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Iraq: What Next?; Insurgents in Iraq Launch Another Round of Car Bombings; Missing Climbers

Aired December 13, 2006 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.

Developments keep coming into the NEWSROOM on this Wednesday, the 13th of December. Here's what's on the rundown.

Sunni insurgents in Iraq -- would the Saudi royals step in to help them out if American troops leave? Sources tell CNN that warning is on the table.

HARRIS: Two senators, one top spot. Potential White House contenders trying to shine in the Democratic spotlight. We talked to political contributor Amy Walter.

COLLINS: The clock, the weather working against rescue teams in Oregon. They are combing Mount Hood for three stranded hikers.

A live report this hour in the NEWSROOM.

Iraq in the spotlight this morning, and there is a lot to report. President Bush at the Pentagon today, getting input from the military's top brass as he works up a new strategy for Iraq.

Also, a new warning from Saudi Arabia against a U.S. pullout from Iraq.

Then this. Iraq's national security adviser says the Iraqi government has a plan that would put its security forces in control of Baghdad.

And on the crucial issue of troop strength, a new report. The Army and Marine Corps will ask for more ground troops to meet global challenges.

Let's get more details now about that warning from Saudi Arabia. Live now to our White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano.

Elaine, we just spoke with a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia who told us that he thinks that this is one of the reasons why we are hearing that there are delays from President Bush about announcing his new strategy and decisions he's made on a new strategy for Iraq. ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly illustrates just how complicated a picture it is there in that part of the world. In fact, "The New York Times" reporting that first this morning, that this was actually a warning delivered back in November when Vice President Dick Cheney went to Saudi Arabia for a very brief visit with King Abdullah.

It was one-on-one meeting. It lasted about two hours. And a senior U.S. official has told CNN that at the time, King Abdullah actually read Vice President Cheney, "the riot act" and said that Abdullah was very tough on the vice president. According to the source, the king said that if the situation in Iraq fell apart and the Sunni minority's safety there was in jeopardy, that the kingdom, the majority Sunni kingdom, would, in fact, be forced to step in and support "like-minded Sunni-Arabs."

Now, just a short time ago, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, in the off-camera briefing, said that supporting Sunni insurgents was not the policy of the Saudi government. Officials here saying that any reporting on the substance of those private discussions between Vice President Cheney and King Abdullah was just speculation. But privately, a senior administration official here this morning pointed to an opinion piece in "The Washington Post" about two weeks ago written by a Saudi security consultant, essentially saying that if the U.S. were to pull out precipitously from Iraq, "... one of the first consequences will be massive Saudi intervention to stop Iranian-backed Shiite militias from butchering Iraqi Sunnis."

Now, it should be noted that that adviser was let go shortly afterwards, but it's thought that he could not have written the piece without some sort of nod from senior Saudi officials within the government. Now, obviously, as you noted, Heidi, this is just another factor complicating that picture for President Bush as he tries to formulate a new Iraq policy.

Today, in fact, he'll be heading to the Pentagon for more consultations there, but at a time when he is under intense political pressure to change course in Iraq, this report about the Saudi government illustrating just how complicated that picture is -- Heidi.

COLLINS: No question about that.

Elaine Quijano live from the White House.

Thanks, Elaine.

HARRIS: Military readiness a key issue. As we mentioned, "The Washington Post" reports the Army and Marine Corps are planning to ask for more ground troops. Those forces reportedly needed to meet global challenges as U.S. troops continue the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, another round of attacks. More car bombings today in Baghdad, while in northern Iraq an army base is hit.

The latest now from CNN's Baghdad bureau chief, Cal Perry. And Cal, I have to ask you, this report of an army base being hit, I'm not sure, is that new, or is it all sort of running together? And when we talk about this army base, are we talking U.S. or Iraqi?

CAL PERRY, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Tony, good afternoon.

We're talking Iraqi troops up in that northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk, but it does underscore the real difficulty that security forces are having on the ground. As you know, the resources of that oil is exceptionally important. In fact, General Chiarelli telling the press yesterday that economics is a key part of turning things around here in Iraq, of stopping the insurgency.

Two truck bombs hitting at about 11:00 a.m. at that Iraqi army base. Seven troops there killed, another 10 wounded.

