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American Morning

Interview With Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge; '90- Second Pop'

Aired July 09, 2004 - 07:30   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, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. 7:30 here in New York. Half past the hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
They say they do not know where, when or how, but officials believe that al Qaeda is planning a large-scale attack here in the U.S. timed to the elections in November. Secretary Tom Ridge issued that terror warning yesterday. Secretary Ridge is our guest this morning in D.C.

Good morning to you, sir. Welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Good morning. Thank you.

HEMMER: You talked about the planning yesterday. Can you say whether or not al Qaeda has started to act on these plans?

RIDGE: We don't have any specific intelligence that they are getting ready to act, but every single day we act within the department and around the country as if they are here, present and prepared to act. We can't afford the luxury of speculating whether or not they are here or on their way.

I mean, frankly, the experiences we've had over the past couple of weeks with taking down al Qaeda cells with our allies in Great Britain, Italy and Jordan, where they not only apprehended al Qaeda terrorists, but also the means by which they were going to conduct the attacks, the explosives. Apparently they were looking to use some truck bombs over there.

So, we have to act every single day as if not only the people are here but the means to conduct an attack are here.

HEMMER: Yes, Mr. Secretary, this is what people are trying to figure out. What's different today than a month ago or two months ago or three months ago? And are you getting information from people who are apprehended overseas? And is that the reason why the warning went out yesterday?

RIDGE: That's part of it, yes. The intelligence picture can change on a regular basis. It is a dynamic process. I mean, in every single day, the intelligence community, whether it's the CIA, the FBI, DOD or allies overseas, take a look at the information and either add or subtract. But again, it's a dynamic picture.

And the foundation for yesterday's announcement was the universal acceptance of the credibility of the sources within the intelligence community, the continued speculation. I mean, there are Web sites and other reporting the anticipation in the conversations, the Web sites and other reporting of al Qaeda. The fact that they talk about a timeframe, that's not very usual, to disrupt the democrat process. And again, the takedowns, where we arrested not only people, but they had the capacity to conduct the attack.

That's a picture, and every single day in working with not only our allies around the world but domestic agencies, we're trying to get more and more information to make that picture much clearer today, to give us more specific information we can act on.

HEMMER: Help me understand the process. Help me understand what you're dealing with down there in Washington. Why do you go public with a full-blown press conference, but yet the terror threat level does not change?

RIDGE: Well, the terrorist threat level doesn't need to change for us to give a sobering statement to America about the risk and about what we know. The terrorist threat level doesn't have to change in order for us to continue to build in preventive and additional security measures.

One of the reasons that we are cautious about taking up the national threat level, it is very, very labor-intensive. You cannot sustain it indefinitely. It is physically and emotionally very, very taxing. We may raise it. There's nothing to suggest today that we would do it, but we may raise it in the future. But we do it on a selective basis.

But I think it's even more important to know that we don't have to raise the threat level to work with state homeland security advisers and local chiefs of police, the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and everybody else to go out and look for more information. At the same time, harden America against the possibility of an attack.

HEMMER: And take that last point. I think this is very critical here. When viewers listen to you talk, yesterday and again today, what do they look out for?

RIDGE: Well, first of all, as I mentioned yesterday, they ought to be assured that the law enforcement community and the security professionals every single day go about their job with the same kind of intensity and aggressiveness that has been sustained for two-plus years since September 11.

What we say to citizens: One, you need to know that your professionals are hard at work, but there are a couple of things you can do. Your common sense and your eyes and ears could potentially help us stop a terrorist attack. If there is suspicious activity, you see something that's out of the ordinary, call the local law enforcement agency. Call your local sheriff.

There is not a week that doesn't go by that we don't have a citizen noticing something that's unusual that leads to an investigation. And if you have the time, we encourage people to go to the Web site, Ready.gov. There are things we'd like you to do for your family just to be prepared.

But more importantly than anything else, know that your security professionals are hard at work, not just at the federal government, around the country, down to the local community.

HEMMER: Let me back up just a little bit here. Where is the evidence that says Osama bin Laden is in the active process of planning these attacks?

RIDGE: Well, I'm not going to comment on the sources. And I noticed there was some reporting today.

