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American Morning

A Massive Relief Effort for Tsunami Survivors; Unspeakable Agony in Sweden

Aired January 04, 2005 - 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: The world responding -- a massive relief effort for tsunami survivors. Trying to get food into the hands of the hungry again today.
The unspeakable agony in the country of Sweden. Almost everyone there knows someone affected by this disaster.

Also, the man who says if they had only listened to me. They're listening now and trying to build a global tsunami alert system.

And a developing story in Iraq today. A major political leader attacked and killed by insurgents, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.

8:01 here in New York City.

Good to have you along with us today.

Soledad continues to report again today in Phuket, Thailand.

That's where we begin this hour -- Soledad, hello there.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And hello back to you -- Bill.

And you're right, 8:01 here, as well. We're 12 hours ahead, 8:01 in the evening, though, as we continue to update you on what is happening in the wake of this tsunami and some of the recovery, as well.

First, let's get right to that visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell. He was traveling with the president's brother, Jeb, and they toured through the region. He also took a few moments to address some reporters' questions. He said that the U.S. response to the disaster, private response, has grown and he also does not foresee a need for any more federal dollars. That's coming this -- just a few hours ago when he made those remarks.

Now far from where we are right now, at the provincial center that's essentially been set up -- it's pretty much become disaster central. A wall has been put up and covered with photos of the missing, along with numbers to contact if there's any kind of information. It's very tough to see and I have to say it does bear a little bit of a resemblance to what we saw after 9/11, the photos of people whose faces are so smiling contrasted to what we know is coming out of these devastated areas.

And that is bodies in bags stacked, in some cases, on the piers, waiting for removal by the cleanup workers. The stench -- in fact, Phi Phi Island just pretty overwhelming, even as they continue to try to get that debris out of there and take some of those bodies out.

When a body is discovered there, in fact, it's handled very respectfully, put on a cloth stretcher and four people bring that body out of the region.

It is a heartbreaking scene. We're going to have much more on the recovery, the relief and many other things, stories, as well, just ahead -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

Some days you wonder where the end is and if it will be in sight, because it has been just day after day there from the region.

Thanks, Soledad.

Just one of a small army of reporters reporting on the tsunami again today all over Southeast Asia.

We want to get you caught up this morning on what we have for the latest developments.

The number of dead now listed just under 155,000. Four to five thousand Americans listed as missing, but the State Department cautions us on that figure. It believes most of those Americans will be located. More and bigger American helicopters bringing relief supplies to remote areas of Sumatra. The Banda Aceh Airport, where the shipments are going, open again today. A crippled cargo plane that was blocking the runway has been removed.

Also, a Marine force is in Sri Lanka. Among their half million pounds of supplies, they have food and water, broad medical capability and road building equipment there. The former Presidents, George Bush and Bill Clinton, spearheading an appeal for private donations. That was announced from the White House yesterday. And they appeared just about everywhere, including on "LARRY KING LIVE" last night for an hour here on CNN. They will fan across the country trying to raise more money, private donations from individuals and businesses, to help out with more of the relief effort there.

Back to Soledad again now in Phuket.

O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks.

The U.N. says this is the largest relief effort in history. Thousands are still missing from European countries, in particular, Nordic nations like Sweden. And some people there are demanding some answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

O'BRIEN (voice-over): In Sweden, far from the scene of the deadly tsunami, the natural disaster is a national tragedy.

CABIN JAMTIN, SWEDISH DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: Everyone in Sweden is more or less affected. Sweden is a very small country. All in all, we have a population of nine million people. So everyone knows someone who's been there, has a relative or a friend.

O'BRIEN: Outside the tsunami ravaged region, Sweden has suffered the most casualties. At least 52 Swedes are confirmed dead. More than 2,300 others are missing.

Thailand's Phuket Island is perhaps the most popular destination for Swedish tourists in winter. Government officials estimate some 15,000 to 20,000 Swedes were vacationing on Phuket Island when the tsunami hit.

Instead of celebrating the new year, Sweden brought in 2005 with a national day of mourning to honor the victims. For some, grief is turning to anger. Critics accuse the Swedish government of not responding fast enough to the disaster.

But politics aside, Swedes are consumed with finding out what happened to the thousands of family and friends and loved ones who are still missing.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

O'BRIEN: Per Allen Olssen is a representative of the Swedish Red Cross, joining us this evening.

First, our condolences to the many, many people in your nation who have been affected.

