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CNN Sunday Morning
Baquba Firefight; Iran-Iraq Connection?; Barack Obama is in the Race; Children of the Storm; Where is Anna Nicole Smith's Baby?; 'Faces of Faith'
Aired February 11, 2007 - 07:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, February 11th.
Valentine's Day not too far off, folks. Keep that in mind.
Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: You sending out clues to people?
NGUYEN: I'm trying to help the guys out who are watching.
HOLMES: All right.
And hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
It's 10:00 a.m. here in the East, 3:00 p.m. in Baquba, Iraq.
Thank you so much for starting your day right here with us.
NGUYEN: Iraqi and U.S. forces are trying to root out suspected al Qaeda elements in Baquba. And it's a religiously mixed city about 40 miles north of Baghdad.
CNN's Arwa Damon is there, and she joins us by phone with the latest on the firefights taking place.
Give us a background of what you've seen so far today.
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, good morning.
I'm not sure if you can hear me. I'm actually standing in the street in downtown Baquba, some 500 yards from where we started out this morning. It has been incredibly slow going in this operation today because the roads are so inlaid with IEDs, improvised explosive devices, those deadly roadside bombs. In fact, the operation right now once again brought to a halt, waiting for explosives ordinance disposal to come and destroy another roadside bomb that the troops found as they were moving through this town known as Barits (ph).
Now, it is just to the south of Baquba, and it has been for quite some time a thorn in the side of U.S. forces. It has come under control of U.S. and Iraqi security forces, only to have the insurgents time and time again drive the Iraqis out of town. Most recently, in December, Al Qaeda in Iraq came and established a foothold in this very area and drove the Iraqis outgoing (ph) as far as to hang the al Qaeda in Iraq flag from the main police station here.
This is the first main effort to clear this area of these insurgents. Since then, it has been fairly intense all morning. Coming to a bit of a lull now, but this operation is in its second day and has been going on well since dawn.
There are snipers operating in this area. There are insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades that are landing uncomfortably close to troops at some times. Also firing mortar rounds.
U.S. forces, in turn, responding with all of the fire power at their disposal. There were currently Apache Aircraft overhead just a few moments ago who were firing at targets on the ground -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Arwa, let me ask you this: What makes this different, not only the fact that U.S. forces and Iraqi forces are battling al Qaeda in Baquba, but as we look back a few weeks ago when you were involved with an embed and they come -- came upon an insurgent fighting on Haifa Street, what makes that -- compare the two -- what makes that different from what you are experiencing today?
DAMON: Well, what we are fighting here is something that is sort of a different flavor than what we saw on Haifa Street. But again, it is the same in the essence that this is another area that was predominantly Sunni. It's known to be very nationalistic. It is also made up of former regime elements from Saddam Hussein's regime.
Al Qaeda sees these areas such as the area of Barits (ph), the area of Haifa Street as well, as targets of opportunity, if you will. It can go into the Sunni areas where an insurgency already exists and increase the rift between the Sunni insurgents that the U.S. tends to term the nationalistic insurgency, that they are, in fact, trying to engage, trying to fold in to the political process.
Then al Qaeda arrives in these neighborhoods and drives a deeper wedge between these nationalistic insurgents and the Shia-led government by pointing out to various acts that the government may have taken that appear to be along sectarian lines. And that is, in fact, what we are seeing in Barits (ph) and what we are seeing in Baquba.
What we are hearing from residents is that over the last four months, Al Qaeda in Iraq has arrived in his neighborhoods. According to Iraqi officials, coming here from Al Anbar Province, where they're really starting to feel the choke of military operations there, and shifting towards Barits (ph) and Baquba.
So, in essence, what we are seeing is similar to the fighting on Haifa Street, although it is a different part of the country. But again, it's Al Qaeda in Iraq taking advantage of the Sunni insurgency here, bringing them -- pulling them closer in, because it's easier for them to rely on Al Qaeda in Iraq in this war right now.
They find that they can relate more to Al Qaeda in Iraq than they can to their own government, Betty. And that explosion you just heard was explosive ordinance disposal going forward and trying to probe what they suspected was a roadside bomb. Too soon to tell right now though if they were successful in fully detonating it -- Betty.
NGUYEN: I'm glad you cleared that up. Yes, we were listening to that and wondering exactly what that was.
Arwa Damon, stay safe out there. Of course we will be speaking with you throughout the day.
In the meantime, also today in Iraq, near Tikrit, a suicide car bomber crashes through a crowd of police officers gathering for roll call. Dozens were killed wounded. And then minutes later, on the outskirts of Tikrit, a roadside bomb struck a car on a highway, killing two civilians.
Let's take you west of Mosul. Local police tell CNN gunmen ambushed and killed eight men driving home after registering as border guards at a recruitment center.
HOLMES: Defiance today from Iran over it's nuclear standoff with the West. Iranians poured into the streets to show support for the country's nuclear program. The president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, vowed Iran will not suspend its nuclear activities.
Today's demonstrations also marked the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution. That same year, 52 Americans were taken hostage and held 444 days. The following year, the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Iran.
The U.S. is trying to bolster its case that Iran is helping fuel violence in Iraq. Today the military could provide evidence to back up those claims. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Iran may be linked to some especially lethal weapons.
Details now from senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The United States continues to claim it has evidence linking Iran with weapons used against U.S. forces in Iraq. In particular, sophisticated EFPs, or explosively-formed penetrators, shaped charges with the ability to pierce the thickest armor.
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The sophistication of the technology, I think that there are some serial numbers. There may be some markings on some of the -- some of the projectile fragments that we found. I'm just frankly not specifically certain myself of the -- of the details, but I understand there is pretty good evidence tying these EFPs to the Iranians.
COLIN POWELL, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: And now let me add one other fact...
MCINTYRE: But Iran, well aware of the flawed intelligence cited in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, is trying to cast this evidence in the same light. JAVAD ZARIF, IRANIAN AMB. TO U.N.: The problem is that the United States has decided on a policy and is trying to find or fabricate evidence, if it cannot find one -- and I believe it hasn't been able to find any evidence -- in order to substantiate and corroborate that policy.
