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CNN Saturday Morning News

President Bush's Popularity Rating Gets a Boost; Homeland Security Says American Cities Not Prepared for Disaster; Men Visit Spas Just like Women; Update on Search for Two Soldiers Missing in Iraq

Aired June 17, 2006 - 08:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Mistakes were made in the way U.S. troops treated detainees in Iraq. That is according to a Pentagon report released on Friday. Now, it says U.S. special operations troops used banned but not illegal interrogation techniques during part of 2003 and 2004. The findings were released under a Freedom of Information request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
It's been a bloody day in Baghdad. Police say at least 23 people were killed in five separate attacks. One occurred in an old market in a predominantly Shiite area. The attacks come as the Iraqi government attempts to enforce a major security effort in the capital.

Well, even after the disasters of Katrina and 9/11, most states still aren't prepared for a catastrophe. That's the finding from the Homeland Security Department. Only Florida meets all the standards to adequately respond to a major disaster. Our full report is about 10 minutes away.

RICHARD LUI, CNN ANCHOR: No charges will be filed against a Georgia congresswoman who scuffled with a Capitol Police officer. A grand jury has declined to indict Cynthia McKinney, she was accused of hitting the officer when he tried to stop her from entering the House office building last March. McKinney says she is relieved.

An update now for you on the Louisiana congressman who prosecutors say had bundles of cash in his freezer. Congressman William Jefferson was kicked off the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday. He's now blaming House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for his predicament adding there "I'm not one of Pelosi's favorite people." Jefferson is under criminal investigation into allegations he accepted bribes.

Then from Somalia for you, two warlords backed by the U.S. have fled Mogadishu to a ship in the Indian Ocean, that's according to Islamic court sources and Reuters. This one week after the warlord's forces were defeated by an Islamic militia which wants to impose Islamic law on Somalia. For complete coverage of breaking news and today's top stories, stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ordinary doesn't mean that you're ready for the extraordinary and we've got to do a better job of taking our catastrophic planning to the next level. (END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Better job, here's why. Most American cities get an "F" for disaster preparedness from the Department of Homeland Security. We're going to talk to DHS undersecretary for preparedness George Foresman live in about 10 minutes, you definitely want to see this. From the CNN Center, though, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING, it is June 17th, halfway through the month already.

LUI: Do you believe it?

NGUYEN: I know. Flies by. 8:00 a.m. right here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, look who's here.

LUI: I'm Richard Lui from CNN Pipeline, filling in for Tony Harris this Saturday morning. And, again, thanks for stopping by.

NGUYEN: Good to have you.

Well, hey, you might recall the Baghdad bounce. President Bush gets a boost from this week's developments in Iraq including his surprise visit to the Iraqi capital. He's hoping that will help Republican candidates in midterm elections. Well this morning the president is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. White House correspondent Ed Henry joins us there and is live with the latest. Good morning, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. You know a couple of weeks back the president's popularity had dipped so low it seemed that not a lot of Republicans might want to be stumping with the president in this election year, but yesterday two Republicans brought the president to their home states just as a new CNN poll came out saying the president's popularity is inching up. Raising the question is this a Baghdad bounce or a Bush bounce.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY (voice-over): There's a bounce to President Bush's step again as he hits the road. This time the swing state of New Mexico, reprising his role as fundraiser in chief for vulnerable Republicans like Congresswomen Heather Wilson.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will not cut and run. It's important to have people in the United States congress who understand the stakes of the fight in Iraq and complete the mission. And Heather Wilson is such a person.

HENRY: A new CNN poll shows the president's approval rating has inched up five points to 37 percent from a low of 32 percent. Approval of the president's handling of Iraq has risen five points to 39 percent since last month. After the president's surprise visit to Baghdad to celebrate formation of a new Iraqi government and the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The president was also buoyed Friday by a House vote to back the mission in Iraq with Republicans rejecting a timetable for troop pull-out. REP. HEATHER WILSON, (R) NEW MEXICO: It is a choice between resolve and retreat. And for me and my family I choose resolve.

