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American Morning
Tsunami Survivor Found; Interview With Congressman Jim Leach
Aired January 03, 2005 - 07:29 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody on a Monday morning. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good to have you along with us today. My partner, Soledad, is in Thailand today covering the devastation from the tsunami from that location. We'll hear from Soledad at the top of our next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Also in a moment here, the agonizing difficulties in bringing relief to parts of Indonesia; that country hardest hit by the tsunami. More than 94,000 are dead there. The amazing story in a moment, though, of one fisherman rescued yesterday. We'll find out how he made it through the storm.
Also, a brand new year, 2005. Will it be a prosperous one for investors? Andy looks at what the stock market may do in 2005, and we'll get back to Andy on that in a few moments.
Heidi Collins is also with me this morning, now checking the headlines here in the news.
Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill. Good morning to you, everybody.
"Now in the News" this morning.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush are expected to arrive in Thailand within the next couple of hours. They're heading a U.S. delegation to some of the hardest-hit areas in South Asia. The U.S. has now pledged $350 million to the tsunami recovery effort. A meeting has been scheduled for later this week to discuss what more the U.S. can do, and we will have a live report on the situation in Indonesia just ahead.
More protests in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the death toll in the nightclub fire there continues to go up; 182 people were killed and more than 600 injured in last week's blaze. Protesters are calling for a full investigation into the incident, blaming security lapses for the tragedy. Officials say a flare ignited during a rock concert at the club may have started the fire.
Here in the United States, more than 500 people in south Arkansas are waiting to return home. They were part of a group evacuated yesterday after a hazardous waste plant caught fire in El Dorado, Arkansas. Officials are on the scene now looking into what started the blaze. The EPA is monitoring the air quality to see when it will be safe for people to go back. And former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry is starting his first official day of work. Barry was sworn in yesterday as one of the city's three new councilmen. He represents Ward 8, considered the city's poorest area. He's actually been to work in several other positions there in D.C.
HEMMER: Ah-ha!
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: Gotcha. Thank you, Heidi.
We want to get back now to the follow-up. Again, the death toll from the tsunami disaster in southern Asia is rising today -- get this now -- to more than 156,000. In the country of Indonesia alone, the hardest hit, it's more than 94,000. That figure up just a few hours ago.
The latest on that part of the world, plus an amazing story of survival, from CNN's Mike Chinoy. He's live in Banda Aceh in Indonesia.
It is evening there. And, Mike, hello.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, if you look over my shoulder you'll see what happened to fishing boats that didn't survive the tsunami here. They ended up on a bridge in the middle of the business district of Banda Aceh, more than three miles from Banda Aceh's port.
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, I'm sure, including many fishermen, whose remains are buried in the rubble around here, many bodies still not collected. The death toll continuing to mount.
But amidst all of the death and destruction, an incredible story of a fisherman who made it. His name is Tengku Sofyan. He's 24 years old, and he was out at sea when the tsunamis struck. The huge waves tossed his fishing boat ashore, and he was trapped underneath for a week.
On Sunday, he was found and taken to a local hospital. He was in desperate condition, dehydrated, barely coherent, not able to speak about what had happened to him. Doctors say he's in very, very fragile shape, both physically and mentally.
But here is a case of somebody who was actually in the waves and who somehow managed to survive. There are not many stories like that amidst all the death and destruction here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike, one of the challenges we have talked about here is trying to get the aid actually to people once it arrives. What are the challenges they're seeing there in Banda Aceh in doing just that?
CHINOY: Well, the biggest -- the two biggest challenges aid workers say are logistics and communications. Communications because there's no telephone system here. There's no mobile phones.
So folks on the ground are finding it very difficult to liaise with people outside. There's no shortage of aid supplies. There's no shortage of money being pledged. There are tons of supplies that are ready to come in here. But the coordination and the transport are a big problem. The one small airport at Banda Aceh is functioning on overload.
You also have so many different aid organizations operating that just the sheer coordination between them is tricky. And they are having trouble finding places to live, finding vehicles finding drivers, finding interpreters.
And then you also have the big question of how to get that aid, which at least in Banda Aceh you can distribute to the hardest-hit areas along the coast of Sumatra, where there's simply no roads open. They were all destroyed.
U.S. Navy helicopters have been playing a key role in this, ferrying in supplies, food, water, medicine, medical teams, ferrying out some of the wounded. But that effort is just the very beginning. And it's going to be a long process, because there are hundreds of thousands of folks in desperate shape on the western coast who have still not been really assisted yet -- Bill.
HEMMER: Long indeed. Mike Chinoy in Banda Aceh in Indonesia. Thanks for that.
Two U.S. congressional delegations are headed to the region. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, he heads a group leaving for Sri Lanka tomorrow. Iowa Congressman Jim Leach departs on Wednesday. Leach is chairman of the House Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He's also my guest now down in D.C.
