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Hundreds of Gunmen Reportedly Killed in Fierce Battle North of Najaf; Congress Reacts to Troop Level Increase in Iraq; Hillary Clinton & Iowa; California Primary; Man Survives Mountain Lion Attack; Super Ads for Super Bowl

Aired January 28, 2007 - 17:00   ET

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

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Susan Roesgen, filling in for Fredricka Whitfield, and you're in the NEWSROOM.
(NEWSBREAK)

ROESGEN: Now our breaking news in Iraq. Hundreds of gunmen reportedly killed in a fierce battle north of Najaf. This ongoing fighting triggered by a tip that gunmen were planning to slaughter Shiite pilgrims and assassinate Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric.

With the very latest from Baghdad is CNN's Arwa Damon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The events that led to today's fierce gun battle just North of the holy Shia city of Najaf began just before dawn.

At about 5:30 in the morning, Iraqi police in Najaf received a tip that gunmen were amassing just north of the city with the intent of attacking Najaf to kill senior Shia clerics, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, arguably the most influential Shia cleric in Iraq. They were also planning on taking back control of the province.

Iraqi police and the Iraqi army responded to this information. We are hearing that when they arrived on site, they were shocked by what they saw -- estimates of up to 600 armed gunmen, dug in, employing sophisticated military techniques, and modern weaponry were waiting for them.

The fierce fighting began at that point. At one point, after suffering a number of casualties, the Iraqi security forces withdrew, calling in a U.S. air and ground support. The Americans did respond. We are also hearing that the Iraqis called in one of their S.W.A.T. teams from a neighboring province known as the Scorpion Battalion.

Now, the fire-fighting continued throughout the entire day. The Iraqis are estimating at this point that some 250 to 300 insurgents were killed. They have not seen or been able to collect any dead bodies. However, they are basing that estimate just on the amount of air power that has continued to rain down on that area.

The U.S. military confirming that one of its helicopters did crash, killing both U.S. military personnel on board. Their remains have been recovered.

This battle still ongoing.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN: And joining us now on the phone from San Diego is Major General Donald Shepperd, one of our CNN military analysts.

General Shepperd, Arwa Damon just mentioned the two soldiers lost in the downing of that military helicopter. The second military helicopter to go down in just a week.

What do you make of that?

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Susan. Actually, it's the third helicopter, the second military. The other one is a Blackwater helicopter.

We know it's two people on board. It could be an Apache helicopter, although it's not been confirmed by the military. But a couple of observations I would make on what we know right now.

This is a well-planned operation. And we saw the assassination of U.S. soldiers last week. These insurgents are becoming very sophisticated. They are well armed, they are well planned. They probably have a lot of inside information. So we are surprised at the level of fighting, the sophistication of the fighting.

The good news, if there is any in this, is that Iraqi and U.S. forces were able to respond together, and it looked like effectively. Now, we're hearing reports of 200 or 300 dead. Those are obviously preliminary and we don't. You won't have an accurate account at this point.

But again, sophistication of the attackers and the ability of Americans and U.S. forces -- Iraqi and U.S. forces to work together is the only good news coming out of this.

ROESGEN: Well, General, while we're looking at the cell phone video of the actual fight there, the Iraqi police said they underestimated by the number of insurgents that they expected to face there. I mean, what does that say about our intelligence sources, our own American intelligence sources in that area?

SHEPPERD: Yes. Well, intelligence is always the problem. And the problem really, Susan, is you get so much intelligence, you have to decide what's right and what you're going to believe.

Again, so much of our -- of the Iraqi forces, particularly the police forces there, are infiltrated with misinformation. So are you always guessing.

Now, we knew that the -- that the celebrations association with the holiday of Ashura were going to big targets. So security has been increased there. But again, intelligence is always a weak point because are you guessing, and you can always be wrong, as we have been.

ROESGEN: Well, General, from roadside bombs blowing up our troops this week, to our helicopter shot out of the sky, it's been an especially deadly week for American troops. What is our American military, supposedly the most sophisticated in the world, doing to keep our servicemen safe?

SHEPPERD: Well, a couple of things.

First of all there, is no doubt that with the additional 21,000 troops that we have sent to Iraq or are being sent to Iraq that you're going to see more American casualties. Not only are you going to see it from the numbers, the sheer numbers themselves, but also they'll be more and more involved in the offensive operations, again, as we operate with Iraqi forces. So we're going to go through a period of time where we're going to see increased casualties because of what we're doing and the additional forces.

