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Raging Wildfire in California; Al-Hakim Visits U.S.; 'Nativity' Trailer Trashed
Aired December 03, 2006 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Howling winds, towering flames, parched hillsides turn into canyons of fires. This is the scene tonight in southern California, where gusty winds are fueling a dangerous blaze outside Los Angeles. Just listen to what it sounds like at the center of a fire storm.
So far, more than 4,000 acres have gone up in flames. Five homes are destroyed. Hundreds more are threatened. And hundreds of people have been forced to flee.
We're covering this wildfire on all fronts. Our Ted Rowlands is there. Jacqui Jeras as the CNN Weather Center tracking the winds and humidity. And you'll hear from a woman who lost everything.
Now the blaze is wreaking havoc in Ventura County outside Los Angeles. CNN's Ted Rowlands is there. He's standing outside the city of Moore Park.
Ted, what's the situation there right now? It still looks pretty windy.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, and that's the problem. Winds continue to blow. At times during the day, they were up to 70 miles per hour. Now they're gusting at a lower level, but still, as you can see, still gusting.
And you look at the fire behind us, this is a manufacturing plant that went up this afternoon. It is still burning. It is obviously a complete loss.
From where I'm standing, I can actually see two other fires burning in this area. And there are many other fires burning. Because of these winds, the flames have delivered embers to different areas. And that's been the problem all day for firefighters figuring out where to concentrate their efforts and how to best contain these fires and how to best to protect property.
Over 4,000 acres have already burned. Hundreds of firefighters from around the region are working. And they will work overnight.
During the day, they were able to use helicopters, of course. That cannot happen at night. As soon as the sun went down, that air assault ended for the night. They'll be back up, I'm sure, as -- at first light. And they get -- as soon as they get a feel for where they want to deploy their resources. That's the biggest thing with this. You have a number of fires burning. At the same time, you have to figure out where to deploy those resources. And we've seen fire engines rolling with their lights on throughout the day and evening here, going to different hot spots as people call in. And these embers - and you can just see, these embers, as we've been standing here, blowing across, and off of this fire. And the same thing is happening at different regions here in Moore Park, which is just outside Los Angeles.
Hundreds and hundreds of people are evacuated tonight, either spending the night in shelters that have been set up by the Red Cross, or out of the area with relatives or friends. And those people are watching and hoping that Mother Nature will help them out with lower temperatures and lower wind speeds. But at this point, it is still very, very windy.
LIN: Yes, I can tell. And Ted, we're going to talk to Jacqui Jeras in just a bit, but there were reports earlier in the day that some of those gusts were hurricane force. They were 70, maybe even close to 80 miles per hour.
ROWLANDS: Yes, we were here all day. And we can attest to it. It was like covering a hurricane. It was intense winds that were prolonged as well. You know, they go up and down, but for a while there this afternoon, these were prolonged winds up near 70 miles per hour. We didn't have a wind gauge, but it was blowing.
And it continues to blow here tonight. And that's the biggest problem, because it's really just blowing this fire everywhere. It's not one fire that they can get in front of and establish a fire line.
LIN: Right.
ROWLANDS: They're just reacting and trying to protect structures.
LIN: Right. Well, let's bring in Jacqui Jeras from the CNN Weather Center.
Jacqui, when we take a look at that video, I mean, a wind-driven fire. That's exactly what we saw there. Is there going to be any break in sight for these firefighters?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, the winds have diminished a little bit, but we are expecting them to pick up once again for tomorrow. And this fire has been so aggressive as a result of this. And we're going to zoom in and show you the area where the fire is and where Ted Rowlands and the CNN crew is. And kind of want to ask you, is this - you've covered a lot of fires in southern California. Does this one seem unusually aggressive because of these winds?
ROWLANDS: Well, yes, indeed the winds are gusting so heavily that it is unusual. It's also unusual because we're into December. It's still technically fire season, but it's the back end.
And it's cold. It's - you know, now that the sun has gone down and that will help firefighters, it's chilly. I don't remember ever covering a fire where we were cold. It's very unique. And because of the intensity of this wind, these winds, it's very difficult to fight.