It's hard to overstate that this is a national tragedy, but strangely happening in a foreign country for you.

How has that complicated what your job is?

PER ALLEN OLSSEN, SWEDISH RED CROSS: That's complicated, I think, the reaction, and, in part, the slow reaction, I have to admit. Because this was regarded as an international disaster in Sweden, and particularly at the Swedish Red Cross, because Sunday and Monday we were focusing on the Sri Lanka and Indonesian part of it as -- and analyzing what could we contribute from our side to the international relief effort. And only gradually it emerged as a national calamity. The information was patchy.

And, you know, this is the most popular holiday resort for the Swedish people. We had 20,000 or 30,000 people around in this area. It was almost incomprehensible that something like that had struck us.

O'BRIEN: What are you doing for the folks who have come to your doors, those who have been left with nothing, if they've survived, and those who have come to try to find the people who they loved? OLSSEN: I mean we, I arrived with the first disaster management crisis team from Sweden, the government and NGO team, the group uniquely set up for this situation. And Wednesday we arrived. But what happened was I had been to Afghanistan, I had been to Iraq, I had been to the West Bank and Gaza. But arriving here in the midst of your people of your own kin and suffering in your own language, and time will...

O'BRIEN: It's very personal.

OLSSEN: Time was already lost. I mean we had people one minute happy families enjoying playing in the sand and the next time they were reduced to a mother, a brother and a sister, crying out for their relatives.

O'BRIEN: Your, I have to imagine you've seen a lot of bad things and you're upset very visibly.

OLSSEN: I'm very upset. Yes.

O'BRIEN: This is...

OLSSEN: And I think we all are. We are the first team that's been working here for a week now. We are going home in two days. And we are replaced by another, bigger team. We have managed to get most of the wounded, almost all of the wounded people hospitalized, Swedish people, back home to Sweden. There are three or four remaining that needs to be taken care of for a while and before they get home. We have a couple of patients in Bangkok.

But apart from that, we are counting -- we are collecting bodies and we have the identification process ongoing.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about that.

How will you identify the bodies that wash up? And they are unrecognizable.

OLSSEN: Yes. But it's a very sort of pragmatic business, I must say. And I'm lucky to say this. It's an international effort, of course. And there are 25 countries who have to admit that there are all these countries that have suffered, not least the Thai people.

And now the bodies are being collected in two places. There are 25 national DVI teams, disaster victim identification teams, working together. We are collecting the tissues and the DNA tests will be done in China, one the one hand, the post-mortem. And the anti-mortem will be done in Sweden and brought here for the matching after that. It may take months. It may take half a year. But all bodies, identification will be possible for all.

O'BRIEN: Per Allen Olssen joining us.

Thank you.

And, again, our condolences to your people. OLSSEN: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: It has been, you cannot overstate what a national tragedy this has been.

OLSSEN: Yes.

Thank you.

O'BRIEN: We appreciate it.

Bill, much more, obviously, from Thailand, as we continue here this evening.

But first, back to you in New York.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

That continues to be our top story.

However, back here in the U.S., we're tracking a story out of Baghdad this morning, developing news.

And for that here's Heidi Collins -- good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

And good morning to you, everybody.

Now in the news, this, in fact, just coming in now.

Less than a month before scheduled elections in Iraq, the governor of Baghdad has been gunned down in the capital city. Witnesses say an intense gun battle erupted between the assassins and the governor's bodyguards following an early morning ambush.

Also in Baghdad, a suicide truck bomb exploded near the so-called green zone, killing at least 10 people, wounding dozens of others.

We will keep our eye on this part of the world and bring more to you just as soon as we have it.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon reportedly considering a plan to send hundreds of American military advisers to work with Iraqi security units. U.S. officials cited by the "New York Times" say Iraqi forces are not performing as well as had been expected. They say American advisers would help back up Iraqi troops and bolster their confidence.

According to the report, more advisers would not be sent until after the January 30 elections.

To Capitol Hill now. Congress reconvenes today with several freshmen law makers. President Bush met with the new members yesterday, calling for teamwork to achieve "big things for the good of the country." Congress starts its session today with a focus on relief aid in Southern Asia. Law makers are expected to add to the $350 million the president has already promised.

And a series of storms in southern California have asked the state and spawned a unique weather phenomenon. This incredible water spout was sighted along the coast near Los Angeles. It's actually a tornado on the surface of the Pacific Ocean. More wild weather expected in the area throughout the week.

Chad Myers has been watching all of it.

