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American Morning

Beginning of the End for al Qaeda in Iraq?; Bush to Establish World's Largest Marine Sanctuary; Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated

Aired June 15, 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: Can we show these pictures of the gold digger? Yes, let's roll those -- that tape, can we? Yes, this guy here. Oh, that's his front yard now. Kind of a mess. We're going to tell you the story of Henry Morris' quest for gold and how it's left him with this.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And let's see what else we've got this morning in the way of pictures. There we go. A $1.7 million lemon. The dealer is suing because his rare Benz is a bust. We will kick the tires ever so gently on this AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: OK, I think we're back on track. Welcome back, everybody, I'm Soledad O'Brien.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.

We're leading off with two reports on the future of al Qaeda in Iraq, the first an announcement about what could be the beginning of the end for that terror organization. The Iraqi security minister is saying he has information that can break al Qaeda in Iraq. It was recovered on documents on computer memory sticks in a laptop found after the bombing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's hideout and subsequently his death.

CNN's John Vause, live now from Baghdad with more. John, what did they find?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, the U.S. military described the information and the intelligence gathered from the rubble of Zarqawi's house as a treasure trove. And according to Iraq's national security minister, a lot of that information came from some drives and also flash discs, also a laptop computer and other documents. According to the national security adviser, all of this is crucial in the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOWAFFIQ AL-RUBAIE, IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We've managed to confiscate a very important document. These documents belongs to al Qaeda in Iraq and the insurgents and terrorists working inside Iraq. We believe that this is the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: Now, CNN cannot verify the authenticity of these documents, but according to the national security adviser, it outlines in great detail that al Qaeda in Iraq considers the current situation for them as bleak, and these documents also outline -- and once again, in great detail -- a change of tactics -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: You mentioned detail. What sorts of details are in there?

VAUSE: Well, essentially, once again, according to these documents, what they -- what al Qaeda in Iraq wants to do is to open up another front for U.S. forces, and the preferred option here is a war with Iran. And it spells out how al Qaeda plans to do this. It says al Qaeda in Iraq will release threatening messages attributed to Shiite-Iranians, who will carry out attacks and stage evidence so that it looks like Iran was responsible. Leak information that Iran has ties with terrorist groups and is in possession of weapons of mass destruction and is attempting to carry out terrorist operations in America, and also against western targets.

The other details, as to why al Qaeda thinks the current situation here is so bleak, the steady increase in the number of Iraqi security forces, which provide a shield for U.S. troops, massive arrest operations, tightening of financial outlets, the confiscation of weapons and ammunition. Also the media campaign against al Qaeda in Iraq, according to these documents, has weakened the influence of the, quote, "resistance," presenting it as harmful rather than beneficial.

And this is just the initial stage of the details which are coming out. The national security adviser says more will be released in coming days -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Just to put it in perspective, though, we should remind our viewers, al Qaeda in Iraq is a small part of what is a multi-headed insurgency.

VAUSE: Yes, absolutely. I mean, 1,500 fighters by some estimations, foreign fighters here in Iraq. But certainly responsible for some of the most brutal tactics being used in this insurgency. But by far, the big part of the insurgency is home-grown -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: John Vause in Baghdad. Nice work, thank you.

There may be a new Abu in charge of Iraq. Abu al-Masri, an Egyptian, apparently poised to run the terror group now that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon with more on that. Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles. Well, there is now a good deal of information out there about the next most wanted man in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR (voice-over): Just hours after Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed, the U.S. identified another foreigner, an Egyptian, as the new leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ: Probably Abu al-Masri, if you had to pick somebody, would be the person that is going to try to occupy the position that Zarqawi had.

STARR: Military officials tell CNN that interrogations from captured insurgents and intelligence gathered in recent raids has convinced them Abu al-Masri has taken control. The military says al- Masri has been involved in IED attacks, but it is providing few details. Most of the troops in Iraq have not heard of him or know what he looks like, even if they capture him.

Al-Masri trained in Afghanistan as an explosives expert, where he first met Zarqawi around 2001.

CALDWELL: We know that al-Masri was -- came to Iraq before Zarqawi did, probably located somewhere around the Baghdad area. Some time in around 2003, established probably first the al Qaeda in Iraq cell here in the Baghdad area.

