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President Bush Meets With Top Military Leaders; British Authorities Target Potential Serial Killer; Saudi Arabia to Back Sunnis in Iraq?; Tenor Walks Offstage During La Scala's "Aida", Actor Peter Boyle Dies at 71

Aired December 13, 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: How are we going to win this war? What's the new way for Iraq? We must help the Iraqi government, and we're not giving up -- bottom line for the president of the United States, as he met with all his key leaders within every branch of the U.S. military today at the Pentagon.
Jamie McIntyre also monitoring this.

Jamie, though, a lot of talk, a lot of positive talk, but still no plan for what they're going to do in Iraq.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you heard the president say that one of the important thinks he wanted to do was get the message out to U.S. troops who are actually fighting this war on the front lines that a lot of this hand-wringing back in Washington, which may be creating the impression that the United States isn't doing well in Iraq, you know, he really wanted to emphasize the fact that the idea behind this whole exercise is to come up with a strategy for those troops to succeed and for the plan to succeed.

He clearly indicated that he is shying away from any sort of cut- and-run strategy. And he's looking for some way to salvage what is going on in Iraq right now, and set the conditions for the kind of political reconciliation that everyone says is need.

But he's not showing his hand yet about which way he's leaning. And, of course, one of the big things they're discussing is whether or not a big influx of additional U.S. troops, perhaps over the next several months, would really make a difference, or not.

And that's one of the things he presumably got some advice from, from the Joint Chiefs today.

PHILLIPS: Well, now he has had advice from the Iraq Study Group, 79 recommendations. He has met with every key military leader, and not just the head of the Army, or the head of the Marine Corps, but the Army's Cruise Missile Defense Office, the program manager for there, the undersecretary for defense for intelligence, undersecretary for defense for policy, I mean, every single mover and shaker, head honcho within the military.

So, it looks like he's got everything that he needs at this point, correct? MCINTYRE: Well, you can get information overload and advice overload, as well, especially if the advice is contradictory.

But you could also tell that, clearly, he felt -- you know, his endorsement of the Iraq Study Group is sounding more lukewarm every time he announces it, and thanks them for their hard work. In the words of one administration official, that report seems to have lost its shine. And he seems to be searching for an alternate way for the United States to get the policy in Iraq back on track.

So, you know, ultimately, he is the commander in chief, and he's going to have to make those decisions. And, as he said, he's not going to be rushed into doing it, because it's a very important decision, which way the U.S. goes to try to put things back on track in Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Yes. I mean, meanwhile, every day, there's people dying there.

Jamie McIntyre, from the Pentagon, appreciate it.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: So, here's a question: Can Iraqi security forces really turn the tables and take the lead? We're getting word they want to try, and they want to do it soon.

Our senior national correspondent, Nic Robertson, has the latest from Baghdad -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Don, it's very interesting that Iraq's national security adviser should leak talks between President Bush and the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, that happened two weeks ago, that he should leak them right now to the press, when President Bush is sort of looking and casting around for -- to hear from various different people on different ideas, trying to put some distance between when he makes an announcement of what his plans are, and the announcement by the Iraq Study Group.

The announcement here by the national security adviser in Iraq was that there was an idea for the Iraqis. And that is that the Iraqis can really -- are ready, in fact, to take the lead, in the very near future, of security in Baghdad, that they're suggesting that, perhaps, within a few weeks, even by the end of the year, that they would control Baghdad, that they would have backup and support from the U.S. military, but American soldiers should pull back out of Baghdad, be off the streets.

That's what they're suggesting. Now, in some parts of Baghdad, that's already in effect. There are small parts of city where there's just a small handful of U.S. military trainers with the Iraqi army -- but, in many parts of the city, huge sectarian tensions, not to mention the multiple bombings that happen here.

But, in those areas where there are really volatile sectarian and volatile tensions, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense just last night said that the area is a boiling point, and the army is too stretched to control it. There's another problem area in the city's Sadr City, a suburb of Shia population, 2.5 million strong, controlled essentially by an armed militia. I talked to one very senior military commander today. And he told me that the army is in no way ready and capable of dealing with that armed suburb, and taking the weapons from the militias.

