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Two Bombs in Baghdad Kill 62; Plane Skids off Runway in Cleveland; FBI Program Works with Muslims
Aired February 18, 2007 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan a U.S. chopper down. Several U.S. soldiers killed. Video from the scene into CNN.
Condom controversy. Why free condoms aren't getting the welcome New York City planners expected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESTHER TOGNOZZI, ESTHER'S HAIRCUTTING STUDIO: She said, no, I absolutely want it shaved off now. Next thing I know, she grabbed the buzzer and she went to the back of my salon and she was shaving off her own hair and she actually enjoyed shaving off her own hair.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Britney's bald move. The salon employees who witnessed it all speak out. Plus, so what has happened to that hair? Oh, yes, it is for sale. You won't believe what some people are offering to pay.
Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. A helicopter crash in Afghanistan has left eight American soldiers dead. The military is ruling out enemy fire, saying the pilot reported a sudden loss of power and control, blackened remains of the transport chopper were filmed by a news crew less than 100 yards from the Kabul to Kandahar highway. U.S. soldiers and Afghan troops sealed off the site and searched passing vehicles. Fourteen soldiers survived the crash with injuries.
There's another indication today that recent downings of choppers in Iraq are more than just a coincidence. CNN's Wolf Blitzer raised the subject with White House spokesman Tony Snow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE FROM "LATE EDITION")
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Here's what The New York Times reported today. I will read to you from the story. "Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate that some of the recent fatal attacks against American helicopters are a result of a carefully planned strategy to focus on downing coalition aircraft, one that American officials say has been carried out by mounting coordinated assaults with machine guns, rockets, and surface-to-air missiles."
Is that true?
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, confirming or denying, it shouldn't surprise anybody that an enemy is going to look constantly for ways not merely to kill Americans, but also to attract media attention. There have been a number of occasions now where our helicopters and our aircraft have been brought down by enemy forces. And they have, in fact, adopted tactics that are designed to do that. We are going to have to adjust.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Seven U.S. choppers have been downed by Iraqi insurgents in less than a month. That is more than were shot down all of last year. The recent calm in Baghdad shattered today by two explosions that killed at least 62 people. Just yesterday, a top Iraqi official said insurgent attacks in Baghdad had plunged thanks to a new security push.
Here's CNN's Arwa Damon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After two days of deceptive calm in the capital on Sunday, a thick plume of smoke reminding people that the start of a crackdown in no way means an end to the violence.
Two car bombs exploding in quick succession on a busy southeastern Baghdad street, killing dozens and wounding more than 128 Iraqis, sending petrified people running, searing images of violence. This as the Iraqi government has been putting out good news lately, desperately trying to put a positive spin on a recent decline in violence.
GEN. QASSIM ATTA, IRAQI GOVT. SPOKESMAN (through translator): There has been a clear 80 percent decrease in terrorist operations and various crimes over the last three days.
DAMON: Sunday's attacks, a brutal reminder that any statements of success against an increasingly capable and violent insurgency might be premature. The U.S. military cautions that the insurgents are lying low, watching the plan unfold before they come up with their own plan of attack.
And days like this resonate more with the Iraqi people than any statements coming from their government, also shattering any optimism that may have been generated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have doubts that the security plan will succeed. We are uneasy.
DAMON: Unease underscored by Sunday's attacks, unease that is not surprising.
(on camera): Iraqis have seen plans like this one fail in the past. No matter how many statements are being made about success or decrease in violence, until Iraqis feel safe leaving their own homes, there is going to be little hope for a better future.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: In Washington, supporters and opponents of the Iraq War are assessing the situation after their first major skirmish since Congress fell to the Democrats. Live from the White House with more, CNN's Kathleen Koch -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it was not a clear victory for either side though the Republicans were successful in blocking the debate on the president's troop increase. But then seven Republicans, more than ever before, defected ask voted with the Democrats.
Also, right now basically both sides are looking ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motion is not agreed to.
