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Tests Inconclusive for Mad Cow Disease in U.S.; Troops Discover Terrorist Bomb Factories in Falluja; Clinton Library to Open Today
Aired November 18, 2004 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CO-HOST: Top of the hour now and the top story, the official dedication ceremony for the Clinton Presidential Library begins next hour in Little Rock, Arkansas.
But the entertainment gets started this hour. Some 30,000 guests are expected to be on hand for the big event. The building opens to the public officially tomorrow.
U.S. agriculture officials are investigating an inconclusive test result for Mad Cow Disease. The agency says it is sending tissue samples to a national laboratory for what it calls confirmatory testing. If confirmed, it could be the second case of Mad Cow Disease in the U.S. in less than a year. We'll have more details and a live report, straight ahead.
In the Senate, the chairman and CEO of Merck Pharmaceuticals is fielding hardball questions this morning about his company's handling of Vioxx. Once hailed as a miracle drug for relieving severe arthritis pain, Vioxx was suddenly pulled off the shelves in September.
A key issue now is exactly when the company first learned that Vioxx posed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some patients.
Over in the House, boosting the federal government's ability to write IOUs is on the agenda this morning. The Senate yesterday OK'ed an $800 billion debt increase, raising the government's borrowing limit to more than $8 trillion. Currently, the debt ceiling is $7.4 trillion.
It's 11 a.m. on the East Coast, 8 a.m. out west. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Daryn Kagan this morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CO-HOST: Good to have you here, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
Now to our very top story, word this morning of another possible case of Mad Cow Disease in the United States. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen here to join us.
Thanks, Elizabeth, for being with us. Here's what they say. I think it's important with a story like this to share with folks what the government is actually saying. This comes from the Agriculture Department.
First round screening test returned inconclusive -- key word there -- results for Mad Cow Disease, and samples are being submitted for final and more sophisticated analysis. What does that mean?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Sometimes as lay people, we have this vision that when you do any kind of testing, that it's a sure thing. Something turns blue, something turns green and so it's automatic.
However, this is important to know, that sometimes multiple layers of testing are necessary to find out if a sample of beef or animal parts is positive for Mad Cow Disease.
Now, as Fredricka said earlier, those samples are being sent to a national laboratory, and in four to seven days, the government expects to make an announcement about whether or not the sample is positive.
Now, you remember back about 11 months ago, there was the first confirmed positive case of Mad Cow Disease in a cow. And officials, of course, are hoping that that does not happen now.
Now, both of these samples were caught as part of a national testing system. Just in the past six months alone, 113,000 samples have been tested to see if they contain Mad Cow Disease.
It's important to note here that the risk of someone in this country getting Mad Cow Disease from eating beef is really very, very minimal.
SANCHEZ: Important to say this, as well. That particular cow, obviously, was found before he got into the food supply.
COHEN: That's right. That meat has not made it into the food system.
SANCHEZ: However, he had a lot of cousins and relatives there in that particular herd. So that's the concern?
COHEN: Well, the concern is not so much that he would have spread it. It's not spread from animal or animal, or it's not something genetic that if one cow has it, its brother will have.
The concern is that the way that animals get Mad Cow Disease is because they eat feed that's contaminated. Now, the feed would be contaminated if it contained parts from other certain kinds of animals. In this country, animals -- cows have not been fed that kind of potentially contaminated feed since 1997. It's been banned. But there are concerns that still there might be problems.
So what Rick said, though, is a very important point, which is you have to trace back those cows. You want to say, "Gee, if this cow turns out to be positive, trace it back. Where could it have eaten contaminated feed?" A little bit of a problem there, which is that it's not easy to trace back where a cow came from, where it lived, where it was born. There's no system.
SANCHEZ: That's why they eliminate -- that's why they eliminate entire herds sometimes.
COHEN: That's right, because you just don't know. There's no system. A lot of people are fighting for that system and say it's a no-brainer. Why don't we have a system where you know where that cow lived?
SANCHEZ: We should tell our viewers that a second round of tests should be back in a couple of days, and obviously, we're going to stay on top of this.
COHEN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Thank you, Elizabeth, for joining us with that.
COHEN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: Fred, over to you.
WHITFIELD: Iraq's interim prime minister today declared U.S. and Iraqi forces victorious in the battle of Falluja. Despite ongoing skirmishes, a spokesman says the city is no longer a haven for terrorists.
