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American Morning
Rumsfeld's Surprise; Stranded for Christmas; T.D. Jakes Message
Aired December 24, 2004 - 8:59 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: And you are on the side of freedom. And that's the side to be on. So god bless each of you, god bless your families, and god bless our wonderful country. And Merry, Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a Christmas surprise from Don Rumsfeld, delivering a message to the troops to Iraq.
Stranded for Christmas. Indiana coming to a near standstill in parts. A massive snowstorm making some highways impassable and impossible.
The popular evangelist T.D. Jakes. His message of hope at a time of year that can be very difficult for many straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: It's Christmas Eve. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to our program today. Soledad is out for the holiday. Hope she's having a good time with her family, certainly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: I hope so. Busy, four kids, lots of gifts to buy and wrap.
HEMMER: Oh, good luck. Kelly Wallace with us today.
WALLACE: Call if you need us, right.
HEMMER: Good morning to you.
WALLACE: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Much more in a moment out of Iraq, Secretary Rumsfeld's visit there with the troops. He went to some of the most volatile cities in the country, Mosul, Tikrit, Falluja. He's in Baghdad now, saying he wanted to look them in the eye and thank them. We'll hear from at least one of the soldiers who looked him in the eye, a sergeant who had breakfast with the secretary of defense, her boss, on Christmas Eve, earlier today.
WALLACE: Very interesting, Bill.
Also, the war as it is felt here at home. We're going to meet a couple from New Jersey who just sent their twin teenage daughters to Iraq. They say the holidays are much more quiet this year and that that is very hard. A look at how that family, as well as others, are dealing with war at this Christmas.
HEMMER: And it's so important to remember them.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Especially this year, too.
What's happening? Merry Christmas.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Merry Christmas to you Bill, Kelly.
Favorite Christmas memories. Don't have to be good memories, because they always aren't good. But some of them are very profound as I look back, and stick out for different reasons.
So share if you're so inclined your favorite Christmas memory. AM@CNN.com.
HEMMER: I like the one that...
CAFFERTY: Dot-com.
HEMMER: It's OK. You're off next week.
CAFFERTY: Yes. Well, on Sunday.
HEMMER: How about the viewer who said they went on the roof to put reindeer in the snow and his wife said don't...
CAFFERTY: Break a leg.
HEMMER: Break a leg.
WALLACE: Break a leg.
CAFFERTY: And he did.
WALLACE: How angry do you think at his wife?
CAFFERTY: Did you guys do the hawk story yet? I mean, they put that nest up on that building again yesterday. It was in the papers this morning, pictures of it. They rebuilt the nest, so now if Pale Male and his bride return...
WALLACE: Lola.
CAFFERTY: ... you know what? The people who tore that nest down will have a better Christmas for having done the right thing and seeing the error of their ways.
HEMMER: There you go.
WALLACE: I think everyone's come together on this one, yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
Good morning, Daryn. What's in the headlines?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. Let's begin in Iraq.
There are more attacks to tell you about against Iraqi security this hour. In Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, gunmen shelled a police station with mortar rounds. No word yet on any casualties or damage.
A new report about outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell apparently concerned there were not enough troops in Iraq. According to sources cited by "The Washington Post," Powell urged President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to boost forces. The report claims the meeting took place on the same day Powell handed in his resignation letter.
In central Maryland, there are reports of at least 300 people injured -- at least three people injured in a multi-alarm fire in the Washington, D.C. area. At least two of the injuries are apparently life threatening. More than 60 firefighters have been working to control the blaze which broke out about two hours ago. The cause of that fire is under investigation.
And to the West Coast. Residents of Washington State have a new and different governor-elect today. A final recount gives Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregoire a razor-thin 130-vote margin over Republican Dino Rossi. State law prohibits both sides from seeking another recount, but Republicans are expected to challenge the results.
Meanwhile, Kelly, the secretary of state, who is a Republican, expected to certify the results next week and inauguration day in Washington State January 12.
WALLACE: All right. Covering a lot of ground for us, Daryn. Thanks so much.
KAGAN: There you go.
WALLACE: Thanks so much. And have a great holiday to you.
KAGAN: You too.
WALLACE: The big story, as Daryn's mentioning, that we've been following throughout the morning, holiday greetings in person for U.S. troops in Iraq this Christmas Eve from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The secretary's first stop was in Mosul to visit wounded soldiers from Tuesday's deadly suicide bomb attack. He also made stops in Tikrit, Falluja and Baghdad, taking questions from troops all along the way, including what needs to be done before American troops can come home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUMSFELD: The coalition forces can't provide security for the Iraqis. The Iraqis are going to have to provide security for the Iraqis. And in the last analysis -- and our task is to get those folks trained up and equipped and organized and give them that responsibility. So -- so we have to put an enormous focus on that piece of it. And that is the only way it will work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: The secretary in Iraq today. Joining us now from Washington, CNN political analyst Ron brownstein, also of the "Los Angeles Times."
