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U.S. Marines Expected to be Charged in Alleged Massacre of Iraqi Civilians; Denver Digs Out; Defense Secretary Visits American Troops in Iraq; Discovery Astronauts Discuss Landing

Aired December 21, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
Denver, Colorado: Snow is a four-letter word, in more ways than one. Even the mail is on ice -- status reports ahead.

Also this hour, we're going to hear from the shuttle crew, as Discovery prepares for reentry and landing that could be high drama.

And we're still wild about Harry -- Harry Potter, that is. We have got the skinny on J.K. Rowling seventh installment of the young wizard's adventures. Abracadabra.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A story unfolding out West this hour -- at Camp Pendleton, California, Marine Corps officials expected to announce charges against U.S. troops for a purported civilian massacre at a town in Iraq. At least one Marine has gotten word already that he faces murder charges.

Live with the latest developments, CNN's Thelma Gutierrez -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I can tell you that we have just confirmed that another person, Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum, is also being charged.

His attorney, Jack Zimmerman, would not elaborate on exactly what those charges are. But we do know he is being charged with some kind of criminal count.

Now, in about an hour, we're expected to hear details about the charges that are going to be filed against Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who is the second person who has been charged and implicated in the Haditha killings. And we will learn whether or not any other Marines who were there that day face any criminal charges for their role in killing unarmed Iraqi civilians.

Now, according to Defense Attorney Neal Puckett, who we talked to earlier -- he represents Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich -- we have learned that he has been charged with 13 counts of murder in the killings of those unarmed Iraqi civilians.

Now, the way the charges break down, it includes 12 counts of murdering individual Iraqis, in addition to one count of murdering six people by ordering the Marines who were under him to go in and shoot first and ask questions later, as they entered the first of four houses there in Haditha.

Now, none of the charges, as far as we are told, include premeditated murder. Against, Sergeant Wuterich faces life in prison. The charges do not include the death penalty -- Kyra.

More Marines could be charged. We will follow it. Thelma -- Thelma Gutierrez there at Camp Pendleton, thank you.

We want to get you out to California, another part of California, actually, San Francisco area, Concord, California. We're getting word now that two people have been killed in a small plane crash. It happened on the median of Highway 4 there in Concord. There are reports that the plane hit a vehicle, but, apparently, according to reporters on the scene, that there's so much damage, it's really hard to tell if that was, indeed, the case.

I'm being told the California Highway Patrol says it's a major- injury crash, but there's no specific word on the extent of those other injuries. The plane went down about 30 feet from an awning of used vehicles. That section of highway is about 200 yards from the airport runway there in Concord. Eastbound 4 has been shut down at the 680 interchange.

Once again, two people have been killed in a small plane crash right there on the median at Highway 4 in Concord. We will bring you more information as we get it.

Now, what a difference day makes. This time yesterday, Denver was bracing for a snowstorm. Today, it's digging out from under a blizzard. The snow is a good two feet in most places. Outside the city, it's twice as deep. Government offices, businesses, schools, not to mention the malls, are closed. So is Denver International Airport -- no flights coming in or going out for probably another 24 hours, we're told.

Snow plows only now are able to make any headway on the roads -- long stretches of the interstates around Denver still impassible.

Pattie Logan and her crew have been braving the elements all day long.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTIE LOGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Denver, things are starting to improve, after more than 24 hours of a blizzard. We have got light snow coming down. The winds have decreased substantially. So, things, at least weather wise, are starting to improve.

We're also starting to see some pavement for the first time in about 24 hours. The -- the plows just came through. And we're starting to see more than just four-wheel-drive vehicles out as well.

However, there is still a lot of vehicles that are off the side of the road in ditches, have been stuck out there for some time. People are starting to dig those out as well.

So, it seems that we're starting to have some improvement now. Things, however, are not quite as good at the airport. We're hearing now that they are going to reassess tomorrow morning, with the wind, and when -- when they will be able to get some planes out of here, after more than 24 hours of not being able to get anything out.

So, the airport is still closed. They're planning to reassess in the morning, which may mean another night stranded at the airport for up to 5,000, close to 5,000 passengers out there. So, the recovery is now beginning, as it appears that the snow is starting to end.

