Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Terror Plot Foiled in Australia; Violent Nights in France
Aired November 07, 2005 - 16:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: It's coming up on 5:00 p.m. here in Washington. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where we're tracking two developing stories right now -- one in Australia, the other in France.
Happening now, it's 9:00 a.m. Tuesday already in Sydney, where Australian officials are just announcing a major terrorist attack averted. Details just coming in of large-scale raids in Sydney and Melbourne.
And it's 11:00 p.m. in France, the country racked by another night of violence, which has now turned deadly. The government announcing new steps to try to control almost two weeks of rioting.
And it's 2:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Indian Ocean, where the U.S. Navy is now protecting a luxury cruise ship that came under attack by pirates. We'll hear from the passengers describing their very frightening ordeal at sea.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We begin with that developing story involving a terror plot foiled by officials in Australia. Let's get all the specific details we have. CNN's Brian Todd joining us. Brain?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I've just spoken with an official with the Australian Federal Police. Here is what we can tell you.
Twenty-three search warrants have been executed across the cities of Melbourne and Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday in Australia. A number of warrants, they say, are still being carried out. In Melbourne, nine men have been arrested and charged with terror-related offenses, including intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organization.
Separately, in Sydney, an official with the New South Wales Police tells CNN six people were taken into custody overnight in a counterterrorism operation. None of those six has been charged, but the operation is ongoing.
We pressed the officials on separate media reports that a large- scale terrorist attack was foiled in this case, but the Australian officials we spoke to would not say what they believe these suspects were planning. Several Australian law enforcement intelligence and counter-terror agencies took part in these raids, however. We hope to get a little more detail a little later.
Wolf.
BLITZER: As soon as we do, we'll bring it to our viewers. Brian, thank you very much.
The hour growing late in France right now, where street violence is well into its 12th night. Thousands of police, including reservists, are being deployed. Local governments are being given the authority to impose curfews.
Is it helping? It's just past 11:00 p.m. in Paris. CNN's Becky Anderson is joining us now live with the latest. Becky?
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it seems to be helping in Paris. We haven't heard of any rioting here in the French capital tonight. But elsewhere, things carry on as they have done for the last 11 days.
In Toulouse, rioters fire bombing a bus there with Molotov cocktails. Some 4,500 cars, though, have been burned over the last 11 days. Schools have been torched. Churches have been torched as well. And rioters have been firing with pellets on the police. There are 9,500 police now out on the streets.
We heard from the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, earlier. He calls this violence inexcusable and unacceptable. And he says it is being caused by organized criminal gangs.
Those who are rioting themselves say they are dispossessed, they're subjugated, and they are excluded. And they say they want jobs. Much of where they're rioting is in the suburbs where the housing is low cost and very poor. And some 50 percent of those youths who are there are unemployed.
But let me tell you, Wolf, most of these rioters, we are told, are between the ages of -- and listen to this -- 12 and 21. These are very young second and third generation immigrants.
The state here, though, standing firm. It says it will impose curfews if need be.
Back to you.
BLITZER: Becky Anderson reporting for us from Paris. Becky, thank you very much.
Vivienne Walt is a correspondent for our sister publication, "TIME" magazine. She's in Paris. She's joining us on the phone now to tell us what she has seen and heard.
You have been watching this explode over this past nearly two weeks. Are these curfews likely to have an impact?
VIVIENNE WALT, "TIME" CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it's hard to tell. I mean, these are very big places all to themselves. And it's quite possible that you can impose a curfew in one area. But what's happened is that there have been big riots localized within each area. So I'm not sure how the prime minister feels that this is actually going to help things.
BLITZER: What about the latest? Does it seem to be getting worse, or is it easing up a little bit, day by day by day?
WALT: Well, there are two worrying developments today. The one is the use of pellets or bird shots that have now been fired at the cops. And this is indeed completely new after 12 days.
The second really worrying thing is that it seems to be spreading geographically. And we have heard the first reports of riots in Brussels, where they have been torching cars there, as well.
So, this really is something for, you know, not only French officials, but European officials to feel very anxious about at the moment.
BLITZER: And what is the main grievance they have? Is it economic issues, or is there more of a political issue? Is it related to Islamic fundamentalism? These are questions a lot of people are wondering about.
WALT: I would say it is not related to fundamentalism. I have been out in these neighborhoods a lot during the month of Ramadan, and there was very little observance of Ramadan. So you are not dealing with a very religious Muslim population, although the vast majority are Muslims.