This follows an attack earlier in the morning in Baghdad, in eastern Baghdad, in fact, at a marketplace. A car bomb there killing at least 10, wounding some 28 others. All of this less than 24 hours after a very bloody attack.

As you'll remember, 71 people killed in Baghdad yesterday. Those funerals taking place today, as the insurgent attacks seem to continue -- Tony.

HARRIS: And Cal, we understand Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister there of Iraq, wants to accelerate hand-over of Baghdad while the U.S. pulls back to the suburbs. That seems to be intended for several different audiences.

What's the reaction to that?

PERRY: Well, there's mixed reaction here on the ground both amongst U.S. military personnel and amongst Iraq civilians. It's worth noting, of course, that there is a lot of distrust amongst Iraqi civilians when it comes to these security forces.

There's -- many politicians have said these security forces have been infiltrated by both Shia militias, by Sunni insurgents. You can imagine what it's like to be an Iraqi civilian.

You're traveling down a road, you come across an Iraqi army checkpoint. Your first question is, are the individuals wearing these uniforms really security forces? We've seen fake checkpoints being set up, we've seen mass kidnapping kidnappings of individuals wearing Iraqi uniforms. And we even saw a bank robbery, Tony, men that were wearing Iraqi uniforms, going into a bank, taking over $1 million in cash.

So this is the big question. Will the Iraqi security forces be able to take over control? Will the Americans be able to pull back?

We saw Operation together Forward wrapped up about three months ago. It was virtual failure. That, an admission of U.S. military spokespeople, who said attacks actually increased when Iraqis were in the lead among the capital -- Tony. HARRIS: Our Baghdad bureau chief, Cal Perry, for us.

Cal, thank you.

COLLINS: Rushing to reach three missing climbers as the weather window begins closing. Live now to Oregon's treacherous Mount Hood and reporter Debra Gill of CNN affiliate KPTV.

What's latest in those weather conditions there, Debra?

DEBRA GIL, REPORTER, KPTV: The weather has turned extremely ugly today, all night long here at the 4,000-foot level, blowing hard, rain pouring. This morning we've seen a mixture of rain, snow, sleet and hail. And as you can tell, the wind is blowing pretty hard.

We've had gusts at about 60 miles an hour. I don't know if they've gone higher than that, but at last check, that's where they were.

The latest is high technology coming in to help hopefully try and find these men. An unmanned heat-seeking aircraft is planned to be used over the mountain from Colorado. Also, we understand new climbers that are experts in this have come on board.

The problem is getting the climbers up on the mountain. The weather has just completely prohibited them from getting at the higher elevations. And that's where they believe these men are.

The one that they've been able to pretty much pinpoint is Kelly James because of his cell phone. It's still sending out a signal. And with the help of the cell phone company, they've been able to pinpoint within a quarter of a mile where they think the snow cave is in at least one of the climbers.

The other two, of course, reportedly going down below for help. They have no idea where those men are. And the weather has really kept the search crews from getting any higher than about 9,000 feet, and they really would like to get higher than that.

But again, today the weather is expected to worsen, and so it doesn't look like they are going to be able to do what it is they'd like to do. But again, if they can get that aircraft up, possibly locate the men, but then it will be the battle to try and get climbers up there to rescue them.

COLLINS: Wow, Debra. I know it's very difficult with those conditions, and we've spoken earlier about how tough it is. Not only against those conditions, but to find qualified volunteers who can operate in those conditions. So, hopefully we'll be able to get some news from -- from this drone that they are sending up.

GIL: That's right. That's right. They are -- the sheriff said yesterday in a news conference his fear was actually running out because most of these people are volunteers.

And as he said, to quote him, you can't have just anybody up on that mountain. You've got to have the expert climbers that have the equipment, that know Mount Hood, not just know how to climb, because these three climbers that are missing knew how to climb.

Kelly James has been climbing for 25 years. He was an expert. He did Mt. McKinley in Alaska. He's done peaks in Europe and South America. But he did not do Mount Hood and, of course, they were not prepared for the weather that they met once they reached the summit.

COLLINS: Yes. Light and fast -- we keep on hearing those words -- is how they were prepared. Wanted to travel light and get up the mountain fast.

All right. Debra Gil, thanks very much for the update on this situation.