Let me just say to you that one of the most important determinations that the intelligence community has to make is whether or not the source is to be believed. And all I can tell you is, from the sources -- and I'm not going to even share what they are -- it is universally accepted among intelligence analysts that these sources are credible.

You couple that with everything else I said, you make the announcement to the public, you ask them to use their common sense, to keep their eyes and ears open. And then you go about on a day-to-day basis working with our partners around the country to ramp up security.

HEMMER: I don't have much time for this. Jane Harman, a Democrat who is in Congress. You know her well.

RIDGE: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HEMMER: She said yesterday, warning fatigue is a real worry. You are well aware of the questions in an election campaign, an election cycle...

RIDGE: That's right.

HEMMER: ... that politics could come into play here. How do you reassure Americans that politics are not involved in this decision from yesterday?

RIDGE: The secretary of homeland security doesn't do politics. His primary responsibility is to integrate an entire country, people and resources, to protect and defend America, pure and simple. Those who want to characterize yesterday's press statement or my appearance on this show today as political, they have to deal with the unreality of their statement.

Every single day we work to try to make to America safer and more secure. On occasion, it's very important when the threat picture changes for us to make that public announcement to let America know that every single day we also work privately across America to make America safer.

HEMMER: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Tom Ridge in Washington. We'll talk again.

RIDGE: Thank you.

HEMMER: Appreciate your time this morning -- Heidi.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Ken Lay's indictment grabbed the headlines, but there were actually two convictions in another huge corporate scandal yesterday. Andy Serwer is going to talk to us about that.

Also ahead, a news conference in Washington turns into a worldwide wrestling match. We'll explain.

Plus, your Friday dose of "90-Second Pop". Cameron Diaz challenges Paris Hilton for Internet infamy. It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER BREAK)

COLLINS: You know, sometimes the stress of being a journalist can really get to you. Yesterday in Washington, tempers flared after a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. A cameraman with CBS News and a reporter with the "New York Post" had it out. Some fellow journalists did manage to step in here in just a minute. Let's go ahead and see what happens.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's going on here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Somebody stepped in somebody's shot there.

HEMMER: He went down easy.

COLLINS: That is not the point.

HEMMER: He should see the AMERICAN MORNING staff after our show! That's some action.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: He folded up like a cheap suit.

HEMMER: I'm telling you.

CAFFERTY: Huh? Nothing going on there.

Researchers say that cosmetic surgeons may soon be attempting face transplants. The procedure would be used for faces of people that have been disfigured, not for cosmetic reasons. You couldn't just go in and say I want a different face.

But on this program you can, and that's the question this morning. If you get a face transplant, whose face would you like to get?

HEMMER: Whoa! Where did you come up with this?

CAFFERTY: Sarah Lieder (ph), my beloved producer, is the one who had this idea, for which at 10:00 I'll either be deeply indebted to her or very, very angry.

HEMMER: Put her on the...

CAFFERTY: It depends how things go the next couple of hours.

HEMMER: ... on the floor in a scrap with those guys in D.C.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

Trevor in Austin writes: "Beethoven's face, pock-marked but ugly and brilliant."

Ken in Atlanta, Georgia: "I'd like to have George W. Bush's face. After all, with two of them he has one to spare."

Jim in Lindenwold, New Jersey. "Personally, I'll take Bill Hemmer's face. If I had that, I'd had a lot less trouble getting dates."

HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COLLINS: Wow!

CAFFERTY: James in Clairemont, Illinois: "I'll keep my own face, but call me when body transplants are available."

And Destry in Albany, New York: "If I could get a face transplant, I'd like to get Jack Cafferty's face. Then I could slap it whenever I wanted to."

HEMMER: Bravo!

CAFFERTY: AM@CNN.com.

HEMMER: Excellent.

COLLINS: You're right. This is very fun.

CAFFERTY: Do you like this? So far you're doing good, Sarah (ph). It won't be this easy when you get to topic A, though.

HEMMER: Yes.

COLLINS: Hey, you have a show this weekend to talk about, don't you?

CAFFERTY: Oh, yes. Are we doing that now?

COLLINS: "IN THE MONEY."

CAFFERTY: No one told me that. "IN THE MONEY," we're going to talk about all of the great vice-presidents down through history. That will be the first 20 seconds of the show. And then for the other 59 minutes and 40 seconds we'll do some other stuff. We hope you'll join us. We tend to have a pretty good time. It's on at 1:00 on Saturday and 3:00 on Sunday. Thank you for reminding me.

