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Honoring President Ford; Military Poll; 2007: What's Next?; Farewell, Godfather
Aired January 01, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning, everyone, and happy New Year. I'm Tony Harris.
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Melissa Long, in today for Heidi Collins. Happy New Year.
HARRIS: Spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM this morning and stay informed. Here's what's on the rundown.
Scene of a crime. A hummer limousine. A Denver Broncos player killed in a shocking drive-by shooting.
LONG: Three thousand American lives lost now in Iraq. A new survey shows the president's war policies losing support with the military.
HARRIS: Stuck in the snow. A big winter storm clobbers the southwest and plains. Crews scour roadways for stranded motorists today, Monday, January 1, 2007. You are in the NEWSROOM.
2007 off to a frigid start. Parts of the desert Southwest to the Great Plains shivering today. The big winter storm that blew in just ahead of the new year is blamed for at least a dozen deaths. Parts of Colorado got up to four feet of snow. After barreling across the state, the snow and ice moved into the Plains. Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma all feeling it. Icy roads causing lots of accidents. A little bit of fun. Tens of thousands of people across the region without power. In New Mexico, a nightmare for holiday travelers. The storm dumped up to two feet of snow in Albuquerque, stranding hundreds of motorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been here for the last two days. I'm so miserable. I can't wait to get home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty frustrated that I can't get home, you know. They're talking about free shelters, but I live here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm worried because I should have my baby anytime. So the doctor's expecting me to go into labor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And, once again, Chad Myers, help me explain the little squeeze back that we've got going here. We've got weather conditions, current conditions down on the bottom there for a number of cities and then travel information there on the right of the screen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LONG: The body of the nation's 38th president is lying in state at the Capitol rotunda right now. Today President Bush and the first lady will pay their respects. CNN's Bob Franken has more on the somber ceremonies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Throughout the day, family members came to share their private grief with the public. Sons Jack and Steve Ford stayed on to personally thank many of the ordinary citizens who waited hours to pay their respects to the man called to lead the nation out of the Watergate debacle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He helped us get through a bad time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a very calming time after, you know, a very difficult period.
FRANKEN: On Saturday night, there were the eulogies from the highly placed, like the vice president, Ford's former chief of staff.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He assumed power without assuming errors.
FRANKEN: The somber occasion was also notable for those who did not show up. President Bush flies back from Crawford, Texas, today and heads straight to the Capitol. Neither his father, the first President Bush, nor President Clinton was here. For whatever reason, six of the nine Supreme Court justices were absent and most of the new congressional leaders have not showed up, Republicans as well as Democrats, at least so far. The final memorial service in Washington is held at the National Cathedral on Tuesday. Between now and then, those who were not on the "a" list get their chance to glimpse history and the man that everyone remembers as honest and decent.
JOHN BYERS, SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY: It's kind of nice now that he's passed and everyone's looking back at the positive things that he did and it's nice to be a part of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: Of course, the late President Ford known to be more low- key in terms of the funeral planning. Is that what we're seeing with the funeral services this time around? We compare it to President Reagan's service a couple years ago, Bob?
FRANKEN: Certainly by comparison, obviously, there's a lot of pomp and circumstance when a president of the United States dies, and we're seeing that. But comparatively, it is much more low-key.
And what is also interesting is there has been this steady trickle, not really a rush, this trickle of people who have been going through the Capitol rotunda. Several hundred have gone in this morning, although they've not had to endure long waits. But what is interesting is the nature of what's going on inside. Members of the family again today are greeting some of the people who are coming in, the ordinary citizens. It is Susan Ford and Steve Ford this morning who are saying hello. Michael Ford, this morning, along with Susan Ford, saying hello. Yesterday it was Jack Ford and Steve Ford, just mingling among the people who came in to say thank you for honoring their father
LONG: A very nice touch from the family.
Bob Franken in Washington, thank you and happy New Year to you.
CNN is the place for complete coverage of the funeral for former President Gerald Ford. The service begins at 10:30 Eastern. CNN's coverage will start at 9:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow.