We want to get another update on the weather situation from our meteorologist here at CNN, Chad Myers.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Meanwhile, they're the Democratic party's two biggest stars, but the spotlight isn't big enough for both of them. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, who will come out on top? Some insight from inside the beltway ahead in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: The search for a killer. One woman believed to be the latest victim gave an ominous interview just days before her disappearance. Hear here words in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Two political stars, but just one spotlight. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who will it be? Here's how things stack up right now.

A CNN poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation shows Clinton is the top choice among registered Democrats, followed by Obama. For the record, both have yet to announce they'll even run, even though the race does appear to be on.

Joining me now from Washington is CNN political contributor Amy Walter, also of the Cook Political Report.

Amy, thanks for being here. So who is going to get the nomination?

AMY WALTER, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Oh, OK.

COLLINS: Why not just start there.

WALTER: That's an easy question. Just throw it out there, right? We could just speculate this far out.

COLLINS: Sure.

WALTER: Well, there's no doubt that Hillary Clinton right now starts off as the frontrunner. She has 100 percent name ID, she has incredible capacity to raise money, to organize. All of those things are a tremendous asset to her.

At the same time, we know that one of her biggest stumbling points is the fact that there are a whole lot of Democrats right now who do feel like they would like to see maybe somebody new or somebody different. There's a concern that as a general election candidate, perhaps Senator Clinton has too much, you know, political baggage, she's already too identified in the minds of so many voters.

COLLINS: Right.

WALTER: So polarizing. And that's where Obama becomes a very interesting choice.

COLLINS: And then we have to talk about experience when we talk about Barack Obama.

WALTER: That's right.

COLLINS: And also, when we're talking so far ahead, as we always do, you have to look at not only the nomination, but the winnability of the presidency.

WALTER: That's right.

COLLINS: Because, clearly, that's what it's all about.

WALTER: Well, right. Remember, for Democratic activists -- and remember, they just came off the best elections they've had probably since 1992. All right? This was a big, big year for them, so they are obviously much more optimistic about life in the political situation than they were a few years ago.

But still, the big concern -- and I've been talking to Democrats for the last year or so -- their biggest concern is just simply being able to win back the White House. They don't care with whom. They just want a candidate who can beat whoever the Republican nominee is in November and who can expand the political playing field for them.

COLLINS: OK. So now, if you are former House majority leader Tom DeLay and you're out talking about your new blog, you are actually already saying that Hillary Clinton will be elected president in 2008 and she will tap Barack Obama as VP

WALTER: Oh, I see. So that's good to know. So maybe we could be done with the interview now.

COLLINS: There you go.

WALTER: It's already been figured out.

COLLINS: So would Barack Obama do that?

WALTER: I find that hard to believe. Remember, you started off this interview summing it up I think quite correctly, which is, these two personalities are very big, and that is a very difficult thing to do, to put both of them on the same ticket. Usually...

COLLINS: But wouldn't it be smart if they were to go this direction, Barack Obama says, I do have two years experience, maybe I will take that backup role?

WALTER: Well, you know, the thing about the lack of experience for Senator Obama, actually, I think that's what is attracting him to so many Democrats, is the fact that he doesn't carry this political baggage. He doesn't sound or look or talk like somebody who has been part of establishment Washington. And if we learned anything from this last election, that is what voters were looking for, somebody who was the sort of outsider, who didn't bring that with them.

COLLINS: OK.

WALTER: Yes.

COLLINS: Quickly, I want to show these polls real fast, Amy.

WALTER: Yes.

COLLINS: Two of them, in fact, tiny. But do you think it's interesting that the U.S. is more ready for a black president than for a woman president?

Look at these numbers. December 5th through 7th we took this question here, All Americans, "Is U.S. ready for a black president?" Sixty-two percent said yes.

WALTER: Right. You know what's so hard about this question, Heidi? Is that it's really hard to talk about, especially when we're talking about Senator Clinton, talking about her as a female candidate without also talking about her as Hillary Clinton. Right?

COLLINS: Yes, they cannot be separated.

WALTER: They can't be separated, exactly. And so I think that makes it also very -- it is a difficult question to ask. And in a vacuum, asking somebody about a woman or an African-American sounds very different than if you actually put a personality there.

So I think that, look, either way we are going to have a fascinating 2008. And let's see if both end up running. It certainly means that you all will have a lot of fun for 2008.

