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Massive Pro-Syrian Demonstration in Beirut; President Bush Prepares to Make Key Speech on Terror
Aired March 08, 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A story developing in Lebanon this morning. Fifty thousand demonstrators marching through Beirut, all in support of Syria.
Meanwhile in Washington, President Bush prepares to make a key speech on terror and is expected to take direct aim at Damascus.
And the former presidents, Bush and Clinton, returning to the White House today. One time rivals are now potent teammates on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone.
8:00 here in New York.
Good to have you along with us today.
And good morning to you, as well.
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
HEMMER: Also this morning, security in Iraq looks pretty rough for Americans watching the news from here. In a moment here, how does it look to the mayor of that city, the mayor of Baghdad? We'll talk to the man with that job and find out what's happening in his town and what people are saying to him, and also the continuing question about when Baghdad can stand on its own feet as opposed to getting such massive support from the U.S. We'll get to that this hour.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, with higher gas prices, gas stations are seeing more and more people pump and run. It's not just people who are broke. Apparently, all kinds of people are doing it, young and old. We're going to take a look caught on videotape, if you will, at some of the techniques that they're using to get away without paying.
HEMMER: All right -- Jack, good morning to you again.
What's happening?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," a fruit that wants to be a vegetable and the politicians who are working overtime to try to make it happen. If you want to visit the library in one county in California, you'd better take a shower. And a government employee who makes over $100,000 a year to sit and read movie scripts.
HEMMER: Hmmm, good gig.
CAFFERTY: The taxpayers should be so proud.
HEMMER: I bet.
O'BRIEN: Looking forward to that, Jack.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
HEMMER: Back to Carol Costello now with the headlines -- Carol, good morning to you.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Good morning, everyone.
Now in the news, President Bush is expected to stress that Syria's plans to pull out from Lebanon fall short. Aides confirming to CNN the president will talk about the situation in Syria and Lebanon during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington. CNN will have live coverage for you. That will happen at 10:15 a.m. Eastern.
And there is word this morning Iran may be developing a nuclear facility underground. According to the Associated Press, an Iranian official claims his country is building an underground facility so it can be protected against possible U.S. air strikes. But the official reportedly stresses Iran is not planning to build nuclear weapons, as the U.S. claims. CNN has not verified the story.
In California, the brother of Michael Jackson's accuser back on the stand today. The boy testified he was in the room when Jackson groped his sleeping brother. He also says Jackson once walked around naked at Neverland Ranch. Jackson has denied all charges against him.
And perhaps some more clues to the ancient past. An archaeologist in Egypt reportedly has some new information on King Tut. Tests done on King Tut's mummy indicate the boy king was not murdered. But he may have suffered a badly broken leg that could have become infected. He died at the age of 19. King Tut's short life has fascinated tourists for years and years. But it turns out the mystery has been solved and he might have died of something as unromantic as a broken leg.
O'BRIEN: Interesting, though.
COSTELLO: Isn't that fascinating?
O'BRIEN: Remember that, when that King Tut exhibit was traveling around, just how many people were lined up out the door to see that?
COSTELLO: Oh, they still will be.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
All right.
COSTELLO: Yes, exactly.
O'BRIEN: That doesn't change anything.
Thanks, Carol.
Well, a massive pro-Syrian demonstration is going on in Beirut today. This rally opposes three weeks of protests that called for Syria to get out of Lebanon.
Brent Sadler in Beirut this morning for us -- good morning to you, Brent.
Let's begin with the size of the demonstrations.
Just how many folks are you looking at?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, wires are reporting tens of thousands. But already I can see, looking around here -- and I'm going to take the camera with me now -- if I go to my left, you'll see that the entire downtown section in this part of the Lebanese capital is absolutely jam packed solid with a mass of pro-Syrian supporters.
They've been called onto the streets of Beirut by Hezbollah and in support of Syria's situation with the international community.
If we pan the other way and go past my position, I'll continue to try to make myself heard. Continuing to really show the world, this protest, that it's not just anti-Syrian protests that can bring out large numbers here, it's pro-Syrian protests, as well. So this is a different face of Lebanon that we're seeing emerging today and one that they want to beam directly to the U.S. administration of George W. Bush, saying quite clearly, because I've seen the minute the crowds here, denunciations of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
So a pro-Syrian rally, an anti-U.S. rally. Hezbollah showing its numbers, the way it can bring people on the streets, and also saying that as far as international pressure on Syria is concerned, remember, they're saying, we can pull numbers, too; take notice -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Wow!
I've got to tell you, we're looking at these live pictures, Brent. Pretty incredible.
What's the goal, at the end of the day, for the demonstrators? Is it just this show of size? SADLER: It's many things, Soledad.
