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CNN Live Today

Balloting Officially Over in Iraq

Aired December 15, 2005 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we're just past the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening "Now in the News."
Just a few minutes ago, authorities blew up a briefcase that has just down in the Palmetto Expressway in Miami-Dade County. The briefcase was found on an entrance ramp that was treated as potentially dangerous as a precaution. We'll let you know if they found anything unusual. Meanwhile, traffic's a mess in south Florida on the Palmetto Expressway this morning.

In world news, the polls closed 30 minutes ago in Iraq's vote for a permanent government. Polls were kept open an hour longer due to heavy turnout in some areas. Two hundred and 75 seats from the National Assembly are up for grabs. Many Sunni Arabs who didn't participate in the January vote did come out today. There were no reports of major violence.

Special interest groups are continuing to take side on the Samuel Alito nomination. A coalition of civil rights groups is holding a news conference this hour on Capitol Hill. The coalition is critical of Alito's record on civil rights. Alito's Senate confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin January 9th.

Actor Lilo Broncat (ph) and another suspect are scheduled to be arraigned on murder charges in the death of a New York City police officer. This morning's arraignments are taking place in a hospital, where the two are recovering from their wounds in Saturday's shoot- out. The officer was shot and killed while trying to stop a burglary.

The balloting is officially over in Iraq. Now the counting begins and, by all accounts, turnout was heavy today. Even Sunnis showed up at the polls in large numbers. That's a tangible sign they have started to embrace the political process.

CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke with one poll worker who was overjoyed by the promise of a new beginning in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Is today an exciting day for you?

BUTHANA MEDHI, IRAQI POLL WORKER: It is very an exciting day, because it represent the first of the beginning of the -- our new life in Iraq.

COOPER: You feel Iraq is starting a new life? MEDHI: Yes. Yes, we are so excited because we will start a new stage in our life. We will start the democratic life here in Iraq.

COOPER: Do you think things will really change or will it take time?

MEDHI: I think it takes time, because we are not -- our people are not qualified perfectly to accept the new ideas. We are -- some of the Iraqis are ignorant to the political process. So it needs some time to understand the (INAUDIBLE) process very well.

COOPER: There is so much -- there has been so much violence, there has been so much bloodshed. Do you think the violence will continue for a long time?

MEDHI: No. I am sure that it will end in the future and we will start a very developed life, I think so.

COOPER: You've got a great smile. You seem very happy.

MEDHI: I am very happy.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein, I became very happy because it was -- he was (INAUDIBLE) of all (INAUDIBLE) nice things in our life.

COOPER: When you see the ink on your finger, what do you think?

MEDHI: I feel so happy because it represents the beginning of our new life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And you can see much more of Anderson's exclusive coverage from Iraq. He'll be there all week. His special coverage of today's potential turning point in Iraq airs tonight at 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. Eastern.

Sunni Arab participation in the new Iraqi government is seen as key to subduing the insurgency and ultimately leading to the pullout of U.S. forces.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq sees today's vote as a major step to a reduction of troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: I think we are heading because of the success in terms of Sunni outreach and Sunni participation, because of the training of the Iraqi security forces that we can begin to draw down our forces in the aftermath of the elections and adapt our mission to one of increasingly supporting Iraqis, and our goal being to get Iraqis to stand on their own feet as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The ambassador is calling for economic sanctions against Syria unless it stops insurgents from crossing into Iraq.

Some Arab nations had polls open today for Iraqi expatriates to vote, but even non-Iraqis in those countries have been following the election process.

Our senior editor for Arab affairs, Octavia Nasr, joining me now to look at that and give us an eye from the Arab world.

Good morning.

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Morning to you.

KAGAN: You were saying as you were watching from here, a very Western influence you could see on just the style of these elections.

NASR: Yes. Western influence. I'm not the only one who noticed that. Arab media have noticed that as well and a lot of the editorials are discussing that.

You know, take a look at this video, for example -- not this one, the one that's coming up. It's a public service announcement that the Iraqis put together to encourage people to go and vote. Look at the production. The production values are very Western. You have nat sound, natural sound. You have music. The way they talked to them describing all what they've been through throughout this year, you know, the beginning of the year, the election, then the referendum on the constitution.

You can see the smiles, you know, and the hope for a better future there. You see the ink there on the finger. This is from January. The rocky road ahead, the violence -- all these are described in a very interesting, a few seconds really, long public service announcement. Very effective.

And Arab media are paying attention to these messages that are very Western styled, if you will, and this is where they think that the U.S. influence is in these productions, as well as the way the elections were conducted. You know, those polling stations, the lines to go in and vote, the security around them -- very Western.

KAGAN: But what about some of these other nations, people living there going, "Hey, what about my country? I'd like a chance to go get an ink-stained finger and vote and have the same rights as Iraqis."

NASR: And they're saying that, yes.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: How about my turn, yes.

NASR: When am I going to be next?

As a matter of fact, you sense that. You know, when you read Arab media or you watch, you sense that neighboring countries are watching what's going on in Iraq with a lot of...

(CROSSTALK)

NASR: ... you know, you're talking about Kuwait, you're talking about Syria and Lebanon and Jordan and Egypt, all these countries. I mean, some of them are heading toward democracy, but they're nowhere near where Iraq is today.

And again, you have to think of today -- why do we think that today is an important vote? Because it's a lasting vote. This vote is going to be for a parliament that will also put in place a government that will last for four years.

So this is the real deal. This is not temporary. This is not transitional. This is the real deal. So you have neighboring countries watching what's happening in Iraq and thinking about themselves and if their turn is going to be next.