COLLINS: Yes, yes. And quickly, I just want to point out, we put the graphic up there, but just to be clear, 62 percent of people polled were ready for an African-American president versus 60 percent for a female president.

WALTER: So about the same number.

COLLINS: Yes, it is really about the same, plus within the margin of error.

WALTER: That's why I always love these polls. COLLINS: Amy Walter, we certainly appreciate your time here today.

WALTER: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: We'll talk again. Thanks.

HARRIS: Hey, here's a question for you. Will wedding bells this Christmas for Brangelina? Word going around that parents Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are planning a holiday wedding.

CNN's Larry King put the question directly to Angelina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": By the way, does -- someone called me today. Are you going to get married? Just interesting to know. I wish you lots of luck.

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: No.

KING: Someone said that you're planning a Christmas wedding in South Africa.

JOLIE: Who -- no.

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: You just blew it.

KING: You destroyed me.

JOLIE: No. But thank you for your support if I was, but I'm not.

KING: You're not getting married on Christmas in -- no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Who is calling you, Larry?

You can hear more from Jolie, along with Robert De Niro and Matt Damon on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE." That is Monday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Antidepressants and suicidal thoughts, knowing the risks. The FDA weighs in with a new option.

Details ahead in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: OK, ladies. Some of you guys, too. I've seen guys at these counters. Forget the fancy lotions at high-priced department stores. The best wrinkle fighters may be the cheap ones.

Find out which ones in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Buying for their ladies.

COLLINS: Yes, sure.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Taco Bell is reopening more restaurants in the Northeast today, but the search goes on for the source of an E. coli outbreak that sickened dozens of people. The bacteria did not turn up in new tests of green onions. Still, green onions will remain absent from the almost 6,000 Taco Bells across the country.

And how about this? You got wrinkles? Well, OK. Come on, you lived a good, long life.

It looks like you don't need to spend a fortune on anti-aging creams. "Consumer Reports" says the expensive stuff doesn't work any better than the cheaper stuff.

Its study finds that Olay Regenrist -- is that it, Heidi...

COLLINS: Yes.

HARRIS: ... is the most effective at reducing wrinkles, and it costs about $19 plus at your nearest drugstore, incredibly.

You know, the most expensive cream costing about $335 an ounce was among the least effective. But here's the real wrinkle.

Thank you.

None of the products made a significant difference in the skin's appearance.

COLLINS: Concerns about suicides linked to antidepressants. Millions of young Americans may not be aware of the risks, so the FDA is thinking about putting new warnings on the medication.

We got details a short time ago from CNN Chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the way the warning would look. It's actually pretty prominent. You can see the warning actually taped to the outside of the bottle.

COLLINS: But it doesn't say warning on it or beware or anything.

GUPTA: It doesn't. You've have to open it up and read it...

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: ... which not everybody does. But this already exists when it comes to pediatric and young adult patients. They already have such a warning, specifically warning of a couple of things.

One is that there could be an increased risk, as you see there, of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, and that those children should be monitored carefully both when starting these medications and stopping them as well. The hearings asking the same question about adults, if this applies to children and young adults, should it apply to other adults as well?

COLLINS: Sure. And then the risk, I would think is, as you just mentioned, you can't just stop them. So people who are taking these right now, what are their options?

GUPTA: Yes, I think what you said is the most important point, not just stopping them, talking to their doctors, specifically if they hear some of the discussions, some of the news over the next couple of days about these warnings, to talk to their doctor about it.

But the American Psychiatric Association is adamantly opposed, very declarative in this, Heidi, adamantly opposed to black-box warnings. They say that there's actually what's called a black box suicide cycle that's possible to take place.

They point out these things: depression affects 19 million Americans, untreated depression has a known 15 percent risk of suicide. And we know that in the majority of people, higher antidepressant rates equal lower suicide risks.

What they found -- and this is the most important point -- is that in 2004, pediatric prescriptions declined 20 percent. And Heidi, I mean, so many people think that this is a widely under-recognized disease already.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: There are a lot of people out there with depression watching your show right now who maybe should be treated and aren't getting treated. If you decline the prescription rates even further, are you missing a big chunk of the population? That's their concern.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address, CNN.com/health.

HARRIS: They're crossing items off their to-do list. Good news here.

The shuttle Discovery astronauts done with spacewalking duties, working inside the space station today. The crew will try a tricky maneuver, folding up a solar panel, one of those solar arrays that we talked about so much in the last mission.

