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American Morning

Did Reagan's Son Swipe at Bush?; Should Kerry Resign?; Study: Binge Drinking Major Problem Among Teens; Airlines Finding Creative Ways to Cut Costs

Aired June 16, 2004 - 08:30   ET

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

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


BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: Welcome back, everybody. Eight thirty here in New York. A beautiful day, too, going up to about 84, 85 degrees. Not bad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: That will be nice. Good.

HEMMER: That's why they call it almost summer. Almost summer.

In a moment, Kamber and May back with us on a Wednesday morning. If you were watching the eulogies on Friday evening from California, you saw the setting sun. You also heard Ron Reagan talk about religion in politics.

Some are suggesting now this was a not so subtle shot at the current president. This was an issue that came to the White House yesterday. We'll talk to Kamber and May about that.

Also Senator John Kerry, should he give up his Senate seat while he run for the White House? We'll get to that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, more than any other drug, American teenagers are abusing alcohol in their daily lives and doing it behind their parents' backs. Sanjay's going to take a look at some alarming new statistics, talk about what needs to be done to get teenagers on the right track.

HEMMER: Some good numbers to know. We'll get to it.

O'BRIEN: Yes. But first, terrorists say they will kill American Paul Johnson if the demands are not met by Friday. Johnson was kidnapped in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Shown in a web video yesterday, he identified himself in a halting voice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL JOHNSON, KIDNAPPED: Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr., American, sir. I'm an American of the United States. Apache helicopter. I work on Apache helicopters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Masked gunman also made statements in the videotape. He demanded Saudi Arabia release al Qaeda prisoners and that westerners leave the Arabian Peninsula. The Saudi foreign policy adviser yesterday did not rule out an exchange of prisoners for Johnson but he said he did not think it was likely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADEL AL JUNEIR, ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: Our position over the past 30 years has been the same. We don't negotiate with terrorists. We don't negotiate with hostage takers, because then you open the door up to more hostage taking and more terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: He says that the U.S. and Saudi governments are working very closely on, quote, "the best means for freeing Mr. Johnson" -- Bill.

HEMMER: About 28 minutes now before the hour. In other news today, it is Wednesday morning, time for Kamber and May today.

The eulogy Ron Reagan gave for his father included a comment that some say was a not so subtle shot at the President Bush. Here from Friday evening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON REAGAN, SON OF RONALD REAGAN: But he never made the mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political image.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And that was from Simi Valley on Friday evening.

The issue was raised by reporters again yesterday at the White House. And a bit earlier today, Democratic strategist Victor Kamber and Cliff May, former communications director for the RNC, took turns at this and a bit more.

First Victor this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I guess as a Democrat and partisan, I'd like to believe that. I have no idea. And I think that oftentimes pundits and people speculate and make assumptions that I have no idea.

I think he was saying what he believed in his heart, that his father was a very religious man and his father did not wear religion on his sleeve, as I think a lot of right-wingers do in this country. If you don't believe like them you're going to hell. I don't think that that's the way Ronald Reagan viewed life.

I'm not sure he was pointing the finger at George Bush or anybody other than talking about his father. HEMMER: This issue came up yesterday at the White House. Cliff, what about you?

CLIFF MAY, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, RNC: Well, actually, I thought that Ron Reagan was talking about the Reverend al Sharpton.

But, no, look, in fact he may have been criticizing President Bush. I don't know. I think the question of religion in politics is a difficult one.

But if -- Ron Reagan has not been particularly pro Bush in the past. That's nothing new. His brother, Michael Reagan, who I spoke to earlier this week, is rather supportive of President Bush. That doesn't get obviously as much attention. You get a lot more attention by criticizing than you do by praising.

HEMMER: Let's move to our second topic if we could, the old issue of Senator Kerry.

There's a lot of rumbling right now in his home state of Massachusetts, Victor, that John Kerry should give up his Senate seat. Should he now, at this point, as he's running actively for the White House?

KAMBER: I guess I don't know who's rumbling or grumbling other than Republicans who would like a ploy. I don't remember, was it ex- Governor Bush that gave up the governorship of Texas when he ran?

HEMMER: He did that. And Bob Dole gave up his Senate seat back in '96. Joe Lieberman, though, held on to his.

KAMBER: Most -- Most do, Bill, and I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever to give up the seat that you're holding. You can run from that office and run from that seat for the office of presidency.

If you lose you go back to the Senate. If you win, you give it up then. That's the way the process works.

