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Tornado Warning Posted for Parts of Arkansas; US Detention of Iraqi Leads to More Unrest
Aired February 24, 2007 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. The news is unfolding live on this Saturday the 24th day of February. Good morning everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the touchdown folks!
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Severe weather strikes, tornados, rain, ice and snow. We are tracking it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to beef up patrol and have more patrol units out roaming the areas, the bus stops in the hours the kids go to school.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Also, the hunt for an armed kidnapper continues after a brazen bus stop abduction.
HOLMES: Also, you may remember this moment or at least be aware of it, but have you seen this new tape? This is new home video of the JFK assassination. It's now been released. You'll see more of it. Stick around, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the touchdown, folks!
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: This tornado in McLean, Texas could just be the beginning. A major weather system is moving through the nation's midsection. Forecasters are warning residents east of the storm line to prepare themselves.
And blizzard and winter storm warnings are out for Colorado, East Michigan, these are new pictures of hail in Kansas. Whiteout conditions are reported in the northwest part of that state, portions of Interstate 70 there are closed. NGUYEN: And the situation is a large one, in fact, a lot of areas affected by this storm.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Florida police looking for a kidnapper today. The victim, a13-year-old boy safe at home this morning, after getting out of a tight spot. Here's reporter Peter Bernard in Manatee County, he's with Tampa affiliate WFLA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER BERNARD, WFLA (voice-over): Five hours after being abducted at gunpoint from his school bus stop, a Manatee sheriff deputy gave a relieved looking Clay Moore a ride back to civilization and the people who care for him. Deputies say a man who looks like this is responsible for this crime. They say he's likely from this area, judging from the remote location where he took Clay.
DAVID BRISTOW, MANATEE CO., FL SHERIFF'S OFFICE: When he took the child, Clay, out to the remote area, it appeared he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the area.
BERNARD: While deputies won't confirm it, Clay's aunt tells our coverage partners at "The Sarasota Herald Tribune," his abductor used duct tape and some of Clay's own clothes to tie him to a tree by his feet and hands. The aunt says the man stuffed Clay's sock in his mouth. He says her nephew used a safety pin to work the binds loose, then walked some distance to flag down a farmer for help. Students at the bus stop who saw the armed abduction say they ran behind a house to hide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some guy just pulls up in a red truck and tells the kid to get in the truck or else he's going to shoot, pulls out a gun, the kid gets in the truck and they take off.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He told him to get in the car and then he had a gun in his hand and he wouldn't get in the car, so they were like, Clay looked like he was ready to cry.
BERNARD: At a quickly set up command post, Clay's frantic parents waited on every development, fearing they would hear the worst. But around 1:30 in the afternoon, Sheriff Charles Wells told everyone --
SHERIFF CHARLIE WELLS, MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA: Well we got good news, Clay Moore is ok and he's with my deputies right now out in East County.
BERNARD: After a checkout at Manatee Memorial, Clay returned to his Kingsfield Estates home. His family asked the media to let them be for now.
BRISTOW: They've been through by far the most traumatic day they've ever been through and hopefully will ever go through.
BERNARD: Looking ahead to Monday, if the attacker isn't caught, residents will see more activity around this area.
MAJ. CHUCK HAGAMAN, MANATEE COUNTY, FL SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We are going to beef up patrol and have more patrol units out roaming the areas of the bus stops in the hours the kids go to school.
BERNARD: Because cases like this so many times end in tragedy, everyone is relieved this one didn't.
MAJ. CONNIE SHINGLEDECKER, MANATEE COUNTY, FL SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We're all feeling very happy that this child is sleeping in his own bed tonight and that he's safe and that he's unharmed.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The Manatee County Sheriff says the kidnapper is in his 30s. Take a look at this sketch, he has dark skin, with short hair. He drove an older model red pickup truck. You can call the number on your screen at the bottom of it if you see the suspect or that truck. Let me tell you that number, it's 941-747-3011.