It's part of a rewiring project to give the station enough power for new labs that will arrive next year. The astronauts will go for another spacewalk tomorrow to continue the rewiring from the outside.

NASA managers today cleared discovery for its December 21st return. They found no major damage to the shuttle. COLLINS: Choosing sides in Iraq, the battle between Sunnis and Shiites. Where will it lead?

A closer look in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: More bodies. A serial killer stalking a small town in England at a frenetic pace.

The investigation in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: A massive manhunt in England. Police searching for a killer suspected in the deaths of five women. One of the latest victims believed to be a woman named Paula Clennell. She spoke just days before her disappearance.

ITV's Damon Green has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON GREEN, ITV REPORTER (voice-over): When Paula went missing, police said they feared the worst. And now a formal identification is expected to show their worst fears have come true.

Fears that Paula herself shared when she spoke to ITV News just days before she vanished. She said she was aware of the risks but needed to stay on the streets.

QUESTION: Why have you decided to come out tonight?

PAULA CLENNELL, MISSING PROSTITUTE: Because I need the money. I need the money. You know?

QUESTION: Despite the dangers?

CLENNELL: Well, that has made me a bit wary about getting into cars, you know.

QUESTION: But you will do that tonight?

CLENNELL: Well, probably. You just don't know. You just don't know. It could be anyone. You know, it could be anyone.

QUESTION: Because when you walk up for a car now, you don't know who that person is. That could be the person that killed Gemma.

CLENNELL: I know. I know.

GREEN: It was a life she drifted into and found that she couldn't escape. A dingy hand-to-mouth existence. Selling herself to buy drugs and stealing the clothes she wore on the street corner.

CLENNELL: No, no, no. I need it. Obviously.

GREEN: The boyfriend who shot this home video spoke before police made their latest discovery. He doesn't want to be identified. But believes the killer can be caught.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think all the girls know who this man is, because it's been going on for so many weeks now. I think it's a client or a (INAUDIBLE) who the girls all know, because he's still going on.

All the girls are scared, but for the girls to still be getting into the car, it must be someone they all recognize and know.

GREEN: Tonight Paula's father reacted to the news that the police had found two more bodies.

QUESTION: Do you fear the worst?

BRIAN CLENNELL, PAULA'S FATHER: No. Well, yes. But she was all fighter.

QUESTION: You believe she might still be alive?

B. CLENNELL: If she is, I think she would have run by now.

GREEN: Paula was aware of the dangers and, still, she went. For the family who may yet be called to identify a body, she isn't just a missing prostitute. She's a daughter, a sister, a girl who lost her way.

Damon Green, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Let's update you on now on Iraq. President Bush at the Pentagon getting input from the military's top brass as he works up a new strategy for the country.

Also, a new warning from Saudi Arabia. A senior U.S. official says the Saudis have warned Washington, if U.S. troops move out, they may step into the Iraq conflict, providing support to fellow Sunnis.

The Saudis fear Iraq's Sunnis would be massacred at the hands of the Shiite majority. Iraq is one of few countries where Shiites are in power. Neighboring Iran is another. Sunnis are in the majority in Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan.

And then this -- Iraqi's national security adviser says the Iraqi government has a plan that would put its security forces in control of Baghdad and move U.S. troops to the outskirts of the city.

And on the crucial issue of troop strength, the "Washington Post" reports the Army and Marine Corps are planning to ask for more ground troops to meet global challenges.

The streets of Iraq, battlegrounds for Sunni and Shia. As things deteriorate, will the U.S. take sides in the sectarian struggle?

The story now from CNN's senior national correspondent John Roberts. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The meeting with Iraq's Sunni vice president may be a rare event if certain factions within the administration have their way. They have concluded that outreach to the Sunnis is both not working and costing the U.S. political capital with Iraq's Shiite-dominated government.

ROBIN WRIGHT, REPORTER "WASHINGTON POST": The feeling was that the United States had begun to alienate the very power base which the government relies and particularly the Shiites, by reaching out to the Sunnis. It was effectively backfiring.

ROBERTS: The plan, which sources say has been floated by vice president Cheney's office, would sideline the Sunnis from the political process and focus on Shiites and Kurds who make up 80 percent of Iraq's population. But how would this so-called 80 percent solution go over with America's Arab allies in the region, most of which are dominated by Sunni Muslims.