I'm Pattie Logan, reporting from Denver.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And look at this, a disturbing sight for the people of New Orleans still struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

The storm system that produced heavy snow in parts of the West dumped five inches of rain on the New Orleans area. As pumping stations struggled to cope, some streets were covered with a foot or more of water. The morning commute was a nightmare. And officials urged people to stay at home or -- and stay at work until the rain stops.

For more on the wild weather, Reynolds Wolf joins us now.

What is it like at this point, Reynolds?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, we're actually going to start in reverse. We are actually going to start things off with what you were talking about in New Orleans -- very heavy rainfall there this morning.

Take a look at some of the Doppler radar estimates that we have for city of New Orleans. Some places, mainly just south of the I-10 Corridor, near Violet, we have had anywhere from, say, four to six inches of rainfall. Again, these are Doppler radar estimates.

And what is interesting about this heavy rainfall is that more is in store. We're expecting more showers on and off throughout the day. In fact, take a look at all the flood watches that we have in effect for most of southeastern Louisiana. And, as we have those cells that are moving from west to east, all that moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico and the trailing end of that frontal boundary coming right along the I-10 Corridor, that's going to be a perfect recipe to give you those strong storms into the afternoon, and, of course, more rainfall.

So, I would definitely say that flash flooding is going to be imminent for parts of southern Louisiana, perhaps even New Orleans. That is something we are going to watch for you very carefully.

Meanwhile, as we make our way back into the Rockies, here we go. It's still happening. We have got the snow showers that continue from Cheyenne southward along I-25 through Boulder and into Denver. But you will also notice, if you watch very carefully, you're starting to see a little bit of movement, and it is beginning just to ease off. So, we can expect into the afternoon those snow flurries to begin to die out, snow squalls to die out.

However, what we're going to see is more activity building in parts of the East, into the Northeast. Up towards Minneapolis, we have a combination of not just raindrops, but also some snowflakes. In fact, take a look at this shot that we have zoomed in. Here is along I-35, some heavy cells moving through downtown Minneapolis. Some of this is falling in the form of some ice. Things are going to ice over in this region, temperatures right around 32 degrees.

So, when you have all that moisture coming in, temperatures in the 30s, not really a good combination at all. And, as you follow right along I-94, back up to Saint Cloud, it's just falling in just as snowfall as we speak, and, then, farther to the south, just purely rain along portions of I-90.

So, we have got a big cluster here. We have got the snowy hell in parts of...

(LAUGHTER)

WOLF: ... of Denver, to say the very least. At the same time, we have got the moisture moving into the Gulf Coast, and, at the same time, we have got that combination in Minneapolis -- a big, big mix for you.

And, of course, if you're watching CNN throughout the day, right there on the side of the screen, you're going to be able to keep up to the very latest, in terms of your travel delays -- and there are going to be a lot of them -- plus, the very latest in your current weather conditions. It's all here for you right on CNN.

Let's send it back to you at the news desk.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Reynolds.

WOLF: You bet.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, another dilemma here for NASA and the crew of Discovery, where to land. The weather could play spoilsport.

CNN's John Zarrella is on the phone with us now from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, where NASA wants to land the shuttle.

But, John, just wanting it to happen does not make it so. Is that going to be possible?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: No, it certainly doesn't make is so. That's for sure.

Well, they have got three options tomorrow, and one of them, of course, the Kennedy Space Center. And, right now, it's 50/50, which seems to be the case most of the time there -- rain, rain showers and clouds expected in the afternoon hours tomorrow around landing time.

So, that may be an issue. The Edwards Air Force base in California, crosswinds out there, may also be a no-go situation at Edwards. So, that leaves the third option, which is White Sands, the giant U.S. military base, missile base, out in New Mexico.

And the weather there is actually expected to be good. The problem is, they have only landed there once in the history of the shuttle program. That was back in 1982. An STS-3, the shuttle Columbia, landed there on one of the original test flights during the very, very early days of the shuttle program.

And the problem out at White Sands is that they just don't have the infrastructure out there to support the shuttle landings. So, they would much prefer to either land at Edwards Air Force base or at Florida at -- here at the Kennedy Space Center.

But, of course, the issue is the weather. They have got two days left to bring the vehicle down, tomorrow being one of them, Saturday being the last option to bring the vehicle down, because they quickly begin to run out of disposables, consumables, primarily, the cryogenics for powering the vehicle.