Welcome, sir. And good morning to you.
REP. JIM LEACH (R), IOWA: Well, good morning to you, sir.
HEMMER: I understand Indonesia is on your list. Thailand is on your list. Sri Lanka possibly India. What will you go there to assess?
LEACH: Well, basically, I'm going to look at the region, listen to the needs of what should be done and how it should be done. Also, to make it clear representing the people's house that this is an issue, above all, of compassion, and America is prepared to do whatever is necessary.
HEMMER: At this point, America has pledged $350 million. Where does that money come from?
LEACH: Well, it can come from pre-program funds such as those that were directed to Iraq rehabilitation. It can also come from new allocations of resources. And that will be an issue for Congress to determine in the weeks ahead. HEMMER: I also want to talk more about Congress' role yesterday on the Sunday talk shows. Here's Senator Joe Lieberman talking about that very topic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The $350 million that President Bush has now asked Congress for, I believe, will be a floor and not a ceiling. I think the president and members of Congress on a totally bipartisan basis will evaluate the needs as they arise. And in the end I believe we're going to give more than $350 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: He says it's a floor, not a ceiling, a starting point as opposed to a finishing point. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana says it could reach into the billions of aid from the U.S. Do you agree with that figure, possibly billions?
LEACH: I think that's all possible. We're looking at something that could be the greatest natural disaster of modern times. And we're looking at issues that go beyond natural disasters, for example, to man-made disasters and how you handle each set of problems, as well as the whole issue of how the international community responds to the plight of people in really extraordinary circumstances.
This could be a model of how you bring the world together. It also, if it fails, could be a model of what's lacking in world affairs. And it's going to be a challenge of people in all countries of the world to make up their minds what kind of new world we have want.
HEMMER: Yes. Some say that challenge will be met on Thursday. An aid conference is set for Jakarta, Indonesia. There has been a suggestion in articles over the weekend that the U.S. could go a long way in improving its image in some countries in Southeast Asia, especially with the heavily Muslim population. Do you see that as a possibility Thursday when these countries get together?
LEACH: Well, that's certainly a possibility. But I would stress that the goal here is not politics. The goal is dealing with the human plight. If there are political ramifications, that's fine. But this is an issue of compassion, not of geopolitics.
HEMMER: Good look to you and travel well.
LEACH: Thank you.
HEMMER: Jim Leach, Republican from Iowa this morning in D.C., heading to the region this week.
Also today, there are calls for a tsunami warning system here at home. New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone says he plans to introduce legislation for a warning system along the East Coast. A system using remote sensors to gauge tides and seismic activity already exists in the Pacific for Hawaii. Pallone says residents along the Atlantic coast deserve the same.
As this story continues to unfold, log on to our Web site, CNN.com, for the latest information on what's happening overseas. Many more firsthand accounts from survivors and information there on relief efforts so that you can help as well. CNN.com there for you right now online -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Management volunteers helping US Airways to avoid a repeat of the Christmas weekend travel nightmare. More than 100 airline executives and other employees pitched in to serve coffee and move bags at Philadelphia Airport. Many US Airways workers called in sick around Christmas. That caused flight cancellations and that caused thousands of passengers to be stranded. No similar problems, though, reported over the weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Also, the pictures out of the tsunami disaster are not soon forgotten. So many indelible images were left behind when the deadly and destructive waves swept ashore. We'll look back in a moment here as AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: There's a developing story out of Iraq right now getting word. CNN confirming a bomb has exploded near the Green Zone, western part of Baghdad. Not a whole lot of information this time, though. No word on casualties either. Earlier in the day there was another bomb that exploded north of Baghdad, killing four Iraqi National Guard members. So that's the latest as we get it out of Iraq. More in a moment on that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: The death toll is staggering. The images are ingrained in our minds. The world's response unprecedented. A look back now at last week in pictures from Southeast Asia, a disaster zone of unfathomable proportions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The worst earthquake in at least 40 years has triggered huge waves in southern and southeast Asia, killing at least 10,000 people. The highest death tolls are in India Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming again. It's coming again! Back up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey, hey!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god, this is a tidal wave!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tsunami!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) look at that! (EXPLETIVE DELETED) that wave is a good 15-20 feet tall, easy!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get in, get in, get in!
NATE BERKINS, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: We desperately, desperately need help from the government here. We're without water. We're without food. And many of us are injured.
COLLINS: The next wave, perhaps the greatest relief effort ever mounted, is under way at this hour. The U.S. joins aid agencies mobilizing to head off an epidemic.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of disasters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a terrible roaring noise. And we looked through the glass doors, and this torrent of mighty water just came down the steps and through the doors. And it washed me away into the playroom, and glass doors were smashed by the water. And I just couldn't keep my footing. I was very frightened.
