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Troops in Iraq Hunt For Missing Contractors, Including Four Americans; North Korea's Nuclear Threat Major Issue At Asia-Pacific Economic Summit in Vietnam; Country's Top Comedians Regrouping To Raise Money For Katrina Relief; TomKat Prepare To Wed In Italy; Happiness and Health; Celebrating "God Bless Fort Benning Day"

Aired November 18, 2006 - 11:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Vietnam now, President Bush is getting support from world leaders for his push against North Korea's nuclear weapons program. In a statement to be issued tomorrow, APEC members express concern over Pyongyang's missile launchers this summer. Now they urge North Korea to return to six party talks.
And demonstrations, look at this, they are taking place in Indonesia against President Bush. He's expected to make a stop in Jakarta on his way back from the Vietnam Summit. Police in Jakarta say the threat of a terrorist attack is rising because of Mr. Bush's visit.

Well, one of the world's most anticipated weddings is starting just about now. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are exchanging vows at a medieval castle north of Rome and the celebrities have come out to help celebrate their big day.

Plus, will there be some major celebrations in college football today? A slot in the national championship game is on the line as Ohio State faces off against Michigan. The number two Wolverines are playing in memory of legendary Coach Bo Schembechler who died yesterday. And the Buckeyes will be defending their number one ranking.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Worried and waiting, a Minnesota family hoping to hear good news on Americans kidnapped in Iraq.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm John Zarrella in Columbus, Georgia. Thirty thousand people expected here today for "God Bless Ft. Benning Day," an opportunity to honor the troops. We're here and we brought with us Warrior One, the vehicle CNN went to war in. It's been refurbished and getting ready to be auctioned for charity.

NGUYEN: For a good cause there. And listen to this, the British leader's stunning admission. Tony Blair agreeing the Iraq war is a disaster.

HOLMES: The news is unfolding live on Saturday the 18th of November. Good morning to you everybody, thank you for being here, I'm T.J. Holmes.

NGUYEN: Yes, happy Saturday to you, I'm Betty Nguyen. You are in the NEWSROOM. It is two days and counting now since gunmen grabbed those five contractors at a fake police checkpoint in southeast Iraq. Four of the five are Americans. We're going to get some details now from our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In southeastern Iraq, British troops backed by U.S. helicopters battled gunmen in the area where the convoy was hijacked, as they hunted for the missing contractors including four Americans. Two gunmen were killed but it's not clear they were connected to the abduction.

The hijacking happened Thursday on a main road from Kuwait into Iraq, where a civilian supply convoy guarded by the Kuwaiti based Crescent Security Company was apparently stopped by people posing as Iraqi police, what appears to have been a fake checkpoint. The U.S. embassy in Baghdad provided only sketchy details. The convoy was made up of 43 heavy trucks and six security vehicles.

Of the 14 people taken, nine truck drivers were released up the road, while five security personnel were abducted. Four of the five contractors taken were Americans, the fifth, a former Austrian soldier. Only one of the Americans has been identified publicly, 39- year-old Paul Reuben, former police officer from the suburban Minneapolis town of St. Louis Park. Back home in Minnesota, his mother anxiously awaits news.

JOHNNIE REUBEN, PAUL REUBEN'S MOTHER: I knew something had happened. There was something that told me. And even at 3:00 this morning, something drained from me. I'm just -- I'm scared. But something, an injury or worse.

MCINTYRE (on camera): It's still unclear who is behind the abductions, one theory is it could be Shia militiamen but a local police official says he thinks criminal gangs are responsible and claims there's been a ransom demand. That's something CNN has been unable to confirm. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Let's go straight to CNN's Arwa Damon in Baghdad to get the latest on this developing story. Arwa, what are you hearing right now about this claims of responsibility coming from Iranian television?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, you just said it right there, a claim of responsibility coming from Iran. It was broadcast on a satellite TV station that actually broadcasts in Arabic, it's called al-Alam. What we saw there was video of a man whose identity is concealed by a head scarf. And you can't hear his voice, but according to what the anchor is saying, he is claiming to be a representative for the Islamic Mujahideen Battalion.