HENRY: The president returned the favor by raising big money for Wilson, after a fundraiser in Seattle earlier in the day for freshman Republican Dave Reichert. But CNN's new poll suggests these visits could do more harm than good. Only 27 percent of registered voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate that the president stumps for. A whopping 47 percent would be less likely to support a Bush candidate. While 20 percent say a Bush visit would make no difference.

PATRICIA MADRID, NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL: I'm very happy that the president is here campaigning for my opponent Heather Wilson because what it demonstrates is that she really does vote with him 88 percent of the time. That she is on his team.

HENRY: New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Wilson's Democratic challenger, says Republicans should not be confident about recent good news in Iraq.

MADRID: I simply don't think that the situation is going to get better although there are no simple answers for this "no exit" war that we've gotten into.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: Now, some boisterous protesters greeted the president in New Mexico, a signal that this war is still divisive here at home. And in fact the CNN poll found 53 percent of Americans want a timetable to bring the troops home from Iraq, a timetable obviously something the president continues to reject. Betty?

NGUYEN: Hey Ed, do me this favor. Try to stay out of the rain. I see it behind you.

HENRY: It is getting a little wet out here.

NGUYEN: I know, getting a little wet. Despite the poll numbers kind of raining on the president's parade there in Crawford. All right, we'll talk to you later, thank you.

Well details of President Bush's top secret trip to Baghdad, plus who is al Qaeda's new top man in Iraq? That's a question a lot of people are asking. Well, CNN brings you the only in-depth look at major events in the war on terror. John Roberts hosts, "IRAQ: A WEEK AT WAR." That's tonight at 7:00 eastern.

And also tonight...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Coming up tonight at 10:00 a multibillion dollar industry you probably know little about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a market that is effectively unregulated on the international level.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're talking private military contracting and you're paying the price.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not going to be able to get a job now if I do this interview.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's coming up tonight at 10:00 eastern right here on CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LUI: And be sure not to miss that.

A grim and chilling reality almost five years into a post-9/11 era and on the heels of Hurricane Katrina the government says America is still woefully unprepared to handle a major catastrophe like a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. So the question is, is there a disconnect between lessons learned and getting ready for the next disaster.

Well, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has more for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly five years after 9/11, MESERVE: Nearly five years after 9/11, nearly one year after Katrina, after $18 billion in federal grants to state and local governments, the Department of Homeland Security has concluded the majority of state and local emergency plans are not adequate, feasible or acceptable to manage catastrophic events.

GEORGE FORESMAN, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: The ordinary doesn't mean that you're ready for the extraordinary and we've got to do a better job of taking our catastrophic planning to the next level.

MESERVE: The assessment found many states and cities lacked a clear command structure or plans on how to keep government operating in a catastrophe. Evacuation remains a profound concern, with inadequate planning for large numbers of evacuees and particularly for people with special needs. Among the states with the lowest assessments, West Virginia, Oregon, Louisiana and Montana.

Though New York City and Washington, D.C. had plans that were rated far from perfect, they were much better than many including Oklahoma City which rated poorly despite its experience with the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. And New Orleans, 58 percent of that city's emergency plan got the lowest possible rating.

FORESMAN: They were going through this nationwide plan review at the same time that they were still responding to and recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

MESERVE: The organization that represents emergency managers said, "Hundreds of local jurisdictions do not have a full time emergency management program because of federal funding shortfalls. Further, there is no national planning guidance or standards."

DHS agrees state and local governments have not gotten all of the tools they need from the federal government but says this assessment will be used to measure progress from here on out. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So why are some cities better prepared than others? And how prepared is your hometown? Answers from the Department of Homeland Security live in about five minutes.

LUI: Plus, you got to listen to this one. Does CNN's Wolf Blitzer share a family secret with comedian Jimmy Kimmel?