Boy, that's an incredible picture there -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. Really. Right at sunset there. Yes, it was an amazing shot there, about an F1 if it was on land. But we call it a water spout because it was only over water. That's why it disease have any color to it, because it was just picking up moisture, picking up water and water is clear, basically.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: You figure that weather from California is going somewhere, huh? And it's moving east.

COLLINS: That's for sure.

HEMMER: The U.S. pledged $350 million for relief. Could that number go even higher? Live to Capitol Hill in a moment on that story.

COLLINS: Also, Tom DeLay asks Republicans not to change ethics rules just for him. He's praised for being unselfish. But is there another motive?

HEMMER: Also, the story we've tracked now for a week -- lasers aimed at the cockpits of airplanes. At least one pilot says some details from the latest report do not sit well with him. We'll talk to him about it next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: A rainy day outside here in New York City.

Welcome back, everybody.

Sixteen minutes now past the hour on this Tuesday morning.

The FBI does not believe that terrorists are involved in eight recent incidents of laser beams being flashed and aimed into airplane cockpits. On CNN's "Security Watch" now, safety in the skies.

And captain Dennis Dolan of the Airline Pilots Association my guest now down in D.C.

Captain, good morning.

Welcome to our program here.

DENNIS DOLAN, AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: The FBI says no link to terrorism.

Do you buy it? Do you believe it?

DOLAN: Well, first of all, I think we have to accept, Bill, that this is a threat to aviation safety, first and foremost.

Then the next question...

HEMMER: How so?

DOLAN: Well, if you're going to shine a laser beam inside of a cockpit and possibly or potentially incapacitate one or both pilots, I think that's a safety issue, plain and simple.

The next question that we have to ask ourselves, is this also a security issue? And I think until we prove it's not a security issue, then we still raise the question that this could potentially be done by terrorists.

HEMMER: So of all the incidents that we have talked about over the past week and counting now, how many have been traced to people on the ground and have been proven, in fact, that they were the ones that put this laser inside of a cockpit?

DOLAN: Well, to my knowledge, only one person has been identified as someone who's actually put a laser beam inside the cockpit.

HEMMER: So that's why you're...

DOLAN: The rest of them aren't solved.

HEMMER: That's where your concern comes from, is that right, Captain?

DOLAN: Exactly. I think if we haven't learned any lessons from 9/11, the one that we should learn is if we have a series of incidents aimed at commercial aviation, which terrorists say they still target commercial aviation, we need to investigate. We need to assure ourselves that these aren't related in somehow to a terrorist incident.

HEMMER: It's...

DOLAN: I don't think we've done that yet.

HEMMER: It's my understanding that the chance of harming a pilot is minuscule in these matters.

Is that the way you understand it, too? Or as a pilot yourself, how would this interfere with your ability to fly?

DOLAN: Well, if you actually -- if someone actually succeeds in shining the laser beam into the eyes of the pilots, it will flash blind that pilot and could potentially burn the retina. So, I mean, there is the potential of actual physical harm here. But the issue is if the pilot is flash blinded for some period of time, one or two minutes, the pilot basically is useless in the cockpit. If both pilots are flash blinded, now you have an airplane that's being flown by no one, which is totally unsafe.

HEMMER: Is it possible that this is just the work of pranksters playing tricks on the ground?

DOLAN: Well, of course. Sure it is. I don't deny that what -- at all. But what we have to tell ourselves is we need to make ourselves assured that it's not a terrorist incident. We need to identify who's doing this and, first of all, punish these people for doing something that's a hazard to aviation. And secondly, we need to educate the public and tell them, look, you can't be taking these lasers, they're not toys, you can't be shining them into the cockpit and potentially blinding pilots. You can't do that.

HEMMER: Are you aware of the testing the Soviets did during the cold war using lasers and airplanes? And if you are, can you flush that out for us as far as how the Soviets tried to use it?

DOLAN: Well, I'm not really completely familiar with that, Bill.

HEMMER: OK.

We'll leave it there then.

DOLAN: OK.

HEMMER: Thanks for your time, Captain, down there in D.C.

DOLAN: OK.

Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Appreciate talking to you this morning.

DOLAN: All right. Thank you.

HEMMER: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. We'll get to more throughout the morning here.

Also, in a moment, back to the biggest story on the planet today. At least one scientist warning tsunamis would eventually wreck all of Southeast Asia. Instead of listening to him, authorities made him an outcast. His story, still to come this morning on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Even as the tsunami recovery and relief effort continues, officials in the region and in the U.S. are asking questions about warning systems and wondering if tens of thousands of lives could have been saved.

