American Morning: Violence In Iraq; Interview with Senator Saxby Chabliss; Roadside Bomb in Iraq Kills U.S. Military Personnel

SHOW: AMERICAN MORNING

March 31, 2004 Wednesday

Violence in Iraq; Interview With Senator Saxby Chambliss; Roadside Bomb in Iraq Kills U.S. Military Personnel

GUESTS: Ray Odierno, Saxby Chambliss, Barb Quinlan, Murray Kadel, Heather Clenney, Gregory Meeks, David Bach, Andy Serwer

BYLINE: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer, Jack Cafferty, Jim Clancy

HIGHLIGHT:
Interview with Major General Ray Odierno.; Interview with Senator Saxby Chambliss.; Vacationer's suspicion reunites mother and son.; A roadside bomb in Iraq kills U.S. military personnel.; Interview with Congressman Gregory Meeks.; '90-Second Tips.'; 'Minding Your Business.'

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REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D), NEW YORK: I am on the International Relations Committee, and I sit on the subcommittee for Africa. I understood going in that the conversation would be around HIV and AIDS, and what's taking place in Africa, and some of the accomplishments, as well as some of the future aspirations of Mr. Jackson in helping to eradicate the disease on HIV-AIDS. And so I went to listen to hear what he had to say and to do anything that I can to draw attention to the fact that we here, we sit comfortably, but have to make sure we eradicate that disease that is worse than the black plague ever was.

O'BRIEN: You say that it's always difficult to get all the members of the Congressional Black Caucus in one room. But, realistically, many of those members said that actually-and they said this anonymously-that actually there was no political upside for them to meet with Michael Jackson, considering the charges that are now pending against him. You didn't have those concerns?

MEEKS: No, again, I'm sitting here today, and we could talk, and I could talk a little about HIV-AIDS and what's taking place in Africa. You know, I've sat previously in my former profession as a prosecutor, so I understand what's taking place there; I'm not there to prejudge in the political part.

I'm here, though, to make sure that we live in a global world, that we can make sure that we begin to eradicate HIV and AIDS. And I want to do whatever I can and work with whomever I can to accomplish that goal.

O'BRIEN: What sorts of things are you hoping that Michael Jackson will be able to do for you? As you well know, his charity has had some serious financial troubles, and, in fact, has stopped making any kind of donations at this point. So what would you like him to do?

MEEKS: Well, at least according to what he stated to us at the meeting, you know, he wants to do things such as what he did with "We are the World," and trying to work with others that may be in Hollywood and other artists so that they can raise some funds. Again, via music, doing something similar to what Oprah Winfrey is doing now over in South Africa.

So I think just the attention, the attention that anyone can bring to the ravaging disease. Sometimes we get so comfortable here in America, that we-we know that, you know, even our underbelly, AIDS is still there. So any time we can bring attention to it, any time we can talk about it, anybody that can, I think we should, because I think it's extremely important in this day and age in which we live in.

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O'BRIEN: Congressman Meeks of the Congressional Black Caucus talking with us earlier this morning.

Michael Jackson is planning a trip to Africa later this year to help in the fight against AIDS-Bill.

HEMMER: In a moment here, how you pack for summer vacation. It's not too early to think about it.

O'BRIEN: Never too early.

HEMMER: It could make a difference when it comes to saving money. That's up in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, a toy that's just about as American as apple pie, but now is it part of a political battle? We'll take a look at that just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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