HEMMER: Cliff.

CLIFF: I think being senator is a serious job, and running for president is a serious job. And obviously you can't do both serious jobs at the same time and do both of them well.

Senator Kerry is not participating in very many votes, for example. He's not participating in very many Senate debates.

I think he should consider the possibility of giving up his Senate seat so he can run full-time. He doesn't have to do that, obviously. If he thinks, look, it's nice to have a job to fall back on, I understand if he wants to not give up his day job.

KAMBER: The only reason the Republicans suggest it is because they have a Republican governor who would be able to appoint that seat.

MAY: Excuse me. Bob Dole did this for exactly this reason. I supported that.

KAMBER: Because there was a Republican governor -- There was a Republican governor who could fill the seat.

MAY: You're not going to change the dynamics in the Senate or the majority. Right now the Republicans control the Senate, and they still would, were he to give up the seat. And who knows what would happen after the election, Victor.

KAMBER: It makes no sense whatsoever, other than partisanship. Let's talk issues. Let's talk Iraq. Let's talk the economy. Let's not worry about a Senate seat.

HEMMER: Victor, let me take it a step further: 112 votes so far in the Senate. John Kerry has participated in 14 of those 112 votes. That apparently is what has Republicans up in arms in Massachusetts.

KAMBER: I think -- I think it had Democrat -- Republicans in Arizona up in arms over John McCain when he missed a number of votes.

I mean, I was disappointed that John Kerry missed one vote of that 114 this year that did cause the vote to go the wrong way from a perspective as a Democrat.

The fact is the majority of votes in the Senate are lopsided one way or the other. There was one vote that did make a difference.

It's a crazy issue. It's not an issue. It's a non-issue other than Republicans don't have anything else to talk about, so let's raise this issue.

John McCain went through the exact same situation, and there were some Republicans even in his party that said give up his seat. You didn't hear Democrats say it.

HEMMER: Final word to Cliff.

MAY: Look, this is an issue not because I'm bringing it up, not because you're bringing it up. It's an issue in the media.

He obviously doesn't have to do this, but I think it's something to consider because if you believe that being a senator is a full-time job, obviously that's not a job he's going to do for now. And he's paid to do it anyhow, and so he should consider that. That's all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Victor Kamber, Cliff May, sparring a bit earlier today with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, why the nation's airlines are trying to lose some weight. We'll explain what that means.

HEMMER: Also, Sanjay stops by. An alarming report today on teens and alcoholism. The good doctor has the numbers in a moment when we continue. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Teenage binge drinkers are more likely to become adult alcoholics. According to new government research, some 70 percent of underage drinkers binge.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with more on these disturbing statistics.

Sanjay, good morning. And why don't you start by defining binge for us?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what they define it as, as part of these new surveys, is five drinks or more in a given -- in a given setting.

Alcohol remains the most commonly used drug, and we're not talking about an occasional sip or an occasional beer here. But flat out drinking.

Now, they've looked at all the numbers, different types of substances, illegal and legal substances. They find that alcohol in terms of overall consumption among underage drinkers has remained about steady.

But it is this binge drinking that is increasing at pretty alarming rates, Soledad. Again, the five drinks or more.

About 10 million teens drink, that number give or take some, about 70 percent of those binge drinking.

Now the concern about this is, what they're also finding out, is this is one of the biggest predictors of adult alcoholism.

Here's what they found, that before the age of 14 -- 33 percent of adult alcoholics began drinking before the age of 14. Eighty percent of adult alcoholics began drinking before the age of 18, and 96 percent of them before the age of 21. So just about all of them, Soledad, beginning before the legal age of drinking.

They're finding a strong correlation now between early drinking, specifically binge drinking and later adult alcoholism. That's what's got them concerned, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: But what explains that link, Sanjay? Why the link between early drinking and alcoholism?

GUPTA: This is one of the most controversial things in sort of the studies of addition. Two theories, really.

One is if you expose the brain at a very early age to something like alcohol, do you trigger addictions in some way?

Second, the sort of controversial part of the theory, also, the other part of it is that if someone has a propensity to addiction, if you give them -- they're going to want alcohol at an early age and again as they grow into adulthood.

So is addiction something that you're born with or is it something that you develop as a result of triggers to alcohol? That's unclear. A lot of studies being done on this right now.

