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American Morning

Deadly Attacks in Iraq; Sharon Gravely Ill; Tragedy at Sago Mine

Aired January 05, 2006 - 08:59   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is clinging to life. He's in intensive care this morning. He suffered a major stroke. That throws the country's political future now and the Mideast peace process into question.

We've got a live report just ahead.

And a bloody day in Iraq. For a second day, insurgents target Iraqi civilians. They've killed nearly 100 people. And just moments ago we reported American soldiers have been killed as well.

An update just ahead -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Miles O'Brien, live at the Sago Mine in West Virginia. Three days after that mining accident, still an awful lot of questions and a lot of tough emotions as people try to come to grips with the loss of 12 miners beneath the surface of the earth.

We'll have more for you on this on this AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. We're going to get back to Miles in just a few moments.

First, though, we want to get right to this breaking news we told you about just a few moments ago coming to us out of Iraq. Five U.S. soldiers killed, it happened with a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad. This, of course, already on top of a very bloody day. Nearly a hundred Iraqis killed in two attacks this morning.

Jennifer Eccleston is live for us in Baghdad.

What do we been these attacks?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Soledad. It is, as you say, one of the deadliest days we've seen here in months.

A string of attacks across Iraq. The latest, an IED hits an American patrol here in Baghdad. Five soldiers are killed, and that is all we know so far. But it was further south this morning in the holy city of Karbala where a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt in a pedestrian square between two revered shrines in Shia Islam. So far, police report 42 pilgrims have been killed and 80 so -- or so have been wounded. The death toll so high there due to the large number of pilgrims in this square this Thursday. Thursday, of course, is the beginning of the weekend here and the day before the Muslim holy day of prayer.

But it was northwest of Karbala, in Ramadi, and the rest of Al Anbar province where we saw the most deadly attack. Another suicide bomber detonates his explosive belt at a police recruitment drive. The initial estimates put the number of dead at 62, with over 70 people wounded.

It was one of the largest recruitment drives in the area. Some 600 men signing up during this drive which took place over the course of four days. Now, the bomber was among those recruits -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Jennifer Eccleston with an update for us.

Jennifer, thanks.

And of course we add to that number -- we add five U.S. soldiers killed in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad.

Let's get right to Barbara Starr. She's at the Pentagon this morning.

Barbara, the soldiers from military reports that we have were traveling in an armored Humvee. What can you tell us about this?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Soledad, U.S. military officials have confirmed to CNN that those five soldiers were using what they call an up-armored Humvee. This is one of the Humvee vehicles that is particularly specially armored for use in Iraq.

Now, to be clear, what we don't know at this point is whether the five were inside the vehicle when they hit the IED or whether they were just outside the vehicle on foot patrol. But for the last couple of weeks, let's be clear, there have been IED attacks hitting U.S. troops across Iraq almost every day.

The U.S. military today is watching this situation in Iraq very closely. Officials we have talked to, commanders are very aware that this has been just a dreadful day in Iraq. And when we asked for some perspective, some contacts on how they new view the insurgency, what we were told by one U.S. military official who follows this quite closely is, quite candidly, he said, this is what the military expected after those December 15 elections.

Once the security that was in place for the elections, that very stringent security, had been eased in the days following the elections, they had every reason to believe, they say, that the insurgency would again accelerate its attacks. And that is now what they are seeing -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: So, Barbara, then if we extend that and follow that more fully, that bodes very poorly for any sort of quick removal of American troops if we're going see an increase in the insurgency whenever the big push for protection dissipates.

STARR: Well, at least from the U.S. military point of view they are very cautious about that, I must say. Everyone that we speak to here, including very senior military officials, they're very cautious about all of this. And you saw some of that reflected in what President Bush talked about yesterday, the new emphasis on trying to train Iraqi police forces, trying to get those local police departments really much more capable of operating in towns, cities and villages across Iraq. That that, as well as the Iraqi army, is going to be key to getting the security situation under control.

But from the uniformed U.S. military point of view, as they see things like today unfold, they remain very cautious about the capability of the Iraqi forces to really fully stand on their own. They do think it will be some time before there will be able to be substantial U.S. troop reductions. Today is a real case in point. One official said that the insurgency remains very resilient, in his words.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Clearly, we can see it from all of the pictures we've been getting in this news.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, thanks for the update.

Let's get to that developing story we've been telling you about all morning, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his condition. A massive stroke has left him in grave condition. Doctors, in fact, doubt that he's going to be able to continue leading the government.

Israel now in a state of political confusion, while Palestinian leaders are sort of watching to see just who they're going to be dealing with in the future.

