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CNN Live Today

Mosque Bombing; War On The Hill Over Iraq Timetable; Gates' New Venture; Looking Into Possible Haditha Cover-Ups

Aired June 16, 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 have a lot to get to ahead over the next couple of hours, including live from Capitol Hill, a political showdown over the war in Iraq. The House vote this hour on a war resolution that's backed by Republicans. Democrats are calling it an election year stunt. We'll have coverage on that.
Also, spotlighting the struggles of small towns along the Gulf Coast. New Orleans getting most of the attention. But what are the needs and frustrations of other communities.

Also, when you are 64. This weekend Paul McCartney can change those lyrics. A big birthday for the ex-Beatle. That and more ahead this hour on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

To the House vote now on Iraq in just a minute. First, though to Baghdad. A suicide bomber strikes during Friday prayers. Dozens are dead and wounded. The same mosque was targeted two months ago in a series of attacks that left dozens dead. Today's bombing came despite a massive security crackdown in the capital. Some say it may nudge the country ever close to a civil war.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins me now live from Baghdad.

Nic, what can you tell me about this attack?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, a suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest walked right into the noontime prayers in a mosque in the northwest of Baghdad. He detonated his explosives when the prayers were under way. Eleven people were killed. Twenty-five were wounded.

The pictures have been played out on Iraqi television here. Very gruesome images have been played. Callers have called into the television station. Their views have been aired. People very angry about what's happened. Worried. They've been calling in and saying why wasn't anyone protecting the mosque? Why weren't they checking people going into the mosque? Somebody else -- the mosque that was targeted was a Shiite mosque and it appears to have been the result of the sectarian tensions here. Somewhere here somebody predicted, calling into the program, dark days ahead.

This particular mosque was targeted 10 weeks ago on the seventh of April. More than 80 people were killed in a series of suicide bombings on that particular day. The attack today, however, coming at a time even when the city was on a very, very tight security lock down. No traffic on the roads between 10:00 and 3:00 when the suicide bomber struck. And 70,000 Iraqi security forces on that intensive security crackdown in the city at the moment.

Daryn.

KAGAN: You mention this mosque has been the subject of serious attacks before. Have they not changed security here?

ROBERTSON: You know, when you look at mosques here, there are security operations outside of them. They vary at mosque to mosque. Some of them have police located outside them. Some mosques the worshipers have taken it into their own hands to defend the mosque. Sometimes you see gunmen. Sometimes you see people on the doors of the mosque checking people as they go in.

But this -- today, the Friday noontime prayers, is the busiest prayer day of the whole week. And perhaps the suicide bomber managed to slip in as a crowd of people were going into the mosque. That's just not clear at the moment. But it does seem that whoever was running security at the mosque, checking people as they were going in, didn't catch this particular suicide bomber.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Clearly something did not work.

You have a story, a very interesting story coming up for us in the next hour. Can you tell us about that, Nic?

ROBERTSON: Well, we've been looking at the role of private military contractors here in Iraq. Twenty-five thousand people are employed in what is essentially taking over part of the military effort here in Iraq, protecting locations, protecting politicians here. A role that might have been played by the U.S. military or other militaries in the past now being played -- now being taken part by private military contractors. A multibillion dollar business here in Iraq.

Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. We look forward to that. Nic Robertson live in Baghdad. We will see you in an hour.

The war of words over the war in Iraq. The debate comes to a head this hour on Capitol Hill. The House is voting on a resolution on the war. It rejects a timetable for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. Democrats are calling this a political sham.

Details from our congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. JOHN MURTHA, (D) PENNSYLVANIA: I know standing here does not solve the problem and it hasn't gotten better. It's gotten worse. That's the problem.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Emotions were high on both sides.

REP. MICHAEL ROGERS, (R) MICHIGAN: You know, our enemies do not have a first Tuesday in November plan. They have a plan for a caliphate. They have well established themselves to murder Christians, Jew, Muslims, women, children. They'll behead you. They'll shoot you. They'll blow you up. They don't care.

KOPPEL: The battle lines were drawn.

REP. TODD TIAHRT, (R) KANSAS: If we leave now, it would be giving them a victory and we would be once again putting another picture on the board here saying, we should have fought harder. We should have stopped it back in 2006.

REP. LLOYD DOGGETT, (D) TEXAS: Instead of staying the course, we need to chart a smarter course. It's not weakness or retreat to recognize the administration offers us only an endless spend and bleed policy.