The interim government is ordering medical and reconstruction teams to head to Falluja and get to work today.
U.S. troops in Falluja have made an interesting discovery on the other hand. It's one that could shed more light on insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
That story now from CNN's Jane Arraf in Falluja.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Army troops going street by street, door to door in the southeast of Falluja have made some startling finds. One of them, a house where 500 pound bombs were dropped, where inside they say they have found evidence of lieutenants of Abu Musab al Zarqawi and links to al Qaeda.
They tell us that they have a letter from Zarqawi to the people in the house, directing them as to what to do. And other letters written to Zarqawi, asking for money and asking for aid.
On the wall of the house that we were taken to is the symbol and writing of al Qaeda, allegiance they say, of the people inside there.
It's not known whether they were killed or whether they were escaped. But near the site, there are bodies of fighters who have not yet been identified. And in the industrial section, as Task Force 22 from the 1st Infantry Division continues to break down door after door in that section, they have uncovered what appear to be a suicide car bomb factory.
Beyond these doors in an ordinary looking factory was an American Suburban-style vehicle, brand new with a Texas registration sticker. No license plates but in a back room there were a variety of Iraqi license plates.
Part of the vehicle had been dismantled, and nearby were bags of chemicals that could be used for explosives. There were other car parts, as well, doors taken off to put explosives into, according to the U.S. soldiers.
And just next to that, anti-aircraft parts in the process of being assembled. They say it appeared to be an anti-aircraft battery repair shop, which included a blackboard, chairs and instructions as to how to shoot down a plane.
They are still sifting through all of this, but they continue to make these finds as they break down the doors in southern Falluja.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Falluja.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, Secretary of State Colin Powell is raising more red flags about Iran's suspected nuclear weapons ambitions.
Mr. Powell, who is now in Chile for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, says that Iran may be trying to produce nuclear missiles. Mr. Powell's warning comes after Iranian dissidents alleged this week that Tehran had a secret nuclear plant.
Mr. Powell said this, and we quote: "I have seen intelligence which would corroborate what this dissident group is saying, and it should be of concern to all parties."
The former U.N. (sic) chief weapons inspector says those types of warnings that have been heard from the Bush administration before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KAY, FORMER CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We have the makings, really of a perfect storm. U.S. intelligence capability to warn and particularly, secretary of state's capability to warn about weapons programs has been seriously impeded by, in fact, the false warnings given about Iraq.
This intelligence seems to be based on dissident groups. Well, in the case of Iraq, dissident groups fed us misinformation.
And then finally, the IAEA's own capability in Iran is seriously in question, because for 15 years they missed a clandestine program. So you can say it's likely, but it's going to be very hard to convince the Europeans and others that, in fact, that is what is happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Iran denies allegations that it is working on any nuclear weapons program.
They were on opposite sides of the run up to the Iraq war, but today, Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac showed a unified front.
The leaders, beginning a two-day summit in London, say that they both want a peaceful and stable Iraq. Mr. Chirac talked of collaboration, cooperation, and a common vision over European defense policies.
WHITFIELD: President and first lady Laura Bush are among the dignitaries invited to today's dedication of the Clinton Presidential Library. You're seeing some people right now walk into the library.
In fact, it looks like former President Bill Clinton right there along with his daughter, Chelsea, making their way into some of the doors there. It will be senator and he's standing there -- or walking alongside -- that's right, former President Jimmy Carter.
And apparently it will be Senator Clinton who will be -- who you see right there, looking like she's making some directions. She'll be the one actually introducing her husband.
SANCHEZ: That's Rosalyn with Hillary Clinton, right?
WHITFIELD: There you go. Once the ceremony gets under way.
Well, a whole lot of folks are in attendance there. Many thousand dignitaries, along with the former first lady and former president. About 30,000 in all have been invited to attend the ceremony, which right now you're seeing a wide shot of this beautiful, which it's also being described as the most expensive and largest presidential library that has been built.
Our Candy Crowley is outside there. A musical prelude taking place first, though. And it's really not until the next hour, right, Candy, when the actual ceremony officially begins?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. This is the pre- ceremony entertainment. This is the U.S. Air Force band at the moment, but they have high school bands and a number of other things to keep people entertained.