O'BRIEN: There were theories I remember when I was growing up that if you have a drink with your parents when you're 16 or 17 or 18 you sort of see how people drink normally, a glass of wine here and there with your parents watching you, that that would help you grow up to be a responsible drinker.

Does this play any role in this study?

GUPTA: The theory being that if the parents sort of thought it was OK to drink, then perhaps drinking outside the home OK as well?

Most of the experts say probably not a good idea. Here's why.

Again, if you're talking about the brain being exposed to an addictive substance like alcohol, that may make you more likely to be addicted later in life, and even drinking early, even if it's a small amount, could be a problem.

So really, the message to parents out of this is even a small drink, evenly a sip early on in life could be a problem later on. So be careful about that.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right. Sanjay, thanks.

GUPTA: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Afghanistan is simmering in violence the day after NATO forces come under fire. There is a deadly attack. Just who was the target today? We'll take a look ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: About 45 minutes past the hour. Back to Heidi Collins, news again this hour out of Iraq.

Heidi, good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Good morning everybody.

An explosion in the Iraqi city of Ramadi wounded at least five Iraqis. The blast happened just as an American convoy drove by, but no coalition casualties have been reported. There have been some arrests, though. At least six members of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps have been detained.

A tape has surfaced of an American contractor missing in Saudi Arabia. A videotape showing Paul Johnson appeared on an Islamic web site yesterday. His captors claim they will kill him if the Saudi government does not release al Qaeda prisoners within 72 hours. The tape has not yet been verified.

CNN will have an exclusive interview with the kidnapped American's son at 11 a.m. Eastern.

The Justice Department says nearly $7 billion has been awarded to the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks. The average award was $2 million.

In all, the victims' compensation fund processed more than 2,900 death claims and some 4,400 claims of injuries. The families that applied for compensation gave up their rights to sue the airlines involved in the attacks.

Finally, some severe weather in Colorado now. Amazing pictures of a funnel cloud captured yesterday on home video southeast of Denver. At least five other tornadoes reported yesterday in the state along with heavy rain and hail, too. Word of minor damage but no injuries.

Wow! Seen a lot of that when I was out there.

HEMMER: Yes. Start a new segment here, too. We see a new videotape every day of a different storm.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Funnel cloud of the day.

HEMMER: Thank you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes.

HEMMER: We're going to get to Andy Serwer right now, facing higher fuel prices. Some airlines taking the cost cutting measures to new heights.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.

HEMMER: Or lows, perhaps. And the market preview.

Good morning, Andy.

SERWER: Good morning.

Speaking of tough weather, the airlines know all about that. Some tough words this morning from Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein, saying that Delta cannot survive as is, unless the economy improves, unless the environment improves, saying bankruptcy is a possibility there, if there are no other options. He's speaking in New York this morning.

A story in "USA Today." This is really fascinating. Check it out. About measures airlines are resorting to save money because of higher fuel costs. They're flying with -- Let's check out some of these things.

Fewer magazines. Gee, I mean, thanks a lot.

The paperless cockpit. That means the manuals for the pilots won't be in the cockpits anymore. That's comforting.

No ovens on shorter flights. Plastic knives instead of silverware. We've gone back and forth with that over the years.

No seatback phones. Well, you know how I feel about those. What a rip-off.

Anyway, some of this other stuff very interesting. Less extra fuel. I hope they know what they're doing there. Flying slower. I hope they know what they're doing there. Taxiing on one engine on the runway, that seems OK.

And the little winglets, you're going to be seeing those all the time, the little upturned things at the end of the wings, they save a whole bunch on fuel.

Want to talk about another new airline flying out of Dulles this morning. Welcome to the world. Independence Air. They're going to be starting up even in this environment, a new discount airline.

And they've kind of got an interesting twist here. Check this out. They've got celebrities doing the safety announcements. We've got Jim Carville and Mary Matalin doing one here. Listen to this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JAMES CARVILLE, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Hi, everyone. This is James Carville. I have some safety information for the folks on the left side of the plane.

MARY MATALIN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: And this is Mary Matalin, doing the same for the people on the right side.

CARVILLE: So people on the right put your "Wall Street Journals" down and pay attention.

MATALIN: Yes, and people on the left we must ask you to stop whining just a moment.

CARVILLE: OK, truce.

MATALIN: Your flight attendant...

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SERWER: This actually might make you pay attention during those P.A. announcements, I think. They've also got Dennis Miller, Mia Hamm and Chuck Berry.

Little different there. But kind of a little twist.

