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Suicide Bombers in Iraq Go After Officials in Three Towns With Devastating Effects; Danger of More Landslides in Southern California

Aired June 23, 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: Suicide bombers in Iraq going after officials in three towns with devastating effects. Sixteen dead, 53 wounded today. More ahead from our reporter, who is embedded with the U.S. military in Baghdad.
The landslide...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We ran down the front part of the mountain and we could hear this house collapsing behind us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Million dollar homes crashing down a mountainside in Southern California. Another eyewitness account ahead.

And the San Francisco 49ers make a video to keep players out of trouble. Now the videotape itself has the whole organization in trouble.

That's ahead 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, everybody.

Good to have you along with us today.

8:00 here in New York.

In a moment here, the story with global implications that begins on the continent of Europe.

O'BRIEN: Yes, of course, you're talking about the decisions this week in France and in the Netherlands on the European Union constitution. People there do not want it. We're going to take a look this morning at what it means for Europe and the United States, as well.

HEMMER: Also, Jack is coming up in "The File."

What's happening over here?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A special Thursday edition of "Things People Say," because I wasn't here Wednesday, which is when we usually do it.

A Hollywood actress explains why she would prefer to adopt. My mother probably feels the same way.

A member of Congress realizes the world is, in fact, round, which is progress.

And a high school valedictorian gives a speech to the graduates that almost costs him his diploma.

O'BRIEN: Oh.

HEMMER: Hmmm.

O'BRIEN: Interesting.

All right, Jack, thanks.

We look forward to that.

HEMMER: First to the headlines.

Here's Carol Costello with those now -- hello.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello.

Good morning, everyone.

Now in the news, a developing story we told you about last hour. A hostage stand-off still going on at a convenience store in Shelbyville, Indiana. That's right near Indianapolis. We're going to show you live pictures now. There is word that an explosion has been heard at the scene there. That's according to the Associated Press. We don't know anything more than that. The stand-off started when police chased two burglary suspects into a store parking lot. They caught one of the men. Police say they're in it for the long haul and they're trying to negotiate with the gunman. They say they'll wait for as long as it takes.

Closing arguments begin today in the Michael Jackson trial. After 14 weeks, jurors could start deciding his fate as early as today or tomorrow. A spokeswoman for Jackson says the entertainer has faith in god and the judicial system.

Police in Richmond, Virginia are investigating three shootings that took place in the span of 15 minutes. They say those shootings could be racially motivated. Police now looking for a man caught on a security camera video at a convenience store. He's suspected of robbing and killing one man, and then shooting two others. Witnesses say they heard angry racist statements before the suspect opened fire.

Police say a working smoke detector was a major clue in that massive house fire in Cleveland, Ohio that they finally ruled was arson. It shows the fire was moving faster than normal, so fast that nine people, mostly children, could not get out in time. No arrests have been made in the case. And first the pretzels, and now the magazines. Just days after announcing it will no longer serve pretzels on its domestic flights, Northwest Airlines is dropping magazines. They will no longer be available on flights or in passenger club lounges. The airline says the cuts will save more than $560,000. They don't mean those in- flight magazines, but the ones in first class that most of us don't read.

HEMMER: I got you.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: ... don't sit in first class anyway.

HEMMER: Are we going to be sitting on wooden benches some time soon?

O'BRIEN: You'll be standing, actually.

COSTELLO: On the floor.

O'BRIEN: You'll be longing for the days when you could sit on your airplane.

COSTELLO: It'll be just like those C130 cargo planes, you're just strapped to the side.

O'BRIEN: Yes, strapped in.

HEMMER: With the headphones on.

O'BRIEN: All right, Carol, thanks.

Let's get to Iraq this morning.

It took only 45 minutes for three suicide car bomber to kill 16 people in Iraq. The first explosion was in the northern town of Tuz Khormato. Ten people died, 38 wounded there. Next, a suicide car bomber went after U.S. diplomats in Kirkuk. Two children, though, and 11 civilians were killed, instead.

And in the last attack, a politician in Ba'qubah and three of his bodyguards were killed. Operation Lightning is a large scale push to stop these kinds of attacks.