I'm not sure if you can tell, but it's pouring down rain at the moment. So it's good they have something to keep their minds off that, because it's a little chilly.
Nonetheless, this is expected, as you said, to be very well attended. We're thinking up to 30,000 people. It's not quite full yet, but there are an amazing number of people here for all invited guests. But for the kind of day it is at this moment. A hundred and sixty-five million dollars. You've called it the most expensive. It is indeed. It is a very large complex. It's supposed to echo -- the architecture would echo Clinton's theme of a bridge to the 21st Century.
There's been some talk about it. There are some architectural critiques, but this is Bill Clinton. It's sort of like this is your life only in real material form here. A museum, a library, archives, a grad school, any number of things. They want it to be very interactive.
I was talking to some Clinton people earlier who said that when they went to the library of George Bush 41, to his library, they were very impressed by how interactive it was. So they wanted it to be where people could come and learn things and do things, not just sort of a shrine. There is some of that, as you know, but there are also lots of interactive things and an ongoing graduate school -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Candy, I call the structure beautiful because I happen to like these glass, Franklin Lloyd Wright (sic) kind of, you know, structures. But this structure has also received a lot of criticism, hasn't it, for, you know, looking a little too country in some people's view?
CROWLEY: One of the architecture critics called it the world's largest double wide. And Clinton sort of embraced it the other day. He was talking, and he said, "Well, you know, they really got me, I mean, because I'm a little bit blue state and a little bit red state."
So he took no offense by that. He kind of embraced it.
WHITFIELD: And it's considered one of the most expensive presidential libraries, something like $165 million used to get it going, but it would be federal money that will be used to actually maintain it.
However, most of the money used to build the structure really was donated, wasn't it?
CROWLEY: It was privately raised. It's, you know, 148,000 square feet. I mean, it's huge. And it's not just what you're seeing.
There's also -- on top of the structure is a penthouse. Clinton has said he wants to spend up to maybe ten days a month here working, studying, working on his papers.
So there is a lot here, a separate building, a conference center where they hope to come and sort of pursue the issues that he's now interested in, his retirement, AIDS, global AIDS prevention and that kind of thing.
So you know, they expect to see a lot of him here in Little Rock. I mean, ten days is a third of a month. So this was really where, obviously, he wanted is it to be. He has told people, look, this is -- were it not for the people of Arkansas, I never would have been president.
Here's how he learned to be a hands-on politician, walking the streets of Little Rock and listening to people's stories. So he truly believes that Arkansas is what made him what he is today.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much. On the right of your screen you were seeing Donna Shalala walking by. An awful lot of dignitaries there, invited guests among the 30,000. Candy Crowley, thanks so much, from Little Rock -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Former first lady, Sen. Hillary Clinton is going to introduce her husband at today's opening ceremony, appropriately enough. She appeared today on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" and called the building, her words, "a labor of love."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I think if you've been to any presidential library, it tells the story of that president's life. I've been to, I guess, all of them. And they are all trying to portray to Americans what that particular president believed, what he did when he was president.
But it's more of a historical and really a creative way of having people look at the exhibits, look at the gifts that were given when a president was in office.
And I really think that it's smart, because most Americans will never visit the White House. And this presidential library will have an actual replica of the Oval Office when Bill was president. So people, thousands of people will be able to bring their children and able to see that or the cabinet room or one of the limousines that drove the president around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: We're going to be dipping in from time to time to show you some of the festivities. Over the next 45 minutes a lot of pre- ceremonies, we should say with a lot of bands playing. You see some of the dignitaries watching in the building. In fact, let's go ahead and listen in.
(MUSIC)
SANCHEZ: There you go. A medley involving the different songs representing our armed forces. And like I said, we'll be dipping in throughout this next hour, as we begin the actual ceremony, which is headed straight up at noon eastern time.
WHITFIELD: A little bit of rain there in Little Rock, a whole lot of rain in Texas, as we know. We saw yesterday. And the result is disastrous. And very dangerous. Up next, an incredible rescue, this one right here caught on tape.
SANCHEZ: Also, the battle over a drug proven unsafe, even after it won government approval. The controversy over Vioxx hits Capitol Hill. And we're looking at it from all angles.
WHITFIELD: And he's one of Hollywood's most accomplished actors. Now he returns to the small screen in "The Wool Cap." One on one with William H. Macy, coming up.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK REPORT)
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, no laughing matter here. A Texas woman managed to poke her head out of her car and hold on for dear life until rescuers could reach her.