Basically what you have is an amorphous explosion of frustrations. It's economic. The unemployment rate is way higher than the white areas of France, if you like. And just a general feeling of many years of real exclusion from the opportunities in this country.
BLITZER: Vivienne Walt writes for "TIME" magazine in Paris. Vivienne, thank you very much for that.
Let's continue on this subject and get a different perspective of the ongoing violence in France. CNN's Tom Foreman is here in THE SITUATION ROOM. You're looking at this sort of big picture. What are you seeing?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The big picture is it's much broader than just Paris right now. Let's fly in and take a look at France.
Overall, right now, this is the degree to which we have some disturbances around the country. But don't get out of -- don't get out of whack on this in the sense that some of these look very big and they may represent very minor incidents. But you can see that the biggest cluster of things, of course, is gathered right around Paris. And we're going to take a quick fly into Paris proper and take a look at what we've got there, because this is where you see everything joined in a cluster and where the trouble really started.
Paris proper, various problems. You'll notice it is clustered toward the northeast. Well, if you were to fly into the airport there, as many of us have, this is where you're coming in here. So you're actually talking about the area between De Gaulle Airport and as you head downtown.
If we pull back out, you see...
BLITZER: In other words, if you drive from De Gaulle downtown, as many of us have done, you would see a lot of this rioting going on.
FOREMAN: You catch a car, you'd see the smoke, you'd see the fire, that sort of thing, along the road. So this is some of the areas we're talking about.
Now, is this close to the tourist areas that many people are going to go to in the next few weeks or whatever? Well, not really. I mean, it's quite a distance away.
This is where most of the rioting is. When you fly downtown, now you're getting into the Paris we all know from tour books and from movies and everything else. Eiffel Tower over here. As we move up the Seine here, you can see over there would be the Arc de Triomphe. This would be the Louvre down here, the Orsay over here, all of the things that people go to see.
Move further on down, you come to Il De La Cite, which is where Notre Dame is. These are the sites people go to. And as you can see, these are not the places where we're having all the rioting going on.
If I pull back out again, you can see that most of it is out here on the outer reaches. Nonetheless, it's moving right now, and the big question is what you were asking a short while ago: is it getting better or worse? Is it moving closer or quieting down?
BLITZER: So the question, is Paris burning? Paris not necessarily, although some rioting in Paris. The Paris suburbs, yes.
FOREMAN: What is burning right now is not on your tourist map.
BLITZER: Right. OK. Thanks very much, Tom. We'll check back with you.
Let's check in with Jack Cafferty, the "Cafferty File." He's in New York with another question for this hour. Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Any truth to the rumor that France plans to surrender to the rioters?
BLITZER: No. No truth.
CAFFERTY: Oh. I just wondered. It would be in keeping with their history if that were to happen.
Jacques Chirac, the man with all the answers who was strutting about a couple of years ago, telling the rest of the world how to mind their business, suddenly a little short of answers of his own.
They're calling it France's worst civil unrest in over a decade, into its 12th night now. And they're -- and they're thinking about curfews. Well, there's a start. I mean, where have they been for the last week and a half? They've got rioting in 274 towns now. And they think maybe they should have curfews.
The reasons run deep, as has been reported. They have a huge immigrant population, Muslims and Africans, which is what will happen if you don't pay attention to what's going on with your borders. Note to the folks in U.S.
The unemployment rate among these young people near 50 percent. And many of the immigrants also say they are victims of discrimination, that they have not been assimilated into the -- to the system over there.
Now other European countries are worried about copycat attacks in their immigrant communities.
So the question is this. What should be done about the rioting in France?
Jacques Chirac has been giving the rest of the world advice. Let's give him some here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Write to us at CaffertyFile@CNN.com, and we'll see if we can't help the man solve some of his problems.
BLITZER: He could use some good advice right now. Thanks very much, Jack. We'll get back to you soon.
This reminder. All of us will be back here in THE SITUATION ROOM once again tonight, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. That's coming up, a couple hours or so, a little bit less from now.
And just ahead, a man and his family cheat a tornado that had other plans for them. He'll join me to talk about how they all survived the Indiana twister that literally raised his roof.
A luxury cruise becomes a nightmare on the high seas. We'll get a first-hand account of an attack by modern-day pirates.
And later, this son of a fallen baseball legend falls himself. Has serious legal troubles right now, could land him in prison for 20 years. We'll tell you what's going on.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The United States military says five American soldiers are charged with punching and kicking detainees in Iraq.
Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is standing by with details. Jamie?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the Pentagon is saying that this is an example of how they take these cases seriously when there are allegations of abuse.
