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Iraq War Debate; Iraqi Refugees; Gerri's Top Tips

Aired February 16, 2007 - 10:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning, everybody, on this Friday. I'm Betty Nguyen, sitting in for Heidi Collins today.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Good morning.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM this morning and stay informed. Here's what's on the rundown.

Going on the record against the Iraq troop build-up. The House setting the stage for a vote today. Several Republican lawmakers abandoning their president.

NGUYEN: Iraqis with no place to call home. Now 7,000 refugees are coming to America. We ask our guests about the plan.

HARRIS: Transforming a splintered landscape. Eighteen months after Katrina, the story of two Gulf Coast towns. Mississippi rebuilding on this Friday, February 16th. You are in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Well, going on the record to reject President Bush's Iraq plan. The House heading for a vote today on a resolution opposing this troop build-up. Democrats say it is the first step towards forcing the president to change course. Take you live right now to Capitol Hill and congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel. Part of the best political team on television. A vote today a little bit later, though, we hear.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty. We're expecting it sometime later this afternoon. But, in truth, neither side really knows. It depends how long these various speeches, the remaining speeches take.

As you can see, debate has been well underway here on Capitol Hill for the last couple of hours on this non-binding, mostly symbolic resolution, which won't have the force of law. Nevertheless, it will be the first congressional rebuke of the president's policy on Iraq. Democrats saying that the idea of sending thousands more troops to Iraq doesn't make sense, considering this president's track record, considering the fact that there is a raging, in their opinion, civil war underway in Iraq. Republicans, on the other hand, saying not to send those additional troops to Iraq would be a recipe for failure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. LYNN WESTMORELAND, (R) GEORGIA: My colleagues who vote for this resolution are for one of two things, they're either for retreat in defeat or stay the course. We all agree that changes need to be made. The changes need to take us towards a stable and peaceful Iraq. Withdrawal would take us in the opposite direction.

REP. BARNEY FRANK, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: If ever any group of people forfeited their right to be listened to, it is the collection of people who have shown an aggressive, incompetent with regard to Iraq. Can anyone think of a single decision, from the invasion forward, that has been correct?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Now, as we've said, this resolution is expected to pass without any problems. And Republicans say that it will be the first step towards cutting spending for U.S. troops in Iraq. Democrats deny that. Nevertheless, we did hear, both from Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday, who underscored comments made by one of her top deputies, John Murtha of Pennsylvania, who heads up one of the defense spending committees. He has said, Betty, that he has plans to tie future spending to Iraq to troop readiness.

Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. So as the House votes later this afternoon, the Senate has plans of its own. In fact, they're going to be voting tomorrow. Talk to us about that.

KOPPEL: Well, actually, they're not going to be voting, but they are going -- well, they will be voting, but not on the resolution

NGUYEN: The test vote?

KOPPEL: The test vote, exactly. This is going to be on the exact language that the House is debating right now. Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he was really calling some of the Republicans' bluff. He said, all right, let's stay in town. They were supposed to be leaving on vacation.

Let's have a test vote to see if we should move forward with a debate on the language that's being voted on today by the House. Whether or not to oppose the president's plan to send troops to Iraq. Very simple resolution.

They do not expect that they are going to have the votes necessary to cut off debate. They need 60 votes. Both Democrats and Republicans say that that's probably unlikely, and that is because, Betty, the Republican leader is saying that until Harry Reid agrees to an alternative measure to put forward, that they can vote on, one that would say you cannot cut off funds for troops, they are not going to support a move to vote on Harry Reid's resolution.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Andrea Koppel, keeping us straight on all of this. Thank you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is immoral to send young Americans to fight and die in a conflict without a real strategy for success.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: An Iraq War veteran opposed to the president's battle plan. We're going to hear from the freshman congressman and a colleague on the other side of this war debate. That is coming up in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: The security crackdown in Iraq and the latest dragnet. A police official says Iraqi security forces have nabbed nearly three dozen members of a violent Shiite cult. It is the same cult blamed for last month's bloody day-long gun battle in Najaf. The group, Soldiers of Heaven, planned to seize the province and execute key Shiite leaders, including Iraq's most revered ayatollah. More than 300 cult members were killed in the failed siege.

Also this hour, conflicting reports of whether a key al Qaeda leader in Iraq has been wounded. The U.S. military casting doubts on claims made by Iraq's government, Abu Ayyub al-Masri is the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. One senior U.S. official tells CNN that there is no evidence that al-Masri has been wounded.

