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American Morning

Air Marshal Shooting; Battle Over the War; Blast of Cold Air Stretches From Rockies to Midwest

Aired December 08, 2005 - 9:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Miles O'Brien.
An air marshal shoots an unarmed man after he says he had a bomb, but no bomb was found. Did marshals overstep their bounds? We have a live report.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad.

A suicide attack this morning on a crowded city bus leaves 30 dead in Baghdad. We've got all the details for you ahead.

O'BRIEN: And the bitter cold heads East. Falling temperatures across the country have people bundled and wrapped. Your forecast is ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning. Glad you're with us this morning. We'll get to the cold weather in just a moment. But first, let's go where it's warm and where there's a lot of controversy this morning, Miami, Florida, the shooting of a man at the airport yesterday.

Air marshals saw him as a threat. It turned out he didn't have a bomb. And there's no terror connection. Police are investigating all of this.

Kathleen Koch joining us live from Miami with more -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, this morning there's still no explanation as to why 44-year-old passenger Rigoberto Alpizar may have told officers that he did have a bomb. The incident occurred as American Airlines Flight 924 was boarding and getting ready to leave Miami for Orlando, Florida.

Federal officials say while Alpizar did comply with the air marshal's request that he leave the plane, go out on to the jetway, he would not drop the backpack that he was wearing on his chest, and instead made a move, appearing as if he was trying to reach into it. And that that is when the air marshals opened fire and shot him dead.

Now, at this point, very interesting. No passengers that CNN has interviewed say that they actually heard Alpizar threaten anyone or say that he had a bomb. He simply said, "I need to get off. I need to get off."

And one passenger said that alpizar's behavior changed very rapidly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE IRIZARRY, PASSENGER ON FLIGHT: He was OK when he first came in and sat down. And then after a few minutes he had become agitated. He was talking to his wife. He had gotten agitated and then just ran out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Well, Alpizar's luggage was blown open on the tarmac by authorities. They checked it for explosives, also checked his backpack, and they found nothing.

The air marshals who fired the shots are on administrative leave while this is all being investigated. And Alpizar's body right now remains at the Miami coroner's office -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Kathleen Koch in Miami.

Thank you very much -- Carol.

COSTELLO: President Bush has been trying to change your mind about Iraq, and it might be working. He just got a bump in a new poll.

Elaine Quijano live at the White House to tell us more.

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.

And that new poll out has some mixed results for the Bush administration. Let's take a look at the numbers.

It's a new CBS-""New York Times" survey that shows the president's overall approval rating is up five points from 35 percent a month ago, to now 40 percent. An improvement as well when it comes to the president's approval number on Iraq.

Taking a look at those numbers, that now stands at 36 percent, up from 32 percent a month ago.

Now, at the same time, when people were asked if the president had a clear plan for victory in Iraq, only 25 percent said that he had, 68 percent felt that he had not developed one yet. That is why we saw the president out yesterday. There you see that latest poll number I mentioned.

But the president went before the Council on Foreign Relations, trying to highlight signs of progress in Iraq. Mr. Bush pointed to specific examples in the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Najaf, and really this part of an effort to counter the daily reports of violence out of Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Many who once wanted democracy are coming off the fence. They're choosing the side of freedom.

This is quiet, steady progress. It doesn't always make the headlines in the evening news, but it's real and it's important. And it is unmistakable to those who see it close up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, in his remarks yesterday, President Bush cited Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat, in basically reiterating the administration's belief that to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq too soon would be a mistake. Now, it's interesting to note, this morning, Senator Lieberman over at the Pentagon having a breakfast meeting, apparently, with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, as well as General Peter Pace.

As for what is next for the president, on Monday he will deliver the next speech in a series of speeches leading up to Iraq's parliamentary elections on December 15. We're told that his speech on Monday will focus on the political progress as the administration sees it in Iraq -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Elaine Quijano live at the White House this morning.

Thank you.

O'BRIEN: We've got some bitter cold to tell you about, and it's pretty much all over. That's with 13 days left before winter begins.

Denver has been close to breaking a bunch of records for lows. All of it headed east as we speak.

Sean Callebs joining us from Chicago this morning.

Hello, Sean. Good morning to you.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

We're here at Chicago O'Hare Airport. Temperatures in the low teens this morning, but it probably feels somewhat balmy compared to what conditions people had to endure here the past couple of days, temperatures near zero.

Still, extremely cold. You may say people in the Midwest are used to that. Well, even by Chicago standards, this is cold, this is early as well.