STARR: U.S. military officials say al-Masri is now the senior operational commander for al Qaeda in Iraq. In Fallujah, he worked with Zarqawi lieutenants. He has supplied suicide bombers. He is now said to be responsible for all network operations in southern Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: The question now, how soon? When will the world see a picture of this man, and will the U.S. military decide to even put out a picture of him? They want to get the information to the troops so they know what he looks like, but still no picture yet.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Well, the pros on all of this is just that, letting the troops know about who they're after. There's a downside to talking about this person, isn't there?

STARR: Absolutely, Miles. That is, in fact, as you say, the debate going on right now inside senior military circles. Because with Zarqawi, what happened, of course, was they made the man into an icon around the world for fundamentalist movement. If they put a picture out of this man, if they keep talking about him, if they put a huge reward on his head, then the question becomes every single day, did you get him, did you get him? Do they want to make the next iconic figure somebody that the world is paying attention to?

And the question also will be whether al-Masri decides to make himself into a public figure. Will he put out videos and statements, or will he take a low-level, low profile approach so he can try and avoid being caught? All of this being a big question right now being debated inside the military.

M. O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you very much. More details about the new al Qaeda leader in Iraq and more details on those captured documents. We expect them in the next hour. Military spokesmen will meet with reporters 8:00 a.m. Eastern. You'll see it here live. Stay with us -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: The Iraqi government is also reporting that violence is down in Baghdad since thousands of troops hit the streets. Today is the second day of a major security crackdown. Iraqi forces are stopping cars at checkpoints, patrolling the streets and enforcing a weapons ban and curfew that's now been extended. It now runs from 8:30 p.m. until dawn local time, obviously.

The Iraq war should touch off a fierce political battle on Capitol Hill today. Election year politics working their way into a resolution on the war.

Congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel, live for us on Capitol Hill. Andrea, good morning.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, later this morning, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld will come here to the Hill to brief House Republicans just hours before the House is set to kick off a rare all-day debate on Iraq, one that has Democrats and a handful of Republicans accusing the GOP of playing political hardball.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. NEIL ABERCROMBIE (D), HAWAII: Our hands are tied, literally, on the floor of the people's House.

KOPPEL (voice-over): With a yellow cord wrapped around his wrists, Democrat Neil Abercrombie played to the cameras and vented at House Republicans.

ABERCROMBIE: Do not put us through the farce and the fraud of a pseudo debate going nowhere, ending nowhere.

KOPPEL: Abercrombie and other House Democrats are objecting to this, a Republican resolution tying Iraq to the war on terror and declaring it's not in U.S. interest to "set an arbitrary date for withdrawal or redeployment" of U.S. troops in Iraq.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: I think it's an appropriate time to send a message of thanks to our troops and not some vague statement about how we support them as has come from the other sides.

KOPPEL: But Democrats are split on Iraq, and many fear a vote against the resolution will be used by Republicans to portray them as not supporting U.S. troops and as soft on terrorists.

REP. MARTY MEEHAN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: They got together with their political spin misers and drafted a resolution designed more for politics than it is for a substantive discussion about our policy in Iraq. KOPPEL: This memo from Majority Leader John Boehner encourages Republicans to use today's debate to hammer away at the "clear choice between Republicans dedicated to victory, versus Democrats without a coherent national security policy."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL: And for the first time since Congress signed off on the Iraq war in 2003, both chambers are going to be debating President Bush's policy on Iraq. In the Senate, they're going to debating some mostly Democratic amendments, one offered by John Kerry calling for U.S. troops to withdraw by the end of the year. Meanwhile, in the House, Soledad, debate is expected to last all day today, with a vote expected tomorrow -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Andrea Koppel for us this morning. Andrea, thanks.

Southern Afghanistan now the center of major military activity. More than 10,000 U.S. and coalition forces are fanning out across the region as part of Operation Mountain Thrust. It's the largest offensive in Afghanistan since the Taliban fell back in 2001. Military officials say the operation is more than just rooting out fighters. It includes building roads and medical facilities and also humanitarian assistance. .

M. O'BRIEN: President Bush steaming into some unchartered waters today with a big push for the environment. He's set to establish the world's largest marine sanctuary off the coast of Hawaii.

