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CNN Sunday Morning
Shaky Cease-fire Between Israel and Palestine; Groom Dies in NYPD Shooting
Aired November 26, 2006 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN. Two mortar rounds land inside a U.S. military post in eastern Baghdad today. You are taking a look at the scene. You can see that smoke going into the air. The attack did start a fire. The smoke is visible across the Iraqi capital. Not yet known about injuries or casualties. We are keeping an eye on this situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL RICHARDS, COMEDIAN: That's not an image I carry around every day and every time I look at an African-American I think he should be upside down and hung from a tree. I have too much love for the African-American -- I have -- it's just -- it's not -- it's -- I tell you, that's not a continual image or thought in my mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Comedian Michael Richards explaining his racist tirade at a comedy club. Richards made that comment just within the past hour on Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio show. We'll hear much more of what he had to say, straight ahead.
And new video this morning from Italy, where the former prime minister collapses during a political rally. Silvio Berlusconi was speaking when he suddenly slumped over at the podium. Aides rushed to his side, took him offstage. Then about 30 minutes later, Berlusconi walked out of the hall to a waiting car.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians within the last hour. A Hamas government spokesman told CNN that all Palestinian factions are 100 percent behind the cease-fire in Gaza. Now, this comes despite reports militants fired rockets into Israel; hours after the cease-fire took hold. We do have a live report from Jerusalem in two minutes.
A busy travel day for those of you heading home from the holidays. Nearly 40 million people were expected to travel more than 50 miles to their holiday destination. But now everyone, of course, needs to come back home. We'll keep you updated with the latest travel news throughout the day.
And we do run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long. So your next check of the headlines, that's coming up at 9:15 Eastern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): More than 40 million cars on the road have that device inside them. It could be in your car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Big Brother may be watching you this morning as you drive home from grandma's house. Yes, black boxes in your own car, sometimes used against you.
NGUYEN: I know, that just made me think, where do you look? How do you know if you have one and do we have one?
HOLMES: And you -- I mean, I've seen you cut some people off.
NGUYEN: Hey, hey, hey!
HOLMES: Questionable things.
NGUYEN: You don't need to tell the folks out there that, especially today. The good news is I'm not driving today, so you're all just fine.
HOLMES: Well, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is, of course, November 26. 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. out on the West Coast. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for starting your day with us.
Oh, the thrilling task of heading home after the holiday, and that means, oh, a couple million of you will be waiting at the airport today. Today and tomorrow are the busiest travel days for the airlines.
HOLMES: Well, you might get a break on the roads, but try your best to be patient because you got 30 million other folks out there with you trying to drive home, too, for this weekend.
NGUYEN: Yes, Amtrak says it will add 27 more trains today, mostly in the Northeast. And we saw lots of delays last week when many of you were headed out.
HOLMES: And CNN is bringing you the latest the conditions all day long. The screen will be squeezed back to allow the information to continuously run at the bottom and the side of the -- no, here it is.
NGUYEN: There.
HOLMES: There it is, right there. Just as you can see here. This is how we're going to keep it for you so you'll have that updated information.
NGUYEN: We have it at your fingertips, absolutely. It's also on at CNN.com.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: And if you do need some travel tips at your fingertips over the next couple of days, go to CNN.com/holidaytravel. We have set up this special page with travel information that's constantly being updated throughout the holiday.
HOLMES: His racist comments sparked anger and outrage. This morning, comedian Michael Richards trying again to make amends. Richards, perhaps best known, of course, as Kramer on the "Seinfeld" show was a guest last hour on Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio program. Jackson asked Richards what happened when he let loose with that racial tirade during a gig at a Los Angeles comedy club.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSE JACKSON, TALK SHOW HOST: Are you sure, based upon our last conversation, that the two blacks were the real hecklers? Are you sure of that?
RICHARDS: The one that spoke to me was part of all the voices that were up there that were causing me to lose my concentration.
JACKSON: So the point is, of the many voices heckling, you are not sure that those heckling you were just blacks?
RICHARDS: I'm not sure. Except the voice that came to me and told me that my act was no good, that I wasn't funny and announced that to the room, was an African-American.
