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American Morning
Many Unanswered Questions About Missing; Thai Interior Minister Discusses Aid Efforts; Gonzales Confirmation Hearing to Begin
Aired January 06, 2005 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Will the money arrive in time? Americans lost in the tsunami. The casualty list grows. Families want answers.
In the U.S., storm creates havoc from the plains to New England. It's getting worse for some states today.
And the president's nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, is expected to be grilled for his stand on torture. His confirmation starts this hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. And welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
In Indonesia, as you well know, the pictures of utter devastation at Banda Aceh. Here are the latest pictures, in fact, from there.
Not only is it very difficult to get aid in, it is virtually impossible to get some of those bodies out. Aid workers are saying there are massive parts of that country where they just cannot get to.
Let's talk a little bit about the missing and the dead locally. Question is, how do you count them? And will those numbers ever actually be known?
This morning we're going to talk to Thailand's minister of the interior. Now he is doing double duty, though, as a director of tsunami relief. We've got that just ahead this morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: All right, Soledad. Thanks and good morning, everybody. Back here in New York at 9:01 here.
CNN with reporters all over that hard-hit area, bringing you the very latest again this hour on the rescue and the aid efforts. Here are the new developments.
World leaders pledging now to work together at a summit earlier today in Indonesia, in Jakarta, the capital city. The U.N. chief Kofi Annan is there. He says nearly $1 billion is need to get through the next six months.
Leaders also calling for implementing a tsunami warning system. The E.U., the European Union, adding up $132 million to the nearly $4 billion pledged so far. Secretary of State Colin Powell saying the U.S. contribution of $350 million is likely to increase. Those comments from earlier today.
Also the confirmed number of tourists killed has gone up to 368. That's the confirmed number, 16 Americans among them. Twenty more Americans are presumed dead. The WHO, World Health Organization, says $60 million needed right now for 150,000 people still listed as extreme risk.
There are also positive signs from Indonesia today. The organization, we're told, is getting better. The U.N. feels confident that relief could reach 850,000 people who need it the most, mostly on the island of Sumatra that we have talked about every day now for eleven days and counting.
Here's Soledad again back in Phuket, Thailand -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thank you very much.
Rebuilding, of course, is going to be critical to Thailand, because so much of this nation makes its money off of the tourism industry. It's a $10 billion plus industry. Some five million tourists every year, we're told, come to this region alone.
The ability to rebuild is, of course, going to be heavily correlated to the ability to attract tourists to the region.
At the State Department, they say a perfect count will never be possible. A new count is doubling the number of Americans who are dead. Question now is, how many are still missing?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): The number of Americans who are believed to have died in the tsunami disaster has more than doubled. Firsthand accounts from survivors has led the State Department to conclude that another 20 U.S. citizens are presumed dead, on top of the 16 already confirmed dead.
ADAM ERELI, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: In each of these cases, there is a specific reason to believe that the individual was in harm's way at the time of the tsunamis.
O'BRIEN: Officials say they've received some 24,000 inquiries about Americans since the disaster. About 3,500 of those remain unsolved.
Secretary Powell, who's touring the region, is apparently growing frustrated by the slow process.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're working as hard as we can to get that list down. With each passing day we're removing hundreds of names from the list.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm calling from the Department of State Tsunami Task Force.
O'BRIEN: Powell's State Department has come under sharp criticism for its lack of concrete information on missing Americans. Yesterday, the department tried to address some of that criticism.
ERELI: Nobody has 100 percent degree of clarity on exactly where all their citizens are, including these other countries. Now, they might have a -- might have a clearer picture than we do, but there's still -- there's still doubts. There's still gray areas. There's still -- there's still unanswered questions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: In spite of all those unanswered questions, though, some say that actually Sweden, in spite of being very effective, has actually done a pretty good job in organizing support of its citizens.
Let's talk a little bit about what's happening here locally in Thailand. The death toll now as we mentioned, 5,100; 3,800 still missing and presumed dead. A massive relief effort, as we've been telling you about all week, is under way.
Bhokin Bhalakula is the minister of the interior in Thailand.
Good evening to you sir.
BHOKIN BHALAKULA, INTERIOR MINISTER, THAILAND: Good evening.
O'BRIEN: Here, of course, good morning in New York. You are now also the director of tsunami relief.
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about how big of a task that is for you and what your main focus is right now.
BHALAKULA: Yes. In the beginning it's so big because about six provinces affected by this disaster. And the most series are in three provinces, in Phuket, Panang (ph) and Kobi (ph).
