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Israeli Prime Minister Seeks Return to Peace Talks; President Bush Heads to NATO Summit; Missouri Officials Investigate Deadly Fire

Aired November 27, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes, sitting in today for Don Lemon.

Vigils, vitriol, and a vow to get to the bottom of a weekend shooting in New York -- the mayor pledges answers after a groom-to-be is killed by police.

PHILLIPS: A deadly fire at a home for the elderly and mentally ill in Missouri -- 10 people killed, dozens hurt. Investigators want to know why.

And Michael Richards opened the can of worms, but Jesse Jackson wants everyone to help put the lid back on the N-word.

We're live from the CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin this hour with a developing story in Washington: police and federal agents investigating a suspicious object at the Lincoln Memorial.

We're expecting a briefing by U.S. Park Police.

Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve has the details for us -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we're waiting for that briefing from the U.S. Park Police to bring us the very latest on this situation, which involves a security scare at the memorial, one that closed it to visitors.

Authorities found three different objects. One was a letter, what they -- which they found in the main chamber of the memorial, with a message on it that read: "Do you know what anthrax it? Do you know what a bomb is? Do you know what chlorine is?"

In addition, they found a bottle which, appeared to be Gatorade, in a women's restroom, and then a coffee cup in a stairwell. Authorities went to the scene to check out all three. At last report, they determined that the Gatorade bottle was, in fact, filled with just Gatorade. They found surveillance video of a person leaving it in that restroom.

They were going to be doing some X-rays on the coffee cup to make sure it wasn't dangerous, but they didn't think it was. What we are still waiting for is the testing on that letter. We have seen hazmat teams approach and enter the Lincoln Memorial. They have a series of tests that they can do.

It is possible that, at the scene, they will be able to rule out the possibility of anthrax. If those tests are inconclusive, however, more testing would be necessary.

We should emphasize that the D.C. Fire Department responds to several white-powder calls each and every week in this town, sometimes each and every day, depending on what the general threat level is -- this one of particular concern, though, because it happened at the memorial, and because it was included along with a threatening level -- letter, rather.

In the meantime, the Park Police did put out a be-on-the-lookout for a young white man who was scene in the vicinity. According to some witnesses, he was holding what appeared to be this envelope which was later found was the -- with these threatening messages scrawled on the outside -- no word yet on whether they have apprehended him.

But we're waiting for that -- that press briefing from the Park Police, hopefully, to get some more answers -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Great. Thanks, Jeanne. And we will take that live as soon as it happens.

Meanwhile, we are getting word the hazmat teams have left, and the memorial is still closed. We will bring you more information as we get it.

HOLMES: An absolutely nightmare in Missouri, at least 10 people dead, another two dozen hurt in a fire that swept through a home for the elderly and mentally ill overnight.

We are expecting a live briefing here as well from Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, expecting that this hour.

The fire burned four hours in the town of Anderson in the southwest corner of the state. The Missouri Highway Patrol says the home had 33 residents and two employees in at the time. A recent state inspection identified problems, but none of those problems were related to fire safety. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

PHILLIPS: Five undercover officers firing 50 rounds at three unarmed civilians -- New York Michael Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed today with community activists that some of the circumstances behind the deadly shooting early Saturday are troubling.

And he's vowing to find out what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), MAYOR OF NEW YORK: We don't know yet exactly what happened. We don't have all the answers. There's a lot that needs to be explained. But, when a shooting like this occurs, there are legitimate questions about it. And it's essential to the city to do a fair and thorough investigation, to accept its consequences, and to make sure that everything is done to prevent future incidents like this from occurring.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, a groom-to-be was killed after his bachelor party at a strip club. Two of his friends were wounded. Police say it happened after an undercover cop was hit by the dead man's car.

HOLMES: No-knock warrants and no-name informants under fire in Atlanta -- the police chief says he is rethinking both after last week's deadly shooting of a 92-year-old woman.

Kathryn Johnston opened fire on the undercover officers who burst into her home looking for a 6 foot, 250-pound suspect. Three officers were hurt. The police were acting on a tip that drugs had been sold on the premises. They say they did find a small amount of marijuana.

Stopping the war and saving face, can the U.S. do both in Iraq? That's the question facing the Iraq Study Group, as the war turns into a struggle for answers.