Taking on the Taliban and al Qaeda. U.S. troops report killing one suspected militant and capturing six in a string of raids in eastern Afghanistan. One of the captured men allegedly has ties to fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Taliban and al Qaeda militants are expected to launch increased attacks this spring. President Bush says NATO is ready and plans to go on the offensive.

NGUYEN: A lot of people shoveling this out of their runways, their walkways, their driveways. I mean, there is snow everywhere. People in recovery mode. The Midwest and Northeast badly battered by a monster winter storm that blanked the region in snow and ice. At least 15 deaths being blamed on this bad weather. Tens of thousands of people without power.

Check this out in eastern Pennsylvania. Crews are still trying to reopen section of three major interstates, I-78, I-80 and I-81. Hundreds of people were stranded on I-78 for nearly 24 hours. It was a situation that created, believe it or not, a 50-mile traffic backup. National Guardsmen used humvees to deliver food, gas and even baby supplies to extremely stressed out motorists. And they had good reason.

The storm also caused problems for air travelers. Many flights were delayed or even canceled. But you'd be hard pressed to find any kids complaining about this weather. That's because many schools have been closed since Wednesday.

HARRIS: And, Betty, think about it for just a moment. If you're one of those snow socked areas, what you're hoping for, Chad, as we get to the weekend here, is that you get a bit of a break so that you can get out here and maybe get some work done in the Northeast. NGUYEN: And get some of the snow out of the way. Shovel it off of your driveway, your house even.

HARRIS: Try to get the upper hand on this thing.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, a serious story to tell you about. A horrifying rampage as cameras rolled. We have new video today of the shooting inside that Salt Lake City mall on Monday. Want you to look at it right now. It was taken by a bystander and police say trading fire with a gunman who was shooting at shoppers is what we're seeing right here. Just listen to the exchange.

(GUNFIRE)

NGUYEN: Just imagine walking through the mall and hearing that and seeing this scene. The gunman killed five people, wounded four others before police ended his life. This morning, Utah's governor is honoring the officers for heroism.

HARRIS: A deadly flu outbreak to tell you about at elementary schools in at least three states, Oklahoma, Washington and Nebraska. Right now in Omaha, Nebraska, health officials say three children are hospitalized with severe flu symptoms. Similar to those of an 11- year-old girl who died of the flu last week.

And in Seattle, an eight-year-old girl dies of a flu-like illness just one week after a seven-year-old died of complications associated with the flu. Seattle public schools are sending home letters to parents, notifying them of the deaths and offering illness prevention steps. No deaths reports in Oklahoma. But officials say 400 students were out sick at one time with flu-like symptoms. One school district considered canceling school if absenteeism kept rising.

NGUYEN: Well, Iraqi refugees leaving their homes with no place to go. Is the U.S. doing enough to help them? Coming up in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Just when you think it can't get any worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For this to come on the heels of this disaster, certainly, it's a hard, hard lick, you know, for communities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: A tale of two cities and the lingering curse of Katrina, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: And not so free speech. Rudy Giuliani, his words are golden, based on the speaking fees that he commands. But will those big bucks cost him politically as a presidential candidate? We take a look right here in the NEWSROOM. HARRIS: Buried in the snow. Syracuse giving drivers the cold shoulder. Move it or lose it, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. Let's take you back to Capitol Hill right now. The House debating right now. Continuing to debate the Iraq resolution. Voicing disapproval of the president's troop increase for Iraq, while at the same time voicing support for the troops on the ground.

The debate expected to continue into perhaps the evening with a vote on the bill late tonight or even tomorrow. Senate Democratic leaders are also going to take up this resolution. This very same resolution tomorrow with a test vote that is not expected to pass. But, right now, we are going to keep an eye on the House debate on the House floor right now.

NGUYEN: In the meantime, Iraqis escaping the violence. Just this morning, the international organization for migration said an additional 1 million people in Iraq could be displaced this year. Many have no place to go. More than a million have settled in neighboring Syria, Jordan and Iran. The U.S., under fire, says it will take 7,000 Iraqi refugees this year. So joining us to talk about the plight of Iraqi refugees is Antonio Guterres, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

Commissioner, we appreciate you being with us today.

ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Thank you very much. It's a great pleasure.

NGUYEN: Well, first of all, again, we're just getting word today that an estimated 1 million additional people will be displaced in Iraq this year. On the whole, how many refugees are we talking about when it comes to Iraqi refugees?