Here's CNN's Dan Lothian.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seven years ago, the then chief of Thailand's meteorological department, Samith Dhammasaroj, was pushing for a tsunami early warning system, but he lost credibility when he issued a false alarm. That made him an outcast. He was accused of spreading panic and hurting tourism.

SAMITH DHAMMASAROJ, THAILAND METEOROLOGICAL EXPERT: If they had only listened to me, maybe 50 percent or 20 percent of lives, many lives people would be saved today.

LOTHIAN: After last week's powerful earthquake, he was certain his country's tourist packed beaches would be hit. He tried to call his former office, but says no one was in. At the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, a powerful earthquake alert was sent out, later followed by scientific projections of a possible tsunami in areas near the epicenter. But officials say they didn't have all the emergency contact numbers.

CONRAD C. LAUTENBACHER, NOAA: Our people did everything within their power to try to warn or to call as many people as possible.

CHARLES MCCREERY, DIRECTOR, PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER: We're only one piece of the puzzle of protecting ourselves from this threat.

LOTHIAN: In fact, this center and another one in Alaska were designed to primarily protect the western U.S. after devastating tsunamis in the '40s and '60s. Sensors on the surface and underwater provide accurate information, but only from the Pacific Ocean, where 90 percent of tsunamis occur.

Experts like John Ebel at the Boston College Weston Observatory say the Indian Ocean had never been a real concern.

JOHN EBEL, BOSTON COLLEGE: We had never seen a tsunami of this size spread throughout the entire Indian Ocean Basin the way this one did.

LOTHIAN: Until now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we have the disaster and you can bet that something will finally happen in the Indian Ocean.

LOTHIAN: Remember this embattled expert? He's been tapped to spearhead Thailand's early warning program again. Other countries are getting on board, too.

(on camera): Experts all agree that even with the most sophisticated technology, coastal regions around the world will never be completely safe unless the public is educated and officials on the ground are always on alert.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston. (END VIDEO TAPE)

COLLINS: The prime minister of Sri Lanka says he learned about the tsunami only after it hit. He now also agrees it's "high time" for Sri Lanka to have a warning system.

HEMMER: Worth repeating that 90 percent of tsunamis on this planet occurred in the Pacific Ocean and not the Indian.

COLLINS: Right.

HEMMER: Back to Jack, a similar story this morning, The Question of the Day -- good morning.

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.

Four Arab countries so far offering to help the tsunami victims. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly offered a total of $24 million. Saudi Arabia is giving $10 million of that. Now, this is a country that managed to scrape together $155 million in 2002 to give to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

So where's the support from these Middle East countries that have longstanding ties with Southeast Asia? Indonesia is the most heavily populated Muslim nation on Earth.

The question is are Arab countries doing enough to aid the tsunami victims?

Patrick writes: "We all know the extent of generosity demonstrated by the Arab nations. Just look at how they jumped at the chance to help Florida victims of four hurricanes."

Sherif in Buffalo, New York: "I'm a Muslim and I am ashamed of all Muslim governments and their response to the Asian disaster. Where's the Saudi businessman who offered New Yorkers $100 million after September 11? Don't his Muslim brothers deserve something?"

Mike writes: "It's not surprising the Arabs have contributed so little to the tsunami victims. It's disgusting that they have so little respect for fellow human beings. They've not been robbing -- they have been robbing poor nations for so long by allowing oil prices to go to atrocious levels, they probably have to save all their money in order to support the Palestinian terrorists and other religious fanatics."

And finally, Jeff in Kobe, Japan writes this: "Rather than ask if the aid is appropriate or not, I think the more important question here is the motive behind the donations. It seems as though governments around the world are more concerned about making themselves look good and are turning this into a P.R. opportunity."

HEMMER: Editorials being written, what, in countries like Kuwait questioning this same issue here? CAFFERTY: Yes. But, you know, they -- get out the checkbook. Don't be writing in the newspaper, write in the checkbook. Send some, you know, part with some cash and send it.

HEMMER: What's the cost of oil right now?

CAFFERTY: Yes.

HEMMER: $30...

CAFFERTY: Fifty something dollars a burial.

HEMMER: It used to be fifty, yes.

CAFFERTY: It's nonsense. It's just nonsense.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.

President Bush now putting together his own fundraising dream team. What's the first order for business for Congress today?

Back to work in D.C.