MCINTYRE: Privately, U.S. officials concede the soon-to-be released evidence, while convincing, is not ironclad. One problem, while serial numbers may show weapons are of Iranian origin, that doesn't rule out the possibility they could have come from the black market. It's also uncertain how many Iranian weapons have been used in attacks against U.S. troops since most of Iran's sympathy lie with Shia militia who are battling rival Sunni groups.
TRITA PARSI, PRESIDENT, IRANIAN AMERICAN COUNCIL: The Iranians are very close to the Shiites. But it is the Sunni insurgents that have killed a vast majority of American soldiers.
MCINTYRE (on camera): The debate at this informal security conference underscores a key problem the U.S. has, even with its closest allies -- credibility. Whether it's Iran's nuclear ambitions or allegations it's arming Iraqi insurgents, the rest of the world is increasingly unconvinced by what the U.S. claims is convincing evidence.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Munich.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The serious campaigning can begin in earnest now for Illinois senator Barack Obama. He is officially in the 2008 race for president, and he's wasting no time reaching out to voters.
We get more now from CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Seven years in the Illinois state legislature, two as a U.S. senator, Barack Obama is off and running for president with a word for doubters.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), ILLINOIS: I recognize that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity to this announcement. I know that I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington, but I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.
CROWLEY: Looking to make his relative inexperience on the national stage an asset on the campaign trail, the senator from Illinois talked of turning the page. It's a time, he says, a new generation rises up and does what's needed to make the economy stronger, education better, America less oil-dependent and safer.
OBAMA: Let's be the generation that never forgets what happened on that September day and confront the terrorists with everything we've got. Politics doesn't have to divide us on this anymore. We can work together to keep our country safe.
CROWLEY: Thousands stood in 14-degree temperatures as Obama delivered his speech, literally in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln, outside the Old State House in Springfield, Illinois, the same place where Lincoln delivered his "House Divided" speech. The setting was not a coincidence.
OBAMA: Divided, we are bound to fail. But the life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible.
(CHEERS)
OBAMA: He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there's power in conviction.
CROWLEY: From there, Obama rode the well-worn trail of presidential candidates heading to Iowa for a well-attended town hall meeting.
OBAMA: I want to win. But...
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: But, I don't just want to win. I want to transform this country. The only way I'm going to do it is if you make this a vehicle for your hopes and dreams.
CROWLEY: It was, in his words, a wonderful day, full of supporters and flattery. He was compared to John F. Kennedy. But even for a guy who has blasted on to the national scene at breakneck speed, this is a bit too fast.
OBAMA: Obviously, that's a flattering comparison. It is way premature. We are starting off a campaign.
CROWLEY: It gets harder from here.
OBAMA: Thank you, everybody.
CROWLEY: Candy Crowley, CNN, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, Barack Obama's anti-war stance is now drawing fire from down under. Australia's conservative prime minister, John Howard, taking shots at Obama, saying the senator's ideas on Iraq will just encourage insurgents, lead the country into a bloody civil war, and spell disaster for the Middle East.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I think he's wrong. If I were running Al Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and pray as many times as possible that -- for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Senator Obama's spokesman responded, saying, "It's easy to talk tough when it's not your country or your troops making sacrifices."
There are about 1,400 Australian troops in and around Iraq.
Well, the media is moving in on the Bahamas.
HOLMES: Yes, all in search of Anna Nicole Smith's baby girl. And our Rusty Dornin did a bit of searching around herself. That story coming up in about 30 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: Plus, from survivors to storytellers, director Spike Lee hands out an assignment to teenagers who survived Katrina. That's ahead in about 10 minutes.
Plus this...
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN PIPELINE ANCHOR: Well, what about handing out a punch, Betty? I've got to say when a video is on the most popular all weekend, it's got to be good.
Have you seen this video? It's about a punch from a reporter -- whoa, there it goes. And it gets better.
We have the rest of it when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: More snow now met with a state of emergency declaration in upstate New York. It's hard to imagine for a lot of us just how much snow has come down in the past week there -- 110 inches. That is almost 10 feet of snow.
Certainly, as you can imagine, hard to move around in 10 feet of snow. CNN's Reggie Aqui, he's giving it a shot. He's trying to move around in 10 feet of snow. He's live from Oswego this morning.
Good morning to you, sir.
REGGIE AQUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Walking around the streets and sidewalks, it's like you are going through tunnels. Just the sidewalks, enough space shoveled out so that you can get through.
Now, we took a trip yesterday to one of those towns that you mentioned that has more than 100 inches of snow. And when you hear the name of the town, well, it might just surprise you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AQUI (voice over): South of the border, the Canadian border, there's a Mexico that brags about its drinking water, a Mexico where bikinis are out and fir is in -- Mexico, New York.
ED DAVIS, MEXICO, NEW YORK, RESIDENT: Usually the winter isn't this mean to us.
AQUI: After decades of snowy winters, Ed Davis is no stranger to a shovel. But even he can hardly believe where he has to go for the second time this week.
DAVIS: I've been shoveling my roof off all morning. I got half of it done. I want to get the other half done this afternoon if I can.
AQUI: Up to 100 inches of snow is hard work for everybody, everything. Even in a town with a long history of bad weather.
MAYOR TERRY GRIMSHAW, MEXICO, NEW YORK: We had a storm in '66, but that was a three-day storm. This has gone on for a week.
AQUI: Mexico's mayor says this time there's a new concern.
GRIMSHAW: What is scary now is we've had a couple buildings collapse. And that always scares people.
AQUI: Generally, though, the people of Mexico aren't so much scared as they're amazed. Here, where weather is seen as no sweat, this storm has them huffing and puffing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AQUI: And there's going to be a lot more of that today. We were pretty much spared overnight. The snow right now how is heading to the west and northeast of me, although we could get another four inches, T.J., by tomorrow morning, which, for these folks, is nothing.