Ron, great to see you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Hi, Kelly. Good morning.
WALLACE: Ron, as you know, the Pentagon says that the secretary's trip was planned before the attack earlier in the week in Mosul. But it also comes as the secretary is facing growing criticism of his handling of the war in Iraq. So, how much is this trip possibly politically motivated?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's clearly a different Donald Rumsfeld we're seeing in the last few weeks. He's not quite as imperious as he has been at times in his career.
He's sort of renowned for being tough on those he considers not up to his snuff. But we're seeing a different side of him.
You know, marriage counselors always say that when your spouse does something you've long been after them to do, the first response shouldn't be, "Well it's about time." And I think we really should have the same rule for public officials.
There may be -- obviously, almost anything that anybody does there may be political motivation behind this. But it is something I think most Americans want to see their senior officials doing, thanking the troops at this time of year, especially after a horrific event like this. And he deserves applause for going there.
WALLACE: And also, Ron, as you're talking about that, Secretary Rumsfeld getting somewhat emotional during his visit to Iraq and really speaking in a heartfelt way earlier this week at his news conference at the Pentagon.
Are you picking up from your sources that the criticism of the secretary over his handling of the war, the fact that he wasn't personally signing condolence letters at first, how he answered that question from the soldier about whether they have enough armor inside Iraq, that the criticism was really getting to him?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think you're seeing -- yes, I think you're seeing criticism of the secretary really on two different plains here. One is style, as you mentioned, the way he answered the question, the decision not originally to sign these letters.
Rumsfeld has been for decades a very effective, tough bureaucratic player. And part of it is through a persona of almost kind of like Alan Greenspan at the Fed, of someone who's a little bit inscrutable, indecipherable, remote and imperious.
All of a sudden, that has become something of a liability for him because of the second line of criticism, the actual results on the ground. As a principal architect of this war, obviously he is facing some of the sharpest questions over whether we were fully prepared, the kind of questions that Colin Powell, the revelations about Colin Powell in "The Washington Post" today add to.
WALLACE: Ron, I want to quickly switch gears a bit. You saw the story in "The Washington Post" today about how reportedly Secretary of State Colin Powell talking to President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair right after the election, saying there need to be more troops on the ground inside Iraq. Look at this from a political perspective, the fact that the secretary will be leaving the administration soon. What's your sense of the story coming out as it is now?
BROWNSTEIN: Two -- two responses. One is, in one sense, it's a great scoop for "The Post." But it's not surprising in the sense that Colin Powell, as you'll recall, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was the proponent of the Powell doctrine, which was when you went in, you went in heavy. And his view has always been that if America was going to use force it should use overwhelming force.
On the other hand, I think it underscores -- this revelation underscores the concern of those who have worried that Powell leaving the senior ranks of the administration will leave Bush without an in- house skeptic. He has tended to reinforce those who, through the presidential medals of freedom to Paul Bremer and Tommy Franks, and George Tenet, the defense of Donald Rumsfeld, the elevation of Condi Rice and her deputy, he's tended to reinforce and reward those who have basically viewed things as going well in Iraq. And I think critics are worried that there will be no one there to provide an in- house questioning of those decisions.
Reality ultimately does present its own questions, the decisions that a President makes. And almost always through history you are better off when there's a voice of dissent in those counsels.
WALLACE: All right, Ron. We have to leave it there. CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein, also of the "Los Angeles Times." Great to see you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
BROWNSTEIN: Happy holidays. Yes. Have a Merry Christmas.
WALLACE: Bill. HEMMER: A bit earlier here on AMERICAN MORNING, Kelly, we talked with Staff Sergeant Christine Anderson. She had breakfast this morning with her boss, Don Rumsfeld, before the secretary of defense then went on a tour of Camp Marez in Mosul. That's where the attacks took place earlier in the week. I asked her earlier today what they talked about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SERGEANT CHRISTINE ANDERSON, U.S. ARMY, TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: Secretary Rumsfeld talked to some of the soldiers, asking them what their holiday traditions were, things like that. Also, asked them what their thoughts were about the situation, gave condolences for the losses of the soldiers, things like that.
HEMMER: Yes. And did you have an opportunity to ask him questions?
ANDERSON: Yes. He gave us that opportunity.
A couple of soldiers talked about deployment lengths, operational considerations, things like that. And he was very, very in tune to answering the soldiers' questions when, you know, if he had the answers. Otherwise he told them he would get back to them later.
HEMMER: Yes. Sergeant, did you have a chance personally to fire a question or two? And if so, what was it?
ANDERSON: I did, in fact, ask him a couple questions. I asked him about awards policies and different things like that, and how it would affect for soldiers getting recognition in different areas, versus Afghanistan or being in Iraq. And he told me that that was a situation that hadn't really been brought up and he didn't -- he wasn't aware of it at the time.
HEMMER: Were you satisfied with the answers you were given today, Sergeant?