This was a case that happened back on September 7. Five members of the Army Rangers had detained some suspected insurgents. They were at a location outside Baghdad. And apparently, according to the charges, the allegations against them, they roughed them up by hitting them, apparently in one case with a broomstick, before they were transferred to a detention facility.
When the allegations were brought to the attention of the U.S. military, they were investigated. And that resulted in the announcement today that charges have been brought against five members of Special Forces, five Army Rangers. Their unit is not being identified. Their names have not been released, nor have been the names of the alleged victims. Those detainees remain in detention. The Army Rangers are performing other duties while they await the outcome of these proceedings.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre. Thank you very much.
President Bush, meanwhile, is heading back from a trip to Latin America right now, during which protesters sharply criticized his policies on Iraq and the war against terrorism. There has been lots of criticism in the U.S. Congress, as well, as lawmakers work on possible rules to govern the handling of detainees.
Senator John McCain, among other Democrats and Republicans, insisting that civilian, U.S. government civilian personnel, including officials from the CIA, should be bound by the same rules as the U.S. military in making sure that detainees are not tortured.
Mr. Bush spoke to that issue in Panama today. He said America is at war, adding that the U.S. government has an obligation to protect the American people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our country is at war. And our government has the obligation to protect the American people. The executive branch has an obligation to protect the American people. The legislative branch has the obligation to protect the American people. And we are aggressively doing that.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Coming up, we'll have much more on this subject.
Also, Operation Steel Curtain. U.S. forces rooting out Iraqi insurgents one by one. We'll give you a ground-level look at the military offensive.
Also ahead, pulling into port. Get this. A luxury liner reaches a safe harbor after being attacked by pirates. One of the passengers recounts his frightening ordeal.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: U.S. military officials are reporting four more American deaths in Iraq. Soldiers from Task Force Baghdad killed today by a suicide car bomber.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is joining us now live from the Iraqi capital with more. Aneesh?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, good afternoon. Those four troops killed after, as you say, a suicide car bomber detonated at their checkpoint south of the Iraqi capital. They're part of the Third ID, which is responsible for security in and around Baghdad itself.
Also today, in the northern town of Mosul, six U.S. soldiers were wounded after a suicide car bomber detonated alongside their convoy. So this MO that we see by the insurgents that tends to targeting civilians, today targeting the U.S. military.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Aneesh, stand by for a moment, because I want your thoughts on another subject involving Iraqi that we're watching near the Syrian border -- specifically, some 3,500 U.S. and Iraqi troops have finished day three of what's called Steel Curtain, a massive operation designed to take control of the area and keep insurgents out of Iraq.
Here is a look at some exclusive video of the offensive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're taking a lot of IEDs, vehicles that were rigged for suicide bomb cars, houses that were rigged, doors that are booby trapped, pockets of resistance anywhere from eight to 10 to 12- size elements that are really dying in place.
Right door, left to the two long ones!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Operation Steel Curtain.
Aneesh, what is at stake here?
RAMAN: Well, this is the latest, Wolf, in a continuum of operations in that area to not just root out the insurgency, but to seal that Syrian border. That is how the weapons, the cash, the foreign fighters are getting into Iraq. And that is the only way to prevent the suicide car bombings that we saw elsewhere in the country today.
The important difference of this operation is that after it is complete, Iraqi security forces will remain to set up permanent bases there. And the military said over the weekend there are now some 211 trained and equipped Iraqi security forces. But the other important number, how many operations are they conducting independent of U.S. support? That's gone from 13 percent in May to 25 percent currently. So this will be the first big test for Iraqi security forces after the operation finishes.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Aneesh Raman in Baghdad. Thank you, Aneesh, very much.
Coming up, it was a job, not an adventure, surviving a pirate attack on a luxury cruise ship. We'll introduce you to one man who lived to talk about it.
And Pete Rose, Jr., the son of the baseball great, pleads guilty to a drug trafficking charge. We'll have details.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. We're getting some new video in from Australia right now. There's been a series of arrests only in the past few hours. Australian authorities say they have foiled what they believe to have been a large-scale terrorist attack. They've arrested at least 15 people in the country's two biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. The arrests come only days after the prime minister, John Howard, said Australia had received intelligence about a terrorist threat.
We'll keep watching this story for you, get more information and make it available as we get it.
They were counting on an unforgettable vacation, but passengers on one luxury cruise ship got much more than they expected when their ship was attacked apparently by pirates.