So, they do want to come home tomorrow. The question is, T.J., where are the astronauts going to be sleeping tomorrow night? Is it going to be California, New Mexico, or Florida? And we probably won't know until the last minute tomorrow. It's going to be a real-time call -- T.J.

HOLMES: And, again, man, like you said, they don't have a choice. They have to be home by Saturday.

ZARRELLA: That's correct. Saturday is the day. And they just don't want to go to that last-day contingency, unless they would absolutely have no choice. So, chances are, they are going to be coming home tomorrow. We just don't know where.

HOLMES: We will see.

Thank you so much, John Zarrella, on the phone for us.

And we certainly know now where the astronauts would like to come home to, because I just spoke to them a moment ago. And we're going to share with you their thoughts on all this weather mess and where they would like to land. That's coming up in our next half-hour.

PHILLIPS: Well, the official search ends for two men, as a medical report is released on the third -- an update from Mount Hood straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All quiet today atop Mount Hood -- as of yesterday, the aerial search for two missing climbers is over. And the local sheriff concedes, it is unlikely that Brian Hall and Jerry Cooke will ever be found alive. Sheriff Joe Wampler says he will try to find the bodies when the weather improves. That may not be until the spring. The state coroner's office reports that climber Kelly James probably died shortly after his cell phone call to his family December 10. That was the last word heard from the party, which embarked up the mountain nearly two weeks ago.

And the mountain at the center of the desperate search draws climbers from all over the world. Here now, a CNN fact check.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Mount Hood dramatically soars to an elevation of 11,235 feet. A British navy officer and his expedition were the first Europeans to see the mountain, in 1792. They named it after British Admiral Lord Samuel Hood.

Mount Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world, after Japan's Mount Fuji. The most popular time to climb is from May to mid-July, but climbing is permitted year-round. The first ascent was in 1845. Since then, more than 130 people have died trying.

One of the nation's worst climbing disasters occurred on Mount Hood in 1986. Seven teenagers and two adult leaders froze to death while trapped in a storm. In 1976, three high school friends were rescued, after surviving nearly two weeks in a snow cave on Mount Hood. A dramatic rescue attempt occurred four years ago when a helicopter crashed on Mount Hood while trying to retrieve the bodies of three climbers. The crew, amazingly, survived.

Mount Hood also has had its share of unusual successful climbs. The first wedding was held on the summit in 1915. Four hundred and eleven people became the largest single group to climb to the top of Mount Hood in 1936. And the famed climbing dog Ranger is said to have climbed Mount Hood more than 50 times.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Rising from the ashes -- new construction at ground zero. Massive steel beams went up Tuesday, the first signs of Freedom Tower, the planned replacement for New York's World Trade Center. One of the 53-ton beams was covered with signatures, pictures and notes from the families of 9/11 victims. New York's governor and mayor were there, too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), MAYOR OF NEW YORK: We will never forget the more than 2,700 of our loved ones who were lost on that terrible day.

And now we honor them by beginning to raise the Freedom Tower into New York's skies. It will be an emblem of our city in concrete and steel, one that will be unmistakable to people around the world. It will show New York City's determination to remember, renew, and rebuild. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Freedom Tower is planned to reach a height of 1,776 feet when it's finished in 2011.

Nope, won't do it. Congressman Virgil Goode says that he is not about to apologize for a letter he wrote. He was responding to constituent complaints. They had contacted him about incoming Congressman Keith Ellison. The Minnesota Democrat, the first Muslim elected to Congress, wants to be sworn in using the Koran, not the Bible.

Goode, a Virginia Republican, wrote that, without immigration reform -- quote -- "There will likely be more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran."

Well, Ellison dismissed that remark, noting that he is not an immigrant. His family has been in America since 19 -- or 1742.

And you can tune into Wolf Blitzer and THE SITUATION ROOM at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, where Wolf will speak with Representative Ellison live -- also that, a news conference from Congressman Goode.

HOLMES: Well, it's the celebrity version of the Hatfields and the McCoys, except it's the old Donald vs. the Donald. Here is the most recent salvo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, DEVELOPER/BUSINESSMAN: Rosie is really somebody that she's unattractive in every sense of the word. From a physical standpoint, she looks like hell. Inside, she is far worse than she is on the inside. And I understand Rosie. But Rosie, inherently, is a loser.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: I wish he would just come out and tell us how he felt.