You can also see some snow starting to fall. A little holiday signs there in the background. You can see the wreath over a walkway. Boy, that walkway probably never felt so good this morning, providing some protection for people trying to make their way to the airport.

It's amazing. The commuters here are unphased by all this, the snow, the cold. Every now and then you see them dash in to the airport, but people here basically are just bucking up, doing what they can.

Much colder in other parts of the nation. To the west of us, you talked about in the Denver area, I left there last night, and it has been very, very cold the past couple of days. Very, very cold. Very unusual, really, for that area as well.

Also, if you go to the Ohio Valley area, they're expecting some significant snowfall there as well. And look at the pictures that we hopefully have from Syracuse, New York.

Of course that area is used to snowfall. But it's coming down pretty well, it's going to be on the ground there for some time. Cold temperatures as well.

Miles, one thing that really never fails to amaze me, if you look back this way just a bit, you can see just some of the cigarette butts. No matter how cold it is, people continually come out here, do what they can, get a quick cigarette, go back in. They'll do whatever they can, any conditions, to get that cigarette in.

O'BRIEN: All right. Lung cancer and frost bite at the same time.

Thank you very much, Sean Callebs. Appreciate that.

Let's get to Bonnie Schneider at the weather center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Other news this morning. Let's check in with Kelly Wallace.

Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning again, Carol.

And hello, everyone.

We are beginning in Iraq, where there was a massive bombing on a bus in southern Baghdad. That bus was leaving one of Baghdad's biggest bus stations. Iraqi police say at least 30 people were killed, 25 others are wounded. And this blast comes just one week before Iraq is set to hold national elections.

Today may be one final chance for Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the founder of the Crips gang. His lawyers will meet with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today to plead for clemency for the convicted murderer. Supporters say Williams has become a strong voice against violence, noting how he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.

Prosecutors are against clemency, and they will also be at today's hearings. As it stands now, Williams is set to be put to death on Tuesday.

In Ohio now, a 68-year-old grandmother is suing after being tasered five times by police. Surveillance video shows the incident. You're taking a look at it now.

Police say the woman was there to be arrested for apparently hitting her adult granddaughter. When she tried to leave, the officer grabbed his taser. The woman falls to the floor, and the officer continues to fire the taser. She says she thought he was going to kill her, but according to the police report, the woman resisted arrest, and the officer is even listed as a victim.

And we call this story "Sex, Cops and Videotape." San Francisco police could be suspending 20 officers in connection with an offensive video.

One of the scenes you're looking at there showing an officer running over a homeless man. Officials say the tape features racist, sexist and homophobic stereotypes. It was apparently made as a parody of life on the force, and officers involved say this is all being taken out of context. The video was discovered on an officer's Web site, and the department's internal affairs division is now investigating.

And Miles and Carol, as we talked about it, you know, you had the San Francisco 49ers this summer with a video of their own that got them into a lot of trouble. So don't they get it out there?

COSTELLO: No. And don't they get not to put it on the Web site? Do they think no one's going to see it?

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, if you make a tape like that, it's bound to get out, right? I mean, you can't keep those things in...

WALLACE: Someone's going to show it to their friends, and somehow it's going to...

O'BRIEN: Someone's going to show it to somebody, and someone's not going to laugh...

WALLACE: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: ... at the homeless person getting, you know -- and it might -- you know, granted these jobs, these high-pressure jobs create a certain gallows humor and this is part of stress relief. I understand all that. But it can be certainly misconstrued.

COSTELLO: Yes.

Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, more on that deadly shooting of an unarmed man at the Miami airport. Were air marshals justified in killing him? We're going to take a closer look at that.

O'BRIEN: Also, what's your company doing to protect you against bird flu? Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how businesses are preparing for an outbreak.

COSTELLO: And later, the legacy of John Lennon, how his impact is still being felt 25 years after his death. I think this is proof. These are people standing near a statue, there are flowers on the ground, to play homage to John Lennon.

We'll tell you more when AMERICAN MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

O'BRIEN: That's Mariah Carey with quite a comeback album. Eight nominations. Count them, eight nominations with the Grammys just announced moments ago.

Brooke Anderson has an interview with Mariah right now. As a matter of fact, Brooke and Mariah are there live.

Good morning, ladies.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Miles, good morning to you.

They're saying good morning.

I am here with the lady of the hour, Mariah Carey, leading the nominees with eight nominations. I've been going through them. There are some 50 pages on this release, so I haven't gotten through them all, but album of the year the biggest nomination.