According to this television report, the group is claiming that they have these five hostages, four Americans, one Austrian, in their custody. But they are providing no evidence and no proof of life to back this claim. Now what we do know of this group is that they are fairly small but not very well known. They pretty much became public about six months ago.

They operate in southern Iraq along with a number of other militias and insurgent groups that do operate out of that same area. They have all been responsible for attacks against British forces. They have threatened to attack security companies. And this group is believed to have received its training in Iran. Now, there are ongoing military operations to try to rescue these five. Betty?

NGUYEN: And to be very clear, explain to us what happened with a second group, another group that was taken hostage as well.

DAMON: Well, Betty, that group worked for a company that was called SecuriForce. Initially they were believed to have been taken hostage and details are still fuzzy at this point. But what we do know from one of their representatives is that five of its operatives were traveling in a vehicle pretty much in the same vicinity where that initial kidnapping took place, where they came upon a checkpoint.

It could have been a real Iraqi police checkpoint or it could have been a fake checkpoint. The men were divided up into two vehicles. And that's where the details are unclear. What we do know is that it was not a hostage taking. However, one of the operatives were killed, the other four were wounded Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, thanks for clarifying that for us. CNN's Arwa Damon joining us live from Baghdad. Thank you Arwa.

HOLMES: North Korea's nuclear threat, a major issue this weekend at the Asia Pacific Economic Summit in Vietnam's capital. After a day of meetings President Bush and other Pacific Rim leaders wrapped up their talks with a gala dinner. CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is in Hanoi.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Trade was not the main focus here in Hanoi, Vietnam, host city to this year's annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Instead, one security issue dominated the discussions President Bush had today with his Asian counterparts, what to do about North Korea and its nuclear weapons program.

Now the president's day was capped off by a gala dinner here in Hanoi with the 20 other leaders of Pacific Rim countries that are APEC members. Earlier though, Mr. Bush sat down with the president of South Korea, President Roh Moo-hyun. And though he tried, Mr. Bush was not able to persuade the Korean leader to support intercepting ships suspected of carrying nuclear weapon supplies headed to North Korea. Instead, Mr. Bush emphasized after the meeting that the two leaders do agree on the overarching goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Our desire is to solve the North Korean issue peacefully. And as I've made clear in a speech as recently as two days ago in Singapore, that we want the North Korean leaders to adhere (INAUDIBLE) -- and nuclear weapons ambitions that we would be willing to enter into security arrangements with the North Koreans as well as move forward with new economic incentives for the North Korean people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: On Sunday North Korea will once again be the focus when President Bush sits down with China's president, President Hu Jintao, as well as Russian president Vladimir Putin. Also expected on Sunday, a statement from all 21 member nations of APEC, expressing concern about North Korea's nuclear activities. The White House has endorsed that statement. Elaine Quijano, CNN, with the president in Hanoi.

HOLMES: Stay here, because still ahead in the newsroom, the lessons of war from the villages of Vietnam to the streets of Baghdad. What have American generals learned?

NGUYEN: Touted by the Bush administration as a huge success for democracy in the Middle East, Lebanon now on the brink of chaos. In the midst of a power struggle, which way will Beirut go?

And they're back and ready to make the laughs count. Comic relief stars reunite to raise money for victims of hurricane Katrina when we return to the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Let's go across America on this Saturday morning. He may jump, but Illinois Senator Barack Obama says he is not going to be pushed. The Democrat predicting he will make a decision on a presidential bid in the next few weeks. Obama says first he wants to make sure he's got the right message. By all means, stay tuned, all of America is.

Now the funeral mass today for Mark Foley's father. The former congressman attended a visitation service last night in West Palm Beach. Foley reemerged in public view this week after his father's death. Florida investigators have revealed Foley's explicit e-mails to teenagers are now the subject of a state criminal probe.

And today, the big day, Columbus, Ohio is the site. College football's biggest game of the year, Ohio State, number one, Michigan, number two and they are going at it today. Both teams undefeated. The winner will likely play for the national championship in January. And if things work out my way, my Arkansas razorbacks will be in that championship game as well. Last minute tickets to the Ohio State Michigan game going for as much as $2,000 apiece.

