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CNN Sunday Morning

Iraqi Charges Against Blackwater?; Maliki at U.N.; Jazz Trumpeter Terence Blanchard Focuses on Plight of New Orleans

Aired September 23, 2007 - 07:59   ET

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

ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's September 23rd, first day of fall, 8:00 a.m. here at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Good morning. I'm Rob Marciano. T.J. Holmes is taking some time off.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, first day of fall. And you know what, Rob? It is feeling a little bit cooler outside.

MARCIANO: A little bit.

NGUYEN: Just a tad. Hopefully we can see a little more soon. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

Some stories we're working on this morning includes this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard like 20 gunshots go off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounded like a bunch of gunfire, sounded like a war zone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Bullets fly in one Oklahoma City neighborhood, leaving one family with plenty of questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His getaway driver is none other than his mom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: You heard it right. We've got this story for you ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

And this home video has never been seen before. Now it's at a place where everyone can watch it. Tell you all about that.

But first though, we begin in Iraq. There is new trouble this morning for a private company hired to guard U.S. officials. There is word Iraq's government plans to file criminal charges against employees of Blackwater, a North Carolina-based security firm. CNN's Alessio Vinci is following the story and he joins us live from Baghdad. Now we understand that they're filing criminal charges, is this in Iraqi court or U.S. court?

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it will be, of course, in Iraqi court. We understand those criminal charges will be pressed within the next few days, within the next week or so. What remains unclear however is how an Iraqi court will be able to bring these employees of Blackwater to an Iraqi court.

We do understand that Blackwater is operating here under a State Department contract. And that means basically that Iraqi officials here, and Iraqi authorities have no way to bring these people to an Iraqi court. They are sort of a diplomatic -- if you want, diplomatic umbrella or diplomatic immunity.

The fact that the Iraqis are trying to bring criminal charges against them though however does not come as a surprise. You may remember the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, already a week ago only hours after the incident in which, according to some Iraqi officials, 20 civilians were killed, he said that those who were responsible will be punished.

And he also made clear throughout this week that the level of impunity with which those security companies operate under here in Iraq must stop. And that is why U.S. and Iraqi officials have set up, over the last few days, a joint commission here in Iraq, and that commission will have to work and review in general the safety and security issues involving these security companies, as well as clarifying under which authority they operate, and of course also go over the rules of engagement.

There are some concerns that perhaps Blackwater may have reacted with overwhelming force -- with disproportionate force to a possibility, as Blackwater mentions -- says that they were responding to an attack against the convoy.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has also launched its own investigation and we do expect the results of that investigation also in the coming days -- Betty.

NGUYEN: And just to be very clear, which is why I ask the question, they're bringing this under Iraqi court but the Iraqi court really doesn't have the authority to prosecute American companies like this, correct?

VINCI: That is correct, and I think that what we're seeing here is Iraqi officials trying to keep this issue really high up on the agenda. We do understand that the prime minister of Iraq, who is currently in New York attending the U.N. General Assembly, will meet with President Bush and he will bring this issue up during their meeting.

So this is being kept really high on the agenda. In order to do so, of course, Iraqi officials are trying to push the envelope as far as they can. We know they tried to kick Blackwater out of the country, they didn't have any authority to do so, as a matter of fact, they even revoked the license that we do understand Blackwater now even has.

And at this time, we understand that again, the Iraqi officials are trying to basically push the envelope and trying to keep this thing high up on the agenda because they want to make sure that incidents like this one do not happen again.

NGUYEN: CNN's Alessio Vinci joining us from Baghdad this morning. Thank you, Alessio.

MARCIANO: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, exchanged polite words yesterday as the Iraqi leader visited the United Nations. But the State Department says they did not discuss last week's shooting in Baghdad involving Blackwater.

CNN's Jim Acosta has more on al-Maliki's U.N. visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Face-to-face with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the U.N. secretary general and chief diplomats from 20 nations, the prime minister of Iraq made the pitch that security is getting better in Baghdad. The goal for Nouri al-Maliki, a greater U.N. presence and eventually a larger international role in Iraq.

NOURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The security situation as you know started to improve and Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday.

ACOSTA: But it's a tough sell. This was the first meeting between the prime minister and Rice since that deadly shootout involving Blackwater security guards. Rice stayed away from the incident, instead saying simply: "The Iraqi people need the U.N.'s support."

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think an understanding that the Iraqi people have made a choice for a democratic life, they've made a choice against terrorism and now it's the international community's responsibility to help them.

ACOSTA: But U.N. worries about security linger. There are lasting memories of what happened when U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki- moon visited Baghdad back in March.

The U.N. has maintained a limited presence in Iraq ever since the deadly 2003 bombing of its offices in Baghdad. But in his remarks at the high level meeting, Ban cited what he called "a deteriorating situation in Iraq," noting the flow of refugees out of the war-ravaged country.

The secretary general said now is the time for world leaders to do more.

BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: There was a clear agreement that the international community cannot turn away from war, even (ph) though (ph) Iraq, its stability is our common concern.

ACOSTA: Maliki's diplomatic mission has so far been largely overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the upcoming visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As the U.N. General Assembly meets this week, Maliki and the war tearing his nation apart will be sharing a crowded stage.

(on camera): This may be Nouri al-Maliki's moment, but there's also plenty at stake for the U.S., which is just as eager to see the international community step up to help end an unpopular war.

Jim Acosta, CNN, at the United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is due to arrive in New York a little bit later today. The Iranian leader is scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly session on Tuesday. He's also set to speak at Columbia University. And protests are expected at both places. Tensions are high between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. accuses Iran of interfering in the Iraq War, and of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Let's take a look ahead right now, President Ahmadinejad sits down with CNN's own Christiane Amanpour for a one-on-one interview on Wednesday. Be sure to tune in for that, that is Wednesday night at 10:00 Eastern on "AC 360."

MARCIANO: And sad news this morning, famed mime Marcel Marceau has died. Marceau spent 50 years playing the character Bip on stage and in movies. He was an inspiration for many performers. In fact, Michael Jackson got his famous moonwalk from one of Marceau's acts. During World War II, Marceau, a Holocaust survivor, joined the French resistance. Marceau was 84 years old.

NGUYEN: Well, new this morning, Delaware State University is back open and classes will go on as planned tomorrow, even though no one has been arrested for Friday's shooting that wounded two students. Police say they don't think the suspect is on campus, and that it is safe to return. Both students are recovering from that shooting.

MARCIANO: The FBI is taking a closer look at a white supremacist Web site that refers to the Jena 6 controversy. One posting on the site, addresses for five of the six African-American teens facing charges in the beating of a white student. CNN first reported the Web site, which also features a swastika and racial slurs. An FBI spokeswoman says the site essentially calls for the lynching of the teens. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton says some of the families have been getting threatening and harassing home phone calls almost around the clock.

NGUYEN: A stolen car may be at the center of a shootout on the streets of Oklahoma City. The fleeing suspect killed, after opening fire on a police officer. I want to get more from Jordan Williams of affiliate KOCO.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a lot of rounds, a lot of rounds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard like 20 gunshots go off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounded like a bunch of gunfire, sounded like a war zone. And you could tell they were from two separate guns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After jumping two fences in the backyards, running east through the backyards, the suspect turned and fired multiple rounds at our officer.

JORDAN WILLIAMS, KOCO REPORTER (voice-over): Police say 36-year- old Sergeant Kelly Rausch (ph) had no choice but to return fire.

JESSE LINDSEY, WITNESS: We heard two or three shots from what I guess would be the perpetrator's gun and then you heard four or five shots from the police officer's gun. I mean, you could definitely tell that there was an exchange of gunfire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The suspect was hit.

WILLIAMS: Brian (ph) Smith's family watched in shock as paramedics rushed their loved on into the ambulance. But they knew Brian wasn't going to make it.