Now, over time, whether this will play out and be -- end up with reduced American casualties is just something we don't know. It's a risky strategy we're employing. It's a dangerous place. And this is going to go on a long time if we stay, Susan.

ROESGEN: OK.

Major General Don Shepperd, one of our CNN military analysts.

Thanks for your insight today.

In other news in Iraq, mortars fired at a girls' school in a Sunni section of Baghdad killed five children today. The victims were between 12 and 14 years old and they were taking their midterm exams.

Elsewhere in the capital, at least 19 people were killed in different bombings and shootings, and the U.S. military announced the deaths of three more American servicemen. One died from wounds in fighting in Anbar Province and two others killed in bombings in the Baghdad are Saturday.

Coming up tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, a more in-depth look at this conflict in Iraq. Join Rick Sanchez as he examines the fighting in one of Baghdad's deadliest zones -- Haifa Street. We'll also hear more from American soldiers. "The Battle for Haifa Street," tonight, only on CNN.

You know, President Bush's plan to build up troop levels in Iraq is the subject of heated debate on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers opposed to it are digging in their heels.

So let's go live to the White House now and CNN's Kathleen Koch -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Susan, that they are. And just days after President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, asked lawmakers to give his new man time to work. However, instead, there is a virtual potpourri of resolutions now brewing to express congressional disapproval of the troop insurgence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH (voice over): The administration has made its views clear: Any congressional resolution opposing the president's new troop increase...

ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries.

KOCH: Top Democrats reacted angrily.

SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: It's irresponsible. He ought to be very careful about statements like that. This is a -- this is a Democratic process.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: Well, the person who has emboldened the enemy is the President in his policies. He went in without a plan, he went in prematurely, he went in without enough troops.

KOCH: Republican supporters echoed President Bush, challenging critics to come up with their own plan if they so dislike the new strategy.

SEN. DAVID VITTER (R), LOUISIANA: I think they have a responsible debate. We need to compare plans side by side because there is no easy answer.

SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: If they're really concerned about the lives of our soldiers and they believe that this is a futile effort, then cut off the funds now so that no more lives are lost.

KOCH: So far, none of the competing resolutions the Senate is considering would cut off funding. But one prominent Democrat says that could come next.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: It's a difficult thing to do, because you want to protect the troops that are there and not allow an escalation. But in the upcoming funding resolution in the next month will be our second step.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: Now, test votes are due out as soon as this week on the resolutions. The White House hoping that the competing resolutions end up diluting any appearance of a major groundswell against the president's plan -- Susan.

ROESGEN: Well, Kathleen, if you don't cut off the funding, what realistically could those resolutions accomplish?

KOCH: Well, the resolutions are non-binding. They have no teeth and, therefore, they really couldn't do anything to directly change the progress or lack thereof of the U.S. action in Iraq. But again, the key is, if they take that second step, passing in the future, in the next month or so, a resolution that would cut off funding, Congress did do that during the Vietnam War, but that's a very controversial, very drastic step that many members of both parties are loath to take right now.

ROESGEN: Do you think they have the votes for it?

KOCH: That kind of a measure, I think it's highly unlikely.

ROESGEN: OK.

Kathleen Koch reporting live for us tonight in Washington.

Thank you.

KOCH: You bet.

ROESGEN: One of the Bush administration's biggest supporters on the Iraq policy steps into the race for the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE (R), FMR. ARKANSAS GOV.: What I've got to do is do what I've always done when I've run marathons, and that's run my race, my pace, and keep my focus on the finish line and not the start line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Who is Mike Huckabee? Learn more about the former Arkansas governor and presidential hopeful, next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all a mistake. I was paid to drive it up here for someone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: That's his story. The latest chapter in the saga of the escaped con accused of stealing Crystal Gayle's tour bus.

Could it be another dream night for "Dreamgirls"? We're heading live to the SAG Awards, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROESGEN: Now the race for the White House. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee says he's in. The Arkansas Republican says he'll file papers tomorrow to form a presidential exploratory committee.