JERAS: And what's it like traveling around the area? For people on the roadways, people trying to evacuate? That must be difficult for them?
ROWLANDS: Well, you know, people have done a good job of getting out. And they've gotten the word out. There hasn't been too many traffic problems. They did have to close Highway 118 here in the Moore Park area because of the intense smoke going across the freeway, but we haven't heard of any problems of people getting out.
A lot of people stay around, they want to monitor it. And then if it gets bad, they get out. They sort of load the car in case. And that's what we've seen a lot of.
JERAS: And have you witnessed any of these spot fires occurring or those winds blow the embers and then a new fire begins?
ROWLANDS: Yes. I don't think you can see it, but off to the right here, we just noticed another one within the last 10 -- five, 10 minutes. And it's probably too dark to see, but if you can see a glowing in the distance, that is another fire. And that just started to pick up intensity. And we've just seen that start to glow.
And if you look across the region here, we've seen it throughout the day and throughout the evening. Now we see embers glowing. And they pick up as the winds pick up. So as you can imagine, for firefighters, it's very difficult to allocate the assets. They've got a lot of people fighting it, but this is going to be a long night for them.
JERAS: Well, unbelievable. Ted Rowlands, live. Thanks, Ted.
LIN: All right, Ted, we're going to be checking with you during this hour because this is a developing story on the ground. Ted got a chance to drive around that neighborhood and talk to some of the people who are either fighting this fire on their own because firefighters can't get to them, or even people who lost everything.
One of those people who lost everything in this fire is Dorann Laperch. She lived in a hill top home in Ventura County. Her mother lived right next door. And their day ended in disaster.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DORANN LAPERCH, LOST HOME IN WILDFIRE: This morning at about 6:30, I saw a lot of smoke north of us which would be the Happy Camp Park area. There were a lot of moments where the fire looked like it was going the complete other direction.
And all of the sudden, before I had all the dogs out, I saw the fire coming. I called the fire department because nobody was here. I grabbed the last of my dogs, and ran as my motor home, which is near my house, caught on fire. After that, my house caught on fire. And then subsequently, my mother's house caught on fire. Mom and I are essentially homeless. And we're going to have to figure out. I have parrots. I've got to get cages and get them situated and get our animals situated here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Such a tough situation. That was about six hours ago. I'm going to be talking with Dorann in about 25 minutes to see what she's doing tonight, how she can try to recoup.
And you of course can count on us to keep track of this wildfire. But it isn't the only news of the day. So let's get you plugged in on the other headlines right now.
Let's start in Afghanistan where there was a suicide bombing in the southern part of that country. The target, a British military vehicle on patrol in Kandahar. Three British troops were wounded. Three Afghans were killed in the fire fight that followed. It is one of several violent incidents there in just the past 24 hours.
All right, the question for 2008, Clinton for president? Maybe. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is not letting on either way publicly, but we're told she is interviewing potential campaign staffers. A CNN poll last month ranked her first in a list of possible Democratic contenders.
Well, the countdown clock begins tomorrow night for the next space shuttle launch. The Discovery astronauts mugged for the cameras today at the Florida Kennedy Space Center, arriving ahead of their Thursday liftoff. Looking pretty happy there. It will be NASA's first nighttime launch in four years scheduled for 9:35 p.m. Eastern.
OK, Hollywood, Bollywood, Broadway, Motown? The Kennedy Center honorees tonight, Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, and composer Andre Lloyd Weber, and conductor Zubin Mehta. They all had a private reception with the president and the First Lady.
Also, we're closely watching this wildfire to bring you the very latest from the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAPERCH: We've lost all our personal belongings, my mom and dad's wedding pictures.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Once again, at the half-hour, I'm going to be talking with Dorann Laperch, a homeowner caught in the crossfire of that fire.
But next, a major adjustment. More fallout from that secret memo from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a dedicated patriot. He has served this country for decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: And words of praise for the man set to replace the Secretary of Defense.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Among the most popular stories you're checking on on CNN.com tonight, a 14-year-old Ohio boy who was throwing eggs at cars was shot and killed Saturday night. Police think the shooter was someone who was riding in a SUV that had been hit by an egg.