ANDERSON: I was. It seemed that Secretary Rumsfeld took the time to answer the soldiers' questions, and he was very open to answering anything that we wanted to know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Just a small sample of what our conversation was earlier today. Staff Sergeant Christine Anderson, she is currently stationed in Mosul in Iraq. However, not at the camp where the attack took place earlier this week -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Bill.
You can say Santa will have no problem landing his sleigh in the Midwest this Christmas. Snow blowers and shovels are all the rage in Detroit.
More than eight inches of snow fell there Thursday. The same storm has turned many interstates in the region into parking lots, including I-65 in Indiana. The National Guard called in to help out. I-65 is the main route between Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.
So let's get the fresh holiday forecast. Chad Myers at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Chad, is it looking any better for travelers right now?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Chad, did I see that right? That wasn't a typo, was it, minus 10 real temperature in Cincinnati? Right now?
MYERS: That is the wind chill.
HEMMER: Oh, the wind chill, OK.
MYERS: That's the wind chill factor.
HEMMER: Well, it's still darn cold.
MYERS: Yes. Well, the temperature's four. If you could feel the difference between four and minus 10, I give you credit. Can't do it.
HEMMER: No. Thanks, Chad.
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: A lot of folks in Indiana saw more snow in one storm than they will see in an entire year. The mayor of Evansville is my guest now, Jonathan Weinzapfel.
And boy, you've been busy. Good morning to you.
I wish we could talk on other terms, but I understand you've also met with officials earlier today. What are they telling you about what's happening in the southern part of the state?
All right that's going to be an issue there. We can't -- we can't hear him. We could see him.
That's the mayor in Evansville, Indiana. The temperature there is very cold, minus two. That's the real temperature when we checked in with the National Guard there in the state of Indiana about two hours ago.
Some of the videotape you're seeing here is from Interstate 64. At last check, there were still 300 vehicles stranded on one stretch of a highway, truckers and motorists in their cars. Some of them now are going on their third day of being stuck on the road.
We're going to try and get the mayor back here in a moment. If we can establish a signal, we'll go to him. But if we can't, then we'll go back to the story in a moment.
But, Kelly, this is a huge issue for these people out here.
WALLACE: A huge issue. We were talking to a woman earlier on a bus with her kids for 20 hours. We talked about your Uncle Tom on the -- stranded for 21 hours.
HEMMER: Yes, they got home.
WALLACE: And you got an e-mail. They're OK?
HEMMER: Yes, they're OK, yes. Aunt, uncle, picking up their daughter down in St. Louis. So they got stranded for awhile.
But how about the woman you spoke to? She was on a bus with three of her kids?
WALLACE: Right, but she had good advice. Pack a lot of food, blankets, because you just don't know...
HEMMER: And a lot of diapers.
WALLACE: ... what could happen. A lot of diapers, all right.
Well, moving on here, double the worries and double the prayers. One family finds Christmas twice as hard this year. A mom and dad try to cope with a suddenly empty nest.
HEMMER: Also, a Christmas addition of "Extra Effort." Meet the people who helped save Santa Claus. We'll have that.
WALLACE: And looking for a message of hope this holiday season? The bishop T.D. Jakes shares with us what he'll tell worshippers this Christmas.
That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right. Welcome back. We have -- the signal worked out here.
Back to the mayor in Evansville, Jonathan Weinzapfel. He's got his hands full at this hour.
Mayor, welcome back. If you can hear me this time, we're going to try and hear you.
MAYOR JONATHAN WEINZAPFEL, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA: Yes, good morning.
HEMMER: Good morning to you. How many people are stranded right now?
WEINZAPFEL: Oh, I think right here at the National Guard armory I believe we have about 40 or so. And then another probably 30 or 40 at the American Red Cross.
HEMMER: What's the plan to help them?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, we're -- obviously we're trying to get the interstate cleared. You know, the state's working diligently on that.
We're trying to set some alternative travel schedules, especially for passengers on Greyhound, where they can take a southern route to get to their destination. There are a lot of things going on to try to help these people.
HEMMER: Yes. What do you say to the critics who say you weren't ready for this storm? And granted, it was a monster. But what do you say to them, Mayor?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, I'm very proud of the way this community has responded. When we issued an emergency declaration, people stayed off the roads, they stayed off the streets so we could get them cleared.
People have gone above and beyond the call of duty. We've had farmers that have actually gone up to I-64, the interstate, to help people pull them out, to get them to safety. We've had people dropping off all kinds of food for the people that are stranded here. So people have gone above the call of duty to help others in this time of crisis.
HEMMER: Yes. Is it -- I apologize. Keep going.
WEINZAPFEL: You know, this is not Buffalo, New York. This is not Buffalo, New York. So this is a once in a generation storm event for us. And I think we're handling it the best we can.
HEMMER: Is it true on Tuesday you were "a little skeptical" with a wait-and-see attitude to see what the forecast brought?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, of course you always wait to see exactly when the snow is going to hit. But we had -- we had our salt trucks and snow plows all ready to go on standby. You know, waiting for that first snow fall.