JACKSON: When this happened, you didn't just curse. You unleashed rage, cursing.
RICHARDS: Yes.
JACKSON: The repetition -- you used the word nigger, and then the lynching scene. I mean, have you been here before? I mean...
RICHARDS: No.
JACKSON: How deep is this?
RICHARDS: No, no. This is...
JACKSON: Have you said this before?
RICHARDS: No, no, no, no, no. That's why I'm shattered by it. The way this came through me it was like a freight train. And after it was over, when I went to look for them, they had gone. And I've tried to meet them to talk to them, to get to some healing and -- because of the hate, the hate that came to the floor on all sides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: A spokesman for Richards says the comedian has started psychiatric counseling.
NGUYEN: Well, in the Middle East right now, efforts are underway to finally make a cease-fire work. So much has been happening just in the fast few hours. A newly-minted cease-fire along the Gaza border broken after Palestinian militants fired rockets to Israel.
For the latest on this developing story, let's go to CNN's Paula Hancocks in Jerusalem.
Paula, I have to ask you, does it appear now that this cease-fire might just stick?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, Betty, it does appear as though both sides are trying their hardest to make sure that this cease-fire is going stick. We saw just an hour after it started at 6:00 a.m. local this morning, at about 11 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday night, when it did start and these rockets were continuing to fall on Sderot.
Two militant groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, cells from those two groups claimed responsibility. But the vast majority of the leaders of these militant groups have said that if Israel stops its attacks, then the Palestinian militants will stop the rockets as well.
Now, we have seen that Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said he wanted his military to show restraint. So even though there were some rockets that hit Israel, no casualties in those attacks. The Israeli prime minister has realized that this is a crucial point, that there can be an increase in dialogue between the two sides if this cease-fire does manage to hold to a little bit longer. And there are also those in the Israeli media that are speculating.
The timing of this cease-fire is no coincidence. Of course, we have the U.S. President George W. Bush coming here in just the next few days. He's going to be visiting neighboring Jordan. Now, at this point, there are no expectations of meetings between Bush and the Israelis and Palestinians, but there are some hopes that maybe that could change if the cease-fire does hold.
So both sides, the Israeli prime minister, the Palestinian prime minister, the Palestinian president, are all saying they're going give 100 percent effort to try and make this actually stick. But of course, the militant groups are very fragmented in Gaza. Just because the leaders say they're not going launch rockets doesn't necessarily mean that every single militant in the Gaza strip will stick to it -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, and that's why we will be watching closely. Paula Hancocks, joining us from Jerusalem today. Paula, thank you.
HOLMES: Pope Benedict is headed to Turkey this week, and many Muslims there making it clear he's not welcome. Thousands gathered in Istanbul for an anti-pope protest.
CNN's Delia Gallagher was in the crowd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT (on camera): A crowd of about 10,000 have gathered here in central Istanbul to protest Pope Benedict's upcoming visit to Turkey. They are members of a conservative, Islamic party upset about the pope's remarks in Regensburg when he connected Islam to violence.
They are wearing headbands saying "Pope, Go Home," and "No to the Crusader Alliance." There are signs here saying "We have accepted Jesus as a prophet, why don't you accept Muhammad?" So a voice being heard here in Turkey in advance of the pope's visit. He still isn't due to arrive until Tuesday, but certainly these people are making themselves heard that they do not welcome his presence here.
Delia Gallagher, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And Anderson Cooper will be following the pope's visit on, what, this week, all week, in Turkey.
NGUYEN: Starting on Tuesday.
HOLMES: Yes, starting on Tuesday. He's going to explore what happens when faiths collide. The week-long series begins tomorrow night at 10 p.m. Eastern. And again, that's only here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about anger and unanswered questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. AL SHARPTON, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: We are not anti-police. Many of us have police in our family. We are anti-police brutality. There is a difference between good cops and bad cops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Al Sharpton demands answers after a groom-to-be is shot dead the morning of his wedding.
