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President Plan for Social Security Reform Expected to be Major Theme of State of the Union; Testimony Under Way in Trial of Teenager Accused of Killing Grandparents

Aired February 01, 2005 - 10:31   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening in the news right now.

Jesse Jackson telling CNN that he's actively seeking to the release of American Roy Hallums, who was abducted three months ago when gunmen stormed his Baghdad offices. Hallums' ex-wife has sought Jackson's involvement. Reverend Jackson, who's worked for the release of high-profile hostages, successfully we should add on several occasions, says he is seeking the intervention of religious leaders in Iraq.

Spanish police have arrested four more suspects in the March train bombing that killed 191 people. Authorities say the Moroccans are directly linked to the Madrid blast, and they're suspected of helping other terrorists escape. The suspects are described as a married couple and their two sons.

CNN has learned a proposal proposed settlement is in the hand in the case of Wall Street giants accused of using tainted research to boost profits. The companies agreed to a complex settlement two years ago, but it was unclear how to divide nearly a half billion dollars among investors hurt by the alleged scheme. The proposal, if approved by the court, would consider losses and their timing as well.

Here's video of a seagoing college classroom as it's hammered by waves, towering up to 50 feet; 700 students taking part in the semester at sea program suddenly were tossed about, as you can see here. Three of them, of the ship's four engines were damaged, and that's what caused this to happen. The ship seemingly out of control from looking at it inside. The ship is now in Honolulu where it will undergo repairs and also a thorough inspection.

KAGAN: President Bush's plan for Social Security reform is expected to be a major theme of his State of the Union Address. Supporters and critics alike will also be following what Mr. Bush says about Iraq.

CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House looking ahead to tomorrow night's speech.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right, White House officials say President Bush will be talking in greater detail about Social Security than he has previously. But they aren't going into very many specifics at this point.

What we do know is that in the past, the president has only outlined some broad principles on the topic of Social Security. They include that the president wants to allow younger workers to invest part of their holdings into personal savings accounts, but that should be no changes in benefits, the president believes, for that at or near retirement age, and that the president does not want to raise payroll taxes.

But there are still a lot of unanswered questions, specifically how would any changes be funded? Where would that money come from? Some estimates are putting the costs of transitioning to private accounts at up to $2 trillion. Of course, that has some here in Washington concerned about the deficit. So the president is going to have to work both sides of the aisle on this.

To help convince the skeptics, in fact, President Bush will be embarking on a five-city trip this week. It will be a chance for him to frame the debate about Social Security, try to convince those who are not on board yet that this indeed is a problem that needs to be addressed today.

As for his schedule today, his State of the Union Address preparations, he'll be engaging in two sessions of those. And they will occur, we're told, in the White House theater.

Also of course this coming at a critical point, just days after the Iraq elections, which of course the administration has hailed as a success -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine, new topic -- this newly created position NID, national intelligence director. Many people waited a long time to see who will be picked for it. Now a former leader of the CIA saying that he's been offered the job, turned it down. What does the White House have to say about that?

QUIJANO: White House officials are saying basically it didn't even get to that point. Essentially White House officials saying that Robert Gates, who now heads up Texas A&M University, was essentially approached about this, that the White House reached out to him, but he indicated to them that he was not interested, and so as we understand now the search continues -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It goes on -- NID job opening. Thank you, Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Join us for primetime coverage of the president's State of the Union Address tomorrow. "LARRY KING LIVE" will follow Mr. Bush's speech and the Democratic response, then after Larry, we'll have a special edition of "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

SANCHEZ: First lady Laura Bush appears to have an answer to those critics who say her husband isn't deeply touched about U.S. troops killed in Iraq.

Mrs. Bush told CNN's Candy Crowley today the president often reflects on the war dead. The first lady says that Mr. Bush didn't lightly go to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: All of these tragedies, every one of them, he thinks about every single day. And when you're the commander in chief, when you're the one who's made the decision to put young men and women in harm's way, which is by far the most difficult decision any president ever has to make, then you're always aware of the consequences of that decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: You can see more of Laura Bush's interview on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS" with -- right here today at 3:30 Eastern.