HEMMER: Do you think the state of Indiana can handle something like this? You mentioned Buffalo, New York, I'll grant you that. But you think the state has enough equipment there in Indiana?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, you can always use more, but again, you know, like last year, the city of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, only had seven or eight inches of snow all winter. So this is just an exceptional event. You know, and it's tough to plan for this type of snow event, snow catastrophe in our area.
HEMMER: Well, one more thing, then. Do you think all those stranded now will be home by Christmas morning or before?
WEINZAPFEL: We are hoping and praying that's the case.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, Mayor. Jonathan Weinzapfel there in Evansville, Indiana.
WEINZAPFEL: Thank you.
HEMMER: It's cold again there today. Good luck.
Nineteen minutes past the hour. I want to shift our focus back to the holidays. It is Christmas Eve today, a difficult time, too, for those separated from their families, and who have experienced tremendous loss, especially over the past year.
That is a special focus, too, for bishop T.D. Jakes, at the Potter's House Church in Dallas. I talked to him a bit earlier about his message this year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
T.D. JAKES, POTTER'S HOUSE CHURCH: I think it's so important as we go through the holiday season. It causes us to reflect on our families and those that we love and care for. And yet, for many Americans it's a really challenging time because we are separated, we are in conflict, engaged in a war.
There are many people who have lost loved ones either to the war, or sickness or what have you. And for them, the holiday season may not be as merry as it is for other people.
HEMMER: Yes, indeed, especially on that last point. If we look back at the past year, Bishop, especially with the election, and you look at some of this exit polling about moral values in America, what more can you read in to that as to why so many feel that is so significant?
JAKES: I think it is significant. It's very difficult for us to expect people to make decisions apart from our faith. I think our faith contributes to how we see life.
Religion has affected how we see art, how we develop music throughout history. And it continues to tailor our thoughts and our attitudes, even in our contemporary society.
My hope is that we broaden our definition of morality to be more inclusive to values and issues that we were trained as children, treating people right, giving honest answers, responding appropriately, renouncing racism, abuse, sexism, all of the many, many issues. There's a plethora of issues that go far beyond the political definition of morality.
HEMMER: Well, you heard my introduction to you this morning. What do you say to those who find the holidays to be perhaps the most stressful time of the year, for whatever reason, be it emotional or otherwise?
JAKES: It is a very stressful time. And I think it's stressful many times when we feel pressured to fit in to the contemporary connotations of Christmas.
Get out of the house. Do something enjoyable with people who need you.
There are homeless people, there are people in the nursing homes who would really benefit by your company or your attention. Finding a way to give something back doesn't necessarily mean that you have to buy a gift at the mall.
Giving attention, love, affection, affirmation, has a boomerang affect. It lifts your spirit and encourages your heart. And if you're shut in and you can't get out, get on the telephone and encourage those people who are in need, write a letter to a loved one. It's about sharing something positive in the midst of the season that causes us to have great joy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter's House Church in Dallas, Texas, earlier today. He tells us he is most thankful that his son who had heart trouble this past year is now on the road to full recovery. So we wish them the best -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Yes. It's good they can be together this Christmas.
It is a story we've been following all morning long, Donald Rumsfeld surprises it to Iraq. Some touching moments along the way. We'll go live to the Pentagon.
First, though, Rockapella spreading some holiday cheer.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back. Time to check in with Jack and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Which is, what is your favorite Christmas memory? Favorite, not good, not bad, just the one that sticks out in your head.
Greg in Westville, Nova Scotia, "Our youngest, 3 years old, ran into the living room on Christmas morning and discovered a lint brush inadvertently lying on the couch. Fascinated by how this magnetic gadget worked on the family dog, he had a total lack of interest in the presents under the tree until the following day, when he found a little free time."
Marianne in Sarasota, Florida, "My father came home drunk on Christmas Eve, fell asleep on the couch. Eventually the tree fell on him. All his children heard blanketty-blank-blank as he was wrestling with the Christmas tree in the dark in the middle of the night."
"We all ran in thinking it was Santa Claus. What a sight. I'll never forget it."
(LAUGHTER) CAFFERTY: Earl in Nashwauk, Minnesota, "Christmas Eve night, Vietnam, 1969. Myself and another guy were in a sandbag bunker along a perimeter. I had my harmonica with me and I began playing Christmas music."
Before long, I could hear other soldiers singing along. Then our radio began monitoring others singing along with us. It was the most joyous time in a land of filth and death and misery."
And Hammond in Wolf Point, Montana, "While in Vietnam, I got my divorce papers on Christmas Day."
HEMMER: Just has to be a memory, right? Didn't say a good one.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Just one. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: "90-Second Pop," Christmas Eve version coming up right -- well, next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
HEMMER (voice-over): It could be the biggest soap opera in sports. Don't expect peace on Earth, though, when Shaq and Kobe hit the court.
And Santa goes to Hollywood. Who's been naughty and who's been nice?