NGUYEN: Smoke in the sky over Baghdad this morning. Insurgents attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint near the Baghdad airport. At least eight Iraqi police officers and two insurgents were killed in the fire fight. Also at least nine Iraqi civilians were killed in other attacks in Baghdad today. And another incident in the Iraqi capital, officials say U.S. troops destroyed a bunker where weapon smugglers had taken cover. One dead child and two wounded children were found in the debris. One of the wounded children later died.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Democrats are looking for new ways to show their opposition to the Iraq war. Now that Senate efforts to pass a non-binding resolution have stalled, they've decided on another approach. CNN's senior national correspondent John Roberts has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an audacious move, a measure to repeal and replace the 2002 authorization for war in Iraq. The original premise now null and void, claims co-author Senator Joe Biden.
SEN. JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The original mission, weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein, compliance with the U.N. resolution, all been met. No weapons, Saddam's gone, there is compliance.
ROBERTS: So it's time to change the mission, says Biden. His proposal would limit the U.S. role to counterterrorism and training Iraqi forces and remove all combat forces not necessary for that task by March of 2008. Battling the insurgency and sectarian violence would become an Iraqi responsibility. The proposal roughly follows the recommendations of the Iraq study group, and carefully stays away from the politically poisonous issue of dialing back the war by cutting off funding for the troops. But even some fierce critics of the war feel it's far too early, that the troop increase should at least be given a chance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seems to me the logical thing is to wait four to six months and use that four to six months to evaluate the surge and then to develop some plan B proposals.
ROBERTS: The measure also sets a firm timetable for withdrawal, which some military analysts believe would only validate the insurgent and terrorist strategy.
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): To attack the length of a campaign because we're not good at long-term commitments and attack morale using the media as a tool and they're very savvy at it.
ROBERTS: Unlike the recent non-binding resolutions on the troop buildup, Biden's measure has teeth. He also admits it has no hope of attracting the 60 votes needed to pass. So why try to rein in President Bush with resolutions destined to fail?
GRANGE: To try to put pressure on him to stop. This is a process. We've got to keep coming forward. Whether or not -- whether or not we can pass it, it is a rational, logical next step.
ROBERTS (on camera): It also puts Democrats' names on a list of votes that they can take out on the campaign trail in 2008 and try to change the war knowing that they'll never succeed also means Democrats can't get blamed for anything that goes wrong. John Roberts, CNN, Washington.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, this corvette takes on a utility pole. Can you tell who won? The pole looks just fine. But actually, there is an amazing ending to this story. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: And it may look good on paper, but your car's mileage could be a lot less than what you've been told. We have those details here in the NEWSROOM. Plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going after that truck.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, I'm making this up as I go.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Which presidential candidate may seem himself like that, you know, just making it up as you go along. We're not making anything up.
NGUYEN: We're not. We are though, tracking a developing story in Florida. The manhunt for an armed kidnapper who is still on the loose. Take a look at this sketch. There's a phone number at the bottom of the screen if you recognize him. Our coverage continues right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: New images of the insurgency to show you. This 56- second video was posted on a website that's been used to show similar videos in the past. It allegedly shows fighters, firing missiles at a U.S. base in Afghanistan last November. CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of this video and it is not clear whether the fighters being depicted are al Qaeda or Taliban members.
On the CNN security watch, how would the government respond to an improvised explosive device on American soil? That was a question to be answered during a cabinet-level exercise today, and CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano join us now from Washington with the latest on this test. And that's all it is, right, Elaine, just a test?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely Betty. The White House certainly doesn't want to panic people, but of course they want to make sure that government agencies are prepared just in case. So this morning, behind closed doors, members of the president's homeland security team are meeting to discuss how, in fact they would respond and their various agencies would respond, if there were to be a terrorist attack on U.S. soil involving IEDS, improvised explosive devices. Now the government calls this a quote unquote, tabletop exercise and it's being led by the president's homeland security adviser Fran Townsend. Also taking part, officials from various agencies including the FBI, the Justice Department and the Pentagon. Now, this is the fourth time in a little over a year that the Bush administration has held such an exercise. Other drills have focused on things like a pandemic flu outbreak, hurricanes as well as a smallpox outbreak. Now President Bush himself is not taking part in the drill, and the White House, Betty, really is trying to emphasize that this is a fictional scenario, only not based on any threats to the United States. Betty?