NGUYEN: Who's that guy?

LUI: It looks pretty close though ah? I don't know, we'll find out. Wolf and Daddy Kimmel, that's who it was, compare notes and it will leave you wondering who's your daddy?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK Greg, I'm going to cleanse you today with an essential cleanser and this is really good.

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This might just be the new version of the gentlemen's club.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put these cool, compresses.

FIRFER: Facials, hot stone massage, manicures and pedicures. Surprise? You won't find any pampered women here at this spa. It's all about taking care of men.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the minute you walk in the door you know you're in a day spa for men. Because you see dark woods, you don't see any floral things. Everything we're doing is focusing on what men need.

FIRFER: And that need is growing. According to the International Spa Association, men account for nearly 30 percent of spa goers in 2003.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think every now and then you need to treat yourself to something. I work hard to make a living and I work long hours and this is just one of the things that I can do for myself that I enjoy and it's something strictly for me and that's why I do it.

FIRFER: Holly Firfer, CNN.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Well as we told you just a few minutes ago the government says most states and big cities are nowhere near ready for handling a big disaster. For example, something on the scale of Hurricane Katrina or even 9/11. Some local and state officials blame the federal government. They say the feds cut their emergency response budgets, so joining us to talk about it is George Foresman, he is the Homeland Security Undersecretary for Preparedness. Good morning to you. Thanks for being with us.

GEORGE FORESMAN, HOMELAND SECURITY UNDERSECRETARY: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well first of all we're going to put up a list of the 10 states and only 10 made the sufficient category which means that they are sufficiently prepared. What is it that these states are doing that the other states simply are not?

FORESMAN: Well, Betty, I think there are two things. This assessment that President Bush called for last year was to assess state and community capabilities to deal with a catastrophic event, an event on the scope and scale of Katrina. The states that did well, if you will, in terms of the ranking, were those states that have traditionally had a lot of experience in dealing with widespread emergencies and disasters.

NGUYEN: And we're going to -- I'm going to tell you because we're waiting on that graphic so people exactly know where these states are. The list of states that are sufficiently prepared, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont. Now the states that aren't prepared will say, you know, not every city is going to be in this one size fits all formula. So what's your answer to that?

FORESMAN: Well Betty I don't think it is an issue of whether they are prepared or not. This is an issue very much about catastrophic events. Those states that ranked higher on the evaluation if you will are those states that have had experience dealing with coastal storms, whether they are nor'easters up in the northeast, or whether they are hurricanes down in the southeast. And they've had the experience of a large geographic area, a large wide ranging evacuation. And so they've had the opportunity to do more tests and exercises, if you will.

NGUYEN: OK but at the same time you say doing more tests and exercises they've actually experienced this. So there is an example for them to look to. New Orleans, according to your study, Louisiana, did not fare too well.

FORESMAN: Well, Betty, one of the things that we've said earlier, we've said often, as we went through this nationwide plan review it was in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans, Louisiana, they were going through their response and their recover efforts which they continue to do today. I will tell you this is a snapshot in time.

And I think the real message here is that we have a clear road map for the future of what we need to do in states and communities to take our ordinary levels of planning that have worked for the common types of emergencies and disasters and take it to the next level in terms of catastrophic readiness.

NGUYEN: And taking it to that next level, some state leaders will argue this is really a matter of funding. If you want us to get ready and you want us to get prepared you have to give us the money to do it. And for example New York is getting an $83 million reduction in its funding from the Homeland Security Department. Is funding the issue here?

FORESMAN: Well funding is part of the issue but the larger issue we provided $18 billion to states and communities since 9/11. Less than 20 percent of that has been used for planning, training and exercise. The vast majority up to this point has been used to buy the critical emergency response equipment that was needed in the post-9/11 era.

But I think as we go forward using the nationwide plan review as the road map, the continuing amount of federal dollars that float into communities and to the states, we're going to have to put a much heavier emphasis on planning, training and exercises.