Jane Arraf is embedded with the military.

She filed this report about fledgling Iraqi forces taking the lead in the operation to clean out insurgents.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American trained, this is a distinctly Iraqi Army. Heading into the biggest Iraqi security operation yet in Baghdad, Operation Lightning, the soldiers are getting pumped up before the mission. Inside, Brigadier General Jemiel Schwale (ph) speaks to the officers. "These missions that you're going out on will be part of the history of Iraq," he tells them.

The tie-in commander, Colonel Mohammed Fahd al-Samarei (ph), tells them that insurgents could be warned by now and could be expected to react. "Watch for roadside bombs," he tells them, "and pay attention to the rooftops. There could be gunmen waiting."

Camp Liberty in Baghdad, the 256th Mechanized Infantry Regiment prepares to go out with them.

CAPT. HERB WILSON, U.S. ARMY: Well, we're coming to conduct the outer cordon and we'll provide some assistance for the search element for the Iraqi Army.

ARRAF: One of the U.S. Army's biggest jobs now is training the Iraqi soldiers who will replace them. The Iraqis are in the lead. But 20 minutes after the mission was set to kick off, no one has moved. Frustration among the Americans is palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go! OK? Just go!

ARRAF: When they finally get to the location, Captain Herb Wilson explains to his Iraqi counterpart.

WILSON: We will supply the outer cordon. You guys supply the search element.

ARRAF: This overnight mission is to cordon and search entire neighborhoods, looking for unusual amounts of cash, weapons or suspects on their target list.

(on camera): They've cordoned off this entire neighborhood. It's three in the morning as they're pounding down doors. For people in this neighborhood, it couldn't be a more abrupt awakening.

(voice-over): The people, though, are cooperative, as soldiers search their homes for anything suspicious, including more than the single rifle allowed in each house. The Americans, who hope Iraqi forces will replace them, say residents seem to be more receptive when it's other Iraqis doing the searches.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They understand that the safety of the neighborhood, what we're doing, what we're looking for, and when it's a broad scale, when you're going through the entire neighborhood, you're not pinpointing one individual at one house.

ARRAF: Abusha Mahdi (ph) was home with her three children, including a teenaged son who's quit school. "I can't make him go to school," she says. "The children's spirit is gone. It's gone for all of us."

The Iraqi soldiers go down the block banging on doors, more confident with every doorway. With a new army facing an unconventional enemy, building that confidence is perhaps a key part of the fight. Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

O'BRIEN: Iraqi commanders expect to use 40,000 troops over the course of Operation Lightning -- Bill.

HEMMER: Back in this country, Soledad, there is a real danger of more landslides in southern California. Eighteen homes destroyed on Wednesday in Laguna Beach when the ground under them suddenly gave way.

Bob Chapman is one of about 1,000 people now evacuated from the neighborhood.

He's my guest in Laguna Beach.

5:07 a.m. out there, Bob, and I know you are a man who is extremely busy with a whole lot of challenges in front of you. Yesterday, you were inside of a home here. The landslide starts. An explosion happens outside, an electrical explosion. You go outside and see what, Bob?

BOB CHAPMAN, LANDSLIDE EVACUEE: Well, we were getting ready in the morning and from -- our master bedroom is pretty high up in the air and a commanding view of the canyon. My fiancee said, "Did you see that?"

And I said, "What was that?"

And they said, "A huge flamer just came out of the transformer."

And then there was a loud bang and an explosion and the transformer exploded off of the telephone pole. So -- and the power was out. So we thought that was it and called the Edison Company right away. And then all of a sudden we looked out the window and right across the street we could see the dirt and the hill starting to come down toward Oriole Drive, which is the street we live on, from that large contemporary house where the driveway gave out and the hill started coming down.

So that's when we realized this was more than it was and it was some sort of a slide. And so we went downstairs and went outside and everybody else was gathering in front of our house, because you had a pretty good vantage point. And we started to realize that there was definitely a slide going on.

And pretty quickly after that, the police and everybody started coming in and letting us know the size of it.