WHITFIELD: As you know by now, the death toll in Asia has climbed today past 135,000. Tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for still. And millions remain in desperate need of shelter and food and medical treatment.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: The effects of this tragedy will be felt for a very long time. So I urge all of you to be generous in your contributions. Together, we will work to rebuild the lives, livelihoods and communities devastated by this catastrophe. Together, we will send a message of hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And we do have something special coming up tonight. Anderson Cooper of "360" will be live coming to you from Sri Lanka. That's your way tonight at 7:00, the tsunami disaster special.
HEMMER: No matter how many times you see that videotape, it's still -- you can't turn away.
COLLINS: Unbelievable, isn't it?
HEMMER: Yes.
Back to Jack now and the "Question of the Day," a different topic. Good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Bill.
What to do with suspected terrorists the United States does not want to release or turn over to the courts. There's a story in "The Washington Post" that there are plans to keep these people indefinitely, maybe for a lifetime, perhaps in a specially-built new prison, $25 million worth, have 200 beds, would be used to house these people maybe for as long as they live.
Apparently the government is afraid to release them because they think they're terrorists. There's not enough evidence to take them to trial, the government says. Some very powerful voices in Congress are speaking out against this idea, saying you can't just detain these people indefinitely, that it's unconstitutional.
So the question we're asking this morning is: How should the United States handle terrorist suspects that it's unwilling to release or turn over to the courts? Here is some of what you've written so far.
Michael in South Korea: "I think the U.S. should have the right to detain them for however long they want as long as they have evidence to support their reasoning."
Bryan in Georgetown, South Carolina: "If they're criminals they must be brought before a court and charged as criminals. Until they're charged they are POWs. The nature of the war and the nature of our enemy do not excuse us from following the Geneva Conventions."
Doug in Bloomfield, New Jersey writes: "If the U.S. detains someone for suspected terrorist activity, the suspect should be charged, investigated and prosecuted accordingly within a system that ensures justice; otherwise, we compromise America's costly mission to win hearts and minds around the world."
Mel, Cornwall on the Hudson, New York: "If the government is unwilling to turn the detainees over to the courts, then there is one choice left under our system of laws: release them. I was taught that the Constitution follows the flag and that habeas corpus can be suspended only so long."
And finally Pamela in Michigan writes: "If the Bush administration doesn't put these people on trial, they have to let them go. If they don't, then Americans have to be wary, because this type of justice would be allowed against our own citizens as well."
HEMMER: AM@CNN.com. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Thanks, Jack.
Now let's get a check of the markets, the opening trading day, in fact, of 2005. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
Good morning. Are we off to a good start?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, we're going to find out in a couple of hours. Let's do a little review of last year, though, first of all, because the final numbers are in, Heidi.
First of all last week, a kind of a mixed picture for the markets, but more important, of course, is what happened. This is last week. More important is what happened last year, which is, you know, the historical number there one looks at. The Dow is up 3 percent here. You can see the Nasdaq and the S&P leading.
We've talked about this before. The Dow lagging because the two drug stocks, Pfizer and Merck, relatively holding back that index. The second year in a row we're up. Actually not so bad, though, for the markets if you think about it, considering oil prices are up 34 percent, interest rates raising five times by the Federal Reserve.
So nothing to complain about. And, of course, 8 or 9 percent is an historical return.
What about some stocks highlighted as far as winners go? Some familiar names here. Taser. Bernie Kerik certainly enjoyed some of that, didn't he? Kmart, Martha Stewart. Some of these rebounding from the previous year. CKE is Hardee's.
As far as losers, again, some more familiar names for you. Krispy Kreme. How do you lose money making doughnuts? I still don't understand that. Winn Dixie is getting beaten up by Wal-Mart down in Florida. LeapFrog hit the wall, and Blockbuster (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: What's LeapFrog?
SERWER: LeapFrog makes those Leap Pads, the kids computer systems. They've done well, but the stock got kind of hit.
COLLINS: Those are great.
SERWER: Yes. And as far as this year goes, Heidi, I mean, the big news is going to be the same stuff. It's going to be terrorism, the price of oil, interest rates and the dollar. And I think we'll be lucky to have another market year, another historical year like we did this past year.
COLLINS: And we'll wait until the markets are open...
SERWER: Yes.
COLLINS: ... before you tell us what's actually happening today.
SERWER: True.
COLLINS: I'm excited.
HEMMER: 90-second poppers are ready to make their 2005 predictions. Which movie is a lock to sweep on Oscar night? The answer according to them in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Now our Monday edition of "90-Second Pop", the first of 2005. Our pop panel this morning, Andy Borowitz from BorowitzReport.com. Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent.
Happy New Year, guys.
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: And to you.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Happy New Year.