Huckabee hopes to repeat the success of another former governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton. But Huckabee acknowledges that another Clinton has captured the limelight for now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUCKABEE: There's a sense of sort of a rock star following that she has in the Democrat Party, and I would be the first to tell you that, you know, my star is not quite that bright in the firmament just yet. But throughout -- throughout our history, what we've often seen is that this country loves an underdog. This country loves to see somebody that all of the pundits and the conventional wisdom writes off as absolutely an impossible likely candidate and/or contender.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: On the issues, Huckabee has offered qualified support for President Bush's Iraq policies and opposes proposals to cut funding for the war. He supports President Bush's immigration plan and he says some GOP proposals to deport illegal immigrants are unworkable. And he's also a staunch opponent of abortion rights.

Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman said today he would consider voting for a Republican in the 2008 presidential race. Lieberman, an Independent, often supports President Bush's Iraq pro-war policies, and he said today he'll make his presidential decision based on a whole range of issues.

So who has got the clout when it comes to presidential primaries? So far it hasn't been California, but a change in the works. What that is, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has an ax.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he has Bud Light.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: For some Super Bowl viewers, the commercials are the best part of the game. What kind of craziness can we look forward to this year?

And this...

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Jacqui Jeras in the CNN weather center.

The homes of both of those Super Bowl cities in the arctic freeze tonight, and some heavy snow to their neighbors. Check out this video, the lake-effect snow machines are kicking in. We'll have more on that and Monday's forecast, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

ROESGEN: Now a look at where we've got all that snow from.

(WEATHER REPORT) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HAMM, SURVIVED MOUNTAIN LION ATTACK: We were about a quarter of a mile from the parkway when it attacked me. And from then on, it was about a four-to five-minute fight.

ROESGEN: Attacked by a mountain lion and he lived to tell about it. But the best part of the story is who saved his life. That's coming up on CNN.

Plus, the governor says it's time to get in the game. California's push to move up its presidential primary.

And if you watch the Super Bowl just to see the commercials, stay tuned to look at some super ads here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROESGEN: And more on this story just in to CNN, a fire at an oil refinery in Texas City. That's near Galveston, Texas.

Officials with the refinery say no chemical has been released, there is no danger to anybody in the area. But they have blocked off roads around the refinery as the refinery's own internal fire department puts out the fire.

The fire was at a pump house inside. They say there have been no injuries.

On the political beat, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is barnstorming across Iowa today, her first trip to the pivotal caucus state as a presidential candidate. She is actually trailing in the polls there, but she's drawing big crowds.

And our CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley is live in Davenport -- Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Susan, you're right, she is drawing terrific crowds here in Davenport, as she did in Des Moines yesterday. The difference really today is she is getting tougher questions from her audiences.

First, about healthcare and her idea that should be a universal healthcare plan. She was challenged on that, noting that she tried to get universal healthcare when she was first lady and it sort of ended in a debacle. She said, "Listen, I've learned a lot and now people really want to work behind this plan. And I think we can get a political consensus."

But the biggest sticking point in Iowa is her "yes" vote on Iraq. She was challenged by a man who said, "Listen, why don't you tell us, having voted to get us into this war, how you're going to get us out of it." And here was her response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: The president has said this is going to be left to his successor. He has said that on more than one occasion. And I think it's the height of irresponsibility, and I really resent it. This was his decision to go to war, he went with an ill-conceived plan and an incompetently executed strategy, and we should expect him to extricate our country from this before he leaves office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: Pressed about this later at a news conference, Senator Clinton said that she still does not support a cutoff in funds. She said if it could be done without hurting the troops and with enough people to override a presidential veto, she would be for it. But she said right now, realistically, that's -- those votes just aren't there -- Susan.

ROESGEN: Candy, I have seen mostly women in the crowds behind the senator. Is it many more women than men at these appearances?

CROWLEY: You know, there are a good number of men, but I would say it's a majority women. We certainly had a lot of what you would call "women questions" yesterday -- What's it like to be in the workplace as a woman? What's it like to be the first woman running for president? Will the country -- not the first woman running, perhaps the first woman to be in the Oval Office. What about being a woman on the campaign trail, is that different?

She talked about her hair being scrutinized, that sort of thing. There was also talk about women getting lower wages. But in general, these have been questions from both women and men about sort of larger issues. Healthcare was one, education was one. And, of course, the Iraq war.

So while I would say the majority of people in audiences were women, there were a good deal of men there all wearing sort of signs supporting Hillary. These were pretty supportive crowds.

ROESGEN: OK. Thank you.

Candy Crowley reporting live for us in Davenport.

California looms large in American culture, but it's often ignored in presidential politics. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to change that by moving up the date of the California presidential primary.