And a tragic story from New Hampshire. A nine-year-old boy was hit by a float and killed during a holiday parade in Portsmouth. It was carrying about 20 Cub Scouts at the time.
And people from Missouri to Illinois are shivering in the dark tonight. This weekend's snowstorm has cut power to 350,000 people across the region. And of course, you can get the latest stories on -- as well as more on these stories. All you have to do is go to CNN.com.
Also, it's your turn to choose the news right now. Is there a particular story that you want to hear more about? All you have to do is e-mail us at weekends@cnn.com or send us your video or webcam suggestion at cnn.com/exchange. And we can get you the answer right here in the NEWSROOM, which continues in 60 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Well, it was a weekend of deadly violence and a critical week ahead for the fight for Iraq. Violent aftermath video on your top left. Nine Americans were killed in Iraq over the weekend and dozens of Iraqis died in car bombs and other attacks.
Now in your top right corner, the top Shi'ite leader in the Iraqi parliament. Abdul Aziz al Hakim meets with President Bush at the White House Monday.
Meanwhile, more fallout from Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's memo that leaked, calling for changes in Iraq policy. And if all that's not enough, in the bottom right-hand corner is Robert Gates, Rumsfeld's replacement. His confirmation hearings get started on Tuesday.
Now the Rumsfeld memo was written just days before the November elections, which means it was also just days before he resigned.
CNN's Kathleen Koch has more on Washington's reaction to Rumsfeld's parting shot.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We'll remain... KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The memo sent by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the White House two days before he resigned calls for a major course correction in Iraq. Among the many options, modest withdrawals of U.S. forces, redeploy troops from vulnerable positions in cities like Baghdad to safer areas, send more U.S. forces to seal the Iranian and Syrian borders.
National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley says President Bush is considering Rumsfeld's laundry list of ideas.
STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It was a useful memo. And we used it in that way to trigger discussions. But this was not a game plan.
KOCH: But some lawmakers were stunned at Rumsfeld's about-face.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: I think it's a little late for the secretary of defense to be sending a memo after almost four years to finally acknowledge that maybe we should change strategies, change policy, and acknowledge, for the first time I am aware of, that our policy in Iraq is not working.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, many of us have been offering alternatives for a way to be successful, and the administration has consistently shut that down. Now we see they're embracing the very things that we talked about.
KOCH: The Rumsfeld memo and a leaked memo from Hadley criticizing the Iraqi prime minister have raised questions about whether President Bush is leveling with the American public on Iraq.
Hadley says yes.
HADLEY: He has said publicly what Secretary Rumsfeld said, that some things are not proceeding well enough or fast enough in Iraq.
KOCH: In crafting a new strategy, Hadley says the president will consider the memo, the Iraqi Study Group report, an internal government review, as well as ideas from U.S. lawmakers and Iraqi leaders. President Bush meets with one top Shiite leader, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, Monday afternoon.
Officials say the new Iraq plan will be complete in the next few weeks.
(on camera): But the leaked Rumsfeld and Hadley memos have many wondering whether President Bush is ready to listen to suggestions for change. Mr. Bush himself saying just days ago that U.S. troops would stay in Iraq until the job is done.
Kathleen Koch, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Donald Rumsfeld's would-be replacement goes before Congress this week. Robert Gates is expected to be confirmed, but he does have his share of critics on Capitol Hill. And those critics have long memories about Gates and his past experience in Washington.
CNN's Gary Nurenberg reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When Ronald Reagan wanted to elevate then deputy CIA director Robert Gates to replace William Casey as CIA director in 1987 Gates was accused of having slanted intelligence to reflect administration preconceptions.
MELVIN GOODMAN, FORMER CIA ANALYST: Under Bob Gates, and Bill Casey, the CIA became a corrupt organization.
NURENBERG: Some 1987 Senators were skeptical Gates had told the truth about his knowledge of arms deals that were the basis of the infamous Iran-contra scandal.
