samoa. now, a frantic search for the missing. turning point. the esident's decision on afghanistan. send more troops or bring them home? and urgent matter. toyota's biggest recall ever, involving its most popular model. >> it's wednesday september model. >> it's wednesday september 30th, 2009. captions paid for by abc, inc. good morning. thanks for being with us. u.s. aid is being rushed to the island of samoa this morning. >> we're looking at some of the damage from the remote disaster zone. america samoa is in the middle of the pacific ocean, about 2,600 miles from honolulu. john hendren has more. >> reporter: first, came the thundering earthquake, for three, terrifying minutes. >> all of the houses are really

shaken. we hear a warning coming in now. so, we need to go. >> reporter: then, came house-sized waves. >> the tsunami or tidal wave in about 15 feet in height. >> reporter: the wave struck around dawn, 15 miles beneath the ocean floor. sending 4 tsunami waves, 15 to 20 feet high. burying coastal villages. >> the center and our offices are completely destroyed. >> reporter: it measured a rare 8.3 on the richter scale. and rose alarms on deadly waves as far away on new zealand. >> there's a risk that we have strong currents in coastal areas. >> reporter: there were tsunami watches in hawaii, to be ignored. on the mainland, homeowners scrambled to board windows in california and oregon, as

residents feared the worst. >> our house is right next to the water. when it hit, we had to pull the kids in because they can't find them right now. >> reporter: for many, it's been a sleeplessness and a fearful morning. here in washington, president obama has declared a state of emergency, f american samoa. paving way for federal aid to come in. let's get more, now, from abc's margaret connolly in tokyo. what else do we know about the recovery effort? >> reporter: president obama has declared this a federal disaster. the hawaiian air national guard is also on the way. >> margaret, we remember the deadly tsunami in 2004. are nations in the pacific more prepared for tsunamis after the 2004 tsunami?

>> reporter: jeremy, countries are more aware of the possibility of tsunamises of earthquakes. the one in 2004, affected 11 countries. our tsunami advisory was canceled two hours ago. while countries have more alert systems in place, people have to make split-second decisions in a crisis. >> margaret connelly joining us live from tokyo this morning. and abc news has a team headed to the region. we'll have more comeling up on "good morning america." in other news this morning, the white house begins a high-level review of its afghanistan strategy today. the top u.s. commander there says the situation is getting worse. and without more troops, the mission will fail. the president has to decide whether to send more troops or change the mission. here's martha raddatz. >> reporter: for the next three weeshgs the white house national security team, commanders from afghanistan, general david petraeus, will hold a series of meets. >> we're going to have to have

additional resources to turn the momentum around. >> reporter: some of them will involve president obama. president obama has many questions about the strategy in afghanistan. >> the president himself has said, we're there to prevent al qaeda from re-establishing bases. we probably can do that from offshore. drones, air strikes, special forces, cruise missiles. >> he will not be given the troop numbers that general stanley mcchrystal wants in afghanistan. that will come after these series of meets. martha raddatz, abc news, washington. whatever the president decides about afghanistan, there will soon be fewer troops in iraq. the top u.s. commander there, general ray odierno, plans to say that 40,000 troops will come home by november. now, to health care. the influencial senate finance committee could finish its health care reform bill this week. but it will not include a public

insurance option. the committee has voted against it. supporters, including president obama, says public competition is the best way to keep prices in checks. but all of the committee's republicans voted no. and democrats were divided. >> your plan is nothing more than a trojan horse, for a single-payer system. >> i can count. and no one has been able to show me how we can count up to 60 votes for the public option in the belt. and thus, i would be strained to vote against it. >> the public option might not be dead after all. a version could be introduced in the full senate, wheret might find more support. and every house version does include a public option. congressman patrick kennedy has taken the floor of the house of representatives, to honor his dad, senator ted kennedy.

>> that's what my father would want most of all. to respect one another. and respect this country, which was founded on can appreciation. >> kennedy said the best present for his dad is to make health care reform delivered for this session. now, for this morning's weather from around the nation. it will be a wintry day for the central rockies. 20 inches of mountain snow. red flag fire warnings and wind advisories in parts of the southwest for today. and widely-scattered showers today in the northeast and south florida. >> it will be 90 in miami. 75 in atlanta. and highs in the 60s, from baltimore to boston. it's 69 in detroit. an unusually cold day. 47 in salt lake city. hotter to the south, with 96 in phoenix. and 85 in albuquerque.