NGUYEN: Oh my, well my Longhorns are out of it, but I'll still watch. Relief though, that is coming for victims of hurricane Katrina, comic relief, that is. The organization started as a way to help the homeless some 20 years ago. But now, after an eight-year break, the country's top comedians are regrouping to raise money for Katrina relief.

CNN's Anderson Cooper sat down with the show's hosts. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Do you think if the people in the convention center had been predominantly white, the response would have been different?

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, COMIC RELIEF 2006: I hate to say it, because I've never been this kind of person, but yes, I do. This would have never happened in Florida this long. This would have never -- if Disneyland had got hit, do you think the mouse would be down.

ROBIN WILLIAMS: I've got to get on a boat. I don't believe they're coming with a trailer. It's time once again for the Katrina reenactment, everybody brace yourselves, time to get crowded in a bus again.

GOLDBERG: I don't take away from the ones that have had trouble, I don't take away from them at all. And I don't want it to sound like I'm saying that. But this is years, you know, as it turns out.

WILLIAMS: It's a third world after all.

GOLDBERG: What are you going to do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well I think what Whoopi said is true, and what it also means is that he and I are going to get audited.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: They are just too much. Can you even get a word in around Robin Williams? I mean come on, it's not even worth trying. Well you can catch "Comic Relief" tonight at 9:00 eastern on HBO. The three-hour event, and just believe you me it will be an event, it will also be simulcast on TBS.

But before that, be sure to check out tonight's special "CNN PRESENTS." Our own Kathleen Koch returns to her devastates hometown of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to see how they are coping now. "CNN PRESENTS THE TOWN THAT FOUGHT BACK," that is tonight and Sunday at 8:00 Eastern.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Ah, the sound of it, love and happiness.

HOLMES: Ah, it's the little things.

NGUYEN: Sheer bliss, right?

HOLMES: Simple pleasures that make life so fantastic. Tom and Katie, love and happiness. They're going to be saying I do at a fairy tale ceremony and our Alessio Vinci is standing by in Italy for us.

NGUYEN: Plus, monks show you how to meditate your way to better health, it can actually happen. And our Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows you how next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Ok, I don't know that one, but it sounds cool, right.

NGUYEN: A little Keith Urban for you.

HOLMES: Keith Urban, yes, because we're just sick like that.

NGUYEN: The irony, can you feel it.

HOLMES: They'll get it, it's chow we're talking about. To the single life, Hollywood, powerhouse, Tom Cruise, is going to be marrying actress Katie Holmes, soon.

NGUYEN: Very soon.

HOLMES: And CNN's Alessio Vinci is at the wedding venue, a medieval castle just north of Rome. So I guess we know now this thing is really going to happen.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is going to happen here in Bracciano T.J. We've seen pictures of both Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise arriving here separately two hours apart from each other. Katie Holmes was carrying her baby, Suri, their baby Suri. And Tom Cruise arrived in a motorcade of four vehicles.

Anyway, they are inside and with them we understand a series already of high profile, VIP guests including Will Smith, Victoria Beckham, the wife of David Beckham. She was a former Spice Girl he is an international football star playing in Spain. And we also understand that Richard Gere is here in Bracciano, that's a new entry, we haven't heard from him before that he was coming here.

As well as Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who is providing the suit and the dress for this wedding, for the groom and the bride. And we also understand tenor Bocelli is here and he will be singing The Ava Maria during the ceremony. We do know that it will not be a Catholic ceremony, the local priest here who according to tradition must give permission for a Catholic wedding to take place has said no because Cruise is divorced, among other things.

And also, we do know that it will not be a civil ceremony because the mayor here says she has not received any request for a marriage license. So it will mainly ceremonial, we know a scientology minister will carry out the ceremony. But it will not be recognized by the Italian state.

As far as the journalists are concerned, more than 300 of them have been accredited for this event, lots of paparazzi of course. You've seen earlier today aerial shots of the venue. You will no longer be able to see them because the authorities here have closed the air space above the castle. They're saying that the helicopters were flying too low and they were a threat to the local population down below.

And by the way, speaking of the local population, they are enjoying every moment of it. We are seeing arrivals at this time and we hear girls and guys screaming and taking pictures. They are extremely excited to see a piece of Hollywood arriving in this usually sleepy town of 14,000 people here north of Rome. Imagine this, usually this town has 18 policemen, local policemen. Of course they need a lot more today and they've been helped by the towns in this region, in this area as well of course as the national police and the national Carabinieri.