HARRIS: Complete shock. A Denver Broncos spokesman reacting to this morning's shooting death of Darrent Williams. The Bronco's corner back had started in the team's final regular season game yesterday. Then early this morning, Denver police say he was riding in a limousine that was fired on from another vehicle. Three people inside the limo were hit. Williams was killed. For now, police have little to go on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONNY JACKSON, DENVER POLICE: At this point in time, it's an open investigation. We're looking for the vehicle that was involved in the situation. And that's where we're at.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any descriptions of vehicles?
JACKSON: At this point in time, we don't have a suspect description. We're hoping that we can talk to people who were witnesses and get good information on that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Williams was in his second year with the Broncos. He was just 24 years old.
It's a number, but so much more than that. The U.S. death toll in Iraq has reached 3,000. Behind that statistic, loved ones who live with those losses every day. The month of December was the deadliest for American troops during all of 2006. The White House says President Bush will make sure that the troops' sacrifice was not made in vein. The president plans to reveal his plan for Iraq sometime this month. A view of the Iraq War from those who fight. A new poll indicating U.S. service members less optimistic than ever about success in Iraq. Live to our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.
This is the fourth annual poll conducted by the "Military Times" newspaper. That is a privately owned newspaper. But it, of course, is widely read amongst military audiences.
Now, their poll for the year 2006 shows some pretty interesting statistics. According to the poll now, 35 percent of service members polled say they approve of the way the president is handling the war, 42 percent say they disapprove. So, for the first time, less of an approval of the president than ever before. Only 41 percent of military members now say the U.S. should have gone to war in Iraq. That's down from 65 percent back in 2003. And now only half the respondents say they believe success in Iraq is likely. That compares -- that 50 percent mark compares to 83 percent in 2004 who were predicting a successful outcome.
This poll is based on a survey of 945 active duty members of the military, Tony. And, of course, now, as we approach what is becoming the fifth year of this war, what's interesting is, many of these respondents, these military people surveyed in this poll have, of course, already served one tour in Iraq, are older, more experienced about combat. This poll now reflecting their feelings about the war.
Tony.
HARRIS: Sounds so interesting. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon.
Barbara, thank you.
LONG: Moms and dads, they know all about it. Little kids with sticky fingers. But listen to this scenario.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And, you know, we just can't tolerate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LONG: A mother accused of training her small children to shoplift? That story later in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: 2007 looking ahead. Will the new Congress reshape Washington? What about the war in Iraq? Dive into the future with us here in the NEWSROOM.
LONG: And taking the mad out of mad cow. Researchers say they can do it in a petri dish. Their results ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: It is a new year. Changes in the air from war to politics. What's ahead in 2007? And CNN's special correspondent Frank Sesno takes us down that road. He joins us live from Washington.
Frank, as always, great to talk to you, sir. Happy New Year to you.
FRANK SESNO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Happy New Year, Tony. HARRIS: Hey, why don't we break this out into a couple of big headers here, Iraq, the new Congress, and maybe -- well this is not so much '07, but it is, presidential politics 07/'08. Let's start with Iraq.
The president is going to announce at some point here in January his plan for Iraq. Read some tea leaves for us. Is the president going to escalate the war in Iraq?
SESNO: Well, it certainly looks, by all indications, hints, comments, suggestions, that he's going to increase the troop strength and try for this surge idea of trying to get some control back in Iraq. And that's what's become most controversial. That's the lightning rod of this whole thing and it's what people are focusing on, the number of troops, boots on the ground. But I think that what's going to end up happening is the president -- I don't think, I know -- is the president will produce this as part of a larger strategy, a larger move in Iraq, and that's how this bottom line is going to be measured against all the other things that are happening there, diplomatically, politically, militarily, and even regionally.
HARRIS: So he's not simply going to say, we're going to up the troop levels by 30,000?
SESNO: He's not simply going to say that. That may be what the media focuses on. It certainly is going to be what the chattering political classes here in Washington focus on and elsewhere. But there's got to be much more to it than that. Simply putting more numbers in there won't do it and won't be credible and he knows that.
HARRIS: Then there's the aspect of the job. We'll get to what the troops will actually do -- we'll get to that in a moment. But let's listen to the president talking about resolutions, predictions in his own words here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People always ask me about a New Year's resolution. My resolution is that they'll be safe and that we'll come closer to our objective. That we'll be able to help this young democracy survive and thrive, and, therefore, we'll be writing a chapter of peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: What do you think, Frank? The objectives here.