ROBERT GATES, CIA DEPUTY DIRECTOR: We had a very intensive series of questions over a long period of hours.
NURENBERG: The criticism became so intense, Reagan withdrew the nomination, Gates went to work at the White House under first President Bush and national security adviser Brent Scowcroft who sings his praises.
BRENT SCOWCROFT, FMR. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: He is a dedicated patriot. He has served this country for decades.
NURENBERG: President Bush nominated Gates for CIA chief again in 1991. That time he was confirmed and served as CIA director until 1983. Urging employees to refrain from slanting intelligence.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, FMR. CIA DEPUTY DIRECTOR: He was deeply affected by the perception that he had slanted intelligence and that he then as director lived the credo of speaking truth to power.
NURENBERG: But long time congressional critics are skeptical.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, (D) ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Is he willing to speak truth to power, he is willing to tell the president what the president might not want to hear?
NURENBERG: His supporters say yes.
SCOWCROFT: Not only a good thing to do but what happens if you do it, if you try it and it doesn't work then where are you?
NURENBERG: Gates has recently served as president of Texas A & M University.
PROF. DOUG SLACK, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: One of the hallmarks of his presidency he expects alternative views before he makes decision.
NURENBERG: But a former colleague who has clashed with Gates says.
MELVIN GOODMAN, FMR. CIA ANALYST: He is a political windsock, he serves his master. No one serves a master better than Bob Gates.
NURENBERG (on camera): Senate critics of administration Iraq policy may not exactly like Bob Gates as secretary of defense, but he may well get their support this week because they don't dislike him as much as they dislike the current occupant of the office.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Now we know you're busy on these weekends this holiday season, so up next, we're going to get you plugged into the big international stories like this one.
There, you're seeing it. People shouting and singing and camping in the streets of Lebanon. They hope their protests will push their leaders out of power.
Plus, they shared the first 11 months of their lives together, really together. So how did they fare on their first night apart? Find out next. CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Well, doctors in Chile don't know if Augusto Pinochet will live through the night. The country's iron hand and former ruler is said to be in extremely grave condition. This morning, he suffered a heart attack and then had emergency surgery. But the fight for his life is not Pinochet's first battle.
Here's CNN's Joshua Levs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pinochet was commander of Chile's army when he led a bloody coup in 1973, overthrowing elected president Salvador Allende, a Marxist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): He is the one who saved Chile from Communism. Without him, we would be another Cuba.
LEVS: Pinochet said he did what was needed.
GEN. AUGUSTO PINOCHET, FORMER CHILEAN DICTATOR (through translator): Chile was on the way to self-destruction. Chile's armed forces were obliged to put their patriotism before any other consideration.
LEVS: But many say one consideration that was sacrificed was human rights.
PAMELA CONSTABLE, WASHINGTON POST: He was responsible for terrible torture and abuses and what came to be called disappearances of people in Chile. Thousands and thousands of people were very badly abused and killed. LEVS: Pinochet once said to CNN, human rights? That's an invention of the Marxists. In 1986, he survived an assassination attempt. In 1998, the Chilean people reject his bid for a term as president. Ten years later, he resigned as head of the armed forces.
Then courts came after him. A Spanish judge wanted to try Pinochet for the deaths of Spanish citizens in Chile. That never happened. After being arrested during a visit to London at the Spanish judge's request, Pinochet was released returned home, greeted by supporters.
Then Chile's courts indicted him for human rights violations and tax fraud involving tens of millions of dollars. The man who had taken over the country ultimately living under house arrest.
(on camera): He never has faced trial on any of these charges. Courts at times have found him medically unfit. Given the state of his health now, it's looking unlikely that he ever will.
Joshua Levs, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Going global right now, these folks right there, that you're seeing, are the hard working people on the CNN international desk gathering the news this hour.
We're going to start with a massive sweep of terror suspects in Saudi Arabia. 139 men from all over the kingdom are now in custody. Police made the arrests over the past three months. They say they also foiled a planned suicide attack. The Saudi Interior Ministry claims the men are from sleeper cells linked to al Qaeda.
