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American Morning

President Supporting Arab Ownership of Some American Ports; Major Holy Site in Iraq Attacked Overnight

Aired February 22, 2006 - 07:00   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien. Miles has a little vacation, another day left.
But Rob Marciano has been helping us out. He's in for Miles today. Thanks for helping us.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Good to be here. Thanks for having me.

O'BRIEN: Picture of devastation to show you this morning. A major holy site in Iraq attacked overnight. Now protesters are hitting the streets and are looking for justice. We're live in Iraq. We've got the very latest on this developing story.

Also very strong words from the president supporting Arab ownership of some American ports. Now he's threatening members of his own party with his first veto.

MARCIANO: And execution delayed indefinitely. Arguments over what's considered cruel keeps one convicted murder from being put to death.

Plus, mobile homes finally on the move. We'll tell you where FEMA is sending them.

O'BRIEN: And American Sasha Cohen puts her stamp on the Olympics. Still a little more work to do before she grabs the gold, though. Might be able to do it. We're going to take you live to Torino, just ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

O'BRIEN: Let's begin with a developing story we've been telling you about, comes out of Iraq this morning. An attack on the golden mosque in Samarra. It is one of the most revered shrines to Shiite Muslims. Iraq's prime minister is urging Shiite not to retaliate. Thousands of Shiites are demonstrating right now.

CNN's Aneesh Raman in Baghdad for us this morning.

Aneesh, good morning.

Do they have any idea this early on who's behind the attack?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, good morning.

Well, Iraq's national security adviser pointing the finger directly at al Qaeda in Iraq and Zarqawi, saying that among the 10 people they've currently detained in the aftermath of this attack, they include foreign nationals. It comes after men dressed as Iraqi police commandos this morning stormed the Escaria (ph) mosque in the city of Samarra. They bound the few guards that were on duty. We don't know how many, at this point. They detonated bombs that destroyed the golden mosque that -- the Golden Dome, sorry, that defines this mosque.

It is hard to overestimate the potential reaction among the Shia in Iraq. It has ignited fury throughout the country. Thousands have taken to the streets in Katamiya (ph), the Shiite area of Baghdad. Thousands upon thousands are starting to demonstrate. That neighbor, Sadr City, where the Mehdi militia, loyal to the Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr, have taken up arms. We understand they are patrolling the streets as well. In this holy city of Najaf, protesters are on the streets, Shia. Reports suggest they are demanding revenge. And in Samarra itself, hundreds report to the streets. Two Iraqi police commandos so far have been wounded because protesters have been throwing stones at them.

So it ratchets up the sectarian tension quite dramatically here. And the government is urging calm, but on the streets it's hard to see whether that might play out -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Yes, urging calm, but to some degree they have already been counter attacks, haven't there?

RAMAN: There have. We understand in the past few hours, two Sunni mosques have come under attack in the capital. One of them by an RPG that destroyed the outer perimeter of the mosque. Another one, the front entrance was burned. We also understand an office to the Iraqi Islamic party, the main Sunni party here, was burned after people were evacuated.

So as tensions rise, each our the number of protests rising as well. The fears that these reprisal attacks will continue, and that is why the prime minister, the most revered Shia cleric here, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, are both urging calm among the Shia community, but they also say that the patience of the Shia community is wearing thin, is being continually tested -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Aneesh Raman for us in Baghdad this morning.

Aneesh, thank you for the update -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Soledad, a CNN security watch now. More members of Congress are lining up against a deal that put the management of six major U.S. seaports into the hands of a Middle Eastern company. The White House threatening a rare veto and it's making moves to bolster the deal.

We go live there now. Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is there.

Suzanne, what do you know?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it really was an extraordinary set of circumstances. President Bush made it very clear he is not backing down from this fight. It was a rare move yesterday. He summoned reporters on Air Force One, and then reiterated his point at the White House on the ground before cameras, essentially threatening to use his veto power against any legislation that would block or delay this Dubai deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it sends a terrible signal to friends around the world, that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has a good track record from another part of the world, can't manage the port.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And it simply stunned the White House when members of the president's own party, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, as well as Speaker Denny Hastert, called to put this on hold. The strategy of the president, even considering the veto may be overridden, is simply come out, defend this, say the Dubai port is not a risk to national security, that all the proper procedures were followed, and that is it's important to the U.S. interest to reward Arab allies to express their own to be fair in their own business interests. So expect that U.S. officials, even the president himself, may come out and speak on this again.