WRIGHT: Clearly this is one of the most controversial ideas on the table, because, of course, it will alienate many of the U.S.'s closest allies, particularly in the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia has been deeply concerned about the marginalization of the Sunni population, that it would not be included enough.

ROBERTS: The greater worry among nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and others, is that if the Shia consolidate power in Iraq, they decimate, not just dominate the Sunnis. That would place a nation with close ideology ties to Iran right on their doorstep.

Hisham Melham is a commentator for al-Arabiya TV.

HISHAM MELHAM, AL-ARABIYA TV: They will not allow the Sunnis of Iraq to be crushed. It doesn't mean that they are happy with the insurgency. They are concerned about the fate of their brethren, the Sunnis of Iraq, who ruled Iraq for more than 80 years.

ROBERTS: So what could that mean for Iraq? Already there are charges from Iraqi politicians that wealthy Arabs are helping to finance the Sunni insurgency. If those benefactors see a calculated tilt toward the Shiite side by the United States says Melham, it could unleash a flood of arms and bloodshed.

MELHAM: This could force these countries either to help the Sunnis financially and politically and materially by providing them with weapons. They are playing with fire. I mean, this is -- this is a prescription for a perpetual state of violence along communal lines and sectarian lines in the eastern Mediterranean and in the Gulf.

ROBERTS (on camera): The 80 percent solution has caused something of a split in the administration. Opponents of the idea are quick to insist that nobody is about to throw the Sunnis under a bus. But they do say that something has to change diplomatically and political in Iraq. And that may involve a little less mother-henning on the part of the United States, allowing the Iraqis to take a greater hand in forging their future.

John Roberts, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Diamonds, well, a glittery treasure, but a grim fact of life for the desperate. Blood diamonds in the Congo, a dangerous and deadly job, the story, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The new film "Blood Diamonds," for many of Africa's poor a real-life story of desperation and survival.

HARRIS: And for some digging for diamonds is a matter of life or death.

Here's CNN's African correspondent Jeff Koinange.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As a bend in the stream running off the Congo River, villagers who earn little more than $1 a month are searching for a way out of poverty. They are panning for shiny treasure, diamonds in the rough.

The Congo is the fourth largest diamond-producing country in the world. Hundreds stake their claims here. Officials say diamonds are the country's largest export -- $2 billion last year.

But what these villages don't know or can't afford to worry about is that these are blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. Experts say they help fuel some of Africa's dirtiest wars, from Sierra Leone to Liberia, and from Angola to here in the Congo.

Nevertheless, from boys to men, it's a scramble to find the next big rock.

To get to the Congo's rich diamond district, we flew to the town of Mbuji Mayi at the center of this vast nation, then drove an hour and a half over dirt track roads until we arrived at the village of Depumba (ph). Though today it looks more like a lunar landscape, pot marked with holes barely large enough for a man to squeeze down.

It's dawn. 40-year-old Jean Pierre Mbenga and his five-men crew begin what will be a filthy, dangerous and back-breaking job. Each man plays a role. They use old picks, a rope, a torn sack. No one wears shoes, no gloves, no hard hats, no flashlights when they descend into the dark.

(On camera): The conditions here can only be described as deplorable. Half the time it's raining. These men neither have the right clothes nor the right equipment. As Jean Pierre and his team have told us, it has taken them more than two weeks to dig only 50 feet. And they that they may have to go another 50 feet and maybe even 50 after that. And at the end of the day, there is still no guarantee they will be able to come up with the diamonds.

(Voice-over): Jean Pierre makes his way down the tiny shaft. He digs, loads, lifts, and dumps. The walls shift and crumble. They are not secure. Accidents are frequent. Many diamond miners have been buried alive in these pits.

But like so many here, Jean Pierre has no choice. At home he has a wife and eight children, including a 2-week-old infant son.

It is terrible here, he says. All we do is work from morning to evening. And most of the time we come up empty. I can't think of a worse way to make a living.

Jean Pierre, who has been digging for diamonds for more than two decades, tells me he once dug up a one karat stone that he sold for $500. He thought he had struck it rich, but he had to pay a share to his crew and to the man who leases the land where he dig. Jean Pierre went home with less than $50.