And in Sunday (ph) there were about 30,000 people working together from various organizations. So the decision now, I think the proper, now we're dealing about dead bodies, how we can identify these dead bodies.
And finally we try to have the DNA test for every dead body, and we wait for the match with the relatives of these bodies. So once we get DNA result from the dead bodies, and the DNA result from the relatives, we can match and we can identify more bodies.
Regarding the Thai people in general, actually, we have a general (ph) system that is -- we pay them the money just for -- that they can live. And we also have what we call temporary shelters or houses for them while we are waiting for permanent house.
So this housing problem just instruct (ph) that we have to start it within two weeks. Now we have to decide, and we have the price for unit for them already.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about relief before I talk to you a little bit more about the bodies. We've seen in Indonesia...
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... much of the relief is in there is bottlenecked. It's actually not getting to the people who desperately need it.
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Have you seen anything like that here in Thailand?
BHALAKULA: No. Not in Thailand, no. Because of infrastructure and the assistance, everything, we have planes, we have helicopters, and we also receive this kind of assistance, technical, from foreign countries and international organizations. There are about 50 countries and international organizations helping us for this kind of technical assistance.
O'BRIEN: What exactly do you want technical assistance wise? Because I know that Thailand is not requesting money.
BHALAKULA: It depends on each state. For example, the first stage we need search and rescue team. And second stage we have -- we need expert for the search for bodies. I mean dead bodies and to identify these bodies. And we received, I mean, a trove (ph) experts from many countries, about 300 persons working with us.
And when we said that we don't need financial assistance from abroad, it means we think that we can handle this problem by ourselves, but anyway, we will be grateful if this kind of assistance comes on an interim (ph) basis.
And we also received some donation from some country. And some country proposes also, for example, the Australian government for the representation (ph) of the dead bodies.
First of all we told everyone that we will be responsible for all costs. And finally, the Australian government told us that no problem, they're going to take care of this problem.
And also some countries told us that if we want to help with some of the construction of the permanent housing for those -- for those who have -- who are homeless, and if they know the unit cost, this kind of assistance we -- we will be grateful if anyone wants to do that.
O'BRIEN: You're describing a very, very, very big job ahead. Bhokin Bhalakula, nice to have you. Thank you very much for talking with us this evening here in Thailand.
BHALAKULA: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Of course, we are twelve hours ahead where you are, Bill, in New York. Before I let you go I want to tell you about, once again tonight, 8 p.m. special where we continue to talk about relief efforts. As we heard, Thailand, lots of headway being made in getting assistance to folks. Not the case in other places, especially Indonesia. We're going to talk about that.
And then this evening, we've got a special at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, "SAVING THE CHILDREN." A look at the children in the wake of the tsunami's wrath. That's all ahead.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks there again live in Thailand.
In a few hour's time, also, back in this country the Department of Homeland Security now set to release a huge new national response plan. Tom Ridge says this has been one of his -- his top priorities. In our "Security Watch" this morning, homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins us in D.C.
And Jeanne, good morning to you.
What's in the details there? Good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, there are a lot of details. This is 426 pages long.
It boils down to this. If a big tsunami were to hit the United States, if there were another major terrorist attack, this is the document that would guide the emergency response.
It delineates how federal agencies will coordinate with each other and with state, local and tribal governments during an emergency, specifically incidents of national significance, defined as high impact events that require a coordinated and effective response to save lives, minimize danger, and provide for long-term recovery.
Under the old system, a dirty bomb attack, for instance, would have led to the activation of an FBI response plan, a federal radiological emergency response plan and probably half a dozen others.
Officials say the new system brings all of those plans under one umbrella, replacing some and integrating others.
DHS officials go to great pains to say this is not an effort to usurp local authority, and local and state officials and first responders were involved in the development of the plan.
Although DHS also says that individual federal departments will retain their respective authorities under the plan, some people in the field are questioning whether all the federal agencies and departments will, in fact, cooperate.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: It is a big document, 426 pages. Jeanne, thanks for that. Jeanne Meserve in D.C.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
This is Heidi Collins here. Good morning, Heidi. How are you?
HEIDI COLLINS, CO-HOST: Good. Good morning to you, as well. Good morning to you, everybody.
Now in the news this morning, this just in to us: former South African president Nelson Mandela is reportedly saying his only surviving son has now died of AIDS. Mandela apparently told reporters just minutes ago his son died today in Johannesburg.