KAGAN: Well, depending on who you listen to, it's a case about a boy gone bad or a bad drug. Testimony is under way this morning in the trial of a teenager accused of killing his grandparents.

Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is covering the trial in Charleston, South Carolina.

Good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Daryn, the prosecution will continue its case today. They're trying to convince the jury that these slayings were the well-planned acts of a very angry boy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): Chris Pittman, looking very much like a scared young teenager, wiped his eyes as lawyers argued over whether he should be held response for the shotgun slayings of his grandparents when he was only 12. The defense said Zoloft, the anti- depressant drug Chris was taking, made him hear voices telling him to kill.

ANDY VICKERY, DEFENSE LAWYER: He was a 96-pound, 12-year-old, a boy, a shy, decent boy who was acting under the influence of a powerful mind altering drug.

COHEN: But the prosecution called this a crime of a dark heart, an evil heart.

JOHN JUSTICE, PROSECUTOR: Chris Pittman knew that what he was doing was wrong, legally and morally.

COHEN: Three years ago, after his grandparents scolded Chris for a school fight, the prosecution said the boy lay awake, waiting.

JUSTICE: Chris Pittman, after his grandparents went to bed, got that .410 shotgun and killed them both.

COHEN: The child burned down the house and fled. The first prosecution witness recounted how the bodies were found in the ashes when the fire was out.

Zoloft's manufacturer, Pfizer, has denied its drug can be linked to violence. The government has warned, however, to watch younger patients for hostility and aggression, as the drug can lead to suicidal behavior.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: The boy's father, Pastor Ott (ph), and surviving grandmother are expected to testify on Chris Pittman's behalf, saying that Zoloft made him kill -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elizabeth Cohen from Charleston, South Carolina, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let us do as promised now and turn to the Michael Jackson trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are looking at some 300 prospective jurors. They did part of that yesterday. They've got more to go, obviously. They're going to be sifting through some today.

And joining us now from Dallas to try and talk about this process is Robert Gordon. Why? Because he's an expert on this, to say the very least.

Let's break this down, Mr. Gordon -- or Dr. Gordon, I should say, two ways. What are Michael Jackson's attorneys going to be looking for, and then what are the prosecutors going to be looking for?

Let's start with Michael Jackson's attorneys. if you were them and you were looking for the ideal juror, who would you be looking for?

ROBERT GORDON, JURY CONSULTANT: Michael Jackson, his attorneys are looking for individuals who understand that children can lie, and if not, at least they can form perceptions that are false and spurious.

On the other hand, the prosecution is looking for people who believe that children do not lie about sexual impropriety and people who believe in law and order and hate the abuse of children.

SANCHEZ: Let's go with Michael Jackson's attorneys first. Do you look for someone who's a fan of Michael Jackson?

GORDON: Not necessarily. That kind of person would likely be struck for cause. On the other hand, the person who is more pensive and thoughtful and would listen to the evidence and not necessarily take the eccentricity of this individual and the media publicity and consider that to be the most compelling part.

SANCHEZ: I have children, a whole bunch of them. And as a result, I'm very sensitive to kids' issues. That's normal, as any parent would be. Would you be looking for someone like myself who, as a parent, might be sensitive to these things?

GORDON: Yes. Particularly for the prosecution. Because those who are parents know two things. One, they know that the needs of children are great, but at the same time, they know that children can form false perceptions. So the prosecution has the advantage, in terms of the anxiety that parents have about abuse, particularly when a child is away from home.

SANCHEZ: Let's talk about something that I think some people refer to as the O.J. Simpson syndrome. That sense that, you know what? We may not want to let someone get away with things, whether that's a perception or reality or not. Does that come into play in this case? You've got a famous guy, like O.J. Simpson, on trial, and people have their preconceived notions of what happened in that high- profile trial and they may or may not want to see it happen again.