HOLMES: And you probably don't know it, but there may be a black box in your car that tracks every turn you make. We'll have the details on that, coming up in about 30 minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: "Now in the News" and just in to CNN minutes ago. Two mortar rounds land inside a U.S. military post in eastern Baghdad today. The attack started a fire, and you can see this smoke rising over the Iraqi capital right now. It's not yet known about injury or casualties. A live update from Baghdad about five minutes away.
The "New York Times" reports the insurgency in Iraq has enough income to operate indefinitely. Citing a classified U.S. report, the "Times" says criminal activities generate at least $70 million a year to fund insurgency attacks. New video here this morning from Italy. Former prime minister collapsing during a political rally. Silvio Berlusconi was speaking when he suddenly slumped at the podium. Aides rushed in to help him out, took him offstage, and about 30 minutes later, he was able to walk out of the hall to his car.
NGUYEN: Comedian Michael Richards speaking out today about his racist tirade at a comedy club. Richards, Kramer on the "Seinfeld" show, appeared on Jesse Jackson's radio show last hour, and Richards said the racial slurs and comments, quote, "came through me like a freight train." We're going to hear from him at the half hour.
Well, planes, trains and automobiles, all in full use today as millions of people head home after a Thanksgiving holiday. And you can expect some delays, oh yes. But not to worry. We will keep you updated with the latest travel news throughout the day.
And know this, too. We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long. So your next check of the headlines coming up at 9:30 Eastern.
HOLMES: Critical questions being raised this morning over a shooting by New York City police. A groom-to-be shot and killed on his wedding day. Two of his friends also injured. Investigators now looking at why police fired 50 times at three unarmed men.
CNN's Mary Snow has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Exactly what led New York City police officers to open fire, killing a groom-to-be and injuring his two friends, is now being investigated by a grand jury. Shortly after 4:00 a.m., the men left a bachelor party at a Queens strip club, a club that was under surveillance. Police say undercover cops were tracking the men as they got into their car. They say the car first struck a plain-clothes officer who was on foot before colliding into an unmarked police van.
RAYMOND KELLY, NYPD COMMISSIONER: The officer was struck, and the minivan was hit at just about the same time. And then the officer opened fire.
SNOW: Seven police officers were involved, with all but two shooting their .9-millimeters.
KELLY: Five officers fired a total of 50 rounds at the Altima.
SNOW: One officer alone fired 31 shots. The groom-to-be, Sean Bell, was killed. His friend, Trent Benefield, seen handcuffed here, was shot three times.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't feel my legs! I can't feel my leg!
SNOW: Joseph Guzman was shot at least 11 times. Police say there were suspicions that one of the men may have had a gun. After obtaining a search warrant, no weapons were found.
Family members are furious. A woman identifying herself as Judy said her nephew is one of the men who was injured.
JUDY, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: You got good cops and you got bad cops. The ones that shot them, they need to be put away.
SNOW: Community activist, the Reverend Al Sharpton, is calling for, in his word, real answers.
SHARPTON: We are not anti-police. Many of us have police in our family. We are anti-police brutality. There is a difference between good cops and bad cops.
SNOW: NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly says none of the officers were involved in any previous shooting incidents. Kelly said his department was not able to question the five officers who opened fire on Saturday because they were being questioned by the district attorney's office.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg did issue a statement. He says, "Although it is too early to draw conclusions, we know that the NYPD officers on the scene had reason to believe an altercation involving a firearm was about to happen, and we're trying to stop it."
NGUYEN: Well, in other news, his racist remarks sparked anger. So can Michael Richards make amends? Less than an hour ago, Jesse Jackson sat down with Seinfeld's former buddy Kramer. We'll tell you what they talked about.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Big Brother along for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE (voice-over): Car manufacturers say they needed to monitor the air bag system. And guess what? If you try to tinker with it, your air bag won't work. Even worse, the information hidden inside the recorder could one day be used against you. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Hmm, a recorder in a box that could help or haunt you, and you probably don't even realize that it's in your car.
NGUYEN: That's kind of frightening, if you think about it.