HEMMER: So the competition continues.

SERWER: Yes. That's right.

HEMMER: AirTran, JetBlue, they're all diving in. SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks.

SERWER: OK.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Nicole Kidman is said to appear in the buff in a new movie, but it isn't her nudity that reportedly has the studio executives worried. We'll explain what is worrying them ahead when "90 Second Pop" continues. Right here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Back to Jack and the file this morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Thank you, Bill.

Wednesday, things that people said over the last week that caught our attention beginning with this: "I saw more emotion out of him when he burned a chicken in his barbecue than when his wife was missing." That's Harvey Kemple, who's married to a cousin of Laci Peterson's mother testifying in Scott Peterson's murder trial on the defendant's behavior after his wife, Laci, disappeared.

"All happy families are alike. Each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." That's Leo Tolstoy's opening line in the book "Anna Karenina." It was written in the 1870s. It's now the No. 1 bestseller in the country after being picked for Oprah's book club.

"It's going to break the heart of 'The New York Times,' and that also will please me. You can print that." That's former President George Herbert Walker Bush on his prediction that his son will be re- elected in November.

"These are fantasies that men want to have, the kind of a woman a certain man wants to have, a trophy wife who keeps her mouth shut. That doesn't really have anything to do with reality. It's just the fantasy." That's actress Bette Midler on the remake of "The Stepford Wives," in which she costars.

And finally, "It's clearly based on impulse and passion, and it's a disaster. At the rate she's going, she'll use up half of Hollywood by 2010." Sharon Wolf, the author of "How to Stay Lovers for Life," on Jennifer Lopez and her surprise third marriage.

O'BRIEN: Two thousand ten, she thinks she's going to work her way through?

CAFFERTY: That's what she said.

O'BRIEN: OK, Jack. Thanks.

(WEATHER REPORT) HEMMER: In a moment, why Scott Peterson's lawyers are talking about this fishing trip taken by Laci Peterson's stepfather. Details on that when we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: An anguished family waits as precious time ticks away to save an American held hostage in Saudi Arabia.

Iraqi oil production in chaos this morning after a string of pipeline attacks and the assassination of another top official.

And it was hard to get any sleep in Detroit last night. The Pistons are the giant killers of the NBA and the champs of this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

HEMMER: Good morning again, everybody. Nine o'clock here in New York.

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


Aired June 16, 2004 - 08:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: Welcome back, everybody. Eight thirty here in New York. A beautiful day, too, going up to about 84, 85 degrees. Not bad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: That will be nice. Good.

HEMMER: That's why they call it almost summer. Almost summer.

In a moment, Kamber and May back with us on a Wednesday morning. If you were watching the eulogies on Friday evening from California, you saw the setting sun. You also heard Ron Reagan talk about religion in politics.

Some are suggesting now this was a not so subtle shot at the current president. This was an issue that came to the White House yesterday. We'll talk to Kamber and May about that.

Also Senator John Kerry, should he give up his Senate seat while he run for the White House? We'll get to that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, more than any other drug, American teenagers are abusing alcohol in their daily lives and doing it behind their parents' backs. Sanjay's going to take a look at some alarming new statistics, talk about what needs to be done to get teenagers on the right track.

HEMMER: Some good numbers to know. We'll get to it.

O'BRIEN: Yes. But first, terrorists say they will kill American Paul Johnson if the demands are not met by Friday. Johnson was kidnapped in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Shown in a web video yesterday, he identified himself in a halting voice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL JOHNSON, KIDNAPPED: Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr., American, sir. I'm an American of the United States. Apache helicopter. I work on Apache helicopters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Masked gunman also made statements in the videotape. He demanded Saudi Arabia release al Qaeda prisoners and that westerners leave the Arabian Peninsula. The Saudi foreign policy adviser yesterday did not rule out an exchange of prisoners for Johnson but he said he did not think it was likely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADEL AL JUNEIR, ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: Our position over the past 30 years has been the same. We don't negotiate with terrorists. We don't negotiate with hostage takers, because then you open the door up to more hostage taking and more terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: He says that the U.S. and Saudi governments are working very closely on, quote, "the best means for freeing Mr. Johnson" -- Bill.

HEMMER: About 28 minutes now before the hour. In other news today, it is Wednesday morning, time for Kamber and May today.

The eulogy Ron Reagan gave for his father included a comment that some say was a not so subtle shot at the President Bush. Here from Friday evening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON REAGAN, SON OF RONALD REAGAN: But he never made the mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political image.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: And that was from Simi Valley on Friday evening.