HEMMER: Bob, I understand you're one of the lucky ones, right? Is my information here correct? Your home was not damaged?

CHAPMAN: That's correct. We're kind of on the edge. Oriole Drive is right on the fringe of the actual slide area, so we were looking across the street and up at the houses that were coming down. But fortunately that's -- that part of the hill stabilized, it didn't come down, and it was everything say to the right or to the east was the portion where the houses actually came down.

So the ones up above us moved more to the south than toward us to the west, which we're very fortunate. So, they also kept Oriole Drive open for access.

HEMMER: Bob, we've talked about the rain this past winter, we talked about the moisture in the area lately.

Was there also new construction on top of this hill at the time?

CHAPMAN: Well, there's a couple -- there's one large house under construction and then one across the street that was built some years ago, both of them very large. And -- but they've been going through the usual process we have at the city.

HEMMER: Yes.

I understand you're a volunteer...

CHAPMAN: So I don't know if that contributed.

HEMMER: Yes, understand that.

You're on the Laguna Beach planning commission, too, as a volunteer.

CHAPMAN: That's correct.

HEMMER: Given the fact that so much moisture came down this past winter, 28 inches in all, how concerned were you looking up at that hill and living in that house that this could happen this time?

CHAPMAN: Well, I don't think I gave much thought to exactly whether the building construction had anything to do with it. Always when you're building during a winter season, and if you have rain, that could cause some impact just because you have so much uncovered dirt and that sort of thing. But I suppose people kind of laugh around here. And the Laguna Beach building process is, in the design review and the whole process that I've been on for about 12 years now, is -- it's really extensive and it almost, one of the models around the country, to make sure that things are done properly and painful, unfortunately, for some applicants to go through it. So it's a very extensive approval process.

The actual ground itself, of course, is investigated through the geologists and the geotechnical advisers and that sort of thing. So I couldn't say for sure whether there was new construction causing the problem in the neighborhood...

HEMMER: Understood.

CHAPMAN: ... but there are a couple of very large houses, to answer your question. HEMMER: Bob, I know you've lived there for 20 years and I certainly hope you get a chance to go back to your house. And I certainly hope that it continues to be not damaged to this point when the sun comes up in a couple of hours out there.

Thank you, Bob.

Bob Chapman, Laguna Beach...

CHAPMAN: We're hoping the same thing.

HEMMER: OK, thank you in Laguna Beach, California.

CHAPMAN: Thank you.

HEMMER: Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A one-two punch to the plan for a united states of Europe this week. Voters in France and the Netherlands said no to the idea of a European Union constitution.

So where does the plan go from here? What does it mean for the United States?

First, a little background.

There are 25 countries in the European Union. They must all say yes to the constitution before it can go into effect late next year. Ten countries have already ratified or partially ratified, including economically powerful Germany. Thirteen countries, including the United Kingdom, are yet to vote.

But does all that even matter now that France and the Netherlands have said no?

Robin Oakley is CNN's European political editor.

He's in London this morning -- Robin, good morning to you.

France and the Netherlands say no.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Is essentially the constitution dead?

OAKLEY: Well, it's on life support, at very best. And there's not much flicker going on on the monitors on that life support. This is a huge blow for Europe's leaders. Two of the founder members, two of the original six members of the European Union saying no. And, of course, that's two out of the three where the issue has been put to the ordinary people for a vote.

The others who have said yes, it was done by their parliaments. So what we've got is hard evidence of a growing split between the political elites in Europe and the ordinary people, who feel that the whole European project of greater integration going too far too fast for them -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: There are 25 European nations -- European Union nations.

What are the implications for that union itself?

OAKLEY: Well, the problem is whether you can get an organization of 25 running efficiently on the old constitution as it existed. It has to be said, they've managed that for a year, since the E.U. expanded by 10 countries last year. But the fear is that they're going to reach a point of decision gridlock unless they can agree to take more decisions by majority voting instead of unanimity, unless they cut down the size of the European Commission.

They also wanted to give the European Union a good face to the outside world, with a president who was in position for five years and a foreign minister who spoke for Europe. Years ago, Henry Kissinger complained that he never knew how to pick up the phone and get Europe's opinion. He didn't know who to call. The idea was there was going to be somebody you could call and get Europe's opinion. But without this constitution, there won't be such a figure.