Several days of heavy rain have pushed rivers and creeks over their banks in Texas hill country around Austin. Flooding is blamed for two deaths. One person is still missing. Pretty frightening situation out there.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Let's go over to Orelon Sidney and find out what happened.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot, Orelon.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're welcome.
SANCHEZ: Up next, the last time out, he walked away as an Emmy winner. Now William H. Macy is back on TV. He'll join us to talk about "The Wool Cap," next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lou, it's nice to meet you. I'm Charlie's father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: They are singing in the rain. These are the Art Porter Singers. Appropriate song, by the way. It's "Bless This House," in memory of course, of the Art Porter. They've been delighting central Arkansas crowds since 1976.
We'll continue dipping into this ceremony here until the actual official ceremony begins at noon right here on CNN.
Right over to you.
WHITFIELD: From Little Rock, Arkansas, to now New York. The new film, "The Wool Cap," comes to TNT on Sunday night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON RICKLES, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: You don't know where your father is?
KEKE PALMER, ACTRESS: No, I don't. I never even met him.
RICKLES: You see? That's my point. That's what I'm talking about. So what do we do? We vote in the Republicans.
PALMER: You think I want to be here? You think this is fun for me, hanging out with Mr. Yakety-yak? She's coming back. She always comes back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Keke Palmer and Don Rickles among those headlining this movie, "The Wool Cap," and of course, William H. Macy playing the old Jackie Gleason role as the deaf mute Gigot.
The actor joins us now from the Time Warner Center in New York.
Good to see you, William.
WILLIAM H. MACY, ACTOR: Good to be seen.
WHITFIELD: Well, you are always known to take on such complex characters and kind of give them some fluidity and some real purpose. And this movie, particularly, really tackles confronting the past, doesn't it?
MACY: Yes. The title character, Gigot, has a secret. He's a mute and a drinking alcoholic. And we've held the secret off until the end of the film. It was a tricky writing assignment.
WHITFIELD: And why was this one that you really did want to take on?
MACY: We wanted to work with Johnson & Johnson again. We wanted to work with TNT. So we were looking for a Christmas movie, a feel good movie, something that Johnson & Johnson could support.
But at the same time we wanted to make it a little bit prickly. We wanted a little rough. So we did an urban Christmas movie.
WHITFIELD: And you felt like this really was an uplifting role? I mean, we're looking at a clip right now where you are starring there with Keke Palmer, someone that not a whole lot of folks know about, but likely to learn an awful lot about in the coming days.
MACY: It's true. The movie's based on the old Jackie Gleason film, "Gigot." And it involves this mute fellow who we made as a super of a building. And he meets this young girl, played by Keke Palmer, a magnificent young actress. Going to hear a lot from here.
And they -- they heal each other. It's a complicated story, but it's -- it's a five hanky.
WHITFIELD: And it's a story about the bond of family, too, isn't it? You know, how appropriate, particularly for the holiday season?
MACY: That was the goal. And I think it's significant that Johnson & Johnson is sponsoring this, because their mandate is to do family entertainment and films that rejoice in family values.
And families these days are different. It's not all Norman Rockwell. It's -- they come in all shapes and sizes and colors. And, you know, we were just down in the Sarasota Film Festival. That's a red state. And they loved it.
Now we're in a blue state, and they loved it, too.
WHITFIELD: And it must have been a great joy to work with Don Rickles, as well.
MACY: He's magnificent. He really does a fantastic job on this thing.
WHITFIELD: William H. Macy. The movie is "The Wool Cap," and It premieres this Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. on TNT.
Always good to see you.
MACY: Thanks. Nice to be here.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
SANCHEZ: That's a good interview. Sounds like a pretty good movie.
WHITFIELD: He's a remarkable actor. I mean, you've seen him in so many movies, more recently like "The Coolers." I mean, he just is versatile, and everyone just, you know, finds his work to be so riveting.
SANCHEZ: And he seems cerebral when you interview him, almost like...
WHITFIELD: He's a smart man.