And, you know, talk about a sweet ride. Check this out. Look at it very closely. A little passenger on this dog in India. You see it? It's one of the more bizarre animal pairings you will ever see. That is coming up in "The Water Cooler." So cute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: "Now in the News," two mortar rounds hit inside a U.S. military post in eastern Baghdad just a short time ago. Here's some new video coming in to CNN. You can see the big, black smoke billowing across the Iraqi capital. No reports, though, so far of any casualties. Of course, we're staying on top of this story to find out exactly what happened and if, indeed, there are any injuries. But, again, new video into CNN as you see two mortar rounds have hit inside a U.S. military post in eastern Baghdad just a short time ago.
Italy's former prime minister collapses at a political rally. Check it out. Silvio Berlusconi right there was giving a speech when he suddenly slumped at the podium. Aides rushed to his side. About 30 minutes later, Berlusconi did walk out to a waiting car, and he did look pale, but he waved to his supporters.
A fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians. Within the last hour, a Hamas government spokesman told CNN that all Palestinian factions are 100 percent behind the cease-fire in Gaza. Now, this comes despite reports militants fired rockets into Israel hours after the cease-fire took hold.
The FBI will decide this morning what to do in the next search for two missing boys in Red Lake, Minnesota. Now, the children -- one four, the other two years old -- were last seen Wednesday. Today may be the last day of the ground search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARDS: There's no justification for the things that I said, but I was in show mode, and it was heightened and at times I tried to turn it around and I used the words I said in my act. The words, the words, the words, what's underneath the words, in a plea to get to the face rather than get so caught up with the names.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Comedian Michael Richards says he's shattered by his racist rant at a comedy club. Richards was a guest on Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio show just within the past hour. He says he knows he has hurt the black community, and he is deeply sorry.
A busy travel day today for all of you heading home after Thanksgiving. More than 30 million people are expected to be driving, all at the same time, probably, just to make things difficult. No. But be ready. There will be some slowdowns and delays. So please, be patient, get home safely.
And we do run down the top stories for you every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage for you all morning long. Your next check of the headlines coming up at 9:45 Eastern.
NGUYEN: No doubt it is going to be a busy week for U.S. diplomats in the Middle East. Iraq, of course, the top priority. Jordan's King Abdullah will host a summit with President Bush and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. Shiite politicians who are loyal to the anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr already threatening to boycott parliament and the cabinet while Maliki goes ahead with the planned summit.
Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney is on his way back to Washington after talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. Now, the two discussed several issues important to both countries, including...
* BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney is on his way back to Washington after talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. Now, the two discussed several issues important to both countries including Iraq and Iran's growing influence in the region.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: The U.S. isn't the only interested party working overtime to find a solution to the Iraqi crisis. Iran is increasingly stepping up its diplomatic efforts in the region and Syria, Iraq's neighbor to the north, is also changing its diplomatic tune. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, explains how these two nations fit into the Middle East puzzle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the U.S. military is looking for an explanation for the rising violence in Iraq, it often points the finger directly at two of Iraq's neighbors.
GEN GEORGE CASEY, CMDR IRAQ MULTINATIONAL FORCE: Both Iran and Syria continue to be decidedly unhelpful by providing support to the different extremists and terrorist groups operating inside Iraq.
MCINTYRE: In testimony before the senate, CIA director, General Michael Hayden, cited what he called the Iranian hand as a formidable obstacle to peace in Iraq.
GEN MICHAEL HAYDEN, CIA DIRECTOR: It appears to be growing in Iranian ambitions in Iraq, seem to be expanding. With regard to Syria, it's sometimes hard to judge the distinction between incompetence and malevolence with regard to what goes on in Syria that may affect the situation in Iraq.
MCINTYRE: The United States claims between 70 and 100 foreign fighters cross the Syrian border each month to join insurgents and U.S. commanders tell CNN's Barbara Starr that a rogue element of as many as 10,000 Shia militia fighters are being funded by Iran.
BARBARA STARR, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Officials here say that they now believe the breakaway element is largely influenced by Iran which is providing weapons, money, and training inside of Iraq. It's something that is a matter of great concern here.