SESNO: Well, it's a grand tradition, Tony. You and I make resolutions all the time. Americans do across the country. We build them around optimism, not always realism. That they'll be safe.
We have a grim reminder today, we passed the 3,000 killed mark. They're not safe. That's the problem with Iraq, it's a very dangerous place and it's gotten more so.
So the president's resolution notwithstanding, what's going to shape Iraq, as you said, is not merely how many troops are there, but what are they actually doing.
HARRIS: The job.
SESNO: Yes, exactly. What are they doing and how are they working with Iraqi security forces? Are the Iraqi security forces reliable? What is there of the Iraqi government? What is the Iraqi government and can they possibly be effective and turn things around? There's going to be a lot of pressure and a gigantic question mark for 2007.
HARRIS: Frank, let's talk about the president and this new Congress in a couple of weeks here. The Democrats are promising investigations. I don't know if it's a threat. For some it might sound like a threat. But will Democrats carry through with this notion of investigations, finding out what happened, when, who knew what and when?
SESNO: Tony, there is no question that the Democrats, back in control in the Congress, are going to flex their muscles. They're going to do a little, you know, weight training. They've been doing that in the break here. Clearing their throats.
Carl Levin, Armed Services Committee chairman, says I want to know about waste fraud and abuse. I want to know where the dollars are going. I spoke to someone who's quite likely to launch some hearings on why U.S. forces have not been better equipped and armed and protected up till now.
But they also need to walk a fine line and they've talked about this, too, is not going overboard with this. So, enough to ask the questions that they think they need to ask and Americans want to get answers to, that the Congress has not pursued as part of their oversight responsibilities up to now, but do they want to go so far that they sound strident and, you know, finger-wagging?
HARRIS: And, but, Frank, will we get something on Social Security? Will we get a domestic -- hello, will we get a domestic agenda?
SESNO: All right. Guess what? You know, we're talking about 2007, right? Today's the first day. But next year, 2008, the very first baby boomer born in 1946, age 62, can still take early retirement, will sign that first Social Security check. So the baby boomer wave is here.
I'm calling Bush the last chance kid in 2007. You know, Clinton was the comeback kid. He's got the last chance in 2007 on a variety of things. Social Security is a big one.
If I had to bet today, I'd say no. I just think there's too many very complicated, moving parts to Social Security. Do you raise the retirement age? Do you tax more benefits? Do you restrict benefits? Do you go with the private accounts? And while there are a lot of Democrats and Republicans who are saying, we can do a deal and the president's saying we can do a deal, actually getting the deal, wow, that's hard to see, especially with a divided Washington like we've got.
HARRIS: The view today of the '08 presidential campaign season is, for a lot of people, a sense of inevitability when it comes to Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Do you share that sense of inevitability, that these two people will be their respective parties' nominees?
SESNO: I'm not big on inevitability in presidential politics. I mean who would have thought we would have seen impeachment. And that certainly wasn't inevitable. And the outcome was wholly unpredictable. I mean, today, clearly the front runners are, you know, Hillary and McCain. If you look at any poll, that's where it goes. But, you know, it's the first day of 2007.
HARRIS: Isn't it way to early -- yes.
SESNO: OK. I mean who is Barack Obama? What is John Edwards' effect going to be? Has anybody really heard of Mitt Romney? I mean, you know, Hillary Clinton, polarizing, popular among some, great name recognition, huge amounts of cash in the bank. Same with John McCain. But, you know, a lot of people don't like him. He's unpredictable. So there are a lot of things that can happen here. Right now they've got the head of steam, but it's a long railroad ahead.
HARRIS: Just promise me that you will help us sort through this in '07.
SESNO: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: Will you do that?
SESNO: All seeing, all knowing, I'll bring the crystal ball every week, Tony.
HARRIS: All right, Frank. We appreciate it.
SESNO: My pleasure.
HARRIS: Thanks, Frank.
LONG: And still to come in the NEWSROOM, death of a dictator uncensored. Iraqis are getting a glimpse of Saddam Hussein's final moments all captured on a camera cell phone. Again, that's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And a show of force by troops in Somalia. Beating back rebels. That story in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LONG: The godfather of soul has been laid to rest. A fitting tribute at the James Brown Arena in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Thousands stopped by to honor the man who changed American music history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: The whole world changed their beat because of James Brown. Rap started from James Brown. Hip-hop started from James Brown. Funk started from James Brown.
MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: And when I saw him move, I was mesmerized. I've never seen a performer perform like James Brown. And right then and there, I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of James Brown.
CHARLES BOBBIT, JAMES BROWN'S MANAGER: My wife, God bless her soul, talked me in going to a James Brown show. We walked in, sat down. Mr. Brown walked on stage and the bells went off. I said, I'm getting me a job with him and I'm going to be the manager.
REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: Beyond the service today, there's memory he carefully carved out and the legacy built upon his manifest talents. There's enough substance and legacy for all of you to share.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got on the good foot because of James Brown.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: James Brown passed away, as you know, early on Christmas morning of congestive heart failure at the age of 73. And make sure you're watching CNN, 3:00 p.m. Eastern this afternoon for a special look back at Saturday's funeral service for the godfather of soul. Quite a celebration, that's what they called it.
HARRIS: Wasn't that something.
LONG: Yes.
HARRIS: All right.
Still to come this morning, blasted by winter. A wide stretch of the heartland starts the new year in the deep freeze. Details ahead in the NEWSROOM.
LONG: A momentous symbol, 3,000 Americans killed in Iraq. The tragic cost of war in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And just hours after his season ended, violence takes his life. A Denver Broncos player killed early this morning. Details straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Complete shock. A Denver Broncos spokesman reacting to this morning's shooting death of Darrent Williams. The Broncos quarterback had started in the team's final regular season game New Year's Eve. Then this morning, Denver police say he was riding in a limousine that was fired on from another vehicle. Three people inside the limo were hit. Williams was killed. More from our affiliate KWGN and Reporter Greg Nieto. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREG NIETO, REPORTER, KWGN (on camera): We are here at the intersection of 11th and Spear, near downtown Denver. And it does appear the deceased party in this case is none other than Denver Bronco Quarterback Darrent Williams.
I'll give you a live look, here, behind me. Here you can see the stretch H2 limousine that still rests on top of the curb, near the intersection of 11th and Spear.
This all started at about 2:00 this morning, according to Denver police, a second vehicle, a second party pulls up alongside the Hummer and fires multiple shots inside the vehicle. Three people are hit. All three people taken to local hospitals; two individuals have serious injuries. A third party, again, apparently Denver Quarterback Darrent Williams shot, taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
You can make out some of the bullet holes, there, toward the back of the vehicle. You can also see a little bit further back, you can make out the name of the company, Advantage Limousine, kind of gives you an idea of exactly who owned this vehicle. Again, the limousine has been here a number of hours, as the investigation considered ongoing at this point. We'll actually --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Man, Williams was in his second year with the Broncos. He was 24 years old.
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Have you noticed, 2007 is off to a frigid start. People are shivering from the desert to the High Plains. The big winter storm that blew in just ahead of the new year is blamed for at least a dozen deaths. Parts of Colorado got up to four feet of snow.
After barreling across Colorado, the snow and the ice moved into the Plains. Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma all feeling the icy weather. The roads, due to the ice, causing a lot of accidents. Tens of thousands of people all across that region are without power.
In New Mexico, a nightmare for holiday travelers. The storm dumped up to two feet of snow in Albuquerque, stranding hundreds of motorists.
So, what a way to spend New Year's Eve? Stuck in your car on a snowbound highway. That's how hundreds of motorists in New Mexico ushered in '07. KOAT's Sasha Androtte (ph) has the story from Albuquerque.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SASHA ANDROTTE (ph), REPORTER, KOAT: It's not much of a party, but this is where hundreds of people spent New Year's Eve.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty frustrated, I can't get home, you know? They are talking about free shelters, but I live here.
ANDROTTE (ph): Drivers determined to get out of Albuquerque before '07 opted to sit in traffic and wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we are trying to go back to Edgewood and kind of have a party tonight. You know, the rest of the family is back there.
ANDROTTE (ph): In this long line, everybody had a story. Chris Carpenter lives in the East Mountains, but he was at (INAUDIBLE) all day with his wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She just got her gallbladder removed this morning.