COLLINS: I want to start off the year right, and apparently somebody has done that with this new movie about -- you say that it's not about a female boxer, but this you think the Oscar race is over.
TOURE: "Million Dollar Baby" is about much more than a female boxer. Don't let anybody tell you about it. Just go in knowing nothing. Just go. Don't worry about boxing. Just bring the whole...
BERNARD: If you can get in.
TOURE: If you can get in, bring a whole box of Kleenex and just go.
BERNARD: Wow!
TOURE: The Oscar race is over. I see best director, best picture. It's going to be...
BERNARD: Really?
TOURE: ... "Million Dollar Baby's" night. "The Aviator," I hate to break it to you, is not that good, people. Leo does not deserve...
COLLINS: It didn't bring in that much money this weekend either.
TOURE: Right, right.
BERNARD: But don't you think that Martin Scorsese is going to get best director just because he's never won an Academy Award?
TOURE: I think...
BERNARD: Which is kind of outrageous.
TOURE: I think that Clint Eastwood's achievement here is much bigger than Marty's achievement over there.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: I want to put in...
BERNARD: But don't you think even for the...
BOROWITZ: I want to put in a little underdog vote for Oliver Stone for his gay interpretation of "Alexander." I do. This is not Alexander the Great. This is Alexander the fabulous. It's unbelievable. That's my vote.
BERNARD: All right. It's possible.
TOURE: Maybe.
COLLINS: All right. So, Sarah, let's get to you now. What do you predict the entertainment story of the year...
BERNARD: OK. No...
COLLINS: ... will be as people look back?
BERNARD: No question it is going to be Martha, Martha, Martha. She has a three-point plan for taking over 2005. The first is in March when she gets out of prison. That's going to be a huge story. She's released from Camp Cupcake.
Then in September, she's actually going to start filming her daily talk show. And she's got to wait until September, because after she gets out in March she still has five months of house arrest to go through. So it's going to be a live show where there's audience participation. And even though she did not win her Christmas decorating contest in prison, which we found out, we still think she's got a lot to share.
And then she's going to also probably have a primetime reality show. So it's just going to be all Martha all the time.
BOROWITZ: She's recording a duet with Usher.
BERNARD: That's right.
COLLINS: That's going to be a big one, yes.
TOURE: But her show is being made by Mark Burnett.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: Exactly.
TOURE: Like, who could you have in better hands than Mark Burnett?
BERNARD: It's perfect.
COLLINS: He's been quite successful.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: This is true.
TOURE: I mean, he's going to know exactly how to shape her. The show is going to be great. She's going to make a huge comeback.
BERNARD: All right. And if there's any room left for another scandal and another entertainer of the year will obviously be Michael Jackson, whose trial starts at the end of this month. And, you know, there's something like 100 witnesses just on the defense side. So this is just going to just...
BOROWITZ: Wow!
BERNARD: This one is going to go on forever.
COLLINS: I wonder if we're going to recognize him by the time the whole thing is over.
BERNARD: I don't know. He's going to start looking like Martha, I think.
COLLINS: Yes, maybe.
All right, Andy, your turn. Some predictions now. You think that the shocker story of 2005 is going to be?
BOROWITZ: Anna Nicole Smith, actually. I believe in 2005, Anna Nicole Smith will complete a sentence. I really do believe that.
BERNARD: Right on!
BOROWITZ: I think it's going to...
COLLINS: I don't know. You've got the bar way up there.
BOROWITZ: I think it's going to have a subject, a verb and a period, the whole nine yards.
BERNARD: The subject is going to be, I want my money back, right?
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: Because she lost it.
BOROWITZ: She lost her money, and I think that's going to bring new focus to her life. But I think so.
COLLINS: Oh, that's an excellent prediction. Anybody else?
TOURE: Well, I'm looking for Cold Play to have a big year. This is their first year album since Chris Martin, the lead singer, had a baby with Gwyneth Paltrow. They have a new album coming out this year, and it's going to be hot. Each album -- they've had two before. They were both awesome. This one is going to be even better.
BERNARD: And this is going to be a big year for me and Troy, because we've got Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez...
TOURE: Yea!
BERNARD: ... as Mets, Yankees.
TOURE: Pedro who?
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) guy.
TOURE: Randy Johnson.
COLLINS: All right. Well, I guess our congratulations to you, then. All right, guys, thanks so much as always.
Bill -- back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks. Four minutes before the hour. A programming note this morning. Today was to be our launch of our "New You Resolution" series. Sanjay, however, is overseas with the tsunami disaster. We are postponing the start until the 17th of January. That's Monday two weeks from now. So we will start that then.
