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Fresh Start, New Plan or Scheduled End in Iraq?; Lebanon Government in Crisis; Iran's Potential Role in Iraq's Future; Castro's Condition

Aired November 13, 2006 - 13:59   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A fresh start, a new plan, or a scheduled end? What's the U.S. looking for more than three and a half years into the war in Iraq? That group could determine the answer at the White House today.
Kathleen Koch is there, too.

Hey, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, President Bush met for about an hour and 15 minutes here at the White House, Kyra, with the Iraq Study Group. Press Secretary Tony Snow described the meeting that was headed by former secretary of state James Baker and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton as not a deposition but a discussion. Snow said that there was no presentation of any of these alternative strategies for Iraq that the Iraq Study Group is looking at coming up with. Snow saying that that would be appropriate, it's an independent group, that they don't know what the proposals are.

And though we peppered him with questions about it, he said, "It's very difficult to assess proposals we haven't seen." He would propose a suggestion by Democratic senator Carl Levin that there be a phased withdrawal from Iraq in four to six months, saying that that was a proposal that wasn't fleshed out. And the president, after his meeting with the Iraq Study Group, was equally circumspect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not going to prejudge the Baker commission's report. I was pleased to meet with him. I was impressed by the quality of the -- of their membership. I was impressed by the questions they asked.

They want us to succeed on Iraq, just like I want to succeed. And so we had a really good discussion. I'm not sure what the report is going to say. I'm looking guard to seeing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The administration is downplaying, though, speculation that this report is some sort of cure-all way for the administration, for the country to extract itself from the war in Iraq. Snow actually this afternoon accusing reporters of making it sound as though the president "wants to outsource this." "He is the commander in chief," Snow insisted. Still, though, Kyra, it's important to point out that many, though, do see this report which is due out in December as a framework that the White House, that Republicans and Democrats in Congress will be able to use as a starting point for a possible way out.

PHILLIPS: Well, we'll watch how it plays out.

Kathleen Koch at the White House.

Thanks.

KOCH: You bet.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Remember that little thing called the midterm elections last week? Well, we're going to take you live to Washington and show you -- this is the House and the Senate -- their opening remarks today. They are back in session, both of them.

It is a lame-duck session. But we also want to remind you that it is also freshman orientation today. And, of course, things are going to be a little different in Washington because both the House and the Senate are in Democratic control.

Just quite a change from last week, when it was in Republican control. So there you go. Back in session, lame-duck session, and freshman orientation.

Let's move on now and head to the breaking news desk and CNN's Betty Nguyen with a developing story -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Don, we are still watching that standoff in Homestead, Florida. It's into its third hour now. It started just before 11:00 Eastern Time.

Here are some pictures from the scene. What we know is a man is barricaded inside a home there. And he's been in the standoff with police, like I said, since around 11:00 Eastern. And this man is wanted reportedly for firing shots at two Florida city police officers on Saturday. And it has been said through a local affiliate and witnesses on the scene that shots were fired today during this standoff.

Now, authorities have not confirmed that, but we have been watching this for hours now. And you can see officers wearing helmets, some with their guns drawn. Many of the officers ducking behind police vehicles.

And smoke at one point clouded the area. That was believed to have been created by officers blocking the suspect's view.

But now one of the witnesses there who lives in the area has told The Associated Press that he was taking his son to school, Homestead Middle School, which is very nearby, when he heard four to six shots go above his head. So he hunkered down behind a car.

Needless to say, that school, like I said, which is nearby, is under lockdown at this hour because of this standoff that continues. You can see numerous officers on the scene, including a S.W.A.T. team. A little bit earlier we showed you pictures of a S.W.A.T. truck driving up to the home in question.

And again, the standoff continues. It's into its third hour. The suspect reportedly wanted for firing shots at two Florida city police officers on Saturday.

And there have been reports today of shots being fired from that home as this standoff occurred. But, of course, police are not confirming that at this hour.

But many officers on the scene, and this standoff is still very much going on at this hour. So we'll continue to watch it for you and bring you the latest.

LEMON: All right, Betty. Keep us updated. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Will do.

