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Kidnapped Journalist in Iraq; Plot To Kidnap Tony Blair's Son; New Orleans Mayor Takes Back Comments

Aired January 18, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll go ahead and get started here and take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
News of a possible plot to kidnap British Prime Minister Tony Blair's son. The "Sun" tabloid reports that furring (ph) members of a father's rights group planned to snatch the five-year-old and hold him for a while. We'll bring you a live report from London in just a few minutes.

This hour, the international watchdog group Human Rights Watch issues a scathing report on America's treatment of terror suspects. The group accuses the Bush White House of enforcing a deliberate strategy to abuse detainees during interrogations. The White House has long deny such claims, but the group says those statements have been deceptive and ring hollow.

A joint U.S.-Iraqi operation is underway in the insurgent hotbed of the Anbar Province. About 1,000 U.S. troops are working with Iraqi army soldiers in the counterterrorism operation. The mission's goal, capturing insurgents and their arsenals in the western Euphrates River's valley.

And right now, a live picture from the Pentagon. The secretary of the army confronts the past year of sagging military recruitment. The Defense Department will offer bigger bonuses to high school and college graduates in hopes of signing more than 30,000 new recruits over the summer. The secretary will also discuss retention and force protection.

Former President Gerald Ford could be released from the hospital as early as tomorrow. The 92-year-old Ford said to be responding well to his treatment for pneumonia. He was first hospitalized on Saturday and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics.

Good morning to you on this Wednesday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.

We begin this hour in Iraq. That is where authorities are searching for a kidnaped American journalist. Insurgents released this videotape of Jill Carroll, along with a threat to kill her if the U.S. doesn't free Iraqi women held in military custody. Carroll appears to be pale and tired. It's a tape that only lasts 20 seconds. Dan Lothian has the latest.

Dan, good morning.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Well, certainly this is a difficult day for the family members and the friends of Jill Carroll. That is the first time that they've had a chance to see her. She was kidnaped on January 7th and no word from her abductors and no videotape at all until this one surfaced. And as you mention, no audio with that, but the message calling for all of the Iraqi women prisoners to be released from jail. This organization calling on the U.S. to release them.

The family members have been unwilling so far to go on camera. They've been releasing statements. And most of those statements seem to go at the heart of what their daughter and the sister was doing over there in Iraq, covering a very important story. And not only just covering the story, but having a close connection with the people who she was covering.

The family releasing a statement and saying that "Jill is an innocent journalist and we respectfully ask that you please show her mercy and allow her to return home to her mother, sister and family. Jill is a kind person whose love for Iraq and the Iraqi people are evident in her articles. She's been welcomed into the home of many Iraqis an shown every courtesy. From the experience she understands the hardships and suffering that the Iraqi people face every day. Jill is a friend and sister to many Iraqis and has been dedicated to bringing the truth of the Iraq War to the world. We appeal for the speedy and safe return of our beloved daughter and sister."

Friends say Carroll, who graduated from the University of Massachusetts, was living her dream of being a foreign correspondent. She's described as eager, but cautious. "Christian Science Monitor" says vigorous efforts are underway on many fronts to locate and secure her safe release.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Dan Lothian live from Boston, thank you

Other news from Iraq. Kidnappers have abducted more than 200 foreigners in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion. That includes several Americans whose fates remain unknown. Ronald Schulz, a civilian contractor from North Dakota, is believed to have been executed. The same fate is widely feared for Keith Matthew Maupin, a soldier from Ohio. Besides Jill Carroll, there are still no words on Americans Jeffrey Ake, and Tom Fox.

Later this hour at the White House, President Bush will try to drive home the abuses of the Saddam Hussein regime. Mr. Bush will meet with people who say they were victims of the dictator. One guest will be a former Kurdish military officials whose daughter was allegedly kidnaped by Saddam Hussein's people.

This hour at the U.S. State Department, Iran's nuclear program again taking center stage. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pushes ahead for international action when she meets with the top policymaker for the European Union. That would be Javier Solana. Together they'll discuss options, including possible action by the U.N. Security Council. Tehran, meanwhile, is warning that such a move would invite a cut in its oil exports and push up prices of oil worldwide.