KOCH (voice-over): After failing Saturday to pass a resolution to debate President Bush's Iraq troop increase, Senate opponents are asking what next. Some powerful committee chairmen say rewrite and scale back the 2002 authorization to go to war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "FOX NEWS SUNDAY")
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), CHAIRMAN, ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE: We can modify the authorization in order to provide the -- a much more limited mission which will remove our troops from the middle of a sectarian civil war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "FACE THE NATION")
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE), CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: So I've been working with some of my colleagues to try to convince them that that's the way to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Others are eyeing a proposal by Congressman John Murtha to place conditions on future war spending and troop deployments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "MEET THE PRESS")
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: I'm going to look very carefully at Congressman Murtha's points and, again, when...
TIM RUSSERT, HOST, "MEET THE PRESS": And you may be open to them.
HAGEL: And I would be open to it.
SEN. JACK REED (D), RHODE ISLAND: Down the road, will we consider issues with respect to funding? I think so, but we will never compromise the ability of American soldiers to protect themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: One top Senate Republican points out the obvious about Murtha's measure or those that would limit funds for the troops.
SEN. DICK LUGAR (R), INDIANA: They are unlikely to pass two houses and be signed by the president.
KOCH: White House press secretary Tony Snow confirmed President Bush would oppose Murtha's so-called "slow bleed" measure to limit troop deployments.
SNOW: What I would say to members of Congress is calm down and take a look at what's going on and ask yourself the simple question: If you support the troops, would you deny them the reinforcements they think are necessary to complete the mission?
KOCH: And Snow took issue with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's characterization of the Iraq War as, quote, "the worst foreign policy mistake in the history of this country," pointing out 77 senators voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH: But any face-off over -- between the White House and Congress over the president's current Iraq strategy will have to wait. That is because Congress is in recess through February 26th -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Kathleen Koch, at the White House, thank you.
KOCH: You bet.
WHITFIELD: In the West Bank, something of a sales job today from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. During a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Abbas reportedly sought report -- support, rather, for his coalition deal with the radical party Hamas. The U.S. hasn't formally rejected the unity government but is standing by a pledge to shun any Palestinian government that refuses to recognize Israel. A three-way summit with the Israeli leader is scheduled for tomorrow.
Other headlines making news "Across America," a 56-year-old man is being held following an alleged triple murder in Chicago. The man's wife, his sister-in-law, and his mother-in-law were bludgeoned to death with a hammer. The man and all three women were Iranian immigrants who fled that country to escape religious persecution.
Authorities say welder's torch may have touched off yesterday's oil barge explosion in the Louisiana delta. One welder is missing. Another man is being treated for burns. The barge was carrying 17,000 gallons of oil but officials say environmental concerns are minimal. A gas pipeline exploded outside Houston sending flames 40 feet into the night sky. There were no injuries surprisingly but some nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. Officials blame the explosion on a bulldozer crew that accidentally cut the line.
In North Carolina, a multimillion dollar expansion project at an aerospace plant turned deadly. Dan Bowens with our WRAL affiliate has the story from Wilson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN BOWENS, WRAL REPORTER (voice-over): Minutes after two workers were discovered unconscious inside a room at the Kidde Aerospace and Defense building in Wilson. Tests showed carbon monoxide levels at more than 500 parts per million in the area where they were working. That's 50 times more than what emergency officials considered to be safe.
MIKE BROWN, CMDR., WILSON FIRE & RESCUE: Carbon monoxide just in general is a silent killer because it is -- you can't taste it and you can't smell it.
BOWENS: Wilson Fire & Rescue Commander Mike Brown says that the two men may have been overcome from the fumes of equipment they were using to cut through a concrete floor.
BROWN: It was a smaller room, I mean, it had doors to it. But they were in a smaller area.
BOWENS: WRAL has confirmed the two men were employees of the Wheeler Electrical Company hired to install wires beneath the floor. It was part of a larger expansion project at the Kidde plant.
Emergency teams spent much of the afternoon airing out the building. As a precaution, nearly 50 other people inside the plant at the time of the incident were transported to the Wilson Medical Center.
HERBERT LEE, WORKER: They draw blood and you know, see if you have got CO2 in your system.
BOWENS: Herbert Lee says medical teams tested his blood and ran other tests but he's doing just fine. Emergency officials confirmed no one else was hurt, despite the high levels of carbon monoxide.