Guy Raz is live for us this morning. He's outside the hospital in Jerusalem where the prime minister is being treated.

Guy, good morning.

GUY RAZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

After rumors were circulating outside this hospital that the condition of the prime minister, the director general of the hospital, Hadassah Hospital, came out to announce that the prime minister remains in serious, but stable condition. He's breathing with the aid of a respirator, and he essentially is clinging to life.

Just a short time ago, Shlomo Mor-Yosef telling reporters -- let's take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SHLOMO MOR-YOSEF, HADASSAH MEDICAL CENTER: Prime Minister Sharon is in the neurosurgical (ph) intensive care unit for the last few hours in severe condition, but in a stable condition. All of the vital signs and all the measurements are according to what is expected after such a long surgery and after hemorrhagic stroke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAZ: Soledad, it's now approaching 17 hours since the prime minister was admitted to this hospital, and doctors who are looking on from afar say as time tick on, the prognosis looks increasingly worse -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: A deputy is now essentially filling in for him. How exactly is the government functioning without Ariel Sharon?

RAZ: Well, essentially, under Israeli basic law, the deputy prime minister becomes the acting prime minister in the event that the serving prime minister becomes incapacitated. That is what has happened in this case.

Ehud Olmert, the deputy prime minister, in fact, chairing a cabinet meeting earlier today. Now, there was talk earlier in the week before the prime minister suffered this stroke that one of the coalition partners in that government, the Likud party, would be resigning. Now we understand those four members of the cabinet will remain as part of the government in a bid to maintain national unity -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Guy Raz with an update from Jerusalem for us this morning.

Guy, thanks.

Let's get back to Miles. He's been reporting for us from Sago, West Virginia, today.

Hey, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Good morning, Soledad.

The bodies have been recovered from the Sago Mine, number one. And 12 families now are making plans for funerals for their loved ones.

The miners who were caught up in that mine explosion and, in some cases, 12 of them subsequently trapped for several hours underground, and in one case, of course, one survivor. Twenty-six-year-old Randy McCloy remains in very critical condition this morning. Lots of problems with numerous organs and some concern about the possibility of brain damage.

CNN's Jonathan Freed joining us now from Morgantown, West Virginia, at the hospital.

Jonathan, good morning.

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

We're standing by for an update from the hospital which is expected around noon here Eastern Time today on Randy McCloy's condition. When he was brought here more than 24 hours ago, it was about 3:00 a.m. local time yesterday when he was brought here. He was suffering from severe dehydration, he had a collapsed lung.

Checks showed that he had no evidence of head injury as they saw at the time. But subsequently, as we've been hearing from the medical team that's been taking care of him, they've become concerned, as you've pointed out, about his heart, his liver, his kidneys, saying that there were additional injuries.

Now, one of the things that the medical team would like to get answered is exactly what happened to him when he was down there underground in the mine. And Miles, you spoke to one of the doctors earlier, and let's listen to what he had to say about those concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JOHN PRESCOTT, DEAN, WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: No one knows exactly what occurred in that mind -- that mine. And that's been one of the problems that we've had, is that we are still trying to put together the pieces of what exactly occurred during that incident. We do know that he does certainly face -- he faced issues with dehydration and he faced issues with -- with not -- not having food or sustenance and perhaps enough oxygen during the time period he was down there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREED: Now, Miles, Randy McCloy has a wife and two young children. Everybody here hoping and praying that when that news conference happens -- it's scheduled for midday today -- that we're going to hear some good news, or at least encouraging news, but the word right now, anyway, is caution -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Jonathan, one of the things that sticks out in my mind in the conversation with the doctor was that his neurological function has not changed. And he seemed to be troubled by that.

FREED: That's right. I was listening to that conversation as well, and that's something that caught my -- caught my ear as well. And I was just wondering -- and you had asked him whether or not no change in one sense might be good news. At least it wasn't getting worse. And I think the sense that I have from -- from the medical team is that there's still more questions about that and they would really like to know exactly what was going on, what were the conditions, how much oxygen did he indeed have when he was trapped down in that mine.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, Jonathan Freed. We look forward to the update at the noon hour, Eastern Time. And we, of course, will bring that to you as it happens.

Let's get some more headlines in now. And we turn it over now to Kelly Wallace in New York.

Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Miles.

And we are following a developing story out of Saudi Arabia. Rescue crews digging through the rubble, looking for survivors after a small hotel collapsed. We now know at least a dozen people were killed in the incident in central Mecca. The deadly collapse taking place as an estimated 2.5 million Muslims are expected to gather for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. And that begins on Sunday.