GUTERRES: We have 1.8 million people displaced inside Iraq and we have about 2 million people that fled the country. And, of course, these 2 million people that fled the country are now living mainly in two countries, in Jordan and Syria, but also spreading to Egypt, to Lebanon, to Iran, to Turkey, and a little bit of everywhere in the world.

NGUYEN: So do you feel that neighboring countries are doing their part to take these displaced Iraqis?

GUTERRES: Now I think it's important to recognize that two country, Jordan and Syria, are paying a heavy price. Jordan has about 750,000 refugees. Syria has about 1 million refugees. And the burden on their economies, on their societies, is becoming unbearable. And so our main concern now is to mobilize the international community in order to support these countries to keep the asylum space open. Because as you can imagine, the pressure against Iraqis in these countries is increasing. If you go with a taxi driver, both in Amman or in (INAUDIBLE), you hear them say that prices went up because of Iraqis. It's difficult to find a house because of Iraqis. So this environment is very dangerous. And unless there is a massive international solidarity (ph) to these countries, I'm afraid they might not be able to go on in a general way supporting these heavy burdens.

NGUYEN: Well, what kind of message do you think the U.S. is sending when it says it's taking 7,000 Iraqis this year?

GUTERRES: Well, it's important to say that, first, this is a step in the right direction. Second, when we speak about resettlements, we do not speak about everybody. We speak about vulnerable cases. We speak about unaccompanied (ph) minors, women with difficult situations, handicapped people, people that belong to groups that are particularly targeted and they have particular protection problems. So it is not possible to compare this figure with the global number of 2 million. It would be impossible . . .

NGUYEN: But at the same time, Commissioner, let me ask you this. You spoke with Secretary Rice on Wednesday. We're looking at 7,000 being allowed into the U.S. Is that enough in your eye? Are you satisfied with the U.S. cooperation here?

GUTERRES: Well, this is the first group in the first six months in which we'll be making referrals to the U.S. But, as I said, more important than resettlement is the capacity to massively support countries that are now hosting the refugees. Nobody will ever be able to accept 2 million refugees.

NGUYEN: Yes, but is the U.S. -- let me ask you this . . .

GUTERRES: So we need to support them there and we need to mobilize the international community to help Syria and Jordan. Because let's be frank, Syria and Jordan have been, to a large extent, abandoned by the international community. We need to support them now for them to host refugees.

NGUYEN: But Syria and Jordan are taking a lot of these refugees, but on the same token, let me ask you this, does the U.S. -- must the U.S. shoulder a larger responsibility here in taking in Iraqi refugees?

GUTERRES: Well, I hope that these numbers will increase and we'll be working hard with the U.S. in order to allow for these numbers to increase. We are also working with other countries, with Canada, with Australia, several European countries, to have a better capacity to deal with these vulnerable situations. But I think it's important to distinguish, resettlement will be a solution for vulnerable people. Of course, for the bulk of the Iraqi refugees, what is essential is to mobilize the international community. For the countries that are paying the price alone to have effective solidarity and to be able to go on with their generosity, accepting these refugees in their societies.

NGUYEN: Commissioner, you just returned from a trip to the Midwest. And I think when you're talking about mobilizing the international community, a message needs to be sent. And when speaking with these Iraqi -- these displaced Iraqis in these neighbors countries, what are you hearing for them? I mean, ultimately, do they want to go back to Iraq?

GUTERRES: Well, when we speak with the Iraqis, I had several meetings, both in Amman and Damascus, with Iraqi refugees. The vast majority wants to go back. But, of course, for that you need to have security conditions allowing it to be possible. And, at the present moment, it's obviously not possible.

But their aim is to rebuild their societies, to rebuild their lives in their own country. But, of course, some will never be able to go back because they have particular difficult situations. They are particularly vulnerability after everything that has happened and for those it is important that resettlement as a solution is developed and promoted. As I said, there was, now, a step in the right direction in the west. The same is happening in other countries. I hope these numbers will increase in the near future.

NGUYEN: U.N. high commissioner for refugees, Antonio Guterres. We appreciate your time. A lot of good insight today. Thank you.

GUTERRES: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: And still to come, they're up to their shingles in snow. Upstate New York, the forecast you don't want to hear. Meteorologist Chad Myers is going to tell you anyway. That's what he does, Betty. He is coming up in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Whether you like it or not.