KOPPEL: Republicans said Democrats who support withdrawing U.S. troops want to cut and run.

REP. DENNIS HASTERT, (R) HOUSE SPEAKER: But it's not enough for this House to say, we support our troops. To the men and the women in the field in harm's way, that statement rings hollow if we don't also say we support their mission.

KOPPEL: Democrats accused Republicans of playing politics by falsely linking the war in Iraq to the broader war on terror.

REP. LOUISE SLAUGHTER, (D) NEW YORK: It's a day designed to provide the majority with a chance to make cheap political attacks against Democrats in anticipation of upcoming midterm elections.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Andrea Koppel live on Capitol Hill.

Andrea, if you could talk a little bit about the timing of this vote.

KOPPEL: The timing. Well certainly Democrats are skeptical and suspicious as to the timing. They say they've been calling for a free and open debate for the last three years. They say this is not that. They're not able to offer amendments. They haven't been able to offer any alternative plans.

But, Daryn, it's an election year. No surprise. We're five months out from midterms. This is an opportunity for Republicans to speak directly to the American voters who are frustrated. Who are showing in poll after poll that they are moving away from the president and his strategy in Iraq and leaning towards Democrats. Democrats feel for the first time they have a crack at regaining the majority of the House for the first time in 12 years. Republicans are trying to test drive some of their strategy to force Democrats to go on the record and be seen as either voting against the resolution, which they can portray then as Democrats voting against the war, voting against the American troops, and voting against the war on terror.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Andrea Koppel live on Capitol Hill. Andrea, thank you.

Well, also from Capitol Hill, House Democrats are voting to give one of their own the boot. It's now up to the full House to decide if Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson will be suspended from the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON, (D) LOUISIANA: I pointed out that the punishment is unauthorized. But it also is -- and unnecessary. But it also is not right for the folks who I represent. Back home now I'm supported very strongly by the people I represent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Jefferson is mired in a federal bribery investigation. His Capitol Hill office was searched and a search of his home turned up a stash of cash in his freezer. He has not been charged and he denies any wrong doing. Still, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wants him off the committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) MINORITY LEADER: If any member of Congress has $90,000 in his freezer can be sure he's going to hear from me that he or she should step aside.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Jefferson is expected in court this afternoon. He is challenging the legality of last month's FBI search of his congressional offices. And we might hear more about last night's vote when Pelosi and other Democrats meet with reporters later this hour.

Now we have breaking news right now. Let's go to Fredricka Whitfield with the latest on that.

Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, an Amber Alert is in effect in the state of New Jersey where police are asking for the public's help in looking for a green Honda Civic and inside possibly a one-year-old child. A woman reported that a man with a gun approached her with her one-year-old in the back seat, took the car with a child inside. No details are being given about the license plate as of yet. But New Jersey police and state patrol will likely be providing that kind of information as soon as it's available. Right now only looking -- the only details we have right now, that they are looking for a green Honda Civic with possibly a one-year-old child inside. Daryn.

KAGAN: Fredricka, thank you.

The richest man in the world. Head of the biggest philanthropic organization on earth. That's Bill Gates. His profits fuel his passion in his latest venture. Details coming up.

And this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to say we're forgotten but, you know, in a way, when we were ground zero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The long road to recovery following Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans getting most of the attention. Well ahead, we're going to focus on the challenges of three smaller communities that suffered equally. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well it's hard to imagine but Microsoft's Bill Gates is giving up his day job. He's doing it to pursue his passion. The richest man in the world is moving from the front lines of the computer industry to the forefront of the global fight against disease and poverty. He says he is reordering his priorities. CNN's Ali Velshi has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Bill Gates is America's foremost entrepreneur. But back in 1980, just 25 years old and in business just five years, history knocked on his door. IBM chose his little software company to supply an operating system for something called the person computer.

Six years later, Microsoft went public making Gates the world's first software billionaire. And later, the world's richest man. By 1999, Bill Gates was worth more than $100 billion.

His success and genius made him a hero to some. But to others, Microsoft had become the evil empire, unfair and anti-competitive. In 1998, Microsoft was charged with using its size and power to stifle competition.

Gates stepped aside as CEO in 2000 but stayed on as chairman and he remains the company's biggest shareholders. It sounded a lot like retirement back then. So at the ripe old age of 50, is he retiring again?