PHILLIPS: Ouch.

HOLMES: You know, come on, Donald. We are going to be taking sides in the newsroom -- up next, some of your e-mail comments. Stick around for those.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, talk about long shots.

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro continues to beat the odds. His doctors say that they're relatively pleased with his recovery. The racehorse shattered its hind ankle last may in the Preakness. An equine podiatrist examined and treated the limb yesterday. The doctor what somewhat concerned about the long-term management of that foot. But, otherwise, veterinarians say that Barbaro's leg is on the mind and overall -- or is on the mend, rather, and, overall, the horse is in excellent condition.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: He's just been on my mind.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry.

HOLMES: That's quite all right. We know you're concerned, Kyra.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Thank you.

Well, you "Harry Potter" fans, you have reason now to have another butterbeer.

Susan Lisovicz, no butterbeer for you, maybe draft beer. But you're at the New York Stock Exchange now...

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: ... to tell us why about these butterbeers.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Or something sparkling at this holiday season.

HOLMES: Yes.

LISOVICZ: That would be OK, too.

Well, we have got this -- some news to tell you about a champion in the literary world. We have got a name for the seventh and final installment of the popular "Harry Potter" series. The new book will be called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Author J.K. Rowling made the announcement on her Web site.

As of now, no publication date has been set, but some fans think the book, which will be the final one, she says, could come as early as July, which happens to be the seventh month of the year. The previous installment, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," was, of course, a record-setter. It sold nearly seven million copies here in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide in its first day alone.

By the way, the movie based on the fifth "Potter" book, put out by our sister company Warner Brothers, slated to hit theaters on July 13.

And T.J. Rowling, by the way -- my goodness.

HOLMES: Yes.

LISOVICZ: T.J., you're not -- I was going to say you were a billionaire.

The author, J.K. Rowling, is a billionaire from all of these properties.

HOLMES: Yes, we would have cleared that up real quick.

LISOVICZ: Sorry.

HOLMES: Yes, it wouldn't have been a problem.

LISOVICZ: Sorry.

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: You're a hard-working journalist...

HOLMES: Well, thank you.

LISOVICZ: ... but not quite a billionaire yet.

HOLMES: But thank you.

HOLMES: You're there -- at the end, you wanted -- you're talking about movies there, and these movies certainly popular.

And a lot more people now watching movies on DVD players.

LISOVICZ: It's so much easier, isn't it?

The DVD player has finally grown up. It has surpassed the VCR in American homes for the first time. Nielsen Media Research says that 81 percent of American homes now have at least one DVD player, while around 79 percent of households have a VCR, just the latest piece of bad news for the VCR. DVD player sales overtook VCR sales three years ago.

Turning to the markets, well, stocks have been in the red all afternoon, hurt by a couple of weak reports on the U.S. economy.

Checking the numbers, the Dow industrials are down 41 points, or a third-of-a-percent. The NASDAQ composite is off 11.5, or half-a- percent.

And that's the latest from Wall Street. I will be back in about 40 minutes with a wrap-up of the trading day -- back to you, T.J.

HOLMES: Yes, Susan, I don't know anybody with a VCR anymore.

LISOVICZ: I had two of them, and they are both in the closet, never use them.

HOLMES: Yes, OK. Well, thank you, ma'am.

We are going to talk now about the busy mission that it has been. But the work, still not done for the shuttle astronauts. We have got some iffy weather now. It could mean high drama for Discovery's landing. We are going to check in with the crew to see how they are handling the news. That's just a bit later here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.

They're ready to come home, but the weather is not going to make it easy. I just spoke with the shuttle astronauts about winding up their mission. You will hear from them just ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: An update now on that plane crash in Concord, California -- we're being told now three adults were killed, and a 12- year-old is critically injured, following this plane crash.

That's coming from the California Highway Patrol. All four of them were on that plane at the time of the crash. There are no ground casualties. The plane was a single-engine Piper Malibu. And it was traveling from San Diego to Concord. Yes, it was moving -- it was traveling from San Diego to Concord -- once again, three adults killed, a 12-year-old critically injured. All of them were aboard that plane.

We had reported earlier that possibly there might have been some injuries on the ground. According to the California Highway Patrol, that is not the case.

We will stay on top of this, and bring you more information as we get it.