MCINTYRE: So why are Iran and Syria signaling they might be willing to take steps such as tightening their borders or cracking down on al Qaeda terrorists? While it's in both countries' long term interest to have a stable Iraq, analysts say Iran's power play is aimed at diminishing U.S. influence and making it look like the regional super power.
VALI NASR, AUTHRO, "THE SHIA REVIVAL": But the whole point of this exercise is for Iran and Syria to show that they do not need the U.S.'s approval for approaching the Iraqi government or for having their own peace plan and stability plan for Iraq.
MCINTYRE: The U.S. recognizes Iraq needs good relations with its neighbors and says the proof will be if both countries stop funding terrorists and fomenting anti-U.S. and Iraqi violence.
NICHOLAS BURNS, STATE DEPT SPOKESMAN: The challenge really is to the leadership of Tehran and Damascus to demonstrate that they have good faith here. It's not just a remark about meetings. It's to see some substantive change, policy change on the ground, that's what everyone's looking for.
MCINTYRE (on camera): It remains to be seen how much influence Iran can exert over factions it supports in Iraq and how willing or able Syria is to stop the flow of foreign fighters across its border, but perhaps the bigger question is what might those countries want from Iraq in return.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Let's expand on that just a moment. So what do all these diplomatic efforts really mean for Iraq? Well, Jon Alterman is the director for Middle East Programs for the Center of Strategic and International Studies. He joins me now from Washington.
Thanks for being with us this morning.
JON ALTERMAN, DIRECTOR, CTR OF STRATEGIC & INTL STUDIES: Thank you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, talk about the situation in Iraq. You have the escalating violence, you have the curfew that's in effect, then you have this meeting that's going to be taking place with al Maliki and Bush this coming week. How much stock do you place in that meeting and how effective that meeting could be?
ALTERMAN: It seems to me that all of the factors are coming right to the fore for Nouri al Maliki. Not only does he have the problem that Sunnis in his government are saying "we're getting out of here" and I saw one quoted in an Arabic paper today saying "Nouri al Maliki is a force for evil," then you have some of the Shia parties, Muqtada al Sadr, probably the most important part of his coalition, says "If he meets Bush, I'm out of here" and he has President Bush coming with not one, but two plans from the U.S. coming forward, one from inside the U.S. government, one from the Baker-Hamilton Commission. Nouri al Maliki has a very, very important week and this could be the beginning of his end.
NGUYEN: It's a very difficult week. He's walking a very fine line. Let's talk about Muqtada al Sadr for just a moment, because he is threatening political repercussions if this meeting even takes place between al Maliki and Bush. Do you think it will come to pass?
ALTERMAN: Well, it depends how Maliki plays it. Clearly Muqtada al Sadr has laid down the gauntlet and this is a standoff that Nouri al Maliki has to win. Muqtada al Sadr has had these confrontations, he has backed down before, he's backed down in the face of overwhelming U.S. firepower, but he is in ascendant power in Iraqi politics. He's probable the only Iraqi politician who really can get troops into the streets, and certainly in the south of the country, he's the most important force there and Nouri al Maliki needs him and Muqtada al Sadr knows that Nouri al Maliki needs him.
NGUYEN: Obviously, so say there is political fallout. This meeting takes place and Muqtada al Sadr provides and creates this political fallout. What does that mean for the country of Iraq?
ALTERMAN: Well, the real challenge here is that we have concentrated in the United States on making politics in the Green Zone work and what this meeting, I think, lays out very clearly is what happens in the Green Zone may not mean anything for what happens in the rest of the country.
If Maliki goes ahead with this meeting and it sort of doesn't really go anywhere, he doesn't really gain any power or force over the country, Muqtada al Sadr takes part of the country away with him, then I think you see the collapse of Green Zone politics and you see different militia leaders going their different ways and there's really no single country of Iraq left.
ALTERMAN: So, essentially, there needs to be some sort of a tangible result coming out of this meeting otherwise, let's look at the effectiveness of al Maliki, let's look at what he's done. Because, I will tell you, today we have learned that he has said that Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish leaders in the government need to do more to curb the sectarian violence and I'm quoting now, he says "The bloodshed is a reflection of the lack of political accord."