The issue was raised by reporters again yesterday at the White House. And a bit earlier today, Democratic strategist Victor Kamber and Cliff May, former communications director for the RNC, took turns at this and a bit more.

First Victor this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I guess as a Democrat and partisan, I'd like to believe that. I have no idea. And I think that oftentimes pundits and people speculate and make assumptions that I have no idea.

I think he was saying what he believed in his heart, that his father was a very religious man and his father did not wear religion on his sleeve, as I think a lot of right-wingers do in this country. If you don't believe like them you're going to hell. I don't think that that's the way Ronald Reagan viewed life.

I'm not sure he was pointing the finger at George Bush or anybody other than talking about his father. HEMMER: This issue came up yesterday at the White House. Cliff, what about you?

CLIFF MAY, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, RNC: Well, actually, I thought that Ron Reagan was talking about the Reverend al Sharpton.

But, no, look, in fact he may have been criticizing President Bush. I don't know. I think the question of religion in politics is a difficult one.

But if -- Ron Reagan has not been particularly pro Bush in the past. That's nothing new. His brother, Michael Reagan, who I spoke to earlier this week, is rather supportive of President Bush. That doesn't get obviously as much attention. You get a lot more attention by criticizing than you do by praising.

HEMMER: Let's move to our second topic if we could, the old issue of Senator Kerry.

There's a lot of rumbling right now in his home state of Massachusetts, Victor, that John Kerry should give up his Senate seat. Should he now, at this point, as he's running actively for the White House?

KAMBER: I guess I don't know who's rumbling or grumbling other than Republicans who would like a ploy. I don't remember, was it ex- Governor Bush that gave up the governorship of Texas when he ran?

HEMMER: He did that. And Bob Dole gave up his Senate seat back in '96. Joe Lieberman, though, held on to his.

KAMBER: Most -- Most do, Bill, and I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever to give up the seat that you're holding. You can run from that office and run from that seat for the office of presidency.

If you lose you go back to the Senate. If you win, you give it up then. That's the way the process works.

HEMMER: Cliff.

CLIFF: I think being senator is a serious job, and running for president is a serious job. And obviously you can't do both serious jobs at the same time and do both of them well.

Senator Kerry is not participating in very many votes, for example. He's not participating in very many Senate debates.

I think he should consider the possibility of giving up his Senate seat so he can run full-time. He doesn't have to do that, obviously. If he thinks, look, it's nice to have a job to fall back on, I understand if he wants to not give up his day job.

KAMBER: The only reason the Republicans suggest it is because they have a Republican governor who would be able to appoint that seat.

MAY: Excuse me. Bob Dole did this for exactly this reason. I supported that.

KAMBER: Because there was a Republican governor -- There was a Republican governor who could fill the seat.

MAY: You're not going to change the dynamics in the Senate or the majority. Right now the Republicans control the Senate, and they still would, were he to give up the seat. And who knows what would happen after the election, Victor.

KAMBER: It makes no sense whatsoever, other than partisanship. Let's talk issues. Let's talk Iraq. Let's talk the economy. Let's not worry about a Senate seat.

HEMMER: Victor, let me take it a step further: 112 votes so far in the Senate. John Kerry has participated in 14 of those 112 votes. That apparently is what has Republicans up in arms in Massachusetts.

KAMBER: I think -- I think it had Democrat -- Republicans in Arizona up in arms over John McCain when he missed a number of votes.

I mean, I was disappointed that John Kerry missed one vote of that 114 this year that did cause the vote to go the wrong way from a perspective as a Democrat.

The fact is the majority of votes in the Senate are lopsided one way or the other. There was one vote that did make a difference.

It's a crazy issue. It's not an issue. It's a non-issue other than Republicans don't have anything else to talk about, so let's raise this issue.

John McCain went through the exact same situation, and there were some Republicans even in his party that said give up his seat. You didn't hear Democrats say it.

HEMMER: Final word to Cliff.

MAY: Look, this is an issue not because I'm bringing it up, not because you're bringing it up. It's an issue in the media.

He obviously doesn't have to do this, but I think it's something to consider because if you believe that being a senator is a full-time job, obviously that's not a job he's going to do for now. And he's paid to do it anyhow, and so he should consider that. That's all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Victor Kamber, Cliff May, sparring a bit earlier today with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, why the nation's airlines are trying to lose some weight. We'll explain what that means.