And three straight days of protests in Beirut and there probably will be a fourth. The demonstrations turned violent Sunday. And at stake here, frankly, is really a test of Hezbollah's ability to muscle the government. A man died and 14 others were hurt. The crisis began Friday when crowds gathered to demand the Lebanese prime minister's resignation.
In Venezuela, it looks like another six years in office for Hugo Chavez. The results aren't official, but exit poll show a comfortable margin for the leftist leader of South America's biggest oil producer, who also happened to call President Bush the devil in a U. N. speech.
And finally, separate lives for two young sisters one day and counting. Conjoined twins, just 11 months old, sailed through their separation surgery, 18 hours worth, in Saudi Arabia this weekend. Doctors say the girls are stable and under observation.
All right, every weekend, we like to let you choose the news. We like to see what you come up with, these questions. Suzanne Lorentz wants to know about -- more at least about the new leader of Canada's liberal party.
Well, Suzanne, it was a surprise victory this weekend for Stephane Dion. He is the former environment minister and has been very critical of Prime Minister Steven Harper.
The liberal party has dominated Canadian politics in recent years, but last January's election cost them their majority. New elections are supposed to be as soon as next year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR CNN CORRESPONDENT: A quietly spoken Shi'ite cleric spent decades in exile in Iran, only returning when Saddam was overthrown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
That's our Nic Robertson. And the man he was talking about came to power by default. But tomorrow, this quiet cleric is being welcomed at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Elizabeth had a baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: You're looking at a new film about Jesus. We are going to tell you why it won't be shown at Christmas at a Christmas festival, the most logical place for it to be shown. The story later this hour.
But first, caught in a fire storm. I'll talk with one woman forced from her home by wind and flames. That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: That is the sound of destruction in Ventura County, California. Hundreds of firefighters are trying right now to stop this wildfire north of Los Angeles.
Five homes have been gutted. Many others are in the path of the flames. And all day today people packed up and evacuated.
You're going to hear live from a woman who lost her home in just a moment.
In the meantime, we wanted to tell you about hundreds of cruise ship passengers brought back -- well, back to dry land, hopefully. They're not feeling very well. They came back with more than just memories.
More than 380 passengers and crew were sickened by the Norovirus while on board the Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. People felt like they had the stomach flu. And I didn't know this, but 23 million Americans get the Norovirus every year.
Well, it spent a month stuck in the mud. Now the USS Intrepid may finally get the heave-ho. The historic aircraft carrier is set to be moved from its spot on New York's Hudson River Tuesday during high tide. It's going to be towed to a New Jersey shipyard for restoration and repairs.
And the college football mystery is finally solved. Ohio State is going to play Florida for the national championship in January. But fans just learned that a couple of hours ago. An odd set of upsets made the final two teams anyone's guess until this evening.
"Happy Feet" has once again frozen out the competition. The animated penguin tale was number one for the third straight weekend, raking in $17 million in ticket sales. The latest James Bond adventure, "Casino Royale," ran a close second with $15 million.
And now we want to update you on that raging wildfire in southern California.
At the top of the hour we told you about Dorann LaPerch. She lost her home in the blaze early this morning and she joins me now by telephone.
Dorann, where are you staying tonight?
DORANN LAPERCH, FIRE VICTIM: Carol, I've had some of my friends bring one of their horse trailers that has living quarters in it because we're going to need to stay here on the ranch during the night.
LIN: And why is that?
LAPERCH: Just to keep an eye on all the horses and the animals, make sure -- there's also spot fires, so we're putting out spot fires as well.
LIN: Dorann, so this nightmare isn't over for you. You lost not one, but two houses.
LAPERCH: Correct.
LIN: The house that your mother lived in.
LAPERCH: Yes, my mother has a home on the northern part of our horse ranch, and my home was down here closer to the horse facilities, and we lost both the homes.
LIN: You know, we talked to you earlier today, Dorann, and, I mean, clearly your loss is devastating, but you seem so strong. I'm just wondering how you're doing.
LAPERCH: I think right now, Carol, I'm more on autopilot than anything. I don't think it's really hit me. Seeing both houses just smoldering rubble, it was so surreal that I think it will really hit when we start digging through to see if we can find my father's World War II medals, or even his ashes.