LEE: I mean, it is kind of scary, you know, to know that you were in there working and carbon monoxide right in the building like that, you know.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That was Dan Bowens with our affiliate WRAL.
Iraqi refugees leaving their homes with no place to go. Is the U.S. doing enough to help them?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOGNOZZI: I said well, I'm not shaving your hair off. And I tried to talk her out of it. I said, are you sure you are not having a bad day? And tomorrow you will feel differently about it. Why don't we wait a little bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The buzz still creating quite the buzz. One big question today, so who has got Britney's hair? Answers coming up next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are giving people -- I feel like Moses, we are giving people what they want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Hmm, a dating pool like no other. Men, what are you worth? Women, how do you look? Speed-dating for the rich and the beautiful straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: This information "Just In" out of Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport. Apparently a plane has skid off the runway. That's all of the information we have right now. We are working some sources and details. When we get any more information about that situation out of Cleveland at the Hopkins International Airport we will be able to bring that to you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
50 CENT, RAPPER: That's Britney's face, man.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is.
(CROSSTALK)
50 CENT: Why they shaved it like that though, man? That's computer-generated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She shaved her head.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She did it last night.
50 CENT: Shaved her head?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
50 CENT: Why did she do that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. Got any words for her?
50 CENT: Counseling, man. Drug counseling. That wasn't right, man.
JAMIE KENNEDY, ACTOR: People need to leave her alone and just let her live her life and stop judging her. I think she is going through a rough patch right now. I hope she can get some -- with her family and just kind of be (INAUDIBLE). There is a lot going on with her. And I wish her well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: You were listening to both rapper 50 Cent and actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy chiming in on Britney Spears. And if by chance you haven't heard, well, Britney Spears walked into a hair salon asking to have her head shaved. When the stylist refused, she picked up the clippers anyway and did it herself. And here she is, totally bald while most are still totally baffled.
CNN's Peter Viles recaps the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As they might say back in her hometown in Louisiana, that Britney sure has changed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Britney!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you, Britney!
VILES: She walked into an L.A. hair salon Friday and asked to have her head shaved.
TOGNOZZI: And I said, well, I'm not shaving your hair off. And I tried to talk her out of it. I said, are you sure you are not having a bad day? And tomorrow you will feel differently about it. Why don't we wait a little bit.
She said, no, I absolutely want it shaved off now. Next thing I know, she grabbed the buzzer and she went to the back of my salon and she was shaving off her own hair and she actually enjoyed shaving off her own hair.
VILES: Next stop was a tattoo parlor where she pulled her low- rise jeans a little lower and also explained the hairstyle. Sort of.
EMILY WINN HUGHES, TATTOO SHOP WITNESS: She basically just said that she was tired of having things plugged into it and she didn't want anybody to touch her, tired of people touching her, that sort of thing. It seemed like she was kind of sick of it all, whatever it all is.
VILES: People magazine reports that Spears checked herself into a rehab facility this week but checked out a day later. A spokesman for Spears has not answered CNN's request for comment.
The 25-year-old has two young children and filed for divorce last November. Lately she has been turning weird behavior into an art form. CAROLINE SCHAEFER, US WEEKLY: She hosted New Year's Eve at Pure (ph) nightclub, and, you know, there were reports that she collapsed. So she sort of started out on that note. And it has really just continued. She has been out almost every night. A lot of partying for somebody with two small children.
TOGNOZZI: The only emotion she showed was when she said, my mom is going to be really upset. And she got teary-eyed. And I think her mom should maybe get a hold of her little girl. I think she needs her family.
VILES: Spears hasn't had a hit record in three years, but she doesn't necessarily need the money. Forbes has estimated her net worth at $100 million.
Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And so it had to happen, Britney's sheared locks are reportedly for sale on, where else, eBay. The top bid right now over $1 million. Hard the believe, isn't it? Well, here's what you apparently would get: the pop star's sheared locks, plus hair extensions, a blue BIC lighter and a half empty can of red bull Britney was reportedly drinking when she walked into the beauty salon.
