Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
A Tense Standoff in Athens, Greece; U.S. Military in Okinawa
Aired December 15, 2004 - 08:00 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: A tense stand-off in Athens, Greece. Hijackers strapped with explosives holding passengers now on a city bus.
Has key evidence been found in the BTK serial killings? A strange packet of items and a mystery over where they were found.
Brain drain at the FBI -- is an exodus of agents making Americans more vulnerable there?
And the U.S. military in Okinawa -- have Americans worn out their welcome?
We'll have it for you as our coverage from Japan continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien in New York and from Tokyo, Japan, Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Hello again and welcome.
We are live in Tokyo. Day three of our coverage here from Japan. It's been a great week and, as you can see from behind, the crowds get bigger throughout the week here. I think they want us to stay a little while longer. Home awaits, though.
Welcome back, everybody.
It's about 10:00 here in Tokyo, 8:00 in the morning back on the East Coast.
Also this hour, we're going to meet some of Tokyo's urban eccentrics. The youth culture in parts of Japan, how they dress and how they talk and what they're into. Extremely colorful. We'll get to that this hour, as well.
First, though, back to Soledad -- good morning back there, Soledad, in New York City.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill.
Thank you.
And also this morning, the president is hosting an important economic conference today and tomorrow. We're going to take a look at what the White House hopes to accomplish and why the president needs to reach out to business leaders now.
Jack Cafferty has got a look at "The File" this morning -- good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wednesday, "Things People Say." Coming up a bit later, Soledad, Ellen DeGeneres on why she considered a government job for a while. Dolly Parton talks about the inspiration behind her signature style. And a former Baptist minister raves about Jessica Simpson's anatomy. Wait until you find out who it is. It's scary.
O'BRIEN: A good tease.
All right, Jack, thank you.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
O'BRIEN: A hostage stand-off in Athens, Greece to talk about now. It's now entering, in fact, its ninth hour. Authorities say at least two armed men are holding at least 19 passengers hostage on a commuter bus. Also, there are reports that Greek's prime minister -- Greece's prime minister has postponed his departure for the E.U. summit due to this hostage crisis.
CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks joins us now from Atlanta -- Mike, good morning.
I know you've been a hostage negotiator, also a tactical operator.
Give us a sense of what might be going on right now inside that bus.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, as we know, Soledad, right now hostage negotiations are going on between the people inside the bus and the officials. It's hopeful because they've already released seven passengers. But a hostage taking on a bus is an extremely, extremely dangerous situation.
But one of the things they want to make sure doesn't happen is that this bus goes mobile. We've seen them be blocking the bus from both behind and in front, but as the negotiations are ongoing and they're making demands to be driven to the airport and then flown to Russia, they want to make sure that this does not go mobile along the streets of Athens.
O'BRIEN: You know, Mike, you don't hear a lot about these sorts of things happening on buses.
How difficult would an assault, if it comes to that, be on a bus in the position and the kind of location where it is?
BROOKS: Well, the one good thing is tactical teams train on bus assaults all the time. And having just had the Olympics in Athens, the tactical teams there are extremely well trained. They've trained with U.S. special forces, our Navy SEALS Delta team, the FBI's hostage rescue team, which is one of the best domestic law enforcement tactical operator group in the nation. They have trained with them. They are, they actually trained for this contingency for the Olympics, just in case something like this happened -- came up, because the athletes were being transported on buses.
But, again, very, very tactical. I don't want to give away any secrets. I know what kind of things that they're going through right now, what kind of preparations they're making. But I don't want to give our -- give, tip the hand to the hostage takers. But it's very, very difficult because you have 360 degrees around that bus to approach. You've got windows on those buses that they can see out of and many times the tactical operators cannot see in.
But one thing I'm glad to see, it doesn't look like that this is like some of the buses here in the United States that we see in cities all the time now that have advertisement all over them. They call them full wraps. Those are very, very difficult for law enforcement officers to see into should a bus like that be -- have a hostage taken on board. It looks like this one does have windows on the side, so hopefully the negotiators and the people that are gathering intelligence there on the scene can see inside the bus.
O'BRIEN: Well, at least maybe a little bit of good news there.
All right, Mike Brooks for us this morning, former hostage negotiator, also, tactical operator, and, of course, CNN's law enforcement analyst.
Mike, thanks.
BROOKS: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Other headlines now with Kelly Wallace -- good morning, again.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks so much, Soledad.
Good morning again, everyone.