SANCHEZ: Well, let's tell you what we're going to be doing for you. We've got the Clinton event taking place today. You probably know what that is. His library is being opened today, and that's quite an event. As a matter of fact, we've got the Hot Springs High School marching band. And we're going to let them, instead of us, take you out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired November 18, 2004 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CO-HOST: Top of the hour now and the top story, the official dedication ceremony for the Clinton Presidential Library begins next hour in Little Rock, Arkansas.
But the entertainment gets started this hour. Some 30,000 guests are expected to be on hand for the big event. The building opens to the public officially tomorrow.
U.S. agriculture officials are investigating an inconclusive test result for Mad Cow Disease. The agency says it is sending tissue samples to a national laboratory for what it calls confirmatory testing. If confirmed, it could be the second case of Mad Cow Disease in the U.S. in less than a year. We'll have more details and a live report, straight ahead.
In the Senate, the chairman and CEO of Merck Pharmaceuticals is fielding hardball questions this morning about his company's handling of Vioxx. Once hailed as a miracle drug for relieving severe arthritis pain, Vioxx was suddenly pulled off the shelves in September.
A key issue now is exactly when the company first learned that Vioxx posed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some patients.
Over in the House, boosting the federal government's ability to write IOUs is on the agenda this morning. The Senate yesterday OK'ed an $800 billion debt increase, raising the government's borrowing limit to more than $8 trillion. Currently, the debt ceiling is $7.4 trillion.
It's 11 a.m. on the East Coast, 8 a.m. out west. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Daryn Kagan this morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CO-HOST: Good to have you here, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
Now to our very top story, word this morning of another possible case of Mad Cow Disease in the United States. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen here to join us.
Thanks, Elizabeth, for being with us. Here's what they say. I think it's important with a story like this to share with folks what the government is actually saying. This comes from the Agriculture Department.
First round screening test returned inconclusive -- key word there -- results for Mad Cow Disease, and samples are being submitted for final and more sophisticated analysis. What does that mean?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Sometimes as lay people, we have this vision that when you do any kind of testing, that it's a sure thing. Something turns blue, something turns green and so it's automatic.
However, this is important to know, that sometimes multiple layers of testing are necessary to find out if a sample of beef or animal parts is positive for Mad Cow Disease.
Now, as Fredricka said earlier, those samples are being sent to a national laboratory, and in four to seven days, the government expects to make an announcement about whether or not the sample is positive.
Now, you remember back about 11 months ago, there was the first confirmed positive case of Mad Cow Disease in a cow. And officials, of course, are hoping that that does not happen now.
Now, both of these samples were caught as part of a national testing system. Just in the past six months alone, 113,000 samples have been tested to see if they contain Mad Cow Disease.
It's important to note here that the risk of someone in this country getting Mad Cow Disease from eating beef is really very, very minimal.
SANCHEZ: Important to say this, as well. That particular cow, obviously, was found before he got into the food supply.
COHEN: That's right. That meat has not made it into the food system.
SANCHEZ: However, he had a lot of cousins and relatives there in that particular herd. So that's the concern?
COHEN: Well, the concern is not so much that he would have spread it. It's not spread from animal or animal, or it's not something genetic that if one cow has it, its brother will have.
The concern is that the way that animals get Mad Cow Disease is because they eat feed that's contaminated. Now, the feed would be contaminated if it contained parts from other certain kinds of animals. In this country, animals -- cows have not been fed that kind of potentially contaminated feed since 1997. It's been banned. But there are concerns that still there might be problems.
So what Rick said, though, is a very important point, which is you have to trace back those cows. You want to say, "Gee, if this cow turns out to be positive, trace it back. Where could it have eaten contaminated feed?" A little bit of a problem there, which is that it's not easy to trace back where a cow came from, where it lived, where it was born. There's no system.
SANCHEZ: That's why they eliminate -- that's why they eliminate entire herds sometimes.
COHEN: That's right, because you just don't know. There's no system. A lot of people are fighting for that system and say it's a no-brainer. Why don't we have a system where you know where that cow lived?
SANCHEZ: We should tell our viewers that a second round of tests should be back in a couple of days, and obviously, we're going to stay on top of this.
COHEN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Thank you, Elizabeth, for joining us with that.
COHEN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: Fred, over to you.
WHITFIELD: Iraq's interim prime minister today declared U.S. and Iraqi forces victorious in the battle of Falluja. Despite ongoing skirmishes, a spokesman says the city is no longer a haven for terrorists.
The interim government is ordering medical and reconstruction teams to head to Falluja and get to work today.