New Orleans is hoping a fantastic Mardi Gras party will help turn the page on troubled times there. You are looking at live pictures of Mardi Gras. Organizers are predicting as many as 700,000 visitors. It is New Orleans' second official Mardi Gras celebration since Hurricane Katrina. And parades are taking place each day leading up to the big finale, Fat Tuesday.
So remember last week we told you about some JetBlue customers who were quite heated about being stuck on an airplane for eight hours because of weather? Well, because of that and because of other weather delays, the company has decided to cancel 23 percent of its weekend flights. They say they need time to get the weather-battered airline back on a normal schedule, and to allow JetBlue's flight crews mandatory rest periods.
In the meantime, speaking of air travel, some big problems potentially in Cleveland at Hopkins International Airport where we understand a plane has skid off the runway. We don't know exactly why. But we continue to work our sources to find out exactly what is taking place and if anybody is injured or if everybody is OK.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: Meantime, we want to go straight to Washington out of the White House where our Kathleen Koch is keeping post there. But I understand, Kathleen, you have a little bit of information about this plane skidding off the runway in Cleveland.
KOCH: Yes, Fredricka. I just got off the phone with the spokesperson for the FAA, Laura Brown. This flight, it was a Flight Number 6448 flown by an airline called Shuttlecraft (ph). It is an Embraer 170. It was flying from Atlanta to Cleveland, landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. That was about 3:13 this afternoon when apparently the FAA didn't comment on the weather, but, again, we are hearing from Jacqui it may have been pretty bad at the time.
But the plane slid off the end of the runway, runway Number 28, as it was landing, this according to Laura Brown, went through a fence. Now Brown says that there are no injuries among the 74 passengers onboard. She didn't say how many crew members were onboard. But apparently, no injuries there either. And right now the aircraft is sitting there where it went through the fence, waiting for a tow back to the terminal.
WHITFIELD: OK. But none of the 74 passengers or crew have been deplaned where that plane has skidded off the runway, right?
TOGNOZZI: Correct. As far as we know, and again, if -- as Jacqui mentioned, if the weather conditions are severe, then the airline would certainly be keeping those passengers onboard and then certainly would be wanting to check everyone as they deplane at the terminal. Make sure everyone is all right.
WHITFIELD: All right. Kathleen Koch out of Washington. So real quickly, a plane with 74 passengers onboard, being linked to the Shuttlecraft Airline Flight 6448. It was traveling from Atlanta to Cleveland. Skidded off the runway, possibly because of some bad weather that may be a factor. Simply because we hear from our Jacqui Jeras that winds were at 21 miles per hour there. And significant crosswinds. We don't know if that indeed caused the accident -- or the plane to skid off the runway. But certainly those might be factors. And of course, we will continue to work our sources to find out more about this aircraft.
Meantime, as part of the war on terror, the FBI is reaching out to the Muslim community. Coming up in the NEWSROOM, I will speak with a former FBI agent who explains how it's all working.
And New York City handing out free condoms. Why this solution to slowing the spread of AIDS is actually causing some problems.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Want to update you on the plane that skidded off the runway at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It is a plane with about 74 passengers onboard. We don't know how many crew members. Skidding off the runway. And now we understand some shuttle buses are on the way to pick up the passengers and crew to get them off that plane while the investigation continues.
Might weather have been a factor? Well there are certainly some crosswinds and our Jacqui Jeras reports there were also winds of 21 miles per hour gusting in the area. This plane was traveling from Atlanta, landing in Cleveland at about 3:13 p.m. this afternoon before these reports of skidding off the runway came in. We do understand, though, however, no injuries are being reported involving any of those passengers or the crew members. More when we get it.
Meantime, seasoned FBI agents, well-versed in investigations and interrogations, and now getting more educated in another critical area, understanding cultural differences within our communities. The FBI credits much of that to this man, Dr. Mohammad Tomeh, a leader of the biggest Muslim mosque in Atlanta. This week Dr. Tomeh became the first Muslim to receive the FBI's annual Director's Community Leadership Award.