HOLMES: The biggest criminal case involving U.S. troops in Iraq could come to a head today. Military officials say a number of Marines are likely to face charges for the deaths of civilians in Haditha.

Attorneys for the three Marines now have told CNN their clients have been charged, one of the three with 13 counts of murder. The killings occurred in November of 2005. Four Marine Humvees were on a routine patrol, and the last in that convoy was struck by a roadside bomb, killing one Marine.

Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, men, women and children, were killed in the aftermath, when Marines opened fire at several homes in Haditha. Two AK-47s were found. The case centers on whether the killings were deliberate or the Marines were defending themselves from a perceived threat.

The price of war may be going up by almost $100 billion. The Associated Press reports that the Pentagon is asking for an extra $99.7 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. That would boost the total fiscal 2007 war budget to $170 billion, making this the costliest year since the fighting began.

About $10 billion of the sum would go for body armor and other protective equipment. Another $2.5 billion would be for defenses against roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices. So far, neither the White House nor Congress has signed on to the request.

PHILLIPS: And, send more troops, that was the message to Defense Secretary Robert Gates when he had breakfast this morning with some American troops in Iraq.

CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre was with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Well, why don't we get something to eat? And then we can sit down and have a conversation.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On his fourth day on the job, second in Iraq, America's new defense secretary invited a small group of 15 frontline troops to breakfast. While he didn't call it a surge, Gates asked the cross-section of soldiers what they thought about sending more troops into Baghdad. To a man and a woman, they said bring it on, just the opposite of what top commanders have advised until now.

Specialist Jason Glenn's response was typical.

SPEC. JASON GLENN, DEPLOYED TO IRAQ: I really think we need more troops here. I really think we need more troops in Iraq... I'm just thinking maybe more presence on the ground, more troops might be able to hold them off long enough to where we can actually get some of the Iraqis trained up strong so they can hold it themselves.

MCINTYRE: When Gates went around the room, there seemed to be general agreement more would be better. To surge or not to surge is the main question Gates is trying to resolve on his whirlwind visit, so the views of the grunts could carry considerable weight.

How do you say no when the troops you command say they need help?

GATES: They were not hesitant about giving it. I think like most people on the frontlines in a battle, they'd always like to have more forces.

MCINTYRE: General John Abizaid argued forcefully in recent months that pouring more U.S. troops into Baghdad would only slow Iraqi process. Other commanders say to surge for the sake of surging would do little but to run up the U.S. body count while providing only temporary relief from the violence.

So in meetings with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other members of his government, Gates wanted to find out what Iraq would do if the U.S. buys it more time with an infusion of fresh combat forces.

GATES: One of the strong messages that I received today was the desire of the Iraqi government to take a leadership role in addressing some of the challenges. MCINTYRE: Following the meetings, Gates said no specific troop numbers were discussed, only broad concepts.

(on camera): Robert Gates told the troops he talked to here in Baghdad that he didn't return to public life to play politics. He told them he is looking for a package of new ways to do things. That would include an increased focus on the economy and reconstruction and, primarily, ensuring that the Iraqi government doesn't fail.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Two top Democrats say the path of stability in Iraq may run through Syria. Senators John Kerry and Christopher Dodd holding talks with Syria's president in Damascus. The White House denouncing the trip, arguing the U.S. should not engage Syria.

Last month the Iraq Study Group urged the White House to involve Syria and Iran in efforts to reduce violence in Iraq. Kerry and Dodd say they urged Syria's government to play a more constructive role in the region.

HOLMES: In this corner, Rosie O'Donnell. In that corner, Donald Trump. And here's the latest salvo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, OWNER of MISS UNIVERSE ORG.: Rosie is really somebody that -- she's unattractive in every sense of the word. From a physical standpoint, she looks like hell. Inside, she's far worse than she is on the outside. And I understand Rosie. But Rosie inherently is a loser.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Wow! We're going to be taking sides here in the NEWSROOM.

Up next, we're going to have some of your e-mail comments about what is happening with the Donald and Rosie O'Donnell.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. It stings. The war of words between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump is getting downright nasty. And that's putting it nicely.

Yes, you wish you could give them a ring in the -- or a bell in the ring.

It started when O'Donnell sounded off over Trump letting Miss USA Tara Conner keep her crown. And from there, well, the verbal fist fight turned out into an all-out he said/she said brawl. now he's calling her a slob, among other things.