COLLINS: You're welcome.

HEMMER: You're on a roll. I like it.

CAFFERTY: Yes?

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: I love it here.

HEMMER: Let's go break here. Love you.

What would you like? In a moment here, would you like some fat with that? One woman gets fed up with Mickey Dee's and decides to take action. Her story. We'll explain after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Right about 45 minutes past the hour. Back to Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN center with a check of the headlines this morning.

Good morning, Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks again, Bill. Good morning to you again.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to release its findings on intelligence failures in prewar Iraq. Sources familiar with the report say it criticizes intelligence analysts of not being careful enough in their assessments of Saddam Hussein's weapons capabilities. The report will be released to the public later on this morning.

U.S. Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is in American hands for the first time in weeks. The U.S. State Department confirming that Hassoun is now safe at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Officials are saying the U.S. hopes to transport him to a U.S. military base in Germany for a medical examination and debriefing.

Back in the U.S., a new development in the Kobe Bryant case. Bryant's accuser has now hired a high-profile attorney to join her legal team. The law firm says attorney Lin Wood, has also representative -- represented, rather, John and Patsy Ramsey, has been hired because of growing concerns over media coverage. The trial in the sexual assault case is scheduled to begin at the end of next month.

And a California woman is suing McDonald's for not cutting the fat in its cooking oil. McDonald's had pledged to switch to a lower- fat oil by February 2003, but the fast-food giant is delaying the plan, citing concerns of product quality and customer satisfaction. The federal lawsuit was filed yesterday. No comments yet from Mickey Dee's.

Bill -- back to you.

HEMMER: Fredricka...

WHITFIELD: Hold off on those fries a little bit.

HEMMER: That we will. Thanks for that, Fred.

Some major security fraud convictions in the Adelphia communications scandal. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." It's coming down.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, maybe even overshadowing Ken Lay's indictment this morning. A federal jury in New York City convicting John and Tim Rigas, he's the founder and then his son, the chief financial officer, on multiple counts of fraud, bank fraud and securities fraud. The other son, Michael, the jury is deadlocked on that.

You remember this company, the fifth largest cable company in the United States. These gentlemen are accused of treating it as their -- quote -- "personal piggy bank."

Let's move on to the market. Yesterday a down day. Oil prices over $40 a barrel here in the United States.

This morning, though, things are looking good. Why? Well, one reason, GE is coming out with its earnings, which were pretty nice. And the big news is CEO Jeffrey Immelt is saying -- quote -- "This is the best economy we've seen in years." This from the CEO of arguably the most important company in the United States. So, that could be some good news for investors this morning.

COLLINS: It is.

HEMMER: All right, thank you, Andy.

COLLINS: Very good. Andy Serwer, thanks so much.

SERWER: You're welcome.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, just in time for the weekend. It's your Friday edition of "90-Second Pop." Cameron Diaz played one of "Charlie's Angels" on the big screen, but 12 years ago she reportedly wasn't wearing her halo or much else. A risque video hits the Web.

Plus, VH1, loves the '90s. But have they been gone long enough for you to care? It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Oh, good lord! It is Friday, and it's time now for "90-Second Pop," which always tastes better on a Friday.

Joining us this morning, a first-timer, Jessi Klein, a comedian, and she is from VH1.

Jessi, we're glad to have you.

And Toure, our regular old guy from "Rolling Stone."

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": Thanks.

COLLINS: And "New York" magazine contributing editor, Sarah Bernard.

Very lovely having all three of you today.

Sarah...

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Yes.

COLLINS: ... we've got to get to Cameron. I mean, we really like Cameron.

BERNARD: Yes, we all like Cameron.

COLLINS: But this new tape that's out, it's actually called, "She's no Angel." Cameron Diaz...

BERNARD: That's funny. Get it? "Charlie's Angels."

COLLINS: I get it, but, yikes!

BERNARD: I know. So, Cameron, when she was 19 years old made this very, very soft porn video with a photographer named John Rutter, who has ever so kindly released it to an Internet company who is now selling it online. And it is very, very mild, I have to say. She's got some fish nets on. She's topless about a third. It's very Austin Powers-like. She's dancing around, and it almost doesn't seem like a real serious thing.