ANDROTTE (ph): Now he's trying to get home to take care of his dog.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's probably cold and hungry.
ANDROTTE (ph): And Dawn Linganfalter (ph) is nine months pregnant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm already in position to have my baby anytime. So the doctor is expecting me to go into labor.
ANDROTTE (ph): As if that's not enough weight to carry, she also has four fussy kids in the back seat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The baby is cranky. He wants to get out and go outside and play.
ANDROTTE (ph): But no matter how badly people wanted to get home --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Real bad.
ANDROTTE (ph): Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because we don't want to be stuck in the car all night.
ANDROTTE (ph): State police wouldn't budge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all shut down.
ANDROTTE (ph): The icy roads and heavy fog made this a New Year's Eve to remember, or maybe one people would rather forget.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: Chad Myers is in the CNN Weather Center. That's record snow for Albuquerque, right?
(WEATHER REPORT) HARRIS: The U.S. death toll in Iraq has reached 3,000 as the military marked that somber milestone, there's this: For the first time, more U.S. troops disapprove of how President Bush is handling the Iraq war, than approve.
That's from a new "Military Times" poll; 35 percent of service members polled say they approve, 42 percent disapprove. Only 41 percent of military members now say the U.S. should have gone to war in Iraq. That's down from 65 percent in 2003.
And now only half the respondents say success in Iraq is likely. In 2004, 83 percent were predicting a successful outcome. The "Military Times" says 945 active duty troops responded to the survey, and the findings are not representative of the military as a whole.
Back now to that somber number; 3,000 American troops killed in Iraq. How does that compare to wars past? CNN's Joshua Levs has that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): Crossing the 3,000 mark in the U.S. military death toll adds fuel to the raging debate over U.S. involvement in Iraq, where casualties are counted one by one.
In the wars of decades past, casualty figures were much, much higher. World War II, more than 400,000 U.S. troops killed, 670,000 wounded. In the years of the Korean war, more than 36,000 killed, 100,000 wounded. Vietnam, more than 58,000 killed, 150,000 wounded, over a nine-year period.
Nearly 30 years later, the relatively short Persian Gulf war marked a new era, with new technology; 382 U.S. troops killed, 467 wounded. Operation Enduring Freedom, focused mostly in Afghanistan, is still under way. More than 350 U.S. troops have been killed. And that brings us back to Iraq.
(on camera): Different sides in the debate over the Iraq war have at times pointed to the death toll, and these previous death tolls, to bolster their arguments, but there's a story behind every number. You can see many of the names, faces and stories of U.S. troops who have been killed in Iraq at CNN.com. Joshua Levs, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: Missing today in Indonesia, rescue crews are heading to the scene of where they believe a plane may have gone down, a passenger plane may have gone down in bad weather. That flight issued a distress signal. There are believed to be 102 people onboard that plane.
And also from Indonesia, the search for survivors and victims. After a ferry sinks in the Java Sea, at least 400 people are missing. A government official says about 200 survived when that ship sank on Friday. One survivor says the vessel was caught in a violent storm, hit hard by massive waves for 10 hours before sinking. Local hospital workers have set up tents to serve as a makeshift morgue.
HARRIS: Live pictures from Washington, the Rotunda of the nation's capitol where the body of former President Gerald Ford lies in state. A spotlight on the coffin there, an honor guard keeping watch. The casket arrived at the capitol on Saturday for an official state funeral. Mourners have been reflecting on Ford's contribution to the country, including the pardoning of Richard Nixon.
Today is the last day for the public to walk past the coffin -- Susan Ford, you see there, lower left of your screen -- the nation's 38th president. Later today, President Bush and the first lady will pay their respects. Tomorrow, Ford's remains will rest outside of the Senate chamber before a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral.
President Bush has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. Ford is to be buried Wednesday in the town where he grew up, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He will be laid to rest near the presidential library and museum bearing his name.
CNN is the place to be for complete coverage of the funeral for former President Gerald Ford. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. CNN's coverage will start at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
An update on a veteran politician who collapsed at the services for President Ford. William Bromfield, a former Michigan congressman, was released from a Washington hospital yesterday. He collapsed Saturday during a service at the capital. The 84-year-old Bromfield was attended by Senator Bill Frist, who is a surgeon. A capitol doctor took over, and Bromfield was taken to the hospital. Bromfield served in Congress with former President Ford.