DUSTIN SMITH, SUSPECT'S NEPHEW: He was a good guy. He wasn't really that bad. He liked to hang out with kids and play basketball and all kinds of stuff.

WILLIAMS: Police aren't sure why Brian didn't stop when they tried to pull him over. His nephew doesn't understand either.

SMITH: I don't know why he would run and do all this.

LINDSEY: There's not a doubt in my mind the guy got out with every intention of shooting at the officer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Brian Smith died in the hospital and police now say he was driving a stolen car when he was pulled over.

MARCIANO: Some cool pictures to show you now from the California coast. A waterspout caught by I-Reporters Reginald and Justin Whatley. Luckily it stayed off of the coast of Carlsbad, California, just north of San Diego. Very cool shot. It never did come ashore.

NGUYEN: Crews are cleaning up this mess right here in Los Angeles. A mudslide near Griffith Park trapped more than a dozen cars under at least two feet of mud and debris. A day's worth of heavy soaking rains unsettled the hills there. Mud also oozed into some nearby homes and apartments. Can you just imagine the mess they have on their hands?

MARCIANO: Oh, big mess. (WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, a burglary ring with a surprising twist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) after he got through robbing our place. And you in on it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Police say a mom and her 12-year-old son were partners in crime. We're going to explain this one next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

MARCIANO: And teens take a joy ride in a stolen fire truck. Kids today. But the fun ends when police chase the suspects down.

NGUYEN: And a Denver mother reports her daughter has been kidnapped. But now the mom and her boyfriend are in police custody. Is the little girl dead or alive? We'll explore that one.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Out of Denver this morning, new information in the case of a missing toddler. Police say a 3-year-old girl reported by her mother as kidnapped Friday may actually be dead. They've arrested the mother and her boyfriend. No official charges have been filed yet. Police haven't found the girl's body and they're not really saying why they think she's dead.

NGUYEN: Where is Nailah Franklin? Well, the Chicago woman has now been missing for five days and last night, family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil as police continue to search for clues. On Friday, Franklin's car turned up near an abandoned building. And on Saturday, divers searched a pond but so far they have not found her. Police also say they've talked to a man who may have recently made threatening calls to Franklin.

And later this morning we're going to talk to Nailah Franklin's sister about what the family thinks happened to her, that's coming up at 9:30 Eastern.

MARCIANO: Well, Georgia police need your help this morning. They're looking for this woman, Lakechia Woodard. Her 12-year-old son and his friends are suspected in hundreds of home burglaries in the Atlanta area. And police think Woodard helped them by driving the getaway car. They say she may have dropped them off at the homes and picked them up after the crimes. Woodard has previously been arrested for fraud. Well, of course, she has got to drive the getaway car. She's the only one who has a license.

NGUYEN: What a story, though. That's one of those...

(CROSSTALK)

MARCIANO: Sticking with the teen crimes here, we've got another unusual one, this is a speed chase out of South Carolina, police tracking down a fire truck.

NGUYEN: Yes, not just of one of those little Mini Cooper cars, but a fire truck, guys. Inside, a couple of teens on a destructive joy ride. And we want to get some more now from Alex Reed of affiliate WCNC in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX REED, WCNC REPORTER: This lock is the only thing that was preventing two teens from stealing a fire truck. When they couldn't break it, they gave up and used the truck to break down the entire fence.

(voice-over): A neighbor called 911 after she saw two teens using a newly assembled fire truck to drive through a security fence at a nearby assembly shop.

JERRY WILLIAMS, SEAGRAVE CAROLINA FIRE APPARATUS: They took the chain and hooked to it and tried to pull it down to start with. That didn't work. So then they took the chain loose and just literally backed through it and forced it open.

REED: One of three sheriff's deputies responding to the call spotted the truck in the Rock Hill High School parking lot with the red lights flashing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he approached the fire truck. The guys in the truck decided not to stick around and took off. And we ended up in a chase with them.

REED: Lieutenant Frey (ph) watched the truck hop over curbs, reach speeds of about 80 miles an hour and nearly run him over twice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pulled in front of him, hoping that they'd just decide, you know, let's give it up but they kept coming straight at me.