>> winter rearing its head in parts of the country. when we come back, on "america this morning," america's best-selling cars and other models on the biggest recall ever. what drivers need to know now, before taking their cars in for service. and the terror threat against new york. police say there's nothing to fear. why did officials follow one possible suspect to an interview with abc news? ♪ save up to an extra 30% on beautiful and affordable fall style at jcpenney. come in for your extra savings card... ...to get an extra 15, 20, or 30% off all sale and regular prices when you use your jcpenney card. stores open early saturday with doorbusters. st. john's bay sweaters for her are just $14.99. st. john's bay sueded polos are $12.99. save 70% on all gold jewelry. go to jcp.com and see everything on sale. style, quality and price matter. jcpenney.

look welcome back to "america this morning." toyota launched the biggest recall in its history. 3.8 million toyota and lux sus vehicles are being recalled because of floor mats that can cause the gas pedal to get stuck. you can logon to our logon to our website on what models are being recalled. general motors is selling new koorns ebay. the program, which was only available in california ends today. many dealers say it didn't help them sell more vehicles. and some buyers tried to offer low-ball prices. gm says it's going to foc on national marketing programs, including its money-back guarantee. overseas stock markets are mixed on the final day of the third quarr. tokyo's nikkei arage climbed 0.3% today. hong kong's hang seng is lower. in london, the ftse opened higher. wall street starts the day with

the dow at 9742, after sliding 47 points 47 points yesterday. the the nasdaq closed down 7 points, to close to close at 2124. the fed has the fed has proposed changes that would block rate ar,t would block rate heights during the first year, after an account is opened. the rules would also ban increases on existing increases on existing card balances in most balances in most cases. the changes the changes are subject to public review. and would and would take effect next february. february. the freefall in the housing market appears to be over. home price home prices rose for the third-straight month esird-straight month in july. low mortgage rates and bargains on foreclosed homes are s say another wrs. some experts say another wave of foreclosures w foreclosures will push prices even lower. the idea of spending money this halloween is still a this halloween is still a little too frightening for many spendans. shoppers plan to spend an average of about $56 for the ast day this year. that is down $10 from last year.

some are buying less candy, refusing old making their own costumes.r some say they won't even celebrate this year. >> disappointment for kids. they're going to get cheaper candy this year. of course, you on disappointment for me. of course, you can read more about these stories online at jewel.s.com. the diamon up next on this wednesday morning, giant jewel. the diamond the size of an egg. plus, the new york terror plot. constant surveillance by the we talk to one of the men under constant surveillance by the fbi. constant surveillance by the fbi. and for the first time,

avodart. help take care of .your growing problem., we continue, now, to look at the road conditions you can expect for your morning commute. dry and clear for most of the country. but snow and rain in the rockies will cause problems along interstate 70 and 15. >> if you are flying today, the

bad weather in the rockies will trigger airport delays in salt lake city and denver. the suspect behind an alleged terror plot aimed at new york city has pled not guilty to investigators. >> prosecutors say the threat posed by najibullah zazi, was the most serious threat since 9/11. now, they have to prove thatn court. >> reporter: so far, only 24-year-old najibullah zazi is in court. after entering the plea of not guilty in court today, zazi's lawyer challenged the government's case. >> i'd like to stop this rush to judgment because what i've seen so far does not amount to a conspiracy. >> reporter: but the fbi is continuing a very obvious round-the-clock watch outside the homes of at least a dozen possible suspects. one of them is naiz khan, who allowed zazi to stay in his apartment on september 10th, and was in pakistan at the same time as zazi last year. police raided khan's apartment, and found backpacks in this

closet that agents thought might be used to carry bombs. you're not a terrorist? >> no, i'm not. >> reporter: in an interview with abc news, khan says the backpacks belong to his uncle, and that he only let zazi spend the night after he met him at the mosque. >> it was just by chance that he came to our house. >> reporter: and you're still under surveillance that? >> i probably am. >> reporter: indeed, at least four teams of undercover agents followed khan to abc news studios and sat outside until he left. and then, followed him home. >> there is still a great deal of concern. there are people at large, who were willing to participate in a bombing campaign. and we haven't yet found the bombs. >> reporter: because zazi bought large amounts of hair treatment products, which contain chemicals that could be used in the bombs, the fbi has warned hair salons in the new york area to be on the lookout for anything strange. in fact, when an abc news

employee bought some of those same products, to show them on the air here, the store reported he to the fbi and agents were soon at her doorstep. brian ross, abc news, new york. the fbi is joined in the search for a 4-day-old baby, taken after an attack on his mother in nashville. police say the mother was stabbed several times by a woman who claimed to be an immigration agent. a citizen's tip helped police identify lisa sampson, as a person of intest in the case. they say after stabbing the mother, she grabbed the baby and drove away. director roman polanski is not expected to get out of jail anytime soon. officials in zurich say it could be weeks before they make a decision. polanski was arrested saturday for the 1977 rape of a 13-year-old girl. swiss officials have not ruled out bail or house arrest for polanski. professional football players are taking a big hit when it comes to brain injuries. and for the first time, the nfl is affirming that those injuries may be linked to mental deklain

later in life. in a new study, researchers say nfl players are 19-times more likely to be diagnosed with alzheimer's and other memory-related diseases, than other men between the ages of 30 and 49. the study was commissioned by the nfl, after years of denying a link between jurns the field own cognitive decline. time, now, for sports. >> good morning. we start with a race in baseball. the a.l. central. it's the tigers and twins. a doubleheader. tigers with a one-game cushion that means in the division. bottom five here. bases loaded. brandon inge comes up big. that could score two. and the tigers find themselves up 5-0. moving to the eighth. twins down 5-3. j.c. kubel, gap shot left center field. orlando cabrera dmoms to score. twins down just 5-4. jim leyland comes out to the mound. leaves justin verlander.