"Political Jab" in a moment here, when we continue after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired January 4, 2005 - 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: The world responding -- a massive relief effort for tsunami survivors. Trying to get food into the hands of the hungry again today.
The unspeakable agony in the country of Sweden. Almost everyone there knows someone affected by this disaster.

Also, the man who says if they had only listened to me. They're listening now and trying to build a global tsunami alert system.

And a developing story in Iraq today. A major political leader attacked and killed by insurgents, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.

8:01 here in New York City.

Good to have you along with us today.

Soledad continues to report again today in Phuket, Thailand.

That's where we begin this hour -- Soledad, hello there.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And hello back to you -- Bill.

And you're right, 8:01 here, as well. We're 12 hours ahead, 8:01 in the evening, though, as we continue to update you on what is happening in the wake of this tsunami and some of the recovery, as well.

First, let's get right to that visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell. He was traveling with the president's brother, Jeb, and they toured through the region. He also took a few moments to address some reporters' questions. He said that the U.S. response to the disaster, private response, has grown and he also does not foresee a need for any more federal dollars. That's coming this -- just a few hours ago when he made those remarks.

Now far from where we are right now, at the provincial center that's essentially been set up -- it's pretty much become disaster central. A wall has been put up and covered with photos of the missing, along with numbers to contact if there's any kind of information. It's very tough to see and I have to say it does bear a little bit of a resemblance to what we saw after 9/11, the photos of people whose faces are so smiling contrasted to what we know is coming out of these devastated areas.

And that is bodies in bags stacked, in some cases, on the piers, waiting for removal by the cleanup workers. The stench -- in fact, Phi Phi Island just pretty overwhelming, even as they continue to try to get that debris out of there and take some of those bodies out.

When a body is discovered there, in fact, it's handled very respectfully, put on a cloth stretcher and four people bring that body out of the region.

It is a heartbreaking scene. We're going to have much more on the recovery, the relief and many other things, stories, as well, just ahead -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

Some days you wonder where the end is and if it will be in sight, because it has been just day after day there from the region.

Thanks, Soledad.

Just one of a small army of reporters reporting on the tsunami again today all over Southeast Asia.

We want to get you caught up this morning on what we have for the latest developments.

The number of dead now listed just under 155,000. Four to five thousand Americans listed as missing, but the State Department cautions us on that figure. It believes most of those Americans will be located. More and bigger American helicopters bringing relief supplies to remote areas of Sumatra. The Banda Aceh Airport, where the shipments are going, open again today. A crippled cargo plane that was blocking the runway has been removed.

Also, a Marine force is in Sri Lanka. Among their half million pounds of supplies, they have food and water, broad medical capability and road building equipment there. The former Presidents, George Bush and Bill Clinton, spearheading an appeal for private donations. That was announced from the White House yesterday. And they appeared just about everywhere, including on "LARRY KING LIVE" last night for an hour here on CNN. They will fan across the country trying to raise more money, private donations from individuals and businesses, to help out with more of the relief effort there.

Back to Soledad again now in Phuket.

O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks.

The U.N. says this is the largest relief effort in history. Thousands are still missing from European countries, in particular, Nordic nations like Sweden. And some people there are demanding some answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

O'BRIEN (voice-over): In Sweden, far from the scene of the deadly tsunami, the natural disaster is a national tragedy.

CABIN JAMTIN, SWEDISH DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: Everyone in Sweden is more or less affected. Sweden is a very small country. All in all, we have a population of nine million people. So everyone knows someone who's been there, has a relative or a friend.

O'BRIEN: Outside the tsunami ravaged region, Sweden has suffered the most casualties. At least 52 Swedes are confirmed dead. More than 2,300 others are missing.

Thailand's Phuket Island is perhaps the most popular destination for Swedish tourists in winter. Government officials estimate some 15,000 to 20,000 Swedes were vacationing on Phuket Island when the tsunami hit.

Instead of celebrating the new year, Sweden brought in 2005 with a national day of mourning to honor the victims. For some, grief is turning to anger. Critics accuse the Swedish government of not responding fast enough to the disaster.

But politics aside, Swedes are consumed with finding out what happened to the thousands of family and friends and loved ones who are still missing.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

O'BRIEN: Per Allen Olssen is a representative of the Swedish Red Cross, joining us this evening.

First, our condolences to the many, many people in your nation who have been affected.

It's hard to overstate that this is a national tragedy, but strangely happening in a foreign country for you.

How has that complicated what your job is?