It's to prove, first of all, beyond doubt -- and I think given the size of this crowd here that they can actually organize themselves very well, Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim support that Hezbollah and like thinking political parties in Lebanon can pull the masses on the streets. This is a very well organized, well disciplined, peaceful rally that's taking place. Opposition sources say that through the night, the claims that the Syrians have been sending busloads of Syrians to take part in this Lebanese protest.
The only flag we see is the Lebanese flag. That matches what we've seen in the pro-democracy, pro-freedom rallies. But there is no doubt whatsoever that the tone of this is to the international community, and particularly the U.S. administration, back off Syria and back off what they believe is an international attempt, led by the U.S., to not only get Syrian troops out of Lebanon, but to then turn the attention of the international community on disarming Hezbollah, the only militia left from the old Lebanese civil war that's still armed and still resists Israeli occupation at the foot of the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights, of course, is what Syria wants back in the peace process -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent, you described it just moments ago as well disciplined and as peaceful, as well. But I'm curious if you've heard of any reports of any violence in a crowd this massive.
SADLER: Not at this stage. Hezbollah, Soledad, has shown a record of being able to bring large numbers of supporters onto the streets. Traditionally in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is Hezbollah's stronghold, literally their own enclave within the Lebanese capital, at least on the outskirts of it, and in South Lebanon on important Shia Muslim religious holidays, events and commemorations.
But to have this demonstration in the heart of Beirut, very close, a few blocks away from where anti-Syrian demonstrators have been showing their numbers the past three weeks, since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, is, indeed, a new dynamic.
But this is Lebanese on the other side of the coin to the freedom marches, showing that they support Syria. They want Syria to have a dynamic relationship still with Lebanon and they're saying look, we are Lebanese Arabs. We still want to see Israel driven, they say, from occupied, Israeli-occupied Arab land -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent Sadler for us with some pretty remarkable pictures of the crowd right behind him.
Brent, thank you very much for that update.
The situation in Lebanon is going to be the jpg off point for a major speech by President Bush in just two hours from now. The president considers the growing demand for Syria to get out of Lebanon, an immediate test of his policy promoting democracy. Aides say the president "feels validation of that policy" by recent events in the Middle East.
His speech is likely to cite Iraqi and Palestinian elections, as well as reforms in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as proof of its success. CNN is going to bring you that speech live, 10:15 a.m. Eastern time -- Bill.
HEMMER: Now from Iraq today, Soledad, a top official within the interior ministry was shot and killed in western Baghdad. This as he was leaving his home. It's this kind of daily violence that city officials in Iraq struggle with as they try to rebuild.
I talked with Baghdad's mayor, Alaa Al-Tamimi.
He's in Washington today looking for more support.
I talked to him about these challenges and also about the most recent killing today.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALAA AL-TAMIMI, BAGHDAD MAYOR: I am sorry about what happened for this man, but, you know, this is a very difficult period in our history and we have and we should pass this difficult period. We should pay for our liberty. But I don't think this will render us to arrive at what we want what we want. Iraq should be, again, a great country in the region.
HEMMER: Yes, your job primarily, though, is to restore energy, take care of the water system, pick up trash, public safety. It's my understanding you have about $100 million on your budget to do this. Here in the U.S. -- and I'm not quite sure the comparison is this fair -- but there are large cities in America that have well over a billion dollars to take care of their own city.
How long before Baghdad can stand on its own two feet with American help?
TAMIMI: My budget is only $85 million from our government. And there are some projects done by U.S. Army and U.S. aid. And really we are appreciating these projects, even we ask our partner in the Army or the U.S. aid to coordinate more with us, because we know that project that we need.
HEMMER: So you need more support, is what you're saying, to do the job?
TAMIMI: Yes, we need more support. Sure. And we need at least $10 million to be as we want for about that.
HEMMER: Yes, I have read your comments. You're quite optimistic about the future.
Do you believe the other people living in your city feel the same?
TAMIMI: Sure. Sure. Oh, no, I think Iraqi made this clear to all the world when they went to vote in 30 January. I think these people, when they went to vote, that means they want to vote their future. As I told you, at the 9 April maybe I don't -- that journalist, at the 9 April, two or three Americans get also (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But really Iraqi authority January they get (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the regime at that moment.
So we are accounting from this date.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: That's Alaa al-Tamimi.
He's the mayor of Baghdad, in Washington, looking again for more support for his city.
Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Another check of the weather now.
Chad Myers is at the CNN Center.
A look at the latest forecast for us.
Hey -- Chad, good morning.
Lots of changes ahead, right?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we talked about them.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Well, as Jay Leno waits to hear whether he's exempt from a gag order in the Michael Jackson trial, he continues to use special guests to deliver parts of his monologue. On Monday night, Dennis Miller stepped in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
DENNIS MILLER,
I saw some courtroom sketches from the trial. They've done a pretty good job of getting Jackson a jury of his peers. I think we have some of the sketches. You can see that the jurors resemble him in that they only have a semblance of a face.