Now in the news, an Iraqi official telling CNN the man known as "Chemical Ali" will be the first former member of Saddam Hussein's regime to face war crimes proceedings. Ali Hassan al-Majid earns the nickname for allegedly ordering the chemical attack on Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Iraq's interim prime minister announced yesterday that at least 11 members of the former Iraqi regime will be tried by the end of this month.
Here in the United States, there is word security at Los Angeles International Airport will be beefed up to protect jetliners from shoulder launched missiles. Authorities say there is no immediate threat to aircraft at lax. They say they're responding to recent attacks against airliners overseas.
In Houston, a woman is blaming her car's broken gas gauge for the fiery surprise she got at the pump. Theressa Lopez suffered burns on her hand and leg and her car was a charred wreck after the gas hose she was using ignited. Police found a lighter on the scene, but Lopez denies she was smoking. Wow, look at those pictures. The incident still under investigation.
O'BRIEN: It is amazing to me that what she suffered was just burns on her hands. I mean, that she's even alive to tell her tale, as they say.
WALLACE: Exactly. When you look at the fire there so.
O'BRIEN: Unbelievable.
All right, Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Well, President Bush has a full agenda today, including meetings on economic reform and his continuing search for a new homeland security secretary. A name now being bandied about is that of Senator Joe Lieberman.
Elaine Quijano is live for us at the White House with more -- good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
That's right, the White House a short time from now will begin its two day economic conference here in Washington. This will be an opportunity for the Bush administration to push its second term economic agenda. And on the list of priorities for the Bush administration, privatizing part of Social Security, reforming the tax code and also tort reform.
Now, President Bush will be participating this afternoon in a panel called "The High Cost of Lawsuit Abuse." We should also tell you that this morning, Vice President Dick Cheney will be making remarks at the opening of the event. But before that, President Bush will be turning his attention to international matters. He'll be meeting with the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. And on the agenda for that meeting with the Italian prime minister, strengthening transatlantic relations, as well as the situation in Iraq.
In the meantime, though, as you mentioned, behind-the-scenes, the White House continues its effort to try to find another nominee for the top job at the Homeland Security Department. This in the wake of the Bernard Kerik withdrawal.
Now, the White House has made clear that it would like to move on, but still questions are continuing to swirl about what went wrong with the administration's vetting process and why Bernard Kerik's nanny problem was not caught before the president made that very public announcement nominating Kerik.
But, again, White House officials wanting to move on. And while officials here are not commenting on this, government as well as congressional sources are now saying that in recent days, a Democrat has been approached for the job and turned it down. That Democrat, as you mentioned, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.
Now, Senator Lieberman is someone who authored the legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security. And sources say that Lieberman, in addition to being approached about this job, was also approached about becoming the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., but turned that down, as well.
Now, Senator Lieberman was not available for comment immediately, but a spokesman said that the senator has not been given a formal job offer. However, this spokesman also saying that he could not comment on whether or not the senator has been talked to by administration officials about possibly joining the Bush administration -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
Let's turn now to what seems to be a disturbing trend at the FBI. It is the focus, in fact, of our CNN "Security Watch" this morning. A number of top counter-terrorism experts are leaving the agency. That's according to a "Los Angeles Times" report. Are these departures leaving the U.S. vulnerable to an attack?
Dale Watson is the former executive assistant director for counter-terrorism at the FBI.
He joins us from Washington, D.C. this morning.
Nice to see you, sir.
Thanks for joining us.
DALE WATSON, FORMER FBI EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR COUNTER- TERRORISM: Good morning.
Glad to be here.
O'BRIEN: How alarming is this exodus, if it's fair to say, of agents from the FBI?
WATSON: This is a continuing trend within the FBI. It goes in cycles and people come and people go. But to say that we're -- it makes us more vulnerable, I don't think is an accurate statement.
O'BRIEN: So when you say people come and people go, you don't think it's an exodus of any significance at all?
WATSON: No. It's a matter that happens from time to time. I remember in the '80s and '90s, in the late '90s, we had the same conversations about senior officials leaving. These things happen, particularly on the operational side, where people work these jobs for a while. They're very stressful. And so it's a natural occurrence. The only...
O'BRIEN: It...
WATSON: Oh, I'm sorry.
O'BRIEN: I was just going to say, you mentioned a moment ago that it doesn't make us less secure. But, of course, it seems intuitive that if good quality employees who are in sensitive and important positions leave, you know, do the math, why wouldn't that make us more vulnerable?