PER ALLEN OLSSEN, SWEDISH RED CROSS: That's complicated, I think, the reaction, and, in part, the slow reaction, I have to admit. Because this was regarded as an international disaster in Sweden, and particularly at the Swedish Red Cross, because Sunday and Monday we were focusing on the Sri Lanka and Indonesian part of it as -- and analyzing what could we contribute from our side to the international relief effort. And only gradually it emerged as a national calamity. The information was patchy.

And, you know, this is the most popular holiday resort for the Swedish people. We had 20,000 or 30,000 people around in this area. It was almost incomprehensible that something like that had struck us.

O'BRIEN: What are you doing for the folks who have come to your doors, those who have been left with nothing, if they've survived, and those who have come to try to find the people who they loved? OLSSEN: I mean we, I arrived with the first disaster management crisis team from Sweden, the government and NGO team, the group uniquely set up for this situation. And Wednesday we arrived. But what happened was I had been to Afghanistan, I had been to Iraq, I had been to the West Bank and Gaza. But arriving here in the midst of your people of your own kin and suffering in your own language, and time will...

O'BRIEN: It's very personal.

OLSSEN: Time was already lost. I mean we had people one minute happy families enjoying playing in the sand and the next time they were reduced to a mother, a brother and a sister, crying out for their relatives.

O'BRIEN: Your, I have to imagine you've seen a lot of bad things and you're upset very visibly.

OLSSEN: I'm very upset. Yes.

O'BRIEN: This is...

OLSSEN: And I think we all are. We are the first team that's been working here for a week now. We are going home in two days. And we are replaced by another, bigger team. We have managed to get most of the wounded, almost all of the wounded people hospitalized, Swedish people, back home to Sweden. There are three or four remaining that needs to be taken care of for a while and before they get home. We have a couple of patients in Bangkok.

But apart from that, we are counting -- we are collecting bodies and we have the identification process ongoing.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about that.

How will you identify the bodies that wash up? And they are unrecognizable.

OLSSEN: Yes. But it's a very sort of pragmatic business, I must say. And I'm lucky to say this. It's an international effort, of course. And there are 25 countries who have to admit that there are all these countries that have suffered, not least the Thai people.

And now the bodies are being collected in two places. There are 25 national DVI teams, disaster victim identification teams, working together. We are collecting the tissues and the DNA tests will be done in China, one the one hand, the post-mortem. And the anti-mortem will be done in Sweden and brought here for the matching after that. It may take months. It may take half a year. But all bodies, identification will be possible for all.

O'BRIEN: Per Allen Olssen joining us.

Thank you.

And, again, our condolences to your people. OLSSEN: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: It has been, you cannot overstate what a national tragedy this has been.

OLSSEN: Yes.

Thank you.

O'BRIEN: We appreciate it.

Bill, much more, obviously, from Thailand, as we continue here this evening.

But first, back to you in New York.

HEMMER: All right, Soledad.

That continues to be our top story.

However, back here in the U.S., we're tracking a story out of Baghdad this morning, developing news.

And for that here's Heidi Collins -- good morning.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

And good morning to you, everybody.

Now in the news, this, in fact, just coming in now.

Less than a month before scheduled elections in Iraq, the governor of Baghdad has been gunned down in the capital city. Witnesses say an intense gun battle erupted between the assassins and the governor's bodyguards following an early morning ambush.

Also in Baghdad, a suicide truck bomb exploded near the so-called green zone, killing at least 10 people, wounding dozens of others.

We will keep our eye on this part of the world and bring more to you just as soon as we have it.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon reportedly considering a plan to send hundreds of American military advisers to work with Iraqi security units. U.S. officials cited by the "New York Times" say Iraqi forces are not performing as well as had been expected. They say American advisers would help back up Iraqi troops and bolster their confidence.

According to the report, more advisers would not be sent until after the January 30 elections.

To Capitol Hill now. Congress reconvenes today with several freshmen law makers. President Bush met with the new members yesterday, calling for teamwork to achieve "big things for the good of the country." Congress starts its session today with a focus on relief aid in Southern Asia. Law makers are expected to add to the $350 million the president has already promised.

And a series of storms in southern California have asked the state and spawned a unique weather phenomenon. This incredible water spout was sighted along the coast near Los Angeles. It's actually a tornado on the surface of the Pacific Ocean. More wild weather expected in the area throughout the week.

Chad Myers has been watching all of it.