So, everything is ready. We do understand that a ceremony will take place at some point within the next hour or so perhaps. You've seen everything behind me is ready. The candles have been lit. We understand 6,000 of them, scented candles have been lit inside the castle as well as we understand flowers worth $100,000, the whole ceremony expected to cost between $1.5 million and $6 million, numbers all over the place.

Back to you to T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Six thousand candles, well I hope they don't burn the place down Alessio. Thank you so much. We will continue to check in with you man.

VINCI: That would be a first.

HOLMES: Yes, thanks man.

NGUYEN: Although there is a history behind that castle. Yes, it's not a good one too, especially when it comes to marriages. They're averaging maybe what, four years. Is that was Alessio was saying. Yes, that's the average of folks getting married there. After four years, splitsville, so, there you have it.

So, if you know Tom and Katie are getting married and this has you down and you need some cheering up, maybe you can take a lesson from a Buddhist monk. Their special ability to meditate is leading to surprising discoveries about happiness and our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a report from his series on happiness and your health.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Few exert more power to shape their emotional state than Buddhist monks.

BARRY KERZIN, AMERICAN BUDDHIST MONK: There's so much happiness and joy or bliss, you almost don't know what to do with it.

GUPTA: Inside this MRI scanner, American Buddhist monk Barry Kerzin meditates with such focused attention that he can actually generate his own bliss. His good feelings show up in an area of the brain where researchers think happiness lives, the left prefrontal cortex. Negative emotions such as fear and anxiety show up on the other side of the brain.

Now any of us can try to elicit happiness like his. But the feelings we typically generate disappear in less than half a second. Kerzin meditates up to 12 hours a day. Somehow he and others well practiced at meditation can manipulate the feelings to last for minutes and minutes and minutes, sustained over time.

KERZIN: It has a little bit of a blissful feeling. It feels nice, it feels lovely.

RICHARD DAVIDSON, MIND BODY CONNECTION EXPERT: They will tell you that they are in a state of deep and genuine happiness all the time.

GUPTA: Kerzin, who was a doctor before becoming a monk, is collaborating with Dr. Richard Davidson, one of the world's leading experts on the mind body connection. Davidson calls Buddhist monks the Olympic athletes of meditation, making them ideal candidates for research and to how a positive disposition affects our health.

Already Davidson has found the people who are upbeat have a stronger immune response when they're given a flu vaccine. That means a positive outlook actually makes you less likely to get the flu. And population studies have shown that optimists live about seven years longer on average.

DAVIDSON: In general, there are data showing better health outcomes among optimists compared to pessimists on a number of different measures.

GUPTA: Meditation won't make you happier, necessarily, Davidson says. But even beginners can reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body and improve their immune response. Perhaps like the monks, all of us should think of happiness as a skill. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: That's right. Happy thoughts, all happy thoughts.

Tomorrow night, Sanjay has an hour-long special, "Happiness and Your Health," which takes a closer look at the surprising mind body connection. That is starting at 10:00 p.m. eastern, right here on CNN.

A show of support for the troops, we will head live to Georgia's Fort Benning where they're getting set to rally for U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

HOLMES: And we look back to another controversial war. Can the lessons we've learned from Vietnam make a difference in today's fight for Iraq. You are in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Now in the news, President Bush in Vietnam keeping the pressure on North Korea. He's urging Pacific Rim allies to aggressively enforce U.N. sanctions. North Korea has agreed to return to talks over its nuclear program, but the U.S. wants North Korea to take what it calls concrete first steps. U.S. troops hunting today for five kidnapped contractors, four are Americans. They were ambushed on this road near the Kuwaiti border. U.S. and Iraqi forces raiding several locations looking for the men. Now a group has released a video on Iranian television claiming that it holds the contractors, but no evidence to back that up.

In Lincoln, Nebraska one college student is dead, three others in critical condition following a fire at a fraternity house at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

And the East Coast of the U.S. should get a good show tonight. Astronomers expect this year's Leonid meteor shower to be especially busy, averaging -- get this -- two shooting stars per minute for two hours. If you plan to watch take your digital camera, or camcorder. Please submit your images to I-Report on the CNN web page. We might just show that on the air.