REED: The truck was eventually stopped with spike strips which deflated three of its tires. The two juveniles in the truck tried to run away but were captured and arrested. No one was injured in the case but the damage they caused totals more than $8,000.

JERRY WILLIAMS: the three tires are bad. We are going to have to repaint, replace the front bumper, three doors on it, but not any structural damage it doesn't appear to it.

REED: According to Lieutenant Frey, the two boys face multiple charges including grand larceny and malicious damage to property.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And this just in to CNN, we're going to show you some pictures out of New Jersey today, where a fire has occurred at the construction site of a new casino. Right now you can't really see the fire at this point or any smoke, this is from a tower cam. But here is what we know, that it is Borgata's new guest room high-rise, it's a $347 million facility, 40-story structure. As you can, it's a very tall one.

Now we are being told that this thing is on fire but again from this vantage point we don't see any smoke or fire at this moment. But there are two sites there and it is a construction site. As we soon as we get more information on this, we, of course, will pass it on to you.

MARCIANO: Fifty years ago today, Little Rock, Arkansas, was in the national spotlight. Nine young people braved an angry mob to become the first African-American students to enter Little Rock Central High School. The drama was preceded by weeks of wrangling between the Arkansas governor and President Dwight D. Eisenhower over the issue of school segregation. Eisenhower and the Little Rock 9 prevailed to make civil rights history.

And using music to help heal the soul in an entire city.

NGUYEN: Yes. Jazz trumpeter and New Orleans native Terence Blanchard shows us how he is doing that as he helps celebrate a milestone for the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Good morning, Veronica.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Betty. Baby makes three, find out which Hollywood starlet is celebrating the birth of a baby girl this morning. This is a story that you have been clicking on at cnn.com. And we're going to have details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

NGUYEN: Those are the sounds of Dave Brubeck to just really gently get you into this Sunday morning. He is headlining tonight in Monterey, California.

MARCIANO: Beautiful spot and you're also going to be looking at Terence Blanchard -- somewhere? There he is. Check him out. He is one of the top performers who is on the bill at the world's longest running jazz festival in a beautiful spot, no doubt.

CNN's Brooke Anderson has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If jazz music were a religion, Terence Blanchard could be considered a missionary, spreading his gospel through his trumpet, 25 albums, 41 film scores and now artist in residence at the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival.

TERENCE BLANCHARD, MUSICIAN: Everybody known to man in this business has played that festival. So to be asked to be artist in residence on the 50th year anniversary of the thing is a big honor.

ANDERSON: The New Orleans native composed the original score for Spike Lee's post-Hurricane Katrina documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."

BLANCHARD: Trumpet to me, it represents people who (INAUDIBLE) crying for help and not having any help come any time soon.

ANDERSON: In the film, Blanchard and his then 74-year-old mother survey the damage to their family home for the first time.

BLANCHARD: That looked like your china closet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The china closet don't have any business being over here in the den.

BLANCHARD: I know.

ANDERSON: His trumpet still cries for the people of Crescent City on his new album "A Tale of God's Will: A Requiem for Katrina."

BLANCHARD: We constantly hear from people that, you know, they think New Orleans is fine, and it's not. We have a long, long way to go.

ANDERSON: Part of the rebuilding process includes nurturing future musicians as the artistic director of nonprofit Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, in the heart of New Orleans. As a native son who has become part of Louisiana's rich musical legacy, Terence Blanchard is now leaving a legacy of his own.

BLANCHARD: I've been making this joke. I've been telling people they say, is New Orleans going to come back? And I say, of course, man, because we don't like your food and we hate your music, you know, so we're going to be fine.

ANDERSON: Brooke Anderson, CNN, Monterey, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: And the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival wraps up tonight.

NGUYEN: And just in case you didn't know, it is the world's longest-running jazz festival.

DE LA CRUZ: All right. Here is a question for you. Which celebrity is making the news again, this time with the birth of a baby? We are going to have that answer when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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