HARRIS: Yes, yes.

And CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here. It is Friday. That means it is time, Gerri, for view e-mails.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Coming up, investing for teens. Also, car insurance and a mortgage dilemma. Answers to your questions next from the "Top Tips" mailbag.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right, here are the topics -- teenage investing, adjustable rate mortgages and car rental insurance. Topics tackled today by, of course, our CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis. And she join us from New York to answer some of these questions.

Good morning to you.

WILLIS: Hey, good morning, Betty. Good to see you.

NGUYEN: Good to see you too.

We've got some really good ones for you. Let me start with Mallory because this is what she says. "I'm only 16, but I'm beginning to figure out how to make money in the real world." Good for her. "I want to start investing the right way. Where do I even begin?"

WILLIS: Isn't she great? I mean, you know, she's thinking about this so early.

NGUYEN: Sixteen. I don't even think I was working at 16. I was probably sitting on the couch watching television.

WILLIS: Exactly.

NGUYEN: Not a good idea.

WILLIS: Yes, but she's way beyond that. And she says, you know, that she wants to invest. That's great because starting to save and invest early is the key to success. You should know that young adults represent one of the fastest growing segments of bankruptcy filers. So get started early. Start simple. It's never too early to open a savings accounts.

In fact, banks are doing everything they can to court people your age. So make them work for your business. Shop for the best rates of return by check out bankrate.com. And if you want to invest, starting with the basics. Mutual fund companies like USAA are courting kids with low initial requirements and low fees. Saving now will mean you are better prepared for going to college, buying a home, starting a family -- your whole life.

NGUYEN: Yes, she'll be a millionaire by, what, 25?

WILLIS: Yes. Exactly.

NGUYEN: Way to go, Mallory.

And Victor wants to know this. And I find it a very interesting question, too, because I don't do this. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. He says, "is car rental insurance worth it or not?"

WILLIS: I think this is a great question, Betty, because I don't know about you, but you usually think about this when you're at the counter at the car rental agency, right? You're trying to figure out what to do.

NGUYEN: Exactly. And you think, well, maybe my own car insurance will cover it, so why do I need to pay for this?

WILLIS: Well, here's the 101. Car rental insurance doesn't come cheap. For $10 to $25 a day, it covers damages to cars and people if you're in an accident while driving one of these rental agency car. But you want to find out what kind of coverage you have on your own car because, in most cases, the coverage and deductibles you have on your own auto policy will apply to the rental car as well. And, you know, your credit card may also cover rental car coverage. So be sure and check with your issuer, but bottom line here, you may already have coverage and not know it.

NGUYEN: So I've been doing it right all along. That's good to know. WILLIS: You know, that doesn't surprise me.

NGUYEN: Right. Thank you, Gerri.

OK. Well, here's another one. This is our last one. It's from Robert. Says, "my loan agent is try to convince me to refinance a property that I own from a 30-year fixed to a five-year ARM. I'm hesitating because I do not know what the rates will look like in five years. What do you advise?"

WILLIS: Well, Robert, if I could tell you what rates were going to be in five year, you know, I'd have an island somewhere in the Caribbean.

NGUYEN: This is true.

WILLIS: Bottom line, though, your hesitation is warranted, Robert. Look, I don't know your particulars, like when you applied for your mortgage and what rate you got when you got the mortgage. But if you took out your 30-year fixed loan in the past couple of years, you should have a pretty good rate. So swapping out right now is probably a bad idea.

Remember, refinancing to an adjustable rate mortgage will ramp up your interest rate risk. And keep in mind that when the adjustable rate mortgages reset, and rates are likely to go higher, that's because the initial rate on those mortgage products is really just a teaser rate just to get you in, in the first place. So you want to make sure that you know everything about those loans before you get into them.

NGUYEN: That's some good advice here.

We want to know what's coming up on "Open House," though, this weekend.

WILLIS: Yes. "Open House," coming up tomorrow. And a special edition of "Open House." First off, it's mortgage meltdown. I'm going to tell you about one woman who says she was discriminated against and fought back.

Then progress report. We'll find out if some cities are really as diverse as they say.

And field of dreams. A great story about a football player who is making some Atlanta residents' dreams come true off the field.

That's "Open House," :Uncovering America" at 9:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow right here on CNN.

NGUYEN: Well, you know I'll be watching.

Thank you, Gerri.

WILLIS: Good to see you, Betty.