HOLMES: A military rally to show support for U.S. troops kicks off at noon today in Columbus, Georgia, the home of Fort Benning. It's billed as a day of family fun with live music and games. And CNN's HUMMER, Warrior One, will also be on display there. And the guy who drove that HUMMER to the location, our own John Zarrella. He's on hand for the day's events.

How's it going, John?

ZARRELLA: Hey, T.J.

I wish I drove the HUMMER here on location. It's one heck of a vehicle. I had the rental car. But we're here and we're in Columbus, Georgia. And this is the fifth anniversary of this event that they've had. They expect some 30,000 people here for "God Bless Fort Benning Day," an opportunity to give thanks to the troops.

You can see plenty of military hardware here behind me, a re- supply truck there that's got some grenades, and hopefully all just empty canisters. And also, of course, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle behind me.

And here, of course, the very familiar "Tip of the Spear", the military version of the HUMMER. And up here we have Sergeant Seth Foster.

Sergeant, nice vehicle you've got here, huh?

SGT. SETH FOSTER, U.S. ARMY: Oh yes, I'd trade it in for that one, though.

ZARRELLA: This one. You're talking about this one. This, of course, over here is Warrior One. This is what CNN's -- what CNN went to war in, literally, in the Gulf war. It's a little bit different now.

The overhauling people on TLC spent a week. They completely redid it, look at that pristine engine there. One fabulous looking vehicle. It's been touring the country going to all kinds of military bases.

And sergeant, you think your kids would like a ride in that?

FOSTER: Oh yes, I want them to watch it on the TLC, see them break it down and put it back together again. And maybe I could have them take a ride in it sometime today.

ZARRELLA: You're an instructor. You've got the 50 cal up there. But inside, over here, we've got the two flat screen TVs. The flat screen TVs are the 50 cal.

FOSTER: I think the flat screen TVs have a better sound system than this does.

(LAUGHTER)

ZARRELLA: I think you're right. This vehicle completely redone, as I said, is going to actually be auctioned in January out in Scottsdale, Arizona. The proceeds are going to go to the Fisher House.

The Fisher House operates in some 16 states. They have some 35 homes. What they do is they supply housing to military families whose loved ones are undergoing extensive military care at military hospitals or VA hospitals. And it's going to be auctioned off, as I said, in January, Scottsdale, Arizona.

But if you want to see the show where they actually did this work, the overhauling folks, it's going to air again November 21st, December 21st. And if you got really, really deep pockets, hundreds of thousands is what we're hoping to get for this thing, so we get that money to Fisher House.

So, a big day here. We expect lots of fun, lots of excitement here for everybody.

HOLMES: All right. A couple of things here, man, first just kind of an aside, I saw a woman walk behind you on stilts. I wonder if you could explain that to me. But also, it's supposed to be a fun day for the families and whatnot. But you still hear serious talks about war in Iraq around there right now?

ZARRELLA: Yes, yes, you do. Because actually about five miles away from here, right at the entrance to Fort Benning, there is a protest going on. And that protest -- it's about U.S. foreign policy. They expect some 20,000 people there as well.

That protest goes on every year here, directed primarily at the Western Hemisphere School, that's there, which trains the military personnel, primarily from Latin American countries. And that has been an ongoing protest here for many, many, many years.

And actually this event started in somewhat of response to that about five years ago, as a way to actually celebrate what the troops are doing while down the road, this other event is taking place, this protest. HOLMES: What about the lady on the stilts back there, man? What was that?

(LAUGHTER)

ZARRELLA: I was trying to avoid answering that question. I thought you might have forgotten. We've got everybody down here. We've got them on the stilts.

HOLMES: OK, just wondering. Just this weird shot, she went right behind you there, man. So, no worries. Thank you so much, John. Have a good time down there.

And you can check out our overhauled HUMMER online, or pimped out, is how some people like to call it. You can go to CNN.com/WarriorOne. See what it looked like before the overhauling team got a hold of it, and where Warrior One will be headed next, and look at the photo gallery. Read all about the Fisher House Foundation and how it's supporting our troops and their families.