We get more now from senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre, who also has the latest, again, on that crash of a U.S. fighter jet -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the U.S. Air Force F-16 crashed today while conducting operations in support of troops on the ground about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad.

The F-16 was conducting, we are told, a strafing run on the ground, flying at a low level, when it crashed. This video, provided by the Al-Jazeera television network, which apparently shows the wreckage of the plane, it appears to be that F-16 that crashed today -- no word officially on the fate of the pilot, although Pentagon sources say it appears the pilot did not have a chance to eject safely from the plane before it crashed, also no indication, at this point, whether the crash was the result of hostile ground fire, or some other sort of malfunction or problem with the -- with the aircraft.

But, again, it underscores the dangerous duty that U.S. troops are performing over there. They're not just flying at high levels, dropping satellite-guided bombs. They are also getting down and dirty, close in, to use their guns, sometimes to support the U.S. troops on the ground. And that is much more hazardous mission -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Jamie McIntyre, for us at the Pentagon, thank you so much.

PHILLIPS: Curfew is lifted, not so much the fear. The president of Iraq is out and about today, but many of his people are staying put.

Here is CNN's Arwa Damon from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki could be losing his main support base.

Radical Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr's political bloc is threatening to suspend ITS activities in the Iraqi government if prime minister goes ahead with his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, set to take place in Jordan on Wednesday.

Curfew is finally lifted, allowing Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to make his long-awaited trip to Iran -- the top item on that agenda, security.

Things in the capital are far from normal -- the Iraqi emergency police saying that 50 percent of government employees did not show up to work, many Baghdad residents choosing to stay in the relative safety of their homes, fearing retaliatory violence.

Sunni Web sites are now posting Internet blogs about how to better secure yourself, prepare your weapons. Insurgents and residents are trading tips on self-defense against Shia militias.

The U.S. and Iraqi governments are still insisting that Iraq is not in a civil war. But many Iraqis living with the violence and the bloodshed every day say that the civil war here actually started a long time ago.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's not a world war, but it's taken a world of time. U.S. troops have now fought more days in Iraq than they did in World War II. And today marks the 1,348th day of fighting in Iraq. U.S. involvement in the Second World War lasted 1,377 days. Only Vietnam, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War have tied U.S. -- or tied up, rather, U.S. troops and treasure longer.

HOLMES: New visions of peace in the Middle East? Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is trying to entice Palestinians back to the negotiating table, that as a day-old truce in Gaza already on a bit of a shaky ground.

CNN's Paula Hancocks in Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said the Palestinians were at a historic crossroads.

In a speech Monday, he said they had to decide whether to follow the path of peace or continue down the path of violence. He was offering incentives to the Palestinian leadership, saying that, if Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped back on June the 25th, was released, then, Israel would release -- quote -- "many Palestinian prisoners," even those that have been sentenced for a long time.

He also said that Israel could ease checkpoints, and there could be a viable Palestinian state that could be created, if the peace talks do go ahead.

So, he was offering incentives to the Palestinians. The immediate reaction from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office was, actions do talk louder than words, but it is a positive step.

Now, Olmert also said that Israel would dismantle settlements. He said that would be a very painful step for Israelis, but, if it did lead to true peace, then, it would be prepared to do that. And Olmert seemed very confident that this was a significant moment for peace talks.

EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I hope very much they will show responsibility and goodwill. This could be the beginning of a serious, true, and open direct negotiations between us and the Palestinian Authority, between myself, and Abu Mazen, in order to advance in the direction of a comprehensive settlement between us and the Palestinians.

HANCOCKS: The cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is carrying on, in theory, but there have been hiccups along the way -- another couple of rockets launched from Gaza into Israel over the past hours or so -- now, no casualties. And, at this point, it does appear as though Olmert is trying to restrain the military, saying he wants to find out if they are isolated attacks or a full-blown violation.

And President Mahmoud Abbas has sent up to 13,000 of his own troops along the border to try and keep the peace.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Hi.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead...

HOLMES: How you doing?

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: How you doing?

HOLMES: Things well?

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Yes. I was reworking a script there. HOLMES: You sure?

PHILLIPS: Thanks, pal.