WATSON: Because of the fact that other people come along and take up those positions. The only thing that I see has changed a little since 9/11 about that process is the number of counter- terrorism agents assigned to work counter-terrorism matters in the U.S. And that's an acquired skill. That takes time to learn that investigative techniques. You need to bring criminal counterintelligence and counter-terrorism in order to be a good, successful counter-terrorism agent.
O'BRIEN: So, then, if you see more departures in that area, aren't we then less safe?
WATSON: Well, it's not more departures. It's a matter of people getting in those positions. And generally, you know, if you look back historically, the senior positions, they usually stay about two years or so. And, again, you know, people come along.
As time goes on and more and more agents are trained and become familiar and understand the counter-terrorism program, they'll be back strong as ever. So I don't see at the top level as people leave, good people come in.
O'BRIEN: You mentioned that these are stressful positions anyway.
WATSON: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Do you see an increase in the departures after 9/11?
WATSON: No, not necessarily. It's -- it is a time consuming, life consuming job and you can only do those types of jobs for so long. The biggest thing for senior officials coming in to take those jobs, particularly in the FBI, is understanding and having knowledge of Washington, D.C. and the agencies you have to work with. If you're brought in from the outside or from a field office, it takes a while to understand the system here in town. So that occurs over a period of time, about, you know, six to nine months to understand how everything works here.
O'BRIEN: Dale Watson is the former FBI executive assistant director for counter-terrorism, joining us this morning from Washington, D.C.
Thanks, sir.
Appreciate it.
WATSON: Thank you.
OK.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a look at the weather now.
Chad Myers is back and he is at the CNN Center with the latest forecast -- hey, Chad, before the forecast, don't you find coming to work relaxing?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is.
O'BRIEN: You see?
MYERS: I was so happy to get a great night's sleep last night. Actually, I closed the door, I couldn't hear him cry and so -- and I told you I did...
O'BRIEN: Like daddies everywhere, close the door, you won't hear him cry.
MYERS: This is the picture we took yesterday, Soledad. He looked so cute yesterday. He looks cute for about 30 seconds, then he just screams again. How can everything be good one minute and then to be really bad the next? But I guess that's all about...
O'BRIEN: Yes, wait until he starts talking.
MYERS: That's all about being a baby.
Good morning.
That's why I was gone for a couple of weeks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Hey, congratulations, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you, buddy.
HEMMER: Well done. And best to you and Sally, as well, OK?
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: And I'm going to hold off on that "Gong Show" comment you made about an hour ago.
MYERS: Sorry.
HEMMER: Clever stuff. Not a problem at all.
Talk to you later.
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: Here in Tokyo, there's a part of town called Harajuku. It is the hot hangout in this entire country among the teenagers in Tokyo. Preppie is not a part of it. Have a look and a listen here. It's a narrow street in Harajuku. It's where the young of Tokyo come to be seen and to see others. They say they come to dress and express how they feel, who they are. Gothic, Lolita, you find everything in between, in fact.
Some say the fashion magazines, Soledad, of New York City will go to this part of Tokyo to make sure they are not missing out on what the future trends may be. And some suggest they even steal their ideas, too. It is trendy with a capital T in that part of town.
More in a moment here in Japan.
Back to you now in New York City -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill.
Thanks.
If you thought you couldn't get a flu shot or you didn't need one, think again. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to join us and tell us who should be getting a flu shot sooner than later.
Also, a simple medals ceremony could become a big headache. With so much anger over the way things are going in Iraq, President Bush has given high honors to three architects of the war.
And Japanese women are hurriedly throwing off traditional roles. But just as quickly they're finding they might have too much on their plates.
Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN HANSON: My name is Steven Hanson (ph).
I'm from Au Claire, Wisconsin.
I'd like to say hi to my friends and family back home. I love you and I miss you and I hope to see you some time here pretty soon.
Have a Merry Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody.
Live in Tokyo.
Much of the culture here in Japan is based on centuries old tradition. And gender roles are no exception in that column. Times apparently are changing here, too, and so is the status of Japanese women. More women are working putting off marriage later in life. So, then, how is society adapting in Japan?
Let's talk about that with Kaori Sasaki, the presidency of Ewoman, Incorporated, and also the presidency of Unocal International, my guest here now this evening in Tokyo.
Nice to see you.
KAORI SASAKI, PRESIDENT & CEO, EWOMAN, INC.: Nice to see you.
HEMMER: Good evening to you.
SASAKI: Good evening.
HEMMER: How is the traditional Japanese family changing today?