NGUYEN: Yes, a lady on stilts. But they still won't let John drive that HUMMER. Poor guy.

HOLMES: Yes

NGUYEN: But have you seen his driving record? I mean, there's a reason behind that -- I'm just kidding.

HOLMES: He can't defend himself now.

NGUYEN: Cheap shot, wasn't it?

Well, President Bush's trip to Vietnam is something we want to talk about. And the Iraq war, both of them bringing the Vietnam war back into the spotlight. Are lessons learned a generation ago remembered in Iraq? CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre looks at that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): During General John Abizaid's contentious appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee no one uttered the "V" word. But the ghosts of Vietnam seemed to haunt the hearing room, as politician, after politician lectured the general about the best way to win the war.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: But stay the course is not a strategy for success in Iraq.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM-CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Hope is not a strategy.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: I don't understand that tactic.

MCINTYRE: But Abizaid, who was a newly minted second lieutenant when the U.S. signed a peace treaty with Vietnam back in 1973, put his marker down early on. He was not about to be swayed by armchair commanders in Congress.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CMDR., U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: While new options are explored and debated, my testimony should not be taken to imply approval of shifts in direction.

MCINTYRE: Abizaid may have missed the war, but not one of Vietnam's basic lessons. Wars should not be micromanaged, by what's sneeringly referred to in the Pentagon by an 8,000 mile screwdriver, that is, Washington.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We intend to convince the Communists that we cannot be defeated by force of arms.

MCINTYRE: President Lyndon Johnson and his Defense Secretary Robert McNamara were criticized for unduly interfering in military strategy. Johnson insisted on approving bomb targets, even as he insisted his generals had his full.

JOHNSON: I have asked the commanding general, General Wes Moreland, what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression. He has told me. And we will meet his needs.

MCINTYRE: Sound familiar? But William Wes Moreland's strategy, of using heavy firepower to run up the body count, has been criticized as flawed by historians. Underscoring Clemenso's famous adage, war is too important to be left to the generals.

KALEV SEPP, IRAQ STUDY GROUP: These political leaders in Congress are gaining a very clear-eyed view of the situation in Iraq. And aren't being satisfied with continuing reports of "we're making progress."

MCINTYRE: Abizaid may be giving his best military advice but his critics say he and, perhaps some others in the chain of command as well, ought to be replaced by officers with better ideas.

COL. DOUG MACGREGOR, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Abizaid is in a position of responsibility similar to men like Pershing, Patton, Ridgeway, generals who came to power, who had to get results. And they were ruthless with their subordinates, firing hundreds of generals collectively until they got results.

MCINTYRE (on camera): Another lesson of Vietnam is embodied in the words of a U.S. president who had not problem second guessing his generals, even relieving a few of command, Abraham Lincoln, once famously said, A house divided against itself cannot stand.

HENRY KISSINGER, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: No war can be won if it isn't conducted on a bipartisan basis, whatever the election is. Because when the country gets divided, then the enemy is bound to believe that he only has to hold on.

MCINTYRE (voice-over): Can peace with honor be far behind? Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: There is a power struggle in Lebanon. So could recent events plunge that country's government into chaos? We look at the possible impact.

HOLMES: Also, what did Tony Blair say about Iraq that is causing such a controversy? We'll check some of the global headlines when we return to the CNN newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Going to go global now and show you this video of just down right ugly, Down Under. Riots broke out in Melbourne as the G20 Economic Summit got under way. Protestors facing off against police, throwing rocks, throwing bottles.

Representatives from major economic powers, such as China, and the U.S., are attending that trade summit.

Does Britain's prime minister think the invasion of Iraq was a disaster? Well, during an appearance on Al-Jazeera's new English- language channel. The interviewer, David Frost, called the intervention by the West, it was pretty much, quote, "a disaster". Tony Blair then replied, "It has." Then went on to explain why the situation's has been so difficult. Downing Street says Blair was just politely acknowledging the question.

Mr. Blair's expected replacement says Britain plans to invest an additional $1.8 billion in Iraq. On a surprise visit to Iraq, British Finance Minister Gordon Brown, said the money would support security and reconstruction efforts.