GORDON: Absolutely. There are people who believe that O.J. Simpson got away with murder, that Scott Peterson didn't. And they're very cynical as to whether or not because is an African-American and a rock star and somebody who is famous throughout the world, that he would have a ability to manipulate the media.

For example, he's been able to begin his testimony. The court allowed him to testify on his Web site, protesting his innocence and asking for understanding and a fair trial. The same thing is true of his mom and dad, who have gone on television to make their son's case. So this is extraordinary. There's the jury that sells, and then there's the world jury that will impact on the actual sitting jury.

SANCHEZ: We're down to about 20 seconds, but quickly, if you can. In the end, you can ask a lot of questions, but you really don't know, do you, what these people are going to be like when they actually get in that jury room?

GORDON: That's absolutely true. The jury forms, they form a cohesive group, but then they disband typically never see each other again.

SANCHEZ: Robert Gordon, we do thank you, good doctor, for sharing your insight on this subject with us today.

GORDON: Thank you.

KAGAN: We're going to look along the border. Just ahead, are Americans a growing target along the U.S./Mexican border.? Coming up in the next hour, why the U.S. State Department is warning Americans who want to head south of the border.

SANCHEZ: Also up next, the pope's ailing health. Why Pope John Paul II is changing his schedule quite a bit these days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Attention, please. SANCHEZ: Clap your hands, go ahead.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Let's try and clear up for you that story that hit all the news channels yesterday about U.S. senator Hilary Rodham Clinton. Says, according to her officials now, that it was just a 24 hour stomach virus that caused her to seemingly faint, according to some descriptions, but not all, during a live lunchtime speech yesterday.

That faint part really hasn't been cleared up. In fact, the former first lady was well enough to deliver this speech on, ironically enough, health care, later on in the day. Mrs. Clinton had complained of flu-like symptoms earlier in the day. Seems to be doing fine now.

Also suffering a reported bout with influenza, Pope John Paul II. The frail 84-year-old pontiff canceled all of his public and private meetings for the next few days, citing the progression of the flu. It struck him just after this Sunday appearance, you see, when a released dove refused to take the flight to freedom. Vatican sources tell CNN there's no reason to be concerned about the pope's overall health at this time.

KAGAN: Before South Asia was hit by a devastating tsunami, the region was rocked by a powerful earthquake. Up next, dramatic new pictures of that horrible day in December when tens of thousands lost their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More than five weeks after the deadly tsunami wave rushed ashore in southern Asia, the hardest hit country has again raised its death toll. Indonesian officials say more than 108,000 people died, more than 127,000 remain missing. And for the first time, we're going to see the earthquake that triggered the tragedy.

Here now, CNN's Becky Diamond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Out of the blue, the earth started shaking -- shaking cars, shaking loudspeakers, shaking buildings, Shaking nerves. Confused and bewildered residents looked for safety, and then rushed to help the injured. Finally, finally the shaking stopped.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The earthquake happened, and I took my five kids out of the house for safety. I left them sitting outside while I checked on my store.

DIAMOND: But the devastation was only beginning. Moments later, the tsunami waters rushed in, filled with debris, filled with stunned people swept away, and filled with bodies.

(on camera): This bridge is in the center of town, and on the day of the earthquake and tsunami, hundreds of people gathered right here and watched helplessly as so many others were swept up into the current.

(voice-over): The lucky ones found trees, rooftops. The lucky ones found family members alive.

Becky Diamond, CNN, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Amazing video. Here is a more positive footnote to the tsunami story, and a young life that was cast into sudden limbo. This is baby 81, so named because he was unidentified when he was found caked in mud in the aftermath of the tragedy in Sri Lanka. Nine women claim to be his mother. And today, a judge may order a DNA test so he can be returned to his biological parents.

If you'd like to help the tsunami-ravaged region, log on to CNN.com. Click on "Special Reports" and scroll down to "After the Tsunami." It's a link that will direct to you various international humanitarian groups accepting donations to try and help some of these victims.