How are you feeling about this?

MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: I feel just so blessed, really. It's been such an amazing year. And this album really means so much to me that I -- you know, I'm just full of gratitude. It's been an incredible morning.

ANDERSON: Quadruple platinum for "The Emancipation of Mimi." You've had a rough few years, but this is just the comeback story that everyone loves to see.

CAREY: Well, thank you. I mean, I look at it like everybody who has a career with longevity has peaks and valleys, and you have to go through them. And it's all part of, like, the next lesson, you know, that we are here to learn. And I'm just blessed to be able to make music, and I'm grateful that this album is being well received. So it's a blessing.

ANDERSON: You are no stranger to Grammy nominations and awards. Talk to me about how the Grammys have changed your career, have impacted you as an artist over the years.

CAREY: Well, the Grammys, just being able to, you know, touted as Grammy winner is a big deal, you know? I have my fabulous Grammy pin on today.

ANDERSON: It looks nice.

CAREY: It's wonderfully -- a wonderful gift.

ANDERSON: Yes.

CAREY: So, yes. So it's a great thing.

ANDERSON: Well, it's an exciting day in the music world, but also a very somber day. It's the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon, as you know, one of the most influential songwriters, performers ever.

CAREY: Ever.

ANDERSON: What impact do you feel he had? And did he influence you in your music?

CAREY: I think John Lennon influenced everybody in their music whether they know it or not. I mean, just as an artist in general and what he did for the world, and just the songwriter that he was and the way that his songs still impact the world. You know, just even the song "Imagine," somebody singing that song with a new interpretation today can change a moment, can change anybody's -- you know, can change the world. So he did that.

ANDERSON: And from that former Beatle to another, Paul McCartney, you'll be competing with him in the Album of the Year category.

CAREY: Oh, well, you know, I can't even -- I can't even imagine that.

ANDERSON: Good company to be in.

And talk to me. You look wonderful. It's cold outside.

CAREY: It is.

ANDERSON: They were asking earlier, "What's Mariah wearing?"

How did you choose your outfit?

CAREY: It was a drama. Of course I was supposed to have another outfit, and that didn't work. And I said I'll throw on a sweater and a little -- really, I just wanted to wear my top, but it's morning. I don't usually have morning attire, because morning attire for me is pajamas.

ANDERSON: Well, you look great. Got a little bling-bling going on there.

CAREY: Thank you. You look fabulous as well.

ANDERSON: Oh, I appreciate that. A compliment from Mariah Carey. Wow. That's good stuff.

Now, looking forward to the Grammys in February, what are you most excited about for that evening?

CAREY: I'm most excited to see the performances. I think that the Grammys always do such an amazing job with, you know, who performs and how it's done, and just musically directed to a tee. So that's going to be great.

ANDERSON: And talk to me about what you plan to do next. What is Mariah Carey -- what do you still want to do?

CAREY: I want my Christmas vacation, which I'm very excited about.

ANDERSON: What is it? Where are you going?

CAREY: I'm going Aspen. And me and my friends are like literally -- we act like 8-year-olds, we go sleigh riding, we, you know, do all those things. And it's fun.

ANDERSON: A big snow skier as well?

CAREY: I wouldn't call myself a big snow skier. I go down the mountain about once and then I'm back in the jewelry store.

ANDERSON: On the kiddie slope maybe?

CAREY: I'm in the blue now.

ANDERSON: Oh, the blue's pretty good.

CAREY: Yes. And I'm also trying to land a snowboard. So maybe this year.

ANDERSON: Well, congratulation as on all of your success on this album and eight Grammy nominations. That is something.

CAREY: Sweet of you.

ANDERSON: We appreciate you joining us. Mariah Carey.

CAREY: I appreciate you having me. Thank you.

ANDERSON: Of course.

And the Grammys will be handed out in Los Angeles February 8.

Good luck.

Back to you guys.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks very much, Brooke Anderson, along with Mariah Carey.

Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: All morning we've been covering the shooting at the Miami airport. It's the first time air marshals have used deadly force since their post-9/11 expansion. Mike Brooks was a security manager with Delta and the airline's liaison to the Air Marshal Service.

Good morning, Mike.

MIKE BROOKS, LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, I interviewed a passenger, Mary Gardner earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, and something she said intrigued me. Let me set the scene for you.

So the plane is loaded in Miami, and this couple is in the back, and they're having this heated argument. And passengers are getting a little nervous.