They said that's a political problem right now -- Don.

LEMON: Yes.

And let's talk about something that we woke up here in the U.S. in the newspapers, more reaction in Baghdad to reports that Saudi Arabia would back the Sunnis in -- if the U.S. were to withdraw from Baghdad.

ROBERTSON: Well, Saudi Arabia has been voicing its concern from the sidelines quietly and diplomatically, but now it has burst on to the front pages. And their concerns are very simple.

Their concerns are that Iranian influence is growing in the region, that the United States' influence, Saudi's longtime ally, is waning, that they fear that the United States might be backing a Shia government, at the expense of the Sunnis of Iraq. And the Saudis are Sunnis. And they have tribal and historic ties to the Sunnis of this area. And they're concerned that, if the Sunnis lose out, in an embattled position -- and are in an embattled position, they would need to come and support them.

Now, the -- some clerics in Saudi Arabia recently, within the last couple of days, said that that's what they would do, that they would send support to the Sunnis in Iraq. That is, of course, a great concern for the Saudi government, but it is also very indicative of their position.

It's a grow -- there a growing rift, it seems, between the position of the Saudi king, King Abdullah, and of the White House at this time. And, of course, that's -- it's a concern echoed not just in Saudi Arabia, but in other Sunni countries, the United States allies like Jordan as well, that Iran's power and influence is growing here -- big concerns, Don.

LEMON: All right, Nic Robertson, in Baghdad, thank you.

PHILLIPS: London in 1880s, Yorkshire in the 1970s, Ipswich apparently now. That port city in eastern England is terrified that a ripper is killing local prostitutes, five of whom have turned up naked and dead in the past 10 days.

CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT STEWART GULL, SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE: Two bodies have been found near Ipswich.

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Suffolk County police confirming news that everyone in this English countryside town feared the most: two more bodies found in rural areas, naked, just like three other women found since the beginning of the month.

Police suspect they were targeted because they were call girls, working the streets of Ipswich. Police are hesitant to say there is a serial killer on the loose, but they do say the murderer or murderers are likely part of or clientele of the area's so-called working girl industry.

GULL: I do believe that the working girls probably hold the key to who is responsible. So, they need to maintain contact with us.

VAN MARSH (on camera): Since the body of prostitute Gemma Adams was found here on December 2, British authorities have come back to this countryside river numerous times in the search for clues...

(voice-over): ... clues in a mysterious string of murders, putting the spotlight on the seedy underground sex trade in Ipswich, known for its low crime rate, now the talk of the nation.

Newspaper headlines reflect the -- quote -- "Terror in Town," over fears of a possible serial Suffolk strangler -- the holiday season overshadowed by fear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very scary. I just -- usually I would walk everywhere. Now I don't. I just can't. I get family or friends to take me where I need to go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If this man isn't caught, it's only a matter of time before he, you know, picks up a woman that is, you know, that is -- you know, that's not a prostitute, and that's just an ordinary mom.

VAN MARSH: Katie runs a service where she says that men can -- quote -- "have a good time." She says half her working girls have quit, for fears they will be the killer's next victim. And she's offering an olive branch to the women she would normally consider competition.

KATIE, AQUARIUS PARLOR OWNER: What we are offering is that for all the street girls to actually come into our venue and work for the evening, so they're not out on the streets, so they are actually in somewhere safe.

VAN MARSH: Too late for 19 year Tania Nicol. On Friday, police pulled her naked body from this river -- police hoping this is not a recurring scene, one that they can stop before the killer or killers strike again.

Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Ipswich, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Could the sectarian strife in Iraq lead to a rift between longtime allies? Saudi Arabia talks tough with Sunnis -- about Sunnis and Shiites -- what it means as the U.S. looks for options. A former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia joins us just ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: A window of relatively milder weather about to slam shut in Oregon. The search for three missing climbers takes on added urgency, as that winter storm bears down on Mount Hood.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Horrific violence in Iraq, difficult decisions about the war, President Bush says that's what the U.S. is facing, and he won't be rushed into making those decisions. He spoke just minutes ago at the Pentagon, after the latest in a string of strategy sessions.