HOLMES: Is nothing, yes, after what they've been through.
Reggie Aqui braving the elements in 10 feet of snow for us.
Thank you so much, Reggie.
NGUYEN: Is nothing, huh? Well, we'll see what Mother Nature has to say about that.
Let's go to Bonnie Schneider with a look at the weather outside and what they can be expecting throughout today and as we go into the workweek.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LAPIN: Well, the news, of course, is 24/7. And CNN.com, of course, has you covered. Right now here are some of the most popular stories on the Web site right now.
We showed it to you a bit earlier, but look at this. We had to even bleep it out.
The consumer beat gets pretty tough in Canada. If you haven't seen this incredible video, you should.
The businessman right there on the left with the optician had invited this reporter originally for a story about counterfeit eyeglasses. Well, no, no, no. He ambushed the reporter instead.
Whoa. The whole thing really unbelievable. It's all there on our Web site.
Number two most popular right now, an anti-shoplifting T-shirt. There it is. CNN affiliate KING reports on one store's novel approach to fighting crime.
And also on the most popular list, power napping. The maker of office sleeping pods believes napping on the job is on the cutting edge of workplace productivity. CNN's Jen Rogers has that story. We hope she brings one back, too.
And rounding out the top four, Senator Barack Obama's announcement that he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. And if you haven't heard, we are also following this story very closely online. His campaign is also being very cutting edge on the Web. And we're going to show you what they're up to coming up in just a few minutes -- Betty and T.J.
NGUYEN: But I must say, I do like that napping pod. So, if you can get one...
LAPIN: I like that, too. We hope so.
NGUYEN: ... for the NEWSROOM, we would really appreciate that.
LAPIN: We'll work out that.
HOLMES: Is your recliner in your office not working for you?
NGUYEN: Yes, right.
Here's a camera, and now go out and tell the story. That is the motive here.
HOLMES: Yes. That's what director Spike Lee actually told a group of kids in New Orleans. What they want the world to know, that's coming up in about three minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Plus, we've got this for you.
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: All right. Israel & New Breed. A Grammy-nominated group takes faith across cultural lines through their music. The man behind that sound coming up in "Faces of Faith."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The forgotten city. Some New Orleans teens feel that their storm-ravaged town is a faint memory to the rest of the nation, but they do have a new assignment, and that is to tell their story and keep that struggle alive.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: Seven days a week. There should not be a day that doesn't go by where you're not filming. Can everybody make that promise?
CROWD: Promise. Promise.
O'BRIEN: The idea is very simple.
LEE: You're each been given a camera. And we want you to record your life, what you're doing, what's in and around you.
O'BRIEN: Famed director Spike Lee and I traveled to New Orleans.
LEE: Amanda.
O'BRIEN: Handing out cameras to 11 Katrina survivors. We asked them to tape their experiences growing up in the city. They'll record through the second anniversary of the storm this August. Our photographer, David Albritan (ph), gave them a 101 before they started taping.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Push that. And lightly open the door. And the tape pops out.
O'BRIEN: But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
LEE: That is the story, though.
O'BRIEN: First, there was a discussion about life in New Orleans now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I commute every day.
LEE: Every day?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An hour and 20 minutes, yes, sir.
LEE: Who are you living with now again?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A close friend of mine. And it's really hard. At times you feel like, I'm 16 and I'm on my own.
O'BRIEN: The students already know what they want to show the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I want to do is make it an inspiration to kind of inspire other young people and show them, you know, even though that big, you know, tragedy happened, you still can strive through. Even though it's a big, big struggle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to show the nation that it's not anything like it used to be and it probably never will be.
O'BRIEN: Do you feel a little bit forgotten?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like we're the lost city. And really, to me, New Orleans feels like an island to the United States. We pretty much like Hawaii now. It's like they don't really care.
O'BRIEN: As the talk winds down, Spike Lee heads out and the students start to learn their craft.
LEE: So we're expecting to get some great footage. So you're doing this for the world. Remember, it's not just for yourself. So you've got to come correct. You don't want to go out and half, half, ruddy put (ph), right?
O'BRIEN: So Dave is going to teach you how to use your cameras.
ALBRITAN: So everybody turn their camera on and point it toward me and hit record. You'll see the little red dot. That means you're recording. Everybody see a red dot? And just say, hello, and give your name on the camera. Everybody do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, my name is Shantille (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Brittany.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. My name is Josh. How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could give you my (INAUDIBLE).
O'BRIEN: You can call me whatever you want.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gumbo.
O'BRIEN: I like that.
Well, Gumbo expects to see some good work.
Michelle, will you hand out my e-mail address to everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course. This is a beautiful shot of her.
O'BRIEN: Soledad O'Brien, CNN, New Orleans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, that story comes to us from "AMERICAN MORNING." You can join Soledad and Miles O'Brien weekday mornings, bright and early, at 6:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: Iran and the dangers of its involvement in Iraq brings to U.S. troops.
HOLMES: Yes. We'll be talking to international security analyst and research associate at M.I.T. Jim Walsh. He's there standing by in Watertown, Massachusetts, for us. NGUYEN: Plus, remember "Message in a Bottle," "Roxanne"? Right there. "Every Breath You Take"?
HOLMES: I'm not going to do it.
NGUYEN: Yes, the Police are back. And we caught them rehearsing for their big appearance at the Grammys tonight.
So you don't want to miss that. That's in 22 minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Well, welcome back. Hello to you all again. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes. Good morning on this Sunday. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: We want to turn to Iran now, of course accused by the U.S. of meddling in Iraq and arming Iraqi insurgents. Now U.S. officials say they have evidence to back up those accusations.
With us now to talk about Iran's possible role in Iraq is Jim Walsh, international security analyst and research associate at M.I.T. He's joining us from Watertown, Massachusetts.
Good morning to you, sir.
JIM WALSH, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Good morning, T.J.