PHILLIPS: The country's still shaken, now the cabinet's sparse. Lebanon, site of a disastrous month-long war over the summer, faces the sudden resignations of six cabinet members.

CNN Beirut Bureau Chief Brent Sadler has more on the political crisis and a determined prime minister.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF (voice over): Lebanon's political crisis deepened after an embattled cabinet approved a draft United Nations plan to set up an international tribunal to try suspects in the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Ignoring a walkout from his government by six ministers, a quarter of his cabinet, Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora chaired a special session, unanimously approving the framework of the murder tribunal.

Eighteen ministers, an essential two-thirds of the cabinet, supported him. But the ministerial resignations cast a shadow over that decision. Muslim Shiites representing a third of this country are no longer represented in cabinet, a possible breach of the constitution that's supposed to ensure fair distribution of political power among Muslims and Christians.

Shrugging off a Hezbollah-led challenge, Prime Minister Siniora said Lebanon was not on the road to revealing the truth behind the Hariri murder.

Earlier, top anti-Syrian political leaders, led by Saad Hariri, the son of the assassinated prime minister, accused Syria and Iran of plotting to overthrow the government through Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon as a means to derail the court.

IBRAHIM MOUSSAWI, HEZBOLLAH'S TV EDITOR: I believe they should be fair enough to say -- to bring the evidence, or I cannot accuse you of anything. But you have to bring -- one should bring evidence about the authenticity, the validity of your accusations. They cannot simply cast accusations against Hezbollah and say it's part of the plot by the Iranians and Syrians.

SADLER: U.N. investigators have linked Syrian officials with the Hariri killing some 20 months ago, strenuously denied by the authorities in Damascus.

(on camera): Neither the pro nor anti-Syrian camps in Lebanon are backing down in this crisis as tension on the street here rises with threats of demonstrations and counter-demonstrations amid tightening security.

(voice over): And widening division among political factions that were polarized by the country's recent Hezbollah-Israel war.

Brent Sadler, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: A powerful Democrat who's about to get a lot more so says it's time to stop digging in Iraq. Metaphorical advice from Carl Levin, soon to be chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He says the U.S. is in a deep enough hole in Iraq already, and U.S. troops should come sooner rather than later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Most Democrats share the view that we should pressure the White House to commence the phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq in four to six months, to begin that phased redeployment, and thereby to make it clear to the Iraqis that our presence is not open-ended and that they must take and make the necessary political compromises to preserve Iraq as a nation. We cannot save the Iraqis from themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Fewer troops, more turmoil? Well, Republican senator John McCain says pulling U.S. boots out of Iraq is not the answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe that a withdrawal or a date for withdrawal will lead to chaos in the region. And most military experts think the same thing. I believe that there are a lot of things that we can do to salvage this, but they all require the presence of additional troops.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, there's one additional U.S. soldier in Iraq today, and he happens to be the boss. The head of the U.S. Central Command paid a surprise visit at a time when the body count in Baghdad is surging.

CNN's Arwa Damon has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: General John Abizaid, top U.S. commander in the region, met with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in a surprise visit to discuss a number of issues. Topping their agenda, violence, and trying to bring that under control. The general also reaffirmed to the prime minister President Bush's commitment to the political process and to training up Iraqi security forces, to speeding up the process of handing over control to the Iraqi security forces.

General Abizaid also met with Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani to assess progress of the Iraqi police and of the Iraqi security forces.

This meeting comes at a time when there is much discussion on all military and political levels of change in Iraq, of changing strategy, of changing the policy in Iraq. The prime minister himself, Nouri al- Maliki, is also calling for change to be made within his cabinet, asking political parties, the political blocs here for permission to change some members of his cabinet.

All of this is in an effort to curb the increasing cycle of death here in Iraq. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a bus in eastern Baghdad, killing at least 10 Iraqis, wounding another 17. And Iraqi emergency police found 46 bodies, unidentified bodies believed to be the country's latest victims of sectarian violence in the capital, Baghdad, alone.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A thorny situation made even thornier by a neighbor's nuclear ambitions.