Our Zain Verjee is joining us once again from the CNN Center with details. Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Wolf, the Seabourn Spirit is now safely in port in the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean under the protection of the U.S. Navy. And while the word pirates could conjure up movie images of swashbuckling adventurers, the ship's passengers can now tell you firsthand that modern-day piracy is a very real and a very dangerous problem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice over): These are the first images of the 440-foot ship since it came under attack on Saturday morning about 100 miles off the coast of Somalia with some 300 passengers and crew on board. They were on the final leg of a 16-day cruise from Egypt to Kenya when the sound of gunfire shattered the morning calm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had been awake for about 10 minutes when I heard what sounded like a crack from outside the window. I didn't -- I had no idea what it was. I looked out the window and saw the boat with what had looked -- I wasn't sure whether it was four or five men in it
VERJEE: That was the start of a 90-minute assault that included automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, one of which narrowly missed a passenger.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a woman in a cabin. And she was fortunately in her bathroom. But a rocket grenade went right through. It blew the whole cabin up.
VERJEE: The captain opted not to sound the alarm for fear passengers would come on deck and possibly into the line of fire. Instead, he took a series of evasive maneuvers to keep the attackers from boarding and steaming at full speed. He was eventually able to outrun the pirate boats.
A U.S. Navy ship eventually arrived to escort the Spirit into port. And today, a Navy explosives team boarded the ship to remove remnants of the attack, including pieces of two rocket-propelled grenades.
Meanwhile, passengers have nothing but praise for the way the crew handled a very tense and dangerous situation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had a wonderful captain, and he knew exactly what to do. And he got us out of harm's way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very scary.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: And Wolf, Seabourn says one crew member was injured by shrapnel from the attack. And the company's making arrangements to get passengers to Mombasa. And that's actually where the cruise was supposed to end.
BLITZER: You've been to Mombasa several times, Zain. What is it like over there? The waters specifically?
VERJEE: Well, it's basically -- the waters are controlled by gunmen. Somalia is controlled by gunmen. The coastline from Somalia to the Horn of Africa is so long, and it's very difficult to police.
The other thing that's really important to remember is that Somalia has not had a central government since 1991. So there is no source of law, order or protection. The only people that run the show both at sea and on land are warlords.
BLITZER: Zain Verjee. Thanks very much for that report.
Let's get some more now. We're joined on the phone by Norman Fisher. We heard him briefly in Zain's report. He was a passenger on the Seabourn Spirit. Right now he's in the Seychelles Islands, which are in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Mr. Fisher, thanks very much for joining us. When you boarded this cruise, did anyone tell you that there was a danger potentially from pirates?
NORMAN FISHER, PASSENGER: No. No, nothing was mentioned. And certainly many of us I know sort of reviewed our -- in my government's case, foreign office guidelines. There was no specific warning of any danger of piracy, certainly to cruise ships.
BLITZER: What was it like? What did -- walk us through a little bit of the flavor of how it unfolded.
FISHER: Well, as you heard at the beginning of the interview, I was already awake. I heard a noise outside the window, looked outside, and saw five men in a boat, two of them with rifles. And a few moments later I realized one of them was carrying a rocket launcher.
BLITZER: What kind of boat was it, the kind of boat that approached your liner?
FISHER: It was -- I'm not an expert on boats, but it was probably about 20-foot long. Like a wooden boat, nothing very special -- an outboard motor at the back. And that was basically it. It was really quite small. It was only big enough to hold the five men in it with their -- with their weapons.
BLITZER: How did the passengers react?
FISHER: Well, we -- obviously, I only saw the other passengers after a few minutes, when the captain told us all to go into the dining room, which is lower in the ship with smaller windows, and we could be more in the center of the ship that is away from danger.
Passengers came in, many of them still in -- coming in their dressing gowns. Absolutely -- I won't say relaxed, some tension, but absolutely no panic whatsoever, just came in, followed the instructions. The crew were wonderful, as -- as you have already heard. Within a couple of minutes of our coming in, they were bringing around cups of coffee and water and tea. And -- and the captain kept coming on the speaker systems to tell us exactly what he was doing, what he was trying to do, and how he was trying to get out of the situation.
BLITZER: What did it feel like when that rocket actually hit the ship?
FISHER: Well, I actually saw the flash as the rocket was -- was launched. It was directed just slightly above where -- my room and to -- to my left.
The -- well, one felt an impact. And, obviously, that's when I realized just how serious the whole situation was and -- and potentially could be.