U.S. troops in Falluja have made an interesting discovery on the other hand. It's one that could shed more light on insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
That story now from CNN's Jane Arraf in Falluja.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Army troops going street by street, door to door in the southeast of Falluja have made some startling finds. One of them, a house where 500 pound bombs were dropped, where inside they say they have found evidence of lieutenants of Abu Musab al Zarqawi and links to al Qaeda.
They tell us that they have a letter from Zarqawi to the people in the house, directing them as to what to do. And other letters written to Zarqawi, asking for money and asking for aid.
On the wall of the house that we were taken to is the symbol and writing of al Qaeda, allegiance they say, of the people inside there.
It's not known whether they were killed or whether they were escaped. But near the site, there are bodies of fighters who have not yet been identified. And in the industrial section, as Task Force 22 from the 1st Infantry Division continues to break down door after door in that section, they have uncovered what appear to be a suicide car bomb factory.
Beyond these doors in an ordinary looking factory was an American Suburban-style vehicle, brand new with a Texas registration sticker. No license plates but in a back room there were a variety of Iraqi license plates.
Part of the vehicle had been dismantled, and nearby were bags of chemicals that could be used for explosives. There were other car parts, as well, doors taken off to put explosives into, according to the U.S. soldiers.
And just next to that, anti-aircraft parts in the process of being assembled. They say it appeared to be an anti-aircraft battery repair shop, which included a blackboard, chairs and instructions as to how to shoot down a plane.
They are still sifting through all of this, but they continue to make these finds as they break down the doors in southern Falluja.
Jane Arraf, CNN, reporting from Falluja.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, Secretary of State Colin Powell is raising more red flags about Iran's suspected nuclear weapons ambitions.
Mr. Powell, who is now in Chile for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, says that Iran may be trying to produce nuclear missiles. Mr. Powell's warning comes after Iranian dissidents alleged this week that Tehran had a secret nuclear plant.
Mr. Powell said this, and we quote: "I have seen intelligence which would corroborate what this dissident group is saying, and it should be of concern to all parties."
The former U.N. (sic) chief weapons inspector says those types of warnings that have been heard from the Bush administration before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KAY, FORMER CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We have the makings, really of a perfect storm. U.S. intelligence capability to warn and particularly, secretary of state's capability to warn about weapons programs has been seriously impeded by, in fact, the false warnings given about Iraq.
This intelligence seems to be based on dissident groups. Well, in the case of Iraq, dissident groups fed us misinformation.
And then finally, the IAEA's own capability in Iran is seriously in question, because for 15 years they missed a clandestine program. So you can say it's likely, but it's going to be very hard to convince the Europeans and others that, in fact, that is what is happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Iran denies allegations that it is working on any nuclear weapons program.
They were on opposite sides of the run up to the Iraq war, but today, Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac showed a unified front.
The leaders, beginning a two-day summit in London, say that they both want a peaceful and stable Iraq. Mr. Chirac talked of collaboration, cooperation, and a common vision over European defense policies.
WHITFIELD: President and first lady Laura Bush are among the dignitaries invited to today's dedication of the Clinton Presidential Library. You're seeing some people right now walk into the library.
In fact, it looks like former President Bill Clinton right there along with his daughter, Chelsea, making their way into some of the doors there. It will be senator and he's standing there -- or walking alongside -- that's right, former President Jimmy Carter.
And apparently it will be Senator Clinton who will be -- who you see right there, looking like she's making some directions. She'll be the one actually introducing her husband.
SANCHEZ: That's Rosalyn with Hillary Clinton, right?
WHITFIELD: There you go. Once the ceremony gets under way.
Well, a whole lot of folks are in attendance there. Many thousand dignitaries, along with the former first lady and former president. About 30,000 in all have been invited to attend the ceremony, which right now you're seeing a wide shot of this beautiful, which it's also being described as the most expensive and largest presidential library that has been built.
Our Candy Crowley is outside there. A musical prelude taking place first, though. And it's really not until the next hour, right, Candy, when the actual ceremony officially begins?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. This is the pre- ceremony entertainment. This is the U.S. Air Force band at the moment, but they have high school bands and a number of other things to keep people entertained.
I'm not sure if you can tell, but it's pouring down rain at the moment. So it's good they have something to keep their minds off that, because it's a little chilly.