Now, on the same token should he really take or shoulder some of that same responsibility?
ALTERMAN: Well, he's the political leadership; he's the prime minister of the country. If people don't have loyalty to the country, if there's sectarian division, that's partly his problem and he has to be the one who can both, reward people for playing the game and punish people who don't play the game. At this point he's really not done much of either and it seems to me that his leadership is really in question.
For the United States, we don't have a leader beyond Nouri al Maliki. We don't have a process beyond the processes we've already had and I think President Bush has a real question: Where do you go forward if Nouri al Maliki can't really effectively lead? What are your options for Iraq? And none of them are very good.
ALTERMAN: And I think you said it best when you said "A lot is riding on this week," so we're going to see how it plays out. Jon Alterman, thanks so much for your insight today.
ALTERMAN: Thank you, Betty.
NGUYEN: And later this morning on LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER, should the U.S. Go big, go long or go home from Iraq? Wolf asks Iraq's nation security advisor, plus Henry Kissinger and Zbignew Brzezinski will also weigh in on the issue. That's today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
HOLMES: But up next, so-called "black boxes" in cars? They may seem like a pretty good idea especially in an accident, but it could be used against you.
NGUYEN: So, before you hit the road this morning you'll want to watch this special report because somebody may be watching you and you don't even know it. Up next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSSELL SIMMONS, PRES & CEO, RUSH COMM: I was inspired by, you know, the whole hip-hop culture. You know, I was like a servant to the culture.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russell Simmons helped to cultivate hip- hop's growing success as co-creator of Def Jam Records, propelling careers like the Beastie Boys and L.L. Cool J. As founder of Rush Communications, he's also developed Phat Fashions to dress up the hip- hop lifestyle.
SIMMONS: The real success is when you find that the work is a benefit to others.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Simmons is also an activist for social change. He serves as chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, an organization that promotes voting and confronts issues like poverty and injustice.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: "Now in the News," planes, trains, automobiles all in full use today as millions of people head home after the holidays and, of course, expect some delays. We're keeping you updated with the latest travel news throughout the day.
New words of apology this morning from comedian Michael Richards. He was on Jesse Jackson's radio show last hour to talk about his racist tirade at a comedy club. Richards says he knows he has hurt the black community and he is deeply sorry.
NGUYEN: A fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians to tell you about. A Hamas government spokesman tells CNN this morning that all Palestinian factions are 100 percent behind the cease-fire in Gaza. And this comes despite reports militants fired rockets into Israel hours after the cease-fire took hold.
In Turkey, thousands of people are protesting Pope Benedict's visit on Tuesday. Organizers say they were offended by the pope's comments last September linking violence in Islam. The trip will be Pope Benedict's first to a predominantly Muslim country.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING with in-depth coverage all morning long. So, your next check of the headlines coming up at the top of the hour.
HOLMES: Well, when you hit the road this morning you may be the one in the driver's seat, but big brother may be along for the ride. It's this little box, your car may have one. Do you know what this is? Well, it knows a whole lot about how you drive.
CNN's Randi Kaye reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDY KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was after midnight and Edwin Mactos (ph) was on his way home.
EDWIN MACTOS (ph), ACCIDENT VICTIM: It's still a nightmare to me.
KAYE: he was driving his 2002 Pontiac grand Am down this Florida stretch of road when the unthinkable happened.
MACTOS: All I see was a shadow. Was a split second.
KAYE: Mactos' car slammed into another car that was backing out of a driveway. Inside, two teenage girls.
MACTOS: I would give my life for the life of those two girls.
KAYE: It was too late. The girls died instantly.
(on camera): What Mactos didn't know that night is he wasn't alone in his car, well, not exactly. Inside, attached to the airbag system was one of these. It's an event data recorder similar to the ones used in airplanes. EDRs, as they're called, record 10 seconds before a crash and less than one second after a crash. Today, more than 40 million cars on the road have that device inside them. It could be in your car.
(voice-over): Car manufacturers say they need it to monitor the air bag system, and guess what? If you try to tinker with it your air bag won't work, even worse, the information hidden inside the recorder could one day be used against you.