HOLMES: We've heard Robert Gates, defense secretary, say that there is "pretty good evidence" now. Is pretty good going to get it done when he's talking about these serial markings and whatnot that they're finding on some of the weapons they're finding in Iraq, serial numbers they say can trace back to Iran? Is pretty good good enough given the lessons we have learned in the past?
WALSH: Probably not, T.J., because as you rightly point out, there is a context here. And I think the context is skepticism.
You have the legacy of the slanted intelligence from the war in Iraq. You also have other indicators.
You have the national security adviser saying, well, we're not going to have this press conference. We're going to pull back, wait to release the evidence we have because some of it claims too much. That it's overboard.
You have a -- also a sort of suspicious -- not suspicious, but it's curious scheduling that you would have a press conference in Iraq, where there are fewer reporters, where it is more difficult to evaluate these claims, rather than back in Washington, where you would have CIA and the DIA and the other agencies available to sort of brief on it.
So -- and it comes, frankly, in the context of what some people see as a big sort of P.R. campaign against Iran. So there's going to be a high threshold to overcome of skepticism.
HOLMES: So the way they're doing it now, what does that tell you? Does that tell you that -- indicate to you, well, maybe this evidence is a little shaky here? That they don't have great confidence in it? What does it tell you the way that they're handling it right now?
WALSH: Well, it tells me that they have evidence that Iran is doing -- that people in Iran are doing something to help some of the insurgents in Iraq, the Shiite insurgents, but that they don't have a smoking gun, and that they probably don't have a direct link between the leadership in Iran and what is happening on the ground. In other words, it might be that the Revolutionary Guard or elements within the Revolutionary Guard are supplying money and guns to Shiite insurgents as a way to curry favor, to win friends and influence people. But that's quite a distance from saying the Supreme leader or Iranian official public policy is to go and kill Americans.
Now, let's be clear. If they're doing anything that kills Americans, that's absolutely unacceptable. But in the context here, most of the violence is not from the Shiite militias. The overwhelming fraction of violence is from the Sunnis and from Al Qaeda in Iraq. And those are not controlled by Iran.
HOLMES: Well, Jim Walsh, we certainly -- a big topic here. We want to -- certainly would like to talk to you some more. We've got some breaking news coming at us here. We're going to have to cut our conversation short.
But again, Jim Walsh, from -- a security analyst, a research associate at M.I.T.
Thank you so much for lending us your expertise here.
Well, we're going to go now from talking about presidential ambitions on YouTube to candidates' blogs and MySpace pages popping up all over the place.
What is going on with the Web and candidates this year?
Our Nicole Lapin tracking all of that for us from online from -- it looks like a black hole over there actually, Nicole.
LAPIN: It's not a black hole. It's the .com area of the NEWSROOM.
Now, look, T.J., from their Web sites to facebook.com, candidates in the presidential campaign are using the Web to their advantage now like never before.
Barack Obama just yesterday made his presidential aspirations official. And already he started his own social networking site. On mybarackobama.com, you can add friends, you can set up groups, you can coordinate events. Now, the only prerequisite is that you want to see Obama in the White House. But his campaign has been doing a lot online before. YouTube, for example, with videos up on YouTube. Some seen almost 100,000 times.
And Hillary Clinton has also been using her Web site. We know that she announced her candidacy on her Web site. But soon we're going to be watching for her blog to launch.
But look, some candidates are sticking to a more traditional Web presence.
Rudy Giuliani's site doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's geared more toward fund-raising.
But that got us thinking. Just how much do these candidates make online?
According to an online tracking group, in 2006, $2 billion was generated online for 2008. That number is expected to jump to $9.8 billion.
So while a campaign is really taking shape online, we are watching a few Web sites right now. We're watching Al Gore's, for example. We're watching Newt Gingrich's. We're watching Michael Bloomberg's, a lot of others.
But if Barack Obama really set the bar here, we have so much to look forward to as the campaign really takes shape online.
Back to you guys.
HOLMES: All right. Nicole Lapin from her new spot over at the .com/DESK.
Thank you so much.
NGUYEN: And this just in to CNN. Another U.S. military helicopter may have gone down in Iraq. We are getting information just in to CNN.
And according to Reuters, an Apache helicopter crashed north of Baghdad just a short time ago. Reuters reports witnesses seeing a missile strike that attacked the helicopter which carries a crew of two. And that attack brought the aircraft down north of Baghdad, which houses a major U.S. air base.
Again, this according to Reuters. CNN is trying to confirm the information. But according to Reuters, the U.S. military is checking reports that an Apache helicopter may have come down north of Baghdad.
And as you know, there have been a number of U.S. helicopters that have gone done recently. In fact, if this indeed is confirmed, it would make seven in the past three weeks. So, again, CNN is checking its sources. We are trying to confirm if, indeed, a U.S. Apache helicopter has gone done north of Baghdad. As soon as we get that information, we'll bring it straight to you.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, we want to turn back now to the whirlwind that's surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's sudden death. Well, it doesn't look like it's going to subside any time soon.
Not only do questions remain about how she died, but what she leaves behind. Most importantly, her baby girl, Dannielynn.
Well, just where is the 5-month-old baby?
CNN's Rusty Dornin takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The hunt was on. Where was Anna Nicole Smith's baby daughter Dannielynn?
We knew she was in Nassau. Word was she had been taken care of by the mother of a high-ranking Bahamian official. So with our driver, Mark Bastion (ph), we were searching for an orange and White house.
(on camera): What about this one?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't consider that orange.
DORNIN: OK.
(voice over): Here, enlisting the local help is crucial. But it's often unclear how much they really know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. They said points left. Just the points left. And that's the points right.
DORNIN: We find the House, only to discover no one is home. Other reporters are on the scene.
But we locate Godfrey Pinder, an attorney for the original owner of the house where Smith was staying before she died. He says he will take us to where he thinks the baby is, but we wind up back at the same house.
So Pinder says, let's go to the mansion in Nassau where Smith was staying. He knows the address well. He claims Smith never legally paid his client for purchasing the house. It's been an ongoing battle in the local courts.