Mandela's son has been in intensive care in recent weeks. But until now, no details had been released about his condition.
Back here in the United States, a "CNN Security Watch," federal agents looking for a man who apparently tried to buy a large quantity of explosive material. Talked about this a little bit earlier today on the show.
Federal authorities say the man wanted to purchase up to 1,000 tons of fertilizer, the chemical ammonium nitrate. The material is the same type used in the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City.
A new report out this morning about the possible abuse of an Australian prisoner in U.S. custody. According to court papers cited by the "Washington Post," the man was detained in Pakistan in late 2001.
He claims U.S. authorities transferred him to Egypt, where he was tortured for six months before being flown to U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No reaction yet from the administration.
And finally, Microsoft, letting you debug your computer for free, starting today. Microsoft, which is a favorite target of hackers, is offering a security program to remove some of the most dangerous bugs in cyberspace.
The computer giant plans to release a complete version of its anti-virus software a little bit later on this year.
HEMMER: How do you debug your computer anyway?
COLLINS: I don't know.
HEMMER: I don't either.
COLLINS: Spray some stuff on it.
HEMMER: We'll go to Microsoft. Thank you, Heidi.
The president's pick to be the next attorney general will be in the Senate hot seat this morning. In fact, it will start in about 18 minutes from now. The confirmation hearing for White House counsel Alberto Gonzales gets under way at 9:30. Congressional correspondent Ed Henry on Capitol Hill inside that room there with a preview.
Ed, good morning. Good to see you.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Just like John Ashcroft, the man he's trying to replace, Judge Gonzales has become a lightning rod.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): Alberto Gonzales is being accused by the liberal group MoveOn.org of sparking the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib by setting a loose policy on the handling of prisoners in the war on terror.
SEN. TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I think American people want to know what was the reason that Mr. Gonzales effectively approved these kinds of activities.
HENRY: One point of contention is an August 2002 Justice Department memo approved by Gonzales. Critics charge its narrow definition of torture of detainees in Afghanistan opened the door to abuses around the world.
But in his opening statement today, Gonzales will vow that if he's confirmed he will follow non-torture policies and be, quote, "faithful to the rule of law."
Republicans say as White House counsel, Gonzales was merely weighing options to keep America safe and should not be blamed for the abuses.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: That really smears him with the acts of a few criminals.
HENRY: But the top Democrat on the judiciary committee charges that Gonzales has been stonewalling.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: A number of us have been asking Judge Gonzales for months now about his role in the torture memos. We've never gotten a full answer.
HENRY: Republicans say Gonzales has been forthcoming and will be ready to answer tough but fair questions today.
CORNYN: We should draw the line between good faith and partisan political attacks. And I fear that this thing has begun to degenerate into those sort of smear tactics.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: The bottom line is that Democrats will rough up Gonzales a bit today. But barring a major development, he's going to be confirmed -- Bill.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Thanks, Ed. Ed Henry there on Capitol Hill.
The hearing begins, again, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. We'll keep an eye on it for you. Bring you live coverage, again, throughout the morning here -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Want to go ahead and check on the weather. Chad Myers standing by at the CNN center with more on the forecast for the day.
Chad, things look any better anywhere?
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: All right, thank you, Chad.
HEMMER: Good to be indoors, isn't it?
COLLINS: It is. Staying right here.
HEMMER: A potentially startling new risk factor for heart attacks. How do you know if you're in trouble? I'll have a look at that in a moment.
COLLINS: Also a brand-new twist in the case of arraigned Corporal Hassoun. The accused deserter disappears again.
HEMMER: Also people around the globe trying to adopt children of the tsunami. But could those good intentions actually do harm? That's next here on AMERICAN MORNING, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to find out more about your efforts to locate friends or relatives missing in the tsunami area. So give us a call if you would: CNN, 404-878-1500. You can also send us an e-mail at CNN.com/tsunami.
Meanwhile, as Americans pour out their money, they're also pouring out their hearts to the many children orphaned by the tsunamis. But adoption may not be the best option.
Cory Barron of Children's Hope International Adoption Agency is joining me now from St. Louis, Missouri, to talk more about this.
Good morning to you, Mr. Barron, and thanks for being with us.
You know, I think it's really important to start talking about the best thing for the children in all of this. And I know that you have had a significant interest, like a 50 percent increase in hits on your web site about people wanting to adopt. Is that even possible?