Our top stories in a moment. Much-needed aid arriving in Southeast Asia. But is it getting to the people who really need it? Soledad also is live in Thailand. We'll get to her at the top of the hour in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired January 3, 2005 - 07:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody on a Monday morning. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good to have you along with us today. My partner, Soledad, is in Thailand today covering the devastation from the tsunami from that location. We'll hear from Soledad at the top of our next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Also in a moment here, the agonizing difficulties in bringing relief to parts of Indonesia; that country hardest hit by the tsunami. More than 94,000 are dead there. The amazing story in a moment, though, of one fisherman rescued yesterday. We'll find out how he made it through the storm.
Also, a brand new year, 2005. Will it be a prosperous one for investors? Andy looks at what the stock market may do in 2005, and we'll get back to Andy on that in a few moments.
Heidi Collins is also with me this morning, now checking the headlines here in the news.
Good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill. Good morning to you, everybody.
"Now in the News" this morning.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush are expected to arrive in Thailand within the next couple of hours. They're heading a U.S. delegation to some of the hardest-hit areas in South Asia. The U.S. has now pledged $350 million to the tsunami recovery effort. A meeting has been scheduled for later this week to discuss what more the U.S. can do, and we will have a live report on the situation in Indonesia just ahead.
More protests in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the death toll in the nightclub fire there continues to go up; 182 people were killed and more than 600 injured in last week's blaze. Protesters are calling for a full investigation into the incident, blaming security lapses for the tragedy. Officials say a flare ignited during a rock concert at the club may have started the fire.
Here in the United States, more than 500 people in south Arkansas are waiting to return home. They were part of a group evacuated yesterday after a hazardous waste plant caught fire in El Dorado, Arkansas. Officials are on the scene now looking into what started the blaze. The EPA is monitoring the air quality to see when it will be safe for people to go back. And former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry is starting his first official day of work. Barry was sworn in yesterday as one of the city's three new councilmen. He represents Ward 8, considered the city's poorest area. He's actually been to work in several other positions there in D.C.
HEMMER: Ah-ha!
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: Gotcha. Thank you, Heidi.
We want to get back now to the follow-up. Again, the death toll from the tsunami disaster in southern Asia is rising today -- get this now -- to more than 156,000. In the country of Indonesia alone, the hardest hit, it's more than 94,000. That figure up just a few hours ago.
The latest on that part of the world, plus an amazing story of survival, from CNN's Mike Chinoy. He's live in Banda Aceh in Indonesia.
It is evening there. And, Mike, hello.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, if you look over my shoulder you'll see what happened to fishing boats that didn't survive the tsunami here. They ended up on a bridge in the middle of the business district of Banda Aceh, more than three miles from Banda Aceh's port.
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, I'm sure, including many fishermen, whose remains are buried in the rubble around here, many bodies still not collected. The death toll continuing to mount.
But amidst all of the death and destruction, an incredible story of a fisherman who made it. His name is Tengku Sofyan. He's 24 years old, and he was out at sea when the tsunamis struck. The huge waves tossed his fishing boat ashore, and he was trapped underneath for a week.
On Sunday, he was found and taken to a local hospital. He was in desperate condition, dehydrated, barely coherent, not able to speak about what had happened to him. Doctors say he's in very, very fragile shape, both physically and mentally.
But here is a case of somebody who was actually in the waves and who somehow managed to survive. There are not many stories like that amidst all the death and destruction here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Mike, one of the challenges we have talked about here is trying to get the aid actually to people once it arrives. What are the challenges they're seeing there in Banda Aceh in doing just that?
CHINOY: Well, the biggest -- the two biggest challenges aid workers say are logistics and communications. Communications because there's no telephone system here. There's no mobile phones.
So folks on the ground are finding it very difficult to liaise with people outside. There's no shortage of aid supplies. There's no shortage of money being pledged. There are tons of supplies that are ready to come in here. But the coordination and the transport are a big problem. The one small airport at Banda Aceh is functioning on overload.
You also have so many different aid organizations operating that just the sheer coordination between them is tricky. And they are having trouble finding places to live, finding vehicles finding drivers, finding interpreters.
And then you also have the big question of how to get that aid, which at least in Banda Aceh you can distribute to the hardest-hit areas along the coast of Sumatra, where there's simply no roads open. They were all destroyed.
U.S. Navy helicopters have been playing a key role in this, ferrying in supplies, food, water, medicine, medical teams, ferrying out some of the wounded. But that effort is just the very beginning. And it's going to be a long process, because there are hundreds of thousands of folks in desperate shape on the western coast who have still not been really assisted yet -- Bill.
HEMMER: Long indeed. Mike Chinoy in Banda Aceh in Indonesia. Thanks for that.
Two U.S. congressional delegations are headed to the region. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, he heads a group leaving for Sri Lanka tomorrow. Iowa Congressman Jim Leach departs on Wednesday. Leach is chairman of the House Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He's also my guest now down in D.C.
Welcome, sir. And good morning to you.