And what else? What else? In the Robert Blake trial...
JAY LENO, HOST: Dennis, Dennis.
MILLER: What?
LENO: Remember, you've been subpoenaed in the Robert Blake trial.
MILLER: Ooh, that's right. Tag team.
OK, Jay, I'll come over with you. I'll do yours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Good stuff.
O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny.
HEMMER: Leno's got something going there with that, too, huh?
O'BRIEN: Every night he's got somebody else on.
HEMMER: Well, talking of jokes this morning, it turns out laughter might be the best medicine, especially for the heart. We'll explain that a bit later this hour.
O'BRIEN: And, you know, it has practically been a love fest between Martha and the media. But not everybody's so smitten.
Jeanne Moos takes a look, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: If you were with us yesterday, we told you about the rising gasoline prices across the country. Now we are hearing about a run on gas stations from thieves.
Some daring drivers putting a new spin on self-serve. This morning, Dan Lothian has more on the so-called pump and run.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an old crime pumped to new levels -- hitting the Tiger Mart in Salisbury, Maryland; the B.P. Amoco station in Stevens Point; Wisconsin and this Mobil station in Brookline, Massachusetts.
ELIAS AUDY, MOBIL STATION OWNER: A customer took off with $36 of gasoline. Once the light came green, flew out of here like you wouldn't believe.
LOTHIAN: Soaring gas prices that have frustrated some drivers...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been upset about it.
LOTHIAN: ... and spawned this boycott gas Web site by this angry real estate broker...
JOHN TYLER, BOYCOTTGAS.COM: This one just did it. They're into my wallet. I didn't like it.
LOTHIAN: ... have been driving up so-called gas-and-dash incidents, costing some retailers as much as $800 in losses a month. JEFF LENARD, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES: It's gone from a teen who might be doing it for the thrill as much as the $5 or $10 stolen to all demographics, including late model SUVs pulling out with upwards of $50 or even $60 worth of gas.
LOTHIAN: In surveillance tape obtained by CNN from the Maryland Mart, a driver pulls in, fills up, replaces the gas cap while appearing to look around, makes an odd maneuver. Then, according to management, drives off without paying a dime. The same, they allege, for this woman, who casually cleans her windshield before taking off. And one more flies an American flag while allegedly pumping and running.
(on camera): If this is such a big problem, then why don't all retailers require everyone to prepay? Experts say that's because given the option, some customers will go to a station that allows them to pump first and pay later.
(voice-over): And there's the issue of profits.
LENARD: They also are less likely to go inside the store and buy other items where margins are much healthier.
LOTHIAN: So surveillance cameras, like this one in Wisconsin, help retailers track the license plate numbers of offenders. And in some 25 states, punishment could include the temporary loss of a driver's license.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's OK.
LOTHIAN: In Brookline, Elias Audy hopes to install security cameras at his station so the next time someone drives off with his gas, he'll have the evidence on tape.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: When gas prices spike we're told that gas thefts jump from an average of two to three a to two to three every day. And depending on how often that happens, some say losses could go into the millions -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, a developing story at this hour. In Lebanon, thousands of pro-Syria demonstrators are in the streets of Beirut. They are protesting against the Syrian pullout.
President Bush is set to address the increased tension this morning. We're going to take you live to the White House just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Martha, Martha, Martha -- the media and her fans just can't seem to get enough of Martha Stewart.
Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos with a look at what Martha has been up to since she just got out of prison.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just out of jail and already we've seen Martha wash her dishes, feed her horses, walk her dog, toss lemons and savor a home-cooked meal. The press ate up every Martha utterance and reported back to editors.
QUESTION: What did you have for breakfast?
MARTHA STEWART, MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA: I haven't had breakfast yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She hasn't had breakfast yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She hasn't had -- she has not had breakfast yet.
MOOS: Whenever she moved, the press moved, out in front of her bucolic Bedford, New York estate. Even when Martha sent out cocoa to the press, it was captured.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you thank Martha for this for me?
MOOS: Even Martha joked about the coverage.
STEWART: Because it's made the news. Here's my poncho.
MOOS: Crocheted for her by a new friend in prison. She wore it leaving the big house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was like an Oscar walk.
MOOS: But some curmudgeons in the press were unimpressed.
O'BRIEN: Oh, come on.
CAFFERTY: Who cares?
HEMMER: We're going to care for a little bit.
CAFFERTY: She's a 63-year-old convicted felon.