HOLMES: I don't know. That looks like some chopping you got going on, on this cyber-Monday.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Oh. Come on, now.

All right. On a serious note, we're talking about Afghanistan, actually, and canvassing for confederates in the Middle East. The president kicks off a week of global diplomacy. And we are tracking every stop right here, from our diplomatic NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: Also, if a schoolyard bully taunts by yelling "Your Mama wears Army boots..."

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: What is wrong with that?

HOLMES: Well, I don't know if the kids say that.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Well, 11 kids in California can at least say, "No, actually, that's our grandmother you're talking about."

That's ahead in the NEWSROOM -- almost 60 and shipping out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Listen in now to Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri, talking about the fire at a group home that killed 10.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GOV. MATT BLUNT (R), MISSOURI: ... our state highway patrol, the fire marshal's office are all here involved in the investigation at the state level.

We're also assisted -- and grateful for the assistance -- of the ATF. And they're helping us, as we dig through the remains of the building, to try and determine where the fire started and why it started in that location.

Obviously, we're not ruling anything out. And we will explore a number of different potential paths, in terms of why this fire started. It is important to all of us, though, that we determine what happened. And we certainly know that -- that we're going to try to get the people of Missouri the -- the answer that they deserve.

I would be happy to try and answer any questions. As you can imagine, we're in the very opening stages, though, of an investigation. So, some questions won't be able to answer, but would love to try to answer any questions that you might have.

QUESTION: We heard that the fire department came out on Saturday. Does that have anything to do with today's incident?

BLUNT: That is certainly something that's being explored. Indeed, this -- the fire department was called out on Saturday to deal with another fire. And they're exploring whether or not that impacted or had anything to do with the fire that occurred Sunday night.

QUESTION: What was that Saturday fire? We have heard it was a mattress being set on fire. Was it accidental? Was it arson? What happened there?

BLUNT: Yes, I don't know how much into the details at this point we want to get about that.

I think it -- it's safe to say that -- though, that it was quickly investigated. And it was something that was of concern to the fire marshal's office. And it's still the sort of thing that we're trying to analyze, to determine if it had any impact on the fire Sunday night.

QUESTION: Is there anyone being sought in that fire, that Saturday fire?

BLUNT: I don't...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... investigation?

BLUNT: We're certainly not ruling out anything.

And, indeed, we -- we -- if there is -- it's important that we explore the fact that this might have been caused, started by somebody. So, we're not ruling out a criminal investigation. And, indeed, we're treating this as if it were a crime scene. We're not saying it's definitely a crime scene, but we're treating it as if it is. And we're trying to determine if -- if the fire was set by somebody that had a nefarious motive.

QUESTION: Has this been treated as a suspicious fire (INAUDIBLE)

BLUNT: Yes, it is being treated as a suspicious -- suspicious fire. Clearly, though, we're not saying that we believe it was set by somebody, but we're certainly not ruling anything out.

HOLMES: Again, we're listening into Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri, talking about that fire at a group home there in Anderson, Missouri, in the southwest corner of the state, where at least 10 people were killed, another two dozen injured, talking here.

Interesting that he did mention something we didn't know, is that the fire department was actually, he said, called out to that same home on Saturday -- not exactly sure why and what happened with that, but, then, the fire occurred, the major fire, that killed 10, injured some 24, overnight last night -- so, a lot more to come on that story we are going to be following here at CNN.

PHILLIPS: Motorcycle escorts for presidential travels, very high-profile assignments, and usually very low risk, but not always.

A police officer who was hurting -- who -- who was hurt, rather, while escorting President Bush last week in Hawaii has died. The accident happened as Mr. Bush traveled across Hickam Air Force Base to meet with troops. Three motorcycle officers crashed on a rain- slickened road. Two were treated and released. Steve Favela suffered internal injuries, and had been in critical condition. He leaves a wife and four children.

HOLMES: Big Dig? Bigger problems, maybe. Now one more hefty lawsuit -- the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is claiming, negligence by the Big Dig's builders led to the ceiling collapse that killed a Boston woman in July.

And the pending suit will seek millions in damages for repairs, loss of use, toll revenue, and so on and so on. But the state says it's about more than just money. The dead woman's family filed their own wrongful death suit in August.