GODFREY PINDER, ATTORNEY: She refused to sign the promissory note and, of course, the mortgage. As a matter of fact, she tore it up.
DORNIN: The battle is in full swing. As we stand before the locked gates of the property in dispute, up rolls an entourage. SUVs, television crews, and plenty of security.
Pinder was told to leave by one of Smith's former bodyguards.
PINDER: Why do I have to go?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me. You have to go.
PINDER: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to go.
PINDER: Why?
DORNIN: The why came soon enough. Wayne Munroe, Smith's former attorney, had a court paper ordering the original owner to stay away from the property.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I ask to you comply with the order.
PINDER: Well, let me read it first.
DORNIN: Munroe claims things were taken from the mansion illegally by the original owner on Friday. A charge Pinder denies.
The confrontation took place complete with reporters and police on the scene. Still, the looming question, where is the baby?
Smith's former attorney would only answer in the vaguest manner.
WAYNE MUNROE, SMITH'S FORMER ATTORNEY: The child, as far as I know, has never left the country of her birth. Never.
DORNIN: She was born here in the Bahamas. While the exact whereabouts of the baby have not been revealed, most believe the hunt is over, that she remains behind these locked gates. But whether she's here or not, Munroe says with a custody battle looming, there are no plans to take her elsewhere.
(on camera): So the baby would stay here until the matter is completely settled, whether it's in the Bahamas...
MUNROE: Yes, as far as my instructions are.
DORNIN (voice over): The poor little possibly rich girl, whose legal battles may have only just begun.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Nassau, Bahamas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And we're going to talk about those legal battles a little bit later this morning when we talk to the legal ladies and determine exactly where this case goes, the many different facets of it. So stay tuned for that.
But in the meantime, it is Sunday. So are you in the mood for church?
NGUYEN: Coming up, the group Israel & New Breed. T.J. spoke to Israel about the group, his music and his faith. Hear more in three minutes.
HOLMES: And somebody call the law. The Police back together, at least for tonight. A pretty big show happening tonight, if you didn't know.
CNN's Brooke Anderson got the 411 on this. We'll have that for you in just a bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We want to update you on a breaking news story. Another U.S. military helicopter may have gone down in Iraq.
According to Reuters news agency, an Apache helicopter crashed north of Baghdad just a short time ago. Now, witnesses tell Reuters they saw a missile strike that helicopter.
As you know, we have been following a lot of helicopter crashes lately. There have been five military helicopter crashes recently and a total of seven helicopter crashes just in the last three weeks alone. But again, Reuters news agency reporting that a U.S. military helicopter may have gone down north of Baghdad after a missile strike attack.
We'll continue to follow this story and bring you new developments when they occur.
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: That's Israel & New Breed in South Africa during the recording of their live album. The group makes rhythm and praise music, a sound that resonates faith, hope and peace all over the world. But Israel has a story to tell, a very personal story to tell. And we're going to let him tell it right now in his own words.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISRAEL HOUGHTON, ISRAEL & NEW BREED: We've kind of been at this for a good seven, eight years as New Breed.
(SINGING): I am not forgotten. I am not forgotten. I am not forgotten. God knows my name.
At the core value of what we do is to be intentionally cross- cultural, to be intentionally cross-generational, and to be cross- denominational -- caus music, C-A-U-S, classified as a universal sound. I just -- I sort of just like that.
The music transcends the four walls of the church and just brings hope to people worldwide.
I went to South Africa in 1994 for the first time. And when I landed in Capetown, I just had this emotional experience. I couldn't put my finger on it. The dream to come back and eventually do a live recording there was born then.
It took 11 years to accomplish, but when we finally got to do it, it exceeded our expectations.
Do you realize that you're alive right now at the greatest time in history? Come on. You realize. Look somebody in the eyes. Tell them, do you know you're alive at the greatest time in history?
We can save the world! Come on.
(SINGING): Do you realize...
BAND (SINGING): Do you realize...
HOUGHTON (SINGING): ... that you're alive?
BAND (SINGING): ... that you're alive?
HOUGHTON (SINGING): Have you made the time...
BAND (SINGING): Have you made the time...
HOUGHTON (SINGING): ... in history?
BAND (SINGING): .. in history?
HOUGHTON: My mother got pregnant when she was 17. My mother is white, my father is black. And her parents had a difficult time with that. So she was either -- she was given two choices, either to have an abortion or be disowned. And naturally, I thank God she chose to be disowned.
(SINGING): You didn't sneak into the earth. You were created for a purpose. There is greatness on you. Tell somebody there's greatness on you.
You know, I look back now, and when I -- when I didn't fit in then and had a real tough time with trying to figure out, what in the world is my identity, now I look back and go, it was all a setup. God was -- God was working all that to give me some kind of voice to multiple cultures.
I look at it now and go, I'm here with a cause, with a purpose, with intent because of the last 35 years of my life.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And it could be a very big night for Israel & New Breed. Their "Alive in South Africa" album is nominated for three Grammys, including best gospel performance, best gospel song, and best traditional gospel album. But they've also got a fourth Grammy nomination for best contemporary R&B gospel album for "A Timeless Christmas."
NGUYEN: And speaking of the Grammys, we did catch a couple of groups rehearsing for tonight's big show.
The Dixie Chicks still making a statement. And from the looks of it, somebody is definitely listening. The gals are up for five Grammy awards, including best country album.
And then there's this. Anthony and the boys certainly outdid themselves this year. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were nominated six times. They were up for album of the year for "Stadium Arcadium."
HOLMES: Well, one of the big buzzes about Tonight's Grammys, The Police. Together again. And back on a live stage.
It's a reunion 22 years in the making. And our Brooke Anderson looks at all the excitement about tonight's performance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STING, SINGER (SINGING): Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light...
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Twenty-two years after breaking up, The Police are reunited.
STING (SINGING): ... those days are over. You don't have to sell your body to the night.
NEIL PORTNOW, RECORDING ACADEMY: We were looking for something that would be really eye-opening, and earth-shattering, and I think we arrived at it.