The FBI says the Dr. Tomeh helped build and strengthen a working relationship between the bureau and the local Muslims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MOHAMMAD TOMEH, FBI AWARD RECIPIENT: Peace and justice and against any way to harm any human life from any kind of religion. And we are hoping with this new (INAUDIBLE) that we will have more Muslim community to teach them about real Islam. And if you look in the history, most of the violence comes not from good U.S. Muslim citizens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So why is it so important to forge such a relationship? Joining us now from New York, Foria Younis, a former FBI agent who provides Muslim culture training to law enforcement agencies all over the country.
Younis -- or Ms. Younis, thanks for being with us. Why is it so important to forge this kind of relationship between law enforcement and the Muslim community?
FORIA YOUNIS, SAME CONSULTANTS: Well, since 9/11, you know, a lot has happen within the Muslim community which has caused law enforcement and Muslims within the United States to separate and not really communicate well with each other. And I think the reason it is so helpful is that both sides need understand that to make the U.S. safer, we need the help of the Muslim community and law enforcement definitely needs to learn how to work with them. So this award is a really great step of what's going on.
WHITFIELD: So how difficult has it been? Because it is one thing to teach, it is another to have students that are receptive to these ideas of understanding culture and respecting certain traditions. So how complicated has it been to convey this?
YOUNIS: It is difficult. I mean, you know, obviously, some offices are very receptive. They do a lot of learning on their own. And other officers are just, you know, not willing to kind of learn some of the things that are very essential to doing a good job as a law enforcement officer. The great thing I can tell you, though, Fredricka, is that I have seen the law enforcement management and community very receptive to idea of getting Muslim cultural training. WHITFIELD: So how far does it go? Is it an issue of understanding or do you go as far as teaching some of these law enforcement agents or officers a thing or two about the language, communicating verbally?
YOUNIS: It is a little bit of everything. Most officers are actually very upstanding and want to do an excellent job. So that aside, the hardest part is just because you don't know when you go into a Muslim household, do you know not to step on a prayer log? Do you know that it is probably better if you are a male officer to speak to the man of the house instead of the female? Is it always good to bring a female officer along so that if there are females in the household, they feel more comfortable with a female police officer?
So it is -- it is almost like understanding a whole different culture that you may never have experienced in your life. So in some ways it is an uphill battle. But I think that U.S. law enforcement agencies are trying to do a good job to encompass some of the training that is needed.
WHITFIELD: So how do you measure the progress?
YOUNIS: It is very difficult to measure the progress. From where I stand and from the amount of officers that I have taught, I can say we are moving in the right direction. But I can also say that we still have quite a ways to go.
WHITFIELD: Foria Younis, former special agent with the FBI, thanks so much for your time.
YOUNIS: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And good luck with the program.
YOUNIS: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Running from violence in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I miss my home. I miss the security I have over there. And I'm scared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: It is hard being an Iraqi refugee. Coming to America, one of a very few though she may be.
Men, present your portfolios. Women, show your profiles as well. Speed dating for the Ferrari set. Straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Senate Democrats are mulling their next challenge to President Bush over the war in Iraq. After losing a bid to put the war to a full debate the majority leader Harry Reid is dialing up the rhetoric.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: This war is a serious situation. It involves the worst foreign policy mistake in the history of this country. We should take everything serious. This is -- we find ourselves in a very deep hole. We need to find a way dig out of it.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maybe I misheard you but you are saying this is the worst foreign policy blunder in American history?
REID: That's what I said.
BLITZER: Worse than Vietnam?
REID: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Several Senate Democrats are saying they will mount an effort to limit the mission in Iraq by modifying the war authorization passed in 2002.
Thousands of people have fled the violence in Iraq. A few, very few, in fact, have actually made it to U.S. shores. CNN's Randi Kaye talked with one of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, this Iraqi woman brought flowers to American troops. Two years later, though, when she needed a visa from the U.S. so her family could flee growing sectarian violence she says the U.S. turned its back.
When you look at the numbers, the United States accepted 202 refugees from Iraq last year, even though they had 70,000 slots open, is there some sort of moral obligation on the part of the U.S.?
SARAH, IRAQI REFUGEE: Definitely. They came to the country and they took out the old regime and they should have more responsibilities for the Iraqi people.
KAYE: Afraid for the safety of her family, this woman asked we not use her real name. We will call her Sarah. She believes the insurgents targeted her family because they are Christian.