Our Elaine Quijano is watching it all from the White House -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Don.

Well, at a time when President Bush is facing intensifying pressure to change his Iraq policy, and amid continuing political debate over what should be done next in Iraq, President Bush today, just a short time ago, after consulting with top military officials at the Pentagon, sought to underscore his determination to succeed in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You have my unshakable commitment in this important fight to help secure the peace for the long term.

I pledge to work with the new Congress to forge greater bipartisan consensus to help you achieve your mission. I will continue to speak about your bravery and your commitment and the sacrifices of your families to the American people.

We're not going to give up. The stakes are too high and the consequences too grave to turn Iraq over to extremists who want to do the American people and the Iraqi people harm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And President Bush there sending a direct message to America's service men and women, trying to underscore his commitment to winning in Iraq.

Now, the president also said during that speech and during the question-and-answer session afterwards -- that short statement, I should say -- that he will not be rushed into making a decision when it comes to his Iraq policy -- the president saying that it is a difficult decision. And, certainly, he wants some time to evaluate the situation -- but this, of course, coming one day after the White House announced that it will be the new year before President Bush will make any announcements about changes to his Iraq policy. Recall that senior Bush aides had said the White House's hope was to do this before Christmas, but, of course, the president there outlining why he feels more time is needed -- Don.

LEMON: Yes, did seem like a lot to do in that short amount of time.

Thank you, Elaine Quijano, at the White House.

PHILLIPS: Now, the Saudis pick sides in Iraq. Sources tell CNN the Saudi government has made clear to Vice President Cheney it will back the Sunni insurgency if U.S. troops leave early.

Some insight now from Robert Jordan -- he's a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Ambassador, let's just backtrack a little bit, and, for a moment, remind our viewers about the relationship between the Bush family and Saudi Arabia. It's been a very strong quid pro quo type of relationship: I scratch your back; you scratch mine.

Critics have even said this war in Iraq is all about oil and the relationship with the Saudis.

ROBERT JORDAN, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA: Well, this relationship with the Saudis has actually been in force since the -- the days of Franklin Roosevelt, 1945, when he made the original deal with Abdul Aziz.

The relationship has continued in very much the same fashion for 60 years. Clearly, oil is a large part of it. Saudi Arabia also occupies a tremendous strategic location in the Middle East. You can't really project force by air without going through Saudi airspace. You have to have their permission.

Now, the Saudis are also, of course, the -- essentially the head of the Muslim community, with the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia. So, there's a tremendous level of importance that that relationship has.

PHILLIPS: And just to put in perspective the amount of money that we're talking about with that relationship, you remember the book "House of Bush, House of Saud."

JORDAN: Right.

PHILLIPS: Craig Unger writes: "In the nearly three decades since the oil embargo of 1973, the United States had bought hundreds of billions of dollar of oil at reasonable prices. During the same period, the Saudis had purchased hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons from the U.S."

JORDAN: Right.

PHILLIPS: "Members of the Saudi royal family, including Bandar, became billionaires many times over in the process, quietly turning into some of the most powerful players in the American market, investing hundreds of billions of dollars in equities in the United States."

He even continued on to say, "Never before had a president's personal fortunes and public policies been so deeply entwined with another nation."

So, you look at what has been said here about the war in Iraq, and the fact that they may back the Sunni insurgency, if U.S. troops don't -- pull out.

Isn't that sort of egg in the face to an ally, to a family, to a relationship that has, like you said, been pretty strong for 60 years?

JORDAN: Well, first, I'm not sure I would attribute the president's personal fortunes to the Saudis.

But regardless of that, I think we need to be very clear on what the Saudis may or may not have said to the vice president. I'm not sure they have actually said they would back the Sunni insurgents.