STING (SINGING): I hope my legs don't break walking on the moon.
ANDERSON: Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting will take the stage tonight at the Grammys.
PORTNOW: People are thrilled that this band is back in business and reuniting and going to be out there and playing the music that people loved so dearly for so many years.
JOSS STONE, SINGER: I love Sting. God I love him.
What is it with Sting? He's never going to age. He's like ageless.
DREW BARRYMORE, ACTRESS: I used to go and buy all their albums on vinyl, had a huge crush on Stewart Copeland. So, yes, I'm really excited to see them play again.
ANDERSON: The Police skyrocketed to fame in the late '70s. But in 1984, six years after their first album, the group split up amid reports of feuding between the band mates.
Stewart Copeland, who directed a documentary about the group's early days, says rumors about the band's differences have been greatly exaggerated.
STEWART COPELAND, THE POLICE: There's this myth that we fought all the time, The Police was always fighting. And I sort of believed it myself, except when I look at this footage, I realized that we actually were very -- you know, we were very fond of each other and we enjoyed each other's company.
ANDERSON: And their impact stretched from music to movies, like "Another 48 Hours."
EDDIE MURPHY, ACTOR, "ANOTHER 48 HOURS" (SINGING): Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light.
Yes, I love Sting and The Police. I would love to go see them.
ANDERSON: A chance many will get tonight at the Grammys.
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I think he is wrong. If I were running al Qaeda in Iraq I would put a circle around March 2008 and try as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now in the news you heard it there. Harsh criticism for Barack Obama from Australia's Prime Minister John Howard who is a close alley to President Bush says Obama's proposal to get troops out of Iraq by early next year would lead to a victory for the terrorist.
Let's take you to Iraq this morning, near Tikrit a suicide car bomber crashes through a crowded police officers gathering for role call. At least 12 people were killed including eight police officers, several people were wounded.
HOLMES: Defense Secretary Robert Gates pounding home the point. He says the U.S. suspects Iran is aiding the Iraqi insurgency. Some of that supposed evidence is expected to be reviewed at military briefing in Baghdad this morning.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iran's president today promised an important announcement on the countries nuclear achievements this April. He also insisted again that Iran will not suspend its nuclear program. Iranians took to the streets today to show support for the countries nuclear ambitions and to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
HOLMES: If you want to just kill the mood this Valentine's Day, you can buy your woman appliances, that is one way to do it, or you can check out some of this music at a musical weapon here for you, that is coming up at 20 minutes, the most annoying love songs of all time.
NGUYEN: Just in case you were wondering, that's Joe Pesci, the actor. Sorry Joe not so good.
But good morning everybody from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, it is Sunday morning, February 11th, I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. We thank you so much for starting your day right here with us.
From al Anbar to Baquba. U.S. and Iraqi troops this morning battling the latest al Qaeda in Iraq outpost. CNN's Arwa Damon is on the ground with the troops as they battle it out in Baquba.
DAMON: I'm actually standing in the street in downtown Baquba some 500 yards where we started out this morning. It's incredibly slow going in this operation today because the roads are so full of IED, improvised explosive devises, and those deadly roadside bombs. The operation right now once again brought to a halt waiting for an ordinance to come and destroy another roadside bomb that a troop found as they were moving forward through this town. It is just so the south of Baquba, and it has been for quite some time a thorn in the side of U.S. forces. It has come under control of U.S. and Iraqi security forces only to have the insurgents time and time again drive the Iraqis out of town.
Most recently in December al Qaeda and Iraq came and established a foothold in this very area and drove the Iraqis out going as far as to hang the al Qaeda and Iraq flag from the main police station here. This is the first main effort to clear this area of insurgents since then. It's been intense all morning, coming to a bit of a lull. This operation is in its second day and has been going on well since dawn. There are snipers operating in this area, there are insurgents throwing grenades that are landing uncomfortably close to the troops at some time. Also, firing mortars rounds, U.S. forces in turn responding with all the firepower at their disposal. There are currently apache aircraft overhead just a few moments ago who are firing at targets on the ground.
NGUYEN: That was CNN's Arwa Damon who is, as you heard just there on the ground with the troops in Baquba. She'll be bringing live updates on the battle there throughout the day. So you want to keep it right here on CNN.
HOLMES: Iran, accused by the U.S. of arming insurgents and fueling the violence in Iraq. We could hear more today about evidence to back up those accusations. Meanwhile, in Iraq, no shortage of firepower. CNN's Michael Holmes talked with a black market arms dealer-helping put more guns on the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Translator): Before we buy a weapon, we always check its quality.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In a country where unemployment is rampant, one business is booming, often literally.
ABU HIBA, BLACK MARKET ARMS DEALER (Translator): This path found me. I didn't choose it. I want to help people defend themselves.
HOLMES: He goes by the name of Abu Hiba; he used to go to university. He's young, smart, and for two years now a black market arms dealer in Baghdad with no shortage of customers.
HIBA (Translator): Everyone demands, neighborhoods, militias, Jihadi groups, everyone demands.
HOLMES: He's a proud salesman and knows his wares, in this case the heavy duty PKC machine gun; this is an effective long-range weapon. Its nickname in the army and among militias is the reaper.
Say I wanted to buy some grenades. How long would it take you to get them to me?
HIBA (Translator): If you need three hand grenades, you can get them in two hours.
HOLMES: And how much?
HIBA (Translator): No more than 25,000 to 30,000 Iraqi dinars, around $20.
HOLMES: A rocket-propelled grenade launcher around a $130.00. But his biggest seller is the ak-47, the weapon of choice for most Iraqis. On a busy month, maybe 50 pass through his hands and onto the street adding to an already unnerving level of firepower in the capital. This, a fairly routine sound in the city.
Iraq is a place where every household is entitled to have one ak- 47, that's one of them there. You see, with all the sectarian and criminal violence, ordinary people feel that no one can adequately protect them. Not the police, not the army, not the Americans. So for about $400, they try to protect themselves.