In central Afghanistan, new details coming in to CNN about a suicide car bombing there. Officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded area less than a mile from where the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan was visiting. At least 10 people were killed, including children. There were no American casualties.

The United States Supreme Court agrees to the transfer of accused enemy combatant Jose Padilla. The high court has ordered Padilla to be moved from a Navy brig in South Carolina to federal custody in Miami. A lower court had blocked earlier efforts by the Bush administration to transfer him. Padilla, an American citizen, faces criminal conspiracy charges.

And more details coming in on another developing story, and this one out of Virginia. A train has derailed in Dumfries, Virginia. That's a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Four hundred passengers said to be on board that train. We're hearing at least five people are injured. Three of the train's cars slipped off the tracks during rush hour in Prince William County, and emergency crews are said to still be on the scene right now.

Time for another check of the forecast. And Chad Myers might be getting tired of everybody saying, "Welcome back," but everyone's so happy to see you back on AMERICAN MORNING, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, thanks. But you know, I never left.

WALLACE: I know.

MYERS: I was working from 10:00 until -- you know.

WALLACE: Exactly, 10:00 until midnight.

MYERS: Basically, 10:00 a.m.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, more on that developing story out of Israel. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is clinging to life this morning. He's had a massive stroke. He had been taking blood thinners. Did that make matters worse? A "House Call" is just ahead -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Also ahead, Soledad, we'll talk to a Baptist preacher and a former coal miner who was there every step of the way consoling these families as they've tried to get through this horrible ordeal.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Scenes last night from the Sago Baptist Church, once again a focal point for an outpouring of emotion here in this small, tight-knit community, an area that is connected to the earth, connected to beneath the earth. The coal that runs through here is all part of their life and so is their religion, as a matter of fact. And as those people have been there, gathered together and shared such an amazing range of emotions, the men of the cloth have been there with them as well.

Pastor Eddie Barker who is with the Church of God, not a Baptist preacher, as I said a few moments ago -- apologies to that -- was there at the Sago Baptist Church helping get folks through that amazing night from euphoria to just crushing disappointment.

Did you ever find yourself at a loss for words for consoling people in times like that? That's got to be a big challenge.

PASTOR EDDIE BARKER, FORMER MINER: Well, everyone says we have the gift of god, but when the announcement came down, there was a moment when we were all silent. And -- but as you need to pick up and, you know, get your mind controlled on where you -- what you're supposed to be doing and the help we need to give, why, we got back to focus. But, yes, sir, that was pretty severe.

M. O'BRIEN: It must have been like having the wind knocked out of you. And there must have been a sense of disbelief. I've talked to some people inside who said they didn't quite appreciate what they were saying because they were in the midst of celebrating.

BARKER: Well, correct. You know, we were kind of under the thought that we have 12 to rejoice and the miracle was great. And there -- when it was taken away, that certainly was heart-wrenching, yes.

M. O'BRIEN: You have a perspective on this as a man of the cloth, but also as a former miner. And it's hard, I think, to -- I was just talking a little while ago to one of the people involved in putting together last night's vigil, and his wife is quite fearful about him going back to work. And you must hear an awful lot of talk like that right now.

BARKER: Certainly you do, and -- but this is -- they're so proud of what they do, and when they -- they'll give this some thought. And with knowing what they need to do and their faith and believing that, you know, that it will work for them to hang on to their faith, they'll get back together and they'll resume the things they need to do.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, sad to say, these accidents historically have been a part of what goes on here, but, you know, as people move forward and begin that process of grief, there's such a terrible gaping hole in a small community like this. There are so many kids without fathers right now.

BARKER: Right, and -- but being, as you said, a small community, there -- everyone knows everyone and the family is not just immediate. It reaches out. And as these individuals cross one another's paths, they'll -- they'll get each one through it, and their friends and everybody that's involved. And as you said, it is going to be tough and a while for -- maybe longer for others, but their faiths will get them through.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Pastor Eddie Barker, Church of God, who's been here every step of the way helping his neighbors get through this.

Thank you very much for your time. We wish you well in the future.

We're going to take a break. When we come back, we're going talk to the medical examiner who will be involved in trying to help understand what happened to the miners who survived that initial explosion. How long did they survive beneath the surface? Perhaps an autopsy will deliver an answer on that.

We'll ask him, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: "AM Pop" this morning, we're talking to ackor Pierce Brosnan. He rose to fame, of course, as a suave leading man on the small screen, "Remington Steel," and then on the big screen as 007, James Bond.