And it's not really like the Paris Hilton or the Pamela Anderson tape, but in terms of what it's going to do for her career...

COLLINS: Right.

BERNARD: ... I really don't think it's not going to damage it at all. In fact, it makes her more intriguing. She's kind of the victim here. She really didn't want this out, and now it's getting out. But everyone feels sorry for her, but it's going to be fine.

COLLINS: And they're going to be talking about her again.

TOURE: Well, in the '80s, right? It was this sex -- it was the pictures that you took before that got out.

BERNARD: Vanessa Williams!

TOURE: And Vanessa Williams.

COLLINS: Right.

TOURE: Madonna that happened to. But now, of course, this generation, it's the sex tape, which is the ultimate underground gorilla marketing tool. It changed Pam Anderson's life, right? It changed Paris Hilton's life.

BERNARD: Exactly.

TOURE: I don't know if it's going to change Cameron Diaz's life, but it's a good thing for her.

BERNARD: And we haven't been talking about her much except for as Justin Timberlake's girlfriend for a while, right?

JESSI KLEIN, COMEDIAN: Right.

COLLINS: Yes.

KLEIN: Well, the other thing to me is from the description of it, it doesn't sound that different to me from her other movies. She's getting paid millions of dollars.

BERNARD: But you know...

(CROSSTALK)

KLEIN: I like her. I see her as somebody who...

BERNARD: She's actually in a movie called "X-Girls," where she plays a playboy bunny. So there you go.

COLLINS: Oh, it never ends.

TOURE: But there's also a book, which has nothing to do with this, about Alec Baldwin, right? You've got to see it.

KLEIN: Oh, I saw that.

BERNARD: All right.

TOURE: It's called, "I, Alec Baldwin," and it's amazing.

COLLINS: Yes, that's for a whole another show.

TOURE: Is it great?

BERNARD: We'll dedicate another pop for that.

COLLINS: Jessi, we're going to stick with you here now. "I Love the '90s." KLEIN: Yes.

COLLINS: It's going to debut on VH1 on Monday.

KLEIN: Yes, it's new.

COLLINS: I'm trying to think of stuff in the '90s. It feels like a long time ago. "90210" is the only thing that comes to mind.

KLEIN: Yes, "91210."

TOURE: "Prada."

KLEIN: "Prada." You know, some people are criticizing and saying, is it time yet, I guess, is the question, to do '90s nostalgia? And I personally think you know what? We all do genuinely miss the '90s at this point. Things are going so badly. At least during the '90s, it was a time of relative peace and prosperity. My biggest problem was I didn't get the Rachel haircut in time, and I've always regretted it.

COLLINS: Clearly that's a larger issue.

KLEIN: Yes, a really big problem. And now, you know, it seems like, well, it was only four years ago that it was the '90s, but when during that four years we've kind skirted with World War III, it seems a smidge longer. So, I'm excited for it.

BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

KLEIN: Yes. Yes.

TOURE: I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COLLINS: I think we're ready, though, to go back.

BERNARD: I think we're going to -- you know, since the nostalgia cycle is so quick, we're going to start doing I love "90-Second Pop" in like June, early June.

KLEIN: Or start doing it in the future, saying, I love 2006 in a week.

COLLINS: But really, that's a good point. I mean, what is it? What is the big thing in the '90s that people, you know, are really remembering, are really wanting to feel nostalgic about?

BERNARD: Having a president whose scandal was just a...

TOURE: Was something...

BERNARD: ... female issue.

KLEIN: Or was something that...

(CROSSTALK) TOURE: Into a more (UNINTELLIGIBLE) time, right?

BERNARD: Yes.

TOURE: I mean, like everybody was making money and it seemed like the sky was the limit.

COLLINS: Hmm.

TOURE: You know, I mean, like anything was possible.

COLLINS: All right.

BERNARD: The anxiety level was lower.

COLLINS: All right, well, thanks, you guys. It was nice seeing all of you. Jessi, glad to see you for the first time.

KLEIN: Oh, thank you so much.

TOURE: Yea!

COLLINS: All right, Bill, back over to you.

HEMMER: Heidi, thanks.

In a moment here, something you don't see everyday. Monkey mind control. We'll explain this story in a moment. Top stories top of the hour when we continue here on AMERICAN MORNING.

