perceived in much of the world as a radical, a loose cannon, even a lunatic.
Do you write a blog? Well, the president of Iran is looking to win over hearts and minds online, as we now hear from CNN's Tom Foreman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Iranian president is under pressure for spending money on a nuclear program and charges that Iran is supporting Hezbollah, while 40 percent of his people live below the poverty line.

So, he is turning to the blogosphere to shore up support among conservative Muslims at home and abroad. But his new site on the World Wide Web is itself drawing a world of critics.

HADI GHAEMI, IRAN RESEARCHER, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: He is desperately trying to shore up his popularity, because, at such a critical time, he needs the support of the people. And -- and we know that there is a growing frustration with his policies within Iran. So, he's trying to change that. But I'm not sure if it's going to be successful.

FOREMAN: President Ahmadinejad's blog, a sort of online diary and discussion site, is available in four languages, and doesn't say much in any of them.

He tells about his childhood, some Iranian history, asks if readers think the U.S. and Israel are trying to start World War III. And, of course, he calls America "The Great Satan."

But human rights activists say, while he is using the Web to expand his freedom of speech, Ahmadinejad is cracking down on anyone who criticizes him.

GHAEMI: The government's attempts to control the Internet, to increase filtering, and to prosecute people who write critical views, express their critical views on the Internet, has increased.

FOREMAN: It is not uncommon for leaders to embrace new technology or popular culture when they're trying to win support. Bill Clinton played saxophone, Richard Nixon, the piano. Even Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, while visiting the ailing Fidel Castro this week, played it for laughs, making a joke about the size of Castro's nose.

But, when older leaders try this sort of thing, it's often aimed at younger supporters. And, sure enough, in Iran right now, the median age is 25. So, will the president be able to wow the younger crowd there enough with his future blogging to shut down the critics? Like they say in Tehran, we will keep you posted.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, so Iran's president appreciated the appeal to reach the impact of the Internet. Other people, other bloggers, are punishing Iran for recognizing the same thing.

Jim Walsh joins me now. He's a security analyst at MIT and an expert on terrorism and the Middle East.

Were you surprised when you saw the blog? I was a bit taken back, Jim.

JIM WALSH, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Kyra, I wasn't that surprised. In part because, as the report indicates before, Iran is a young country and it heavily uses the Internet. Persian, the language written and spoken in Iran -- Persian ranks third among all languages for Web sites. So, Iranians, both in Iran and abroad in Los Angeles and Bethesda and Paris and London, are intense users of the Web. And so it makes sense that the president would try to take advantage of that.

PHILLIPS: But isn't this been -- this is also someone allegedly torturing and putting away people that blog and use the Internet to talk against his regime.

WALSH: Sure. That's absolutely right. And it is regrettable. It's a violation of human rights. But it is not, unfortunately, unusual. In China, there are restrictions on how you can use the Internet and in other media. In Iran, if you have a newspaper that publishes an article criticizing Islam or criticizing the clerics, that newspaper gets shut down, those people get arrested. Some of them may be tortured. So that sort of practice is rather, unfortunately, common in countries. This is just that same set of practices applied to a new media, the Internet.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's talk about the timing of everything going on here -- Jim. Recently, Ahmadinejad did this interview with Mike Wallace. Mike Wallace asking him about weapons, Iranian weapons supporting Hezbollah. He denied that. And then he -- a couple days later, he comes forward and holds this huge rally, makes this big speech praising the people who he says stood up against America, England and the Zionist regime, referring to Hezbollah as decent, devout young people. Has he made his anti-Israel message clear?

WALSH: Oh, I certainly think so. And, certainly, the early comments, right after he was elected, about Israel and doubts about the Holocaust, those first impressions stick. He's toned down some of the rhetoric for international audiences. But this has been a political winner for him, and the war between Hezbollah and Israel is a political winner, domestically and in the region for Iran.

Despite what President Bush has said, in the Arab and Muslim world, the recent conflict was seen as a victory for Hezbollah, not for Israel. It was viewed as the little guy standing up against the big guy and at least fighting to a draw. And, insofar as Iran has helped Hezbollah, whether financially, politically, or with arms, that is seen as a victory within the domestic politics of Iran. So those are all things that have helped Ahmadinejad these last several months.