Well now a definite departure from the suave persona. He's got a new film. It's called "The Matador," and he plays a hit-man who is undergoing a mid-life crisis and who turns to a mild-mannered couple for help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE MATADOR")

PIERCE BROSNAN, "THE MATADOR": So I have this assignment, nothing special. Someone doesn't want him around. You know, my usual type gig.

I was burned out. I was a classic textbook case. I was having panic attacks. I was completely losing control of myself. I tried to counter this with booze, of course, but nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP, "THE MATADOR")

S. O'BRIEN: Wow.

Pierce Brosnan, nice to see you. What's with the beard?

BROSNAN: I'm doing a movie down in New Mexico with Liam Neeson. It's called "Seraphim Falls." And it's a...

S. O'BRIEN: The Civil War one, right? BROSNAN: It's a Civil War -- post-Civil War western. So...

S. O'BRIEN: So you're growing a little beard for that.

BROSNAN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: All right.

Well, we're here to talk about your new movie, which is called "The Matador." It's getting some really nice reviews for you.

Julian Noble, the hit-man who's having his little existential crisis is kind of the anti-James Bond, isn't he?

BROSNAN: I really never saw it as an anti-James Bond, I just saw it as a really good text by this young writer-director, Richard Shepard. And I thought it was a rather flamboyant character and the script had some heart.

But as we got into the making of it, of course there were certain emblems that we highlighted. You know, the martini-shaking sequence. And I do have -- you know, I'm a killer. But I never really saw it as anti-Bond. I just saw it as a really good piece of writing and hopefully an entertaining film.

S. O'BRIEN: There's a scene with "The Matador," which, of course, means killer, which is sort of how the film gets its title in the first place. You've gotten some really nice reviews.

There's one from the "LA Times" that -- can we throw that up on the screen so we can read it here?

He says, "For all his square-jaw good looks, Brosnan is actually a pretty good actor."

BROSNAN: It's taken me a long time to get that review.

S. O'BRIEN: That's a nice -- and that's one of a handful where they say this is the first role where they feel like you are really, you know, hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

What does it feel like to hear those kind of reviews?

BROSNAN: Well, there's a part of you that wishes it had come sooner in life. But I've had patience.

I've been an actor since I was, you know, 18 years of age. And I've made a good living at it. And I've been very fortunate and very lucky to be able to provide for my family.

So, you know, when things like this come along, they don't come around that often. And you want them for every film you do. You don't necessarily get them. So you just sit back and...

S. O'BRIEN: Enjoy the Golden Globe nomination and things like that. BROSNAN: Exactly.

S. O'BRIEN: At the same time, James Bond, I know you've been incredibly gracious in all of the things that you've said about Daniel Craig, because he'll be the new James Bond. And you were very open about some of the disagreements you had with some of the producers and the direction James Bond was going. Is it weird, though, after a 10- year relationship to not be James Bond anymore?

BROSNAN: Not necessarily, because I knew going into the job that there was going to come a day when it was all going to finish. And you have to be clear-headed about that. And I had a great 10-year run. And the movies I did were very successful, and I'm very grateful for that success. And it allowed me to create my own company, Irish Dreamtime, and to go off and make my own films like "The Matador," or "Evelyn," or "Thomas Crown Affair."

So, no, you have to -- you have to have a healthy outlook on it, otherwise it will destroy you, you know? Your ego will just be crushed.

S. O'BRIEN: Do you then feel sort of free that, OK, you're not James Bond, you can -- you can do any of the range of scripts that come to you? I mean, James Bond is a very pre-scripted (ph) kind of thing.

BROSNAN: Yes. I mean, it has its own drawbacks in playing it, but I think if you're clever about it and you embrace the character, you can have a great time, and maybe a great career out of it. And hopefully have a career that goes on beyond that.

And I've always tried to find work that is different, at least when I was doing the movie. I tried to find work that was different than the character of Bond.

S. O'BRIEN: "Matador" is really different.

BROSNAN: "Matador" is really a sharp left turn, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Like almost a complete left turn.

BROSNAN: Yes, well, that's good. I mean, if not now, when? I'm glad I pulled something out of the bag. And I'm glad the audience like it and they seem to be going to it, and the critical acclaim is very heart warming.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, it's been great. It's a nice movie. I really enjoyed it.

Pierce Brosnan, nice to have you come in to talk us to.

BROSNAN: Thanks a million.

S. O'BRIEN: Thank you. Good luck with the movie.

BROSNAN: Thank you, Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: We should mention that it's open in limited release right now. It opens nationwide at the end of month.

Coming up later this morning, going to take you live to Los Angeles. That is where just about 10 minutes ago the nominees for the 12th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced. We'll tell you who got those nods just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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