BLITZER: Mr. Fisher, are you going to stay on this cruise or are you going to get off at the earliest possible opportunity? FISHER: Oh, if -- if I could stay, I -- I -- I would be absolutely thrilled to. Unfortunately, for me, the cruise is due to end tomorrow morning, in about five hours from now. And, unfortunately, it still will have to end then. But, given the chance, I -- I will be back here -- well, I was about to say like a shot, but perhaps that's not the best word to use.
BLITZER: Off the coast of East Africa, you are going to -- you are willing to go back? Is that what you are saying?
FISHER: Perhaps not. Perhaps I will be a little bit more careful if -- now that we know that perhaps this area is a little more dangerous than -- than we thought, because I know there has been piracy of cargo ships.
But I believe this is the first time a cruise liner passenger ship has been targeted. So, maybe I would think -- I imagine the cruise lines are well aware of the situation. They will obviously take government advice and it may well be that they will decide to avoid this area in the future.
BLITZER: Mr. Fisher, thanks for joining us from the Seychelles Island -- Seychelles -- Seychelles Islands -- Norman Fisher, a passenger on that cruiser. Fortunately, he's OK, and is -- as is everyone else.
Still to come, the death toll climbing from the worst tornado to hit this country in years. We will hear from one survivor who saw the roof to his home literally ripped away.
Plus, almost two weeks of rioting in France now turn deadly. What should be done? Jack Cafferty has been going through your email. He will be back with the "Cafferty File."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's a look at some of the "Hot Shots" coming in from our friends over at the Associated Press, pictures likely to be in your hometown newspapers tomorrow.
In Panama City, protesters burning tires to protest against President Bush's visit there. It was his last stop on his three-day tour of Latin America.
In Iraq, hearts and minds. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kelley (ph) shows Iraqi children how to use dental floss.
In Turkey, riot police use pepper spray to disperse hundreds of students protesting state control over universities.
And in Sunrise, Florida, back to school after Hurricane Wilma -- public schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties reopen for the first time in two weeks.
Those are some of today's "Hot Shots," pictures worth a thousand words. Referring to that deadly weekend tornado that touched down in Indiana and Kentucky, one man said -- and I'm quoting now -- "God's eyes were on us. Possessions can be replaced. Lives can't."
The tornado death toll rose to 22 today. Another body was pulled from a lake in Indiana next to the mobile home park where most of those deaths occurred. The tornado's path went from Kentucky into southern Indiana early yesterday, with winds possibly topping -- get this -- 200 miles an hour, leveling houses and breaking up mobile homes.
More than 200 people were hurt. Federal disaster officials are on the scene to try to assess the level of the damage.
Let's go out to the scene. Ed Lavandera is joining us now live with more. It looks awful -- awful -- behind you, Ed. How big of an area is destroyed, similar to what we see behind you?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, we're on the southeastern line of this line of -- of destruction. So, if you just take this back probably another 500 yards or so, that is the swathe that this tornado cut through this mobile home park and, essentially, cut back over this way another 20 miles into the rest of southern Indiana.
Wolf, I was struck by what one gentleman who survived all of this said yesterday. He said that he had, basically, no business surviving this. He was basically in -- in his bed, the roof caving in, walls caving in around him, all of his belongings swirling around.
You know, as you walk around this area, you know, you find this is -- this is the devastating part of all this. You find, you know, things like this. And -- and, hopefully, residents will be allowed to start coming back tomorrow. That decision hasn't been made yet. But you see, you know, photo albums, you know, ripped apart. I was struck by this card that we found here today. This is a -- a birthday card from a great-grandmother to her -- to her great-granddaughter. It's for -- congratulating her for her first birthday and about a silver coin that she wanted her granddaughter -- great-granddaughter -- to have.
You know, these are -- are treasures that are completely lost, for the most part, unless, you know, some of these people can go through and -- and salvage what they can.
But, you know, you see things like this and it really brings home what so many of these residents are dealing with right now.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Supposedly, this isn't even tornado season in that part of the country, is it?
LAVANDERA: Oh, no. You know, that is the -- despite the fact that -- forget that the storm hit at 2:00 in the morning and people were sleeping and were completely surprised by -- by what had happened. But this is also months after what has been -- you know, traditionally is supposed to be tornado season -- so, a completely rare time of year and a completely rare time of night for -- for something like this to happen.
BLITZER: So, how are people coping right now? I -- I -- I take it you have had a chance to speak with some of the locals.