MACTOS: The airbag saved my life. The data recorder sent me to prison the rest of my life. KAYE: These days Mactos is known as inmate No. 518122, he's serving 30 years at this Florida maximum security prison. At his trial, the data recorder served as a silent witness to the crash. The device said Mactos was driving over 114-miles-per-hour.
(on camera): Were you driving 114-miles-per-hour?
MACTOS: No, no, no. If I had been driving 114-miles-an-hour this conversation never would happen. I'd be dead.
KAYE (voice-over): In fact, the state's own witness estimated Mactos' speed between 80 and 90. His accident reconstruction expert put it at 60. Mactos says he remembers driving 50, which he admits was still 20 miles over the speed limit.
(on camera): When did you first find out this data recorder was in your car?
MACTOS: When my attorney told me.
KAYE: You paid for your car and no one ever told you about this data recorder.
MACTOS: No.
KAYE (voice-over): Is this a matter of privacy versus safety? Are car owners' hands tied? Robert Strasbourger represents the largest number of car manufacturers in the country.
ROBERT STRASBOURGER, REPRESENTS CAR MANUFACTURERS: The event data recorder would never harm you.
MACTOS: Try telling that to the people Event Data Recorders have helped convict, like Michele Zimmerman. Her passenger, a close friend, died when Zimmerman hit an icy patch and crashed. At trial the EDR said she was going nearly 20-miles-an-hour over the speed limit. State accident reconstructionists (ph) initially said she was not speeding, but Zimmerman was still convicted and sentenced to prison.
Like Edwin Mactos, Zimmerman is working on an appeal.
KAYE (on camera): How reliable would you say these are?
STRASBOURGER: Event Data Recorders are reliable, but they are not the be all and end all.
KAYE: Are EDRs -- are these routinely checked to make sure that they're calibrated and working correctly?
STRASBOURGER: Once they go in the vehicle there is no maintenance required.
KAYE: Manufacturers don't think they need to be checked over those years?
STRASBOURGER: No.
KAYE: Are these incapable of making an error? Is that what you're saying?
STRASBOURGER: No, I'm -- I am not saying they are infallible.
KAYE (voice-over): Infallible or not, EDRs have been used in cars since the mid-90s. Today, nearly two-thirds of all new vehicles come with an event data recorder. How do you know if you're driving around with one? If your car is a 2004 or newer, the EDR is supposed to be listed in your owner's manual. When was the last time you read one of those?
(on camera): So why put this warning about this device simply in the owner's manual? Why not post it somewhere where the driver will actually see it or have the salesman actually tell him about it.
STRASBOURGER: Well, the salesman should have information about the new vehicle, and you can ask the new car salesman.
KAYE: But why not, right under where it says airbag put event data recorder.
STRASBOURGER: That's up to the individual manufacturer to do that.
KAYE: Would you be in favor of another form of disclosure besides just in the owner's manual, given the fact that most people don't read the whole manual.
STRASBOURGER: I can't answer these questions.
KAYE (voice-over): But questions are all people like Edwin Mactos have about what privacy rights experts consider to be spies riding shotgun.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Bowling Green, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: An update now in a developing story. Let's go live to CNN's Arwa Damon in Baghdad for the latest on a mortar attack inside the military post.
Tell me what you know about it -- Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, details still coming in. The only thing that we can really confirm for ourselves is that a massive plume of smoke burnt over Baghdad for hours, earlier this afternoon.
Now, according to the Iraqi Emergency Police, it was two mortar rounds that landed inside a joint U.S. and Iraqi military base. The base was formerly the headquarters for general security under Saddam Hussein. We contacted the U.S. military for information. They said that they would not confirm the attack or the effectiveness of the attack citing security and operational reasons. They did, however, confirm that mortar rounds originating from the outskirts of Sadr City, that is the Shia stronghold of the Mehdi militia, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr.
The U.S. military saying that mortar rounds originating from just outside that area impacted in another part of eastern Baghdad as well as impacted in a Sunni neighborhood known as Adamiya.