KAGAN: We're going to check out the nation's weather forecast coming up next. I heard no snow anywhere in the country. We'll check on this winter day, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired February 1, 2005 - 10:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening in the news right now.

Jesse Jackson telling CNN that he's actively seeking to the release of American Roy Hallums, who was abducted three months ago when gunmen stormed his Baghdad offices. Hallums' ex-wife has sought Jackson's involvement. Reverend Jackson, who's worked for the release of high-profile hostages, successfully we should add on several occasions, says he is seeking the intervention of religious leaders in Iraq.

Spanish police have arrested four more suspects in the March train bombing that killed 191 people. Authorities say the Moroccans are directly linked to the Madrid blast, and they're suspected of helping other terrorists escape. The suspects are described as a married couple and their two sons.

CNN has learned a proposal proposed settlement is in the hand in the case of Wall Street giants accused of using tainted research to boost profits. The companies agreed to a complex settlement two years ago, but it was unclear how to divide nearly a half billion dollars among investors hurt by the alleged scheme. The proposal, if approved by the court, would consider losses and their timing as well.

Here's video of a seagoing college classroom as it's hammered by waves, towering up to 50 feet; 700 students taking part in the semester at sea program suddenly were tossed about, as you can see here. Three of them, of the ship's four engines were damaged, and that's what caused this to happen. The ship seemingly out of control from looking at it inside. The ship is now in Honolulu where it will undergo repairs and also a thorough inspection.

KAGAN: President Bush's plan for Social Security reform is expected to be a major theme of his State of the Union Address. Supporters and critics alike will also be following what Mr. Bush says about Iraq.

CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House looking ahead to tomorrow night's speech.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right, White House officials say President Bush will be talking in greater detail about Social Security than he has previously. But they aren't going into very many specifics at this point.

What we do know is that in the past, the president has only outlined some broad principles on the topic of Social Security. They include that the president wants to allow younger workers to invest part of their holdings into personal savings accounts, but that should be no changes in benefits, the president believes, for that at or near retirement age, and that the president does not want to raise payroll taxes.

But there are still a lot of unanswered questions, specifically how would any changes be funded? Where would that money come from? Some estimates are putting the costs of transitioning to private accounts at up to $2 trillion. Of course, that has some here in Washington concerned about the deficit. So the president is going to have to work both sides of the aisle on this.

To help convince the skeptics, in fact, President Bush will be embarking on a five-city trip this week. It will be a chance for him to frame the debate about Social Security, try to convince those who are not on board yet that this indeed is a problem that needs to be addressed today.

As for his schedule today, his State of the Union Address preparations, he'll be engaging in two sessions of those. And they will occur, we're told, in the White House theater.

Also of course this coming at a critical point, just days after the Iraq elections, which of course the administration has hailed as a success -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine, new topic -- this newly created position NID, national intelligence director. Many people waited a long time to see who will be picked for it. Now a former leader of the CIA saying that he's been offered the job, turned it down. What does the White House have to say about that?

QUIJANO: White House officials are saying basically it didn't even get to that point. Essentially White House officials saying that Robert Gates, who now heads up Texas A&M University, was essentially approached about this, that the White House reached out to him, but he indicated to them that he was not interested, and so as we understand now the search continues -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It goes on -- NID job opening. Thank you, Elaine Quijano at the White House.

Join us for primetime coverage of the president's State of the Union Address tomorrow. "LARRY KING LIVE" will follow Mr. Bush's speech and the Democratic response, then after Larry, we'll have a special edition of "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

SANCHEZ: First lady Laura Bush appears to have an answer to those critics who say her husband isn't deeply touched about U.S. troops killed in Iraq.

Mrs. Bush told CNN's Candy Crowley today the president often reflects on the war dead. The first lady says that Mr. Bush didn't lightly go to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: All of these tragedies, every one of them, he thinks about every single day. And when you're the commander in chief, when you're the one who's made the decision to put young men and women in harm's way, which is by far the most difficult decision any president ever has to make, then you're always aware of the consequences of that decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: You can see more of Laura Bush's interview on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS" with -- right here today at 3:30 Eastern.