Here's what else Mary said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARY GARDNER, FLT. 924 PASSENGER: They were very nervous. She was very shaky. A lot of anxiety. And you could tell that they were -- there was something going on that just was not right.

And the pilot told me -- he said, "He's got it. Look, there's a marshal right there. They know what's going on. We're covered."

So we all felt, you know, fine. And then, of course, everything happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK. A couple of things confused me about this, because I haven't heard this information before. She said there was a pilot nearby, he pointed out the air marshal, and he said, "The situation is being taken care of. Don't worry."

What do you make of that?

BROOKS: Well, it's hard. Number one, the pilot, he shouldn't be pointing out who the air marshals are, because one of the things you worry about, Carol, is, if something is going on in the aircraft, a disruptive passenger, that kind of thing, you know, they may be trying to find out exactly who the air marshals onboard are to draw them out. And then there are other sleepers there who could then take -- try to take -- overpower that other air marshal.

You know, you don't want to let the people know. But, you know, from what I was hearing from my law enforcement sources close to the investigation in Miami, that this guy ran to the front of the plane, he stated he had a bomb, the door was still open. He ran out into the jetway.

COSTELLO: Well, wait, Mike. Before we get into that, let's go back to the initial incident...

BROOKS: OK. COSTELLO: ... because this couple was arguing heatedly.

BROOKS: OK.

COSTELLO: It was very heated. Passengers were nervous about this. The anxiety level was high.

BROOKS: Right.

COSTELLO: Apparently a pilot was nearby. Isn't it his job to take care of the situation or to get rid of those people and take them off the plane?

BROOKS: That's very true. They can go ahead and -- just go ahead and deny them boarding, take them out, find out what their problem is, if in fact that's what happened.

And, you now, the air marshals are usually good. They will let the flight attendants and the pilots onboard take care of that problem before they get involved and come out of their cover and identify themselves as police officers. But if that was in fact the case, they should have been taken off, denied boarding, taken back up to the gate area and found out what exactly was going on. And the local police there at the airport should have been called to come down to handle that situation.

COSTELLO: The other interesting thing, it seems as if from what Mary said that the pilot and the air marshal had some sort of conversation about this couple, and they seemingly resolved the situation or that man would have been off the plane, right?

BROOKS: Exactly. And sometimes the pilot will say -- he'll signal to the FAM, the federal air marshal, to outside and maybe discuss exactly what they're going to do, because they were still in the loading process. There were still people coming on the boarding process, there were still people coming on and off the aircraft, as you know, as much as you fly how that goes.

There's people coming in and out of the door. Nobody knows exactly who is whom onboard until they take -- until that door is closed. But if that was the case, if that happened before that door was even closed, they should have been taken off the aircraft, denied boarding, taken back up to the gate area and dealt with it there.

COSTELLO: OK. The other curious thing is that the air marshals say that this guy told them, screamed at them that he had a bomb. And when he reached into the bag they shot him.

As he was running towards the front of the plane, no passenger that I've heard quoted anywhere said they heard anything coming from this man like that, any kind of threat, you know, any words that would intimate he had a bomb. But they did hear his wife yelling that he had a mental problem.

BROOKS: Well, you know, it's -- there's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking going on right now. We'll have to wait and see what comes out of the statements from the flight attendants, from all of the people onboard that they've taken statements from.

But from what I'm hearing from my sources, when he got to the front of the plane, that's when he said that he had a bomb. They identified themselves as law enforcement officers. He went off the plane, they were out in the jetway, in that little circle area just outside of the aircraft.

They asked him numerous times to drop the backpack, to get on the ground. He ran up the jetway back towards the terminal, and then he turned around and came back down towards the air marshals, again telling them -- telling him to get on the ground, to drop the package. He did not do that. They felt their lives and the lives of other people onboard that aircraft, had he gotten back on, would be in danger, and that's when they went ahead and used lethal force.

COSTELLO: All right. Mike Brooks, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

Mike Brooks, law enforcement expert.

There are so many questions, and I am sure those answers will be answered eventually. An investigation is ongoing.

O'BRIEN: You've got to have a little patience to get some answers on this one, I think.

Can you believe it? It was 25 years ago today that John Lennon was shot outside his apartment building in New York City. His fans are gathering right now near Central Park's famous Strawberry Fields, named in his honor, in the Beatles honor, not far from the dakota where he died.

A little later, we'll take a closer look at his legacy.

Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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