NGUYEN: You too.

House lawmakers. They are lining up, check it out, and they're taking sides on the president's troop build-up for Iraq. We're going to take a look ahead at today's vote. That is in the NEWSROOM.

Also, buried in the snow. Syracuse giving drivers the cold shoulder. Either move it or you lose it, right here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: War of words. Congress headed for a political showdown today over the president's Iraq plan. The House votes on a nonbinding resolution opposing plans to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. Democrats say it is a first step toward forcing President Bush to change course. Republicans not in favor of the resolution say it will be a sign of weakness in the war on terror. President Bush's so-called troop surge in Iraq, it has divided lawmakers on Capitol Hill and it is stirring debate again, as you've been witnessing throughout the morning here in the NEWSROOM. Here to explain, CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. Barbara, good morning to you.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Tony. Well, as you say, the troop surge, the security crackdown in Baghdad, topics right at the top of the list right now when you consider how the war is going in Iraq. Everyone really paying attention to it. Is the security crackdown beginning to have an effect? What are the top generals really saying about all of this? This morning, we had a news briefing, a press conference from Baghdad, with the top commander of the multinational division in Baghdad, Major General Joseph Fil. Listen to a minute, to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH FIL, U.S. ARMY: There's an air of suspense throughout the city. Expectations, if you will. And we believe there's no question about it, that many of these extremists are laying low and watching to see what it is we do and how we do it.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And you know, Tony, that's very significant because they do see a drop in some levels of the violence in recent days as troops have taken to the streets as the security crackdown moves on. But what they don't know and what the general is indicating is, is it really a drop in violence, or are the insurgents doing what they always have done, simply melding into the background, waiting out the U.S. troops? Now, there was another comment yesterday from the army's top man, the chief of staff of the army, General Peter Schoomaker, testifying on Capitol Hill about his views on the surge and that it might even grow larger.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. PETER SCHOOMAKER, U.S. ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF: The five brigades is only the big tip of the iceberg. There's lots below that that we have to do. And we're, even today, getting additional requests for forces that continue to stress us.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: What General Schoomaker, of course, is indicating there, Tony, when people talk about the surge being maybe 17,000, 21,000 combat troops on the ground in Iraq as part of the surge, there may be well many, many more than that, combat support troops, all the people it takes to keep those combat troops on the front line. Tony?

HARRIS: Barbara, if you could, what have you been hearing from your Pentagon sources as to the whereabouts and the health of the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq?

STARR: Abu Ayub al Masri, an Egyptian man, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, the man that replaced Abu Musab al Zarqawi when he was killed several months ago, you know, yesterday, the Iraqi interior ministry spokesman said that al Masri had been killed in a shootout with Iraqi forces near Balad, north of Baghdad. A senior U.S. military official says as far as the U.S. knows it believes that report is false. They have no information at this time that indicates al Masri is dead. The Iraqis say it was their operation and that the U.S., in their view, might not even know about it. But if it is proven that he was wounded or killed in this raid, it would be a psychological and security victory for Iraqi forces. This is a very bad guy, someone they want to take out. But at this point Tony, the U.S. military says it doesn't know that the report is true.

HARRIS: And Barbara, just a quick one. What's that tape we were just looking at of al Masri?

STARR: Well there are very few pictures of him. That is some file tape of him from the past. He is a man of Egyptian descent. It is said he stays well out of sight so there are very few pictures of him, Tony.

HARRIS: CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr for us this morning. Barbara, thank you.

NGUYEN: Check these pictures out. Cars in Syracuse, New York, buried under just a mountain of snow. Now the owners may be digging out of debt as well. That's right, city police are leveling heavy fines on any vehicle not properly parked. There's Chad Newton from our affiliate WTVH.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD NEWTON, WTVH (voice-over): The guys from metro collision and other tow companies have been busy around Syracuse these past few days. Right now, they're getting ready to pull away this car, buried in snow and next to a fire hydrant. It belongs to Erica Wilson's brother.

ERICA WILSON: $150.

NEWTON: That's a lot of money.

WILSON: Plus when it gets there and those charges that he incurs while they're there.

NEWTON: Are they going to charge him a little more once it's parked?

WILSON: Once it's parked in storage, you know those little surcharges that they charge.

NEWTON: The cars end up at police impound lots like this one at Henson's Towing. Since the nor'easter came through Syracuse, tow truck operators have been moving cars that don't follow odd even parking restrictions, blocking the paths of city plows, fire trucks and ambulances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If a car is illegally parked and it's prohibiting emergency vehicles or DPW from cleaning that road, then it's being ticketed and towed.