SASAKI: Well, actually, a lot of working women who like to marry a man who is cooperative to the domestic work and child care. Ewoman does a lot of research, marketing research to the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) government and so forth. We just happen to have, like last week we had a research in asking which do you like better, five million yen, about $50,000 salary, and the cooperative man for the domestics and child care; and $100,000 income, but non-cooperative? And more than 85 percent of working women chose less salary but the cooperative guy.
HEMMER: So they took the man, so long as the man is responsible and good, right, over the money?
SASAKI: Right. Right.
HEMMER: Is that right?
SASAKI: Right. Because if they could work, also. Women can work.
HEMMER: Yes. How would you, or can you, can you compare the traditional Japanese family with the traditional American family? And can you note whether or not, based on that, the culture truly is changing here? And, if so, when did that begin?
SASAKI: Well, I would say about five, 10 years, actually. I started my first business 18 years ago and the next business five years ago. But 18 years ago, or 20 years ago, a lot of women married before 25. We had a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Christmas Eve, which is Christmas is the 25th, Christmas is the 24th, so that if you were 24 years old, you were already close to the deadline of marrying.
But now those concepts has changed. Again, like Ewoman, working women at Ewoman says that they would like to marry by 40. They would like to have a baby by 45. So, maybe it's because the working situation, the delay.
HEMMER: One thing that we find pretty interesting, though, is the crown princess.
Is there truly a great deal of pressure on her to produce a boy?
SASAKI: I guess so, because the regulation, you know, now. The law says that the emperor should be only a male baby. So, not just giving birth, but the gender is the key.
HEMMER: And in a word, is this country ready for a female emperor?
SASAKI: I think so.
HEMMER: You think so?
SASAKI: Well, again, like we -- when we did the research on Ewoman then, more than 90 percent of working women support a female empress.
HEMMER: Thanks for coming on tonight.
SASAKI: Thank you.
HEMMER: Onigato (ph).
SASAKI: Thank you.
HEMMER: Kaori Sasaki.
SASAKI: Thanks.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, OK?
SASAKI: Thanks.
HEMMER: All right.
In a moment here, anger over the U.S. military presence on the island of Okinawa growing again. Residents there want the military to leave. We'll check in on that story.
Back in a moment here live in Tokyo on a Wednesday evening, Japan time, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back.
Let's get right to Jack with the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: The FCC begins considering rules today that would allow the use of cell phones while an airplane is in flight. They are currently banned, something about the energy causing interference in the electronics or some technical stuff. But anyway, they've apparently figured out a way around that. So now the government is feeling some pressure from consumers to allow these things in flight.
An airplane is probably the only place these days you can go to get away from cell phones, which, it seems to me, you wouldn't want to ruin a good thing.
The question is should the use of cell phones be allowed on airplanes?
Laurie in Biloxi, Mississippi: "Perhaps we ought to ask the relatives who, because of cell phones being allowed on airplanes, were able to say one last good-bye to those they loved and were soon to lose on that morning of September 11."
Dorian in Austin, Texas says: "While the use of cell phones on commercial aircraft will certainly be annoying, what concerns me even more is their potential use as communication or coordination devices between terrorists aboard the same aircraft."
Johnny in New Orleans writes this: "I'm all for individual rights, but when they interfere with those around you in close proximity, like on an airplane, then individual rights are subordinate to the consideration of others. On short flights, say, three hours or less, I say no. On longer flights, perhaps designate particular times during each hour when cell phone use is allowed."
And Mike in Baltimore suggests this: "My question is how many cell phones are going to work at 35,000 feet going over a mountain range? My phone doesn't work in half of my house."
So fix that problem.
O'BRIEN: That's very funny.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thank you.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, President Bush puts three of the men behind the war in Iraq on an equal footing with the pope and Mother Teresa and Rosa Parks and many others who won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We're going to take you live to Washington, D.C. to debate whether that move will ever dog the president.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer in Tokyo, Japan.
HEMMER: Good evening from Tokyo again.
10:30 in the evening here on this AMERICAN MORNING. We're kind of mixing the metaphor a little bit there.
Welcome back.
It is our third and final day of coverage here in Japan. It's been a great week so far. We'll have to have another great 90 minutes here before we close the thing out -- close things out, rather.
In a few moments, looking at one of the toughest problems for America here in Japan -- what to do about the U.S. military presence on the tiny island of Okinawa. Many people there are furious with the U.S. military. We'll find out why in a moment here. Atika Shubert, our correspondent in Japan, has that story in a moment.