PHILLIPS: With regard to a vision of the Middle East and what could happen next, and sort of the bigger picture, Condoleezza Rice came forward and made a statement. Then not long after that, Bashar al-Assad of Syria responded, sort of twisting -- well, adding an interesting spin, shall we say.

Let's take a listen to what they both said and I want to get your reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's time for a new Middle East. It is time to say to those who do not want a different kind of Middle East that we will prevail, they will not.

PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA (through translator): Their new Middle East that is built on humiliation and degradation and -- degrade their population of their rights, and has been transformed into a popular revolution, an honorable one, and with Arab identity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A popular revolution, an honorable one. Meanwhile, Condoleezza Rice sending out a bit of a different message there. When you hear the two tales, what do you think, future-wise? Is there a larger revolution about to happen?

WALSH: Well, I think in the near term, both these leaders are being overly optimistic. Condoleezza Rice, I think -- it's wishful thinking to suggest that, because of this particular battle between Hezbollah and Israel, suddenly the map will be remade in the Middle East.

You'll remember that, in the early phases of the war in Iraq, we heard that same rhetoric, that the war in Iraq would lead to a flowering of democracy and the region would be remade. Well, that hasn't happened. And I doubt very seriously whether President Assad is correct either, that somehow this standoff between Hezbollah and Israel is going to reshape the region.

I think we're in for more stalemate, for more Arab/Israeli tension, more problems in Iraq. I think we're more -- much more likely to get more of the same than we are sort of a magical resolution of our problems, either in one direction or the other.

PHILLIPS: Jim Walsh, always great to have you.

WALSH: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, straight ahead; like father, like son. A young man one generation from the right hand of Osama bin Laden. What choices did he have, what chances did he have and why did he decide to put a legacy of terrorism right behind him? His fascinating story, straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So, has it really been five years? Today, New York City is releasing more tapes of emergency calls made on 9/11, despite last words that have never been heard in public, but have just been heard by families of some of those victims.

CNN's Allan Chernoff has the latest in New York. Why now, Allan?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it actually has taken quite a long time, as you know. In March, there were some calls that had been released. And, now, the fire department is saying, well, there was a mismanagement, miscommunication. All of these calls being released today. More than 1,600, the fire department says, actually should have been released back in March.

Anyhow, these calls do give a sense of the terror and also the trauma that many people experienced during their final hour. For example, 32-year-old Melissa Doi, trapped on the 83rd floor of South Tower. She says in her phone call with the 911 operator, "I'm going to die." The 911 operator trying to calm her down saying, "just breathe easily, think positive, say your prayers" and remaining on the line even as Melissa Doi is no longer speaking on the line, apparently succumbing to the smoke.

And, also, we do hear about the bravery of the firefighters, many people off-duty reporting in for duty, lots of conversations with the dispatchers. Some of the family members of firefighters who fell during 9/11 today spoke out and they said they were disappointed it took so long for these calls to be made public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALLY REGENHARD, SON KILLED ON 9/11: For the first time, we learned that my son's engine company was one of those engine companies reporting on West Street to Tower Two. We heard a name of a chief who mentioned this run down. That is more information than I have been given by the city of New York in five years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: We also learned more about the state of confusion that actually did occur on 9/11, even fire chiefs themselves calling into dispatchers saying we're in a state of chaos over here. And one dispatcher, in fact, saying let's get all the chaplains down to the World Trade Center, anyone who is available -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Allen, will we have a chance to hear these tapes or is that something that won't happen?

CHERNOFF: Yes, we actually do have them in hand and we will be playing these tapes within our packages for this evening, appearing on Paula Zahn and also Anderson Cooper's show, as well, this evening.

PHILLIPS: All right. Allan Chernoff, thanks so much.