Now, over the last few days we have seen an increase in what has now been called a "mortar war" with mortar rounds landing in both Sunni and Shia neighborhoods -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, I think it's interesting that the U.S. military is not confirming the attack, because looking at the videos that's coming into CNN, it's very obvious that something has happened because we see the big, black smoke billowing above Baghdad.
In the meantime, as we wait for more information on that, let's talk about the Iraqi prime minister, today, Nouri al Maliki. I understand he spoke to reporters.
DAMON: That's right, Betty. It was a press conference pretty much with all of Iraq's top politicians from across the spectrum -- Sunni, Kurds and Shias. At this press conference the Iraqi prime minister was referring to the increase in violence, especially the increase in sectarian violence that we've seen taken to a new level following that devastating attack in Sadr City that left at least 200 Shia dead that happened on Thursday. We heard the Iraqi prime minister slightly changing his perspective on the cause of the violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NURI AL MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Only when politicians agree and all realize that there are no winners and losers in this battle and there is no hope to save Iraq if the bloodshed continues. Let's be totally honest, the security situation is a reflection of political disagreement.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: Up until now the Iraqi prime minister, for the most part, used to insist that his government was one of national unity. Now it seems he is acknowledging that he has problems within his own political strengths -- Betty.
NGUYEN: CNN's Arwa Damon joining us live from Baghdad. Of course, as soon as we get more information on the mortar attack we will bring it live to you right here on CNN.
HOLMES: And stay with us. After a quick break we're going to bring you the "Water Cooler." Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: I love that sound. HOLMES: I know, we missed it the past couple of weeks.
NGUYEN: Well, there it is.
HOLMES: There it is, but of course, as you've been seeing here, it's been a busy morning. A lot of news happening. We want to take a little break from some serious stuff and bring you the "Water Cooler."
NGUYEN: Yes, it is a chance to catch up on some of the other news that doesn't always get into the mix. Take a look at this. It is just too cute. Look at that and one of the most unusual, though, animal pairings that we have ever seen. A female Pomeranian in India has adopted, yep, a baby monkey.
HOLMES: Yeah, I don't know about cute. That's kind of creepy.
NGUYEN: That's cute.
HOLMES: The dog's owner found the abandoned money when it was a few days old, he brought it home, the monkey immediately latched on to the dog, Gerty, and began nursing.
NGUYEN: Oh, look at that. He's carrying it underneath. The two have been inseparable ever since with the monkey clinging to Gerty's fur everywhere she goes. That's cute.
HOLMES: That ain't cute, Betty. Oh, that's just weird looking.
Well, we got something else here. Let's get away from that video, please.
Well, thrilling discoveries at this ancient site in northern Peru. For once the tombs were not looted before archaeologists arrived. And best of all, they found 10 ceremonial stones knives in the graves. The Tumi Knife is Peru's national symbol, but until now, scientist his never found one in its original location.
HOLMES: And the archaeologists say studying artifacts, where they are found, is key to unlocking the secrets of the ancient culture.
NGUYEN: You think? And our favorite "Water Cooler" story is our follow up to the one we told you about yesterday. Take a look. This is the dedication ceremony of the house in Cleveland, Ohio, that was the setting of a film called, you know, "A Christmas Story." Remember that one?
HOLMES: Yeah. You see the house and some of the actors, actually were there, as the house opened for tours. It comes after an extensive and expensive renovation to help the house look exactly like it did in that movie.
NGUYEN: And, if by chance you won a major award, leg lamp, like in the movie, well, the home's owner says that he will sell them. So, lucky you, just in time for Christmas.
HOLMES: Nice -- well, I guess we already know what we're getting Reynolds Wolf for Christmas this year.
NGUYEN: A leg lamp?
HOLMES: A leg lamp. Yes.
NGUYEN: You lucky man, you.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I already have several copies -- several leg lamps -- a complete set in the Wolf household. Don't need anymore.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: All right, no leg lamp for you.
WOLF: Not needed. Not needed.
NGUYEN: Well, RELIABLE SOURCES is next followed by LATE EDITION and THIS WEEK AT WAR, so don't go anywhere.
HOLMES: And of course, we got the top stories after this short break. Have a great day.
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