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 December 15, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A tense stand-off in Athens, Greece. Hijackers strapped with explosives holding passengers now on a city bus.
Has key evidence been found in the BTK serial killings? A strange packet of items and a mystery over where they were found.
Brain drain at the FBI -- is an exodus of agents making Americans more vulnerable there?
And the U.S. military in Okinawa -- have Americans worn out their welcome?
We'll have it for you as our coverage from Japan continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien in New York and from Tokyo, Japan, Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Hello again and welcome.
We are live in Tokyo. Day three of our coverage here from Japan. It's been a great week and, as you can see from behind, the crowds get bigger throughout the week here. I think they want us to stay a little while longer. Home awaits, though.
Welcome back, everybody.
It's about 10:00 here in Tokyo, 8:00 in the morning back on the East Coast.
Also this hour, we're going to meet some of Tokyo's urban eccentrics. The youth culture in parts of Japan, how they dress and how they talk and what they're into. Extremely colorful. We'll get to that this hour, as well.
First, though, back to Soledad -- good morning back there, Soledad, in New York City.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill.
Thank you.
And also this morning, the president is hosting an important economic conference today and tomorrow. We're going to take a look at what the White House hopes to accomplish and why the president needs to reach out to business leaders now.
Jack Cafferty has got a look at "The File" this morning -- good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wednesday, "Things People Say." Coming up a bit later, Soledad, Ellen DeGeneres on why she considered a government job for a while. Dolly Parton talks about the inspiration behind her signature style. And a former Baptist minister raves about Jessica Simpson's anatomy. Wait until you find out who it is. It's scary.
O'BRIEN: A good tease.
All right, Jack, thank you.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
O'BRIEN: A hostage stand-off in Athens, Greece to talk about now. It's now entering, in fact, its ninth hour. Authorities say at least two armed men are holding at least 19 passengers hostage on a commuter bus. Also, there are reports that Greek's prime minister -- Greece's prime minister has postponed his departure for the E.U. summit due to this hostage crisis.
CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks joins us now from Atlanta -- Mike, good morning.
I know you've been a hostage negotiator, also a tactical operator.
Give us a sense of what might be going on right now inside that bus.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, as we know, Soledad, right now hostage negotiations are going on between the people inside the bus and the officials. It's hopeful because they've already released seven passengers. But a hostage taking on a bus is an extremely, extremely dangerous situation.
But one of the things they want to make sure doesn't happen is that this bus goes mobile. We've seen them be blocking the bus from both behind and in front, but as the negotiations are ongoing and they're making demands to be driven to the airport and then flown to Russia, they want to make sure that this does not go mobile along the streets of Athens.
O'BRIEN: You know, Mike, you don't hear a lot about these sorts of things happening on buses.
How difficult would an assault, if it comes to that, be on a bus in the position and the kind of location where it is?
BROOKS: Well, the one good thing is tactical teams train on bus assaults all the time. And having just had the Olympics in Athens, the tactical teams there are extremely well trained. They've trained with U.S. special forces, our Navy SEALS Delta team, the FBI's hostage rescue team, which is one of the best domestic law enforcement tactical operator group in the nation. They have trained with them. They are, they actually trained for this contingency for the Olympics, just in case something like this happened -- came up, because the athletes were being transported on buses.
But, again, very, very tactical. I don't want to give away any secrets. I know what kind of things that they're going through right now, what kind of preparations they're making. But I don't want to give our -- give, tip the hand to the hostage takers. But it's very, very difficult because you have 360 degrees around that bus to approach. You've got windows on those buses that they can see out of and many times the tactical operators cannot see in.
But one thing I'm glad to see, it doesn't look like that this is like some of the buses here in the United States that we see in cities all the time now that have advertisement all over them. They call them full wraps. Those are very, very difficult for law enforcement officers to see into should a bus like that be -- have a hostage taken on board. It looks like this one does have windows on the side, so hopefully the negotiators and the people that are gathering intelligence there on the scene can see inside the bus.
O'BRIEN: Well, at least maybe a little bit of good news there.
All right, Mike Brooks for us this morning, former hostage negotiator, also, tactical operator, and, of course, CNN's law enforcement analyst.
Mike, thanks.
BROOKS: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Other headlines now with Kelly Wallace -- good morning, again.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks so much, Soledad.
Good morning again, everyone.