What I'm implying -- or divining from this is that they're saying, if the United States completely pulls out, and if they leave all these parties in place to wage a civil war, and if the Iranians continue to support the Shiites, the Saudis will do something to keep the Sunnis from being exterminated.

That would obviously be providing financial assistance, but I'm not sure that it means they would back them as insurgents, unless you want to say that the Iraqi government is totally Shiite, and is engaged in some sort of genocide or ethnic cleansing against the Sunnis.

So, we have to keep in context exactly what may be said here. I think it is also, frankly, a remote occurrence. The United States does not talk right now about pulling out completely, and certainly is trying to calibrate, as best as possible, the notion of a phased withdrawal that does not allow this kind of condition to erupt.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's say the Saudis do end up financially supporting the Sunnis.

JORDAN: Right.

PHILLIPS: How could that affect U.S.-Saudi relations?

JORDAN: Well, I think we would have some objection to either the Iranians or the Saudis waging a proxy war in Iraq. That's certainly not to our interests, and I don't think it's to the interests of the region. So, we would not encourage that.

By the same token, we would also not want to see an Iraqi official, or even semi-official, squad of -- of militias going after Sunnis, who don't have the resources to defend themselves, as minorities. Ideally, what we will see is a constitution that can be amended and recalibrated, so that the Sunnis are protected with some minority rights, that they do have a proportionate share of the oil revenue, and can go forward as members of the community. That's really, I think, what the Saudis want as well.

They certainly don't want to see this country carved up and descend into civil war.

PHILLIPS: Well, and you can see where the fear comes in...

JORDAN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: ... when you hear the fact that Saudi may financially support the Sunnis. I mean, Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, that's Sunni. And, so, you wonder why Saudi would want to find the same type of insurgency that wants to topple the kingdom.

JORDAN: Yes, there are actually a couple of different Sunni groups here that are involved. One is the Sunni locals, who are unhappy that they have lost their control of the country.

The other are the al Qaeda operatives, who have come in and tried to screw things up, frankly, by attacking the Shiites, trying to provoke a response against the local Sunnis.

The Saudis have a -- are in a real box, quite frankly, because they also have a tremendous amount of animosity with al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is sworn now to bring down the Saudi royal family. That's the last thing the Saudis want, is to throw in with al Qaeda in Iraq, even though they happen to be Sunnis. Al Qaeda doesn't want peace there. The Saudis do.

PHILLIPS: And you brought up the interesting point, too: Iran's rising influence in Iraq.

JORDAN: Right.

PHILLIPS: This has to have the Saudis very concerned?

JORDAN: They're very concerned, indeed. And they reflected that to me when I was out there just a few weeks ago.

PHILLIPS: What did they say to you, exactly?

JORDAN: Well, they're concerned about a Shiite crescent, if you will, a crescent that extends from Iran, Baghdad -- Tehran, into Baghdad. Syria is an uncertain situation. We may well see Lebanon, again, in -- in a crisis fomented by Hezbollah. The Saudis have been very strong in criticizing what Hezbollah did, in kidnapping the Israeli soldiers.

They have been very critical, however, also of -- of Israel's response. They are very concerned. And King Abdullah, just this past weekend, made a statement to the Gulf Cooperation Council that he thinks that the Middle East is in a tinderbox situation now that is as explosive as he has ever seen.

And this man is 82 or 83 years old, and he's seen a lot. So, I think we're looking now at a king who is extremely worried, extremely worried about stability in the region. And he's simply saying to the vice president, if the report is true: Look, we're going to have to support these people, if you people bail out. And, so, don't bail out on us.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a point well made. What's happening in Iraq absolutely can affect the whole entire region.

JORDAN: That's right.

PHILLIPS: It is not just about that country anymore.

JORDAN: No.

PHILLIPS: Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, always great talking to you. Thanks so much.

JORDAN: Thanks, Kyra.

LEMON: It is coming together one piece at a time, the International Space Station, with attending shuttle crew catching some rays. There you go -- coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was in their mind, to leave an empty beer can in place of the baby Jesus?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Pilfering the prince of peace? A heartless holiday prankster -- prankster ought to catch holy hell for this one. Forgive us, but we're judging him harshly here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(LAUGHTER)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Housing market slowing down, but it's not getting any easier for many Americans to make their monthly rental payment.