O'BRIEN: What do you think the official reaction will be here in the U.S.? And, also, why is any of this relevant to ordinary citizens here in the U.S.?

OAKLEY: Well, I think where it becomes relevant to citizens in the United States is they want allies in the world. There are important issues to be tackled. We saw considerable efforts by President Bush on his visit to Europe this year, and Condoleezza Rice, to get along with the Europeans to that end. They want more help in Iraq. They want more help in countering terrorism worldwide.

But if Europe is going to have a spell now completely focused on its own navel, trying to sort out an alternative to this constitution, then Europe isn't going to be much use to the United States or to anybody else in solving the wider problems in the outside world.

O'BRIEN: Lots of votes still to come. We'll see.

Robin Oakley for us this morning.

He's CNN's European political editor.

Robin, thanks -- Bill.

HEMMER: They are embarking on a new future there in Europe. We'll see which way they go.

O'BRIEN: Yes. It doesn't look like that's got much promise there.

HEMMER: Yes, France first, now Holland, so -- in a moment here, surprising news about a possible link between over the counter painkillers and breast cancer. We'll page Sanjay on that in a moment. O'BRIEN: Also, the U.S. airport on the front lines in the war on terror. We'll take a look at its unique role in keeping potential terrorists out of our country.

HEMMER: Also, accusations of racist jokes, a spoof on gay marriage and soft core porn -- a football team's training tape now causing a bit of a stir. Back in a minute with that controversy after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Well, it was meant to be a humorous training video talking about diversity, but now it is no laughing matter for the San Francisco 49ers football team. The 15-minute film features racial jokes, soft porn, a spoof on gay marriage and topless women. It also includes scenes shot in city hall.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE")

KIRK REYNOLDS, FORMER 49ERS P.R. DIRECTOR: It's a beautiful, diverse, tremendous city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That guy right there who is posing as the mayor is actually the former public relations director for the team. His name is Kirk Reynolds and he is responsible for making that videotape.

And Andrew Ross is with the "San Francisco Chronicle." He broke that story.

Andrew, good morning.

Thanks for talking with us.

ANDREW ROSS, "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE": Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: How did you get this tape?

ROSS: Well, believe it or not, it arrived in an envelope, unmarked, and with an anonymous note that was hand typed saying simply take a look at this video. We find it offensive and we hope you'll do something with it, because if you don't, we are also pursuing this by taking it to the National Football League and to the mayor's office.

O'BRIEN: Ironically, I understand it was made as part of a diversity workshop? Is that right?

ROSS: Well, that's the bit of irony here. It was intended to give the players an idea of what they should not be doing to land in hot water with the media. And as we all know, as a result of this tape, the P.R. director has landed himself in big hot water and has just been booted.

O'BRIEN: There's so much on the tape that we cannot show. But let me kind of run down a list of what's in there. Topless women, many racist jokes, what some people are calling lesbian soft porn.

Am I overstating this here?

ROSS: Not really. I mean one of the scenes in there was supposed to be a lesbian marriage scene, a mock lesbian marriage scene. The only thing is it was actually shot at a strip joint, involved a couple of strippers and one of them was not particularly dressed and the next thing they are groveling down on the ground. So it was pretty graphic.

O'BRIEN: The guy who was the P.R. director, who's responsible for the videotape, had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REYNOLDS: The intention certainly was good. I mean I certainly had positive thoughts in my intention to deliver messages to our players in a format that they would, you know, receive. I used very poor taste and bad judgment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: A lot of people are saying that today.

What's been the fallout? What's going to happen to him?

ROSS: Well, as we've just indicated, he had been on the payroll until this week. But it looks like now the team, after really being aware of this tape for about five months, has finally decided it was time to let him go. So he is moving on to pursue, as they say, other opportunities.

The team itself is really still going to have to deal with the ramifications of this for some time to come. They're in the midst, of course, of still trying to build a new stadium here. Their fan base seems to be slipping a bit. They had a dismal season last season, two and 14. And so they are hungry to keep their fan base and so they're going to have to repair the damage.