Abu Hiba says those people are his market, not insurgents, although later he does admit to having rockets hardly a defensive weapon in his inventory. With the new Baghdad security plan under way, Abu Hiba says many militiamen are lying low, getting rid of some of their weapons. Abu Hiba is happy with so many weapons around, prices are low for him. He will store them till those prices rise. Meanwhile, he tells us that while militiamen supply him, they're often supplied from places within Iran.
HIBA (Translator): What comes in from Iran is disastrous, big trucks stacked with mortar bombs, 135 millimeter and 136 millimeter. Iranian manufactured 120-millimeter mortars stamped 2006.
HOLMES: It's not like there's a shortage of weapons in Iraq during the invasion American troops let vast armories unguarded later to be looted. Only a couple of years ago, outdoor arms markets thrived. They were shut down so now the market is black, underground. Are you ever worried you're going to get caught? HIBA (Translator): We can buy and hide weapons easily. When the Americans come in, they can't find anything, and leave. I'm afraid only of god.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Back here, we have a winter storm warning now to tell you about. Just look at the pictures on your screen. You've got Indianapolis there at the top left; you have Cincinnati on the right and then Philly down at the lower portion of the screen. We're keeping an eyes on some of the severe winter weather out there which is expected T.J. to cause more than just a few problems as early as today.
HOLMES: Yes. Soon that same system could mean bad news for all over the east coast. Our meteorologist Bonnie Schneider in the Severe Weather Center keeping an eye on is it all. Boy, it has been brutal.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It sure has, you know first the lake-effect snow, now we are talking about snow in some major metropolitan areas like Washington, Baltimore, Indianapolis. Lets show you how it all breaks down. Here's the storm as it comes out of the southern Plains and you can see on the way meaning it will push off to the east, eventually effecting a good portion of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee. We have winter storm advisories already in effect for later on today into tomorrow and then eventually into Tuesday. Areas you see highlighted in white that indicates where we have the winter weather watches. And some new information for you as of this morning, there is now a winter storm watch in effect starting on Tuesday, so not today, but starting on Tuesday for Washington and Baltimore, all the way toward Pittsburgh as well, the threat for snow exists.
Now really, part of the problem of forecasting these storms is what's going to happen once the storm pushes offshore and energizes and possibly turns into a nor'easter? We'll take a look at some of the scenarios. The possible tracks of the storm we believe will go from Tuesday to Thursday eventually to New England. So over the course of Wednesday, we could see snow substantial snow in the New York metropolitan area down through New Jersey into Philadelphia as well.
Really this is where it gets a little bit sketchy. How close to the shores line will the storm go? If it does interact with land and some of the colder air, we could see more snow. If it interacts with more of the warmer air, it could be a wintry mix, pacifically for Cape Cod, the south shore of Long Island areas like that, may see a little bit more of freezing rain/rain with this event. But one thing, if you're doing any planning, that we do have the threat of wintry weather including freezing rain, snow, and sleet for all the cities you see highlighted here and back off to the west first in places like Indianapolis starting late tonight and into tomorrow.
T.J., Betty.
HOLMES: Bonnie thank you so much.
NGUYEN: Well parts of the northeast may not be able to handle much more of the snow. In sections of upstate New York they already had around 110 inches in just the past week. Yes, 110 inches you know what that means? About 10 feet. CNN's Reggie Aqui is live in Oswego, New York this morning. Reggie, you know the thing that I want to know is between yesterday and this morning how much snow has fallen because last time we talked to you it was really coming down.
AQUI: It was really coming down. It seems like, Betty, in the morning we get a break and in the afternoon and evening is when we get all the snow. We probably got I would guess between a half foot and foot just yesterday, which means people are waking up trying to dig out from all of this. One of the concerns that some of the communities have this morning the roofs. As you can see up there, there's all the snow that is about to fall off of these roofs so people are concerned about the weight of that snow and also the snow just falling on top of them. We took a trip yesterday to a city with 100 inches of snow and a very unusual name. South of the Border, the Canadian Border, there is a Mexico that brags about its drinking water, a Mexico where bikinis are out and fur is in. Mexico, New York.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Usually the winter isn't this mean to us.
AQUI: After decades of snowing winters, Ed Davis is no stranger to a shovel. But even he can hardly believe where he has to go for the second time this week.
ED DAVIS, MEXICO, NEW YORK RESIDENT: I've been shoveling my roof off all morning. I'm halfway done.
AQUI: Up to 100 inches of snow is hard work for everybody, everything. Even in a town with a long history of bad weather.
MAYOR TERRY GRIMSHAW, MEXICO, NEW YORK: We had a storm in '66, but that was a three-day storm. This has gone for a week.
AQUI: Mexico's mayor says this time there's a new concern.
GRIMSGHAW: What is scary now is we've had a couple of buildings collapse and that always scares people.
AQUI: Generally, though, the people of Mexico aren't so much scared as they're amazed. Here where weather is seen as no sweat, this storm has them huffing and puffing. I can tell you that 8:00 mass just started at Saint Mary's Church behind me. Even 100 inches of snow, Betty, can't stop that from going on.
NGUYEN: That's the faithful. Reggie Aqui thank you for that.
Now, a push to make a legal requirement, listen to this for all married couples to have children. What does it have to do with a debate over same-sex marriage? Coming up at 9:00 Eastern you don't want to miss the details about a new marriage initiative in Washington State we will explain it.