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 July 9, 2004 - 07:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. 7:30 here in New York. Half past the hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
They say they do not know where, when or how, but officials believe that al Qaeda is planning a large-scale attack here in the U.S. timed to the elections in November. Secretary Tom Ridge issued that terror warning yesterday. Secretary Ridge is our guest this morning in D.C.

Good morning to you, sir. Welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Good morning. Thank you.

HEMMER: You talked about the planning yesterday. Can you say whether or not al Qaeda has started to act on these plans?

RIDGE: We don't have any specific intelligence that they are getting ready to act, but every single day we act within the department and around the country as if they are here, present and prepared to act. We can't afford the luxury of speculating whether or not they are here or on their way.

I mean, frankly, the experiences we've had over the past couple of weeks with taking down al Qaeda cells with our allies in Great Britain, Italy and Jordan, where they not only apprehended al Qaeda terrorists, but also the means by which they were going to conduct the attacks, the explosives. Apparently they were looking to use some truck bombs over there.

So, we have to act every single day as if not only the people are here but the means to conduct an attack are here.

HEMMER: Yes, Mr. Secretary, this is what people are trying to figure out. What's different today than a month ago or two months ago or three months ago? And are you getting information from people who are apprehended overseas? And is that the reason why the warning went out yesterday?

RIDGE: That's part of it, yes. The intelligence picture can change on a regular basis. It is a dynamic process. I mean, in every single day, the intelligence community, whether it's the CIA, the FBI, DOD or allies overseas, take a look at the information and either add or subtract. But again, it's a dynamic picture.

And the foundation for yesterday's announcement was the universal acceptance of the credibility of the sources within the intelligence community, the continued speculation. I mean, there are Web sites and other reporting the anticipation in the conversations, the Web sites and other reporting of al Qaeda. The fact that they talk about a timeframe, that's not very usual, to disrupt the democrat process. And again, the takedowns, where we arrested not only people, but they had the capacity to conduct the attack.

That's a picture, and every single day in working with not only our allies around the world but domestic agencies, we're trying to get more and more information to make that picture much clearer today, to give us more specific information we can act on.

HEMMER: Help me understand the process. Help me understand what you're dealing with down there in Washington. Why do you go public with a full-blown press conference, but yet the terror threat level does not change?

RIDGE: Well, the terrorist threat level doesn't need to change for us to give a sobering statement to America about the risk and about what we know. The terrorist threat level doesn't have to change in order for us to continue to build in preventive and additional security measures.

One of the reasons that we are cautious about taking up the national threat level, it is very, very labor-intensive. You cannot sustain it indefinitely. It is physically and emotionally very, very taxing. We may raise it. There's nothing to suggest today that we would do it, but we may raise it in the future. But we do it on a selective basis.

But I think it's even more important to know that we don't have to raise the threat level to work with state homeland security advisers and local chiefs of police, the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and everybody else to go out and look for more information. At the same time, harden America against the possibility of an attack.

HEMMER: And take that last point. I think this is very critical here. When viewers listen to you talk, yesterday and again today, what do they look out for?

RIDGE: Well, first of all, as I mentioned yesterday, they ought to be assured that the law enforcement community and the security professionals every single day go about their job with the same kind of intensity and aggressiveness that has been sustained for two-plus years since September 11.

What we say to citizens: One, you need to know that your professionals are hard at work, but there are a couple of things you can do. Your common sense and your eyes and ears could potentially help us stop a terrorist attack. If there is suspicious activity, you see something that's out of the ordinary, call the local law enforcement agency. Call your local sheriff.

There is not a week that doesn't go by that we don't have a citizen noticing something that's unusual that leads to an investigation. And if you have the time, we encourage people to go to the Web site, Ready.gov. There are things we'd like you to do for your family just to be prepared.

But more importantly than anything else, know that your security professionals are hard at work, not just at the federal government, around the country, down to the local community.

HEMMER: Let me back up just a little bit here. Where is the evidence that says Osama bin Laden is in the active process of planning these attacks?

RIDGE: Well, I'm not going to comment on the sources. And I noticed there was some reporting today.

Let me just say to you that one of the most important determinations that the intelligence community has to make is whether or not the source is to be believed. And all I can tell you is, from the sources -- and I'm not going to even share what they are -- it is universally accepted among intelligence analysts that these sources are credible.