PHILLIPS: Well, it took almost three weeks, but Republicans managed to hang on to a congressional seat from Ohio, we think.

Election overseers say that Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, currently the fourth-ranking House Republican, has eked out a razor- thin victory. We're talking just over 1,000 votes. Pryce was challenged by Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, who is refusing to concede, pending an automatic recount.

HOLMES: Well, making progress, or just photo-ops? President Bush and the Iraqi prime minister meet this week in Jordan -- a preview of that meeting ahead here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Once again, live to D.C. -- good news to report. We are being told the suspicious items that were found there at the Lincoln Memorial did not constitute a public health threat. The fire department also reporting there is no biological, chemical or radiological hazard.

Good news. They had shut down the Lincoln site. They called in the hazmat team. The hazmat team has now left -- all clear at the Lincoln Memorial.

HOLMES: Well, it may be the result of a hard day's night in the music industry, and now Beatles fans may soon be able to get their fix online, eight days a week.

Susan Lisovicz joins us now from the New York Stock Exchange with all these details for us.

Hello there, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, T.J.

Makes us want to twist and shout, I suppose, a lot of us.

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: I love these Beatles lyrics...

HOLMES: I can tell.

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: ... and titles.

As many iPod users know, if you go to iTunes online music store, and search for the Beatles, you will come up with plenty of other musicians who played Beatles music. But fans who wish to download the real Fab Four themselves may not have to wait much longer -- "Fortune" magazine reporting that iTunes is close to an exclusive deal that would bring the Beatles music, finally, online -- details not yet worked out.

But there is speculation that the agreement will allow iTunes to offer Beatles music for only a limited time. Other online music stores, like Microsoft's MSN and Rhapsody, have also court the Beatles, but with no success to date -- T.J.

HOLMES: Is -- is -- am I hearing this right? Is it done, the dispute over apples? Is it over between the Beatles and Apple music label and Apple Computer? Are we done with this thing yet?

LISOVICZ: Well, and -- and you say yet, because it's been going on for 20 years, the dispute between Apple Core -- that is the Beatles music label -- and Apple Computer, the long-running legal feud not only over the names and their logos, the Granny Smith Apple that appears on the label's record and the half-eaten apple that is the computer company's logo, but also about the fact that both businesses involve music.

In a decision earlier this year, a London judge ruled in favor of Apple Computer, allowing the company to keep using the Apple name. Apple shares, by the way, are down 2 percent. But, then again, so is the market overall. This is the sharpest pullback we have seen in at least four months -- some analysts saying that, you know, the market was really looking for an excuse to sell off, given the records that we have seen.

Well, we have a few culprits. We have a big rise in oil prices, up more than a dollar. We have the dollar sharply dropper -- sharply lower against major currencies. And we have concerns about the retail sector at a critical time.

Why is that? Well, overall, the picture is pretty good, but disappointing sales from Wal-Mart. Even though the retailer rolled back prices weeks ago to bring in early holiday shoppers, it didn't seem to work too well -- Wal-Mart now estimating that its November sales, which include Black Friday, actually fell a 10th of a percent, which would mark Wal-Mart's first monthly sales decline in more than 10 months.

Share of Wal-Mart are falling nearly 3 percent. They are one of the worst-performing Dow 30 stocks. But 28 of the Dow 30 stocks are down, which is why you're seeing triple-digit declines for most of the day today for the Dow industrials, down 156 points, at 12123. If it closes below 100, it's the -- we haven't seen it since July, mid-July -- decliners swamping advancers by a 4-1 margin here. The Nasdaq is down 2 percent, or 52 points.

That's the latest from Wall Street. I will be back with the final numbers in 35 minutes -- T.J...

HOLMES: All right.

LISOVICZ: ... back to you.

HOLMES: Susan, thank you. We will see you soon. Looking forward to it.

Also just ahead, a live report from Estonia, the first stop in a busy week of diplomacy for President Bush.

You're with us in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, first stop, Estonia -- President Bush starting off his trip to Europe in friendly territory. Estonia has been an unwavering ally in the war on terror. And Mr. Bush's welcome will be warm. He touched down moments ago.

But the trip will only get tougher, as the president proceeds to a NATO summit, and then a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister in Jordan.

CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us now live from Tallinn, Estonia.

Hi, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.

Well, Air Force One just touched down here in Tallinn, Estonia. This is really his first stop, and, as you mentioned, of course, the friendliest one, not the typical pictures you will see normally on the eve of a presidential visit, no protests in the street, but an old town, just people simply milling around, doing their holiday shopping -- very quiet here on the streets -- as you mentioned, Estonia a very good ally to the United States in the war on terror, as well as a model of democracy -- but President Bush meeting with those leaders tomorrow, and then quickly moving on to NATO summit in Riga, Latvia.

That is, of course, where the focus is going to be on the war in Afghanistan. Now, there is quite a bit of debate over this and some difficulty. As you may know, it is a real test for NATO, as well as the president, in -- in considering credibility, as well as legacy. It was five years ago, after September 11, that the United States routed out the Taliban. Well, since then, things have gotten much, much worse. There has been a resurgence of the Taliban, as well as al Qaeda -- Osama bin Laden still on the loose. There have been casualties that have spiked this year -- so, of course, a lot of challenges there.

President Bush is going to try to reiterate to European allies they need to do more in terms of troops, as well as resources. And there really is quite a division among the members of the NATO alliance -- what is their role for the 21st century and whether or not they should really take on this kind of global terror -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, what do you think we can expect with this meeting with Maliki, talking about Iraq?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, that follows in the days to come. He's going to be traveling to Amman, Jordan. That's where he's going to be meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Jordan's King Abdullah is the host to this meeting. And already, we heard from him yesterday, saying, look, things are in a very bad situation with the Middle East, saying that perhaps there is not only one civil war, but three civil wars that threaten this region, perhaps in Iraq, Lebanon, as well as the Israeli/Palestinian crisis.

What we expect President Bush to talk about is simply the need for al-Maliki and his government to take on more responsibility of training those Iraqi security forces as quickly as possible. Maliki, asking for more support from the United States. And, of course, the leader of Jordan and others around in the region saying, look, the United States needs to take a comprehensive, regional approach to this, talk to all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria and Iran -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And tell me about these phone calls you made from Air Force One. I didn't seem to receive one.

MALVEAUX: We're getting a readout. As a matter of fact, national security advisor Stephen Hadley actually had a gaggle, a briefing aboard the plane, but we know of two calls so far. One, of course, is to Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. The other is to French President Jacques Chirac, two very important allies here. And as you know, Egypt really pushing for those regional talks, and France's Jacques Chirac somewhat reluctant about that global goal, if you will, for NATO, feeling like there should be something that is more limited. So, a lot of divisions within the members of NATO themselves, within the Arab countries, as well. There's going to be a lot of debate, a lot of discussion over the next couple of days.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne, I apologize. I thought you made some calls from Air Force One. Thank you for clarifying that for me.

MALVEAUX: Oh, no. I wish. I wish.

PHILLIPS: I know. Maybe that will come later on.

Thanks, Suzanne.

LEMON: Another suicide car bombing in Afghanistan. Two NATO soldiers, Canadians, killed in a convoy that was heading into combat. That makes 44 Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan, these on the eve of a NATO summit in Latvia.

CNN's Robin Oakley reports the summit comes at a critical time for the Atlantic alliance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grenade!

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, the going has been tough. The most intensive combat, say some commanders, since World War II. The politicians claim those troops will get the backup they need.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: If the clients on the ground want more equipment, armored vehicles for example, more helicopters, that will be provided. Whatever package they want, we will do.

OAKLEY: Visiting Afghanistan last week, Mr. Blair had no doubt of the importance of their mission.

BLAIR: Here in this extraordinary piece of desert is where the future in the early 21st century of the world's security is going to be played out.

OAKLEY: But that piece of desert is too the crucible where NATO's credibility and readiness for a wider world-wide role is being tested since it took responsibility for Afghanistan security. And the Alliance's commanders have struggled to get member countries to contribute enough troops or equipment.

MICHAEL WILLIAMS, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: Even the initial NATO deployment to Afghanistan was never seen as sufficient. The Afghans were always asking for more troops. The secretary general was really going around with a cup asking for more troops and it didn't really happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The going has also been tough from time to time, I must admit.