Boy, that's an incredible picture there -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. Really. Right at sunset there. Yes, it was an amazing shot there, about an F1 if it was on land. But we call it a water spout because it was only over water. That's why it disease have any color to it, because it was just picking up moisture, picking up water and water is clear, basically.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: You figure that weather from California is going somewhere, huh? And it's moving east.

COLLINS: That's for sure.

HEMMER: The U.S. pledged $350 million for relief. Could that number go even higher? Live to Capitol Hill in a moment on that story.

COLLINS: Also, Tom DeLay asks Republicans not to change ethics rules just for him. He's praised for being unselfish. But is there another motive?

HEMMER: Also, the story we've tracked now for a week -- lasers aimed at the cockpits of airplanes. At least one pilot says some details from the latest report do not sit well with him. We'll talk to him about it next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: A rainy day outside here in New York City.

Welcome back, everybody.

Sixteen minutes now past the hour on this Tuesday morning.

The FBI does not believe that terrorists are involved in eight recent incidents of laser beams being flashed and aimed into airplane cockpits. On CNN's "Security Watch" now, safety in the skies.

And captain Dennis Dolan of the Airline Pilots Association my guest now down in D.C.

Captain, good morning.

Welcome to our program here.

DENNIS DOLAN, AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: The FBI says no link to terrorism.

Do you buy it? Do you believe it?

DOLAN: Well, first of all, I think we have to accept, Bill, that this is a threat to aviation safety, first and foremost.

Then the next question...

HEMMER: How so?

DOLAN: Well, if you're going to shine a laser beam inside of a cockpit and possibly or potentially incapacitate one or both pilots, I think that's a safety issue, plain and simple.

The next question that we have to ask ourselves, is this also a security issue? And I think until we prove it's not a security issue, then we still raise the question that this could potentially be done by terrorists.

HEMMER: So of all the incidents that we have talked about over the past week and counting now, how many have been traced to people on the ground and have been proven, in fact, that they were the ones that put this laser inside of a cockpit?

DOLAN: Well, to my knowledge, only one person has been identified as someone who's actually put a laser beam inside the cockpit.

HEMMER: So that's why you're...

DOLAN: The rest of them aren't solved.

HEMMER: That's where your concern comes from, is that right, Captain?

DOLAN: Exactly. I think if we haven't learned any lessons from 9/11, the one that we should learn is if we have a series of incidents aimed at commercial aviation, which terrorists say they still target commercial aviation, we need to investigate. We need to assure ourselves that these aren't related in somehow to a terrorist incident.

HEMMER: It's...

DOLAN: I don't think we've done that yet.

HEMMER: It's my understanding that the chance of harming a pilot is minuscule in these matters.

Is that the way you understand it, too? Or as a pilot yourself, how would this interfere with your ability to fly?

DOLAN: Well, if you actually -- if someone actually succeeds in shining the laser beam into the eyes of the pilots, it will flash blind that pilot and could potentially burn the retina. So, I mean, there is the potential of actual physical harm here. But the issue is if the pilot is flash blinded for some period of time, one or two minutes, the pilot basically is useless in the cockpit. If both pilots are flash blinded, now you have an airplane that's being flown by no one, which is totally unsafe.

HEMMER: Is it possible that this is just the work of pranksters playing tricks on the ground?

DOLAN: Well, of course. Sure it is. I don't deny that what -- at all. But what we have to tell ourselves is we need to make ourselves assured that it's not a terrorist incident. We need to identify who's doing this and, first of all, punish these people for doing something that's a hazard to aviation. And secondly, we need to educate the public and tell them, look, you can't be taking these lasers, they're not toys, you can't be shining them into the cockpit and potentially blinding pilots. You can't do that.

HEMMER: Are you aware of the testing the Soviets did during the cold war using lasers and airplanes? And if you are, can you flush that out for us as far as how the Soviets tried to use it?

DOLAN: Well, I'm not really completely familiar with that, Bill.

HEMMER: OK.

We'll leave it there then.

DOLAN: OK.

HEMMER: Thanks for your time, Captain, down there in D.C.

DOLAN: OK.

Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Appreciate talking to you this morning.

DOLAN: All right. Thank you.

HEMMER: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. We'll get to more throughout the morning here.

Also, in a moment, back to the biggest story on the planet today. At least one scientist warning tsunamis would eventually wreck all of Southeast Asia. Instead of listening to him, authorities made him an outcast. His story, still to come this morning on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Even as the tsunami recovery and relief effort continues, officials in the region and in the U.S. are asking questions about warning systems and wondering if tens of thousands of lives could have been saved.