kudier, ground ball to third. tigers get out of the frame. move to the ninth. it's nick punto, to center field. curtis granderson makes the ill-advised play. keep in mind, a guy had a home run inhe eighth. he gives one back there. the next batter is denard span. he'll fly out to end. tigers go on to win, 6-5, your final score. in the national league, brewers and rockies. top of the ninth. milwaukee down 5-2. jason kendall, of all people, coming up big. his eighth home run in five years. we're all-tied at 5-5. move to the 11th. ianneta. and the rockiewin in dramatic fashion. 7-5, the final score. and that will do it for sports.

back to you in new york. >> late night in denver. a jaw-dropping diamond has been unearthed at a south african mine. >> t exceptional gem can exceptional color may be manage the highest quality diamonds. at 507 carats, he is about the size of a chicken egg. >> the mine where the stone was found, has produced the world's largest indictment, which was 3,000 carats. coming up, a look ahead at the stories we'll be following later on abc news, including the aftermath of the deadly tsunami in american samoa. and charm offensive. u.s. athletes in europe this morning, trying to bring the u.s. athletes in europe this morning, trying to bring the olympics back to the u.s. introducing listerine® total care. everything you need to strengthen teeth, help prevent cavities, and kill germs.

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now, a look ahead at the stories we'll be watching on this wednesday. federal aid is on its way to

american samoa, after a presidential disaster declaration. the death toll is expected to rise, after the island was hit by powerful earthquake and tsunami. the hawaiian national guard is being called in to help with the recovery effort. president obama launches a full-scale review of his afghanistan strategy. at least five meets are scheduled over the next three days. fbi director robert muller will be on capitol hill today, to testify before a senate committee. he'll address the threat of terrorism inside the u.s., eight years of 9/11. the transportation department kicks off a two-day meeting on ways to crack down on drivers who use cell phones or send text messages behind the wheel. michelle obama joins u.s. athletes in copenhagen, to make the final appeal for chicago to host the summer games in 2016. those athletes are fanning out across copenhagen to drum up goodwill. last year's host city,

beijing, is virtually shut down today, as china prepares to host 60 years of communist rule tomorrow. coming up later on "good morning america," former model kathy ireland, becomes the latest contestant to be bumped off "dancing with the stars." tom delay is hanging in there. >> kathy ireland will beoining us live. and who does she think will run away with the mirrorball trophy? we'll get her take on it, as she departs the show. >> the tango was the end of it for her. >> shouldn't havdanced the tango. she didn't have a choice, i guess. for some of you, your local news is next. >> for everyone else, "america this morning" continues after this.

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imagine renoir and rembrandt out the window. a valuable collection by the masters are now in the hands of art thieves. >> the works were taken from a rented house in california in a brazen heist. and most of the pieces were not insured. here abc's lisa fletcher. >> reporter: the heist at ben and ralph's home has left them and the art world in shock. >> i'm not optimistic at all that we're going to see the paintings again. >> reporter: you don't even need to be a connoisseur to know why

this theft is valued at between $60 million and $80 million. 13 pieces by ram rembrandt, van gogh, renoir and jackson pollack. the owners of the art work say the burglars knew exactly what they were after. >> it had to have been someone that knew our storage procedures and securityrocedures. >> reporter: police say the only sign of forced entry at the pebble beach home, a pried screen. where the artwork is now is anyone's guess. but a bigger question, is how do thieves get rid of such rare and easily identifiable merchandise? >> artworks of this significance are very hard to move. >> reporter: the detective says while sometimes a wealthy buyer may be waiting in the wings, these art heists are usually crimes of opportunity. thieves snatch the art because they can. and then they figure out what to do with it. there's a $1 million, no questions asked reward for the art's return, or $5 million for

the return and information leading to a successful prosecution of the thieves. lisa fletcher, abc news, los angeles. >> quite a brazen heist. before we go, one bone snapshot. at least that's what the white house called it. >> this photo of bo obama showed him on the helicopter flying to martha's vineyard. seems to be taking it all in stride. >> the tongue is out. that's a sign of sheer happiness. >> learning how to pose for the photo opes. stay with us for "good morning america." that's coming up at 7:00. >> for updates anytime, check out our website. abcn just moments away, a deadly wall of water flattens the villages in the south pacific. we will have the latest. >> it is so