You couple that with everything else I said, you make the announcement to the public, you ask them to use their common sense, to keep their eyes and ears open. And then you go about on a day-to-day basis working with our partners around the country to ramp up security.

HEMMER: I don't have much time for this. Jane Harman, a Democrat who is in Congress. You know her well.

RIDGE: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HEMMER: She said yesterday, warning fatigue is a real worry. You are well aware of the questions in an election campaign, an election cycle...

RIDGE: That's right.

HEMMER: ... that politics could come into play here. How do you reassure Americans that politics are not involved in this decision from yesterday?

RIDGE: The secretary of homeland security doesn't do politics. His primary responsibility is to integrate an entire country, people and resources, to protect and defend America, pure and simple. Those who want to characterize yesterday's press statement or my appearance on this show today as political, they have to deal with the unreality of their statement.

Every single day we work to try to make to America safer and more secure. On occasion, it's very important when the threat picture changes for us to make that public announcement to let America know that every single day we also work privately across America to make America safer.

HEMMER: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Tom Ridge in Washington. We'll talk again.

RIDGE: Thank you.

HEMMER: Appreciate your time this morning -- Heidi.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Ken Lay's indictment grabbed the headlines, but there were actually two convictions in another huge corporate scandal yesterday. Andy Serwer is going to talk to us about that.

Also ahead, a news conference in Washington turns into a worldwide wrestling match. We'll explain.

Plus, your Friday dose of "90-Second Pop". Cameron Diaz challenges Paris Hilton for Internet infamy. It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER BREAK)

COLLINS: You know, sometimes the stress of being a journalist can really get to you. Yesterday in Washington, tempers flared after a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. A cameraman with CBS News and a reporter with the "New York Post" had it out. Some fellow journalists did manage to step in here in just a minute. Let's go ahead and see what happens.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's going on here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Somebody stepped in somebody's shot there.

HEMMER: He went down easy.

COLLINS: That is not the point.

HEMMER: He should see the AMERICAN MORNING staff after our show! That's some action.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: He folded up like a cheap suit.

HEMMER: I'm telling you.

CAFFERTY: Huh? Nothing going on there.

Researchers say that cosmetic surgeons may soon be attempting face transplants. The procedure would be used for faces of people that have been disfigured, not for cosmetic reasons. You couldn't just go in and say I want a different face.

But on this program you can, and that's the question this morning. If you get a face transplant, whose face would you like to get?

HEMMER: Whoa! Where did you come up with this?

CAFFERTY: Sarah Lieder (ph), my beloved producer, is the one who had this idea, for which at 10:00 I'll either be deeply indebted to her or very, very angry.

HEMMER: Put her on the...

CAFFERTY: It depends how things go the next couple of hours.

HEMMER: ... on the floor in a scrap with those guys in D.C.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

Trevor in Austin writes: "Beethoven's face, pock-marked but ugly and brilliant."

Ken in Atlanta, Georgia: "I'd like to have George W. Bush's face. After all, with two of them he has one to spare."

Jim in Lindenwold, New Jersey. "Personally, I'll take Bill Hemmer's face. If I had that, I'd had a lot less trouble getting dates."

HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COLLINS: Wow!

CAFFERTY: James in Clairemont, Illinois: "I'll keep my own face, but call me when body transplants are available."

And Destry in Albany, New York: "If I could get a face transplant, I'd like to get Jack Cafferty's face. Then I could slap it whenever I wanted to."

HEMMER: Bravo!

CAFFERTY: AM@CNN.com.

HEMMER: Excellent.

COLLINS: You're right. This is very fun.

CAFFERTY: Do you like this? So far you're doing good, Sarah (ph). It won't be this easy when you get to topic A, though.

HEMMER: Yes.

COLLINS: Hey, you have a show this weekend to talk about, don't you?

CAFFERTY: Oh, yes. Are we doing that now?

COLLINS: "IN THE MONEY."

CAFFERTY: No one told me that. "IN THE MONEY," we're going to talk about all of the great vice-presidents down through history. That will be the first 20 seconds of the show. And then for the other 59 minutes and 40 seconds we'll do some other stuff. We hope you'll join us. We tend to have a pretty good time. It's on at 1:00 on Saturday and 3:00 on Sunday. Thank you for reminding me.