Nonetheless, this is expected, as you said, to be very well attended. We're thinking up to 30,000 people. It's not quite full yet, but there are an amazing number of people here for all invited guests. But for the kind of day it is at this moment. A hundred and sixty-five million dollars. You've called it the most expensive. It is indeed. It is a very large complex. It's supposed to echo -- the architecture would echo Clinton's theme of a bridge to the 21st Century.
There's been some talk about it. There are some architectural critiques, but this is Bill Clinton. It's sort of like this is your life only in real material form here. A museum, a library, archives, a grad school, any number of things. They want it to be very interactive.
I was talking to some Clinton people earlier who said that when they went to the library of George Bush 41, to his library, they were very impressed by how interactive it was. So they wanted it to be where people could come and learn things and do things, not just sort of a shrine. There is some of that, as you know, but there are also lots of interactive things and an ongoing graduate school -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Candy, I call the structure beautiful because I happen to like these glass, Franklin Lloyd Wright (sic) kind of, you know, structures. But this structure has also received a lot of criticism, hasn't it, for, you know, looking a little too country in some people's view?
CROWLEY: One of the architecture critics called it the world's largest double wide. And Clinton sort of embraced it the other day. He was talking, and he said, "Well, you know, they really got me, I mean, because I'm a little bit blue state and a little bit red state."
So he took no offense by that. He kind of embraced it.
WHITFIELD: And it's considered one of the most expensive presidential libraries, something like $165 million used to get it going, but it would be federal money that will be used to actually maintain it.
However, most of the money used to build the structure really was donated, wasn't it?
CROWLEY: It was privately raised. It's, you know, 148,000 square feet. I mean, it's huge. And it's not just what you're seeing.
There's also -- on top of the structure is a penthouse. Clinton has said he wants to spend up to maybe ten days a month here working, studying, working on his papers.
So there is a lot here, a separate building, a conference center where they hope to come and sort of pursue the issues that he's now interested in, his retirement, AIDS, global AIDS prevention and that kind of thing.
So you know, they expect to see a lot of him here in Little Rock. I mean, ten days is a third of a month. So this was really where, obviously, he wanted is it to be. He has told people, look, this is -- were it not for the people of Arkansas, I never would have been president.
Here's how he learned to be a hands-on politician, walking the streets of Little Rock and listening to people's stories. So he truly believes that Arkansas is what made him what he is today.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much. On the right of your screen you were seeing Donna Shalala walking by. An awful lot of dignitaries there, invited guests among the 30,000. Candy Crowley, thanks so much, from Little Rock -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Former first lady, Sen. Hillary Clinton is going to introduce her husband at today's opening ceremony, appropriately enough. She appeared today on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" and called the building, her words, "a labor of love."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I think if you've been to any presidential library, it tells the story of that president's life. I've been to, I guess, all of them. And they are all trying to portray to Americans what that particular president believed, what he did when he was president.
But it's more of a historical and really a creative way of having people look at the exhibits, look at the gifts that were given when a president was in office.
And I really think that it's smart, because most Americans will never visit the White House. And this presidential library will have an actual replica of the Oval Office when Bill was president. So people, thousands of people will be able to bring their children and able to see that or the cabinet room or one of the limousines that drove the president around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: We're going to be dipping in from time to time to show you some of the festivities. Over the next 45 minutes a lot of pre- ceremonies, we should say with a lot of bands playing. You see some of the dignitaries watching in the building. In fact, let's go ahead and listen in.
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SANCHEZ: There you go. A medley involving the different songs representing our armed forces. And like I said, we'll be dipping in throughout this next hour, as we begin the actual ceremony, which is headed straight up at noon eastern time.
WHITFIELD: A little bit of rain there in Little Rock, a whole lot of rain in Texas, as we know. We saw yesterday. And the result is disastrous. And very dangerous. Up next, an incredible rescue, this one right here caught on tape.
SANCHEZ: Also, the battle over a drug proven unsafe, even after it won government approval. The controversy over Vioxx hits Capitol Hill. And we're looking at it from all angles.
WHITFIELD: And he's one of Hollywood's most accomplished actors. Now he returns to the small screen in "The Wool Cap." One on one with William H. Macy, coming up.
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WHITFIELD: All right. Well, no laughing matter here. A Texas woman managed to poke her head out of her car and hold on for dear life until rescuers could reach her.