BILL GATES, MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN: The change we're announcing today is not a retirement, it's a reordering of my priorities. VELSHI: Last year Gates was named one of "Time" magazine's "Persons of the Year" for his charitable work. He and his wife, Melinda, run the world's biggest philanthropic organization. Gates has donated more than half his fortune to it and that's where he'll turn all his attention when he leaves Microsoft. Back in March I spoke to him about one of the foundation's goal, improving the quality of education worldwide.

GATES: Virtually all the jobs in the future will require college-type education. And so the whole shift in the economy means it's not just the Microsofts and the Corbus (ph), it's every job in this economy will require that. Education's a complex topic. That's one of the two focuses my foundation has. It's something I'm very passionate about.

VELSHI: There are 10 billion shares of Microsoft out there. You might own a few of them in your 401(k) or our IRA. And if you don't, you probably own or work at one of the billion computers that runs Windows.

What does this change mean to you? Probably nothing. You're just watching another piece of history unfold.

Ali Velshi, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well it's an Amber Alert that is unfolding in New Jersey. Fredricka Whitfield has the latest on that.

Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well more now on that situation where we understand a gunman approached a woman in her vehicle, forcing her to drive around and then leaving her, abandoning her on the side of the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 145 heading northbound. But inside was her one-year-old child. Lieutenant Gerald Lewis of the New Jersey State Police is on the line with us now.

And Lieutenant Lewis, give us an idea of what's right and what's wrong about the story I just told.

LT. GERALD LEWIS, N.J. STATE POLICE: OK. Well, what we had at this point. We actually encountered a pedestrian on the roadway at about 8:46 a.m. this morning. We actually had troopers respond to that area where they encounter a female who said she had been carjacked in the East Orange Newark area. And at this point we're actually trying to pinpoint the exact location.

She described her vehicle as a green Honda Civic two-door with the driver's side window broken out. And she said as a result of the carjacking, she was driven around the East Orange Newark area and subsequently entered the Garden State Parkway at approximately exit 145 which is where she was dropped off. And she then reported that allegedly her one-year-old daughter was still in the vehicle.

WHITFIELD: Have you issued, in fact, an Amber Alert?

LEWIS: At this point we're gathering more information. We're conducting more investigation and we're interviewing the victim. And at this point we're trying to make sure that it fits the criteria of an Amber Alert.

WHITFIELD: Now what about tag numbers, information like that? More information about this green Honda Civic?

LEWIS: The only thing we have at this point, unfortunately, was a temporary New Jersey tag. And she didn't recall the temporary reg number. So at this point that's all the information that we have. And, once again, we put that out and we're actually trying to gather more information as we go along.

WHITFIELD: How about any eyewitness accounts? What did anyone report seeing?

LEWIS: At this point we're interviewing anyone who may have witnessed this or scene this. So at this point, once again, we're still gathering information and still conducting our investigation.

WHITFIELD: OK. So you're still trying to determine, it sounds like, whether there is indeed a one-year-old inside this vehicle?

LEWIS: We're trying to confirm any information that she gave us through our interviews and also through our investigation.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lieutenant Gerald Lewis of the New Jersey State Police. Thanks so much for that information.

So still trying to piece together some of the details, Daryn, about this alleged carjacking and allegedly a one-year-old inside. Temporary tags on this reported green Honda Civic.

KAGAN: All right, Fred, thank you. We'll continue to watch that story.

Meanwhile, Gerri Willis answering your questions today.

Gerri, good morning.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Daryn. Good to see you.

You ask, we answer. We've got lots of answers to questions we got in our e-mail box. That's coming up.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you. Look forward to that.

Also this doggie story out of Burbank, California. A runaway on the runway. Ahead, the heroing story of Taxi, the Yorkshire Terrier. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check out the latest numbers on Wall Street. Well, kind of a blah Friday, I guess. The markets have been open about 51 minutes. You can see the Dow is down a bit. It's down 16 points. The Nasdaq is also down. It is down about 10 points.

Here we are on Friday, the end of the week. Casual Fridays in some offices and time for "Gerri's Mailbag" here on CNN. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis answering questions from you, our viewers.

WILLIS: That's right.

KAGAN: Good morning, Ger.

WILLIS: Good morning, Daryn. Good to see you.

I'm excited. Hit me with the first one.

KAGAN: I got the questions here.