CNN's Aneesh Raman has more on Iran's potential role in Iraq's future.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It started at the end of October in the Persian Gulf with U.S.-led naval exercises aimed at stopping the smuggling of nuclear weapons. Days later, Iran responded, defensive war games were launched, three new missiles were test-fired, and tensions being Washington and Tehran seemed set to intensify.

But then something changed. The Democrats took control of Congress. It was a moment Iran's supreme leader simply could not ignore.

AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER (through translator): The winning of Democrats in the U.S. elections is not solely a domestic event of America. It means the failure of pro-war and aggressive policies of the president of America.

RAMAN (on camera): You do get the sense here that tensions have simmered down just a bit. But of course, we want to find out from the people as best we can. We're going to ride one of these buses around Tehran and see what they say.

(voice over): On board, women are relegated to the back, separated by a bar. None were willing to speak with us.

But up front, Hamdi (ph) did. "Yes, of course," he told me, "the Democrats' win in the U.S. gives hope because the Republicans' confrontational policy may be pushed aside."

And along the ride even came this, a call from Babak (ph) for reconciliation between Iran and the U.S.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they make any relationship, it means economy in Iraq is getting better and the condition for the people, it's getting better. And the people, they want -- they want to make a relationship between Iran and America.

RAMAN: It's a long shot. The U.S. still considers Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. And some analysts believe Iran could grow more, not less defiant after the Democrats' victory. It's not the talk of countries coming together, but not enough to discourage some in Tehran who right now see a chance for peace and are hoping it will pan out.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A longtime leader may not be long for this world. Washington's watching and wondering about Fidel Castro's condition. We'll have details.

Plus, a frightening sight overnight east of Los Angeles. The latest on the fire danger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Breaking news, revealing developments. See for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: He is the only leader most Cubans have ever known, a perennial seemingly eternal thumb in the eye of Washington. But that's about to change.

As usual, Havana is keeping a tight lid on information, but some U.S. observers believe Fidel Castro has terminal cancer.

CNN's Morgan Neill is in Havana with more on Castro's condition -- Morgan.

MORGAN NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, that's right.

Now, the latest we're getting is coming from an Associated Press report that came out of the weekend citing unnamed U.S. officials in Washington. Now, these officials are speculating that the Cuban president has terminal cancer, either of the stomach, the pancreas or the colon. They also go on to say that they believe he won't survive past next year. Now, these unnamed sources don't tell us where they're getting that information, what they're basing the speculation on.

Now, what do we know? Well, it's obvious that the president is not in good health. The most recent video we've seen of him, he's seen wearing a track suit. He looks very much thinner than he was when healthy. His voice is weaker than we've heard it in the past. And although he is seen walking, he's doing so with some obvious difficulties.

Perhaps more telling is that we haven't seen him make a public appearance since July 26th. And this is a man that's used to leading in front of the public.

He would give speeches. It wasn't uncommon to hear three, four speeches in the same week lasting several hours.

So far, no reaction to the speculation from Havana. Nor do we really expect it as the details of his condition are regarded as a state secret. Since the announcement on July 31st that he was handing over power, we haven't really gotten any details, any very specific details, on his condition.

Now, we are looking forward to December 2nd, when Cubans will celebrate the president's birthday. And that is, his birthday is actually on the 13th of August. Due to his condition, they're going to celebrate it in December. Ad then we'll have to see if he's able to make a public appearance or not. If so, what does his appearance tell us about his condition -- Don.

LEMON: All right. CNN's Morgan Neill will keep an eye on that, reporting for us from Havana.

PHILLIPS: Let's get straight back to the NEWSROOM. Betty Nguyen working the breaking news desk.

What kind of story are you working on, Betty?

NGUYEN: Well, Kyra, right now we are following a hostage situation in Stollings, West Virginia. This is about 60 miles southeast of Charleston, West Virginia.

Here's what we know so far.

Six people are being held hostage at a drugstore which is in Stollings, also located in Logan County -- giving you a map of the area. A spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety says one shot was fired at Family Discount Pharmacy, which is in Stollings, but to his knowledge there were no injuries.