MARCIANO: Suzanne, thanks for that. We will get more on the administration side in just about 12 minutes when we talk live with White House counselor Dan Bartlett -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, the mayor of Toledo, Ohio calls it a "speck of evil." Three Ohio men originally from the Middle East are now charged with conspiring to train potential terrorists. Two live in Toledo. The third is a former resident there.

AMERICAN MORNING's Alina Cho is live for us this morning in Toledo with more on this story.

Hey, Alina, good morning.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Soledad, good morning to you.

The 12-page indictment which was sealed here in Ohio yesterday covers a lot of ground. It is essentially a timeline the government says these men were planning a holy war, targeting U.S. troops in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHO (voice-over): The three suspects allegedly began plotting the attacks 15 months ago.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTY. GENERAL: The folks had the motivation and I think that they demonstrated they had the means.

CHO: One of the men, 26 years Mohammed Zaki Amawi, is accused of verbally threatening to kill or injure President Bush. His younger brother, who spoke to CNN in silhouette, said Amawi was all talk, that he wasn't against the president, just U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said that he doesn't like, you know, the war, and he was against the war. You know, that's he say.

CHO: The federal indictment, unsealed Tuesday, said Amawi and two others, Marwan Akmar Al Hindi (ph) and Wassim Maslu (ph), had detailed plans to enter Iraq to wage a holy war against U.S. forces there. The men allegedly tried to set up terrorist training camps. The indictment said Amawi conducted target practice at a Toledo indoor shooting range, that the men downloaded videos, like this one, showing how to make and use suicide bomb vests, that they discussed how to build improvised explosive devices, that they even talked with an informant about practicing setting off explosives on July 4th, when fireworks would mask the noise.

All three men lived in Toledo, Ohio within the past year. One of them allegedly used his Toledo car business as a cover to travel in and out of Iraq.

The three suspects pleaded not guilty in Ohio courtrooms Tuesday. A lawyer for one of the men, Al Hindi, said his client has never been a part of anything to undermine the U.S. at home or abroad. Amawi's family said he left for Amman, Jordan seven months ago to set up an Internet cafe and find a wife.

They called Amawi a nice guy, who cries at movies and wouldn't hurt a bird.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He probably talks too much. Maybe that's what the problem is, you know.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: The government would not say how far along these men allegedly were in the planning of these attacks or whether an attack was imminent, only that in a post-9/11 world, the government needs to remain vigilant in the war on terror.

O'BRIEN: Give us a little insight, Alina, on the person who helped the government sort of foil this alleged, at this point, plot.

CHO: That's right. I mentioned an informant in my piece. One of the more fascinating parts of this indictment, Soledad. He is referred to only as "the trainer." Here's what we know about him. Apparently he is a U.S. citizen with a military background. He spoke some Arabic, and he clearly had close ties to the suspects.

Now other than that, the government would not say much more, only that these arrests were not part of a sting.

O'BRIEN: Alina Cho in Toledo for us this morning. Alina, thank you. We're going to get more details on this story at the half hour when we take with an FBI special agent in Ohio, also the man who is going to prosecute the case. You want to be sure to stay with CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Rob.

MARCIANO: The father of a California teen raped and murdered more than 20 years ago says the nation's judicial system has gone to hell. The execution of Michael Morales was put on hold last night. It was the second time the execution was prevented from going forward. The prison could not carry out a judge's order to have a licensed medical professional administer a lethal injection.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

APOSTLE KOTTRELL SMITH, DEATH PENALTY OPPONENT: I'm glad. I'm so happy. Thank you, Lord, that somebody heard!

JES RICHARDSON, DEATH PENALTY OPPONENT: I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled that his life has been saved. I'm thrilled that it will probably have an impact on the death penalty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we find another flimsy excuse to delay justice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's undue pain, more pain, given to the family. And the family needs to see closure. I think California needs to see closure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: Morales was sentenced to death for raping 17-year-old Terri Winchell and leaving her to die in vineyard in central California.