COLLINS: You're welcome.

HEMMER: You're on a roll. I like it.

CAFFERTY: Yes?

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: I love it here.

HEMMER: Let's go break here. Love you.

What would you like? In a moment here, would you like some fat with that? One woman gets fed up with Mickey Dee's and decides to take action. Her story. We'll explain after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Right about 45 minutes past the hour. Back to Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN center with a check of the headlines this morning.

Good morning, Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks again, Bill. Good morning to you again.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to release its findings on intelligence failures in prewar Iraq. Sources familiar with the report say it criticizes intelligence analysts of not being careful enough in their assessments of Saddam Hussein's weapons capabilities. The report will be released to the public later on this morning.

U.S. Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is in American hands for the first time in weeks. The U.S. State Department confirming that Hassoun is now safe at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Officials are saying the U.S. hopes to transport him to a U.S. military base in Germany for a medical examination and debriefing.

Back in the U.S., a new development in the Kobe Bryant case. Bryant's accuser has now hired a high-profile attorney to join her legal team. The law firm says attorney Lin Wood, has also representative -- represented, rather, John and Patsy Ramsey, has been hired because of growing concerns over media coverage. The trial in the sexual assault case is scheduled to begin at the end of next month.

And a California woman is suing McDonald's for not cutting the fat in its cooking oil. McDonald's had pledged to switch to a lower- fat oil by February 2003, but the fast-food giant is delaying the plan, citing concerns of product quality and customer satisfaction. The federal lawsuit was filed yesterday. No comments yet from Mickey Dee's.

Bill -- back to you.

HEMMER: Fredricka...

WHITFIELD: Hold off on those fries a little bit.

HEMMER: That we will. Thanks for that, Fred.

Some major security fraud convictions in the Adelphia communications scandal. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." It's coming down.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, maybe even overshadowing Ken Lay's indictment this morning. A federal jury in New York City convicting John and Tim Rigas, he's the founder and then his son, the chief financial officer, on multiple counts of fraud, bank fraud and securities fraud. The other son, Michael, the jury is deadlocked on that.

You remember this company, the fifth largest cable company in the United States. These gentlemen are accused of treating it as their -- quote -- "personal piggy bank."

Let's move on to the market. Yesterday a down day. Oil prices over $40 a barrel here in the United States.

This morning, though, things are looking good. Why? Well, one reason, GE is coming out with its earnings, which were pretty nice. And the big news is CEO Jeffrey Immelt is saying -- quote -- "This is the best economy we've seen in years." This from the CEO of arguably the most important company in the United States. So, that could be some good news for investors this morning.

COLLINS: It is.

HEMMER: All right, thank you, Andy.

COLLINS: Very good. Andy Serwer, thanks so much.

SERWER: You're welcome.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, just in time for the weekend. It's your Friday edition of "90-Second Pop." Cameron Diaz played one of "Charlie's Angels" on the big screen, but 12 years ago she reportedly wasn't wearing her halo or much else. A risque video hits the Web.

Plus, VH1, loves the '90s. But have they been gone long enough for you to care? It's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Oh, good lord! It is Friday, and it's time now for "90-Second Pop," which always tastes better on a Friday.

Joining us this morning, a first-timer, Jessi Klein, a comedian, and she is from VH1.

Jessi, we're glad to have you.

And Toure, our regular old guy from "Rolling Stone."

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": Thanks.

COLLINS: And "New York" magazine contributing editor, Sarah Bernard.

Very lovely having all three of you today.

Sarah...

SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Yes.

COLLINS: ... we've got to get to Cameron. I mean, we really like Cameron.

BERNARD: Yes, we all like Cameron.

COLLINS: But this new tape that's out, it's actually called, "She's no Angel." Cameron Diaz...

BERNARD: That's funny. Get it? "Charlie's Angels."

COLLINS: I get it, but, yikes!

BERNARD: I know. So, Cameron, when she was 19 years old made this very, very soft porn video with a photographer named John Rutter, who has ever so kindly released it to an Internet company who is now selling it online. And it is very, very mild, I have to say. She's got some fish nets on. She's topless about a third. It's very Austin Powers-like. She's dancing around, and it almost doesn't seem like a real serious thing.