We've heard so many stories of heroism and bravery since 9/11, but one of the heroes who saved lives in Tower One that day has been anonymous until now. The new "World Trade Center" movie tells the story of a former marine who showed up to help with the rescues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're never going to get down there with all that gear, buddy. Let's try this, Marine KA-BAR. Best knife ever made.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got a name, Marine?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Staff Sergeant Carns (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something a little shorter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Staff sergeant.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, not even Hollywood producers could track down the real man who found two Port Authority police officers alive in that rubble, but far from Hollywood in New York City, former Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jason Thomas living in Columbus, Ohio, saw a commercial for the movie and knew it was his story. These are photos of him at Ground Zero. His aunt persuaded him to go public and tonight, our Gary Tuchman shares the story of this Marine hero on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That's 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

If it appears the daily news from Iraq is worse lately, it is. Last month, July, was the single deadliest month for Iraqi civilians since the war began. The numbers are staggering. On average in July, 110 Iraqi civilians died violently every day. Multi-national forces and the Iraqi army are working together to reverse those figures.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck is in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Soldiers on patrol in a Sunni neighborhood of Baghdad. These are members of Iraq's Sixth Army Division, according to their U.S. counterparts, one of the most disciplined in the Iraqi armed forces. They are accompanied by U.S. forces but, here, it is the Iraqis who are taking the lead. COL. ROBERT SCURLOCK, U.S. ARMY: They are the lead element. We are supporting them. They are the ones doing the inspections of the houses and businesses, and we're providing outer cordon for them and providing the extra forces required. We provide the mobility, so they're doing exceptionally well.

WHITBECK: The patrols are classic search missions designed to root out possible insurgents from some of Baghdad's most dangerous districts. The number of patrols has increased since the U.S. upped the number of its troops on ground by about 4,000 soldiers.

(on camera): But as the military increases its security patrols, figures from the Ministry of Health indicate they have their work cut out for them. The Baghdad morgue says it received more than 1,800 bodies in the month of July, bodies of people who were the victims of violence. That is nearly 20 percent higher than the month of June and it accounts for nearly half the recorded deaths in the entire country.

(voice-over): Securing the capital is an urgent mission and U.S. soldiers say the city's residents can play a part.

SCURLOCK: It's important that we show them, with their help and with the Iraqis in front, that we can make this happen. It's time that they get tired of the sectarian violence. It's up to the Iraqi people to make this successful, and we're here to help any way we can.

WHITBECK: So far, the patrols have netted hidden arms caches and led to the arrests of suspects, but for now the violence continues unabated and citizens of the capital just look on.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Terror targets or victims of racial profiling?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The normal burden, as we know, is that, you know, innocent until proven guilty. These days, in the post-9/11 era, it's like you're guilty until you're proven innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: An update on the legal status of the "Texas Three," straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Legal fights behind him, now Abraham Cherrix can wage the medical fight of his life on his own terms. The 16-year-old Virginia boy has Hodgkin's Disease but does not want chemotherapy. Social workers accused his family of neglect, but an agreement reached today lets Abraham see an oncologist of his choosing, one who offers alternative treatments. He still has to update the court on his progress every three months until he's cured or turns 18. They broke a big story on Barry Bonds, but two reporters for the "San Francisco Chronicle" say they won't break their word to their sources. A federal judge is threatening to jail Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada if they don't tell a grand jury who leaked testimony to another grand jury investigating big-time athletes and steroids. The reporters and the paper say they'll fight that order all the way.

Terrorists or businessmen? A foiled plot or ethnic profiling? Three men from Texas who set off alarm bells in Michigan with a van load of cell phones are still being held, despite public doubts from the Feds and the state that any foul play was afoot.

CNN's Jonathan Freed has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Mackinac Bridge in upper Michigan is five miles long. Is it a terror target, or are the men suspected of plotting to attack it targets themselves, of racial profiling?

Two hundred miles from the bridge in the small town of Caro, three Texas men were arrested early Friday morning after paying cash for 80 prepaid cell phones at a local Wal-Mart. A suspicious store clerk called police who stopped the men and found about 1,000 cell phones in their rented minivan.

Police also found photos of the bridge. The men are American, of Palestinian descent and were charged with providing material support for terrorism and obtaining information of a vulnerable target for the purposes of terrorism. The suspects claim they were just planning to resell the phones in Texas for a profit.

Devices like cell phones have been used to detonate bombs and federal authorities have been warning local law enforcement to be on the lookout for purchases of large numbers of them. On Monday, the FBI, Michigan Homeland Security, and even the governor's office all declared there is no link to terrorism in the case.

COL. PETER MUNOZ, DIRECTOR, MICHIGAN STATE POLICE: The determination was made that the bridge was not a target, this was not terrorism related.