CNN's Elaine Quijano, live at the White House with more. Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles. The president this afternoon is set to designate the northwest Hawaiian islands as a national monument. Officials here say that this is an issue the administration has been looking at for years.

But it is an enormous area that we're talking about, some 140,000 square miles. And to give you a sense, it's 1,400 miles long and 100 miles wide. Now, this is an area that contains a great deal of biodiversity. Some 7,000 species exist there and one third of those species do not exist anywhere else on the planet.

Now, the islands are home to seabirds, dolphins, green turtles and Hawaiian monk seals. Those seals, by the way, are among the most endangered marine mammals. In fact, a group that has locked horns with the Bush administration when it comes to environmental issues, the Natural Resources Defense Council, says that there are only about 1,200 to 1,500 monk seals left in the world, and that they are extremely sensitive to human presence. This move by President Bush would phase out commercial fishing in the habitat of these monk seals over a five-year period.

So Miles, for a White House that has been harshly criticized for its environmental policies, no group coming forward to criticize the administration for this move -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: So who was pushing for this one and why did the White House decide to do this now?

QUIJANO: Well, as I mentioned, officials here say that this is an issue they had been studying, in fact, for years. The president and the first lady, in fact, were very interested and supportive of these efforts, but they became even more so after they saw a documentary by Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of the famed ocean adventurer Jacques Cousteau. There was a screening for that film, a private screening here at the White House, back in April. And it was after seeing that that the president and the first lady became even more supportive. Hence this push.

And we should also tell you as well that the president took this step of designating this as a national monument, opting to do that to try to circumvent, essentially, a one-year delay in the process, if he would have just designated it as a marine sanctuary. So that's set to take place this afternoon -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Happening in the America this morning, a groundbreaking ceremony this morning for the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, scheduled for later today. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend. The memorial will commemorate the 184 people who lost their lives in the Pentagon and on American Flight 77 on September 11th.

Four people are dead, more than a dozen injured after a fire in Fall River, Massachusetts. It happened in a community center right before a religious celebration. Witnesses say the fire began when a candle accidentally ignited a ceremonial paper tree.

A wind-whipped wildfire in Arizona -- show you some pictures -- threatening several neighborhoods in the Flagstaff area. More than a dozen homes were evacuated last night as the flames moved closer and closer. Many people spent the night in shelters. Firefighters say thinning forests could have prevented a major wildfire.

And a fugitive charged with kidnapping his daughter ten years ago in Arizona is now in federal custody in Virginia. Fifty-seven-year- old Danny Arthur Moran was arrested in Roanoke on Sunday. The FBI says that Moran abducted his 2-year-old daughter outside her mother's home back in 1996. According to court documents, the girl has not been found.

Former California history teacher is accused of having a sexual relationship with her male student. She says she's innocent. Twenty- seven-year-old Danielle Walls (ph) pleaded not guilty to 15 charges yesterday. Prosecutors say they can prove the relationship through cell phone bills and credit card information.

And it could be the most expensive ride on record. The owner of an L.A. car dealership is suing Mercedes-Benz and Daimler-Chrysler for what he is calling a $1.7 million lemon. His name is Mark Johnson (ph). He says he bought the rare sports car back in 2004, wouldn't run for more than ten blocks -- ten blocks -- without a problem.

M. O'BRIEN: What a great ten-block ride it must have been, though. That is a beautiful, beautiful thing, isn't it?

S. O'BRIEN: But at block 11, it just became an expensive problem.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's see, how much is that per block?

S. O'BRIEN: It's a lot. Mercedes-Benz says we're not responsible, we don't know what you're talking about. Beautiful car, though, isn't it?

M. O'BRIEN: We'll see you in court kind of thing. It's the most expensive production vehicle ever made.

S. O'BRIEN: It's gorgeous.

M. O'BRIEN: Beautiful, beautiful thing, but apparently an ornament.

S. O'BRIEN: Just doesn't run.

M. O'BRIEN: A lawn ornament.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Past week in Iraq's been good one for the president, but has the good news given him any bounce in the polls? We're going to take a look at that this morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello. Eighty doctors meticulously working to separate conjoined twins. The incredible details, coming your way.