MOOS: No one was tougher than Don Imus, touring with his own reporter outside Martha's house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "IMUS IN THE MORNING," COURTESY MSNBC)
DON IMUS, HOST: This is sick. You're sick and this is sick. This is just...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sick.
IMUS: Look it, looking in her window there. This makes me uncomfortable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not looking in her windows.
IMUS: Yes, you were. Later on, you'll be out there going through the garbage trying to find something.
MOOS: They half jokingly gave reporter Anne Thompson, a new nickname.
IMUS: You're a peeping Thompson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: But the press wouldn't be peeping if the audience didn't want us to peep. But not all viewers were happy.
CAFFERTY: Who the hell cares if Martha Stewart can now fit into her skinny jeans?
MOOS: Who cares? Well, CNN's ratings nearly doubled during live, middle of the night coverage of Martha's release. To Martha or not to Martha, that is the question for reporters. This one brought along her dog.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where's Martha?
MOOS: She's probably off trying to engineer more coverage. After all, this heartwarming video was supplied by the company Martha founded.
During our live coverage of her rousing welcome by employees, the shot inexplicably headed for her feet.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The photographer there doesn't have a shoe fetish. He's trying to show the point there that she is not wearing the electronic ankle bracelet.
MOOS: Hey, who needs an ankle bracelet when we're televising every move she makes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you rolling right by?
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
O'BRIEN: Good point, Jeanne.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: We know where she is.
HEMMER: To that last line. Exactly right.
O'BRIEN: You still don't care?
CAFFERTY: It's just not -- it's nonsense. And the fact that the media and the audience lap it up is just an indication that neither of us is very bright, I think. It's just nonsense. It's not worth all the coverage it's been getting. It doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things and it's nonsense.
O'BRIEN: It's going to end soon, I think.
CAFFERTY: I'm not so sure. Maybe when she dies.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
CAFFERTY: The board of Boeing Aircraft fired CEO Harry Stonecipher Monday for having a consensual affair with an unmanned Boeing female executive. The fact is, office romance is all about us. According to a survey of employees by Career Publisher Vault, 58 percent of Americans say they have had a fling with a coworker. Twenty-two percent say they met their spouse or significant other on the job.
The question this morning is are office romances acceptable?
Keith in Ontario writes: "I think a better way to frame the question would be this. Is it reasonable that a company can restrict the freedom of its employees to have relationships with whomever they choose? To me, the answer is clearly no. It seems that these days, employees are asked to make too many sacrifices already."
Thomas writes: "The problem of office affairs is not the affairs, but the break-ups. You can't get away from each other."
James in Virginia writes: "Acceptable or not, they are absolutely exhilarating. I highly recommend one."
And Dave in Maryland writes: "I think office romances are fine as long as the people involved put everything back on the desk when they're finished."
O'BRIEN: Oh, man.
CAFFERTY: What?
O'BRIEN: Nothing.
CAFFERTY: I think this...
HEMMER: Can we talk about Martha again?
CAFFERTY: Nah.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
We'll talk later.
You'll check in again.
Well, guess what? Time is up for the new revolution. How much did the folks gain from their pain? Those involved join us live in the studio to talk about their experiences just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: You can get the latest news every morning in your e-mail signing up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am. There for you 24 hours a day.
In a moment, this developing story we're watching very closely. Live pictures now from Beirut. A massive protest on the streets. Tens of thousands have come out. This time they are against Syria's pullout from Lebanon. President Bush will address this matter in about 90 minutes.
We'll have that live and we'll go live to the White House for an update as we continue after this commercial break.
Back here after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
Just about 8:30 here in New York.
In a moment here, we're going to look at President Bush's speech later today. He will talk about confronting Syria again with a speech about 10:15 Eastern time today, talking about the war on terror and discussing what's happening right now with these pictures live in Beirut, Lebanon, calling it a critical test for the Middle East.
Dana Bash is at the White House.
We'll talk to Dana in a moment here and get a preview of what's expected in that speech about 10:15 Eastern time today.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the president is expected to meet with his father and former President Bill Clinton today. Now, much has been made of the bond that's been forged between these two former rivals through their tsunami relief work. This morning, we chat with Jeff Greenfield about just how close these former presidents really are.
HEMMER: Also, back to Carol Costello here with the headlines -- hi, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
Good morning to all of you.
A massive pro-Syrian demonstration in Beirut going on right now. Tens of thousands have gathered, showing support for Syria, which has promised to pull back its forces in Lebanon to the eastern border by the end of the month. Today's demonstrations were called by the Muslim militant group Hezbollah. The group has support in Syria.
U.S. Embassy officials in Baghdad say they are putting together an investigation into the shooting of an Italian intelligence officer. An Italian journalist claims American troops opened fire on her convoy, but the U.S. is disputing that story. A senior U.S. official says the car was shot after it ran a checkpoint set up for U.S. ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte.