CNN's Peter Viles has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): California's problems like freeway gridlock won't come up in the Iowa caucuses. This is what traffic looks like in parts of Iowa. And California politicians are tired of it. Tired of being ignored in presidential campaigns. Governor Schwarzenegger, with Democratic support, wants to move the state's presidential primary from June to February 5th, forcing candidates to campaign here.

RICK JACOBS, COURAGE CAMPAIGN: It's great for California and I think it's great for the nation because it will force debates on big issues like healthcare, immigration, transportation, infrastructure, education.

VILES: Presidential candidates typically treat California like an ATM or a rich uncle -- they raise money here and spend it somewhere else. If they have to campaign in California, they'll need that money. It costs roughly $5 million a week for statewide TV advertising, and the state's too big for the kind of retail politics that work in Iowa and New Hampshire.

CHRIS LAHANE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: The skill set that it takes to succeed in a place like California, the ability to communicate on television, the ability to have a message, put together a far-flung organization, to raise money at enormous levels, those are the skill sets that are needed in a general election.

VILES: Conventional wisdom says that favors well-funded candidates and rules out long shots, especially if Florida and New Jersey join California in moving up their primaries. But liberal activist Rick Jacobs disagrees.

RICK JACOBS, COURAGE CAMPAIGN: A new candidate, a Chuck Hagel, for example, on the Republican side, who doesn't have a big infrastructure and, frankly, doesn't have a lot of money right now, he could emerge. He could decide to run in California on February 5th, if that's when the primary is, and he could win in California.

VILES (on camera): One likely winner in all of this is Schwarzenegger. As the most popular Republican in the state, he'll be in a position to tell every one of those Republican candidates for president exactly what California wants from Washington.

Peter Viles, for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN: And in case you missed it, here are the highlights from the Sunday morning talk shows.

President Bush's plans to send more troops to Iraq a major point of contention among lawmakers who disagree on the best way to bring security to Iraqi streets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: It's not a military problem. It's a political problem.

What we need to do is to get, I think, within four to six months, gradually, over a period of a year or so, make it very clear to the Iraqis that if they don't get their act together, we're going to start redeploying some of those troops to where the al Qaeda and the war on terror really are, which is Afghanistan and other places in the world.

KYL: Remember that the increase in American troops is only part of the larger strategy which includes twice as many new Iraqi troops and an entirely different position and strategy by the Iraqis themselves, finally cracking down on primarily the Shiite militias. We're beginning to see that working, but the Iraqis themselves have a big part to play in making this strategy a success. They've got to do their part, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Another hot topic? Of course the race for the White House. On NBC, ABC and FOX, presidential hopefuls had a chance to lay out their messages and campaign strategies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM RUSSERT, "MEET THE PRESS": Are you running for president of the United States?

HUCKABEE: Tim, tomorrow I'll be filing papers to launch an exploratory committee. And yes, I'll be out there.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: Somebody's got to win this race. And, you know, I think that -- I think my messages of a strong national defense, secure border, bring some of those high-paying manufacturing jobs back that we've given away...

BIDEN: This is a marathon. If people learn my story, learn my record, I think I can compete. The question is, can I raise the money?

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: I'm open to supporting a Democrat, a Republican, or even an Independent, if there's a strong one.

CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS: You're saying you might vote Republican in 2008?

LIEBERMAN: I am, because we have so much on the line both in terms of the Islamist terrorists who are an enemy as brutal as the fascists and communists we faced in the last century...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(NEWSBREAK)

ROESGEN: A tree limb and an ink pen hardly seem like something you would stop a mountain lion with, but a California woman used both to save her husband's life.

Eric Koch with CNN's Eureka affiliate KIEM spoke to the victim and his hero, his wife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM HAMM, SURVIVED MOUNTAIN LION ATTACK: And she got herself a limb, a big limb, and I was trying to fight.

ERIC KOCH, REPORTER, KIEM (voice over): Seventy-year-old Jim Hamm describes his encounter with a mountain lion just days after he was attacked at Prairie Creek Redwood State Park in northern California. Hamm is in fair condition at a local hospital.

On Wednesday, Hamm and his wife were hiking when a lion jumped on his back. Hamm instinctively fought back. When he wasn't able do anymore, his wife Nell stepped in.

J. HAMM: So I told her to get my pen from my pocket. So I went in my pants pocket and jammed it in his eye. So she jammed it in his eye and it crumbled. So it wouldn't work.