CORY BARRON, CHILDREN'S HOPE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION AGENCY: Well, Heidi, you are right. These pictures that we see from southern Asia are just tugging on the hearts of people. And there are many things that we can do to help the children down there, but adoption is just not an option.
COLLINS: Why is that?
BARRON: Well, in many of the countries down there, they don't even have well-established international adoption programs set up at this time, let alone this massive influx of interest.
But then, the most important thing for that child is probably to be placed in an extended family with an aunt or an uncle or some grandparents, or maybe even a friend of the family. And if that's not possible, Heidi, it would be more important for the child to stay in country and be adopted domestically.
So really, international adoption is kind of the fourth tier. If none of that is possible, then try and find a home for that child overseas.
COLLINS: Yes. We actually heard from one of our correspondents, Atika Shubert, early. She was reporting from Banda Aceh and they say -- she was telling us about what a strong, strong culture they have there with the extended families.
But so tough, especially given all of the confusion right now, to link up with those extended family members. So what's being done for the kids right now?
BARRON: Right now, it's just the humanitarian efforts that are needed. Our man that is in charge of our humanitarian projects in India, he's down by the coast, feeding people, bringing blankets to people.
Those children that don't have family anymore are being fed and comforted. And that's the best way we can help those children right now.
But what this is really doing beyond that is bringing an awareness of the orphans of the world. And there are millions and millions of orphans in institutional care that need a home that can be adopted, and maybe we can focus on those children now, and then maybe in the future, something the children that no longer have a home in the area that was hit by the tsunami, could possibly be up for international adoption.
But that could take years, Heidi, before any procedures and agreements are agreed upon among these countries. You look at Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, there's very little international adoption in that area right now.
COLLINS: So quickly, what would you say to people who are looking at the faces of those children in all the video that we've been seeing over the past eleven days now, if they want to help specifically these kids in that area?
BARRON: Well, the best thing is to find that agency, that group, that humanitarian group that's going to help them out. Give money to the Red Cross. They're going to feed those children. They're going to help the children recover from this incredible disaster.
And if their heart continues to say I can take in a child, there are options, internationally, for children that desperately need a home that, if they grow up in an orphanage, their future is not very bright.
COLLINS: Some great information for us all today. Cory Barron of the Children's Hope International Adoption Agency. Thank you, sir.
BARRON: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Again want to remind you tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on CNN, more about the kids of the tsunami. A special called "SAVING THE CHILDREN." During prime time we're going to focus on those kids affected by the tsunamis -- Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, winter turning nasty for many folks across the northern part of the country. Is it about to get even worse, though, than it is already? Chad checks in on that and more when we go outside after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, and here's Jack again. Question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Thank you, Bill.
The U.N. is going to run the tsunami relief effort. They are being handed billions of dollars to distribute in the form of humanitarian aid to six countries.
But the U.N. is also currently being investigated for the mismanagement of the oil-for-food program in Iraq. Billions of dollars unaccounted for there. Early indications are oil-for-food became one of the most corrupt enterprises ever.
So the question this morning is, should the U.N. be leading the tsunami relief effort amidst investigations into the mismanagement of other humanitarian aid programs?
Susan in California: "No, the U.N. should not be running the show in the tsunami disaster. And keep any money away from Kofi Annan's son. How can anybody possibly think it won't be a corrupt operation?"
Susan in St. John, New Brunswick: "America is brilliant, generous, and full of goodwill, and by making clear the effort will be led by the United Nations, the U.S. is giving an opportunity to the U.N. to prove it can do something right and still has relevancy."
Joann in Deering, New Hampshire, writes, "I don't believe there's a vehicle in existence where $5 billion can be placed for distribution. Human greed will eventually take over and make this money easy pickings for anyone who wants to siphon some of it off."
And R. writes from Long Beach, California, "No, the U.N. cannot be trusted. President Bush should appoint someone with integrity like Bernard Kerik to handle such an important task."
HEMMER: There's a shot.
Remember Christiane reported two hours ago when that big earthquake hit Iran, $1 billion was pledged. They saw a fraction of that money. Big concern to make sure the cash comes through.
Thank you, Jack.
For the children over there, innocence now scarred by disaster. Soon, though, it will be time to carry on. A moving look at the new world they face, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: On Capitol Hill live at this hour, the man right there with the red tie. You see him behind the camera. In a moment Alberto Gonzales, chief council at the White House, the president's pick to be the next attorney general. Hearings, confirmation begin this hour on Capitol Hill. We'll watch it for you.