SARAH: Because Americans are Christian as well, because we had the same religion, we are not trusted.
KAYE: Sarah remembers the attacks.
SARAH: There were bullets rushing at home, someone was firing at home.
KAYE: When did you say I must leave?
SARAH: We started to notice there is a car following us. It was following us for a long time. There were three men in the car. They were carrying guns and they were aiming the guns toward us. They started shooting.
KAYE: The U.N. says there are nearly four million Iraqi refugees today. The overwhelming majority of them fled their homes after the war began. Tens of thousands more flee every month. Yet fewer than 500 Iraqi refugees have been admitted to the U.S. in the last four years.
Many requesting visas support the U.S. war effort. Listen to this truck driver's testimony on Capitol Hill. A screen protects his identity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Five were yelling, "kill him." One however spoke up and said "we will not kill you but you must leave the country immediately."
KAYE: So how then could the country that led the invasion into Iraq leave so many of its citizens in limbo?
ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. HIGH COMM. FOR REFUGEES: We have 8.5 million refugees in the world, 25 (INAUDIBLE) displaced persons in the world. It is obvious the settlement will never be a solution for the bulk of this population.
KAYE: Hundreds of thousands have moved to other areas of Iraq. Many more trekked across the border to Sierra and Jordan to live in camps like this one. The state department this week announced plans to contribute an additional $18 million to a worldwide resettlement and relief program and plans to accept 7,000 Iraqi refugee this year. Refugee advocates say that's still not enough.
KRISTELE YOUNES, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL: We need to do much more to react to this crisis. In particular we need to increase our assistance drastically as well as our assistance to these countries and we need to resettle more than 7,000.
KAYE: It took six months but Sarah got her visa. She now lives with her uncle in New Jersey. She feels her country has been stolen from her and with it her family. The U.S. didn't grant anyone else in Sarah's family a visa. Her parents are in England with her brother, one sister is in Scotland, another in Canada. With a baby girl, Sarah's never met. Do you wish Iraq had never been invaded?
SARAH: Yes. At least I would be there. Now I lost my life. I lost the security. I lost my country. I miss my family. I miss my home. I miss the security I have over there. And I'm scared.
KAYE: Critics say the U.S. has been slow to accept refugees like Sarah's family because they have yet to knowledge the human cost of war. And acknowledging the scope of the crises refugee advocates argue could mean the U.S. is admitting failure in the region.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Morristown, New Jersey. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: In New York City, free condoms touching off a free- for-all over safe sex. The controversy, next in THE NEWSROOM.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let us have something. We don't get anything. Let us have at least something.
WHITFIELD: Sparks fly after ladies' night gets interrupted, so rude. The Chippendales out of action in one Texas town. And we've got the story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: More now out of Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport where a plane skidded off the runway not long ago, 74 people onboard, no reported injuries. Media spokesperson Pat Smith with the Hopkins International Airport is on the line with us now. Pat, what can you tell us about the activity there at the airport?
PAT SMITH, SPOKESPERSON, CLEVELAND'S HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (via telephone): What I can tell you, the Delta connection flight that landed at Cleveland Hopkins shortly after 3:00, for reasons unknown the plane did skid off the end of the runway taking out a localizer used for that runway going through a fence line, the nose of the aircraft is resting just barely on a roadway that is on our perimeter fence line that we use to access some additional property here at Cleveland Hopkins.
No one onboard was hurt. They have all been taken off and transported to a safe location. That's really about the only update I have for you right now. The airport has just reopened to traffic about ten minutes ago.
WHITFIELD: What has that done to other delays of other airlines, any kind of movement in traffic out of that airport?
SMITH: There have been some diversions and some delays. However, I don't have an update on the number of flights affected at this time. We would recommend that anyone who is on their way to the airport or is expecting someone departing from Cleveland Hopkins within the last hour and a half, they might want to call the carrier and find out the status of that flight and when arrivals and departures will now be adjusted.
WHITFIELD: What about clearing of the runways or what are some of the other factors that may have compromised this flight so other flights coming in and out of don't deal with the same problem?