LIN: I know. And you were talking about the loss of the photos and so much memorabilia.
Did this fire come upon you that quickly?
LAPERCH: Carol, you know, we went through this in 2003, and we felt we had so much more time to prepare, and we ourselves soaked down our houses with our own fire hose. This came so fast that I had time to call my mother and tell her to get dressed and go up to her home and grab her animals, get her down to a safe spot, and then go into my own home.
I have birds, and I needed to get them out and into travel cages, and that took an amount of time. And then it was on to moving the dogs, and at that point I barely got my last dog out of the yard. I couldn't see for the fire, and I was unable to remove -- I had a pet pigeon also that lives in the house that I was unable to get to.
LIN: And Dorann, this happened -- this fire broke out in the middle of the night. For you it was a predawn nightmare essentially. I mean, you woke up to this.
LAPERCH: Well, we felt pretty safe because that fire seemed to be in Grimes Canyon. Nobody -- we weren't aware of the fire north of us which was in Happy Camp Park. And it was all of a sudden, about 6:30, that I looked northward and saw that, you know, directly behind me a little ways was on fire. And that, we know, from the wind pattern is a very dangerous spot for us.
LIN: Dorann, Happy Camp Park, such a sad irony, isn't it, that it happened today?
LAPERCH: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely very sad.
LIN: Dorann, we're going to be following up with you. We really appreciate the time. You're bringing this story close to home for so many people who are watching this dramatic video on CNN as you battle that fire and the winds, and now just trying to go through the recovery and hang on.
So we wish you well, and we'll keep talking to you through this disaster.
LAPERCH: OK. Thank you very much.
LIN: Dorann LaPerch.
Well, it's topic number one in Washington, Donald Rumsfeld, war critic. Well, the White House is playing down the defense secretary's pre-resignation memo proposing a major adjustment in Iraq. Now, no response from Rumsfeld himself, but key members of the Senate Armed Services Committee appeared on the Sunday talk shows this morning, and this is what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Well, I sure wish Rumsfeld had spoken up a lot earlier and not waited until he was walking out the door. It's a very important suggestion, one of many, that the president consider that we change the course in Iraq in a serious way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Well, it's such a laundry list of suggestions by Secretary Rumsfeld, some of which he never spoke in favor of in public. So it makes the memo puzzling. I will say that the -- again, the surprising omission in the Rumsfeld memo is a recommendation for more troops in Iraq, which is what he has been roundly criticized for not doing after Saddam Hussein was overthrown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Well, the timing is very perplexing. I think as it was said on the program here, it would have been helpful if some of those ideas were brought on earlier in the fall. But history will have to record why he did what he did, when he did it. So let's look forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Well, the White House line is that President Bush is willing to hear all proposals for change in Iraq. He's likely to hear plenty tomorrow from his guest, a powerful Iraqi cleric with an unconventional plan to stop the violence.
CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson reports on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the powerful leader of Iraq's largest Shia party, the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iran, is friendly to the United States.
How much of that warmth is political maneuvering is hard to fathom. Hakim, a quietly spoken Shia cleric spent decades in exile in Iran, only returning after Saddam was overthrown. He wants Iran to help out in Iraq.
ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM, SCIRI LEADER (through translator): They can help Iraq and the Iraqis a lot. They can participate in solving security and economic problems.
ROBERTSON: Hakim still has strong ties with Tehran. His party has an Iranian-trained militia, the 25,000 strong banner brigade. Many have joined Iraq's national police service. Others pledge to disarm, but the militia, whose commanders got top jobs in the police force, have yet to shake well-founded accusations they're running death squads, killing Sunnis.
Hakim came to leadership by default. His elder brother Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim was blown up by Sunni insurgents. Since then, Hakim has publicly at least preached against retaliation, and steered the Shia towards unity, maximizing their political clout.
But divisions are opening up. Hakim opposed fellow Shia Nuri al- Maliki for prime minister, preferring a candidate from his own party. Now the prime minister is on the political ropes, under intense American pressure to disarm his most powerful backer, firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia. Hakim could benefit if the prime minister fails.