Susan Lisovicz joins us from the New York Stock Exchange on details of a new study -- Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

You know, it seems contradictory, because, just yesterday, I was talking about how wages are starting to creep up because of the tightening labor market. But affordable housing is still out of reach for many low-wage workers.

A national housing advocacy group says, in its annual "Out of Reach" report, that, in order to afford a two-bedroom -- a modest two- bedroom rental unit, a person who works full-time would have to make an average of more than $15 an hour. Of course, it takes a good deal more than that if you live in Washington, D.C., Hawaii, California, and 12 other high-cost states, many of them in the Northeast.

The problem is even more severe for minimum-wage earners. According to the study, they are unable to afford even a one-bedroom rental anywhere in the country. The federal minimum wage stands at just $5.15 an hour. It has stood there for nearly 10 years now. The report defines affordable rentals as housing that takes 30 percent or less of a worker's income.

And, by the way, even though we tend to focus on home-buying, one-third of U.S. households rent, not own, their homes.

LEMON: Oh.

LISOVICZ: That's a big portion of the population, Don.

LEMON: Yes, it certainly is.

How are the markets doing today, Susan?

LISOVICZ: We got a lot of news today. And, at first, it seemed to really thrust the markets into a nice rally. But, right now, we're barely budging.

We got a better-than expected report on retail sales an hour before the opening bell, prompted stocks to open higher. Retail sells jumped a better-than-expected 1 percent last month -- shoppers taking advantage of early holiday discounts.

But, then, there are some thoughts that this stronger-than- expected number will make it less likely the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates that much sooner.

So, how is it playing out? Well, the Dow industrials right now down three points. They did hit a new all-time high early in the session. The NASDAQ composite is down three points.

Airline stocks bucking the trend -- they are flying high, thanks to some merger talk -- shares of Continental, and UAL, parent of United Airlines, each rising about 5 percent, on word the two are speeding up discussions about a potential tie-up.

And that's the latest from Wall Street. I will be back with a wrap-up of the trading day in about 30 minutes -- in the meantime, Don and Kyra, back to you.

LEMON: All right, Susan, thank you very much.

And we have some information that we're following, just in from the Associated Press here in Michigan. It says, officials say assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian will be paroled in June. So far, that's the only thing coming across the wires. But we're right on it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

As soon as we get more information, we will let you know.

PHILLIPS: Who is ripping off Jack the Ripper in eastern England? Five women found murdered in the past two weeks -- British cops warn working girls to stay off the streets, while they search for the culprit.

We will have a live report straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Five bodies in ten days. Three families mourning, two others fearing the worst. Police in eastern England are on the hunt for a possible serial killer. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins me live from Ipswich with the latest on the investigation. Alphonso what have you found out?

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, as you mentioned, five bodies in ten days. Two of those bodies found last night. The latest developments tonight we've learned that one of those bodies has been taken to the morgue for a closer investigation.

It's the latest in this mysterious string of murders that has this ordinary English town, in fact, the whole nation, left in shock.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VAN MARSH (voice-over): These may be some of the last known images of prostitute Paula Clennell. Before the mother of three went missing, she was asked why she had worked the streets knowing a killer or killers were targeting prostitutes.

PAULA CLENNELL: I need the money, you know?

QUESTION: Despite the dangers?

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

VAN MARSH: Police fear Paula may be one of two recovered bodies under investigation outside Ipswich on Wednesday. The latest of five women found dead this month in Suffolk County. Additional police forces dispatched here to help with the hunt for a possible serial killer. The crimes have shocked the nation.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We support the police fully in dealing with the horror of this situation and also with the entirely understandable fear there is in the community.

VAN MARSH (on camera): This is one of the neighborhoods where so- called working girls would pick up their clients from the streets. But the prostitutes have been replaced with police tape. Many of these working girls still hesitant to go to the police.