The first one comes from Megan. She wants to know what careers/companies might consider older people?

WILLIS: Well, that's an interesting question. You know, 50 plus workers of the world unite, right? I mean there are opportunities out there. The healthcare industry in particular, especially nursing, is looking for people. Teacher are in high demand. The trucking industry, believe it or not, has made a big push for older workers. You can always check retail stores like Home Depot, Borders, CVS and Verizon. And, Daryn, go to aarp.org and search under national employment team for more information because they will point you in the right direction.

Now the thing that people may not understand out there is that a lot of employers are short workers. They can't find the people they need. So you can get wooed with benefits like flextime, retraining, re-employment, retire -- of course healthcare is a big deal. So be sure to get back in there if you want to. Don't be intimidated. There are a lot of employers out there who really need people.

KAGAN: We like wooing, don't we?

WILLIS: Wooing, yes.

KAGAN: It's good to be wooed.

Karen has the next question. She asks, she'd like to have some tips on buying life insurance.

WILLIS: Yes, this is an important question. But before you decide to invest, look at the resources you already have. If you're married with children under 18, it's likely you have survivor benefits under social security. Your employer also may have a life insurance policy in place for you. You'll probably want to buy a death benefit that's five to 10 times your annual salary if you're the only breadwinner in the family. And if you want to know what that means and how much you're going to be on the hook for, compare deals online at accuquote.com and insweb.com. You want to choose a company that's in good financial shape, obviously. So look at their ambest.com (ph) or moodys.com for ratings on those companies.

KAGAN: Suzanne sounds like she might be doing some home improvement and she says that she is exploring the idea of using some contractors. How can I tell if they're taking advantage of me -- she's a single woman -- or not?

WILLIS: Well, no matter what gender you are, you have to be wary of contractors who don't give you a written estimate. That's critical. Or if they don't have references, that's another warning sign. To make sure you're not being taken advantage of, get the written contract. Do not give into demands for on the spot cash payment. You must pay by check. And if you think you're having trouble or you've been taken, call your state's attorney general and lodge a complaint because, look, you know, at the end of the day, you want to help other people if you've had a problem.

KAGAN: OK, Miss Home Show, is new carpet considered a home improvement is our next question from Jannie.

WILLIS: You know what, we did -- we rolled up our shirt sleeves because I was confused. I mean I was kind of not thinking that maybe it would be. But apparently, according to folks in the know, new carpet can be consider a home improvement. You have to be careful, though, obviously, it's all about what kind of carpet you put in. You can more easily detract from your home's value if your carpet is some strange combination of colors or a bear rug or whatever. You want to buy something that's sort of plain vanilla and is going to be, you know, the people -- all kinds of people will like at the end of the day.

KAGAN: Oh, the rainbow shag I just put in was not a good choice.

WILLIS: No, Daryn, darn it.

KAGAN: Oh, shoot.

WILLIS: Well, and, you know, I've got to say, don't forget to send us more questions to 5tips@cnn.com. And if you missed anything on "Five Tips" this week or today, check out the Web site at cnnmoney.com because we put all our information up there. And you can even search past topics if you're looking for some information.

KAGAN: We'll do. Gerri Willis, thank you.

WILLIS: Thank you.

KAGAN: It is another hurricane season, another reason to worry along the Gulf Coast. A lot of small towns are still struggling to recover and rebuild after Katrina. My conversation with three Gulf Coast mayors ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we have new information on the missing baby in New Jersey. Fredricka Whitfield has that.

Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, Daryn, what we know right now is the New Jersey State Police have issued an Amber Alert for a one-year-old who was allegedly in the vehicle that a woman was driving when a man with a gun forced his way into the vehicle. Apparently made the female driver drive around before dumping her off, off the Garden Start Parkway at mile marker 145 and with, police say, allegedly the one- year-old still inside.

We're still waiting for some more details coming from the New Jersey State Police, however, about a description of the little girl. More specific description of the vehicle. Right now, generically, all we're getting is that it's a green Honda Civic with New Jersey temporary tags.

Now this Amber Alert was issued just within the past 15 minutes or so ago. You heard us, Daryn, talk to one of the lieutenants with the state police who said they were still trying to piece together details. Well they are still doing that. And when, of course, we get any more specific information about this one-year-old girl who is allegedly in this green Honda Civic, we'll be able to bring that to you.

KAGAN: Fred, thank you.