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Aired March 8, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A story developing in Lebanon this morning. Fifty thousand demonstrators marching through Beirut, all in support of Syria.
Meanwhile in Washington, President Bush prepares to make a key speech on terror and is expected to take direct aim at Damascus.
And the former presidents, Bush and Clinton, returning to the White House today. One time rivals are now potent teammates on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone.
8:00 here in New York.
Good to have you along with us today.
And good morning to you, as well.
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
HEMMER: Also this morning, security in Iraq looks pretty rough for Americans watching the news from here. In a moment here, how does it look to the mayor of that city, the mayor of Baghdad? We'll talk to the man with that job and find out what's happening in his town and what people are saying to him, and also the continuing question about when Baghdad can stand on its own feet as opposed to getting such massive support from the U.S. We'll get to that this hour.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, with higher gas prices, gas stations are seeing more and more people pump and run. It's not just people who are broke. Apparently, all kinds of people are doing it, young and old. We're going to take a look caught on videotape, if you will, at some of the techniques that they're using to get away without paying.
HEMMER: All right -- Jack, good morning to you again.
What's happening?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Coming up in the "Cafferty File," a fruit that wants to be a vegetable and the politicians who are working overtime to try to make it happen. If you want to visit the library in one county in California, you'd better take a shower. And a government employee who makes over $100,000 a year to sit and read movie scripts.
HEMMER: Hmmm, good gig.
CAFFERTY: The taxpayers should be so proud.
HEMMER: I bet.
O'BRIEN: Looking forward to that, Jack.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
HEMMER: Back to Carol Costello now with the headlines -- Carol, good morning to you.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Good morning, everyone.
Now in the news, President Bush is expected to stress that Syria's plans to pull out from Lebanon fall short. Aides confirming to CNN the president will talk about the situation in Syria and Lebanon during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington. CNN will have live coverage for you. That will happen at 10:15 a.m. Eastern.
And there is word this morning Iran may be developing a nuclear facility underground. According to the Associated Press, an Iranian official claims his country is building an underground facility so it can be protected against possible U.S. air strikes. But the official reportedly stresses Iran is not planning to build nuclear weapons, as the U.S. claims. CNN has not verified the story.
In California, the brother of Michael Jackson's accuser back on the stand today. The boy testified he was in the room when Jackson groped his sleeping brother. He also says Jackson once walked around naked at Neverland Ranch. Jackson has denied all charges against him.
And perhaps some more clues to the ancient past. An archaeologist in Egypt reportedly has some new information on King Tut. Tests done on King Tut's mummy indicate the boy king was not murdered. But he may have suffered a badly broken leg that could have become infected. He died at the age of 19. King Tut's short life has fascinated tourists for years and years. But it turns out the mystery has been solved and he might have died of something as unromantic as a broken leg.
O'BRIEN: Interesting, though.
COSTELLO: Isn't that fascinating?
O'BRIEN: Remember that, when that King Tut exhibit was traveling around, just how many people were lined up out the door to see that?
COSTELLO: Oh, they still will be.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
All right.
COSTELLO: Yes, exactly.
O'BRIEN: That doesn't change anything.
Thanks, Carol.
Well, a massive pro-Syrian demonstration is going on in Beirut today. This rally opposes three weeks of protests that called for Syria to get out of Lebanon.
Brent Sadler in Beirut this morning for us -- good morning to you, Brent.
Let's begin with the size of the demonstrations.
Just how many folks are you looking at?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, wires are reporting tens of thousands. But already I can see, looking around here -- and I'm going to take the camera with me now -- if I go to my left, you'll see that the entire downtown section in this part of the Lebanese capital is absolutely jam packed solid with a mass of pro-Syrian supporters.
They've been called onto the streets of Beirut by Hezbollah and in support of Syria's situation with the international community.
If we pan the other way and go past my position, I'll continue to try to make myself heard. Continuing to really show the world, this protest, that it's not just anti-Syrian protests that can bring out large numbers here, it's pro-Syrian protests, as well. So this is a different face of Lebanon that we're seeing emerging today and one that they want to beam directly to the U.S. administration of George W. Bush, saying quite clearly, because I've seen the minute the crowds here, denunciations of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
So a pro-Syrian rally, an anti-U.S. rally. Hezbollah showing its numbers, the way it can bring people on the streets, and also saying that as far as international pressure on Syria is concerned, remember, they're saying, we can pull numbers, too; take notice -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Wow!
I've got to tell you, we're looking at these live pictures, Brent. Pretty incredible.
What's the goal, at the end of the day, for the demonstrators? Is it just this show of size? SADLER: It's many things, Soledad.