NGUYEN: But important lessons can be learned and that's why they're doing it. Elaine Quijano, thank you.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. T.J.?
HOLMES: And Betty, of course we've been keeping an eye on severe weather or Reynolds has been keeping an eye on it for us. He's over in the severe weather center with something else popping up.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: And some other stuff happening across America this weekend, corvette in a hurry, a utility pole minding its own business then, hey, how ya doing? Incredible pictures here of this pole that's literally sitting in the middle of this -- this disintegrated corvette.
NGUYEN: How'd it get there, that's what I want to know?
HOLMES: Actually more incredible thing here is that the driver survived. He didn't have too severe of injuries, but he did have to be cut out of that car. But again, a mystery there. Looks like the car was split in half and the pole is sitting right in the middle of it.
NGUYEN: Well here is a smooth operator at work. Watch this thief walk over to an unattended baby stroller. The mom's purse hanging on the chair, you see it right there. The guy takes the baby blanket, covers the purse and takes it with him. He even has the gall to take the baby out of the stroller.
HOLMES: Wow!
Well, Faith was lost, now she's found. This is not a story about religion, it's a story about a two-legged dog that was misplaced at an airline during her flight from Oklahoma to Florida. The hound was found at Orlando's airport. Kind of funny looking here, ok? But it is strange, you don't see that every day. Faith was actually born with three legs. One of those legs never developed and the dog actually has a myspace page.
NGUYEN: Well we are tracking a developing story in Florida. The manhunt for an armed kidnapper who is still on the loose.
HOLMES: And in times of high gas prices many people are buying hybrid cars. But what if you found out they don't get as many miles per gallon as you were led to believe? New numbers in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: And on this Oscar weekend, we ask you this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Which presidential candidate's favorite movie is "Casablanca"? A kiss is just a kiss, here in the NEWSROOM. But nobody's kissing anybody, just to let you know.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ: And which former vice president might actually win an Oscar this year. We'll take a closer look online. I'm Veronica De La Cruz and that is coming up next from the dotcom desk.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, from Mr. Smith goes to Washington to all the president's men, the world of politics has long held a fascination for Hollywood. With final preparations under way for tomorrow night's Oscar ceremony, we decided to find out whether the feeling is mutual. Here now CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): It's Oscar time, so we asked the presidential candidates the question of the moment. What are you wearing? No. What's your favorite movie? John McCain, the champion of campaign finance reform, his favorite movie is "Viva Zapata."
MOVIE CLIP: Elections are a farce, the people have no voice in the government.
SCHNEIDER: Hillary Clinton said one of her favorites is "Casablanca", where in the end public commitments trump private concerns.
MOVIE CLIP: But it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.
SCHNEIDER: Rudy Giuliani's pick, "The Godfather", a lesson in leadership.
MOVIE CLIP: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.
SCHNEIDER: "Dr. Strangelove," John Edwards' favorite movie reveals the candidate's interest in civil military relations.
MOVIE CLIP: Now, it appears that the order called for the planes to attack their targets inside Russia.
SCHNEIDER: Bill Richardson likes "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid", it's about getting the job done.
MOVIE CLIP: Well that ought to do it.
SCHNEIDER: What does "Raiders of the Lost Ark", Mitt Romney's favorite movie say about his campaign?