Also, we're watching a situation on the House. They are going to have a vote later today, talking about voting today on an election year resolution that rejects setting of a timetable for pulling American troops out of Iraq. This is a Republican-sponsored measure. Democrats calling it an election year stunt. The vote expected in just a bit. We're watching that.

And there are new developments this is morning in a troubling investigation, a probe into allegations that U.S. marines killed innocent Iraqis in Haditha and whether there was a cover-up.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is live with details on that. Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

A very small but potentially very important step forward in this investigation. Sources are confirming to CNN that a report being done on whether there was potentially a cover-up in this matter. That report is now essentially completed and has been forwarded to the commanding general.

That report is a fact-finding report being done by someone named Major General Eldon Bargewell. He has forwarded it General Peter Chiarelli in Baghdad. This is a fact-finding report about whether the information about what happened in Haditha was accurately reported, was reported up the chain of command.

Did people know the accurate information? Was there any attempt of covering up what might have happened in Haditha? Because, of course, we know that the original report was that civilians died in a roadside blast. And what we now know, of course, looking at these tragic pictures, is that 24 Iraqi civilians were killed in that village by -- allegedly by U.S. marines, some of them suffering close gunshot wounds, some of them women and children.

Marines have said that they felt they were taking fire from that area, but many of the people -- apparently at this point, the information is, had no weapons and were not firing. So this investigation now -- this part of it done. But to be very clear, Daryn, we do not know what the military has found.

KAGAN: All right, well, we will look for that as it becomes available. Barbara, thank you.

Troubling, insufficient, unprepared. Not exactly words you want to hear when talking about disaster planning. But that's exactly what a new homeland security report says about emergency plans across the country. The report has been obtained by the Associated Press. It finds problems in 131 state and city emergency response programs. The review says when it comes to planning evacuations like the one you're looking at here, there is cause for what they are calling "profound concern." President Bush ordered the review of emergency plans back in September, just weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

Well, ever since Hurricane Katrina struck nearly ten months ago, much of the nation's attention and money has been directed toward New Orleans. But dozens of smaller communities were washed or blown away that same day. Cities and towns like Waveland, Mississippi, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. That was virtually wiped out. Slidell, Louisiana, a once major suburb of New Orleans, north of Lake Pontchartrain. And Biloxi, Mississippi, with a thriving tourist industry based on casino resorts lined up along the Gulf of Mexico before Katrina.

I recently talked with the mayors of these three cities about the challenges and frustrations about the communities face and the nervous energy felt as we enter another hurricane season.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR BEN MORRIS, SLIDELL, LOUISIANA: Well, I think people are starting to get nervous. One of the big problems we had is they had almost 1800 FEMA trailers in the city. And because of that, we are concerned not only of the hurricane, but of -- if we get a tropical storm with any magnitude, it could cause us some problems.

MAYOR TOMMY LONGO, WAVELAND, MISSISSIPPI: We have our plan in place. We've tweaked it to where we'll be moving 36 to 48 hours ahead of what we would normally be reacting to a hurricane. We have taken precautions or taken care of our residents that, because of Katrina, no longer have the resources or the transportation. So we're as prepared for hurricane season as we can possibly be.

KAGAN: Let's talk about how far your communities have been able to come back so far, with the amount of time you had between Katrina and the hurricane season and now this hurricane season. Mayor Holloway, if you could put a percentage number on it?

MAYOR A.J. HOLLOWAY, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI: We are way ahead of what I thought we would be at this time. You know, 90 percent of our debris is picked up. We still have a lot left, but it's not as -- nowhere near what it used to be. Our -- we have three casinos backed up. We'll have seven by the end of the year.

You know, the major retailers are open. The grocery stores are open. The area on the front beach, on Highway 90, of course, is still devastating. And the homes in East Biloxi are posed to be very slow if we start building back there.

KAGAN: What percentage of your people would you say will eventually be back in Biloxi?

HOLLOWAY: I'm saying that we probably lost 25 percent.

KAGAN: Twenty-five percent. Mayor Morris -- I'm sorry -- Mayor Morris, what percentage would you say Slidell, Louisiana, has been able to come back since the hurricane season of last year?

MORRIS: It's been a little strange, and it's very hard to measure, because we did have some people leave. But people are pouring in from Plachland (ph) Parish, St. Bernard Parish, even some from Mississippi. And they're buying property in Slidell.

KAGAN: So you've lost some, but you've gained others?