Now, near this pharmacy, in fact outside of it, is State Route 10. Well, that's been closed so that residents can avoid this area because of the hostage situation.

Again, six people being held hostage at this pharmacy there. It's not yet clear how many people inside the pharmacy are armed or even what prompted this. But what we know is that a hostage situation is taking place right now. Obviously, officers are on the scene, and they are cautioning people to stay away from the area until this situation can be dissolved. So we'll stay on top of this one for you as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Betty.

LEMON: The man, the movement, and the message. Forty-three years after the march on Washington, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. gets a memorial. Straight ahead, today's groundbreaking ceremony and the legends that honored his legacy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, a giant of American history is about to take his place between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Almost 40 years after his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is being immortalized on the National Mall in Washington. This morning's groundbreaking brought out many of Dr. King's contemporaries and fellow crusaders.

Among them, Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was with King when he died.

Reverend Jackson joins us now from the Washington bureau.

Reverend Jackson, how you doing today?

REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Oh, it's been a very tough day emotionally.

LEMON: Yes? How so?

JACKSON: Well, I think Ann (ph) and I were standing there together, and we thought about his last challenge to us in his last staff meeting before going to Memphis. He said, "I'm out here by myself, and don't leave me out here." He made us promise to him to continue the struggle.

He was perplexed emotionally because he was being attacked, vilified by the media. Attacked by the government, because he was taking on poverty, which was being ignored, and taking on the war, which was sort of divisive in our country. And so he had that sense of real pain.

And he said, "One, I thought about quitting, but I couldn't go back. I thought about (INAUDIBLE) to death, and I thought about we must go on."

It was kind of like Jesus let the cup pass from me and then said, "Not my will, but thine be done."

So we thought about the agony of it all. And it really got to us.

LEMON: Yes. Reverend Jackson, in all the years that I've been watching you and being in the same city with you, I don't think I've ever seen you that emotional.

The memorial here, it says "Justice, Democracy and Hope." That's the theme. Those are the three themes that that memorial is about. What do you think of that?

JACKSON: Well, I'm concerned now that we do not memorialize him out of -- out of his struggle. His last struggle was about a poor people's campaign for a floor beneath for which no American would fall, whether you were whites or Latinos or Jews, people who worked with us in that struggle, a poor man's campaign, and ending the war in Iraq -- in the war at that time in Vietnam. And his themes and thrusts and (INAUDIBLE) must not be lost in glorifying the resurrection and ignoring the crucifixion.

I was also concerned today, Don, about who was not there. Reverend Joseph Lowery (INAUDIBLE) still an activist, belongs on that program. Reverend C.T. Vivian, Reverend James Orange or Walter Fauntroy, Dorothy Cotton...

LEMON: A lot of folks. And maybe...

JACKSON: Well, these nameless, faceless people, not all of them nameless and faceless, but these people made the struggle what we now all realize and live by of today.

LEMON: Reverend Jackson, Operation Breadbasket, was that your first charge? That was 40 years ago that you got your assignment from Dr. King.

JACKSON: That was my charge. He began it in Atlanta in 1965. He brought it to Chicago. And we did well.

It became national, kind of economic thrust. And, of course, we have not stopped that struggle for economic justice and political empowerment.

And I really think that he was less concerned about concrete memorials, which I think he would appreciate this honor, but a living memorial. He argued, Don, that a budget is a moral document.

He was very obsessed with the budget, who was in or out of the budget. What about how you treat the least of these? His measurement was how you treat working poor people.

LEMON: Right.

JACKSON: And I want to mention that when we have these visits, that the snake riders and the Marion Barrys and the Julian Bonds, all these people must not be written out of history.

LEMON: And talking about that, let's talk about the Oprah Winfreys of the world. And most people would attribute these words to her: "Excellence is the best deterrent to racism." But actually, that was from a speech that you gave back in 1960 -- don't say anything, because we're going to -- I want people to hear what Oprah Winfrey had to say about that today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: I will never forget the day I was going to have an algebra test, and I knew I wasn't ready. And I got called to the auditorium.