(on camera): Hakim also has a deep history of rivalry with Sadr. Their respective fathers competed for followers among the Shia faithful. If Hakim could marginalize Sadr and Maliki, he could realize twin goals. But that's unlikely to be his message to President Bush. Far more likely, he'll be trying to building support for Iraq's whole Shia community.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Sentenced to death. That sentence now appealed. It's a legal formality.
Saddam Hussein's defense team formally filing their appeal to try to keep their client from the gallows. The former Iraqi president was sentenced to die November 5th, convicted of ordering the deaths of 148 Shiites in 1982.
All right. Celebrating the story of Christmas without the story of Christmas? It's happening. We're going to tell you why.
And 50 shots fired. Friends of the New York man killed in a police shooting last weekend talked to police today.
Details next right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Accessing stories "Across America" tonight.
There is still no sign of this 1-month-old baby, kidnapped at knife point. Police say a woman driving a black SUV took the boy and his mother Friday. She later released the mother but kept the child. The mother's minister is appealing for help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We feel that the best thing you can do in this coming holiday, it's the best gift you can give, is bring that baby to this -- to this mother that is in agony, is suffering, and you can help her, please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: My goodness.
A Louisiana newspaper is reporting a confession in a serial killer probe. "The Houma Courier" cites officials familiar with the investigation. They say Ronald Dominique (ph) confessed to killing as many as 11 men in the late 1990s.
Dominique (ph) was arrested at a homeless shelter on Friday. He's already been charged in the deaths of two men.
And in New York, witnesses to the police shooting that killed a groom-to-be have come forward. They smoke to the D.A.'s office and they reportedly said undercover officers never identified themselves to the victim and his friends. Also, the witnesses' lawyer says police are lying about a man who allegedly ran from the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE KING, ATTORNEY: Gene Nelson (ph), who the police have claimed and leaked was seen running away from the scene theoretically as the mysterious fourth man in a beige or tan jacket. We came in with the jacket that he was wearing that evening, and it is black as night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: There's so many questions about this case. Don't miss "LARRY KING LIVE" tomorrow night at 9:00 Eastern, because Larry is going to talk to the victim's bride-to-be about what's happening.
In the meantime, we have a wildfire, unbelievable wildfire in southern California. Jacqui Jeras tracking that and also travel for tomorrow.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LIN: All right. Showing the story of Christmas at a public Christmas festival. Offensive? Chicago says maybe. A Christmas controversy blows through the Windy City.
That is straight ahead in the NEWSROOM. You are going to have an opinion about this one.
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LIN: Ah, a Christmas tree like this one that you're looking at in Hollywood, California, just one part of the holiday season, right? But this year a Christmas controversy is blowing through the Windy City.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE NATIVITY STORY") UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The angel, he told me the child within you had been conceived by the holy spirit and that I should not be afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you afraid?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP, "THE NATIVITY STORY")
LIN: You are looking at scenes from the new movie "The Nativity Story." But the city of Chicago says a public Christmas festival is no place for this Christmas message.
New Line Cinema said it would pay $12,000 to be a sponsor at Chicago's annual Christmas festival, as long as an ad for "The Nativity Movie" was shown throughout the event. Well, even though it's a Christmas festival, the city didn't want to appear to endorse one religion over another and was afraid it might offend some visitors.
In Chicago, reactions to the move are mixed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Freedom of speech. If that's what people choose to see, then they should be able to make that choice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody's got their own way of doing things, their own religions. So be it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, everything is so diverse right now, so it's possible that it would show favoritism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: But the emphasis is that it's called a Christmas festival. It's the city's Christmas festival.
So the city of Chicago declined to talk to us tonight. We asked. But Melissa Caldwell is with the Parents Television Council, an advocate of quality TV for children.
Melissa, thank you very much for being with us tonight.
You think Chicago is being overly sensitive. Why?