LAVANDERA: Well, you know, I think a lot of the people -- especially, you know, there -- there's the story of one man who lost a granddaughter. And then there was a -- his grandson was found alive wrapped in debris, 14 hours after the storm had struck. You know, the -- we have been told by family friends, and these people saying that, you know, they're just kind of -- they are still kind of stunned by what has happened.
And then you hear stories like the one -- what one gentleman told us, that, you know, they sit there and they see -- and they just saw everything caving in around them. And they are quite amazed that they even survived.
So, I think there is still a sense of bewilderment and just -- just shock that a lot of people are dealing with, when they -- when they consider that, basically, you know, having to use a pillow sheet as -- as cover for -- for a storm of this magnitude doesn't make any sense.
So, those people who were fortunate enough to survive, I think, are -- are still kind of dealing with that and they're just amazed by the whole situation.
BLITZER: What a horror. What a horror.
Thanks very much, Ed, for that. Ed Lavandera is on the scene for us.
Here in THE SITUATION ROOM, we're plugged into almost everything happening online. Many Indiana residents have lost everything to these devastating tornadoes. Some of their neighbors are documenting the destruction unfolding.
Our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, is checking the situation online. What are you picking up, Abbi?
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Evansville resident Tim Thompson has uploaded over 100 photos to the site flickr.com showing the devastation. It is really quite incredible. His photos are from Newburgh, neighboring town -- here, residents surveying the damage. You can see, when the tornado tore through this community, it uprooted this tree, a 150-year-old oak tree there.
His parents live in Newburgh. And this is the devastation to their house -- the front door blown through, as his parents tried to run for cover there as the tornado came through. The interior photos, you can see just how devastating this was. They say that the entire experience only lasted 12 or 15 seconds, but you can see the devastation here. His parents, Tim tells us, were just fine. Now residents are surveying the damage -- these pictures from yesterday. You can see people on their roofs, looking to see what is left there. Construction crews are moving in, trying to restore power to this community of Newburgh. And now, Tim tells us, people are covering their houses -- or what's left with them -- with tarps, worried that rain is going to come in and destroy what little they have left.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Abbi, thank you very much.
Lou Dobbs getting ready for his program right at the top of the hour. Lou is standing by to tell us what he's working on. Lou?
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you very much.
At 6:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN, we will be reporting on a new Chinese spy case that breaks up a 15-year-old spy ring, a major threat to national security. We will be taking you live to the Pentagon and talking with strategic experts. As well, we will be reporting on a deadly new attack against our troops in Iraq, as Marines launch their biggest offensive in months.
The first death in a wave of riots that continue to sweep across France -- we're live in Paris.
And we will tell you which branch of the U.S. military is now patrolling our southern border. We're live with a special report from Columbus, New Mexico.
All of that and a great deal more coming right up here. Please join us. Now back to you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Lou. We will be joining you right at the top of the hour.
Let's get back to that tornado story that's unfolding. One of those who survived is Phil Coudret. He's joining us now from Evansville, Indiana.
Mr. Coudret, thank you very much. He's joining us on the phone. What was it like?
PHIL COUDRET, RESIDENT OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA: It -- it was quick. Everything went extremely fast. By the time I knew what was happening, 10 seconds, 15 seconds at the most, it was over. But it was -- it was a very scary moment.
BLITZER: What about your family? How did they -- how did they deal?
COUDRET: You know, four young boys, 13 and -- and under, they were all frightened. Once we got everything settled down, they settled down. And it -- it took a couple hours for them to just relax. But everybody is fine. BLITZER: What about your home?
COUDRET: What is left of it, you don't call a home anymore. But everything is secure as it can be. And we are -- we're just going to move on from there.
BLITZER: So, what does that mean move on, Mr. Coudret? What are you going to do you?
COUDRET: Oh, I mean, it will be rebuilt, either on the location or another one.
BLITZER: Well, good luck to you, Phil Coudret. Good luck to your whole family. Good luck to everyone out there who has gone through this ordeal. What a horrible situation it is. Thank you very much.
Up next, off-year elections, California-style. Senior political analyst Bill Schneider putting a special spin on the state's special election that has Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger back on the stump. We will tell you what's going on.
Also ahead, Major League icon Pete Rose may have fallen from grace, but his son faces some serious trouble that could put him in prison. We will tell you what's happening own that front.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: It's the eve of Election Day. And, in California, that means the stars are coming out. Issues? Who needs -- who needs issues when you have stars?