On to London now at five minutes past the hour. A bizarre plot to tell you about here. Police are being tight-lipped about this one. An alleged plot to kidnap Prime Minister Tony Blair's five-year-old son. Now according to media reports, it was, at worst, a publicity stunt by an extremist group well known for its headline grabbing gimmicks. At best, it was just idle chat and an empty threat. Here to explain, CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley.

Robin, hello.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.

Well, it's important to stress here that this was not a kidnap attempt by some al Qaeda terrorist group, or even a criminal group seeking a ransom from the prime minister over his five-year-old youngest son Leo. As you say, this was potentially a stunt by a group of extremists linked to Fathers for Justice. They're a group who campaigned for fathers in divorce cases to get better access to their children.

And what police seem to have picked up is conversations about a plot among some extremists linked to that group, or perhaps former members of that group, and they were talking about abducting Leo and holding him for a few hours in order to draw attention to their cause. But nobody has been arrested over this and the police don't seem to have any hard evidence. They believe that the group probably weren't even capable of carrying out the threats that they were discussing.

But, because this group, Fathers for Justice, have in the past indulged in some spectacular breaches of security at Buckingham Palace, for example, when they dressed up in Batman costumes as they tend to do, they've also got into the House of Commons and thrown flour bombs at the prime minister during question time, the police had to take seriously any threats they heard being discussed by this group.

Daryn.

KAGAN: But in terms of it really being discussed, it's really much more in the tabloid media at this point, Robin?

OAKLEY: Yes. There's been a fair old media froth about this story an very few facts because the police won't say anything on the record. Downing Street, the prime minister's staff, won't say anything on the record. The only people who are really talking about it are Fathers for Justice who say that they're so horrified that extremists linked to their cause should behave in this way, they're even thinking of disbanding.

They say, look, we're all about direct action with a touch of humor to draw attention to our cause. We're in the business of uniting fathers and their kids, not separating them. So they're pretty horrified by all of this. And they're the only people really with anything to say about it.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, well, good point. And, yes, nothing humorous about even suggesting that you would kidnap somebody's son.

Robin, thank you.

Let's move on from Tony Blair to the British royals and the story of a man who claimed to be a member of that family. If so, what's he doing attending a public high school in rural Minnesota? Classmates started looking for information about him. They made some shocking revelations.

Also ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY, the lone survivor from that explosion inside of a West Virginia coal mine. We'll get a live update from doctors on Randy McCloy's condition. That's coming at the bottom of the hour.

And one day after his very colorful comments, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is changing his tune. We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. News from the U.S. Supreme Court. It concerns an abortion law out of New Hampshire. A law that New Hampshire passed back in 2003 that makes it illegal for an abortion to be performed on a minor unless a parent or legal guardian was notified in writing 48 hours in advance. The only exception in that case was if the procedure was necessary to prevent the minor's death.

Well, that had worked its way up through the appeals court and now the U.S. Supreme Court not taking the case, but kicking it back down to a lower court and asking them to look at and reconsider the constitutionality of the New Hampshire abortion law. So kicking it back down to have a lower court look at it once again in terms of constitutional issues. Our Jeffrey Toobin is going to be along later in our morning and we'll be sure to talk to him about this and what that means out of the U.S. Supreme Court.

OK. Let's get to "Top Five Tips." And for a lot of you, it's been a mild winter so far. But, you know, that can change pretty fast. In today's "Top Five Tips," we're going to look at how to best deal with snow other than pulling up the covers and going back to sleep or heading to Hawaii, which sounds good to me. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is with us.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good to see you, Daryn.

Well, if going to Hawaii is not in the budget this year, then you've got to get ready because we're probably going to get some snow at some point. So start by getting the right kind of salt. You can start with rock salt if you live in some warmer climates. It's cheap. It doesn't cost that much. Maybe $6 to $8 per bag. That's a great deal. But if the live in colder climates, you're going to want to get calcium chloride. It's more expensive but it works at those colder temperatures.

Daryn.

KAGAN: And you don't want to use too much.