Now in the news, an Iraqi official telling CNN the man known as "Chemical Ali" will be the first former member of Saddam Hussein's regime to face war crimes proceedings. Ali Hassan al-Majid earns the nickname for allegedly ordering the chemical attack on Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Iraq's interim prime minister announced yesterday that at least 11 members of the former Iraqi regime will be tried by the end of this month.
Here in the United States, there is word security at Los Angeles International Airport will be beefed up to protect jetliners from shoulder launched missiles. Authorities say there is no immediate threat to aircraft at lax. They say they're responding to recent attacks against airliners overseas.
In Houston, a woman is blaming her car's broken gas gauge for the fiery surprise she got at the pump. Theressa Lopez suffered burns on her hand and leg and her car was a charred wreck after the gas hose she was using ignited. Police found a lighter on the scene, but Lopez denies she was smoking. Wow, look at those pictures. The incident still under investigation.
O'BRIEN: It is amazing to me that what she suffered was just burns on her hands. I mean, that she's even alive to tell her tale, as they say.
WALLACE: Exactly. When you look at the fire there so.
O'BRIEN: Unbelievable.
All right, Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Well, President Bush has a full agenda today, including meetings on economic reform and his continuing search for a new homeland security secretary. A name now being bandied about is that of Senator Joe Lieberman.
Elaine Quijano is live for us at the White House with more -- good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
That's right, the White House a short time from now will begin its two day economic conference here in Washington. This will be an opportunity for the Bush administration to push its second term economic agenda. And on the list of priorities for the Bush administration, privatizing part of Social Security, reforming the tax code and also tort reform.
Now, President Bush will be participating this afternoon in a panel called "The High Cost of Lawsuit Abuse." We should also tell you that this morning, Vice President Dick Cheney will be making remarks at the opening of the event. But before that, President Bush will be turning his attention to international matters. He'll be meeting with the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. And on the agenda for that meeting with the Italian prime minister, strengthening transatlantic relations, as well as the situation in Iraq.
In the meantime, though, as you mentioned, behind-the-scenes, the White House continues its effort to try to find another nominee for the top job at the Homeland Security Department. This in the wake of the Bernard Kerik withdrawal.
Now, the White House has made clear that it would like to move on, but still questions are continuing to swirl about what went wrong with the administration's vetting process and why Bernard Kerik's nanny problem was not caught before the president made that very public announcement nominating Kerik.
But, again, White House officials wanting to move on. And while officials here are not commenting on this, government as well as congressional sources are now saying that in recent days, a Democrat has been approached for the job and turned it down. That Democrat, as you mentioned, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.
Now, Senator Lieberman is someone who authored the legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security. And sources say that Lieberman, in addition to being approached about this job, was also approached about becoming the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., but turned that down, as well.
Now, Senator Lieberman was not available for comment immediately, but a spokesman said that the senator has not been given a formal job offer. However, this spokesman also saying that he could not comment on whether or not the senator has been talked to by administration officials about possibly joining the Bush administration -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
Let's turn now to what seems to be a disturbing trend at the FBI. It is the focus, in fact, of our CNN "Security Watch" this morning. A number of top counter-terrorism experts are leaving the agency. That's according to a "Los Angeles Times" report. Are these departures leaving the U.S. vulnerable to an attack?
Dale Watson is the former executive assistant director for counter-terrorism at the FBI.
He joins us from Washington, D.C. this morning.
Nice to see you, sir.
Thanks for joining us.
DALE WATSON, FORMER FBI EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR COUNTER- TERRORISM: Good morning.
Glad to be here.
O'BRIEN: How alarming is this exodus, if it's fair to say, of agents from the FBI?
WATSON: This is a continuing trend within the FBI. It goes in cycles and people come and people go. But to say that we're -- it makes us more vulnerable, I don't think is an accurate statement.
O'BRIEN: So when you say people come and people go, you don't think it's an exodus of any significance at all?
WATSON: No. It's a matter that happens from time to time. I remember in the '80s and '90s, in the late '90s, we had the same conversations about senior officials leaving. These things happen, particularly on the operational side, where people work these jobs for a while. They're very stressful. And so it's a natural occurrence. The only...
O'BRIEN: It...
WATSON: Oh, I'm sorry.
O'BRIEN: I was just going to say, you mentioned a moment ago that it doesn't make us less secure. But, of course, it seems intuitive that if good quality employees who are in sensitive and important positions leave, you know, do the math, why wouldn't that make us more vulnerable?