Back in a moment, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired January 6, 2005 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Will the money arrive in time? Americans lost in the tsunami. The casualty list grows. Families want answers.
In the U.S., storm creates havoc from the plains to New England. It's getting worse for some states today.
And the president's nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, is expected to be grilled for his stand on torture. His confirmation starts this hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. And welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
In Indonesia, as you well know, the pictures of utter devastation at Banda Aceh. Here are the latest pictures, in fact, from there.
Not only is it very difficult to get aid in, it is virtually impossible to get some of those bodies out. Aid workers are saying there are massive parts of that country where they just cannot get to.
Let's talk a little bit about the missing and the dead locally. Question is, how do you count them? And will those numbers ever actually be known?
This morning we're going to talk to Thailand's minister of the interior. Now he is doing double duty, though, as a director of tsunami relief. We've got that just ahead this morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: All right, Soledad. Thanks and good morning, everybody. Back here in New York at 9:01 here.
CNN with reporters all over that hard-hit area, bringing you the very latest again this hour on the rescue and the aid efforts. Here are the new developments.
World leaders pledging now to work together at a summit earlier today in Indonesia, in Jakarta, the capital city. The U.N. chief Kofi Annan is there. He says nearly $1 billion is need to get through the next six months.
Leaders also calling for implementing a tsunami warning system. The E.U., the European Union, adding up $132 million to the nearly $4 billion pledged so far. Secretary of State Colin Powell saying the U.S. contribution of $350 million is likely to increase. Those comments from earlier today.
Also the confirmed number of tourists killed has gone up to 368. That's the confirmed number, 16 Americans among them. Twenty more Americans are presumed dead. The WHO, World Health Organization, says $60 million needed right now for 150,000 people still listed as extreme risk.
There are also positive signs from Indonesia today. The organization, we're told, is getting better. The U.N. feels confident that relief could reach 850,000 people who need it the most, mostly on the island of Sumatra that we have talked about every day now for eleven days and counting.
Here's Soledad again back in Phuket, Thailand -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thank you very much.
Rebuilding, of course, is going to be critical to Thailand, because so much of this nation makes its money off of the tourism industry. It's a $10 billion plus industry. Some five million tourists every year, we're told, come to this region alone.
The ability to rebuild is, of course, going to be heavily correlated to the ability to attract tourists to the region.
At the State Department, they say a perfect count will never be possible. A new count is doubling the number of Americans who are dead. Question now is, how many are still missing?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): The number of Americans who are believed to have died in the tsunami disaster has more than doubled. Firsthand accounts from survivors has led the State Department to conclude that another 20 U.S. citizens are presumed dead, on top of the 16 already confirmed dead.
ADAM ERELI, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: In each of these cases, there is a specific reason to believe that the individual was in harm's way at the time of the tsunamis.
O'BRIEN: Officials say they've received some 24,000 inquiries about Americans since the disaster. About 3,500 of those remain unsolved.
Secretary Powell, who's touring the region, is apparently growing frustrated by the slow process.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're working as hard as we can to get that list down. With each passing day we're removing hundreds of names from the list.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm calling from the Department of State Tsunami Task Force.
O'BRIEN: Powell's State Department has come under sharp criticism for its lack of concrete information on missing Americans. Yesterday, the department tried to address some of that criticism.
ERELI: Nobody has 100 percent degree of clarity on exactly where all their citizens are, including these other countries. Now, they might have a -- might have a clearer picture than we do, but there's still -- there's still doubts. There's still gray areas. There's still -- there's still unanswered questions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: In spite of all those unanswered questions, though, some say that actually Sweden, in spite of being very effective, has actually done a pretty good job in organizing support of its citizens.
Let's talk a little bit about what's happening here locally in Thailand. The death toll now as we mentioned, 5,100; 3,800 still missing and presumed dead. A massive relief effort, as we've been telling you about all week, is under way.
Bhokin Bhalakula is the minister of the interior in Thailand.
Good evening to you sir.
BHOKIN BHALAKULA, INTERIOR MINISTER, THAILAND: Good evening.
O'BRIEN: Here, of course, good morning in New York. You are now also the director of tsunami relief.
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about how big of a task that is for you and what your main focus is right now.
BHALAKULA: Yes. In the beginning it's so big because about six provinces affected by this disaster. And the most series are in three provinces, in Phuket, Panang (ph) and Kobi (ph).