(voice-over): That's because many prostitutes fear that if they go to the police their illegal activity will land them in jail whether or not the police solve these murders. The lead investigator says as long as there's a killer or killers out there, he doesn't care what they've done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got one priority, and that's to find the person or persons responsible for the deaths of these girls. I'm not interested in any soliciting, any curb calling offenses.

VAN MARSH: Authorities say all the women's bodies were dumped within ten miles of each other, leading some to suspect the killer or killers are taunting police.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a person who is targeting specifically these young ladies, and therefore he has specific psychological problems and he is not gaining financially, he's not gaining in anything other than something psychological.

VAN MARSH: Helping the psyche of a local community traumatized by these events, a national newspaper is offering 250,000 pounds, almost a half million dollars for information leading to the capture and conviction of the Ipswich killer or killers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAN MARSH: That's right, almost a half a million dollars. That's big money, but perhaps little comfort to this community that until now thought that something like this only happened somewhere else.

PHILLIPS: OK, Alphonso Van Marsh, we'll follow the investigation. Thank you.

LEMON: Renewed hope and holding strong, the families of three climbers stranded since Sunday on Mount Hood say they're encouraged. Rough weather and a passage of time notwithstanding.

Fresh teams have joined the search and an unmanned surveillance plane is helping scan the blustery slopes. The rescuers believe two of the climbers are somewhere around 7,000 feet up. The other, Kelly James, was last heard from holed up in a snow cave.

FRANK JAMES, BROTHER OF MISSING CLIMBER: Kelly is experienced. It's my understanding that even on Mount Hood back in the '80s there were other situations along these lines where individuals survived in a snow cave for seven or eight days. And so that for us is very much encouraging.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Kelly is a professional in that sense. He knows what he's doing. He did exactly the right thing to do. And I'm sure -- I feel reasonably sure that Brian and Nikko have done the same thing, probably hunkered down in a snow cave until the weather passes over. So, I think their experience will serve them well in these very ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Reporter Scott Burton of CNN affiliate KGW is following the desperate search. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT BURTON, REPORTER, KGW (voice over): Defeated and depleted, rescuers return to base Tuesday night clearly beaten by Mount Hood's power.

LINDSAY CLUNES, CORVALLIES MOUNTAIN RESCUE: At times if you picked your foot up, it would just blow it away. So if you put your foot down too soon and your foot was gone, you'd fall down.

BURTON: This was supposed to be their big break. Some of the area's best packed out on snow cat in the morning. An Oregon National Guard helicopter finally got airborne by afternoon. But by day's end, the chopper never crossed 7,000 feet, and blistering winds prevented rescuers from climbing much higher.

SHERIFF JOE WAMPLER, HOOD RIVER COUNTY: We had consistent 85- mile-an-hour winds above the 8,000 foot level.

BURTON: As a result, still missing are three veteran climbers: Jerry Cooke of New York, Brian Hall, and Kelly James of Dallas, Texas. Rescue crews believe James is bunkered in a snow cave near the mountain's 11,000-foot summit. He called his family Sunday from his cell phone.

FRANK JAMES, MISSING CLIMBER'S BROTHER: He expressed to them that he was in a snow cave, that -- he didn't say anything about injuries. He said the other two climbers had gone on ahead. We're sort of putting things together, assume that there was, perhaps, some injury and they'd gone to seek help.

BURTON: Rescuers are using James' cell phone as a homing beacon. They pinned his location down to a quarter mile, but they can't reach him. And they don't know where his climbing companions are now.

JAMES: These are three very experienced climbers. My brother has been climbing for 25 years, and so they would know what to do in a difficult situation.

BURTON: But the situation is growing worse by the minute. And reality is setting in. More snow is forecast. Reaching these climbers may be impossible by week's end.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it would be very difficult to do. I'm sorry, but it would be very difficult to do.

BURTON: In Mount Hood, Oregon, I'm Scott Burton, for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: And we want to update our viewers on a story we first broke just a little while ago. CNN has confirmed that assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian will be paroled in June. That information, coming from an official at the prison -- the Parole Board Corrections, rather, Department in Michigan, coming just a short while ago.