SMITH: Whenever you have a situation like this, you do close the run -- close the airfield down because there are a lot of emergency vehicles out on an active airfield. This is standard procedure until most of the commotion, if will you, is cleared away, all air traffic is kept off the field. Just for everyone's safety.
WHITFIELD: Pat smith of Hopkins International Airport out of Cleveland. Thank you so much.
SMITH: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Reverse 911, how police found a missing boy by calling other homes in the area. Could this method also help warn residents of impending natural disasters. That is tonight with Rick Sanchez on the only live national newscast airing at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Coming up next in THE NEWSROOM, condom controversy. Why free condoms aren't getting the welcome New York City planners had expected.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Quick look now at some of the most popular stories on CNN.com today. First, there's the Britney buzz. No one can get enough of this video showing the pop queen with a baldhead getting tattoos as well.
And this bizarre story out of New York. A man's body was found in his home more than a year after his death. He was found sitting in front of a blaring television set. Investigators talked to neighbors who said they hadn't seen him in quite some time. But didn't think to check on him.
And you can check out any news story you would like any time at CNN.com.
Meantime, a plan to make sex safer in the big apple is drawing condemnation from some Christian conservatives. The Catholic Church is criticizing the city's condom giveaway program but supporters argue that the plan will save lives.
DR. THOMAS R. FRIEDEN, NYC HEALTH & MENTAL HYGIENE COMM: This is the message. That New Yorkers who are having sex should use a condom and the right price for a condom is free.
WHITFIELD: The NYC condom was unveiled this week by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Volunteers handed out more than 150,000 condoms on Valentine's Day and the city is partnering with fashion designer Kenneth Cole to help distribute the condoms in at least 100 nightclubs and retail outlets.
FRIEDEN: Free distribution of condoms works. It saves lives and prevents unintended pregnancies and it helps to ensure that sex can be safer sex.
WHITFIELD: As part of the new campaign, the city will increase its distribution of free condoms from 2.5 million a year to 18 million. But not everyone is happy about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of the father.
WHITFIELD: Both the archbishop of New York and the bishop of Brooklyn issued a joint statement saying, "The decision of the City of New York to distribute 18 million free condoms to the public and minors as well, according to news reports - is tragic and misguided. The only certain way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV AIDS is abstinence before marriage and fidelity with marriage."
The Health Department reported more than 95,000 people living with HIV or AIDS in New York City in 2005, with over 1400 AIDS-related deaths. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the city's condom campaign during a radio interview on Friday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we can do something to stop the spread of HIV AIDS, we will save a lot of lives.
WHITFIELD: In a city not short on opinions, reaction to the campaign is mixed.
JOE GALL, DISAGREES WITH CAMPAIGN: I just think it is the wrong message to send. I mean, I believe in abstinence before marriage.
ROSE SCOTT TANNER, SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN: I think it is wonderful. Because of the AIDS epidemic going on, I think everyone should have a condom.
WHITFIELD: City officials say they plan to hand out about a million and half condoms every month.
And then there is this, video of the day. Take a look. More than 8,000 people in Bismarck, North Dakota, spending their Saturday trying to reclaim their title and having fun, too. The most snow angels made in one place. That's the title they are seeking. Previous record was knocked out by students in Michigan and if the number is confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records it would mean that more than double the number of Michigan folks made their snow angels 8,000.
Now these unusual pictures out of Queensland, Australia. All I can say is ow. What is he thinking? This is a watermelon head-butting contest. The winner a 29-year-old melon picker, of course. He broke the world record by smashing 40 melons in 58 seconds. Apparently without any side effects. When asked how he felt afterwards he replied -- good as gold mate. No headaches.
If you have the money, honey, they have the time. Three minutes, exactly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies, it is time to rotate!
WHITFIELD: Darwinian speed dating. It is survival of the richest as well. And it is in THE NEWSROOM.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Jacqui Jeras in the CNN Weather Center with today's cold and flu report. Nineteen states now, that is up six from last weekend, 19 states reporting widespread flu and you can see those are all the red states on the map primarily focused here across the nation's midsection from the Gulf Coast all the way to the Midwest. Quite a few cases here in the Pacific Northwest and in New York State, also into Massachusetts. Then Georgia and South Carolina. Have a healthy rest of the weekend. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: What's this? Chippendale's dancers behind bars? It is not a new quirky dance routine. It is a dust up over a sold out show in Texas. The male dancers were arrested last night when police raided a sports bar in Lubbock. They were about a half-hour into their first set of a three-show gig and apparently violating a city ordinance.