She got the club and started to club it again. She did that and it backed off and laid it's ears back. She was yelling and screaming at it. And it just turned around and went off into the ferns and left.

KOCH: Jim and his wife say they're experienced hikers, doing it three times a week for the past two years. They've asked park rangers before what to do if they were ever to come across a lion. Their answer was to fight back.

NELL HAMM, FOUGHT OFF MOUNTAIN LION: And that's what Jim and I did, just what the rangers told us to do, never thinking we would have to use that information.

J. HAMM: If you don't, you'd be dead. I mean, you have to fight. And you have to focus.

KOCH: Jim had surgery to repair lacerations to his head, face and arms following the attack. Officials say they aren't sure when he might be released. Hamm is calling his wife a hero, adding it's because of her that he's still alive.

J. HAMM: She stood in there the whole time. And if she hadn't have, I would be gone.

N. HAMM: You know, you hear remarks of "hero" and all this. It wasn't that. It's we love each other very much and we have been together for 50 years now. And it was just a matter -- his life was in jeopardy. And we were fighting for his life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROESGEN: A mountain lion is no match for a loving wife.

That was reporter, again, Eric Koch, with CNN affiliate KIEM.

The doctors there are waiting for the fog in the area to lift so that Hamm can be airlifted to a bigger hospital in San Francisco, where he'll have more treatment. We have an update to a story we first told you about yesterday. You may recall that it read like a country music song. An escaped convict said he needed to get home to his mother, so he steals Crystal Gayle's tour bus. Well, we found out what else happened on that trip home, and that's coming up in three minutes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You like these, huh? Nacho cheese. That's cool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: This year's Super Bowl commercials have an added bonus. Find out what you will see, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should we pick him up? He has Bud Light.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has an ax.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he has Bud Light.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And an ax.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: It isn't just about the game. The Super Bowl is the most coveted commercial time all year, and advertisers are in high gear.

Talk isn't cheap. Thirty seconds can equal more than $2 million.

So what is all that money going to buy? Suzanne Vranica, the advertising and marketing reporter for "The Wall Street Journal," joins us live from New York.

Suzanne, what are some of the new things you think we'll see this year?

SUZANNE VRANICA, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Well, I think we're going to see lots of the same. Unfortunately, you know the advertisers that tend to come back to this game. And Budweiser once again is back with 10 commercials this year.

Again, looking to score really high points with funny commercials. The one that you just saw leading into the segment, where there's a woman and man with a little bit of a disagreement over whether to pick up a hitchhiker who's carrying some Bud Light.

There's plenty of other stuff going on. You've got Pepsi in the game, and Coca-Cola as well. In fact, after eight years of sitting on the sidelines. So there will definitely be a big beverage match-up there. These days the ads are running so expensive. They're reaching at least $2.6 million for 30 seconds of ad time this year. But you know what? Don't worry. Most advertisers, the ones that spend lots of money, get a little discount. So about $2 million for those, you know, willing to put up a lot of bucks and spend a lot of dime.

ROESGEN: And we're also going to see an ad for an ad. Actually, we've already seen almost like a movie trailer for an ad that's coming up in the Super Bowl. That's something new, too, Suzanne.

VRANICA: Absolutely. CareerBuilder.com, that company that came out the last couple of years and made a big splash with those monkeys that were running a corporation, scored really high marks in the Super Bowl. They're changing their creative focus this year. They think they need something new.

So what they have decided to do is, in order to stand out from the 60 commercials that you're going to see Super Bowl Sunday, they have started to do some preliminary advertising, telling people, like teasing them, to tune in to the Super Bowl and watch their commercial. It just shows you what's at risk here and how much clutter there's going to be that Sunday night.

ROESGEN: And we've got that preview ad. Let's take a look at it here.

OK. So we won't see the monkeys again in the careerbuilder.com ad, but apparently we've got some amateurs making some commercials this year, right?

VRANICA: Right. We've got a couple of companies.

Alka-Seltzer is one of them, Chevy is another one, and so is a few others, jumping on this whole user-generated kind of trend that we see thanks to the YouTube phenomenon. So they're letting consumers themselves create ads, and then they're going to select a finalist to run in the Super Bowl.

Doritos is another company that's doing the contest, and they're about to announce the winner. And I have to say, I've seen some of them and they're pretty good. I was really surprised.