That's ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired December 24, 2004 - 8:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: And you are on the side of freedom. And that's the side to be on. So god bless each of you, god bless your families, and god bless our wonderful country. And Merry, Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It is a Christmas surprise from Don Rumsfeld, delivering a message to the troops to Iraq.
Stranded for Christmas. Indiana coming to a near standstill in parts. A massive snowstorm making some highways impassable and impossible.
The popular evangelist T.D. Jakes. His message of hope at a time of year that can be very difficult for many straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: It's Christmas Eve. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to our program today. Soledad is out for the holiday. Hope she's having a good time with her family, certainly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: I hope so. Busy, four kids, lots of gifts to buy and wrap.
HEMMER: Oh, good luck. Kelly Wallace with us today.
WALLACE: Call if you need us, right.
HEMMER: Good morning to you.
WALLACE: Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Much more in a moment out of Iraq, Secretary Rumsfeld's visit there with the troops. He went to some of the most volatile cities in the country, Mosul, Tikrit, Falluja. He's in Baghdad now, saying he wanted to look them in the eye and thank them. We'll hear from at least one of the soldiers who looked him in the eye, a sergeant who had breakfast with the secretary of defense, her boss, on Christmas Eve, earlier today.
WALLACE: Very interesting, Bill.
Also, the war as it is felt here at home. We're going to meet a couple from New Jersey who just sent their twin teenage daughters to Iraq. They say the holidays are much more quiet this year and that that is very hard. A look at how that family, as well as others, are dealing with war at this Christmas.
HEMMER: And it's so important to remember them.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
HEMMER: Especially this year, too.
What's happening? Merry Christmas.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Merry Christmas to you Bill, Kelly.
Favorite Christmas memories. Don't have to be good memories, because they always aren't good. But some of them are very profound as I look back, and stick out for different reasons.
So share if you're so inclined your favorite Christmas memory. AM@CNN.com.
HEMMER: I like the one that...
CAFFERTY: Dot-com.
HEMMER: It's OK. You're off next week.
CAFFERTY: Yes. Well, on Sunday.
HEMMER: How about the viewer who said they went on the roof to put reindeer in the snow and his wife said don't...
CAFFERTY: Break a leg.
HEMMER: Break a leg.
WALLACE: Break a leg.
CAFFERTY: And he did.
WALLACE: How angry do you think at his wife?
CAFFERTY: Did you guys do the hawk story yet? I mean, they put that nest up on that building again yesterday. It was in the papers this morning, pictures of it. They rebuilt the nest, so now if Pale Male and his bride return...
WALLACE: Lola.
CAFFERTY: ... you know what? The people who tore that nest down will have a better Christmas for having done the right thing and seeing the error of their ways.
HEMMER: There you go.
WALLACE: I think everyone's come together on this one, yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
Good morning, Daryn. What's in the headlines?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. Let's begin in Iraq.
There are more attacks to tell you about against Iraqi security this hour. In Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, gunmen shelled a police station with mortar rounds. No word yet on any casualties or damage.
A new report about outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell apparently concerned there were not enough troops in Iraq. According to sources cited by "The Washington Post," Powell urged President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to boost forces. The report claims the meeting took place on the same day Powell handed in his resignation letter.
In central Maryland, there are reports of at least 300 people injured -- at least three people injured in a multi-alarm fire in the Washington, D.C. area. At least two of the injuries are apparently life threatening. More than 60 firefighters have been working to control the blaze which broke out about two hours ago. The cause of that fire is under investigation.
And to the West Coast. Residents of Washington State have a new and different governor-elect today. A final recount gives Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregoire a razor-thin 130-vote margin over Republican Dino Rossi. State law prohibits both sides from seeking another recount, but Republicans are expected to challenge the results.
Meanwhile, Kelly, the secretary of state, who is a Republican, expected to certify the results next week and inauguration day in Washington State January 12.
WALLACE: All right. Covering a lot of ground for us, Daryn. Thanks so much.
KAGAN: There you go.
WALLACE: Thanks so much. And have a great holiday to you.
KAGAN: You too.
WALLACE: The big story, as Daryn's mentioning, that we've been following throughout the morning, holiday greetings in person for U.S. troops in Iraq this Christmas Eve from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The secretary's first stop was in Mosul to visit wounded soldiers from Tuesday's deadly suicide bomb attack. He also made stops in Tikrit, Falluja and Baghdad, taking questions from troops all along the way, including what needs to be done before American troops can come home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUMSFELD: The coalition forces can't provide security for the Iraqis. The Iraqis are going to have to provide security for the Iraqis. And in the last analysis -- and our task is to get those folks trained up and equipped and organized and give them that responsibility. So -- so we have to put an enormous focus on that piece of it. And that is the only way it will work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: The secretary in Iraq today. Joining us now from Washington, CNN political analyst Ron brownstein, also of the "Los Angeles Times."
Ron, great to see you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Hi, Kelly. Good morning.