MELISSA CALDWELL, PARENT'S TELEVISION COUNCIL: Well, I don't know. I think this is sort of like political correctness run amuck. It is, after all, a Christmas festival. And what more appropriate story to be told at a Christmas festival than the reason why we are celebrating the Christmas season?
LIN: Well, let me ask you to hear a statement from the mayor's office that we got. "This particular incident is about a movie studio aggressively marketing a movie and trying to sell tickets to that movie."
So what they're saying is that, really, it's not so much about the movie, it's about an ad campaign running during a Christmas festival.
CALDWELL: Well, my understanding, though, is that there are many other corporate sponsors at this festival, so it's not about commercialism. I think it's that they are truly objecting to the religious themes and the religious content of this film. And it's unfortunate, because it really is a wonderful film, and, you know, for it to open sort of under the shadow of this drummed-up controversy, which really shouldn't even -- you know, we shouldn't really even be talking about this. So it's kind of unfortunate.
LIN: All right. I think it's interesting, because I think that your organization, I would think, would applaud the city to try to protect children from viewing an ad, commercialism, not the movie itself, but an ad.
The statement went on to say by the city, "Our guidelines are to refuse or reduce any blatant commercial message." At no time did the city threaten to pull its support from the market, from the festival.
Because apparently it was like something weird, like the German Chamber of Commerce was going to get the money if New Line could run the ad at their booth, and then the city said it didn't really take a position.
But what do you see in all of this?
CALDWELL: Well, our organizes tries to promote family-friendly entertainment. And I was fortunate enough to be able to get into a screening of "The Nativity Story" before it opened, and it is family- friendly entertainment. It is a wonderful film, and I hope that people will go see it.
But again, I have to say, though, looking at this story in its entirety, it just -- I'm just struck by the absurdity of it all. It is, after all, a Christmas festival.
LIN: So where does it come from? Now, there's a menorah at the festival, right? I mean, there's a menorah at the festival, there are other Christian symbols of the season. But why do people get so hyped up about this stuff?
Why can't we say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Kwanzaa"?
CALDWELL: I don't know, because, you know, America is one of the most religious countries in the world. More Americans attend weekly religious services than, you know, any other country in the world. And so for us to shy away from religion in this way or any kind of public display or public mention of an affiliation to a particular religious denomination is really, to me, kind of puzzling. And especially, as I said, when you're talking about a Christmas festival, a festival designed to celebrate the birth of Christ. To be ashamed to talk about a movie about the birth of Christ just strikes me as idiocy, actually.
LIN: Does the separation of church and state, though, enter this argument because it is a city festival?
CALDWELL: Well, I'm still somewhat unclear on the role that the city government plays in this. My understanding was that the city government was a sponsor, as was New Line, and the city threatened to withhold its money or its sponsorship unless New Line -- New Line's money was turned down. So I was under the impression that this was not a government-sponsored festival, but just one that was sponsored in part by the city of Chicago.
LIN: All right, Melissa. Well, you know, it's not enough to say "Happy Holidays" right now. I want to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah. And may we all celebrate the principles behind Kwanzaa and family traditions at this time of year.
Thanks so much for joining us.
CALDWELL: Thank you.
LIN: Well, choose the news time again.
Rick from Easton, Pennsylvania, wants to know this: more details about people who were apparently exposed to the poison that killed a former Russian spy.
Well, Rick, as you know, former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko died from what was determined to be a lethal dose of Polonium-210. A man known to have shared a meal with Litvinenko on the day he fell ill also has a low level of the poison in his system.
Now, that's according to British doctors treating Mario Scaramella at a London hospital. Doctors don't believe Scaramella was directly poisoned.
British officials also confirmed traces of the toxin at several places throughout London, and Italian officials are there, too. They're making sure Scaramella, who is from Italy, isn't a health risk when he returns home.
Rick, thanks for writing in tonight.
"ANDERSON COOPER 360" is going to have more on this story tomorrow night.
Also, a check of the headlines after the break. And then stay tuned for "CNN PRESENTS: Where Have All the Parents Gone?" Christiane Amanpour reports from the villages of Kenya, where the AIDS epidemic has created more than a million orphans.
CNN, the most trusted name in news.
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