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, joining us from Los Angeles -- Bill Schneider, one of our stars. What's going on out there, Bill?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Wolf, you might have thought the campaign here in California was about obscure ballot measures, things like redistricting reform and teacher tenure. Think again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The California campaign has turned into a celebrate smackdown -- Senator Bulworth versus The Terminator. What did Warren Beatty and his wife, Annette Bening, do on Saturday?
ANNETTE BENING, ACTRESS: You know, we spent the day today chasing the governor around, trying to -- trying to scare up some attention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, I am turning you down...
SCHNEIDER: They succeeded when she and her husband tried to crash a Schwarzenegger campaign rally.
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: We were not allowed in. We didn't have the right wristband and we -- our names were not on the list.
SCHNEIDER: What did Beatty want?
BEATTY: I would be happy to challenge him, but I think he would probably say, well, I don't want to -- I don't want to debate an actor. But I say debate anybody, debate -- debate anybody. He hasn't debated a living human being. And that's a -- kind of a strange thing, isn't it?
SCHNEIDER: OK, let's have that debate.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: I'm sick and tired that the union bosses take money out of the paychecks of our government workers without permission, and they're using it for their political campaigns.
SCHNEIDER: Mr. Beatty?
BEATTY: This is simply a union-busting way to hamper union leadership.
SCHNEIDER: The governor says he's campaigning on a reform agenda.
SCHWARZENEGGER: We can change the broken system.
SCHNEIDER: Mr. Beatty?
BEATTY: As nearly as I can tell, the broken system that he wants to change is called democracy.
SCHNEIDER: So, are we going to see a Beatty versus Schwarzenegger race?
BEATTY: I've never wanted to run for office. I don't shut it out of the -- take it off the table completely, because I don't think a good citizen does that.
SCHNEIDER: What does a good citizen do?
BEATTY: The First Amendment gives us a guarantee of free speech. It does not give us a guarantee of being taken seriously. So, I have to be very careful, because I'm in the entertainment field, to not say anything too wacky.
SCHNEIDER: The same could be said for the governor.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: If Governor Schwarzenegger loses big tomorrow, Warren Beatty could look like the man of the hour and pressure could build on him to challenge Schwarzenegger.
Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Bill, we will check back with you tomorrow and the next day, see what's going on in California. Other stories we're following: His father would have been a certain Hall of Famer, but is banned for -- baseball for betting on games. Now Pete Rose Jr., a career minor-leaguer, may be in much more serious trouble. Let's get some specific details.
Brian Todd has the story. Brian?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration tell us Pete Rose Jr. has been involved in a drug-trafficking operation that they have been tracking for six years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): Federal authorities tell CNN, Pete Rose Jr. confessed that he trafficked in a sometimes deadly illegal drug while playing for the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts.
Agents tell us, Rose, who pleaded guilty in federal court in Nashville, is a small player in a much larger operation.
DOUG COLEMAN, SPECIAL AGENT, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: Mr. Rose's role was to -- he was a -- a customer, essentially, and a -- and a small-time dealer to a -- to several members of his baseball team, the Chattanooga Lookouts.
TODD: Agents from Drug Enforcement Administration say the substance is called gamma butyrolactone, or GBL. Once users take it, agents say, they often go into a coma-like state and can become vulnerable to sexual assault. That's why it's also known as the date- rape drug.
But, in Rose's case, DEA officials tell CNN he said teammates would take the drug to wind down after games. Officials say it is sometimes used as an alternative to steroids.
COLEMAN: It puts a body builder into a very deep sleep, which may -- when they wake up, they may feel refreshed and maybe have more energy towards their workout and stuff like that. I don't believe there's any medical evidence that actually says that it's -- it does help in muscle-building, like steroids do.
TODD: Rose, a 36-year-old infielder who moved on to another team, has not been part of Chattanooga Lookouts for at least three years. And team officials say they have no knowledge of those activities.
Rose's attorney spoke briefly about the case.
JEFFREY BRODY, ATTORNEY FOR PETE ROSE JR.: It's used as a sleep aid by many, many people in sports. It was legal. And he got caught in a time warp, because it was legal up until 2000.
TODD: But DEA officials say Rose was trafficking in the drug in 2002 and confronted by authorities in June of this year.
Pete Rose Jr.'s arrest is another very public setback for a family once considered one of the most glamorous in sports. His father, baseball's all-time leader in hits, admitted last year to betting on baseball while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Pete Rose Sr. remains suspended from the game for life, ineligible for the Hall of Fame. He also once served five months in prison for tax evasion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Contacted by CNN, a representative for Pete Rose Sr. said the former star would not comment on his son's arrest.