Kevorkian, who claimed to have assisted at least 130 deaths in 1990s was imprisoned in 1999 for his role in the last of the deaths. So that pathologist claimed that he would not do it again if he was released from prison. Seventy-eight years old, Jack Kevorkian will be paroled in June.

PHILLIPS: Opera becomes soap opera at Milan's famed La Scala when an aria goes awry and a heckled tenor storms off the stage.

We'll warm up our pipes for this one. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: "Aida", as many of you may know, is an opera where emotions run wild, not that we're making excuses for a performance last weekend at Italy's famed La Scala. There was passion, anger, shock, climaxing with a tantrum and a hasty exit.

CNN's Alessio Vinci has the plot line and a star's explanation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine you are one of Europe's top tenors singing verdict's Verdi's "Aida" at the opera house of opera houses, La Scala in Milan. The audience is filled with some of the most scathing critics in the business. At the end of your first aria, applause, next the disapproval.

CROWD: (BOOING)

VINCI: Tenor Roberto Alagna does the unthinkable: he storms off.

ROBERTO ALAGNA, TENOR: Because it was the only solution, solution to preserve my voice, because it was impossible for me to continue to sing because it was too difficult. It was -- you can imagine when the throat totally dry by the intermission of that, it's impossible to continue.

VINCI: Alagna says he was in a state of shock and to continue could have risked his vocal cords.

ALAGNA: You know, my voice is only one. You know, if my vocal cord is broken, it's not like the violin, you can change the cord. My voice is one. And I need to be very careful.

VINCI: Alagna is replaced seconds later by his understudy, who doesn't even have the time to change into a costume.

(on camera): In an opera, criticism is fair, it is part of the life of the La Scala theater in Milan.

ALAGNA: I agree with that. VINCI: And you seem to be -- do not sustain that pressure.

ALAGNA: If I'm not good, you can boo me. OK? If I made a mistake, something, if I break a note, something. I did nothing.

VINCI (voice-over): La Scala's management says Alagna breached his contract by walking off without a valid reason. For him there won't be a second act this season.

CARLO MARIA CELLA, LA SCALA: Not for either performances because leaving intentionally the scene, he broke the relationship between he, the artist, and the public.

VINCI: The loudest boos came from up here, the highest balconies overlooking the stage. This is known as la giornia (ph), in other words, the peanut gallery.

Now, those sitting up here can't afford the more than $250 for a front row seat, but they do know their opera inside out.

(voice-over): Joseph Rochlitz is an opera director. He says Alagna's role is one of opera's most demanding.

JOSEPH ROCHLITZ, OPERA DIRECTOR: The tenor is called upon to walk on stage and right away produce some extraordinary singing, ending on a very difficult technical point.

VINCI: On La Scala's gala opening night just three nights earlier, the audience gave the opera company a 15 minute standing ovation. But Alagna himself got less than stellar reviews. But no one would have thought he'd turn "Aida's" story of impossible love into such an improbable finale.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Milan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, it sure didn't look like a movie star. And as catch phrases go, "Holy crap" isn't exactly "Here's looking at you, kid". But everybody loved Peter Boyle just the same.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your father's unbelievable.

PETER BOYLE, ACTOR: Give me my tools.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No! he broke my stove.

BOYLE: You asked me to work on it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I didn't tell you to hit it with a hammer.

BOYLE: That stove's been asking for it for 35 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know where to eat now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Boyle died last night at a New York hospital of cancer and heart disease. This happened after a year at -- he was wrapped as a hugely successful ten-year run as Frank Barone there on the CBS series "Everybody Loves Raymond". That might have been the role he'd forever be remembered for. But we can't forget the movie role that brought Boyle's acting career to life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand on your feet.

BOYLE: (GROANING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, as the monster in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein", or "Fronkenstine" (ph), Boyle could not only stand and walk, he could dance and a star was born.