Well, after four month of sitting unused, FEMA is now moving about 300 mobile homes from Hope, Arkansas to Louisiana. The mobile homes are being taken to Baton Rouge to replace ones taken into hurricane-damaged areas. This is the first time any of the 10,800 mobile homes stored at a field in mid October have been moved into areas actually affected by hurricanes.

O'BRIEN: We're find out later this morning who won that huge Powerball jackpot last weekend. The Nebraska Lottery says it has identified the person who bought the ticket. It's going to reveal his or her identify today. That jackpot, of course, $365 million. The winner has the option of taking that lump sum, which is approximately $124 million after taxes. Taxes just kill you, don't they? Or you can take the amount out in installments over the next 30 years. A little over $6 million a year.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: It is, I think it's fair to say, one of the most anticipated competitions in the Winter Olympics, women's figure skating. American favorite Sasha Cohen just flawless. Look at this. God, just beautiful in her short program, too. Nice, confidence, too, and now she's got the best score to show for it. Right behind her, though, in fact, just three-hundredths of a point, really right behind her is the Russian, Irena Slutskaya. She who won silver in the last Olympics. And then we have 15-year-old American Kimmie Meissner. She also skated a really nice short program. Good enough for fourth place. She looked confident as well, good enough for fourth place. She looked good. That's the same spot that Sarah Hughes was in back in 2002 before she went on to win the gold. Obviously, still all up in the air. Anybody could take it now.

This is Sarah's sister, her little sister, Emily. Did very nicely. Strong seventh place finished. Kind of surprised that she got to the Olympics at all, to some degree. Wasn't supposed to go. This is just part one.

The long program, which obviously is the program that can change absolutely everything, is tomorrow night.

Speaking of the skating success, remember these guys? These are the American ice dancers. That's Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. They will the silver in Torino. They're going to join us this morning in just a little bit to talk about those beautiful medals that they're wearing around their neck and those beautiful smiles.

MARCIANO: Yes, you can't help but smile.

O'BRIEN: Yes, I look forward to hearing their story as well.

MARCIANO: And then the long program, you know, that's when a lot of mistakes can be made.

O'BRIEN: That can be -- well, I mean, Sarah Hughes really proved it. I mean, you can go from fourth to first like that.

MARCIANO: We'll see what happens.

O'BRIEN: We're going to talk more this morning about this controversial deal handing over U.S. port management to an Arab company. President Bush says he's going to veto any plans to try to kill it. A top adviser is going to join us this morning, tell us why the president is fighting this battle so hard.

MARCIANO: And not filing your taxes usually gets you in trouble with the IRs, but some folks who forget to file may be in line for refunds. Not a bad deal. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: President Bush says having a Middle Eastern-based business operate six major U.S. seaports is a safe deal that will not put the nation at risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I think it sends a terrible signal to friends around the world, that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has a good track record from another part of the world, can't manage the port.

(END VIDEO CLIP) O'BRIEN: That's what the president has to say. But there is a list, kind after long list of lawmakers who would disagree. Let's get right to the White House counselor, Dan Bartlett. He joins us this morning from the White House.

Nice to see as always, Dan. Thanks for talking with us.

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR: My pleasure.

O'BRIEN: Gosh, I think it's fair to say the opposition on this issue is fierce. I'm just going to read you the short list. I'm just going to read you the list of the Republicans who are against this plan. We got Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He says it should have more scrutiny. House Speaker Senate Hastert, he says he's "very concerned." That's a quite. Senator Susan Collins, Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, Governor George Pataki, Senator John McCain. Curt Weldon says we're not going to let this happen. We've got the Maryland governor. He says more review is needed. Chuck Grassley, he says, "This could compromise national security." That's A quote. Representative Peter King, he says, "He's absolutely, positively mystified."

Why is the That's a long list of Republicans who disagree with what the president is saying. Aren't you concerned about that list?

BARTLETT: Well, I think it's pretty natural reaction that the first thing you see, the first headline you read, and the first thing you see on the icon across the bottom of the cable screen is to say "Arab country to take over ports." And I think it would make anybody pause and want to have more information, greater understanding of this transaction. And it's critically important for your viewers to understand that port security in the United States of America is charged to the United States Coast Guard and the United States Customs Office. That hasn't changed by this deal. Every port in America is the responsibility of the United States government, and that will not change.