M. O'BRIEN: And behind this brightly-painted facade is an oil derrick, and it casts a shadow on Beverly Hills High School. It has stirred up the legal crusader Erin Brockovich. We'll tell you about the fight, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Doctors in Los Angeles say two 10-month-old girls who were formerly conjoined twins are doing great after a marathon surgery to separate them.

Carol Costello's got details. Good morning.

COSTELLO: Oh, they're little fighters.

S. O'BRIEN: This is such great news.

(CROSSTALK)

S. O'BRIEN: And they're cute, aren't they?

COSTELLO: Oh, they're adorable.

It was intense in that operating room, let me tell you. A team of 80 doctors surrounding these tiny girls in a perpetual hug. Plastic surgeons actually finished operating on one of the 10-month- old twins early this morning and expect a complete surgery on the other later today. Now, this is a series of operations, keep in mind.

Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros were born connected from the lower chest to the pelvis. At 6:00 a.m. yesterday, the twins were rolled into surgery. At 9:00 a.m., doctors started on the breast bone, then they moved toward dividing the liver, bladder, and genitalia. Now, keep in mind, these girls were born with separate heads, necks, shoulders, hearts, lungs, arms and legs. Everything else they shared. The biggest hurdle, the large intestine, how to split it up. Doctors figured it out, and the director of surgery, Dr. Henri Ford, well, it's an understatement to say he's elated this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. HENRI FORD, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES: It's an absolutely priceless feeling. It's extremely rewarding. So we're excited. The girls are doing exceptionally well, and they have tolerated the operation without any problem there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Now, they're going to finish up on the other girl later today. As you might expect, the young parents are exhausted. Both are in their early 20s. They're from Mexico and they were visiting relatives in California when the mother was still pregnant, when she found out her twins were conjoined. So, the parents decided to have their babies here because they could get better medical care. Children's Hospital in Los Angeles offered to perform the surgery, and the state of California is footing the bill.

S. O'BRIEN: When do they think they're out of the woods completely? I mean, how long?

COSTELLO: Oh, not for months. But they're doing so well, you just never know. But we're going to keep an eye on them.

S. O'BRIEN: OK, thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, President Bush was in rare form yesterday at that news conference, but he admits he crossed a line when he made fun of a reporter wearing shades. We'll tell you why.

And later, fool's gold. A California man says there is dig in that there yard, and he starts digging and digging and digging and digging. What did he find? We'll explain, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": Of course, it's no secret it's been a bad few months for the White House, but this week has been a bit of a turn-around. Any change in the president's demeanor?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Roger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, sir.

BUSH: Roger, Roger. Gregory (ph) finally can scarf -- not scarf -- what do you call that thing.

Are you going to ask that question with shades on?

No, I'm interested in the shade look, seriously here.

Jake Tapper, yes, filling in, huh? That's not a bad question for a substitute guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: There we go! He's the commander in hilarious! Patronizing, funny, to himself, making the press corps laugh uncomfortably. And speaking of uncomfortable, let's take another look at that witty exchange about the shades.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Are you going to ask that question with shades on?

PETER WALLSTEN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES" REPORTER: I can take them off.

BUSH: No, I'm interested in the shade look, seriously here.

WALLSTEN: All right. I'll keep it then.

BUSH: For the viewers, there's no sun.

WALLSTEN: I guess that depends on your perspective.

BUSH: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: Turns out that was some hilarious repartee with "L.A. Times" reporter named Peter Wallsten, whose degenerative eye disorder renders him legally blind.

(END VIDEOTAPE) S. O'BRIEN: Oh yes. Well, the president later called Wallsten to apologize. Wallsten said he told the president the apology wasn't necessary, he was never offended. He never told the White House about his condition. He did have a complaint, though, and his complaint was that the president never answered the question he posed at the news conference.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

S. O'BRIEN: It has been, clearly, a good week for news out of Iraq for President Bush. Ahead this morning, we take a look at whether that good news is paying off for the president at the polls.

Then later, a California man who digs a big hole, and we mean big hole, in his front yard. He's hoping to find gold. Instead, what he finds is a little legal trouble. We'll tell you that story, just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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