That is the life of a miner here, he says. We work and work until our hands bleed and all we end up with is peanuts.

(On camera): I asked Jean Pierre who buys his diamonds.

Anyone, he says, just as long as they have the money.

(Voice-over): Anyone could be a wholesaler, or it could be a warlord, and the warlord could trade the diamonds for weapons. Bloody war, bloody diamonds.

Most of Congo's diamonds are exported through a state-run company. But in a country that in 40 years has seen a series of dictators, experts say getting diamonds out of the Congo illegally has been all too common. It can lead to more wars, more coups and leave tens of thousands of people here like Jean Pierre Mbenga desperate.

Like most days, today he goes home empty-handed. His family hasn't eaten all day. So he goes out and buys all he can afford for his eight kids, a tiny loaf of bread.

Tomorrow and the next day and the day after that, Jean Pierre will climb down into the darkness with little more than hope that he might find a way out.

Jeff Koinange, CNN, Mbuji Mayi, in central Congo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" coming up at the top of the hour in about 15 minutes. Hala Gorani standing by with a preview for us.

Good morning, Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony and Hala.

You had that Jeff Koinange piece on blood diamonds, and speaking of diamonds, we're going to be bringing you a victory for the little guy, native bushmen in Botswana, who say they were forced off their ancestral land. Some say the government wanted that land to mine diamonds, while the bushmen fought back in courts and won the right to return to their homeland. We'll go live to our Africa correspondent Jeff Koinange.

Also in England, fears of a serial killer on the loose. The tabloid press is calling him the "Ipswich Ripper," after two more bodies of prostitutes were found yesterday, bringing to five the total number of bodies discovered in just 10 days.

Also, the latest violence in Iraq.

And a "New York Times" report that Saudi Arabia told the U.S. that if American troops pull out, Riyadh would support the Sunnis against the Shias in any internal struggle in that country. We'll go live to Nic Robertson for a reaction from the Iraqi capital.

Join us at the top of the hour, "YOUR WORLD TODAY."

Back to you guys.

HARRIS: Good to see you, Hala. We'll be there. Thank you.

Our senior national correspondent John King has been doing some digging today, trying to get a handle on the president's work process. As he meets with everyone it seems under the sun now to try to come up with a new strategy, a new plan for moving forward in Iraq.

And, John, what have you learned?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, everyone's looking for the great mystery of why the White House has delayed this announcement, initially planned before Christmas, and now we're told sometime early in the new year. And senior officials, if you talk to them, says the government simply wants more time because in part he doesn't like the answers he's been getting. He wants more information on the options. If he chose this, how much would it cost? How fast could you do it? And things like that. Also told by senior officials that they simply decided that the timeline to get in it place, a new Iraq policy and strategy before Christmas, wasn't fair to the new defense secretary, Bob Gates. He doesn't start officially until next week, and they thought he needed more time to meet with the commanders on the ground in Iraq, to talk with both the civilian and the military leadership at the Pentagon, so that when they have options before the president, he gets a fair chance to weigh in as well.

One interesting point, Tony, we've learned in the past 24 hours is that a number of officials tell us one of the options on the table, as one official put it, the president is seriously considering the option Senator John McCain and others have put up, putting more troops on the ground, a temporary upsurge in troops before, then you would redeploy the troops perhaps out of Baghdad to more safer areas. That has not been ruled out, we are told. The president hasn't decided to do that, we should make clear, but that has not been ruled out. So the president going through a detailed process. He will be at the Pentagon talking with people today. He's been at the State Department reaching out to some outside experts. The target now for the new announcement we are told is pretty loose. Could be as early as January 3rd. Could slip as far as January 15th, but they're trying to get it done, Tony, right around the 3rd, 4th or 5th of January, assuming the president could make his final decisions. And again, how to deploy the troops, what number of troops should be embedded with Iraqis on training, a lot of decisions. And the president simply decided they were going too fast, and he wanted to slow it down a bit.

HARRIS: OK, let's leave it there for now. Our senior national correspondent John King for us.

John, appreciate it. Thank you.

COLLINS: The secret to a long life, Cuba's many centurions say strong coffee, good cigars and -- sex. The story. We want you to stick around for this one, coming up in the NEWSROOM.

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COLLINS: In just about an hour from now, we will be hearing from Don Lemon and Kyra Phillips more on the CNN NEWSROOM.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly. Well we've been following the story, and certainly the country has been following the story as well.