I thought it was a risky move, but given the fact that much of these companies get -- the big part of this game is getting the pre- press. You know, building up your brand and getting it in the TV mentions leading up until the game, the newspaper articles about them. And I think hopping on this user-generated bandwagon has helped lots of these companies drum up an enormous amount of press heading right into the game.

But I think Doritos has a pretty good ad on.

ROESGEN: Well, you know what? It seems like after the game, you hear just as many people around the water cooler talking about, "Did you see that Doritos ad?" Or, "Did you see that careerbuilder.com?" as you hear about the plays. Every year there are one or two standouts, but I understand that this year the advertisers really want to try to draw you into their Web sites. That's something new, too.

VRANICA: Well, in the last couple of years, with the growing of the Internet, the fact that people are willing too share videos online, these advertisers have realized that, you know what? Let's be honest, the only thing people talk about on Monday after the game is those one or two ads.

So what if you're, like, the 15th best ad? That's really not helping you. So what you can do is have your bigger bang for your buck by putting your ad online, driving a viral campaign.

CareerBuilder.com did a fantastic job of this last year by developing an entire viral Web marketing e-mail campaign last year that people got to create their own monkey-o-grams. And I think 80 million or some people filled out those forms. I mean, that's an amazing amount of people.

So the game is definitely not just going to be on Sunday. And it's been going on for the last three weeks and it doesn't look like there's an end in sight.

ROESGEN: OK, Suzanne. I'm going to miss the monkeys, but we'll see what else they've got new for us this year.

Thanks so much.

VRANICA: Thanks for having me.

ROESGEN: Suzanne Vranica from "The Wall Street Journal."

Now we've got Rick Sanchez here with a preview of his show, what's coming up on his show at 7:00 tonight.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Nice to have you here, by the way.

ROESGEN: Thanks. Good to see you.

SANCHEZ: How are things in New Orleans?

ROESGEN: About the same. Some good, some bad. A little of each.

SANCHEZ: Exactly. Exactly. They're doing the best they can, though.

We've got an interesting show today at 7:30. What we're going to do is, we're going to bring you the very latest information that's coming out of Iraq. And obviously there is a whole lot of news coming out of Iraq. But then we want to break it down and show you something special that's been going on in Haifa Street this week, because it's really not every day that you actually get to go into a battle zone and see the soldiers first hand. While they are actually in the battle, they are talking to us. It's a very up-close-and-personal look at this battle, a battle that, you know, U.S. military officials are saying has been quite successful.

And then at 10:00, we're going to do something interesting as well. We're going to stay with the situation that you have been following in Najaf. We're also going to break down exactly what's going in Haifa Street.

But then what happens to those soldiers when they get back from the war? What's the effect, the psychological effect on them?

You know, it's difficult, and you've heard a lot about Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. There is a new way of treating it now, where what they can do is, they literally can create a virtual situation that puts them back there or takes them out of that situation so that they can adjust, so that they can recuperate.

A fascinating story by Dr. Gupta that we're going to be brining you at 10:00 as well.

So it's really all about the war, all about the soldiers, and all about telling their stories, too.

ROESGEN: And mind over matter, something you can do mentally to try to get over the physical scars, as well as the emotional scars.

SANCHEZ: They are actually finding a lot of ways that they can use this. And they can now use it to help people stop smoking. You know, the whole virtual scene is one that's going to be opening up in the future.

ROESGEN: OK. Sounds really interesting. We'll see you then.

SANCHEZ: Good to see you, Susan. Likewise.

ROESGEN: Good to see you, Rick.

Well, maybe you, too, can make some money on YouTube. The incredibly popular Internet site debates chipping off some change for its contributors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey. And I'm Sibila Vargas, coming to you live from the Shrine Auditorium, where celebrities will be making their way down this red carpet in preparation for the SAG Awards.

I'll bring you some exciting details when CNN NEWSROOM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROESGEN: Here are some stories getting a lot of hits on CNN.com. An escaped prisoner's life on the lam. The police say Christopher Gay snuck away from a prisoner's transport van, stole a pickup truck, then a big rig, and then a tour bus belonging to country singer Crystal Gayle. Don't it make her brown eyes blue? I had to say it.

The police say the odyssey ended Friday in Florida after officers spotted a prostitute leaving the stolen bus. The prisoner insists it was all a misunderstanding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER GAY, ESCAPED PRISON: It's all a mistake. I was paid to drive it up here for someone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Yes. OK.