HOLMES: But next, it's official he's in and he is running. You know who he is probably by now. We'll recap the weekends big presidential campaign moves. Plus, in ten minutes, just the songs you need to set the mood for anything except love.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The prospect of climate change is so urgent that the need to free ourselves from Middle Eastern oil is so critical that improving our school system has to happen now and not later, that there's no reason we can't have health insurance for all Americans by the end of the next president's first term.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: On the campaign trail, Senator Barack Obama yesterday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa just hours after announcing his bid for the oval office, wasting no time stumping the campaign trail. While Senator Obama talks health care reform, another 2008 hopeful Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is attempting to drive home the energy message to folks in New Hampshire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: I think if we don't tackle our energy challenge, we're in a big bunch of trouble. And we need to do this because it's necessary for our security, for our environment, and for our economy. So I propose something called a Strategic Energy Fund. Let's take away the subsidies from the oil companies and put them to work on behalf of alternative energy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: On the GOP side of the race, Rudy Giuliani runs down his resume saying why he believes he's the best man for the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GUILLIANI (R) FMR. NYC MAYOR: I do believe that having had a job where I didn't have any choice but to decide and to make decisions and move things forward, sometimes in the face of enormous problems that seemed unsolvable, I think that prepares you as best as you can be prepared to be president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was in South Carolina yesterday where he told a group of Republicans that he can hold onto the White House if the GOP returns to its original message. Huckabee spoke critically to reporters before the event saying the Republicans deserve to lose control of Congress.
HOLMES: And the race for the White House will be one of the many topics on today's "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, among Wolf's guests Republican Congressman and presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, also former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe.
NGUYEN: Love songs that will put you in the mood for silence. That's right, we'll run down the most annoying Valentine's Day tunes ever. You have got to listen to some of these.
But first, a preview of today's "House Call."
DR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty thanks. I'm sure you've seen the pictures of fashion week. But fashion isn't the only thing making news this week; it's those skinny models. Are they too thin? What are designers doing about it?
Plus, cold weather isn't just hard on the body. Wintertime can be tough on those suffering from seasonal depression. We will explain that.
Also, bring you the latest headlines, all of that coming up on "House Call" at 8:30.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, man!
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): What is the best overall workout that includes cardio, strength training, endurance and flexibility? You might be surprised. "Forbes" Magazine ranks squash as the number one healthiest sport.
TOM RUMPLER, SQUASH PRO, WINDY HILL SPORTING CLUB: There's the social ness of it of being with a buddy, there is the completeness of, I'm going to beat you. Then just the absolute flat-out hard workout hitting the ball and running as hard as you can for an hour.
COSTELLO: Tom says squash is a game you can play for a lifetime and it's fun to master.
RUMPLER: The object of the game is players have to alternate hitting the ball back to what's called the front wall.
LIZZY WARNER, SQUASH PLAYER: I'm pretty flexible just from playing squash over the years, but also I just run a lot and it's just really increased my endurance. It's just great.
COSTELLO: Sawyer says playing squash also strengthens his tennis game.
SAWYER DUNCAN, SQUASH PLAYER: You burn something like four times as many calories playing an hour of squash as you do an hour of tennis and so it is a great workout.
COSTELLO: Carol Costello, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: You like the tune? Valentine's Day is on Wednesday. That means flowers, candy, and romance and love songs. But some of those songs, not so good. In fact, this morning we have the worst love songs ever recorded and Jim Nayder has a knack for finding them. What a job that is. He is the host of the annoying music show on National Public Radio and he joins me live from Chicago. We expect you to be quite annoying with these songs today. Nice to see you.
JIM NAYDER, "THE ANNOYING MUSIC SHOW:" Hi Betty. How come you turned that off? I was just getting in the mood.
NGUYEN: We're going to build up to that one. Because you have to get yourself ready to hear this song. First, you say Valentine's Day is the best holiday for the worst songs. Why is that?
NAYDER: Well, because 99 percent of all songs are love songs, and 87 percent of those are annoying. So you can pretty much grab any song off the rack and you've got a top ten of the annoying music show.
NGUYEN: Well, Joe Pesci has done quite a good job of making a Beatles song into an annoying song.
NAYDER: He's a good fellow except when he's singing.
NGUYEN: I mean, just listen to the tone in which he's singing this. It's so off. Jim you seem to be liking it a little too much so we're going to move on just for a second.
NAYDER: If the Beatles would sing like Joe Pesci they would be popular today.
NGUYEN: Lorne Green decided to do a diddy as well. Talk to us about this one.
NAYDER: We are tried to find the most annoying version of the best love song ever, "As Time Goes By," and we found it on the Pond Rosa, not surprisingly. And it sounds like Paul Cartwright maybe drank too much Red Bull or something.
NGUYEN: It's kind of like a little bit of lounge music there, the deep voice. No Barry White, that is for sure.
NAYDER: That is for sure.
NGUYEN: And then we saved the best for last because I don't even know who Pirana Man is, but listening to him sing --
NAYDER: Wait a minute Betty, tell T.J. I've got his Wayne Newton album I'm returning.
NGUYEN: This is Piranha Man.
Who is he Piranha Man and why is he singing Jim?
NAYDER: This is Piranha Man from Pakistan who now lives in Chicago. He wanted a record contract. Only one guy would give it to him, a guy named Buzz Killman. He interprets like Frank Sinatra.
NGUYEN: No, not at all. How do you narrow so many bad songs down to a worst list? Is there a test you do? How do you figure this out?
NAYDER: Well, if it makes me laugh out loud, we usually play it the next week. The thing about the annoying music show is it has to be a serious attempt gone bad. There are a lot of novelty songs out there, you know, you can play, but when it's a good studio, good musicians, a good song, and Piranha Man.
NGUYEN: "Love Will Keep Us Together" is what he's attempting to do. William Hung kind of makes him look shabby, wouldn't you say?
NAYDER: I think William Hung is pre-produced. I think he's a fraud.
NGUYEN: Oh, please. All right, Jim. Happy Valentine's Day to you. Please don't send me any of these songs. I'd really appreciate it.
NAYDER: Betty, I love you. Please come to Chicago.
NGUYEN: I'll try to do that soon but not for the songs. Talk to you later, Jim. Thanks.
Well we do have a check of the morning top stories that is next. Then "House Call" tells you how to fight those winter blues. Believe it or not it is easier then you think.
And at the top of the hour, controversy over proposed legislation in Washington State, have children or face annulment if you're married.
Later, an astronaut's arrest an a star's sudden death. How is the media handling the sometimes bizarre and shocking stories? "Reliable Sources" goes behind the headlines at 10:00 Eastern.
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