LT. GREG STEVENS, LUBBOCK POLICE DEPT: They violated the ordinance by not having a sexually oriented business permit; you can't have a sexually oriented performance. And one or more of the dancers engaged in a simulated sexual act on more than one occasion and that violates that ordinance without a permit and, therefore, it left us -- put us in a position with no choice but to taken enforcement action.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on. Let us have something. We don't get anything. Let us have at least something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you feeling after this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm mad. Because I paid to see this show and to me, it is stupid. They are just dancing. It is no big deal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look at society today and you look at how you can have so many strip clubs with women out there getting naked, completely naked and not going to jail. Everything is fine with it. Yet, whenever males come to town to entertain women and they are pretty much completely clothed. Yet, they get thrown in jail, I really don't think it is right.
WHITFIELD: All right. The rich and the beautiful, not a new soap opera but a mixer to the max. Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Think of it speed dating on steroids. Rich men and hot women need apply.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I'm not embarrassed at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise you I'm not embarrassed.
MOOS: Sort of makes the dating game --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sassy.
MOOS: Seem quaint. Only 40 of the more than 900 women who applied for natural selection speed dating made the cut based totally on their photos.
JANIS SPINDEL, SERIOUS MATCHMAKING, INC: Pretty blond lawyer, big eyes, pretty face, great hair, pretty skin in.
MOOS: The men had to submit financial data to prove they are loaded. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $113 million.
MOOS: The cream of the dating crop approximately 40 men and 40 women ended up in a Manhattan club speed dating. Three minutes per partner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies, it is time to rotate to the next table!
MOOS: The men paid $500 for this night out, the women, and $50. Organizers dismissed hate mail they have gotten from feminists and anti-elitists.
JEREMY ABELSON, POCKETCHANGENYC.COM: I feel like Moses. We are giving people what they want.
MOOS: What is they want, Moses?
ABELSON: Women want successful men. Men want beautiful women.
MOOS: I assume you would have zero trouble meeting men.
ANA NACVALOVAITE, NATURAL SELECTION SPEED DATER: I have no trouble meeting men. I have trouble meeting quality men.
MOOS: Ana is a human rights lawyer. Where are human rights? We are headed downstairs where we are being sequestered while the event is under way. TV crews could shoot only a few minutes of the speed dating. Few of these elite speed daters wanted their faces shown. Those with blue dots were off-limits to the press. Are you after a rich guy?
SAILA SMITH, NATURAL SELECTION SPEED DATER: No. Am I after a rich guy? A good, smart, intelligent, successful ---
MOOS: With a net worth of over a $1 million?
SMITH: Yes, what is wrong with that?
MOOS: How is this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Depends on the person. Five seconds, you know.
VEKRUM KAUSHIK, NATURAL SELECTION SPEED DATER: Interesting is the best way to describe it.
MOOS: Any nice girls?
KAUSHIK: No.
MOOS: You are straight, right?
KAUSHIK: Yes.
MOOS: OK. To placate detractors organizers have another speed dating event in the works.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sugar mamas and boy toys.
MOOS: Women 45 and older worth $4 million, speed dating poor guys 28 and under. Too soon to see if true love blossomed.
ROHIT SINGH, NATURAL SELECTION SPEED DATER: We just met on camera. Who knows? This might be the match made in heaven.
MOOS: They did meet for a nice follow up date.
SMITH: Men are visual.
MOOS: I see you dressed for the occasion.
SMITH: Thank you.
MOOS: Deep cleavage and deep pockets. Nothing shallow about that.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: A crack down in Iraq doesn't end the violence, Baghdad gets bombed again with deadly results. Is the war in Iraq a bigger foreign policy mistake than Vietnam? One U.S. Senator says definitely.
Adding insult to injury a Katrina hit town loses a major employer and not to cheap foreign labor.
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