O'BRIEN: You can see in the videotape, actually, some of the players are, you know, the stars in the tape.

What's their reaction been? Are they supporting the P.R. director, Kirk Reynolds? Or are they not?

ROSS: Yes, well, that's the interesting thing. I mean the players seem to have found this tape very funny at the time. And, in fact, it really didn't cause any stir at all, at least in the clubhouse. It wasn't really until the -- it got outside the clubhouse that the furor started. And, you know, San Francisco, as you know, Soledad, you worked in this town, is a very schizophrenic place. On one hand, it's a very live, let live kind of place, you know, liberal. On the other hand, it is somewhat politically correct. And in this case, it just seems that Kirk Reynolds overstepped the boundaries of good taste.

O'BRIEN: As you mentioned, lots of turnover with the 49ers. We'll see what the long range implications are.

Andrew Ross is with the "San Francisco Chronicle."

He broke that story.

Thanks for talking with us this morning, Andrew.

Appreciate it.

ROSS: Thanks a lot.

O'BRIEN: Bill.

HEMMER: In a moment here, a trip to the U.S. airport that has become a critical cog in the war on terror. Its unique role in trying to keep potential terrorists out of this country. We'll take you there in a moment, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Jack's got the Question of the Day and it's about Deep Throat -- good morning.

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Soledad.

At the time Mark Felt was leaking information to the "Washington Post," he was also the number two man at the FBI. Felt was reportedly angry with President Nixon that he had been passed over for the top job at the Bureau after J. Edgar Hoover died. Without Felt's information, the Watergate cover-up probably would never have been exposed, but the fact of the matter is Mark Felt was breaking the law doing what he was doing.

The question this morning is was Mark Felt a hero or a villain as Deep Throat?

Nancy in Pennsylvania writes: "In any democratic government that becomes abusive with its own power and moves the country toward a more fascist state, there will hopefully be courageous men such as Mark Felt. The Nixon presidency violated more laws and caused greater risk to our country than Mr. Felt."

Gene writes: "I believe Mark Felt is a hypocrite and an embittered coward. Even now, 30 years later, selfish motives are the driving force behind his admission. Embittered after being passed over for the directorship in 1974 and pure greed in 2005."

Jerry in Georgia writes: "What do you do when your boss is a crook and the president of the United States? Mark Felt gave us a lesson in morality and a great example of the power of the freedom of the press."

Catherine writes: "Mark Felt is neither a hero nor a traitor. He was right to reveal illegal activity linked to President Nixon, but he should have revealed that information through proper channels. By secretly and illegally giving information to the "Washington Post," he took the coward's way out."

O'BRIEN: Though I wonder if there might have been a proper...

HEMMER: This is a great debate.

O'BRIEN: It is a great debate, isn't it?

HEMMER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: And if they had gone through proper channels, what would have happened? As you pointed out, you know, your boss is the president. It's kind of tough to do.

CAFFERTY: Well, if you know something illegal is going on and you go to your supervisor and say this and they say we're not going to do anything about it, then you resign and you go public and say the reason I quit is because I have firsthand knowledge of stuff that's going on.

HEMMER: Or you go to a -- Henry Kissinger was picking up on that same point. He said you go to a prosecutor or you resign and you go public.

CAFFERTY: Isn't that what I just said?

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: You resign and go public.

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: I thought that's...

HEMMER: Thank you.

CAFFERTY: Is there an echo in here?

O'BRIEN: Interesting, though, as you point out...

HEMMER: Yes, sir, Dr. Kissinger.

O'BRIEN: ... lots of people, the reporters are all talking about the family's financial motives for encouraging Mark Felt to go forward.

CAFFERTY: Well, 30 years ago, Deep Throat said follow the money. Nothing has changed.

O'BRIEN: Interesting.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.

O'BRIEN: A few.

Well, keeping a very close eye and a close watch on that hillside community in California this morning. Residents there forced from their homes after that massive landslide. And more homes are in danger. We've got the very latest from the mayor of Laguna Beach.

That's still to come on AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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