And the situation in Iraq will be the focus of tonight's "LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK." If the election was lost because of the frustration with the Iraq war, why are more troops being sent? Find out tonight at 6:00 Eastern. Then, at 7:00, John Roberts hosts "THIS WEEK AT WAR." CNN correspondents discuss military options and the war of words on Capitol Hill, over U.S. troop levels.

NGUYEN: You may have heard Hezbollah ministers have walked out of Lebanon's cabinet recently and threatened to bring down that country's government. CNN's Joshua Levs joins us now with a reality check on Lebanon.

Josh, let me ask you this, why did they walk out and why should Americans care?

JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM: Americans should care, because what Hezbollah right now is threatening to do could bring more chaos into the Middle East. And that's just what the Bush administration and the world need right now, more chaos in the Middle East.

Here is basically how it happened. A lot of our viewers will remember the name Rafik Hariri, a major figure who was pushing for Syrian forces to leave Lebanon. Last year he was assassinated. And the United Nations found evidence suggesting that Syria may have been involved in his killing.

Skip ahead to last weekend, the Lebanese cabinet was supposed to vote on a tribunal that would look into his killing. Before that happened, Hezbollah left. Now the meeting went ahead, the tribunal was approved. But Hezbollah pulled out of the cabinet. It said it was not trying to block an investigation, even though Hezbollah's linked to Syria.

Here's the ultimate thing that happened. Hezbollah has now said it wants veto power in the Lebanese cabinet, and threatening to use its extreme popularity to bring down the current government until it gets that veto power.

And, Betty, if that happens. Chaos will take over Lebanese government.

NGUYEN: OK, so just say it happens. What does that mean for the U.S. and what is President Bush doing about it?

LEVS: Well, what it means is trouble, capital T. We're talking about a friend, an ally of the United States, that's in the Middle East, a place that the United States needs its allies right now. If the government changes, will the new Lebanese government still be an ally of Washington? We don't know. Will Hezbollah gain more power, present a strategic threat, a continuing threat to Israel, and that's a U.S. ally.

But there's also something much broader here, that's really important. President Bush's chief international goal, his foreign policy initiative, spread democracy everywhere. Up until now, Lebanon has been a really important example for President Bush. He points to democratic institutions in Lebanon. He says, look, democratic institutions can take root in the Arab world and flourish. Because historically, that's happened in Lebanon.

If it falls apart, if it does not happen in Lebanon, you get the exact opposite message from the one he wants to send. If the government falls apart, it's not showing democracy can flourish.

And, Betty, you asked what he can do.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

LEVS: Well, there is some support, the president is openly supporting the, Fouad Siniora, the government, right there. And Condoleezza Rice has traveled there. But this is where you get into trickiness of these Middle East dynamics. President Bush is so unpopular, especially because of the Iraq war, he cannot be too openly connected to the prime minister there. So what he has to do is help, but to some extent beneath the radar -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Joshua Levs. Thank you for that, explaining it all to us today.

HOLMES: And of course, CNN NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour with Fredericka Whitfield. Hello, there.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, to you. Good to see you guys.

We cannot say enough about -- sorry, about planning for retiring.

NGUYEN: Yes, that too.

WHITFIELD: That's right don't retire on that planning. It creeps up like that!

NGUYEN: You'll be in trouble if you do.

WHITFIELD: That's right. And so many of us can learn from a lot of mistakes out there, particularly baby boomers, apparently that's the generation that really is facing retirement in poverty because of a lot of mistakes they made.

So, actor -- as well as an economist, Ben Stein, you remember him from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Well, this week he joins us in the NEWSROOM to tell us how you can plan for your retirement starting in your 20s, your 30s, your 40s. And it's not too late if you are in your 50s but it means making some serious sacrifices.

NGUYEN: Yes, and you better get on it quickly, too. And in the 20s, that's good information, too. Because the earlier you start, the better you're going to be.

That's right. And a lot of folks are surprised that it would be the baby boomer generation facing these very -- you know, tough prospects. When they're the ones who have enjoyed great riches in life. But that's part of the problem.

NGUYEN: Good information. Can't wait to see that. Thank you, Fred.

HOLMES: Can't wait to hear that. Thank you, Fredricka.

Well, storms left a devastating mark on some parts of the South, as you may have seen.

NGUYEN: CNN.com's Veronica De La Cruz is back.