NEWTON: The fees range from $90 for a simple tow to $115, plus additional fees, depending on how difficult the tow is. Police say the trouble spots for illegal parking are tip hill and the university area, where Corenda Bacon's car was parked on the wrong side. She says her parking lot was not plowed and she got stuck trying to get into it. Did you know they're towing cars for illegal parking?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No I did not. Normally I'm in my parking lot so I don't normally have to even touch the street.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, so say your car is illegally parked, right? How do you get it out of there right about now with all that snow? I mean it's just one problem after another.

HARRIS: Right, and something you don't really want to deal with right now. What, you can't move it, what am I supposed to do, I'm going to shovel it out and then here comes the blowing, dripping, here comes the snow plow and I'm buried again.

NGUYEN: It's right back there and then you get the ticket, upon ticket, upon ticket.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Not so free speech. Rudy Giuliani, his words are golden based on the speaking fees he commands, that's for sure. Will those big bucks cost him politically as a presidential candidate? We'll take a look in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Oh, and you have to see this. Elephant gone wild. Aren't you glad that's not your car? A belligerent beast gets her anger out. That's right. It's a she. Stick around for the awesome pictures, vandalized in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: I'll take the snow.

SUSAN LISOVICZ: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. T.S. Elliott wrote that April is the coolest month, home builders might disagree. I'll give you details about January housing starts when NEWSROOM continues. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right, here's the thing. When Rudy Giuliani speaks, people listen. And often, they shell out big bucks. A former New York mayor, as he is, can command 100,000 bucks for a speaking engagement. Will that, though, cost him his political capital as a presidential candidate? CNN's Mary Snow explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's best known as America's mayor. Since leaving public office, Rudy Giuliani has capitalized on that, giving motivational speeches like this one in San Diego Wednesday.

RUDY GIULIANI: -- cover of the buildings that we thought were going to be attacked.

SNOW: Giuliani can command $100,000 for an event. That's how much the Student Speakers Bureau at Oklahoma State University paid him last March. Plus another $47,000 for a private jet. In a contract obtained by CNN, Giuliani's travel requirements were quite specific. The private aircraft must be a Gulfstream IV or bigger. He didn't end up using them but also requested in the contract for five hotel rooms, including one for Giuliani that was to be a large two bedroom nonsmoking suite with a king size bed on an upper floor with a balcony and view if applicable. Political strategists say these types of contracts are not uncommon.

DAVID WINSOTN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I don't think it's anything out of the ordinary. However, having said that, he's a presidential candidate. Everything he's done in the past is going to come under scrutiny.

SNOW: By comparison, former President Bill Clinton averages about $150,000 per speech. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was paid $75,000 at a speaking event last year. A Giuliani campaign spokeswoman confirms a "Washington Post" report that Giuliani is now holding off on taking anymore fees while his camp consults with the Federal Election Commission. Under FEC rules, candidates who don't hold office can accept money for speeches as long as they're not campaign related. Years before Giuliani became a candidate, some of his speeches attracted attention, including one to the South Carolina Hospital Association in February 2005. After signing on the event was changed to a fund-raiser for victims of a tsunami that hit Asia. Giuliani was reportedly paid $100,000 to speak and donated $20,000 of it to charity. A local Republican lawmaker protested.

TRACY EDGE, (R) S.C. STATE HOUSE: I really thought that just on that one night for a charitable event of that magnitude, he could have charged nothing. I think that would have been the noble thing to do. SNOW: A Giuliani aide tells CNN following the controversy Giuliani felt badly about the whole thing and wrote another check for $60,000 to the charity.

(on camera): Giuliani's speaking fees are just a small part of his bigger business Giuliani Partners, sure to come under examination as he continues on the campaign trail. A Giuliani aide says, "People understand Rudy Giuliani has been in the private sector. They understand the difference between public and private." Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Now let's get to some business news now and some bad news for the struggling housing sector. But it could turn out to be pretty good news for homebuyers. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with details. Susan, good morning.