And in Sunday (ph) there were about 30,000 people working together from various organizations. So the decision now, I think the proper, now we're dealing about dead bodies, how we can identify these dead bodies.
And finally we try to have the DNA test for every dead body, and we wait for the match with the relatives of these bodies. So once we get DNA result from the dead bodies, and the DNA result from the relatives, we can match and we can identify more bodies.
Regarding the Thai people in general, actually, we have a general (ph) system that is -- we pay them the money just for -- that they can live. And we also have what we call temporary shelters or houses for them while we are waiting for permanent house.
So this housing problem just instruct (ph) that we have to start it within two weeks. Now we have to decide, and we have the price for unit for them already.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about relief before I talk to you a little bit more about the bodies. We've seen in Indonesia...
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... much of the relief is in there is bottlenecked. It's actually not getting to the people who desperately need it.
BHALAKULA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Have you seen anything like that here in Thailand?
BHALAKULA: No. Not in Thailand, no. Because of infrastructure and the assistance, everything, we have planes, we have helicopters, and we also receive this kind of assistance, technical, from foreign countries and international organizations. There are about 50 countries and international organizations helping us for this kind of technical assistance.
O'BRIEN: What exactly do you want technical assistance wise? Because I know that Thailand is not requesting money.
BHALAKULA: It depends on each state. For example, the first stage we need search and rescue team. And second stage we have -- we need expert for the search for bodies. I mean dead bodies and to identify these bodies. And we received, I mean, a trove (ph) experts from many countries, about 300 persons working with us.
And when we said that we don't need financial assistance from abroad, it means we think that we can handle this problem by ourselves, but anyway, we will be grateful if this kind of assistance comes on an interim (ph) basis.
And we also received some donation from some country. And some country proposes also, for example, the Australian government for the representation (ph) of the dead bodies.
First of all we told everyone that we will be responsible for all costs. And finally, the Australian government told us that no problem, they're going to take care of this problem.
And also some countries told us that if we want to help with some of the construction of the permanent housing for those -- for those who have -- who are homeless, and if they know the unit cost, this kind of assistance we -- we will be grateful if anyone wants to do that.
O'BRIEN: You're describing a very, very, very big job ahead. Bhokin Bhalakula, nice to have you. Thank you very much for talking with us this evening here in Thailand.
BHALAKULA: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Of course, we are twelve hours ahead where you are, Bill, in New York. Before I let you go I want to tell you about, once again tonight, 8 p.m. special where we continue to talk about relief efforts. As we heard, Thailand, lots of headway being made in getting assistance to folks. Not the case in other places, especially Indonesia. We're going to talk about that.
And then this evening, we've got a special at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, "SAVING THE CHILDREN." A look at the children in the wake of the tsunami's wrath. That's all ahead.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks there again live in Thailand.
In a few hour's time, also, back in this country the Department of Homeland Security now set to release a huge new national response plan. Tom Ridge says this has been one of his -- his top priorities. In our "Security Watch" this morning, homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins us in D.C.
And Jeanne, good morning to you.
What's in the details there? Good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, there are a lot of details. This is 426 pages long.
It boils down to this. If a big tsunami were to hit the United States, if there were another major terrorist attack, this is the document that would guide the emergency response.
It delineates how federal agencies will coordinate with each other and with state, local and tribal governments during an emergency, specifically incidents of national significance, defined as high impact events that require a coordinated and effective response to save lives, minimize danger, and provide for long-term recovery.
Under the old system, a dirty bomb attack, for instance, would have led to the activation of an FBI response plan, a federal radiological emergency response plan and probably half a dozen others.
Officials say the new system brings all of those plans under one umbrella, replacing some and integrating others.
DHS officials go to great pains to say this is not an effort to usurp local authority, and local and state officials and first responders were involved in the development of the plan.
Although DHS also says that individual federal departments will retain their respective authorities under the plan, some people in the field are questioning whether all the federal agencies and departments will, in fact, cooperate.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: It is a big document, 426 pages. Jeanne, thanks for that. Jeanne Meserve in D.C.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
This is Heidi Collins here. Good morning, Heidi. How are you?
HEIDI COLLINS, CO-HOST: Good. Good morning to you, as well. Good morning to you, everybody.
Now in the news this morning, this just in to us: former South African president Nelson Mandela is reportedly saying his only surviving son has now died of AIDS. Mandela apparently told reporters just minutes ago his son died today in Johannesburg.