Peter Boyle leaves a wife, two daughters and generations of fans and friends. He was 71.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: One task astronauts don't have to worry about is folding up road maps. But NASA says that's not unlike the challenge that they're facing with the 115-foot solar panel they're trying to retract on the international space station.

CNN space correspondent Miles O'Brien watching every crease and wrinkle. All right, and they were having a few problem, right? What's the situation now?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I know I'm getting older, but let's not talk about these creases and wrinkles too much, OK.

PHILLIPS: I know you use Oil of Olay.

O'BRIEN: Of course, it's just as good. $9.99 right?

They're taking a break up in space right now because it is during a nighttime pass. You know, they get a sunrise and a sunset every 45 minutes or so in space. So imagine that. That would be kind of a fun way to spend a day.

In any case, it's a nighttime portion of the pass right now. They not going do any work right now. This is what happened just a little while ago. take a look at these, the solar arrays. These are just like my blinds at home. They're not folding up or, for that matter ...

PHILLIPS: Yes, they're 24 karat, just like all those former Enron guys that threw those fancy parties.

O'BRIEN: Yes, yes. It is NASA, it is gold plated, so to speak. But in any case, they've been in position for six years, Kyra. It wasn't supposed to be that way. This is in a temporary position. The build-out was supposed to occur a lot more quickly. Of course we had Columbia and other things.

But you can see here, it is folding in the wrong direction, just like your map or your bad blind. And you see how these have folded, these are folded just fine over here, but right in this area is the problem spot. They have at least half a dozen times fully extended it, and then tried to retract it to see if perhaps that might solve the problem.

PHILLIPS: Well, what seems to be the problem?

O'BRIEN: Well, here's the thing. They're kind of -- they're just kind of sticky.

PHILLIPS: Are they old?

O'BRIEN: Well, they're six years old.

PHILLIPS: I mean, six years isn't that old, right?

O'BRIEN: Well think about the experience they've had. Once again every 45 minutes sunrise, sunset, the temperature goes from 100 degrees plus to about 100 degrees minus in the blink of an eye. You've got all these temperature changes. And it has been in this one position. So things get brittle.

PHILLIPS: So what if you can't get the solar ray stowed?

O'BRIEN: I'm headed up there to help them out. That's in my dreams. What's going to happen is they'll take care of it during a spacewalk tomorrow. There are two spacewalkers headed out with some other tasks on hand. But what they will do is they will take one of their cordless drills and actually try to manually crank it down.

What they -- if you go back to that animation one more time very quickly Kyra, let me just show you, if they get into worst case scenarios they could partially retract it just enough to make this solar ray free and clear. That's the goal of this part of the mission, to make it possible for this thing to rotate, which greatly increases its capability to generate electricity by about 50 percent.

So, if they got it to, say, right about there, that would be good enough for now to get this thing up and running, and then they could figure out what to do next with the other solar ray, which ultimately is due to be moved here on a mission in September.

But hopefully all the ups and downs of it just like you do with your blinds or your map or whatever, and then if necessary a spacewalk will do the trick for them.

PHILLIPS: All right, we'll track it. Thanks, Miles. O'BRIEN: All right, you're welcome.

LEMON: Closing bell and a wrap up of all the action on Wall Street just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Angelina Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. And she gives big money to some of the world's neediest causes. But what do fans really want to know about her? CNN's Larry King got to ask that burning question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: By the way, someone called me today. Are you going to get married? Just interesting to know. I wish you lots of luck. Someone said that you're planning a Christmas wedding in South Africa.

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Who -- no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just blew it.

JOLIE: Thank you for your support if I was, but I'm not.

KING: You're not getting married at Christmas? No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: That's what I call skirting a question. She really didn't say anything. She just smiled.

PHILLIPS: She looks good.

LEMON: She smiled a lot, she looked great. So I guess that's the answer.

Well, Jolie, Robert DeNiro, Matt Damon stop by to chat about their new movie "The Good Shepherd" among other things. The whole interview airs Monday night on "LARRY KING LIVE" right here on CNN.

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