KAGAN: Well, depending on who you listen to, it's a case about a boy gone bad or a bad drug. Testimony is under way this morning in the trial of a teenager accused of killing his grandparents.

Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is covering the trial in Charleston, South Carolina.

Good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Daryn, the prosecution will continue its case today. They're trying to convince the jury that these slayings were the well-planned acts of a very angry boy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): Chris Pittman, looking very much like a scared young teenager, wiped his eyes as lawyers argued over whether he should be held response for the shotgun slayings of his grandparents when he was only 12. The defense said Zoloft, the anti- depressant drug Chris was taking, made him hear voices telling him to kill.

ANDY VICKERY, DEFENSE LAWYER: He was a 96-pound, 12-year-old, a boy, a shy, decent boy who was acting under the influence of a powerful mind altering drug.

COHEN: But the prosecution called this a crime of a dark heart, an evil heart.

JOHN JUSTICE, PROSECUTOR: Chris Pittman knew that what he was doing was wrong, legally and morally.

COHEN: Three years ago, after his grandparents scolded Chris for a school fight, the prosecution said the boy lay awake, waiting.

JUSTICE: Chris Pittman, after his grandparents went to bed, got that .410 shotgun and killed them both.

COHEN: The child burned down the house and fled. The first prosecution witness recounted how the bodies were found in the ashes when the fire was out.

Zoloft's manufacturer, Pfizer, has denied its drug can be linked to violence. The government has warned, however, to watch younger patients for hostility and aggression, as the drug can lead to suicidal behavior.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: The boy's father, Pastor Ott (ph), and surviving grandmother are expected to testify on Chris Pittman's behalf, saying that Zoloft made him kill -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elizabeth Cohen from Charleston, South Carolina, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let us do as promised now and turn to the Michael Jackson trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are looking at some 300 prospective jurors. They did part of that yesterday. They've got more to go, obviously. They're going to be sifting through some today.

And joining us now from Dallas to try and talk about this process is Robert Gordon. Why? Because he's an expert on this, to say the very least.

Let's break this down, Mr. Gordon -- or Dr. Gordon, I should say, two ways. What are Michael Jackson's attorneys going to be looking for, and then what are the prosecutors going to be looking for?

Let's start with Michael Jackson's attorneys. if you were them and you were looking for the ideal juror, who would you be looking for?

ROBERT GORDON, JURY CONSULTANT: Michael Jackson, his attorneys are looking for individuals who understand that children can lie, and if not, at least they can form perceptions that are false and spurious.

On the other hand, the prosecution is looking for people who believe that children do not lie about sexual impropriety and people who believe in law and order and hate the abuse of children.

SANCHEZ: Let's go with Michael Jackson's attorneys first. Do you look for someone who's a fan of Michael Jackson?

GORDON: Not necessarily. That kind of person would likely be struck for cause. On the other hand, the person who is more pensive and thoughtful and would listen to the evidence and not necessarily take the eccentricity of this individual and the media publicity and consider that to be the most compelling part.

SANCHEZ: I have children, a whole bunch of them. And as a result, I'm very sensitive to kids' issues. That's normal, as any parent would be. Would you be looking for someone like myself who, as a parent, might be sensitive to these things?

GORDON: Yes. Particularly for the prosecution. Because those who are parents know two things. One, they know that the needs of children are great, but at the same time, they know that children can form false perceptions. So the prosecution has the advantage, in terms of the anxiety that parents have about abuse, particularly when a child is away from home.

SANCHEZ: Let's talk about something that I think some people refer to as the O.J. Simpson syndrome. That sense that, you know what? We may not want to let someone get away with things, whether that's a perception or reality or not. Does that come into play in this case? You've got a famous guy, like O.J. Simpson, on trial, and people have their preconceived notions of what happened in that high- profile trial and they may or may not want to see it happen again.