COLLINS: Yes.

LEMON: They took the road less travelled, and that may even mean the difference between life and death for three missing hikers in Oregon. Rescuers vow to try again today, but say the men took one of Mt. Hood's most treacherous routes. Making matters worse, another major winter storm is bearing down on the mountain. We're tracking the weather and we'll talk with someone involved in that search.

Also in eastern England, five women found dead. British police think a lone serial killer is prowling for prostitutes, and they're warning working girls to stay off the streets. We'll have the latest on that case and much, much more coming in the NEWSROOM at 1:00 Eastern, when you join Kyra Phillips and me.

COLLINS: That's right. In just about 10 minutes or so, the story you guys are going to be following, the Oregon hikers press conference coming up, so we'll be watching that, and you guys will have the very latest, I'm sure.

Thank you, Don.

LEMON: Thank you.

COLLINS: Accentuate the positive, the key to a long life, says a Cuban doctor. Of course his country's many centenarians have other ideas.

Listen to this from Morgan Neill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN NEILL, ITV REPORTER (voice-over): One-hundred and two- year-old Orteniso Curtez (ph) says she's never smoked. She does drink the occasional rum, or if she can get it, cognac. She may be on to something. A survey of centenarians, people more than 100 years old in Cuba's Santa Clara province, found they drank alcohol in moderation, and enjoyed coffee, the occasional smoke, and kept up an interest in their sex lives.

The total population around 11 million, Cuba has an estimated 3,000 people more than 100 years old. Its most famous centenarian was Benito Martinez. Though his age was never confirmed, Cuban authorities estimated he was at least 119 when he died this year. He smoked until he was 108, by his count. And never stopped flirting. But Curtez says her real secret is just staying busy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The advice I give people is that they work. If you're healthy or even just half healthy, work takes your attention away from anything, even illness.

NEILL: Every day she makes the rounds. Cleaning her apartment in old Havana, and she's never stopped knitting. She made this hat when he was 100. Dr. Alberto Fernandez was carrying out a national survey of centenarians, says he think, the secret is in their attitude.

ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, NATL. DIR. OF ASSISTANCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (through translator): If I were to tell you what the recipe for longevity is it's their optimism about life, it's how they get through the difficult moments.

NEILL: Curto agrees. She doesn't dwell on the negative. She prefers to talk about her favorite subject -- sports. Just mention baseball and her eyes light up.

(on camera): Doctors here say that's the key, staying engaged, both mentally and physically. No matter what we may want to believe, unfortunately they say the road to long life has more to do with a healthy diet and exercise, than with coffee, cigars and sex.

Morgan Neill, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And this news just in to CNN, a much beloved actor, Peter Boyle died last night at the age of 71. This according to CBS News. Peter Boyle, shoot, best known as Ray Romano's dad, Frank, from the CBS comedy series -- what A hit show this was -- "Everybody Loves Raymond." Just a storied career. Many acting roles in film and television, to be sure. Had some health problems lately, had a stroke back in 1990 and heart surgery in 1999. But the news just coming to us from CBS News that actor Peter Boyle died last night. The man best known for his work in "Everybody Loves Raymond," dead at the age of 71. COLLINS: A rare discovery, a revealing peek into life some 70 million years ago. U.S. and Argentine scientists have found the fossil skeleton of a Plesiosaur in Antarctica. The long-necked reptile once swam the southern oceans.

CNN's Jenny Harrison has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNY HARRISON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it's a fossil, and it's five feet long, and it's a baby Plesiosaur, which is very rare to find. The bones are so fragile it doesn't tend to preserve very well. The adult used to grow to about 30 feet in length.

Now, scientists have made this discovery, along -- they found the remains of a 70 million-year-old Plesiosaur at Vega (ph) Island, in the Antarctic. It's one of the best specimens they have ever seen.

The scientists describe a Plesiosaur as a sleek and submarine shape with the ability to fly through the water, looking a lot like the legendary Loch Ness monster. And the last Plesiosaur died about 60 million years ago. Something to think about.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: And here's something else to think about, the reptiles' remains were so heavy it took five excavators to lift them.

Want to let you know we are awaiting a news conference on those missing hikers in Oregon.

We'll bring that you to live.

And for now, CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home.

I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins.

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