OAKLEY: That's one problem for NATO's political leaders to address at their summit, but there's another. A number of countries with contingents serving in Afghanistan have imposed so-called caveats, refusing to let their soldiers go to danger areas. It infuriates their allies in the hot spots.

LIAM FOX, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE DEFENSE SECRETARY: There's no such thing as NATO light. You are either in NATO or you are not. Being there implies a set of responsibilities which ought to be carried out. Our government should be involved in absolutely no holds barred diplomatic activity to say to partners especially in Italy and Germany and Spain that we need to have full participation. OAKLEY: Caveats don't please the secretary general either.

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: If I have the choice of having a force with a certain limitation or no force at all, my choice would be clear. Nevertheless, let me reiterate, my bottom line is that we should have caveat-free forces, solidarity in the alliance demands caveat-free forces.

OAKLEY (on camera): Afghanistan has been a crucial test for NATO but it's been a struggle getting some member nations to provide the troops and equipment needed to make a success in the toughest areas, particularly in some countries have refused to allow their troops to serve there. It raises questions NATO diplomats concede about the alliance taking on a wide global role.

Robin Oakley, CNN, at NATO headquarters, Brussels.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, it straddles Europe and Asia, Islam and Christianity, religion and secular society. Nevertheless, Turkey finds itself in a tough spot this week with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, and so might the pope.

CNN's Alessio Vinci sets the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): "Pray for the success of my journey," Pope Benedict asked pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on the eve of his difficult trip to Turkey.

At exactly the same time, though, in Istanbul, thousands of nationalist Turks gathered to protest the pope's upcoming visit. There were far less than the hundreds of thousands organizers hoped would show up, but a vociferous minority, nevertheless, closely watch by security officials.

They left their small group chanting "Allah is great," stormed one of the buildings the pope is expected to visit. And weeks after a gunman fired shots outside the Italian consulate in Istanbul, shouting that it would strangle the pope.

Not enough to deter the Vatican. The pope is expected to meet with the spiritual leader of the world's orthodox churches and gather in prayer with other Christian minorities, but this marks his first trip to a Muslim country since quoting a controversial statement by a 14th Century emperor linking violence with Islam.

JOHN ALLEN, VATICAN ANALYST: The clash of civilizations that Benedict sees in the world today is not between Islam and the west. It's between belief and unbelief, that is between a culture that prizes religion and the supernatural and cultures that don't. And in that struggle, he thinks of Muslims as natural allies.

VINCI: The pope expressed regret for the damage his speech in Germany last December caused but did not offer a full apology. Vatican officials confirm that, as a sign of respect towards the Muslim faith, Pope Benedict plans to visit the Blue Mosque, essentially emulating his predecessor, John Paul II, widely credited with building bridges with the Muslim world by becoming the first pope to enter a mosque when he traveled to Damascus in 2001.

ALLEN: I think Benedict believes that those bridges, having been built, you know, it's now time to walk across them. In other words, you know, dialogue has to be more than being polite to each other. It has to be more than tea and cookies.

VINCI: The pope is in a delicate mission, with all sides willing to talk and perhaps finally willing to listen to each other.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And tonight, you can join Anderson Cooper live in Turkey as the Muslim world prepares for the pope's visit. What will his visit bring? See firsthand all this week, 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Then, all day tomorrow, beginning at 6:00 a.m., CNN brings a full day of special coverage, "When faiths collide: Christianity and Islam." Watch all day tomorrow, beginning at 6:00 a.m. only right here on CNN.

LEMON: Well, are we healing yet? Michael Richards does on-air penance with Jesse Jackson. We're checking out his latest apology in the NEWSROOM with the help of comedian Paul Mooney.

PHILLIPS: Plus, swap in the galoshes for snow chains in the Pacific Northwest. The forecast straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Holiday travelers having a tough time getting home across much of the northwest. Up to 15 inches of snow have fallen in Washington State. Heavy snow on Snoqualmie Pass slowed traffic to a crawl. Some 50,000 cars tried to cross the pass just yesterday.