We have just spoken to an official with the U.S. attorney's office in Nashville, Wolf. She says that Pete Rose Jr., under these sentencing guidelines, could be sentenced to up to 27 months in prison and up to a $1 million fine -- probably not going to get that much of a fine. He's scheduled to be sentenced, Wolf, on February 20 of next year.
BLITZER: Brian Todd reporting for us -- thank you, Brian, very much.
Jacki Schechner is checking the situation online. She's getting some more information online about GBL. What are you picking up, Jacki?
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, some interesting information from Drug Enforcement Administration online.
You can find out about GHB and its analogue, GBL. That is the drug that we have been talking about. The analogue means that it is chemically similar. It is not as popular a name as GHB. That is what you might recognize, if you have heard of it before. Essentially, GBL turns into GHB in the body.
Some more information, in case you are curious -- the amount that people take is about the size of a capful from a water bottle. And it sells for about $8. So, you can yield a lot for a big 55-gallon drum of this stuff -- also, from the Office of National Drug Control Policy online, some information about what these names might be.
By the way, Wolf, there are more than 80 known names out there for GHB and GBL.
BLITZER: Jacki Schechner reporting -- thank you, Jacki, very much.
Jack Cafferty and the "Cafferty File" standing by in New York -- he will show you what you are saying about the riots in France and what should be done about them.
We will be right back with Jack Cafferty.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNONUNCER: The basketball court was his stage. And Earvin Magic Johnson could cast a spell over fans and foes alike. Magic led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles and was three times named the league's most valuable player. But the superstar stunned the world on November 7, 1991. Everyone was afraid the Magic would soon be gone.
MAGIC JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers.
ANNOUNCER: Magic took some time off, started a strict drug regimen, and managed to make a triumphant return to the Lakers in 1992, playing in the NBA all-star game, and later as part of the U.S. Olympic Dream Team.
JOHNSON: I've always felt that I was going to beat HIV, and I had to put that in my mind. I have to live and breathe that every day, have that type of attitude.
ANNOUNCER: Thirteen years later, Magic is more often seen in a suit than a uniform. Besides speaking about HIV and AIDS, he is now involved in several business ventures, from movie theaters to hamburger chains. Magic lives in L.A. with his wife, Cookie, and their children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jack Cafferty has been going through your email. He's joining us live from New York with the "Cafferty File." Hi, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Hi, Wolf. It's being called France's worst civil unrest in over a decade. It's now in its 12th night. And rioting that began in the suburbs of Paris has now spread to 274 towns.
So, the question is, what should be done about the rioting in France?
Tim in Valley Falls, Kansas, writes: "Shoot kill. That should slow things down a little."
Ed in Tampa, Florida: "This is a case of colonial chickens coming home to roost. A lot of these people are in France because France was in their home countries as a colonial power."
Tom in Bethel, Vermont: "Why not call out the army? Put down the rioting, but give a specific date that the concerns will be addressed. And then address them."
Patrick in Takoma Park, Maryland: "The rioting in France is a result of the large economic disenfranchisement of a large group of people. The French government dramatically cut social spending. And that, coupled with tacitly keeping immigrants and minorities isolated in their communities for the past decade, is a recipe for unrest. The blood and destruction caused by rioting lies solely on the government's hands."
And Walter writes: "Who cares? It's France. When it spreads to someone we care about, then let's talk about it."
BLITZER: Walter, he's a funny guy. I know he's being sarcastic. CAFFERTY: I'm...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: I know he really doesn't mean that.
CAFFERTY: Well, he might.
BLITZER: Well, maybe he does.
What about tourism? I suspect this is going to have an impact on a lot of Americans wanting to visit Paris right around -- right about now.
CAFFERTY: Well, I have got a -- actually, I have got a daughter who is going to school in Rome. And this past weekend, she and her buddies went up to Amsterdam. And I'm just hoping that they stay away and that this stuff doesn't start to spread. I'm a little concerned about her tonight.
BLITZER: Is there...
CAFFERTY: So, Lee (ph), if you're watching this in Europe, stay in your apartment and don't go out until I tell you.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Good fatherly advice, Jack.
CAFFERTY: All right.
BLITZER: Thank you very much.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
BLITZER: I would give the same advice to my daughter as well.
We're in THE SITUATION ROOM every weekday afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern. And we're also back in THE SITUATION ROOM 7:00 p.m. Eastern. That's about one hour from now.
Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
LOU DOBBS TONIGHT starting right now. Lou is in New York, picking up our coverage. Lou?
DOBBS: Wolf, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