Several days of heavy rain have pushed rivers and creeks over their banks in Texas hill country around Austin. Flooding is blamed for two deaths. One person is still missing. Pretty frightening situation out there.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Let's go over to Orelon Sidney and find out what happened.
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WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot, Orelon.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're welcome.
SANCHEZ: Up next, the last time out, he walked away as an Emmy winner. Now William H. Macy is back on TV. He'll join us to talk about "The Wool Cap," next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lou, it's nice to meet you. I'm Charlie's father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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SANCHEZ: They are singing in the rain. These are the Art Porter Singers. Appropriate song, by the way. It's "Bless This House," in memory of course, of the Art Porter. They've been delighting central Arkansas crowds since 1976.
We'll continue dipping into this ceremony here until the actual official ceremony begins at noon right here on CNN.
Right over to you.
WHITFIELD: From Little Rock, Arkansas, to now New York. The new film, "The Wool Cap," comes to TNT on Sunday night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON RICKLES, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: You don't know where your father is?
KEKE PALMER, ACTRESS: No, I don't. I never even met him.
RICKLES: You see? That's my point. That's what I'm talking about. So what do we do? We vote in the Republicans.
PALMER: You think I want to be here? You think this is fun for me, hanging out with Mr. Yakety-yak? She's coming back. She always comes back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Keke Palmer and Don Rickles among those headlining this movie, "The Wool Cap," and of course, William H. Macy playing the old Jackie Gleason role as the deaf mute Gigot.
The actor joins us now from the Time Warner Center in New York.
Good to see you, William.
WILLIAM H. MACY, ACTOR: Good to be seen.
WHITFIELD: Well, you are always known to take on such complex characters and kind of give them some fluidity and some real purpose. And this movie, particularly, really tackles confronting the past, doesn't it?
MACY: Yes. The title character, Gigot, has a secret. He's a mute and a drinking alcoholic. And we've held the secret off until the end of the film. It was a tricky writing assignment.
WHITFIELD: And why was this one that you really did want to take on?
MACY: We wanted to work with Johnson & Johnson again. We wanted to work with TNT. So we were looking for a Christmas movie, a feel good movie, something that Johnson & Johnson could support.
But at the same time we wanted to make it a little bit prickly. We wanted a little rough. So we did an urban Christmas movie.
WHITFIELD: And you felt like this really was an uplifting role? I mean, we're looking at a clip right now where you are starring there with Keke Palmer, someone that not a whole lot of folks know about, but likely to learn an awful lot about in the coming days.
MACY: It's true. The movie's based on the old Jackie Gleason film, "Gigot." And it involves this mute fellow who we made as a super of a building. And he meets this young girl, played by Keke Palmer, a magnificent young actress. Going to hear a lot from here.
And they -- they heal each other. It's a complicated story, but it's -- it's a five hanky.
WHITFIELD: And it's a story about the bond of family, too, isn't it? You know, how appropriate, particularly for the holiday season?
MACY: That was the goal. And I think it's significant that Johnson & Johnson is sponsoring this, because their mandate is to do family entertainment and films that rejoice in family values.
And families these days are different. It's not all Norman Rockwell. It's -- they come in all shapes and sizes and colors. And, you know, we were just down in the Sarasota Film Festival. That's a red state. And they loved it.
Now we're in a blue state, and they loved it, too.
WHITFIELD: And it must have been a great joy to work with Don Rickles, as well.
MACY: He's magnificent. He really does a fantastic job on this thing.
WHITFIELD: William H. Macy. The movie is "The Wool Cap," and It premieres this Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. on TNT.
Always good to see you.
MACY: Thanks. Nice to be here.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
SANCHEZ: That's a good interview. Sounds like a pretty good movie.
WHITFIELD: He's a remarkable actor. I mean, you've seen him in so many movies, more recently like "The Coolers." I mean, he just is versatile, and everyone just, you know, finds his work to be so riveting.
SANCHEZ: And he seems cerebral when you interview him, almost like...
WHITFIELD: He's a smart man.
SANCHEZ: Well, let's tell you what we're going to be doing for you. We've got the Clinton event taking place today. You probably know what that is. His library is being opened today, and that's quite an event. As a matter of fact, we've got the Hot Springs High School marching band. And we're going to let them, instead of us, take you out.
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