Meanwheile, in northern California, pretty much the same. A powerful storm dumped several inches of snow around the Lake Tahoe area. Nightmare for the travelers, a boom for the skiers. And Rob, who lived in that area, had to travel Lake Tahoe before, that is not fun trying to get through that little highway, two-lane highway trying to get to Tahoe.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Three minutes of venom, ten days of outrage -- backlash and uproar and it's not over yet. Michael Richards latest mea culpa over his racist and hateful tirade was yesterday on Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio show. Today Jackson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and other leaders held a news conference in south L.A. They accused the media of generally ignoring African-American issues and said the Richards rant gives them the chance to reach out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Talk about forgiveness is premature. That is a process one has engaged in violence, there is a period of acknowledgment and apology and contrican. In time, we will determine whether one was earned or regained the trust to lead to the issue of redemption, which is much further down the road.

When I was called by Michael, I asked him a basic question, why are you so angry at African-American people? Have you been raped, attacked, or robbed, or accosted in some way? He said no, he cannot explain the inner conflict, he can't explain the rage. I said, therefore, you need to see a psychiatrist to deal with the -- your unresolved inner conflict.

REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: We want everybody to stop using the 'N' word. We believe in first amendment rights. We're not trying to legislate anything. We're not trying to penalize anybody. We simple want to use this platform that's afforded us to say don't use the 'N' word, no matter who you are -- black, white, young, old, we don't care who you are. Let's stop using that word.

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PHILLIPS: Richards says his tirade was sparked by anger and he is now in therapy. Now earlier, we checked in again with comedian Paul Mooney. If you weren't watching here is what you missed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: What did you think of Richards appearing with Jesse Jackson? Did it work?

PAUL MOONEY, COMEDIAN: It was the best. Of course it worked. It was the best. He's reaching out. It's a time for -- it's a time for healing. It will take a lot of time, but it's a time for forgiveness.

I mean, we're all human beings. We all can make mistakes. We all have got a lot of hang-ups. And human beings are very complicated. But it's time for healing.

And you're right. We're going to stop using the 'N' word. I'm going to stop using it. I'm not going to ever use it again. And I'm not going to use the 'B' word. And we're going to put an end to the 'N' word. Just say no to the 'N' word. We want all human beings throughout the world to stop using the 'N' word.

We've got to take our power back. It's not an equal opportunity word. And it's not a very nice word. And we're going to end it, and we're going to start doing that today.

PHILLIPS: Now, Paul...

MOONEY: Well, it started actually yesterday. PHILLIPS: ... you were -- you were pretty much the first comedian to use this word on a regular basis in your routines. You've been doing it for years.

Is this going to blow your routine?

MOONEY: No, of course not. I'm talented.

PHILLIPS: Well, that speaks for itself, you're right. So I'm curious, what will replace that word?

MOONEY: What do you mean? Black? Afro-American? African- American, whatever I want to say.

PHILLIPS: OK. All right.

So how do you think your fan base will respond to that? Do you think -- if you take a look at the word, OK, whether it's comedy or within rap, or just within social conversation, I mean, that's a lot of targeted audiences. That's a lot of African-Americans that use the word and don't have a problem using it, and it sells.

So how do you convince the rappers? How do you convince just the kids hanging out in the neighborhoods, man, don't use the word?

MOONEY: Listen, anybody's frame of mind can change. I can't change the past. I can change the present and the future. And I'm simply -- for me, if my fans love me, they'll follow me. I'm not going to say the word.

Michael cured me of the word. I'm not easily shocked. The video -- the tape shocked me. And I finally got the gist of the word. It's too powerful and there's too much hatred in it, and I don't want to use the word anymore. And my fans that love me will follow me. And when people all think, well, how can you make them stop, it's out there, it's not going to ever end, listen, one person can change history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Richards says that his tirade was sparked by anger and he is now in therapy. We will stay on the story.

HOLMES: Schoolyard bullies. Don't know if they use this on the schoolyard, but if they yell out 'hey your mother wears army boots,' there are 11 kids in California that can say, actually, that's our grandmother. Up next in the NEWSROOM, almost 60 years old and shipping out.

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HOLMES: U.S. troops in Afghanistan can expect a visit from grandma just after Christmas.

PHILLIPS: Except it's more than a visit and grandma is in the Air Force Reserves. Reporter Wayne Friedman of our San Francisco affiliate, KGO, has her story.