And Reverend Jesse Jackson was speaking. And in that speech he said, "Excellence is the best deterrent to racism. Excellence is the best deterrent to sexism." "Therefore, in all things be excellent," he said.

And that speech had a profound impact on me. I was never not prepared for an algebra test or any other test after that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And I sat here, I can see your face in the monitor and your reaction to watching that.

JACKSON: Well, the point is, excellence is a weapon. And if you are behind, you have to run faster. If you're not smarter, work harder. Get up early.

You must have a strong -- a strong work ethic is a factor in breaking down barriers. And those who are -- who excel because of hard work and talents, they outdistance the opposition.

LEMON: And that speech had a marked response, at least on her life. She said she changed the way she lived from then.

A number of your speeches have, but probably the most famous speech, at least one of them, is the "I Have a Dream Speech." And that memorial is in the same place that Dr. King gave that speech in 1963.

JACKSON: When you have this gap between when Jefferson made the declaration on the one hand, and Lincoln saved the union, and Dr. King, who helped redeem the soul of our nation -- and so that's a work in progress. We still -- people of color still have high infant mortality rates and shorter life expectancy. Still entrapped by predators, still fighting various barriers.

But I think Dr. King internationalized our struggle. And I think the most important thing was putting the focus on reinvesting in working poor people, that we might lift our nation bottom up and not just glorify top down. And live in a multiracial, multicultural society with some degree of civility.

LEMON: And Reverend Jackson, we've got to run, but I want to know what this day and this memorial means to you and to America.

JACKSON: Well, the concrete part means remembering the blood spilled, lives lost (INAUDIBLE) Jews and the blacks, (INAUDIBLE). It means confrontizing (ph) that season. And Dr. King really must be a living memorial, because the struggle to defend the poor, deliver the needy, wipe out poverty, fight for comprehensive health insurance, and end war, that is an ongoing struggle.

We honor Dr. King with a living commitment to that struggle to make this a more perfect union for all of our people.

LEMON: Reverend Jackson, thank you so much for joining us today on CNN NEWSROOM.

JACKSON: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: All right. You enjoy.. Have a great day.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to the NEWSROOM, Betty Nguyen working a couple stories for us. Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, we've been busy today. OK, let's start with this hostage situation out of Stollings, West Virginia, which is close to Charleston, West Virginia. Here's what we know so far. Six people are being held hostage at a drugstore there. A spokesman for the state department of military affairs and public safety says that one shot was fired at the family discount pharmacy in Stollings, but that no injuries are reported. So, that's the good news. The bad news is this hostage situation is still ongoing. In fact, it's near Route 10 there and so that entire route in front of the store has been closed so that residents will avoid the area.

Not yet clear how many people inside the pharmacy are armed because a shot was fired. Again, no one injured at this point, or what prompted this event, what prompted this person or persons to take these six people hostage. So as we wait for answers, we'll continue to follow that.

A busy day so far, Kyra. We're also following another story as well today as we've been talking to you about, this one out of Homestead, Florida. I have some pictures there. This is not a hostage situation, but it is a standoff that's taking place at this home. What we know so far is that the suspect is holed up inside that house. And as many officers as we've been seeing throughout the day have been on scene. This happened about 11:00 eastern time. So this thing has been going on -- this is in its third hour right now.

We heard that officers had heard shots being fired. At least a witness said that. He was walking his little boy to school. There's a middle school nearby and that he had to duck because he heard six shots go by. Although I will tell that you authorities there have not confirmed those shots. But what we have seen are officers there wearing bulletproof vests, some of them ducking behind vehicles, some with their guns drawn. Smoke clouded in the area a little bit earlier today, Kyra, and that's believed to be created by officers trying to block the suspect's view.

But all of this, what we understand, is in relationship to this suspect who is believed to have fired at two Florida city police officers on Saturday. So obviously, a chase has been going on for a couple days now. And now that suspect is holed up inside that home, and the standoff is continuing there in Homestead, Florida, which is pretty close to Miami. A lot going on in two different areas. We've got a hostage situation, and then, of course, the standoff that you just saw there. We'll stay on top of all of it. PHILLIPS: All right, we'll track them both. Thanks Betty.