GORDON: Absolutely. There are people who believe that O.J. Simpson got away with murder, that Scott Peterson didn't. And they're very cynical as to whether or not because is an African-American and a rock star and somebody who is famous throughout the world, that he would have a ability to manipulate the media.

For example, he's been able to begin his testimony. The court allowed him to testify on his Web site, protesting his innocence and asking for understanding and a fair trial. The same thing is true of his mom and dad, who have gone on television to make their son's case. So this is extraordinary. There's the jury that sells, and then there's the world jury that will impact on the actual sitting jury.

SANCHEZ: We're down to about 20 seconds, but quickly, if you can. In the end, you can ask a lot of questions, but you really don't know, do you, what these people are going to be like when they actually get in that jury room?

GORDON: That's absolutely true. The jury forms, they form a cohesive group, but then they disband typically never see each other again.

SANCHEZ: Robert Gordon, we do thank you, good doctor, for sharing your insight on this subject with us today.

GORDON: Thank you.

KAGAN: We're going to look along the border. Just ahead, are Americans a growing target along the U.S./Mexican border.? Coming up in the next hour, why the U.S. State Department is warning Americans who want to head south of the border.

SANCHEZ: Also up next, the pope's ailing health. Why Pope John Paul II is changing his schedule quite a bit these days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Attention, please. SANCHEZ: Clap your hands, go ahead.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Let's try and clear up for you that story that hit all the news channels yesterday about U.S. senator Hilary Rodham Clinton. Says, according to her officials now, that it was just a 24 hour stomach virus that caused her to seemingly faint, according to some descriptions, but not all, during a live lunchtime speech yesterday.

That faint part really hasn't been cleared up. In fact, the former first lady was well enough to deliver this speech on, ironically enough, health care, later on in the day. Mrs. Clinton had complained of flu-like symptoms earlier in the day. Seems to be doing fine now.

Also suffering a reported bout with influenza, Pope John Paul II. The frail 84-year-old pontiff canceled all of his public and private meetings for the next few days, citing the progression of the flu. It struck him just after this Sunday appearance, you see, when a released dove refused to take the flight to freedom. Vatican sources tell CNN there's no reason to be concerned about the pope's overall health at this time.

KAGAN: Before South Asia was hit by a devastating tsunami, the region was rocked by a powerful earthquake. Up next, dramatic new pictures of that horrible day in December when tens of thousands lost their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More than five weeks after the deadly tsunami wave rushed ashore in southern Asia, the hardest hit country has again raised its death toll. Indonesian officials say more than 108,000 people died, more than 127,000 remain missing. And for the first time, we're going to see the earthquake that triggered the tragedy.

Here now, CNN's Becky Diamond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Out of the blue, the earth started shaking -- shaking cars, shaking loudspeakers, shaking buildings, Shaking nerves. Confused and bewildered residents looked for safety, and then rushed to help the injured. Finally, finally the shaking stopped.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The earthquake happened, and I took my five kids out of the house for safety. I left them sitting outside while I checked on my store.

DIAMOND: But the devastation was only beginning. Moments later, the tsunami waters rushed in, filled with debris, filled with stunned people swept away, and filled with bodies.

(on camera): This bridge is in the center of town, and on the day of the earthquake and tsunami, hundreds of people gathered right here and watched helplessly as so many others were swept up into the current.

(voice-over): The lucky ones found trees, rooftops. The lucky ones found family members alive.

Becky Diamond, CNN, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Amazing video. Here is a more positive footnote to the tsunami story, and a young life that was cast into sudden limbo. This is baby 81, so named because he was unidentified when he was found caked in mud in the aftermath of the tragedy in Sri Lanka. Nine women claim to be his mother. And today, a judge may order a DNA test so he can be returned to his biological parents.

If you'd like to help the tsunami-ravaged region, log on to CNN.com. Click on "Special Reports" and scroll down to "After the Tsunami." It's a link that will direct to you various international humanitarian groups accepting donations to try and help some of these victims.

KAGAN: We're going to check out the nation's weather forecast coming up next. I heard no snow anywhere in the country. We'll check on this winter day, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com