It's to prove, first of all, beyond doubt -- and I think given the size of this crowd here that they can actually organize themselves very well, Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim support that Hezbollah and like thinking political parties in Lebanon can pull the masses on the streets. This is a very well organized, well disciplined, peaceful rally that's taking place. Opposition sources say that through the night, the claims that the Syrians have been sending busloads of Syrians to take part in this Lebanese protest.
The only flag we see is the Lebanese flag. That matches what we've seen in the pro-democracy, pro-freedom rallies. But there is no doubt whatsoever that the tone of this is to the international community, and particularly the U.S. administration, back off Syria and back off what they believe is an international attempt, led by the U.S., to not only get Syrian troops out of Lebanon, but to then turn the attention of the international community on disarming Hezbollah, the only militia left from the old Lebanese civil war that's still armed and still resists Israeli occupation at the foot of the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights, of course, is what Syria wants back in the peace process -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent, you described it just moments ago as well disciplined and as peaceful, as well. But I'm curious if you've heard of any reports of any violence in a crowd this massive.
SADLER: Not at this stage. Hezbollah, Soledad, has shown a record of being able to bring large numbers of supporters onto the streets. Traditionally in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is Hezbollah's stronghold, literally their own enclave within the Lebanese capital, at least on the outskirts of it, and in South Lebanon on important Shia Muslim religious holidays, events and commemorations.
But to have this demonstration in the heart of Beirut, very close, a few blocks away from where anti-Syrian demonstrators have been showing their numbers the past three weeks, since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, is, indeed, a new dynamic.
But this is Lebanese on the other side of the coin to the freedom marches, showing that they support Syria. They want Syria to have a dynamic relationship still with Lebanon and they're saying look, we are Lebanese Arabs. We still want to see Israel driven, they say, from occupied, Israeli-occupied Arab land -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent Sadler for us with some pretty remarkable pictures of the crowd right behind him.
Brent, thank you very much for that update.
The situation in Lebanon is going to be the jpg off point for a major speech by President Bush in just two hours from now. The president considers the growing demand for Syria to get out of Lebanon, an immediate test of his policy promoting democracy. Aides say the president "feels validation of that policy" by recent events in the Middle East.
His speech is likely to cite Iraqi and Palestinian elections, as well as reforms in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as proof of its success. CNN is going to bring you that speech live, 10:15 a.m. Eastern time -- Bill.
HEMMER: Now from Iraq today, Soledad, a top official within the interior ministry was shot and killed in western Baghdad. This as he was leaving his home. It's this kind of daily violence that city officials in Iraq struggle with as they try to rebuild.
I talked with Baghdad's mayor, Alaa Al-Tamimi.
He's in Washington today looking for more support.
I talked to him about these challenges and also about the most recent killing today.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALAA AL-TAMIMI, BAGHDAD MAYOR: I am sorry about what happened for this man, but, you know, this is a very difficult period in our history and we have and we should pass this difficult period. We should pay for our liberty. But I don't think this will render us to arrive at what we want what we want. Iraq should be, again, a great country in the region.
HEMMER: Yes, your job primarily, though, is to restore energy, take care of the water system, pick up trash, public safety. It's my understanding you have about $100 million on your budget to do this. Here in the U.S. -- and I'm not quite sure the comparison is this fair -- but there are large cities in America that have well over a billion dollars to take care of their own city.
How long before Baghdad can stand on its own two feet with American help?
TAMIMI: My budget is only $85 million from our government. And there are some projects done by U.S. Army and U.S. aid. And really we are appreciating these projects, even we ask our partner in the Army or the U.S. aid to coordinate more with us, because we know that project that we need.
HEMMER: So you need more support, is what you're saying, to do the job?
TAMIMI: Yes, we need more support. Sure. And we need at least $10 million to be as we want for about that.
HEMMER: Yes, I have read your comments. You're quite optimistic about the future.
Do you believe the other people living in your city feel the same?
TAMIMI: Sure. Sure. Oh, no, I think Iraqi made this clear to all the world when they went to vote in 30 January. I think these people, when they went to vote, that means they want to vote their future. As I told you, at the 9 April maybe I don't -- that journalist, at the 9 April, two or three Americans get also (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But really Iraqi authority January they get (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the regime at that moment.
So we are accounting from this date.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: That's Alaa al-Tamimi.
He's the mayor of Baghdad, in Washington, looking again for more support for his city.
Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Another check of the weather now.
Chad Myers is at the CNN Center.
A look at the latest forecast for us.
Hey -- Chad, good morning.
Lots of changes ahead, right?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we talked about them.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Well, as Jay Leno waits to hear whether he's exempt from a gag order in the Michael Jackson trial, he continues to use special guests to deliver parts of his monologue. On Monday night, Dennis Miller stepped in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
DENNIS MILLER,
I saw some courtroom sketches from the trial. They've done a pretty good job of getting Jackson a jury of his peers. I think we have some of the sketches. You can see that the jurors resemble him in that they only have a semblance of a face.