WILLIS: Don't use too much. Overusing it can create problems. Look, it's corrosive. It's going to hurt your concrete and your driveway, particularly if you've already got problems with it. The best way to use it is before that storm even hits your neighborhood, go out, put a very thin layer out there so that it starts melting right away. It creates less work for you and, of course, Daryn, you've got to keep Fido out of the way when you do that because it is bad, bad, bad for pets, cats and dogs. It can even kill them if they eat that salt. So you want to keep them away.

KAGAN: Yes, it's not good for their little paws, either, as well.

WILLIS: No.

KAGAN: Some people use fertilizer?

WILLIS: Bad idea. I'm here to warn against using the fertilizers instead of salt. Here's why. It doesn't really do much. What's more, you know, it freezes, it gets wet, it gets soggy, and then you've got frozen fertilizer on your concrete driveway. Not good.

KAGAN: I've got to tell you, I'm learning about all this. I've never lived in snow. So, who knew?

WILLIS: Well, well, you know, I'm telling you . . .

KAGAN: A snow blower? I have a leaf blower.

WILLIS: Down there in Atlanta you don't need all this stuff.

KAGAN: No.

WILLIS: But if you live in other places, you got to buy the old snow blower, particularly if you're trying to save your back. But here's the deal, Daryn. People buy these massive snow blowers. They can be 250 pounds. Not really saving your back, you know what I mean? You've got to shop smart.

KAGAN: Oh, because you've got to push it.

WILLIS: Right. Right.

KAGAN: Exactly.

Now you want to be safe with that snow blower as well.

WILLIS: Be safe with the snow blower. Make sure you have a dead-man button. This is just a button you can push to turn the thing off immediately if you're having problems. If you've got an electric snow blower, which are used in warmer climates, make sure that you keep the plug out of the way, the extension cord, because if you run over it, you can electrocute yourself. Be sure you do that. Be sure to keep the cats and dogs out of the way. Be safe, be dry and don't fall on the ice.

KAGAN: Or consider moving some place like Atlanta where you only go to visit snow.

WILLIS: Or maybe California.

KAGAN: (INAUDIBLE). Well, there's parts of California where it snows. Here to it does. I'm talking too much because sometimes it does snows here and the whole city shuts down and we know nothing. So there you go, Ger.

WILLIS: That's not bad either, staying home.

KAGAN: Yes, that's it. That's another five tips.

Thank you, Gerri.

WILLIS: That's right. Thank you.

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and see how the markets are doing. Looks like investors might be staying home. Kind of a rough start on Wall Street. You can see the Dow is down 28 points. Nasdaq in negative territory as well. Nasdaq down 22 points right now.

Also, we want to go back and look at this news that we're seeing that was coming out of the U.S. Supreme Court. A nine to nothing decision, the U.S. Supreme Court taking this abortion notification law that comes out of New Hampshire. They passed it there back in 2003.

It basically says that a minor cannot get an abortion unless a parent or legal guardian was notified in writing 48 hours in advance. Well, that has made its way up to the Supreme Court and it has now kicked it back down to a lower court saying the lower court must look at the constitutional issues and the constitutionality of that law. Unanimous decision out of the U.S. Supreme Court.

We are going back to class in New Orleans. Thousands of college students have returned to their once crippled campuses after an unexpected semester away thanks to Hurricane Katrina. We'll talk about how college life has changed for them when Education Secretary Margaret Spellings joins me live. She's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A number of developing stories coming in to us here at CNN this morning.

First, want to go back to the story that's breaking out of the U.S. Supreme Court. Nine to nothing, a unanimous decision as the high court sends back down to lower courts in New Hampshire this abortion notification law passed back in 2003. That law says that a minor cannot have an abortion unless a parent or guardian has been notified of that procedure in writing 48 hours in advance of the abortion. Well, a lower court struck down the law saying it was unconstitutional. Now the U.S. Supreme Court, nine to nothing, saying you need to go back and look at that lower court and see if it, indeed, is unconstitutional.

By the way, an interesting fact on this decision. Sandra Day O'Connor is the one who wrote the majority -- or unanimous opinion. And we're going to be talking with our Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin. He'll be joining us on the phone here very briefly to talk about this decision and what it means.