WALLACE: Ron, as you know, the Pentagon says that the secretary's trip was planned before the attack earlier in the week in Mosul. But it also comes as the secretary is facing growing criticism of his handling of the war in Iraq. So, how much is this trip possibly politically motivated?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's clearly a different Donald Rumsfeld we're seeing in the last few weeks. He's not quite as imperious as he has been at times in his career.
He's sort of renowned for being tough on those he considers not up to his snuff. But we're seeing a different side of him.
You know, marriage counselors always say that when your spouse does something you've long been after them to do, the first response shouldn't be, "Well it's about time." And I think we really should have the same rule for public officials.
There may be -- obviously, almost anything that anybody does there may be political motivation behind this. But it is something I think most Americans want to see their senior officials doing, thanking the troops at this time of year, especially after a horrific event like this. And he deserves applause for going there.
WALLACE: And also, Ron, as you're talking about that, Secretary Rumsfeld getting somewhat emotional during his visit to Iraq and really speaking in a heartfelt way earlier this week at his news conference at the Pentagon.
Are you picking up from your sources that the criticism of the secretary over his handling of the war, the fact that he wasn't personally signing condolence letters at first, how he answered that question from the soldier about whether they have enough armor inside Iraq, that the criticism was really getting to him?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think you're seeing -- yes, I think you're seeing criticism of the secretary really on two different plains here. One is style, as you mentioned, the way he answered the question, the decision not originally to sign these letters.
Rumsfeld has been for decades a very effective, tough bureaucratic player. And part of it is through a persona of almost kind of like Alan Greenspan at the Fed, of someone who's a little bit inscrutable, indecipherable, remote and imperious.
All of a sudden, that has become something of a liability for him because of the second line of criticism, the actual results on the ground. As a principal architect of this war, obviously he is facing some of the sharpest questions over whether we were fully prepared, the kind of questions that Colin Powell, the revelations about Colin Powell in "The Washington Post" today add to.
WALLACE: Ron, I want to quickly switch gears a bit. You saw the story in "The Washington Post" today about how reportedly Secretary of State Colin Powell talking to President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair right after the election, saying there need to be more troops on the ground inside Iraq. Look at this from a political perspective, the fact that the secretary will be leaving the administration soon. What's your sense of the story coming out as it is now?
BROWNSTEIN: Two -- two responses. One is, in one sense, it's a great scoop for "The Post." But it's not surprising in the sense that Colin Powell, as you'll recall, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was the proponent of the Powell doctrine, which was when you went in, you went in heavy. And his view has always been that if America was going to use force it should use overwhelming force.
On the other hand, I think it underscores -- this revelation underscores the concern of those who have worried that Powell leaving the senior ranks of the administration will leave Bush without an in- house skeptic. He has tended to reinforce those who, through the presidential medals of freedom to Paul Bremer and Tommy Franks, and George Tenet, the defense of Donald Rumsfeld, the elevation of Condi Rice and her deputy, he's tended to reinforce and reward those who have basically viewed things as going well in Iraq. And I think critics are worried that there will be no one there to provide an in- house questioning of those decisions.
Reality ultimately does present its own questions, the decisions that a President makes. And almost always through history you are better off when there's a voice of dissent in those counsels.
WALLACE: All right, Ron. We have to leave it there. CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein, also of the "Los Angeles Times." Great to see you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
BROWNSTEIN: Happy holidays. Yes. Have a Merry Christmas.
WALLACE: Bill. HEMMER: A bit earlier here on AMERICAN MORNING, Kelly, we talked with Staff Sergeant Christine Anderson. She had breakfast this morning with her boss, Don Rumsfeld, before the secretary of defense then went on a tour of Camp Marez in Mosul. That's where the attacks took place earlier in the week. I asked her earlier today what they talked about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SERGEANT CHRISTINE ANDERSON, U.S. ARMY, TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: Secretary Rumsfeld talked to some of the soldiers, asking them what their holiday traditions were, things like that. Also, asked them what their thoughts were about the situation, gave condolences for the losses of the soldiers, things like that.
HEMMER: Yes. And did you have an opportunity to ask him questions?
ANDERSON: Yes. He gave us that opportunity.
A couple of soldiers talked about deployment lengths, operational considerations, things like that. And he was very, very in tune to answering the soldiers' questions when, you know, if he had the answers. Otherwise he told them he would get back to them later.
HEMMER: Yes. Sergeant, did you have a chance personally to fire a question or two? And if so, what was it?
ANDERSON: I did, in fact, ask him a couple questions. I asked him about awards policies and different things like that, and how it would affect for soldiers getting recognition in different areas, versus Afghanistan or being in Iraq. And he told me that that was a situation that hadn't really been brought up and he didn't -- he wasn't aware of it at the time.
HEMMER: Were you satisfied with the answers you were given today, Sergeant?