And what else? What else? In the Robert Blake trial...
JAY LENO, HOST: Dennis, Dennis.
MILLER: What?
LENO: Remember, you've been subpoenaed in the Robert Blake trial.
MILLER: Ooh, that's right. Tag team.
OK, Jay, I'll come over with you. I'll do yours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Good stuff.
O'BRIEN: That was pretty funny.
HEMMER: Leno's got something going there with that, too, huh?
O'BRIEN: Every night he's got somebody else on.
HEMMER: Well, talking of jokes this morning, it turns out laughter might be the best medicine, especially for the heart. We'll explain that a bit later this hour.
O'BRIEN: And, you know, it has practically been a love fest between Martha and the media. But not everybody's so smitten.
Jeanne Moos takes a look, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: If you were with us yesterday, we told you about the rising gasoline prices across the country. Now we are hearing about a run on gas stations from thieves.
Some daring drivers putting a new spin on self-serve. This morning, Dan Lothian has more on the so-called pump and run.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an old crime pumped to new levels -- hitting the Tiger Mart in Salisbury, Maryland; the B.P. Amoco station in Stevens Point; Wisconsin and this Mobil station in Brookline, Massachusetts.
ELIAS AUDY, MOBIL STATION OWNER: A customer took off with $36 of gasoline. Once the light came green, flew out of here like you wouldn't believe.
LOTHIAN: Soaring gas prices that have frustrated some drivers...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been upset about it.
LOTHIAN: ... and spawned this boycott gas Web site by this angry real estate broker...
JOHN TYLER, BOYCOTTGAS.COM: This one just did it. They're into my wallet. I didn't like it.
LOTHIAN: ... have been driving up so-called gas-and-dash incidents, costing some retailers as much as $800 in losses a month. JEFF LENARD, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES: It's gone from a teen who might be doing it for the thrill as much as the $5 or $10 stolen to all demographics, including late model SUVs pulling out with upwards of $50 or even $60 worth of gas.
LOTHIAN: In surveillance tape obtained by CNN from the Maryland Mart, a driver pulls in, fills up, replaces the gas cap while appearing to look around, makes an odd maneuver. Then, according to management, drives off without paying a dime. The same, they allege, for this woman, who casually cleans her windshield before taking off. And one more flies an American flag while allegedly pumping and running.
(on camera): If this is such a big problem, then why don't all retailers require everyone to prepay? Experts say that's because given the option, some customers will go to a station that allows them to pump first and pay later.
(voice-over): And there's the issue of profits.
LENARD: They also are less likely to go inside the store and buy other items where margins are much healthier.
LOTHIAN: So surveillance cameras, like this one in Wisconsin, help retailers track the license plate numbers of offenders. And in some 25 states, punishment could include the temporary loss of a driver's license.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's OK.
LOTHIAN: In Brookline, Elias Audy hopes to install security cameras at his station so the next time someone drives off with his gas, he'll have the evidence on tape.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: When gas prices spike we're told that gas thefts jump from an average of two to three a to two to three every day. And depending on how often that happens, some say losses could go into the millions -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, a developing story at this hour. In Lebanon, thousands of pro-Syria demonstrators are in the streets of Beirut. They are protesting against the Syrian pullout.
President Bush is set to address the increased tension this morning. We're going to take you live to the White House just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Martha, Martha, Martha -- the media and her fans just can't seem to get enough of Martha Stewart.
Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos with a look at what Martha has been up to since she just got out of prison.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just out of jail and already we've seen Martha wash her dishes, feed her horses, walk her dog, toss lemons and savor a home-cooked meal. The press ate up every Martha utterance and reported back to editors.
QUESTION: What did you have for breakfast?
MARTHA STEWART, MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA: I haven't had breakfast yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She hasn't had breakfast yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She hasn't had -- she has not had breakfast yet.
MOOS: Whenever she moved, the press moved, out in front of her bucolic Bedford, New York estate. Even when Martha sent out cocoa to the press, it was captured.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you thank Martha for this for me?
MOOS: Even Martha joked about the coverage.
STEWART: Because it's made the news. Here's my poncho.
MOOS: Crocheted for her by a new friend in prison. She wore it leaving the big house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was like an Oscar walk.
MOOS: But some curmudgeons in the press were unimpressed.
O'BRIEN: Oh, come on.
CAFFERTY: Who cares?
HEMMER: We're going to care for a little bit.
CAFFERTY: She's a 63-year-old convicted felon.
MOOS: No one was tougher than Don Imus, touring with his own reporter outside Martha's house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "IMUS IN THE MORNING," COURTESY MSNBC)
DON IMUS, HOST: This is sick. You're sick and this is sick. This is just...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sick.