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WAYNE FRIEDMAN, KGO REPORTER (voice-over): For a nurse, this qualifies as one of those minor procedures, maintenance on a reluctant family dog.

(On camera): Is that enough trauma for today?

JO DANNER, AIR FORCE RESERVIST: For the dog, yes.

FRIEDMAN (voice-over): But before long, Major Jo Danner, of the Air Force Reserves, is likely to see much worse in a war zone on the other side of the world, Afghanistan. It will be quite the adventure for a 59-year-old woman with 11 grandkids.

DANNER: Grandmothers and grandfathers have already served. I'm not the first to go. It's just, somebody happened to notice.

FRIEDMAN (On camera): Major Danner joined the Air Force Reserves 13 years ago when in her late 40s. She has already been called up once, serving in Washington, but Afghanistan will be different -- spending four months in a hospital, treating both military and civilians.

DANNER: Whoever needs help: ladies having babies, kids with broken legs, people who step on land mines, whatever needs to be done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, that was really close.

FRIEDMAN (voice-over): The Air Force could not find a better role model if they pulled somebody out of a recruiting poster.

DANNER: It's an honor and a privilege.

FRIEDMAN: One of her sons served as a paramedic in Iraq, her father in the Coast Guard. According to sister, Vicki, this stuff runs in the family.

(On camera): Do you think she will be okay over there?

VICKI STOVER, SISTER HEADING TO AFGHANISTAN: Yep. I have to think that. She will be fine.

FRIEDMAN (voice-over): But she is certainly planning ahead, right down to all the birthday cards she has filled out in advance for friends and family. The major could have left those cards here, but --

DANNER: It's not the same as having a card that comes from your grandma in the mail with a stamp on it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: My guess is, grandma does the disciplinary action in that family. I would listen to her. HOLMES: Grandma with the boots. Danner leaves for Afghanistan shortly after Christmas. She hopes, actually, to be home four months later before her 60th birthday.

PHILLIPS: Closing bell and a wrap of action on Wall Street straight ahead.

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HOLMES: Video we want to show you here. This is pictures of the president's plane. He has arrived in Estonia. Of course, the president on a trip to Europe and also the Middle East. Iraq going to be talked about a lot. But he did arrive within this past hour. Just some tape here we're showing you -- not sure if we're going to see him walk off the plane from this video we have, but we just wanted to bring it to you to let you know the president has arrived. Iraq going to be talked about a lot and of course the president is going to be meeting on this trip as well with Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq.

PHILLIPS: The holidays are around the corner and the White House Christmas tree on the doorstep. First Lady Laura Bush was on hand for today's welcoming ceremony. It was a Pennsylvania family whose farm grew the eighteen-foot Douglas fir. The tree will be trimmed with decorations from all over the country and should be ready later this week.

HOLMES: Time for us now to check in with Wolf Blitzer.

PHILLIPS: Standing by in THE SIT ROOM to tell us what is coming up at the top of the hour.

Hey, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Thanks very much. In a few moments, some are now fearing it's on the verge of a total meltdown. That would be Iraq. President Bush, as you point out, about to discuss the crisis first with NATO leaders, then with the Iraqi prime minister himself. We'll have all the latest details.

And Iraqi Sunnis and Shia are killing each other. We'll ask the Iraqi deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Feisal Istrabadi, why his government is still refusing to call it a civil war?

Plus, the rising Democratic star: the Illinois senator, Barack Obama. We're going to show you why he is attracting so much attention and why there is so much buzz about a possible run for the White House. All that coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Back to you guys.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Wolf.

"Closing Bell" with Susan Lisovicz. I guess that wraps it up for us today.

HOLMES: Been a pleasure.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, NYSE: Kyra and T.J., I tell you, a lot of investors are hoping that this day ends right away. The numbers doing the talking today. It's the worst selloff we've seen in four months. Just to sweeten it for our viewers, the market, the Dow Industrials have been on a tear, up 10 percent since mid-July. So it was inevitable you will have a selloff, and that's exactly what we saw from the opening bell straight through, just accelerating.

The Dow is going to close down 1.25 percent, the NASDAQ 2 percent, the S&P 500 1.33 percent.

Wolf is back; let's go to THE SITUATION ROOM.

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