ANDERSON: I was. It seemed that Secretary Rumsfeld took the time to answer the soldiers' questions, and he was very open to answering anything that we wanted to know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Just a small sample of what our conversation was earlier today. Staff Sergeant Christine Anderson, she is currently stationed in Mosul in Iraq. However, not at the camp where the attack took place earlier this week -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Bill.
You can say Santa will have no problem landing his sleigh in the Midwest this Christmas. Snow blowers and shovels are all the rage in Detroit.
More than eight inches of snow fell there Thursday. The same storm has turned many interstates in the region into parking lots, including I-65 in Indiana. The National Guard called in to help out. I-65 is the main route between Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.
So let's get the fresh holiday forecast. Chad Myers at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Chad, is it looking any better for travelers right now?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Chad, did I see that right? That wasn't a typo, was it, minus 10 real temperature in Cincinnati? Right now?
MYERS: That is the wind chill.
HEMMER: Oh, the wind chill, OK.
MYERS: That's the wind chill factor.
HEMMER: Well, it's still darn cold.
MYERS: Yes. Well, the temperature's four. If you could feel the difference between four and minus 10, I give you credit. Can't do it.
HEMMER: No. Thanks, Chad.
MYERS: All right.
HEMMER: A lot of folks in Indiana saw more snow in one storm than they will see in an entire year. The mayor of Evansville is my guest now, Jonathan Weinzapfel.
And boy, you've been busy. Good morning to you.
I wish we could talk on other terms, but I understand you've also met with officials earlier today. What are they telling you about what's happening in the southern part of the state?
All right that's going to be an issue there. We can't -- we can't hear him. We could see him.
That's the mayor in Evansville, Indiana. The temperature there is very cold, minus two. That's the real temperature when we checked in with the National Guard there in the state of Indiana about two hours ago.
Some of the videotape you're seeing here is from Interstate 64. At last check, there were still 300 vehicles stranded on one stretch of a highway, truckers and motorists in their cars. Some of them now are going on their third day of being stuck on the road.
We're going to try and get the mayor back here in a moment. If we can establish a signal, we'll go to him. But if we can't, then we'll go back to the story in a moment.
But, Kelly, this is a huge issue for these people out here.
WALLACE: A huge issue. We were talking to a woman earlier on a bus with her kids for 20 hours. We talked about your Uncle Tom on the -- stranded for 21 hours.
HEMMER: Yes, they got home.
WALLACE: And you got an e-mail. They're OK?
HEMMER: Yes, they're OK, yes. Aunt, uncle, picking up their daughter down in St. Louis. So they got stranded for awhile.
But how about the woman you spoke to? She was on a bus with three of her kids?
WALLACE: Right, but she had good advice. Pack a lot of food, blankets, because you just don't know...
HEMMER: And a lot of diapers.
WALLACE: ... what could happen. A lot of diapers, all right.
Well, moving on here, double the worries and double the prayers. One family finds Christmas twice as hard this year. A mom and dad try to cope with a suddenly empty nest.
HEMMER: Also, a Christmas addition of "Extra Effort." Meet the people who helped save Santa Claus. We'll have that.
WALLACE: And looking for a message of hope this holiday season? The bishop T.D. Jakes shares with us what he'll tell worshippers this Christmas.
That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right. Welcome back. We have -- the signal worked out here.
Back to the mayor in Evansville, Jonathan Weinzapfel. He's got his hands full at this hour.
Mayor, welcome back. If you can hear me this time, we're going to try and hear you.
MAYOR JONATHAN WEINZAPFEL, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA: Yes, good morning.
HEMMER: Good morning to you. How many people are stranded right now?
WEINZAPFEL: Oh, I think right here at the National Guard armory I believe we have about 40 or so. And then another probably 30 or 40 at the American Red Cross.
HEMMER: What's the plan to help them?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, we're -- obviously we're trying to get the interstate cleared. You know, the state's working diligently on that.
We're trying to set some alternative travel schedules, especially for passengers on Greyhound, where they can take a southern route to get to their destination. There are a lot of things going on to try to help these people.
HEMMER: Yes. What do you say to the critics who say you weren't ready for this storm? And granted, it was a monster. But what do you say to them, Mayor?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, I'm very proud of the way this community has responded. When we issued an emergency declaration, people stayed off the roads, they stayed off the streets so we could get them cleared.
People have gone above and beyond the call of duty. We've had farmers that have actually gone up to I-64, the interstate, to help people pull them out, to get them to safety. We've had people dropping off all kinds of food for the people that are stranded here. So people have gone above the call of duty to help others in this time of crisis.
HEMMER: Yes. Is it -- I apologize. Keep going.
WEINZAPFEL: You know, this is not Buffalo, New York. This is not Buffalo, New York. So this is a once in a generation storm event for us. And I think we're handling it the best we can.
HEMMER: Is it true on Tuesday you were "a little skeptical" with a wait-and-see attitude to see what the forecast brought?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, of course you always wait to see exactly when the snow is going to hit. But we had -- we had our salt trucks and snow plows all ready to go on standby. You know, waiting for that first snow fall.