And as you start to look at the particulars of this deal, Soledad, you will find that the administration has taken very careful review of this process to ensure that the very concerns these members of Congress, or governors, or mayors have been thought about, have been scrutinized and have been confirmed by our government, by people who are charged every day with the security of our country that this transaction will not jeopardize it whatsoever.

O'BRIEN: Some of the people, some of the members of Congress say we just didn't get enough notice. I mean, let's listen to what Curt Weldon had to say specifically. He sort of feels like he was blindsided by the whole thing. Here's his quote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CURT WELDON (R), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: This White House did nothing to communicate with Congress on this deal. With all the concern about port security going on in America right now, at a minimum, leaders of both parties should of been brought in from both houses and had this deal reviewed. That didn't occur! And it's a little late right now to announce it and say the government's behind it. We're not going to stand for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That's from "THE SITUATION ROOM," I should mention. He said we're not going to stand for it. Does he have any legal legs here, or is this a done deal?

BARTLETT: Well, as far as for the executive branch and what we're charged by following the law, we have done the type of safeguards and investigative work that you would expect of the Homeland Security Department and other agencies charged with the security of our country to make sure that it was not jeopardizing our security.

But I do appreciate and understand why the chairman would want to have more information about this. I will point you on that this transaction has been speculated about in the financial press for several months. This is not something that people in the public did not know about.

But we will continue to work with the Congress to make sure they have as much information as possible. And what they will learn is the same thing our administration and this president has learned, is that this company is a reputable company. We've worked with them all across the world. They own ports across the world that send cargo to our country on a regular basis, that we have the necessary safeguards in place, that the port security that most people are concerned about is the responsibility of port authorities, the United States Coast Guard and Customs Office. They are charged with security of our ports. That doesn't change by this transaction. And as more information is learned about this, Soledad, I think more people will get the type of assurances that we have that this should go forward.

O'BRIEN: I don't think I'm overstating it when I say the president has kind of come out swinging on this one. He says he's going to veto any efforts to try to kill this deal. This is a president who hasn't vetoed anything in the five years he's been in office. Why does he feel so strongly about it?

BARTLETT: Well, we're glad that we haven't had to veto legislation. That's because we've had a strong working relationship with leaders in Congress, and we hope it doesn't get to that point here either. And what we're going to hopefully do over the course of the next days and weeks, is to give them as much information as possible, so they have a greater appreciation for why we are comfortable with allowing this transaction to go forward. It was done by the book. The company has played by the rules. And port security is in the foremost and this president's mind. We assure that it is not going to be put in jeopardy by this transaction.

And I think as members of Congress and state and local officials learn better and more information about this transaction they will come to the same conclusions. O'BRIEN: Kind of an odd thing when you see Congressman Peter King and Chuck Schumer on the same side in a press conference, sitting never together. I mean, you never see that, as you well know. You realize, of course, that there's been threats, I think coming from Governor Pataki and the Maryland governor, too, that they might cancel the lease agreement over this whole issue. Could they do that?

BARTLETT: Well, Soledad, I think it does makes you pause when you see so much agreement in Washington. It may want you to look a little bit closer at the details of it.

And, look, I think the suggestion here is that the administration was not concerned about the security of our country. That's absolutely false. People who wake up every day whose job is -- and their whole livelihood revolves around protecting our country has scrutinized this deal. It's happening on their watch. They wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize the security of our country. That's why it was so carefully scrutinized. That's why it went through the type of rigorous process that is mandated by the Congress, and that's why we ultimately feel comfortable with allowing this to go forward.

And like I said, we will continue to work with these members of Congress and state and local officials so they have a greater understanding of this transaction.

O'BRIEN: Dan Bartlett, as counselor to the president. Dan, as always, nice to talk you. Thanks for being with us.

BARTLETT: Thank you.

MARCIANO: Well, authorities say they've busted up an Ohio terror cell. The cell was intended to kill the president. And the suspects may have been tripped up by intercepted e-mails. We'll look at those and what the prosecutor had to say in the case.

Plus, three teens accused of brutally beating homeless men appear in court. But now there's word this may not have been their first rampage.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: The next James Bond movie is still months away. Already, though, somebody is trying to get rid of the guy, the new guy who is playing him. Got that story coming up for you.

Also, Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are going to join us live. They are the first Americans to medal in ice dancing in 30 years. Took an act of Congress, though, to get them to Torino. We've got their story just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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