MORRIS: Yes. And the city is coming back fast. We're doing quite well. But I still have most probably 3,000, 3,300 homes people can't live in.

KAGAN: Mayor Morris, does your community feel ignored? I mean, there you are in Louisiana, so close to New Orleans, and yet you're not New Orleans?

MORRIS: Well, you know, the media is -- concentrates on the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. We certainly get some time. But the national media, it's the Ninth Ward. You know, when the president comes to town, they go to New Orleans. When the Congressman and senators come to town, they all go to New Orleans. I haven't seen them other than certainly our own congressmen. They've been there.

KAGAN: But at least you're in Louisiana. Let's talk to the mayors of the Mississippi towns. Mayor Longo, Mississippi is like the forgotten state when really Mississippi was the Katrina story.

LONGO: Yes, ma'am. I don't want to say we're forgotten. But you know, in Waveland, we were ground zero. Ninety-five percent of our residential and commercial structures were substantially destroyed. I have two-thirds of my population are still displaced. They're in 40 cities around the country. A hundred percent of our water, sewer and gas was destroyed. We've lost every city building, every city vehicle, and all of those employees also lost their homes. We still don't have a grocery store. We still don't...

KAGAN: Where do people buy their groceries if they live in Waveland, Mississippi?

LONGO: There's one grocery in the north part of the county or they go to Slidell or Biloxi, which is an hour drive either way.

KAGAN: Just to buy their groceries. Mayor Holloway, how do you feel about the kind of attention Biloxi has at this point, at the beginning of hurricane season? Do you think that Biloxi and Mississippi is a forgotten place?

HOLLOWAY: The outpouring of support that we have received from all over the United States -- people coming in here and working with our people -- have been just a tremendous outpouring. We wouldn't be where we are today without them. So they haven't forgotten us.

KAGAN: Mayor Holloway, would you do anything differently this time around as a citizen and as a mayor?

HOLLOWAY: As a mayor, definitely we learned you can't not be prepared enough. You have to be prepared and just work stupendously to prepare yourself. I thought we were well prepared last year when we -- before Katrina. Before the season started, we had a -- pushed contracts and placed our debris removal. We had the business interruption insurance. We had our plan we worked up a year. And I felt like we was prepared. And we was prepared, but nobody prepared for Katrina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And now this update on that Amber Alert that was issued just moments ago out of New Jersey. Well, now New Jersey state police say that Amber Alert for that 1-year-old has been canceled because of false information provided by the mother, the woman who had allegedly been carjacked with her alleged 1-year-old inside. So now that Amber Alert that started in East Orange, New Jersey, has now been canceled, according to state police at out of New Jersey.

Now coming up, it's a multibillion dollar industry, so why do we know so little about it? Nic Robertson takes us inside the world of private military contractors in an exclusive report ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

KAGAN: And live pictures from the floor of the House. That's John Boehner. We are watching and waiting. The House about to vote on a resolution that rejects the setting of timetable for pulling American troops out of Iraq. It doesn't really do anything. It just states opinions. Democrats calling it an election-year stunt. We'll watch for the vote in just a bit.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: It's the story of young man who says he started out by stealing his father's clubs to play golf. Now he's a 23-year-old from Zambia, and he's making history at the U.S. Open. He's the first black African to qualify for the tournament.

Larry Smith of CNN Sports joins us from Mamaroneck, New York, with details. Good morning.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

What a great story this is. You know, look at the bottom of the leaderboard and you get away from the guys who are at the top, you often see a lot of names you don't recognize, amateurs or players who qualified to get here to play in the U.S. Open.

And one of those names is Madalitso Muthiya. He is 23 years old, the first Zambian ever to qualify for the U.S. Open. Zambia, an African nation, as you mentioned, 11 million people. Just 17 golf courses in the entire country. Now Muthiya shot just an 11 over par 81 on Thursday's round one, but the look on his face during the entire day was simply priceless. He's got a solid game, tremendous pride, and a love for golf and for his father, who passed away while he was attending college in New Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MADALITSO MUTHIYA, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: My father, I guess, he always sacrificed a lot just to have -- to provide for his kids. And so that he made sure his kids are the best of everything. Because, you know, his father was a gardener, you know, in the colonial era, and so he grew up out of that. And he was -- you know, out of eight children, he was the only educated one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Well, Muthiya learned his golf swing from his father and from watching veteran champions like Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo, with a set of clubs that wasn't exactly tailor made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUTHIYA: I got my first clubs when I was nine. It was just something my dad had gathered from different people. They were actually almost -- they were junior's clubs, almost like ladies clubs. They were really light. They had, like, pink grips.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Muthiya, by the way, plays on the Canadian tour, has never played an event on the PGA Tour. But he is now enjoying himself. He tees off the second round, his second round, this afternoon as play continues here at Winged Foot.