REP. JIM LEACH (R), IOWA: Well, good morning to you, sir.
HEMMER: I understand Indonesia is on your list. Thailand is on your list. Sri Lanka possibly India. What will you go there to assess?
LEACH: Well, basically, I'm going to look at the region, listen to the needs of what should be done and how it should be done. Also, to make it clear representing the people's house that this is an issue, above all, of compassion, and America is prepared to do whatever is necessary.
HEMMER: At this point, America has pledged $350 million. Where does that money come from?
LEACH: Well, it can come from pre-program funds such as those that were directed to Iraq rehabilitation. It can also come from new allocations of resources. And that will be an issue for Congress to determine in the weeks ahead. HEMMER: I also want to talk more about Congress' role yesterday on the Sunday talk shows. Here's Senator Joe Lieberman talking about that very topic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The $350 million that President Bush has now asked Congress for, I believe, will be a floor and not a ceiling. I think the president and members of Congress on a totally bipartisan basis will evaluate the needs as they arise. And in the end I believe we're going to give more than $350 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: He says it's a floor, not a ceiling, a starting point as opposed to a finishing point. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana says it could reach into the billions of aid from the U.S. Do you agree with that figure, possibly billions?
LEACH: I think that's all possible. We're looking at something that could be the greatest natural disaster of modern times. And we're looking at issues that go beyond natural disasters, for example, to man-made disasters and how you handle each set of problems, as well as the whole issue of how the international community responds to the plight of people in really extraordinary circumstances.
This could be a model of how you bring the world together. It also, if it fails, could be a model of what's lacking in world affairs. And it's going to be a challenge of people in all countries of the world to make up their minds what kind of new world we have want.
HEMMER: Yes. Some say that challenge will be met on Thursday. An aid conference is set for Jakarta, Indonesia. There has been a suggestion in articles over the weekend that the U.S. could go a long way in improving its image in some countries in Southeast Asia, especially with the heavily Muslim population. Do you see that as a possibility Thursday when these countries get together?
LEACH: Well, that's certainly a possibility. But I would stress that the goal here is not politics. The goal is dealing with the human plight. If there are political ramifications, that's fine. But this is an issue of compassion, not of geopolitics.
HEMMER: Good look to you and travel well.
LEACH: Thank you.
HEMMER: Jim Leach, Republican from Iowa this morning in D.C., heading to the region this week.
Also today, there are calls for a tsunami warning system here at home. New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone says he plans to introduce legislation for a warning system along the East Coast. A system using remote sensors to gauge tides and seismic activity already exists in the Pacific for Hawaii. Pallone says residents along the Atlantic coast deserve the same.
As this story continues to unfold, log on to our Web site, CNN.com, for the latest information on what's happening overseas. Many more firsthand accounts from survivors and information there on relief efforts so that you can help as well. CNN.com there for you right now online -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Management volunteers helping US Airways to avoid a repeat of the Christmas weekend travel nightmare. More than 100 airline executives and other employees pitched in to serve coffee and move bags at Philadelphia Airport. Many US Airways workers called in sick around Christmas. That caused flight cancellations and that caused thousands of passengers to be stranded. No similar problems, though, reported over the weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Also, the pictures out of the tsunami disaster are not soon forgotten. So many indelible images were left behind when the deadly and destructive waves swept ashore. We'll look back in a moment here as AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: There's a developing story out of Iraq right now getting word. CNN confirming a bomb has exploded near the Green Zone, western part of Baghdad. Not a whole lot of information this time, though. No word on casualties either. Earlier in the day there was another bomb that exploded north of Baghdad, killing four Iraqi National Guard members. So that's the latest as we get it out of Iraq. More in a moment on that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: The death toll is staggering. The images are ingrained in our minds. The world's response unprecedented. A look back now at last week in pictures from Southeast Asia, a disaster zone of unfathomable proportions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The worst earthquake in at least 40 years has triggered huge waves in southern and southeast Asia, killing at least 10,000 people. The highest death tolls are in India Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's coming again. It's coming again! Back up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey, hey!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god, this is a tidal wave!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tsunami!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) look at that! (EXPLETIVE DELETED) that wave is a good 15-20 feet tall, easy!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get in, get in, get in!
NATE BERKINS, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: We desperately, desperately need help from the government here. We're without water. We're without food. And many of us are injured.
COLLINS: The next wave, perhaps the greatest relief effort ever mounted, is under way at this hour. The U.S. joins aid agencies mobilizing to head off an epidemic.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of disasters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a terrible roaring noise. And we looked through the glass doors, and this torrent of mighty water just came down the steps and through the doors. And it washed me away into the playroom, and glass doors were smashed by the water. And I just couldn't keep my footing. I was very frightened.