LONG: The death of a dictator, uncensored. Iraqis are getting a glimpse of Saddam Hussein's final moments, all captured on a camera cell phone. Ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LONG: A mystery is unfolding in Thailand. Who is behind the Bangkok bombings? Several blasts killed three people and wounded more than 20 last night. Authorities canceled New Year's Eve celebrations. Two more blasts hit after midnight. Officials with the military-backed government are not linking the attacks to Islamic militants. They were blamed for other attacks in recent years.
HARRIS: Rebel forces on the run in Somalia. Government troops backed by the Ethiopian military now control most of the country. They captured the town of Kismayo this morning. That was the rebel's last major stronghold. Somalia's prime minister says three members of Al Qaeda were hiding there.
Those three are wanted in connection with the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. Government spokesmen says they've asked that the U.S. help catch any escaping militant fighters who may be trying to flee the country. LONG: Saddam Hussein's execution. Big business in Iraq. The video, unedited, uncensored is a hot commodity today. CNN's Arwa Damon has more from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): It's a Bluetooth frenzy. Iraqis in this cell phone shop in Sadr City pass on the uncensored video of Saddam Hussein's execution.
ABBAS MANSOUR, MOBILE STORE OWNER (through translator): It's something amazing. No one really believed that Saddam would be executed, because the people were so scared of him, and his regime. So anything of him on TV or on mobile phones, they want to see it. It's like a thirst that cannot be quenched. Even little kids are looking for it.
DAMON: And not just on cell phones. It's also being dumped onto thumb drives, and this man is taking the distribution one step further. We are going to copy it onto CD or tape and put it in the market places, he says. Because there is demand for it.
In the footage that the Iraqi government released, the video ends after the noose is placed around Saddam's neck. The concern among some officials was that if the government releases the execution in full it, will be viewed as being a brutal regime.
(On camera): But then, the unedited cell phone footage appeared on the Internet. Obviously shot in plain view of the authorities who were in attendance. Its distribution has preempted any rumors that Saddam Hussein might not be dead.
(Voice over): At Longbus Askar (ph) home, a triple celebration. His nephew's engagement, the religious holiday of Eid and Saddam's death. Even though these Kurdish family believes that Saddam deserved to be hanged for his crimes, they don't agree with the way that the execution was allowed to be shot and circulated.
MAHMOUD ASKAR, IRAQI RESIDENT (through translator): The way the whole thing was filmed was a bad decision by the government and ultimately helped Saddam because the people sympathize with him.
DAMON: But sympathy was hard to find among those who found satisfaction in the brutal images of their former dictator falling to his death. Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Very quickly, this just in to CNN. We're getting this news from Gaza, that armed militants have kidnapped a photographer with a French news agency, working in Gaza. The French news agency AFP, that happened today. The photographer is 50 years old and of Peruvian national.
His name Ami Ruzuri (ph), 50 years old, a Peruvian national. We understand he was kidnapped as he was coming from the French news agency AFP, by armed militants. We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest news as we get it.
LONG: Now, shifting gears just a little bit. Moms, dads know all about it. Little children with sticky fingers, but listen to this scenario.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As parents, you know, we're taught to look after our kids and what Miss Lopez did was a selfish act. She put her kids in harm, and, you know, we just can't tolerate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LONG: The selfish act? The mother accused of training her small children to shoplift. That's later in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Also, just hours after his season ended, violence takes his life. A Denver Broncos player killed early this morning.
LONG: And what a way to start the New Year. Snowbound on a highway, or shivering at home in the dark. The big storm ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You already know to catch us weekday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to Noon Eastern, but did you know you can take us anywhere with you on your iPod? The CNN NEWSROOM Podcast available 24/7 on your iPod that you just picked up for Christmas.
LONG: You know this, as a parent. Parents you are supposed to teach your children right from wrong, good from bad, please and thank you.
HARRIS: Yes. Magic words. But a Florida woman is accused of teaching her kids to break the law. Don Germaise, our affiliate station, WFTS explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON GERMAISE, REPORTER, WFTS (voice over): Plant City police say they were stunned to learn their shoplifting ring they broke up at the local Wal-Mart was really a family circle. They say Maria Lopez was teaching her six children to shoplift.