HEMMER: Also, Sanjay stops by. An alarming report today on teens and alcoholism. The good doctor has the numbers in a moment when we continue. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Teenage binge drinkers are more likely to become adult alcoholics. According to new government research, some 70 percent of underage drinkers binge.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with more on these disturbing statistics.

Sanjay, good morning. And why don't you start by defining binge for us?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what they define it as, as part of these new surveys, is five drinks or more in a given -- in a given setting.

Alcohol remains the most commonly used drug, and we're not talking about an occasional sip or an occasional beer here. But flat out drinking.

Now, they've looked at all the numbers, different types of substances, illegal and legal substances. They find that alcohol in terms of overall consumption among underage drinkers has remained about steady.

But it is this binge drinking that is increasing at pretty alarming rates, Soledad. Again, the five drinks or more.

About 10 million teens drink, that number give or take some, about 70 percent of those binge drinking.

Now the concern about this is, what they're also finding out, is this is one of the biggest predictors of adult alcoholism.

Here's what they found, that before the age of 14 -- 33 percent of adult alcoholics began drinking before the age of 14. Eighty percent of adult alcoholics began drinking before the age of 18, and 96 percent of them before the age of 21. So just about all of them, Soledad, beginning before the legal age of drinking.

They're finding a strong correlation now between early drinking, specifically binge drinking and later adult alcoholism. That's what's got them concerned, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: But what explains that link, Sanjay? Why the link between early drinking and alcoholism?

GUPTA: This is one of the most controversial things in sort of the studies of addition. Two theories, really.

One is if you expose the brain at a very early age to something like alcohol, do you trigger addictions in some way?

Second, the sort of controversial part of the theory, also, the other part of it is that if someone has a propensity to addiction, if you give them -- they're going to want alcohol at an early age and again as they grow into adulthood.

So is addiction something that you're born with or is it something that you develop as a result of triggers to alcohol? That's unclear. A lot of studies being done on this right now.

O'BRIEN: There were theories I remember when I was growing up that if you have a drink with your parents when you're 16 or 17 or 18 you sort of see how people drink normally, a glass of wine here and there with your parents watching you, that that would help you grow up to be a responsible drinker.

Does this play any role in this study?

GUPTA: The theory being that if the parents sort of thought it was OK to drink, then perhaps drinking outside the home OK as well?

Most of the experts say probably not a good idea. Here's why.

Again, if you're talking about the brain being exposed to an addictive substance like alcohol, that may make you more likely to be addicted later in life, and even drinking early, even if it's a small amount, could be a problem.

So really, the message to parents out of this is even a small drink, evenly a sip early on in life could be a problem later on. So be careful about that.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right. Sanjay, thanks.

GUPTA: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Afghanistan is simmering in violence the day after NATO forces come under fire. There is a deadly attack. Just who was the target today? We'll take a look ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: About 45 minutes past the hour. Back to Heidi Collins, news again this hour out of Iraq.

Heidi, good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Good morning everybody.

An explosion in the Iraqi city of Ramadi wounded at least five Iraqis. The blast happened just as an American convoy drove by, but no coalition casualties have been reported. There have been some arrests, though. At least six members of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps have been detained.

A tape has surfaced of an American contractor missing in Saudi Arabia. A videotape showing Paul Johnson appeared on an Islamic web site yesterday. His captors claim they will kill him if the Saudi government does not release al Qaeda prisoners within 72 hours. The tape has not yet been verified.

CNN will have an exclusive interview with the kidnapped American's son at 11 a.m. Eastern.

The Justice Department says nearly $7 billion has been awarded to the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks. The average award was $2 million.

In all, the victims' compensation fund processed more than 2,900 death claims and some 4,400 claims of injuries. The families that applied for compensation gave up their rights to sue the airlines involved in the attacks.

Finally, some severe weather in Colorado now. Amazing pictures of a funnel cloud captured yesterday on home video southeast of Denver. At least five other tornadoes reported yesterday in the state along with heavy rain and hail, too. Word of minor damage but no injuries.

Wow! Seen a lot of that when I was out there.

HEMMER: Yes. Start a new segment here, too. We see a new videotape every day of a different storm.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Funnel cloud of the day.

HEMMER: Thank you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes.

HEMMER: We're going to get to Andy Serwer right now, facing higher fuel prices. Some airlines taking the cost cutting measures to new heights.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.