Mandela's son has been in intensive care in recent weeks. But until now, no details had been released about his condition.
Back here in the United States, a "CNN Security Watch," federal agents looking for a man who apparently tried to buy a large quantity of explosive material. Talked about this a little bit earlier today on the show.
Federal authorities say the man wanted to purchase up to 1,000 tons of fertilizer, the chemical ammonium nitrate. The material is the same type used in the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City.
A new report out this morning about the possible abuse of an Australian prisoner in U.S. custody. According to court papers cited by the "Washington Post," the man was detained in Pakistan in late 2001.
He claims U.S. authorities transferred him to Egypt, where he was tortured for six months before being flown to U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No reaction yet from the administration.
And finally, Microsoft, letting you debug your computer for free, starting today. Microsoft, which is a favorite target of hackers, is offering a security program to remove some of the most dangerous bugs in cyberspace.
The computer giant plans to release a complete version of its anti-virus software a little bit later on this year.
HEMMER: How do you debug your computer anyway?
COLLINS: I don't know.
HEMMER: I don't either.
COLLINS: Spray some stuff on it.
HEMMER: We'll go to Microsoft. Thank you, Heidi.
The president's pick to be the next attorney general will be in the Senate hot seat this morning. In fact, it will start in about 18 minutes from now. The confirmation hearing for White House counsel Alberto Gonzales gets under way at 9:30. Congressional correspondent Ed Henry on Capitol Hill inside that room there with a preview.
Ed, good morning. Good to see you.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Just like John Ashcroft, the man he's trying to replace, Judge Gonzales has become a lightning rod.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): Alberto Gonzales is being accused by the liberal group MoveOn.org of sparking the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib by setting a loose policy on the handling of prisoners in the war on terror.
SEN. TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I think American people want to know what was the reason that Mr. Gonzales effectively approved these kinds of activities.
HENRY: One point of contention is an August 2002 Justice Department memo approved by Gonzales. Critics charge its narrow definition of torture of detainees in Afghanistan opened the door to abuses around the world.
But in his opening statement today, Gonzales will vow that if he's confirmed he will follow non-torture policies and be, quote, "faithful to the rule of law."
Republicans say as White House counsel, Gonzales was merely weighing options to keep America safe and should not be blamed for the abuses.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: That really smears him with the acts of a few criminals.
HENRY: But the top Democrat on the judiciary committee charges that Gonzales has been stonewalling.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: A number of us have been asking Judge Gonzales for months now about his role in the torture memos. We've never gotten a full answer.
HENRY: Republicans say Gonzales has been forthcoming and will be ready to answer tough but fair questions today.
CORNYN: We should draw the line between good faith and partisan political attacks. And I fear that this thing has begun to degenerate into those sort of smear tactics.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: The bottom line is that Democrats will rough up Gonzales a bit today. But barring a major development, he's going to be confirmed -- Bill.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Thanks, Ed. Ed Henry there on Capitol Hill.
The hearing begins, again, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. We'll keep an eye on it for you. Bring you live coverage, again, throughout the morning here -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Want to go ahead and check on the weather. Chad Myers standing by at the CNN center with more on the forecast for the day.
Chad, things look any better anywhere?
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: All right, thank you, Chad.
HEMMER: Good to be indoors, isn't it?
COLLINS: It is. Staying right here.
HEMMER: A potentially startling new risk factor for heart attacks. How do you know if you're in trouble? I'll have a look at that in a moment.
COLLINS: Also a brand-new twist in the case of arraigned Corporal Hassoun. The accused deserter disappears again.
HEMMER: Also people around the globe trying to adopt children of the tsunami. But could those good intentions actually do harm? That's next here on AMERICAN MORNING, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to find out more about your efforts to locate friends or relatives missing in the tsunami area. So give us a call if you would: CNN, 404-878-1500. You can also send us an e-mail at CNN.com/tsunami.
Meanwhile, as Americans pour out their money, they're also pouring out their hearts to the many children orphaned by the tsunamis. But adoption may not be the best option.
Cory Barron of Children's Hope International Adoption Agency is joining me now from St. Louis, Missouri, to talk more about this.
Good morning to you, Mr. Barron, and thanks for being with us.
You know, I think it's really important to start talking about the best thing for the children in all of this. And I know that you have had a significant interest, like a 50 percent increase in hits on your web site about people wanting to adopt. Is that even possible?