Hi, there, Veronica.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: Hey, there Betty, T.J., as you see our I-Reporters have been hard at work. We're going to show you what they've sent in on the weather front when CNN NEWSROOM continues.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than 65 million of you will take to the road this Thanksgiving weekend and many of you will drive. Before you hit the road, plan not only your route, but your rest stops as well. Don't forget to check those tires. Not only are under-inflated tires dangerous, but properly inflated wheels could save you up to 9 cents per gallon at the gas station.

Check all levels of all important liquids in your car, not just gas, but oil and windshield wiper fluids as well. And test your battery to make sure it's in proper working order. I'm Gerri Willis, and that's your tip of the day. For more, watch "Open House" every Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, the I-Reporters have been hard at work.

NGUYEN: Yes, they have. Veronica De La Cruz joins us now with a few of the latest submissions.

Hi, there, Veronica.

DE LA CRUZ: Hey, guys.

You're absolutely right. They've been braving some pretty bad weather sending us their images. We've received pictures from all over the globe. Let's start with this one, it's from Upstate New York. Doug Bush sent us this photo. He calls it "Bad Idea", bad idea as this truck tries to navigate the washed out road. I do agree with him.

The next photo from Japan, you might remember the earthquake that hit off the coast of Japan this week. This is the damage done to Crescent City Harbor, as a result of that tidal surge. This photo from Jay Sarina.

We go back to the states to Charlottesville, Virginia, for our last picture. Andrew Corbin sent us this picture of a funnel cloud. If you look carefully, through all the clouds, right in the middle, you can spot that funnel cloud. And something I've always been curious about is the difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado. For example, when does a funnel cloud actually become a tornado?

Let's go ahead and bring in our Bonnie Schneider for her expertise.

When does it happen? And what is the difference there?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST, CNN NEWSROOM: It is confusing. A lot of people might say they saw a tornado, but it really is a funnel cloud. Actually, a tornado is officially a tornado when the funnel cloud comes in contact with something, the ground, a building, or a tree.

DE LA CRUZ: OK, OK, that's great.

And lots of good information at CNN.com/tornado. There is a complete explainer on the Fujita Scale.

This week, Riegelwood, North Carolina, how strong was that tornado?

SCHNEIDER: It was very strong, that was actually just classified yesterday as an F3. In this particular tornado the winds got as strong as 200 miles per hour. It was a very strong one.

You can see the Fujita Scale. It goes from F0 to F5. F3 right in the middle, but still that is a severe tornado that can uproot most trees and actually overturn a train. So very powerful, indeed.

DE LA CRUZ: There's also a quick lesson on tornadoes. It's called Twister 101. It gives you all the facts when it comes to tornadoes. For example, Bonnie, maybe you can answer this one: How fast does a tornado travel?

SCHNEIDER: Well, tornadoes can go up to 70 miles per hour. And that's why the warning time is so crucial, because you don't really have that much time because they're moving so quickly. Unlike hurricanes that tend to go 10, 12 miles per hour across the ocean.

DE LA CRUZ: Once they touch the ground, how far can they go?

SCHNEIDER: They can go pretty far. As you can see here, on this Web site, it actually says they can go up to 50 miles out. Not all of them do that. The one that we saw pictures of in North Carolina went about seven miles, which is pretty substantial as well.

DE LA CRUZ: And it looks like they can occur any time of day but maybe most often between 3:00 to 9:00.

SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's because they tend to come out of strong thunderstorms. And generally we see the strongest thunderstorms in the heating of the day, meaning when the sun is most strong, and that's usually after about 3:00 p.m., when the atmosphere is the most unstable.

DE LA CRUZ: And the most important question, the million dollar question, is there more severe weather in the forecast?

SCHNEIDER: After a really rough week, the answer is, no. We're looking at much better weather conditions for today. That is for sure. So, really, I think what we're going to be seeing is an improved forecast, not just for today, but for the weekend. That's important to note, because many of you are traveling for the holidays, the last thing you want to have to contend with is severe weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Thank you for that, Bonnie. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Fredricka Whitfield.

HOLMES: That's coming up after our short break. Thank you so much for hanging out with me and Betty today.

NGUYEN: Have a great day.

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