CAPT. RUSSELL WILSON, PLANT CITY, FLORIDA POLICE: We discovered that the mother, included her six -- her children, ages two through 10, in helping her steal merchandise from the store, without paying.
GERMAISE: According to the police report, Lopez, quote, "Instructed and had all six children assist her in hiding and stealing the property. Using children as young as two, three, and four years old to steal two shopping carts full of merchandise from Wal-Mart. $500 worth.
WILSON: As parents, you know, we're taught to look after our kids and what Miss Lopez did was a selfish act. She put her kids in harm, and, you know, we just can't tolerate it.
SAMANTHA COLLINS, FRIEND: That's not Maria whatsoever.
GERMAISE: Samantha Collins is one of the suspect's best friends. She can't believe Maria Lopez would do anything like that.
COLLINS: She is not that type of person. She loves her kids. She would never teach anybody -- much less her kids -- to shoplift.
GERMAISE (on camera): Nobody answered our knock at the door when we came into the Lopez's home, although there's plenty of evidence in the yard that there are children around. We talked to DCF and the Hillsborough County child protection team. Neither would confirm whether or not they have begun an investigation in this case. In Plant City, Don Germaise, ABC Action News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come, twin toddlers found after a week, the accused kidnapper, their biological mother. That story in the NEWSROOM.
LONG: A momentous symbol, 3,000 Americans killed in Iraq. The tragic cost of war in the NEWSROOM
HARRIS: Honoring a president; Gerald Ford lies in state. President Bush among the mourners who will pay respects today. Details on the Ford funeral, in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK, the party is over. Let the cleanup begin. From Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge, millions of Americans stayed up late to usher in 2007.
LONG: We didn't.
HARRIS: No.
LONG: A look now at the celebrations from our Senior Correspondent Allen Chernoff.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD COUNTING: Five, four, three, two, one!
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): In New York's Times Square, it was estimated more than a million revelers, a record number, ushered in the New Year. The giant crystal ball dropping into what looked like a sea of humanity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your plans for 2007?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All the best, peace and good wishes to everybody!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Plans for 2007? Your resolutions?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: None, whatsoever. Just have a good time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have a good time? That works! What about you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have a good time, and hopefully fall in love, and stay in love.
CHERNOFF: By the time 2007 arrived the big crowd was well versed at counting backwards. Each hour brought another mock countdown, complete with fireworks and confetti.
In Key West, Florida, they don't drop a crystal ball to bring in the New Year, they drop a drag queen, named Sushi, in big red stiletto. They've been doing it now for 10 years. A Texas-sized party in San Antonio with some 250,000 people taking part in the festivities. There were fireworks on Chicago's lake front to welcome in 2007. Some celebrants even waxed alcoholic on the difference between New Year's in the Big Apple and the Second City.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm from New York, and here I am in Chicago, celebrating New Year's Eve! Yes!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've got the bears. That's our ball! Woo!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Woo!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah!
CHERNOFF: There was another big street party in New Orleans, where they dropped a big pot of gumbo to signal the New Year, in the city still struggling to come back from Hurricane Katrina.
Of course, it wouldn't be a New Year's Eve without plenty of music and this year was no exception. From the Goo-Goo Dolls in California to the B-52s in Atlantic City to Lionel Ritchie in Las Vegas, they were singing in the New Year, 2007. Allen Chernoff, CNN, Times Square, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: How about that? You are with CNN. You're informed. Good morning everyone. Happy New Year. I'm Tony Harris.
LONG: Good morning, I'm Melissa Long in today for Heidi Collins. Happy New Year.
HARRIS: Developments keep coming into the NEWSROOM on this Monday, the first day of January 2007. Here's what's on the run down.
LONG: Three thousand American deaths, now, in Iraq. A new poll shows President Bush loosing war support among members of the U.S. military. HARRIS: Denver police looking into a high-profile shooting. A Broncos player gunned down as he rode in a Hummer limo.
LONG: And stuck in the snow on the holiday. Crews search highways in the Southwest and Plains for stranded drivers, going nowhere, fast, in the NEWSROOM.
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