CORY BARRON, CHILDREN'S HOPE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION AGENCY: Well, Heidi, you are right. These pictures that we see from southern Asia are just tugging on the hearts of people. And there are many things that we can do to help the children down there, but adoption is just not an option.
COLLINS: Why is that?
BARRON: Well, in many of the countries down there, they don't even have well-established international adoption programs set up at this time, let alone this massive influx of interest.
But then, the most important thing for that child is probably to be placed in an extended family with an aunt or an uncle or some grandparents, or maybe even a friend of the family. And if that's not possible, Heidi, it would be more important for the child to stay in country and be adopted domestically.
So really, international adoption is kind of the fourth tier. If none of that is possible, then try and find a home for that child overseas.
COLLINS: Yes. We actually heard from one of our correspondents, Atika Shubert, early. She was reporting from Banda Aceh and they say -- she was telling us about what a strong, strong culture they have there with the extended families.
But so tough, especially given all of the confusion right now, to link up with those extended family members. So what's being done for the kids right now?
BARRON: Right now, it's just the humanitarian efforts that are needed. Our man that is in charge of our humanitarian projects in India, he's down by the coast, feeding people, bringing blankets to people.
Those children that don't have family anymore are being fed and comforted. And that's the best way we can help those children right now.
But what this is really doing beyond that is bringing an awareness of the orphans of the world. And there are millions and millions of orphans in institutional care that need a home that can be adopted, and maybe we can focus on those children now, and then maybe in the future, something the children that no longer have a home in the area that was hit by the tsunami, could possibly be up for international adoption.
But that could take years, Heidi, before any procedures and agreements are agreed upon among these countries. You look at Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, there's very little international adoption in that area right now.
COLLINS: So quickly, what would you say to people who are looking at the faces of those children in all the video that we've been seeing over the past eleven days now, if they want to help specifically these kids in that area?
BARRON: Well, the best thing is to find that agency, that group, that humanitarian group that's going to help them out. Give money to the Red Cross. They're going to feed those children. They're going to help the children recover from this incredible disaster.
And if their heart continues to say I can take in a child, there are options, internationally, for children that desperately need a home that, if they grow up in an orphanage, their future is not very bright.
COLLINS: Some great information for us all today. Cory Barron of the Children's Hope International Adoption Agency. Thank you, sir.
BARRON: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Again want to remind you tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on CNN, more about the kids of the tsunami. A special called "SAVING THE CHILDREN." During prime time we're going to focus on those kids affected by the tsunamis -- Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, winter turning nasty for many folks across the northern part of the country. Is it about to get even worse, though, than it is already? Chad checks in on that and more when we go outside after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, and here's Jack again. Question of the day.
JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Thank you, Bill.
The U.N. is going to run the tsunami relief effort. They are being handed billions of dollars to distribute in the form of humanitarian aid to six countries.
But the U.N. is also currently being investigated for the mismanagement of the oil-for-food program in Iraq. Billions of dollars unaccounted for there. Early indications are oil-for-food became one of the most corrupt enterprises ever.
So the question this morning is, should the U.N. be leading the tsunami relief effort amidst investigations into the mismanagement of other humanitarian aid programs?
Susan in California: "No, the U.N. should not be running the show in the tsunami disaster. And keep any money away from Kofi Annan's son. How can anybody possibly think it won't be a corrupt operation?"
Susan in St. John, New Brunswick: "America is brilliant, generous, and full of goodwill, and by making clear the effort will be led by the United Nations, the U.S. is giving an opportunity to the U.N. to prove it can do something right and still has relevancy."
Joann in Deering, New Hampshire, writes, "I don't believe there's a vehicle in existence where $5 billion can be placed for distribution. Human greed will eventually take over and make this money easy pickings for anyone who wants to siphon some of it off."
And R. writes from Long Beach, California, "No, the U.N. cannot be trusted. President Bush should appoint someone with integrity like Bernard Kerik to handle such an important task."
HEMMER: There's a shot.
Remember Christiane reported two hours ago when that big earthquake hit Iran, $1 billion was pledged. They saw a fraction of that money. Big concern to make sure the cash comes through.
Thank you, Jack.
For the children over there, innocence now scarred by disaster. Soon, though, it will be time to carry on. A moving look at the new world they face, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: On Capitol Hill live at this hour, the man right there with the red tie. You see him behind the camera. In a moment Alberto Gonzales, chief council at the White House, the president's pick to be the next attorney general. Hearings, confirmation begin this hour on Capitol Hill. We'll watch it for you.
Back in a moment, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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