FREED: But the county prosecutor has not dropped the charges, insisting the investigation is not over.

(on camera): Does what's happened make you angry as their attorney?

NABIH AYAD, LAWYER FOR TEXAS MEN: It doesn't make me angry. It makes me sad.

FREED (voice-over): The lawyer for the so-called "Texas Three" says if the men were Caucasian, no one would have thought twice about what they were doing. AYAD: What are they guilty of? I mean, you can't -- I mean, it's kind of a shame these days where Arab-Americans, you know, the normal burden, as we know, is that innocent until proven guilty. These days, in the post-9/11 era, it's like you are guilty until you are proven innocent.

FREED: It is at least the second incident in recent days of Arab men arrested for bulk buying cell phones. Two men face similar terrorism-related charges in Ohio, but they have since been dropped. The U.S. attorney general says it's legitimate to ask questions when something is out of the ordinary.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We don't want to get into issues relating to racial profiling or infringing upon the civil liberties of Americans but, again, you know, we're in a post-9/11 world.

FREED: The lawyer for the men says he believes they are not guilty, and the case should be dismissed.

Jonathan Freed, CNN, Caro, Michigan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And you can catch more of Jonathan Freed's reports on "PAULA ZAHN NOW," weeknights at 8:00 Eastern.

Steps in the right direction for Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. The 3-year-old colt has started daily walks almost three months after shattering his right hind leg in the Preakness. Complications -- complicating, rather, his recovery is a severe case of laminitus in his left rear hoof. And while he still has a long way to go, his doctors say walking is a good start.

It won't be the house that Ruth built, but it's as close as it can be. Ground was broken this morning for the new Yankee Stadium. It happens 58 years to the day after Babe Ruth's death. The billion dollar ball field is going up next door to its predecessor, and will look a lot like it, with the same facade, fence length and field dimensions. It's set to be ready for opening day 2009.

Louisiana Congressman Bobby Jindal is used to delivering for his constituents, but what about for his wife? It was a first for the politician-turned-obstetrician. That story, straight ahead on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Bobby Jindal delivers. It could be a new campaign slogan for the Louisiana congressman, but it's more about OBGYN than the GOP.

CNN's Carol Costello reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: I am a big sister! COSTELLO: Four-year-old Celia (ph) Jindal is enjoying the new addition to her family. Her baby's arrival early Tuesday morning caught her parents off guard. Louisiana Congressman Bobby Jindal says his wife Supriya woke him up at 2:00 a.m. with labor pains and a surprise announcement.

JINDAL: I hear her yelling. We were in our bedroom -- in our bathroom. I hear her yelling to me, saying, "The baby's coming now!" And literally, the next thing I saw was my child's head about to appear.

COSTELLO: Jindal called 911, but the baby arrived before the ambulance.

JINDAL: I gathered some towels, I did all those things they tell you're supposed to do. I offered her ice, breathed with her, did all those things. After several screams and several excruciating minutes -- I'm sure it was a lot longer for her than me -- my wife delivered a beautiful healthy baby boy.

COSTELLO: Slade Ryan Jindal weighed in at eight pounds, two ounces.

Jindal told reporters he once considered a medical career.

JINDAL: I did apply to medical school and put it off, and kept thinking I was going to go. To my father's regret, I never did go.

COSTELLO: But having seen his wife give birth twice before, well, it was enough to help Jindal complete his overnight delivery.

JINDAL: We were very blessed it was not an extremely complicated birth. My wife did all the work. I mean, I really -- my job was to just make sure that the baby didn't get entangled in the umbilical cord, the baby came out smoothly. He was breathing.

One of the things I found out at the hospital, something I've never done before, I'm actually going to have to sign the birth certificate as the delivering physician.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Carol's report first aired on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING, with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien, weekdays beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.

Well, when Harry met Sally, he was there. When mid-life boredom struck, he was a city slicker. And long before that, he hung with a future godfather. He's Bruno Kirby, a longtime character who, we're report, has died from complications from leukemia. He learned only recently that he had it and, apart from playing Billy Crystal's sidekick in "City Slickers" and when "Harry Met Sally," well, Kirby co-starred in "The Freshman" and "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Donnie Brasco," and "The Godfather: Part 2." Bruno Kirby was 57 years old.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com