IMUS: Look it, looking in her window there. This makes me uncomfortable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not looking in her windows.
IMUS: Yes, you were. Later on, you'll be out there going through the garbage trying to find something.
MOOS: They half jokingly gave reporter Anne Thompson, a new nickname.
IMUS: You're a peeping Thompson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: But the press wouldn't be peeping if the audience didn't want us to peep. But not all viewers were happy.
CAFFERTY: Who the hell cares if Martha Stewart can now fit into her skinny jeans?
MOOS: Who cares? Well, CNN's ratings nearly doubled during live, middle of the night coverage of Martha's release. To Martha or not to Martha, that is the question for reporters. This one brought along her dog.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where's Martha?
MOOS: She's probably off trying to engineer more coverage. After all, this heartwarming video was supplied by the company Martha founded.
During our live coverage of her rousing welcome by employees, the shot inexplicably headed for her feet.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The photographer there doesn't have a shoe fetish. He's trying to show the point there that she is not wearing the electronic ankle bracelet.
MOOS: Hey, who needs an ankle bracelet when we're televising every move she makes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you rolling right by?
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
O'BRIEN: Good point, Jeanne.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: We know where she is.
HEMMER: To that last line. Exactly right.
O'BRIEN: You still don't care?
CAFFERTY: It's just not -- it's nonsense. And the fact that the media and the audience lap it up is just an indication that neither of us is very bright, I think. It's just nonsense. It's not worth all the coverage it's been getting. It doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things and it's nonsense.
O'BRIEN: It's going to end soon, I think.
CAFFERTY: I'm not so sure. Maybe when she dies.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
CAFFERTY: The board of Boeing Aircraft fired CEO Harry Stonecipher Monday for having a consensual affair with an unmanned Boeing female executive. The fact is, office romance is all about us. According to a survey of employees by Career Publisher Vault, 58 percent of Americans say they have had a fling with a coworker. Twenty-two percent say they met their spouse or significant other on the job.
The question this morning is are office romances acceptable?
Keith in Ontario writes: "I think a better way to frame the question would be this. Is it reasonable that a company can restrict the freedom of its employees to have relationships with whomever they choose? To me, the answer is clearly no. It seems that these days, employees are asked to make too many sacrifices already."
Thomas writes: "The problem of office affairs is not the affairs, but the break-ups. You can't get away from each other."
James in Virginia writes: "Acceptable or not, they are absolutely exhilarating. I highly recommend one."
And Dave in Maryland writes: "I think office romances are fine as long as the people involved put everything back on the desk when they're finished."
O'BRIEN: Oh, man.
CAFFERTY: What?
O'BRIEN: Nothing.
CAFFERTY: I think this...
HEMMER: Can we talk about Martha again?
CAFFERTY: Nah.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
We'll talk later.
You'll check in again.
Well, guess what? Time is up for the new revolution. How much did the folks gain from their pain? Those involved join us live in the studio to talk about their experiences just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: You can get the latest news every morning in your e-mail signing up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am. There for you 24 hours a day.
In a moment, this developing story we're watching very closely. Live pictures now from Beirut. A massive protest on the streets. Tens of thousands have come out. This time they are against Syria's pullout from Lebanon. President Bush will address this matter in about 90 minutes.
We'll have that live and we'll go live to the White House for an update as we continue after this commercial break.
Back here after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
Just about 8:30 here in New York.
In a moment here, we're going to look at President Bush's speech later today. He will talk about confronting Syria again with a speech about 10:15 Eastern time today, talking about the war on terror and discussing what's happening right now with these pictures live in Beirut, Lebanon, calling it a critical test for the Middle East.
Dana Bash is at the White House.
We'll talk to Dana in a moment here and get a preview of what's expected in that speech about 10:15 Eastern time today.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, the president is expected to meet with his father and former President Bill Clinton today. Now, much has been made of the bond that's been forged between these two former rivals through their tsunami relief work. This morning, we chat with Jeff Greenfield about just how close these former presidents really are.
HEMMER: Also, back to Carol Costello here with the headlines -- hi, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
Good morning to all of you.
A massive pro-Syrian demonstration in Beirut going on right now. Tens of thousands have gathered, showing support for Syria, which has promised to pull back its forces in Lebanon to the eastern border by the end of the month. Today's demonstrations were called by the Muslim militant group Hezbollah. The group has support in Syria.
U.S. Embassy officials in Baghdad say they are putting together an investigation into the shooting of an Italian intelligence officer. An Italian journalist claims American troops opened fire on her convoy, but the U.S. is disputing that story. A senior U.S. official says the car was shot after it ran a checkpoint set up for U.S. ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte.
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