LEMON: Nancy Pelosi may have picked her first fight as House Speaker to be and it's not with President Bush. Somewhat unexpectedly, Pelosi is endorsing Congressman John Murtha for House Majority Leader in his race against Steny Hoyer. Hoyer, the current Democratic Whip is seen as the frontrunner and many expected Pelosi to avoid endorsing either man. Murtha's crucial opposition to the war in Iraq could be a signal of Pelosi's priorities. Then again, Pelosi and Murtha are losing -- are long rather, longtime allies.

On Capitol Hill, it is a great day to be a Democrat. Less so for Republicans. Today is orientation for newly elected members of Congress, about 50 of whom are part of the Democratic wave that seized control of the House and the Senate. With post-election lame-duck session of Congress beginning, more than 20 defeated Republicans returned this week to start serving their final days in office.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

LEMON: President Bush reaches back in an attempt to go forward.

PHILLIPS: He's tapping some of the top minds in his father's administration. So, what does it mean for father and son and for the country? A closer look straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: And here's a question for you. Are some people just born happy? New research on happiness and your health ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: They look alike, they talk alike, they even walk alike.

LEMON: They're identical brothers, that's why. With big differences, they grew up in separate households worlds apart in experienced background and history. But our Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports their genes bring them together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Dr. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT voice-over): We'll begin with two brothers and one remarkable story. That's Roger Brooks on the left and Tony Milasi on the right.

TONY MILASI: I'm the better looking of the two, it's obvious.

GUPTA: These big-hearted identical twins were split up at birth. Milasi was adopted at six weeks and grew up surrounded by close friends and a loving family. Brooks toughed it out in an orphanage until he was four years old. After his adoption, he was raised by a single mom and bounced around 11 different schools and yet...

MILASI: I never looked at my life as a tough life. I was always happy. GUPTA: When they were 24 years old, there was a chance encounter, a friend of Tony's spotted Roger in a diner in Miami.

ROGER BROOKS: And he thought I was Tony Milasi. He approached a table and says Tony?

GUPTA: A few phone calls later, they were reunited. The story was an international sensation.

MILASI: I said come on, mom, you called me long distance, what happened? She says they find your brother. I said what? Your brother, they find your brother!

NANCY SEGAL, AUTHOR, "INDIVISIBLE BY TWO": Twins have a lot to teach us about how happy all of us are?

GUPTA: Nancy Segal has spent her professional lifetime studying twins. She is a twin herself and says 80 percent of our personality is genetic.

SEGAL: They're just guys who exude this warmth, and enthusiasm and optimism. Raised apart, where does this come from? It's their basic human nature.

GUPTA: A nature we all would be fortunate to have.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, it's not a meteorological term, but deja vu. It is the forecast for the Pacific Northwest.

PHILLIPS: And the Mid-Atlantic along with strong winds, snow and a lot of heavy rain. Jacqui Jeras here with more on the stormy times. Hey, Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Straight ahead, entertainment news with Sibila Vargas on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

PHILLIPS: Hey Sibila, what's on tap?

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well I'll tell you, guys, why is one pop star striking out against religion?

And while "Borat" is making a killing at the box office, I'll tell you why some people think his antics are not so nice. It's all coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to the NEWSROOM now. Betty Nguyen working details on a developing story in West Virginia -- Betty. NGUYEN: Yes, we're following that hostage situation. In fact, we do have some new information on it. It's taking place in Stollings, West Virginia, at a locally-owned pharmacy there. And that pharmacy is called the Family Discount Pharmacy.

And what we know, six people are being held hostage at that drugstore. And CNN has confirmed through the state Department of Military Affairs spokesperson that a suspect entered that facility armed and apparently intending to rob the pharmacy when something went wrong. A shot was fired. No reported injuries. We have been told that no one has been injured in this. But two negotiators are on the scene and are in contact with the suspect.

Again, six people still being held hostage at that pharmacy. And the latest news -- and the best word that we've heard so far -- is that no one has been injured.