Let's go back to you.

KAGAN: You know, you hear 11 over and you want to cringe. But this course really was the winner yesterday. Even Tiger Woods not doing that hot.

SMITH: No, he wasn't. He's really struggling again today. Right now he is nine over par through 11 holes. Now, it's important because you've got to be within ten shots of the lead to make the cut for the weekend. Right now, he's 11 shots back, as Steve Stricker is playing on the course, as well, at two under. Tiger really with his putter these past two days. Again, the nine-week layoff, the grief from his father's death, may be too much for him. You never count him out, but certainly right now, he's just struggling right now just to make the cut and get to the weekend.

KAGAN: All right, we'll be watching him. And Colin Montgomerie still the leader?

SMITH: He's still -- well, he's the leader in the -- he's one under par. He's not taken the course yet. Steve Stricker right now is a two under par, so Stricker a one shot lead, with Colin still to tee off on this afternoon.

KAGAN: All right, Larry, you enjoy it up there.

SMITH: OK.

KAGAN: Thank you.

Friday prayers in Baghdad. A suicide bomber in wait. A deadly attack further stokes fears of a civil war in Iraq. The latest from Baghdad is ahead. This is CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The vote is under way in the U.S. House. They are looking at a resolution that rejects the setting of a timetable for pulling American troops out of Iraq. It is expected to pass along party lines. It only makes a statement. It is a non-binding resolution.

Much lighter fare now. A dog day morning at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport. A confused Yorkshire terrier gave authorities a run for their money after it found it ways onto a busy runway.

Ross Palumbo of our affiliate KCAL was on hand on for the chase.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be on the ground in 30 seconds.

ROSS PALUMBO, KCAL REPORTER (voice-over): Just after this FedEx plane pulled in for a priority landing...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fire suppressant system discharged.

PALUMBO: Just after crash trucks raced on to the runway...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just as a precaution.

PALUMBO: Airport personnel sped in to ground this illegal flight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, wow. There's a dog on the runway at Burbank Airport.

PALUMBO: But this seven-pound Yorkie wasn't ready to land.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're running it off the runway.

PALUMBO: And after his brief taxi on to Runway 15, maintenance workers on foot accidentally got this dog to really take off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a dog pursuit.

PALUMBO: His evasive action got him through some tight corners...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now they're back in pursuit.

PALUMBO: ... and a few incursions both north and southbound along the taxi way and the access road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trying to corral this dog. Looks like maybe a little Yorkie. But right now, the dog is winning the race.

PALUMBO: But after ten minutes of flying high and shortly after this quick scratch and sniff, his jet action ended with one wrong turn.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, and they have the dog and the dog, again, not going without a little bit of a squabble there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was probably really scared. Didn't know what was going on, all the noise from the planes.

PALUMBO: Animal Control has now booked him into Burbank, given him a quick shower, dry and style.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But unfortunately, he didn't have any tags.

PALUMBO: Now this cage, hopefully a temporary stay for this canine accidental tourist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are calling him Taxi. Taxi is his name since he was on the runway there.

PALUMBO: In Burbank, Ross Palumbo, KCAL 9 News. .

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: A good reminder for all of us pet-owners to put your tags on your animals. OK, it's prison time for a Massachusetts woman who pretended to have cancer and then accepted $37,000 in donations. Heather Faria was sentenced to two years behind bars. She pleaded guilty to fraud and larceny. The former special ed teacher took money from friends and colleagues after telling them she couldn't afford expensive cancer treatments. Prosecutors say she took a Caribbean vacation, bought jewelry and an expensive television set. Her attorney says she will repay -- she's going to have to repay all of those donations.

KAGAN: Still ahead, Democrats take action against one of their own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON (D), LOUISIANA: I pointed out that the punishment is unauthorized, but it also is unnecessary. But also, it's not right for the folks who I represent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The latest on Congressman William Jefferson's trouble is ahead in the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, which begins right now.

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