NGUYEN: George Foresman, the DHS Undersecretary for Preparedness, thanks for your time this morning.

FORESMAN: Betty, thank you. Have a great weekend.

NGUYEN: You too.

Now this really leads to our email question today. Do you think that your city is prepared for a disaster? I want you to send us your responses. Tell us what you really think about it. Is your city really prepared for a disaster? E-mail us weekends@CNN.com.

LUI: Well CNN's Wolf Blitzer makes a guest appearance on the "Jimmy Kimmel Show" and scores high on a pop quiz. You'll never believe the prize won here. A true Father's Day gift, details straight ahead with that.

NGUYEN: And coming up next hour. No peanuts. No tomatoes, no milk. So what can your child eat? A look at how some parents are fighting food allergies among kids.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in, you are looking right now at some tape that we just received from Baghdad. This is Lieutenant General Caldwell talking about two U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN: Definitively determined and we continue to pray for their safe return.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right, obviously we're going to have to rewind that a little bit because there is some important information on that tape that we just received from Baghdad of Lieutenant General William Caldwell. Let me give you a little bit of history while we're rewinding that about exactly what happened. Two U.S. soldiers went missing and one was killed on Friday.

They came under attack at a traffic checkpoint southwest of Baghdad. Now, the military as far as we know at this point, again we need to hear what the general just said, didn't say anything about the men being captured although that may be a question. So let's find out if indeed that is the case. Let's take a listen now again to Lieutenant General William Caldwell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CALDWELL: ... 15 minutes, the quick reaction force reported finding one soldier killed in action and two soldiers' duty status and whereabouts unknown. All traffic control points were notified to stop civilian traffic and increase security. Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and fixed wing assets provide a reconnaissance over and around the site. A dive team was requested.

Within an hour of the incident, blocking positions were established throughout the area in a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent movement of suspects out of the area. Three raids were conducted during the night on suspected possible locations and a fourth operation was conducted this morning.

Coalition forces engaged with local leaders in the area to enlist the support of civilians and providing any information they could and these engagements continue. Dive teams are now on site working the canal and river. There is cross coordination amongst adjacent units to develop actionable intelligence on our soldiers' whereabouts. We are using all available assets, coalition and Iraqi, ground, air and water to locate and determine the duty status of our soldiers.

We continue today to search for Sergeant Matt Maupin captured in April of 2004. We continue to search using every means available and will not stop looking until we find the missing soldiers. Make no mistake we never stop looking for our service members until their status is definitively determined. And we continue to pray for their safe return.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So you've been listening to Lieutenant General William Caldwell talking about the two U.S. soldiers who went missing on Friday after they came under attack at a traffic checkpoint. Now one other soldier that was with them was killed in that attack. Here's why this is so troubling. Not only the fact that these soldiers are missing but also because of the area where they are missing. It's in the Yusafiya area, which is a mostly Sunni-Arab town but here's the catch. It has for months been a strong hold of al Qaeda in Iraq. So there's a lot of concern over the whereabouts of these two missing soldiers and exactly how they are doing now that they are in this particular area which could be a strong hold or is a strong hold of al Qaeda in Iraq. So we'll keep you up to date on this. We'll bring you the latest information as soon as we get it into CNN.

LUI: All right now, let's take a quick look at a few stories across America for you. This just into CNN, Billy Fualaau who married his former sixth grade teacher was sentenced to one year in jail with all but one day suspended for DUI. Now Fualaau was 12 when he and then 34 year old Mary Kay Letourneau began a sexual relationship. She served more than seven years in prison. The two are now married with two children.

Well, this black cat ran into a little bad luck of his own. No one noticed he'd crawled into a hole under a driveway. He was trapped there two days after workers cemented that opening. His owners heard him crying from underneath, poor guy. A rescue came then, cut a hole and got him out. All nine lives intact there.