And Rosie, well, here's her take.

Ring the bell!

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSIE O'DONNELL, "THE VIEW": Look who's here today, Kelly. I was afraid to leave her home in case somebody with a comb-over came and stole her from me. So, yes, she is here now.

Do the thing. I love when you do the hair. Do the hair. Come on! Do it. Do it. Do it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not doing it again!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do it. Do it. Do it.

O'DONNELL: Listen, it's a live show. You get me while I'm in the mood. And frankly, here is my comment to him.

TRUMP: Well, Rosie's a loser. She's always been a loser. I've always understood it. She failed with her magazine. She failed with her show, as you know, at the end, it was doing very poorly in terms of the rating. Rosie is really somebody that -- she's unattractive in every sense of the word. From a physical standpoint, she looks like hell. Inside, she's far worse than she is on the outside. And I understand Rosie. But Rosie inherently is a loser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about what she said about you being the moral compass for 20 year-olds, and the country taking exception and saying, left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair...

TRUMP: Look at Rosie's moral compass. You tell me about a moral compass. You take a look at Rosie's moral compass. I mean, this woman is a disgrace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I hope I never tick off Donald Trump. What's next? Hard to say. Of course, Trump's threatening to sue.

CNN entertainment correspondent A.J. Hammer will have more tonight, 11:00 p.m. Eastern on our sister station "Headline News." He's got the exclusive interview with the Donald.

HOLMES: He would -- nobody can come up with a bad word to say about you, Miss Phillips.

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. You haven't known me that long, pal!

HOLMES: All right.

So again we're talking about Rosie and Donald. What is your take?

We asked for your take. PHILLIPS: We don't need the bell. We're not fighting.

HOLMES: Somebody's having a good time with it back there, though.

This is what you had to say.

Art from New York said, "I love it! One of America's most laughable personalities' complaining about how people laugh at him. Sue America, Donald, because we all pretty much agree with Rosie."

PHILLIPS: Tiffany from Denver says, "I think it would have been best if Donald did not make a statement. He put himself on her level by doing so. I would think he would not care what she would say on her little show!"

HOLMES: And Priscilla writes, "Let those two pit bulls get it on! ... Celebrities are spewing a lot of hatred these days. I guess the rest of us are lucky that we don't hear their true feelings about us."

PHILLIPS: You can tune into CNN tonight to hear Donald Trump say more about the brouhaha.

HOLMES: You could get more?

PHILLIPS: You can get more. And guess what?

Donald Trump gets exactly what he wants: more attention and more publicity. Because guess what? "The Apprentice" is coming out. He's Larry's guest tonight. That's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's all part of the master plan.

HOLMES: All right. Well, it's got a master plan for NASA here. It's been a pretty busy mission. It's not over yet. Still got a lot more work to do for the shuttle astronauts because they got some questionable weather that could mean some high drama for their landing. We're going to check in with the crew to see how they're handling that news about the weather. That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: This time tomorrow the Discovery astronauts will be a bit busy. Well, they hope to be a bit busy. The shuttle is set to land in Florida. Or maybe California. Well, maybe New Mexico. I asked the crew about it just a few minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK POLANSKY, SHUTTLE COMMANDER: My wife cares where we land and I believe that she and the other families will be going to Florida so, of course, from a personal note, it's always nice to go where they're going to be and we would also like to go to Florida because that's where the vehicle needs to be eventually processed. So it certainly helps the program to do that. But the real answer is, no, I really don't care where we land. I've had a lot of things to worry about on this flight, things that I could control and the weather is something I just can't, so I'm prepared to land at any of the three sites and we've trained a lot to the that, so wherever the weather is good and the folks decide to bring us into, we'll be prepared to do that.

HOLMES: And this next question now is for whoever might like to answer it. But because you had so many issues with taking off in the first place, there were some weather issues, you had issues with that -- trying to get that thing folded back up there, that solar array. It looks seems like little tidbits, little things keep cropping up.

Here is another weather situation. Do you just think that, my goodness, what is going on with this shuttle mission sometimes? Are we just cursed up here or what is the deal? Has some of that stuff crossing your minds? What do you all talk about amongst yourselves with the some of the issues you've had to deal with.