WHITFIELD: As you know by now, the death toll in Asia has climbed today past 135,000. Tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for still. And millions remain in desperate need of shelter and food and medical treatment.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: The effects of this tragedy will be felt for a very long time. So I urge all of you to be generous in your contributions. Together, we will work to rebuild the lives, livelihoods and communities devastated by this catastrophe. Together, we will send a message of hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And we do have something special coming up tonight. Anderson Cooper of "360" will be live coming to you from Sri Lanka. That's your way tonight at 7:00, the tsunami disaster special.
HEMMER: No matter how many times you see that videotape, it's still -- you can't turn away.
COLLINS: Unbelievable, isn't it?
HEMMER: Yes.
Back to Jack now and the "Question of the Day," a different topic. Good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Bill.
What to do with suspected terrorists the United States does not want to release or turn over to the courts. There's a story in "The Washington Post" that there are plans to keep these people indefinitely, maybe for a lifetime, perhaps in a specially-built new prison, $25 million worth, have 200 beds, would be used to house these people maybe for as long as they live.
Apparently the government is afraid to release them because they think they're terrorists. There's not enough evidence to take them to trial, the government says. Some very powerful voices in Congress are speaking out against this idea, saying you can't just detain these people indefinitely, that it's unconstitutional.
So the question we're asking this morning is: How should the United States handle terrorist suspects that it's unwilling to release or turn over to the courts? Here is some of what you've written so far.
Michael in South Korea: "I think the U.S. should have the right to detain them for however long they want as long as they have evidence to support their reasoning."
Bryan in Georgetown, South Carolina: "If they're criminals they must be brought before a court and charged as criminals. Until they're charged they are POWs. The nature of the war and the nature of our enemy do not excuse us from following the Geneva Conventions."
Doug in Bloomfield, New Jersey writes: "If the U.S. detains someone for suspected terrorist activity, the suspect should be charged, investigated and prosecuted accordingly within a system that ensures justice; otherwise, we compromise America's costly mission to win hearts and minds around the world."
Mel, Cornwall on the Hudson, New York: "If the government is unwilling to turn the detainees over to the courts, then there is one choice left under our system of laws: release them. I was taught that the Constitution follows the flag and that habeas corpus can be suspended only so long."
And finally Pamela in Michigan writes: "If the Bush administration doesn't put these people on trial, they have to let them go. If they don't, then Americans have to be wary, because this type of justice would be allowed against our own citizens as well."
HEMMER: AM@CNN.com. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Thanks, Jack.
Now let's get a check of the markets, the opening trading day, in fact, of 2005. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
Good morning. Are we off to a good start?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, we're going to find out in a couple of hours. Let's do a little review of last year, though, first of all, because the final numbers are in, Heidi.
First of all last week, a kind of a mixed picture for the markets, but more important, of course, is what happened. This is last week. More important is what happened last year, which is, you know, the historical number there one looks at. The Dow is up 3 percent here. You can see the Nasdaq and the S&P leading.
We've talked about this before. The Dow lagging because the two drug stocks, Pfizer and Merck, relatively holding back that index. The second year in a row we're up. Actually not so bad, though, for the markets if you think about it, considering oil prices are up 34 percent, interest rates raising five times by the Federal Reserve.
So nothing to complain about. And, of course, 8 or 9 percent is an historical return.
What about some stocks highlighted as far as winners go? Some familiar names here. Taser. Bernie Kerik certainly enjoyed some of that, didn't he? Kmart, Martha Stewart. Some of these rebounding from the previous year. CKE is Hardee's.
As far as losers, again, some more familiar names for you. Krispy Kreme. How do you lose money making doughnuts? I still don't understand that. Winn Dixie is getting beaten up by Wal-Mart down in Florida. LeapFrog hit the wall, and Blockbuster (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: What's LeapFrog?
SERWER: LeapFrog makes those Leap Pads, the kids computer systems. They've done well, but the stock got kind of hit.
COLLINS: Those are great.
SERWER: Yes. And as far as this year goes, Heidi, I mean, the big news is going to be the same stuff. It's going to be terrorism, the price of oil, interest rates and the dollar. And I think we'll be lucky to have another market year, another historical year like we did this past year.
COLLINS: And we'll wait until the markets are open...
SERWER: Yes.
COLLINS: ... before you tell us what's actually happening today.
SERWER: True.
COLLINS: I'm excited.
HEMMER: 90-second poppers are ready to make their 2005 predictions. Which movie is a lock to sweep on Oscar night? The answer according to them in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Now our Monday edition of "90-Second Pop", the first of 2005. Our pop panel this morning, Andy Borowitz from BorowitzReport.com. Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine. And Toure, CNN pop culture correspondent.
Happy New Year, guys.
TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: And to you.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Happy New Year.
COLLINS: I want to start off the year right, and apparently somebody has done that with this new movie about -- you say that it's not about a female boxer, but this you think the Oscar race is over.