Also in Utah for you, a couple of roommates decided to dissolve their living arrangement. One moves out, belongings in tow, except for a 20 pound red-tail boa constrictor, how about that. The former tenant forgot her pet snake.

NGUYEN: How do you forget something like that?

LUI: I certainly would forget it. And if I were the roommate I would certainly get it out of there. Well the Critter Control got him out before he swallowed the other roommate's kitten in the end. So evidently one was lost.

All right now we take it to California Betty. It's been four years but thanks to the microchip under her fur, Alex a pure bread boxer, is back home. The dog disappeared from the family's fenced backyard in 2002. She later ended up in a shelter where they scanned her for that chip. Now the family suspects Alex was dog-napped.

NGUYEN: Those microchips really make a difference, a good story on that. Many years ago and really a lot of people starting to use it for good reason.

Want to get you back to an important story out of Iraq this morning as we just heard Lieutenant General William Caldwell talk about those two missing soldiers that came under attack at a checkpoint there in Baghdad yesterday. Want to take you now live to Baghdad and Cal Perry who's at the Baghdad Bureau.

Cal tell me about this attack. Let's set the stage here for exactly what happened. What led to these two U.S. soldiers ending up missing?

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know at this point Betty is that about 30 miles to the south of Baghdad in a town called Yusafiya, this town is in what the U.S. military calls the triangle of death. They set up a TCP, a tactical control checkpoint that is to check vehicles for insurgents, for weapons. A nearby unit called into the QRF that is the quick reaction force with the military. They reported small arms fire and a series of explosions at a checkpoint again about 30 miles to the south of Baghdad.

When the quick reaction force reached the area it's an area that is a series of canals in this area, a series of bridges, as well. They found one U.S. soldier dead and two U.S. soldiers' duty status whereabouts unknown. That means that they simply are missing.

We've heard Major General Caldwell say this morning that they are searching for those soldiers. There have been four operations since last night's attack. They're working with local leaders. Obviously time is of the essence here. They're trying to get as much information as they can to try to find these two soldiers. Betty?

NGUYEN: Yes, time is crucial. But another thing that is playing an important role in all of this is that particular area where these two soldiers went missing. Give us the history on that area and how it has ties to al Qaeda in Iraq.

PERRY: Well, it's a very bad area, Betty. This as I said is built on a Wadi canal system. The U.S. military has taken a number of casualties in this area. They do refer to it as the triangle of death. That is Yusufiyah, Mahmudiyah, Latifiyah, it's a very exceptionally dangerous area. There are armored units down there that patrol these canals.

And again insurgents have been known to hit these checkpoints first with small arms fire, sometimes in direct fire, that is mortar fire, and overwhelm these checkpoints. They're also known to place roadside bombs in this area. It's a very soft area. The ground gives way very easily. We've seen many U.S. soldiers die in a Bradley vehicles when the Bradley armored vehicle hits a roadside bomb, it then flips, goes into a canal. We have seen that on at least three occasions in the past year. Betty?

NGUYEN: Cal, Lieutenant General William Caldwell didn't come out and say it but is the real fear here that these two soldiers could have been captured by insurgents?

PERRY: I want to think it's exactly that. I think it is their worst fear that we could see these two gentlemen on an Arab network in the next 24 hours. Again, they're only saying at this point status unknown. That is they could be dead.

I mean it's a horrible thing to say but they could have gone into the canal, into one of these nearby Wadi systems and be dead. He did say there are search and rescue teams out there. They're not ruling that out as a possibility. But of course a U.S. soldier being held hostage by Iraqis is certainly a nightmare scenario for the U.S. military at this point. Betty?

NGUYEN: But operations are under way to try to find these two missing soldiers and of course we're all hoping for the best. Cal Perry from our Baghdad bureau there in Iraq. Cal, thank you for that update.

There's more right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. So you definitely want to stay tuned to that. We'll be right back after this break.

LUI: Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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