WATSON: Because of the fact that other people come along and take up those positions. The only thing that I see has changed a little since 9/11 about that process is the number of counter- terrorism agents assigned to work counter-terrorism matters in the U.S. And that's an acquired skill. That takes time to learn that investigative techniques. You need to bring criminal counterintelligence and counter-terrorism in order to be a good, successful counter-terrorism agent.
O'BRIEN: So, then, if you see more departures in that area, aren't we then less safe?
WATSON: Well, it's not more departures. It's a matter of people getting in those positions. And generally, you know, if you look back historically, the senior positions, they usually stay about two years or so. And, again, you know, people come along.
As time goes on and more and more agents are trained and become familiar and understand the counter-terrorism program, they'll be back strong as ever. So I don't see at the top level as people leave, good people come in.
O'BRIEN: You mentioned that these are stressful positions anyway.
WATSON: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Do you see an increase in the departures after 9/11?
WATSON: No, not necessarily. It's -- it is a time consuming, life consuming job and you can only do those types of jobs for so long. The biggest thing for senior officials coming in to take those jobs, particularly in the FBI, is understanding and having knowledge of Washington, D.C. and the agencies you have to work with. If you're brought in from the outside or from a field office, it takes a while to understand the system here in town. So that occurs over a period of time, about, you know, six to nine months to understand how everything works here.
O'BRIEN: Dale Watson is the former FBI executive assistant director for counter-terrorism, joining us this morning from Washington, D.C.
Thanks, sir.
Appreciate it.
WATSON: Thank you.
OK.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a look at the weather now.
Chad Myers is back and he is at the CNN Center with the latest forecast -- hey, Chad, before the forecast, don't you find coming to work relaxing?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is.
O'BRIEN: You see?
MYERS: I was so happy to get a great night's sleep last night. Actually, I closed the door, I couldn't hear him cry and so -- and I told you I did...
O'BRIEN: Like daddies everywhere, close the door, you won't hear him cry.
MYERS: This is the picture we took yesterday, Soledad. He looked so cute yesterday. He looks cute for about 30 seconds, then he just screams again. How can everything be good one minute and then to be really bad the next? But I guess that's all about...
O'BRIEN: Yes, wait until he starts talking.
MYERS: That's all about being a baby.
Good morning.
That's why I was gone for a couple of weeks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Hey, congratulations, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you, buddy.
HEMMER: Well done. And best to you and Sally, as well, OK?
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: And I'm going to hold off on that "Gong Show" comment you made about an hour ago.
MYERS: Sorry.
HEMMER: Clever stuff. Not a problem at all.
Talk to you later.
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: Here in Tokyo, there's a part of town called Harajuku. It is the hot hangout in this entire country among the teenagers in Tokyo. Preppie is not a part of it. Have a look and a listen here. It's a narrow street in Harajuku. It's where the young of Tokyo come to be seen and to see others. They say they come to dress and express how they feel, who they are. Gothic, Lolita, you find everything in between, in fact.
Some say the fashion magazines, Soledad, of New York City will go to this part of Tokyo to make sure they are not missing out on what the future trends may be. And some suggest they even steal their ideas, too. It is trendy with a capital T in that part of town.
More in a moment here in Japan.
Back to you now in New York City -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill.
Thanks.
If you thought you couldn't get a flu shot or you didn't need one, think again. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to join us and tell us who should be getting a flu shot sooner than later.
Also, a simple medals ceremony could become a big headache. With so much anger over the way things are going in Iraq, President Bush has given high honors to three architects of the war.
And Japanese women are hurriedly throwing off traditional roles. But just as quickly they're finding they might have too much on their plates.
Those stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN HANSON: My name is Steven Hanson (ph).
I'm from Au Claire, Wisconsin.
I'd like to say hi to my friends and family back home. I love you and I miss you and I hope to see you some time here pretty soon.
Have a Merry Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody.
Live in Tokyo.
Much of the culture here in Japan is based on centuries old tradition. And gender roles are no exception in that column. Times apparently are changing here, too, and so is the status of Japanese women. More women are working putting off marriage later in life. So, then, how is society adapting in Japan?
Let's talk about that with Kaori Sasaki, the presidency of Ewoman, Incorporated, and also the presidency of Unocal International, my guest here now this evening in Tokyo.
Nice to see you.
KAORI SASAKI, PRESIDENT & CEO, EWOMAN, INC.: Nice to see you.
HEMMER: Good evening to you.
SASAKI: Good evening.
HEMMER: How is the traditional Japanese family changing today?