Here's CNN's Dan Lothian.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seven years ago, the then chief of Thailand's meteorological department, Samith Dhammasaroj, was pushing for a tsunami early warning system, but he lost credibility when he issued a false alarm. That made him an outcast. He was accused of spreading panic and hurting tourism.

SAMITH DHAMMASAROJ, THAILAND METEOROLOGICAL EXPERT: If they had only listened to me, maybe 50 percent or 20 percent of lives, many lives people would be saved today.

LOTHIAN: After last week's powerful earthquake, he was certain his country's tourist packed beaches would be hit. He tried to call his former office, but says no one was in. At the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, a powerful earthquake alert was sent out, later followed by scientific projections of a possible tsunami in areas near the epicenter. But officials say they didn't have all the emergency contact numbers.

CONRAD C. LAUTENBACHER, NOAA: Our people did everything within their power to try to warn or to call as many people as possible.

CHARLES MCCREERY, DIRECTOR, PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER: We're only one piece of the puzzle of protecting ourselves from this threat.

LOTHIAN: In fact, this center and another one in Alaska were designed to primarily protect the western U.S. after devastating tsunamis in the '40s and '60s. Sensors on the surface and underwater provide accurate information, but only from the Pacific Ocean, where 90 percent of tsunamis occur.

Experts like John Ebel at the Boston College Weston Observatory say the Indian Ocean had never been a real concern.

JOHN EBEL, BOSTON COLLEGE: We had never seen a tsunami of this size spread throughout the entire Indian Ocean Basin the way this one did.

LOTHIAN: Until now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we have the disaster and you can bet that something will finally happen in the Indian Ocean.

LOTHIAN: Remember this embattled expert? He's been tapped to spearhead Thailand's early warning program again. Other countries are getting on board, too.

(on camera): Experts all agree that even with the most sophisticated technology, coastal regions around the world will never be completely safe unless the public is educated and officials on the ground are always on alert.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston. (END VIDEO TAPE)

COLLINS: The prime minister of Sri Lanka says he learned about the tsunami only after it hit. He now also agrees it's "high time" for Sri Lanka to have a warning system.

HEMMER: Worth repeating that 90 percent of tsunamis on this planet occurred in the Pacific Ocean and not the Indian.

COLLINS: Right.

HEMMER: Back to Jack, a similar story this morning, The Question of the Day -- good morning.

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.

Four Arab countries so far offering to help the tsunami victims. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly offered a total of $24 million. Saudi Arabia is giving $10 million of that. Now, this is a country that managed to scrape together $155 million in 2002 to give to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

So where's the support from these Middle East countries that have longstanding ties with Southeast Asia? Indonesia is the most heavily populated Muslim nation on Earth.

The question is are Arab countries doing enough to aid the tsunami victims?

Patrick writes: "We all know the extent of generosity demonstrated by the Arab nations. Just look at how they jumped at the chance to help Florida victims of four hurricanes."

Sherif in Buffalo, New York: "I'm a Muslim and I am ashamed of all Muslim governments and their response to the Asian disaster. Where's the Saudi businessman who offered New Yorkers $100 million after September 11? Don't his Muslim brothers deserve something?"

Mike writes: "It's not surprising the Arabs have contributed so little to the tsunami victims. It's disgusting that they have so little respect for fellow human beings. They've not been robbing -- they have been robbing poor nations for so long by allowing oil prices to go to atrocious levels, they probably have to save all their money in order to support the Palestinian terrorists and other religious fanatics."

And finally, Jeff in Kobe, Japan writes this: "Rather than ask if the aid is appropriate or not, I think the more important question here is the motive behind the donations. It seems as though governments around the world are more concerned about making themselves look good and are turning this into a P.R. opportunity."

HEMMER: Editorials being written, what, in countries like Kuwait questioning this same issue here? CAFFERTY: Yes. But, you know, they -- get out the checkbook. Don't be writing in the newspaper, write in the checkbook. Send some, you know, part with some cash and send it.

HEMMER: What's the cost of oil right now?

CAFFERTY: Yes.

HEMMER: $30...

CAFFERTY: Fifty something dollars a burial.

HEMMER: It used to be fifty, yes.

CAFFERTY: It's nonsense. It's just nonsense.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.

President Bush now putting together his own fundraising dream team. What's the first order for business for Congress today?

Back to work in D.C.

"Political Jab" in a moment here, when we continue after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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