Also, out of Florida, NASA deciding today to scrub the launch of the New Horizons probe. That's the probe that's meant to go nine or 10 years and it will take that long to get to Pluto and gather information. Yesterday they scrubbed it because of weather. Today's scrubbing once again. And we'll see if they are going to try again for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, let's check on the tinder dry conditions. Needed only a spark in Oklahoma City. A state highway patrol car apparently provided that. Police were involved in a search when the patrol car apparently ignited this brush fire. The car was destroyed by the flames. Dozens of fires have erupted across the southern plains in recent weeks burning hundreds of thousands of acres.

Not a surprise to our Jacqui Jeras who has been following very closely very dry conditions across plains.

Hello.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: On to New Orleans now. The mayor, Ray Nagin, has apologized for Monday's remark that New Orleans is a chocolate city. But residents are still talking about the controversial comment.

CNN's Sean Callebs has the story from New Orleans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Mayor Ray Nagin started a meeting on the commission to bring back New Orleans by trying to take something back.

MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: And I said some things that were totally inappropriate.

CALLEBS: Monday during a speech honoring Martin Luther King Jr., this is how Nagin characterized his belief that New Orleans will once again be predominantly African-American.

NAGIN: It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild a New Orleans. The one that should be a chocolate New Orleans. And I don't care what people are saying uptown or wherever they are, this city will be chocolate at the end of the day.

CALLEBS: Nagin now says he was caught up in the moment.

NAGIN: And I need to be more sensitive and more aware of what I'm saying. And I want everybody to be welcome in New Orleans, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, everyone.

CALLEBS: His controversial remarks fueled talk radio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nagin's a nice guy, but how did he fit that whole big foot in his mouth?

CALLEBS: Nagin is trying to undue damage, like the disconnect expressed by this former city resident.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After hearing Mayor Nagin's comments, I would never come back because I'm Caucasian, I'm white, and I'm not chocolate, so I guess we're not welcome back.

CALLEBS: Off the air and on the street, Nagin's comments were the talk of the town.

JULIE HIFFER, RESIDENT: And I feel like what he said was very self-serving. I think it serves his own purposes, but it, you know, it doesn't do anything to help us.

CALLEBS: Others appreciated the candor.

LATOYA CANTRELL, RESIDENT: And I think that that was his way, not -- I don't know if it was the best way -- but that was, I think, that was his way of letting everyone know that the city is not going to abandon the black population.

CALLEBS: Barbara Major (ph) is co-chair of the commission to bring back New Orleans. She says there are much greater concerns to focus on.

BARBARA MAJOR, CO-CHAIR: When they heard chocolate, they heard black, and apparently that scared the hell out of some people. But it was black before Katrina, so why all the hysteria over it being black after Katrina?

CALLEBS: Pollster Silas Lee says there's a lot more to it than that. He says Nagin was a local maverick who needs to realize he's now on a national stage.

SILAS LEE, POLLSTER: It's almost equivalent of someone walking up to you and slapping you, then they apologize. Yes, you may accept the apology, but you certainly will remember the fact that they slap you.

CALLEBS: The mayor says his remarks were meant as a call for African-Americans to return, saying they're a vital part of New Orleans' past, its culture and its future. Nagin's apology came quickly. The last thing this city needs right now, many say, is divisive dialogue. Sean Callebs, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, here's something New Orleans needs and is getting, college students. Thousands of them are returning as school goes back into session with a number of colleges there. Just ahead this hour, I'll talk with Education Secretary Margaret Spellings talking about college campuses. Also, they're talking about some revolutionary things about public schools in New Orleans. Would it work in your hometown as well?

Also, we're awaiting an update from Morgantown, West Virginia, on the condition of Randy McCloy, the lone survivor from that mine explosion. Live coverage when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News." Our top story coming out of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling unanimously today that a lower court was wrong to strike down a New Hampshire abortion law. One that says that a minor needs written consent from a guardian or parent within 48 hours before having an abortion. The opinion, by the way, was written by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

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