And it's not really like the Paris Hilton or the Pamela Anderson tape, but in terms of what it's going to do for her career...

COLLINS: Right.

BERNARD: ... I really don't think it's not going to damage it at all. In fact, it makes her more intriguing. She's kind of the victim here. She really didn't want this out, and now it's getting out. But everyone feels sorry for her, but it's going to be fine.

COLLINS: And they're going to be talking about her again.

TOURE: Well, in the '80s, right? It was this sex -- it was the pictures that you took before that got out.

BERNARD: Vanessa Williams!

TOURE: And Vanessa Williams.

COLLINS: Right.

TOURE: Madonna that happened to. But now, of course, this generation, it's the sex tape, which is the ultimate underground gorilla marketing tool. It changed Pam Anderson's life, right? It changed Paris Hilton's life.

BERNARD: Exactly.

TOURE: I don't know if it's going to change Cameron Diaz's life, but it's a good thing for her.

BERNARD: And we haven't been talking about her much except for as Justin Timberlake's girlfriend for a while, right?

JESSI KLEIN, COMEDIAN: Right.

COLLINS: Yes.

KLEIN: Well, the other thing to me is from the description of it, it doesn't sound that different to me from her other movies. She's getting paid millions of dollars.

BERNARD: But you know...

(CROSSTALK)

KLEIN: I like her. I see her as somebody who...

BERNARD: She's actually in a movie called "X-Girls," where she plays a playboy bunny. So there you go.

COLLINS: Oh, it never ends.

TOURE: But there's also a book, which has nothing to do with this, about Alec Baldwin, right? You've got to see it.

KLEIN: Oh, I saw that.

BERNARD: All right.

TOURE: It's called, "I, Alec Baldwin," and it's amazing.

COLLINS: Yes, that's for a whole another show.

TOURE: Is it great?

BERNARD: We'll dedicate another pop for that.

COLLINS: Jessi, we're going to stick with you here now. "I Love the '90s." KLEIN: Yes.

COLLINS: It's going to debut on VH1 on Monday.

KLEIN: Yes, it's new.

COLLINS: I'm trying to think of stuff in the '90s. It feels like a long time ago. "90210" is the only thing that comes to mind.

KLEIN: Yes, "91210."

TOURE: "Prada."

KLEIN: "Prada." You know, some people are criticizing and saying, is it time yet, I guess, is the question, to do '90s nostalgia? And I personally think you know what? We all do genuinely miss the '90s at this point. Things are going so badly. At least during the '90s, it was a time of relative peace and prosperity. My biggest problem was I didn't get the Rachel haircut in time, and I've always regretted it.

COLLINS: Clearly that's a larger issue.

KLEIN: Yes, a really big problem. And now, you know, it seems like, well, it was only four years ago that it was the '90s, but when during that four years we've kind skirted with World War III, it seems a smidge longer. So, I'm excited for it.

BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

KLEIN: Yes. Yes.

TOURE: I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COLLINS: I think we're ready, though, to go back.

BERNARD: I think we're going to -- you know, since the nostalgia cycle is so quick, we're going to start doing I love "90-Second Pop" in like June, early June.

KLEIN: Or start doing it in the future, saying, I love 2006 in a week.

COLLINS: But really, that's a good point. I mean, what is it? What is the big thing in the '90s that people, you know, are really remembering, are really wanting to feel nostalgic about?

BERNARD: Having a president whose scandal was just a...

TOURE: Was something...

BERNARD: ... female issue.

KLEIN: Or was something that...

(CROSSTALK) TOURE: Into a more (UNINTELLIGIBLE) time, right?

BERNARD: Yes.

TOURE: I mean, like everybody was making money and it seemed like the sky was the limit.

COLLINS: Hmm.

TOURE: You know, I mean, like anything was possible.

COLLINS: All right.

BERNARD: The anxiety level was lower.

COLLINS: All right, well, thanks, you guys. It was nice seeing all of you. Jessi, glad to see you for the first time.

KLEIN: Oh, thank you so much.

TOURE: Yea!

COLLINS: All right, Bill, back over to you.

HEMMER: Heidi, thanks.

In a moment here, something you don't see everyday. Monkey mind control. We'll explain this story in a moment. Top stories top of the hour when we continue here on AMERICAN MORNING.

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