HEMMER: Or lows, perhaps. And the market preview.

Good morning, Andy.

SERWER: Good morning.

Speaking of tough weather, the airlines know all about that. Some tough words this morning from Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein, saying that Delta cannot survive as is, unless the economy improves, unless the environment improves, saying bankruptcy is a possibility there, if there are no other options. He's speaking in New York this morning.

A story in "USA Today." This is really fascinating. Check it out. About measures airlines are resorting to save money because of higher fuel costs. They're flying with -- Let's check out some of these things.

Fewer magazines. Gee, I mean, thanks a lot.

The paperless cockpit. That means the manuals for the pilots won't be in the cockpits anymore. That's comforting.

No ovens on shorter flights. Plastic knives instead of silverware. We've gone back and forth with that over the years.

No seatback phones. Well, you know how I feel about those. What a rip-off.

Anyway, some of this other stuff very interesting. Less extra fuel. I hope they know what they're doing there. Flying slower. I hope they know what they're doing there. Taxiing on one engine on the runway, that seems OK.

And the little winglets, you're going to be seeing those all the time, the little upturned things at the end of the wings, they save a whole bunch on fuel.

Want to talk about another new airline flying out of Dulles this morning. Welcome to the world. Independence Air. They're going to be starting up even in this environment, a new discount airline.

And they've kind of got an interesting twist here. Check this out. They've got celebrities doing the safety announcements. We've got Jim Carville and Mary Matalin doing one here. Listen to this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JAMES CARVILLE, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Hi, everyone. This is James Carville. I have some safety information for the folks on the left side of the plane.

MARY MATALIN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: And this is Mary Matalin, doing the same for the people on the right side.

CARVILLE: So people on the right put your "Wall Street Journals" down and pay attention.

MATALIN: Yes, and people on the left we must ask you to stop whining just a moment.

CARVILLE: OK, truce.

MATALIN: Your flight attendant...

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SERWER: This actually might make you pay attention during those P.A. announcements, I think. They've also got Dennis Miller, Mia Hamm and Chuck Berry.

Little different there. But kind of a little twist.

HEMMER: So the competition continues.

SERWER: Yes. That's right.

HEMMER: AirTran, JetBlue, they're all diving in. SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks.

SERWER: OK.

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Nicole Kidman is said to appear in the buff in a new movie, but it isn't her nudity that reportedly has the studio executives worried. We'll explain what is worrying them ahead when "90 Second Pop" continues. Right here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Back to Jack and the file this morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Thank you, Bill.

Wednesday, things that people said over the last week that caught our attention beginning with this: "I saw more emotion out of him when he burned a chicken in his barbecue than when his wife was missing." That's Harvey Kemple, who's married to a cousin of Laci Peterson's mother testifying in Scott Peterson's murder trial on the defendant's behavior after his wife, Laci, disappeared.

"All happy families are alike. Each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." That's Leo Tolstoy's opening line in the book "Anna Karenina." It was written in the 1870s. It's now the No. 1 bestseller in the country after being picked for Oprah's book club.

"It's going to break the heart of 'The New York Times,' and that also will please me. You can print that." That's former President George Herbert Walker Bush on his prediction that his son will be re- elected in November.

"These are fantasies that men want to have, the kind of a woman a certain man wants to have, a trophy wife who keeps her mouth shut. That doesn't really have anything to do with reality. It's just the fantasy." That's actress Bette Midler on the remake of "The Stepford Wives," in which she costars.

And finally, "It's clearly based on impulse and passion, and it's a disaster. At the rate she's going, she'll use up half of Hollywood by 2010." Sharon Wolf, the author of "How to Stay Lovers for Life," on Jennifer Lopez and her surprise third marriage.

O'BRIEN: Two thousand ten, she thinks she's going to work her way through?

CAFFERTY: That's what she said.

O'BRIEN: OK, Jack. Thanks.

(WEATHER REPORT) HEMMER: In a moment, why Scott Peterson's lawyers are talking about this fishing trip taken by Laci Peterson's stepfather. Details on that when we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: An anguished family waits as precious time ticks away to save an American held hostage in Saudi Arabia.

Iraqi oil production in chaos this morning after a string of pipeline attacks and the assassination of another top official.

And it was hard to get any sleep in Detroit last night. The Pistons are the giant killers of the NBA and the champs of this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

HEMMER: Good morning again, everybody. Nine o'clock here in New York.

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