But I have to tell you, no one that you read or talk to wants democracy to get to them through war or invasion or occupation or any of that. So, basically -- Lebanon, for example, that's a good example where people are looking at Iraq and saying, "I want the same thing for myself, but not in that way. We want to do it, you know, our own way." That's what they say in demonstrations...

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: In a perfect world, everybody would like it in a more peaceful way.

Octavia, thank you so much.

Octavia Nasr, our editor for Arab affairs.

Thank you.

Well, remember, if you want more information on the Iraqi elections, head to our Web site. You can check out images of voters going to the polls and intense security. There are profiles of the candidates.

We also invite your e-mail on today's vote and you can read what others have to say.

Meanwhile, back here in the U.S., icy weather making driving treacherous. I believe that's Charlotte, North Carolina, on the right side of our screen. We will bring you the latest from the Southeast and the latest wintry weather ahead.

And what gets your goat? Is it a finger nail scraping across a blackboard?

Coming up, Jeanne Moos has her take on life's little annoyances.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: ... her take on life's little annoyances.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's check in on weather. Bonnie Schneider is busy with that today. Hi, Bonnie.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Bonnie, thank you.

Remember a certain video chain, that they promised no more late fees. Well, guess what? Just kidding on that one. That and a lot more still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: To bail or not to bail out of the workforce early, that's the question for a lot of people approaching retirement age. Today on the "Longview," when is the best time to take Social Security?

Here tips now from "Money" magazine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SR. EDITOR, "MONEY": Life expectancy is pretty much the major factor in deciding whether to take Social Security at age 62 or whether to hold off to a later age. If you wait until after your full retirement age, you can get a larger benefit. For example, each year that you wait up until age 70, Social Security will ad about eight percent to your Social Security paycheck. So there is an advantage in that you do get this bigger check. The possible disadvantage is that you're not going to be collecting as long. So ultimately when you take Social Security, it kind of comes down to what sort of lifespan do you believe you have.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And these additional tips from "Money" magazine. You have to consider your financial resources. Do you have enough savings to live on until you reach full retirement age. If not, you pretty much don't have a choice, and you will have to keep working.

Well, besides working, what ticks you off most of the time most of the year? Drivers who take up two spaces at the mall? Slowpokes in the hammer lane on the freeway?

Well, Jeanne Moos has some ways to fight back.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Name your pet peeve. Is it cell phones, junk mail, crazy drivers? Well, thanks to life's little annoyances, we've got strategies to fight back.

Take those subscription cards that cascade out of magazines. Some folks mail them back blank just to make the publisher foot the bill for the prepaid postage.

And there is one guy who fills junk mail reply envelopes with actual junk to make them heavier and cost the sender more.

"New York Times" reporter Ian Urbina collected such anecdotes for his book. Annoyances like Starbucks lingo. They want you to call a small a tall. Resist.

IAN URBINA, AUTHOR, "LIFE'S LITTLE ANNOYANCES": The same thing is kicking that Coke machine when it keeps your coins. It is not going to get your soda, but it feels pretty good doing it.

MOOS: What annoys David Terry is the adult video store near his Hamilton, New Jersey home. He calls it a dump. So, whenever he sees someone going into the porn store, he does the honk and wave to mortify patrons.

DAVID TERRY, ANNOYED BY ADULT VIDEO STORE: And they are thinking like, who was that? Was that my brother-in-law? Was that my boss?

MOOS: Maybe bad parking drives you nuts. When Jason Brunet (ph) sees someone taking up two spaces, he leaves a leaflet offering a free parking tutorial at this web site. Wrong, wrong. Correct.

But bad driving rather than bad parking spawned roadragecards.com. There's a card for every occasion like this really mean one to flash when you see a driver putting on makeup.

With signs like, I hope your cell phone gives you cancer. No wonder the cards carry a disclaimer, may result in injury or even death. Though some folks can take a joke each phrase comes in reverse so you can insult drivers in their mirror.

Who would think of this as a weapon against tailgaters? Allan Doeksen modified his rear wiper squirter.

ALLAN DOEKSEN, ANNOYED BY CARTS BLOCKING AISLES: Spray directly on their vehicle when they're behind me.

MOOS: Allan also gets mad at shoppers who leave their grocery carts blocking the aisles.

DOEKSEN: I would put expensive items in their cart or possibly some embarrassing items like condoms perhaps in their cart, as well, when they are not looking. So when they go to the checkout line they are slightly embarrassed.

MOOS: What annoys Chris Baker (ph) is when the person in front of him in the express checkout has too many items.

(on-camera): So what this guy does is count the culprits items out loud as the cashier scans each one, five, six, seven.

But almost nothing annoys folks more than loud cell phone conversations. So a Chicago graphic designer has created cards you hand out to offenders. We're aware that your ongoing conversation about your husband's vasectomy is very important to you, but we thought you would like you to know that it doesn't interest us in the least.

If you're very tall maybe you're annoyed by airline seats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was tired of being bopped in the knees by reclining seats.

MOOS: So Ira Goldman (ph) invented and now sells the knee defender.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The table comes down take the knee defenders seat won't recline.

MOOS: Whatever you do, don't use this on us. "TV B Gone" was dreamed up by a guy who was sick of seeing televisions everywhere. This universal remote turns off any TV. We caused confusion in the news room.

ROB FREHSE, CNN ASSIGNMENT MANAGER: Did you see our TVS? They're all going black.

MOOS: Now, what could cause that?

Sometimes all these tactics do is give you a chuckle. But when facing life's annoyances, laughter is music to your ears.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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