HEMMER: Do you think the state of Indiana can handle something like this? You mentioned Buffalo, New York, I'll grant you that. But you think the state has enough equipment there in Indiana?
WEINZAPFEL: Well, you can always use more, but again, you know, like last year, the city of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, only had seven or eight inches of snow all winter. So this is just an exceptional event. You know, and it's tough to plan for this type of snow event, snow catastrophe in our area.
HEMMER: Well, one more thing, then. Do you think all those stranded now will be home by Christmas morning or before?
WEINZAPFEL: We are hoping and praying that's the case.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, Mayor. Jonathan Weinzapfel there in Evansville, Indiana.
WEINZAPFEL: Thank you.
HEMMER: It's cold again there today. Good luck.
Nineteen minutes past the hour. I want to shift our focus back to the holidays. It is Christmas Eve today, a difficult time, too, for those separated from their families, and who have experienced tremendous loss, especially over the past year.
That is a special focus, too, for bishop T.D. Jakes, at the Potter's House Church in Dallas. I talked to him a bit earlier about his message this year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
T.D. JAKES, POTTER'S HOUSE CHURCH: I think it's so important as we go through the holiday season. It causes us to reflect on our families and those that we love and care for. And yet, for many Americans it's a really challenging time because we are separated, we are in conflict, engaged in a war.
There are many people who have lost loved ones either to the war, or sickness or what have you. And for them, the holiday season may not be as merry as it is for other people.
HEMMER: Yes, indeed, especially on that last point. If we look back at the past year, Bishop, especially with the election, and you look at some of this exit polling about moral values in America, what more can you read in to that as to why so many feel that is so significant?
JAKES: I think it is significant. It's very difficult for us to expect people to make decisions apart from our faith. I think our faith contributes to how we see life.
Religion has affected how we see art, how we develop music throughout history. And it continues to tailor our thoughts and our attitudes, even in our contemporary society.
My hope is that we broaden our definition of morality to be more inclusive to values and issues that we were trained as children, treating people right, giving honest answers, responding appropriately, renouncing racism, abuse, sexism, all of the many, many issues. There's a plethora of issues that go far beyond the political definition of morality.
HEMMER: Well, you heard my introduction to you this morning. What do you say to those who find the holidays to be perhaps the most stressful time of the year, for whatever reason, be it emotional or otherwise?
JAKES: It is a very stressful time. And I think it's stressful many times when we feel pressured to fit in to the contemporary connotations of Christmas.
Get out of the house. Do something enjoyable with people who need you.
There are homeless people, there are people in the nursing homes who would really benefit by your company or your attention. Finding a way to give something back doesn't necessarily mean that you have to buy a gift at the mall.
Giving attention, love, affection, affirmation, has a boomerang affect. It lifts your spirit and encourages your heart. And if you're shut in and you can't get out, get on the telephone and encourage those people who are in need, write a letter to a loved one. It's about sharing something positive in the midst of the season that causes us to have great joy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter's House Church in Dallas, Texas, earlier today. He tells us he is most thankful that his son who had heart trouble this past year is now on the road to full recovery. So we wish them the best -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Yes. It's good they can be together this Christmas.
It is a story we've been following all morning long, Donald Rumsfeld surprises it to Iraq. Some touching moments along the way. We'll go live to the Pentagon.
First, though, Rockapella spreading some holiday cheer.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back. Time to check in with Jack and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Which is, what is your favorite Christmas memory? Favorite, not good, not bad, just the one that sticks out in your head.
Greg in Westville, Nova Scotia, "Our youngest, 3 years old, ran into the living room on Christmas morning and discovered a lint brush inadvertently lying on the couch. Fascinated by how this magnetic gadget worked on the family dog, he had a total lack of interest in the presents under the tree until the following day, when he found a little free time."
Marianne in Sarasota, Florida, "My father came home drunk on Christmas Eve, fell asleep on the couch. Eventually the tree fell on him. All his children heard blanketty-blank-blank as he was wrestling with the Christmas tree in the dark in the middle of the night."
"We all ran in thinking it was Santa Claus. What a sight. I'll never forget it."
(LAUGHTER) CAFFERTY: Earl in Nashwauk, Minnesota, "Christmas Eve night, Vietnam, 1969. Myself and another guy were in a sandbag bunker along a perimeter. I had my harmonica with me and I began playing Christmas music."
Before long, I could hear other soldiers singing along. Then our radio began monitoring others singing along with us. It was the most joyous time in a land of filth and death and misery."
And Hammond in Wolf Point, Montana, "While in Vietnam, I got my divorce papers on Christmas Day."
HEMMER: Just has to be a memory, right? Didn't say a good one.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Just one. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: "90-Second Pop," Christmas Eve version coming up right -- well, next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
HEMMER (voice-over): It could be the biggest soap opera in sports. Don't expect peace on Earth, though, when Shaq and Kobe hit the court.
And Santa goes to Hollywood. Who's been naughty and who's been nice?
That's ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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