LISOVICZ: I'm sure like homebuyers finally say, it's about time, right? Record high prices we saw in the last couple years Tony. It's bad news however for homebuilders like KB Homes, Lennar, Pulte and Toll Brothers. Those companies have all been dealing with declining sales. And now it seems there will be more trouble ahead. Just two hours ago, the government said housing starts plunged 14 percent last month. The biggest one-month drop in nearly 10 years. Not only is it worse than expected, but it's worse than December's read and the average for all of 2006. As for future building projects, applications for new home permits also fell in January. The prolonged slump in the housing market does more than just hurt homebuilders, it also takes a toll on economic growth. Because when you think about it Tony, it's appliances, it's furniture, it's Lowe's and Home Depot, a big sector of the economy. And it's hurt right now.

HARRIS: That's a good point. I'm wondering, though is there any good news, Susan?

LISOVICZ: That's right, and that is if you are looking for a home, all the trouble in the housing market has led to a glut of homes available for sale. Because of that, builders have been offering incentives to move properties, including lower prices. Just yesterday, the National Association of Realtors reported the deepest and most widespread declines in the fourth quarter when it came to home prices. Seventy-three cities posted price declines. The worst was in the Sarasota, Florida area. That was also an area where you saw huge price increases with fewer homes being built. Maybe they won't last so long. Who knows. For now, we can see that those numbers are adding pressure to housing starts that whole sector is off big time. K.B. Homes, Lennar, Pulte, all down at least one percent more. The overall picture on Wall Street is looking not quite as bad, but we're seeing pullback after three days of nice gains including two record closes for the Dow. The blue chips right now are off 12 points. The NASDAQ is down 6 or about a quarter of a percent. And that's the latest from Wall Street Betty and Tony, see you in the next hour, hopefully with better news.

HARRIS: Ok, all right Susan, thank you. NGUYEN: Well it's a war of words. Two freshman congressmen with opposing views on the Iraq resolution. One a former pastor. The other, an Iraq war veteran. Both will join us in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And how about this, packaderms and polo, not the best idea.

NGUYEN: How about demolition derby?

HARRIS: It's just too bad. All she wanted was to see the van Gogh.

NGUYEN: Oh she made it go all right.

HARRIS: One mangled minivan in the NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights legend, whose message and mission changed a nation. In a riveting and emotional documentary, CNN's Soledad O'Brien talks to an aide of Dr. King's, a civil rights leader in his own right, who witnessed King's remarkable life and tragic death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: He delivers a speech, I've been to the mountain top. Do you remember the preparation for that and that night?

AMB. ANDREW YOUNG, FORMER KING AIDE: There was no preparations. I've been to the mountain top speech is something he'd made before. But he always made that at a time when things were dangerous.

O'BRIEN: Is there anything now that strikes you about that speech in hindsight?

YOUNG: Nothing except that he basically spelled out -- he almost planned his funeral. Because he'd done it before, and we'd gone on to the next place, I wasn't really taking it serious. It was just a great speech. But I never thought I was listening to his last speech.

KING: We've got some difficult days ahead.

YOUNG: But the next day, he was more silly and goofy and playful than I'd ever seen him. And he grabbed a pillow off the bed and threw the pillow at me. And he and Ralph, they just kept throwing pillows and I was throwing pillows back. I mean they were playing like 10- year-olds. And they finally pushed me down between the two beds and put all the pillows up on me and sat on me. This was my punishment for not calling in all day. He came out after this pillow fight thing and he didn't have a coat. O'BRIEN: Where were you in the Lorraine Motel?

YOUNG: We were waiting for him to go to the -- to go to dinner. So I was telling him he needed to go back to get his coat. And then a shot rang out, which I thought was a firecracker. And when I looked up there and didn't see him, I thought he was clowning again. Until I ran upstairs and saw him laying in a pool of blood.

O'BRIEN: At that moment what did you think?

YOUNG: Well I thought two things. I thought that there was nobody who was more deserving to go on to claim their reward. And then I was mad because I was left with all this mess. I really didn't know how we would survive. Actually, his spirit has never left us.

O'BRIEN: Is it something you think about a lot or is it something you don't think about at all?

YOUNG: Something I think about all the time.

O'BRIEN: Really? In what way?

YOUNG: Well, everything I do, I have to put in the context of what we were committed to.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: See more of this compelling documentary this weekend, "MLK Papers, Words that Changed a Nation," airs Saturday and Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. And for more on the life and works of Dr. King, visit cnn.com or thekingcenter.org.

NGUYEN: You hear it there, they are all action and their lawmakers doing a lot of talk today. The president's Iraq build-up heading for a vote today. We have that debate right here in the NEWSROOM.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com