NICHOLAS PATRICK, MISSION SPECIALIST: We tend to keep ourselves busy with the time line and the tasks that the ground has given us to do. There isn't too much time to worry about all those things. Everything I think has gone pretty much according to planned.

We've trained for a lot of contingencies and many of those contingencies. many of those contingencies have come to pass and then there were some things we didn't train for. But there is nothing really out of the ordinary in a way that would worry any of us. It's been a fun mission and I think a successful one.

HOLMES: I certainly have to ask, Beamer, this question now. Your thoughts on having a little extra duty, I guess you could say, having to add another spacewalk, and then your thoughts as well on spacewalking your way right into history.

ROBERT CURBEAM, MISSION SPECIALIST: Well, like I said, you know, we're here to do a job and I'll do what the ground asks me to do. I was fortunate enough to get on this flight. I'm real happy with how they all came out. As far as the history part, like I said before, I really didn't know anything about that until actually the press told me when I think it was flight day seven or eight.

HOLMES: All right. Well, congratulations again anyway on the spacewalking into history. Like you said, you didn't know until after that. I want to ask the pilot now, Bill Oefelein about that solar array and the work you had to do to get that thing back into place.

I know you had to just kind of improvise a little bit. So tell me, when you do come back, what's going to be some of the advice maybe you have for Houston and the next crew if you ever have issues with that thing again? Some of your experience in having to maneuver that thing. I guess, what did you learn and what are you going to pass on to Houston and to the next shuttle crew?

WILLIAM OEFELEIN, SPACE SHUTTLE PILOT: I think one thing that we did well was exercise teamwork. That was for the IBP, (INAUDIBLE) and the space station, so the EDP (INAUDIBLE) side, particularly Beamer and Christer and in particular the ground.

I thought the way that we handled that situation and the way we worked together and talk amongst ourselves, those three entities, I think we were able to solve that problem. The groundwork's excellent. They gave us a lot of leeway to make some judgment calls based on what we were seeing and I think that worked very well.

So my advice would be to try to look at that and look at the way you can integrate the EV and the IV and the ground into those real- time decisions that need to be made.

HOLMES: Well, thank you all so much. You look great. We've been watching closely the entire mission. We can't wait to see you and can't wait for you to get back. You guys look great there. Looks like a nice class photo you have right there. So be safe. We can't wait to see you till you get back. Take care.

OEFELEIN: Thank you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Weather is the news right now and anytime it becomes the news, you can become a CNN correspondent. If you see severe weather happening, you can send us an i-Report -- go to CNN.com click on i- report. Or you can type in ireport@cnn.com on your cellphone and share your videos, share your photos with us. And we've got some fun i-Reports coming up.

Your kids, Santa's lap, the best of the worst. That's just ahead.

PHILLIPS: Also ahead, not only kidnapped but road tripped? At least this baby Jesus made it back in time for his birthday with quite a photo album. You're not going to want to miss this one.

HOLMES: Somebody stole baby Jesus. That ain't right.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it's blasphemous.

HOLMES: Yes, we're going to have that and the "Closing Bell" live from Wall Street. That is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, let's face it here. Santa is a jolly old elf to some but to others, he can just be scary. You've been sending us your photos of not-so-magic moments through our i-Reports.

PHILLIPS: Check this one out. Double trouble for Santa. Jennifer Govin (ph) says that as soon as Santa walked in, fear hit the faces of her daughters, Haley (ph) and McKenna (ph). She said they did not stop screaming until Santa was out of sight!

And 2-year-old Ethan, well, he didn't do much better either. His mom Jennifer tells us that as soon as she sat him on Santa's lap, well, Ethan started bawling. Poor little thing.

HOLMES: Well, and then you talk about change of heart, 14-month- old Zachary laughing and dancing the whole time, the hour he and his mom were standing in line for Santa, but mom says as soon as he got close to Santa, he just lost it. She said Zachary almost peeled off Santa's clothes trying to get away from him. Santa, of course, as always, smiling all the way through it.

Well, if you have some crazy photos like this, go to CNN.com and click on i-Report. Send us the snapshot and tell us the story. We'll be sharing them throughout the holiday season.

PHILLIPS: Now we're going to do a special screaming Santa picture.

HOLMES: Yes, this is good. This is good.