TOURE: "Million Dollar Baby" is about much more than a female boxer. Don't let anybody tell you about it. Just go in knowing nothing. Just go. Don't worry about boxing. Just bring the whole...
BERNARD: If you can get in.
TOURE: If you can get in, bring a whole box of Kleenex and just go.
BERNARD: Wow!
TOURE: The Oscar race is over. I see best director, best picture. It's going to be...
BERNARD: Really?
TOURE: ... "Million Dollar Baby's" night. "The Aviator," I hate to break it to you, is not that good, people. Leo does not deserve...
COLLINS: It didn't bring in that much money this weekend either.
TOURE: Right, right.
BERNARD: But don't you think that Martin Scorsese is going to get best director just because he's never won an Academy Award?
TOURE: I think...
BERNARD: Which is kind of outrageous.
TOURE: I think that Clint Eastwood's achievement here is much bigger than Marty's achievement over there.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: I want to put in...
BERNARD: But don't you think even for the...
BOROWITZ: I want to put in a little underdog vote for Oliver Stone for his gay interpretation of "Alexander." I do. This is not Alexander the Great. This is Alexander the fabulous. It's unbelievable. That's my vote.
BERNARD: All right. It's possible.
TOURE: Maybe.
COLLINS: All right. So, Sarah, let's get to you now. What do you predict the entertainment story of the year...
BERNARD: OK. No...
COLLINS: ... will be as people look back?
BERNARD: No question it is going to be Martha, Martha, Martha. She has a three-point plan for taking over 2005. The first is in March when she gets out of prison. That's going to be a huge story. She's released from Camp Cupcake.
Then in September, she's actually going to start filming her daily talk show. And she's got to wait until September, because after she gets out in March she still has five months of house arrest to go through. So it's going to be a live show where there's audience participation. And even though she did not win her Christmas decorating contest in prison, which we found out, we still think she's got a lot to share.
And then she's going to also probably have a primetime reality show. So it's just going to be all Martha all the time.
BOROWITZ: She's recording a duet with Usher.
BERNARD: That's right.
COLLINS: That's going to be a big one, yes.
TOURE: But her show is being made by Mark Burnett.
COLLINS: Yes.
BERNARD: Exactly.
TOURE: Like, who could you have in better hands than Mark Burnett?
BERNARD: It's perfect.
COLLINS: He's been quite successful.
TOURE: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: This is true.
TOURE: I mean, he's going to know exactly how to shape her. The show is going to be great. She's going to make a huge comeback.
BERNARD: All right. And if there's any room left for another scandal and another entertainer of the year will obviously be Michael Jackson, whose trial starts at the end of this month. And, you know, there's something like 100 witnesses just on the defense side. So this is just going to just...
BOROWITZ: Wow!
BERNARD: This one is going to go on forever.
COLLINS: I wonder if we're going to recognize him by the time the whole thing is over.
BERNARD: I don't know. He's going to start looking like Martha, I think.
COLLINS: Yes, maybe.
All right, Andy, your turn. Some predictions now. You think that the shocker story of 2005 is going to be?
BOROWITZ: Anna Nicole Smith, actually. I believe in 2005, Anna Nicole Smith will complete a sentence. I really do believe that.
BERNARD: Right on!
BOROWITZ: I think it's going to...
COLLINS: I don't know. You've got the bar way up there.
BOROWITZ: I think it's going to have a subject, a verb and a period, the whole nine yards.
BERNARD: The subject is going to be, I want my money back, right?
BOROWITZ: Yes.
BERNARD: Because she lost it.
BOROWITZ: She lost her money, and I think that's going to bring new focus to her life. But I think so.
COLLINS: Oh, that's an excellent prediction. Anybody else?
TOURE: Well, I'm looking for Cold Play to have a big year. This is their first year album since Chris Martin, the lead singer, had a baby with Gwyneth Paltrow. They have a new album coming out this year, and it's going to be hot. Each album -- they've had two before. They were both awesome. This one is going to be even better.
BERNARD: And this is going to be a big year for me and Troy, because we've got Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez...
TOURE: Yea!
BERNARD: ... as Mets, Yankees.
TOURE: Pedro who?
BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) guy.
TOURE: Randy Johnson.
COLLINS: All right. Well, I guess our congratulations to you, then. All right, guys, thanks so much as always.
Bill -- back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks. Four minutes before the hour. A programming note this morning. Today was to be our launch of our "New You Resolution" series. Sanjay, however, is overseas with the tsunami disaster. We are postponing the start until the 17th of January. That's Monday two weeks from now. So we will start that then.
Our top stories in a moment. Much-needed aid arriving in Southeast Asia. But is it getting to the people who really need it? Soledad also is live in Thailand. We'll get to her at the top of the hour in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
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