So police in Tijuana, Mexico, armed now with something more lethal than slingshots. Officers were forced to patrol streets this month with just slingshots after federal authorities took away their guns to investigate corruption allegations. On Saturday, they got their guns back.

And many people have been interested in this miniature guide horse. She helps her blind owner navigate the streets of Bethlehem, New York. Just like a guide dog. The horse is protective and alert and housebroken.

You can click on CNN.com for all of the details.

Video-sharing Web site YouTube is thinking about sharing the wealth. The site has become an Internet phenomenon. Some 70 million videos viewed on it every single day, but now co-founder Chad Hurley says his company is considering a plan to reward users who submit video with some cash from the advertisers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHAD HURLEY, CO-FOUNDER, YOUTUBE: In terms of paying users revenue against the content that they are uploading, we're definitely going to move in that direction. But we didn't want to build a system that was motivated by monetary reward. We wanted to really build a true community around video.

When you start out with, you know, giving money to people from day one, they will just switch to the next provider. The people we do attract will just switch to the next provider that's paying more. So we feel we're at a scale now that we'll be able to do that and really still have a true community around video.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: But you have to remember that it's easy to give away cash when you've got a lot of it. The Internet search giant Google bought YouTube late last year for $1.65 billion, so you know how much money they are making.

Tonight is another chance for Hollywood's brightest lights to wear their best finery and be recognized for their work. Though we're only looking to see what kind of gowns the actresses wear.

It's the Screen Actors Guild Awards tonight. And this time the actors vote for each other. In the movie category, the nominations actually mirror next month's Oscars.

And our own Sibila Vargas glitters on the red carpet in her own gown with this preview -- Sibila.

VARGAS: Thank you very much, Susan.

And, you know, they actually call this a dress rehearsal for the Oscars, but this one is definitely unique. The SAG Awards is unique in the fact that the actors exclusively are the ones who are responsible for voting for other actors.

So there is a sense of prestige to it, a sense of honor to be recognized by your peers. But I've got to tell you, this year there have been some standouts. The performances have been exceptional.

Let's start with Helen Mirren, who, of course wowed critics with her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." She is definitely a shoo-in.

Now, she was nominated here, and she's up against some very stiff competition. A very international field in the -- in this field, of course, you've got Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, and Meryl Streep. So it will be interesting. But it has definitely been her year.

Talking about royalty, let's talk about Forest Whitaker in the lead actor category. This man has swept numerous awards.

Did a tremendous performance as Idi Amin, Ugandan dictator. A very dark role for this actor, but he did it so wonderfully. And because of that, he has gotten so many accolades. He has been the talk of the town, and so many people are expecting him not only to get the award today, but also to -- also to actually get the award come Oscar -- come Oscar day. Of course, he actually took the award at the Golden Globes as well.

And I -- I would be remiss not to mention Ms. Jennifer Hudson in the supporting category. She has been the belle of the ball.

This is the person that I think most people are really rooting for. Jennifer Hudson, of course, wowed everyone with her performance in "Dreamgirls". It's almost a little bit of art imitating life and life imitating art in the fact that she was an "American Idol."

Some people call her a reject, and that would be Simon Cowell, who actually thought that she wasn't going to be able to go very far because of her weight and because she didn't look a certain way. And she's really astonished so many people, because she really, many people think, stole the show when it comes to "Dreamgirls".

And she is really the stand-out. And there has been so much focus on her and so many reports about her. And it will be interesting to see what happens tonight.

But everyone is saying that she -- come Oscar day, that she will take that trophy. So we'll see what happens there.

And I have to also mention Eddie Murphy. Give a little shout-out to him.

He got a little Golden Globe love, along with Jennifer Hudson. And we'll see what happens this time around. But he's up against some interesting people. He's got Alan Arkin in that category, in the supporting category, as well as Leo DiCaprio and -- for his work in "The Departed."

So, again, we'll see what happens. But today is certainly a spectacular day. The sun is shining. It was raining earlier, but you know what? I guess the sun gods were saying that the actresses have to come out in their beautiful gowns and we have to see them, and they are not going to be covered.

Back to you, Susan.

ROESGEN: The stars come out tonight. OK. Thanks, Sibila.

There's still much more ahead on CNN.

We are watching this developing story in Iraq, of course. Hundreds of insurgents killed in a fierce battle in Najaf. We'll bring you the latest in about three minutes.

And then "LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK." He fights for your rights seven days a week, and that includes tonight.

Lou Dobbs next, right here on CNN.

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