As I mentioned, Kyra, two negotiators are on the scene, so, hopefully, this thing will be resolved very quickly and all those hostages will leave this pharmacy safe and sound.

We'll continue to follow it.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Betty.

LEMON: When he sings, he makes millions of dollars, fans and some memories. But when Elton John talks, he makes enemies. Now he's done it again.

CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas joins us now to explain that one.

What's going on there?

VARGAS: Well, you know, he's causing a stir again. He says if it was up to him, Don, he'd ban all organized religion, Christian, Muslim, Jew, throw it all away because he claims organized religion mistreats gay people.

It's not that he dislikes, say, Jesus Christ, it's just that he feels, quote, "Organized religion doesn't seem to work," unquote, although he does acknowledge that they can do some good things.

The statements were made during an interview with a British newspaper that appeared on Sunday. And I imagine, Don, there are more than a few people upset with the pop star right about now. But that's what he does. He causes controversy.

LEMON: Yes. Well, we'll let that one go. It's a pretty big slam for Sir Elton John, that's right.

But let's take a look at something a little less controversial than that. What about the weekend box office?

VARGAS: Oh, a little bit of deja vu in theaters. And "that's a- nice" for at least one movie. Of course, I'm talking about "Borat", who was number one at the box office again this weekend, pulling in almost $29 million.

Now, it's notable that the movie was showing in more than 2,000 theaters this weekend. When it opened a week ago, it took in just over $26 million while showing at 837 theaters.

Now there are stories brewing about a "Borat" backlash. Reportedly, Sacha Baron Cohen, the man behind Borat's mustache, was assaulted after an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" on October 28th. He supposedly approached a man on the street in New York in character, and this individual didn't find the comedian too funny.

We're a little skeptical of this report and we reached out to his publicist. They have not gotten back to confirm or deny this yet. Cohen is currently in Australia and has shown no ill effects from the reported fight.

LEMON: Well, just watching the movie, some parts of it, it's a little bit uncomfortable. But some people say that's a part of the humor. I understand some people in the film are upset with how they were portrayed.

VARGAS: That's true. And it's part of the perils of using real people in a movie like this. Two college students are suing 20th Century Fox over their portrayal in the film. The two are fraternity brothers from the University of South Carolina who are featured in the film drinking and ranting about women and minorities.

They allege that they were taken advantage of by the movie's producer, who assured them that they wouldn't be identified and that the movie would not be appearing in America. They also say that producers got them drunk before they signed the movie release allowing them to be used in the film.

In the suit, they say that they were given $200 for their appearance and that they have since suffered humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress because of the film.

I'll have more on this tonight on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW".

And tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT", inside Britney Spears' fortune. How much is she really worth? And how much could Kevin Federline really get from their divorce? The details you haven't heard before, only on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT", 11:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN Headline Prime.

LEMON: Sibila Vargas, good stuff. I can't wait to see that. Thank you.

VARGAS: Titillating.

PHILLIPS: All right.

Carly Simon, Sheena Easton, well, forget the woman's touch on OO7's latest sound track. The official theme for the remake of "Casino Royale" is "You Know My Name", sung by Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell. Turn it up. (BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

CHRIS CORNELL, MUSICIAN (singing): If you take a life do you know what you get.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, today, the digital release of "Do You Know My Name" on the Sony Pictures website.

Audioslave, also on the Sony label. Coincidence or commerce?

Well, as long as we're having a little musical flashback, remember the tune "A Whiter Shade of Pale"? The trippy 1960's that you don't remember.

LEMON: I do remember that.

PHILLIPS: The 1967 hit that now inspired a trip to a London courtroom.

LEMON: Matthew Fisher (ph), the band's former keyboardist, says he composed the distinctive organ music in the song. If he proves it, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" could turn his bank account to a darker shade of green. He's seeking almost -- get this, Kyra -- two million bucks.

PHILLIPS: A lot of cash.

Just in time for the holidays, a pop-up book commemorating the most embarrassing moments of the rich and famous. We going to have that straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

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