PHILLIPS: This is the best. You guys know Fredricka Whitfield. She anchors the weekend. She was working today. This is her little cutie pie. Look at that. Poor thing! He was not having a good time on Santa's lap.

I wish we had the other picture, because it's a great shot of his hair. He has got the total Don King 'do going on. She just refuses to cut his hair. That is probably why he is crying! Mamma, cut my hair. Cut my hair for the pictures, mom!

HOLMES: This is what the child asks for Christmas, give me some clippers, please.

PHILLIPS: Well, if you like i-Reports than you can watch CNN on Christmas Eve. The news as you saw it from wicked weather to wildfires to Mother Nature's true fury, the news as it happens online and on air. Don't miss the CNN special "I-REPORT FOR CNN," the year as you saw it. That's Sunday, December 24th, Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m.

HOLMES: All right, well, lamb of god, on the lamb. At least this seems to be the purpose-driven prank. As we guessed it, beats spending a year crammed in the box with other stuff.

Scott Brown has the story from Buffalo, New York and our affiliate WGRZ.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT BROWN, WGRZ REPORTER (voice-over): 10-year-old Julia Leising was one of the kids performing in the annual Christmas program at Saint Mark's in North Buffalo. Julia and her family love this time of year and their beautifully lit home shows it, complete with a manger set.

But last year at this time, something was missing from the manger: the baby Jesus. It had been stolen two days before Christmas.

JOHN LEISING, NORTH BUFFALO RESIDENT: Kind of felt like Jesus would be off limits to any kind of pranks or, you know, mischief, but he was gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt sad.

BROWN: Although it was just made of plastic, the statue had been part of the family's Christmases for years, and now they figured it was gone forever.

JOHN LEISING: Christmas was over, the stuff was packed away.

BROWN: And so you can imagine the family's surprise when the statue showed up on their doorstep eight months later. Along with it, a small book entitled "The Baby Jesus Chronicles." The booklet contained pictures of a road trip that the statue had been on all across New York state.

JOAN LEISING, NORTH BUFFALO RESIDENT: They took good care of him. There's pictures of him wearing a seat belt. There's pictures of him...

JOHN LEISING: In the shower.

JOAN LEISING: ... in the shower. They kept him clean. There's pictures of him camping. There's a drink so he's well hydrated.

JOHN LEISING: He was in a house making brownies.

JOAN LEISING: They didn't go anywhere real expensive and spend a lot of money on Jesus, but they showed him a really good time.

BROWN: Along with the booklet, there was a note from the kidnappers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have done the best possible job we could do to keep baby Jesus safe in our loving arms.

JOAN LEISING: We meant this adventure to be in no way either blasphemous or disrespectful.

BROWN (on camera): The season is all about forgiveness. Do you guys forgive?

JOHN LEISING: Sure. Sure. He had a nice time, they didn't harm him and we have him back for this Christmas.

BROWN: And so the baby Jesus was back where he belonged. Julia was singing about the joys of the season, and all was right with the world once more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Probably the best road trip Jesus ever had.

HOLMES: Baby Jesus hadn't been on a camping trip like that -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I don't think I can beat that, guys. Thanks very much.

Coming up at the top of the hour, should U.S. send more troops into Iraq? That is the question the new defense secretary, Robert Gates, is asking as he meets with Iraq's prime minister and with U.S. troops in Baghdad.

Just moments from now, we will hear from our own Jamie McIntyre, the only TV reporter traveling with the defense secretary.

And calling it the politics of fear. A Virginia Congressman tells his constituents that unless immigration is tightened, more Muslims will become members of the U.S. Congress. We're going to hear live from the Congressman this hour. We'll also speak exclusively with the incoming Muslim representative being targeted.

And he ran against President Bush in the last election. Today Senator John Kerry met with Syria's president in Damascus against the White House's wishes. We'll find out why and what was said.

All of those stories coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Back to you guys.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Wolf.

Also, we want to remind our viewers we're going to have the shuttle landing, I think about 3:57 Eastern time tomorrow, right?

HOLMES: Tomorrow. We're looking forward to it. Hopefully they can get home tomorrow. They've got three options, not all of them really good options for landing sites, so hopefully they get home tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: Closing bell about to ring on Wall Street.

HOLMES: Susan Lisovicz is standing by with a final look at the trading day.

Hello again, Susan.

(MARKET REPORT)

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