SASAKI: Well, actually, a lot of working women who like to marry a man who is cooperative to the domestic work and child care. Ewoman does a lot of research, marketing research to the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) government and so forth. We just happen to have, like last week we had a research in asking which do you like better, five million yen, about $50,000 salary, and the cooperative man for the domestics and child care; and $100,000 income, but non-cooperative? And more than 85 percent of working women chose less salary but the cooperative guy.
HEMMER: So they took the man, so long as the man is responsible and good, right, over the money?
SASAKI: Right. Right.
HEMMER: Is that right?
SASAKI: Right. Because if they could work, also. Women can work.
HEMMER: Yes. How would you, or can you, can you compare the traditional Japanese family with the traditional American family? And can you note whether or not, based on that, the culture truly is changing here? And, if so, when did that begin?
SASAKI: Well, I would say about five, 10 years, actually. I started my first business 18 years ago and the next business five years ago. But 18 years ago, or 20 years ago, a lot of women married before 25. We had a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Christmas Eve, which is Christmas is the 25th, Christmas is the 24th, so that if you were 24 years old, you were already close to the deadline of marrying.
But now those concepts has changed. Again, like Ewoman, working women at Ewoman says that they would like to marry by 40. They would like to have a baby by 45. So, maybe it's because the working situation, the delay.
HEMMER: One thing that we find pretty interesting, though, is the crown princess.
Is there truly a great deal of pressure on her to produce a boy?
SASAKI: I guess so, because the regulation, you know, now. The law says that the emperor should be only a male baby. So, not just giving birth, but the gender is the key.
HEMMER: And in a word, is this country ready for a female emperor?
SASAKI: I think so.
HEMMER: You think so?
SASAKI: Well, again, like we -- when we did the research on Ewoman then, more than 90 percent of working women support a female empress.
HEMMER: Thanks for coming on tonight.
SASAKI: Thank you.
HEMMER: Onigato (ph).
SASAKI: Thank you.
HEMMER: Kaori Sasaki.
SASAKI: Thanks.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, OK?
SASAKI: Thanks.
HEMMER: All right.
In a moment here, anger over the U.S. military presence on the island of Okinawa growing again. Residents there want the military to leave. We'll check in on that story.
Back in a moment here live in Tokyo on a Wednesday evening, Japan time, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back.
Let's get right to Jack with the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: The FCC begins considering rules today that would allow the use of cell phones while an airplane is in flight. They are currently banned, something about the energy causing interference in the electronics or some technical stuff. But anyway, they've apparently figured out a way around that. So now the government is feeling some pressure from consumers to allow these things in flight.
An airplane is probably the only place these days you can go to get away from cell phones, which, it seems to me, you wouldn't want to ruin a good thing.
The question is should the use of cell phones be allowed on airplanes?
Laurie in Biloxi, Mississippi: "Perhaps we ought to ask the relatives who, because of cell phones being allowed on airplanes, were able to say one last good-bye to those they loved and were soon to lose on that morning of September 11."
Dorian in Austin, Texas says: "While the use of cell phones on commercial aircraft will certainly be annoying, what concerns me even more is their potential use as communication or coordination devices between terrorists aboard the same aircraft."
Johnny in New Orleans writes this: "I'm all for individual rights, but when they interfere with those around you in close proximity, like on an airplane, then individual rights are subordinate to the consideration of others. On short flights, say, three hours or less, I say no. On longer flights, perhaps designate particular times during each hour when cell phone use is allowed."
And Mike in Baltimore suggests this: "My question is how many cell phones are going to work at 35,000 feet going over a mountain range? My phone doesn't work in half of my house."
So fix that problem.
O'BRIEN: That's very funny.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thank you.
CAFFERTY: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, President Bush puts three of the men behind the war in Iraq on an equal footing with the pope and Mother Teresa and Rosa Parks and many others who won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We're going to take you live to Washington, D.C. to debate whether that move will ever dog the president.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer in Tokyo, Japan.
HEMMER: Good evening from Tokyo again.
10:30 in the evening here on this AMERICAN MORNING. We're kind of mixing the metaphor a little bit there.
Welcome back.
It is our third and final day of coverage here in Japan. It's been a great week so far. We'll have to have another great 90 minutes here before we close the thing out -- close things out, rather.
In a few moments, looking at one of the toughest problems for America here in Japan -- what to do about the U.S. military presence on the tiny island of Okinawa. Many people there are furious with the U.S. military. We'll find out why in a moment here. Atika Shubert, our correspondent in Japan, has that story in a moment.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