MOVIE CLIP: I'm going after that truck. I don't know, I'm making this up as I go.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): What would be the favorite movie for political reporters covering the 2008 campaign? That would have to be "From Here to Eternity." Bill Schneider, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: You know the story continues online as well and Veronica de la Cruz joins us now from the dotcom desk. Hi there Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: Hey there, Betty. Speaking of the Oscars, politics. Here's a question for you, could Al Gore's road to the White House actually begin in Hollywood tomorrow night? Now as you know, his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" is up for two Oscars, best original song and best documentary. The movie has thrust the former vice president back into the political spotlight and has a lot of people wondering will this lead to Gore throwing his hat in the ring for the race in '08? In the words of his producer Lawrence Bender, he was right on Iraq, he was right on global warming. He has an issue that is so formidable and has tackled, so I would have loved to see him run. Sure, but I don't see that in the cards. So what do you think? Do you see it in the cards for Al Gore? In our quick vote today we're asking you, do you think winning an Oscar would persuade Al Gore to run for president? Looking at the results right now, about 77 percent think that it will not change Gore's mind on running, while about 23 percent do believe it would. More than 45,000 people have voted so far in our unscientific poll. And you can vote too, all you have to do is log on to cnn.com. Betty what do you think?
NGUYEN: I kind of agree. I don't think he's going to run. I mean he said in the past that he's not going to.
DE LA CRUZ: You never know.
NGUYEN: Who knows, if he wins that Oscar, he gets onstage, he may be compelled to say hey, I'm in the game.
DE LA CRUZ: And that's what I was thinking too.
NGUYEN: Thank you Veronica.
Well don't miss our special preview of the big night. CNN is live from the red carpet at the Academy Awards. That is tomorrow night, 7:00 eastern, and after you've seen the big show and all the winners, CNN is your all-access pass to the big parties, the winners and all the Oscar action. CNN Sunday at midnight eastern.
HOLMES: Well, how is that gas mileage looking for you? Might not be what you think. We have some new calculations coming up in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: A new film this week of another angle of the JFK situation and the assassination. Will it quiet the conspiracists though, that's the question. We'll look at that film very carefully. The curator of the sixth floor museum is in the NEWSROOM.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Now in the news, severe weather possible today in the Midwest and south. Tornado watches posted now for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Behind the cold front, blizzard conditions for the plains. Late storm developments here on CNN throughout the day.
NGUYEN: Well police south of Tampa Bay still trying to track down a kidnapping suspect today. Take a good look at this sketch. He's described as a man in his 30s, dark skin, about 5'7". Thirteen year-old Clay Moore he is safe after freeing himself from duct tape. The boy was grabbed as a bus stop Friday morning.
HOLMES: Investigators getting a look at train wreckage in England. The focus, one particular set of switches. One person was killed, nearly two dozen hurt, five critically when the London to Glasgow train jumped the tracks. Some cars rolled down an embankment.
NGUYEN: U.S. and Iraqi troops carrying out raids in the northern city of Mosul today. Six suspects arrested. The military says troops found large amounts of Egyptian and Syrian currency along with phony passports and fake IDs. Six other suspected terrorists picked up in other operations across Iraq.
HOLMES: An attack on a checkpoint near Baghdad's airport to tell you about now. Eight Iraqi police and two insurgents killed. Witnesses say two vehicles sped toward the checkpoint. The gunmen jumped out, opened fire and tossed grenades. The U.S. troops heard the battle and helped out the Iraqi police.
NGUYEN: Well, we are keeping a close eye on the weather, and you can see why. This tornado hit McLean, Texas yesterday. A large weather system is bringing warnings of tornadoes, hail, snowstorms, even floods over a wide region stretching from Colorado all the way to Michigan.
(WEATHER REPORT)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: A busy day. Thank you.
WOLF: You bet.
TJ HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: Shiites on the streets in Iraq, calm but angry over the brief arrest of a powerful politician's son. CNN's Arwa Damon has the story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The banner warns the detention of Amal (ph) threatens to jeopardize the political process. This demonstration, one of many that erupted cross Iraq after U.S. forces detained this man, Amal Hakim (ph) at a border crossing with Iran. He was released after 12 hours but the damage was already done.
TRANSLATOR: The arrest of Amal Hakim by the forces of the U.S. occupation is a violation of the national and Islamic symbols in Iraq.
DAMON: The U.S. military calls the incident unfortunate, but for Iraq's Shia population and for the Iraqi government it's more than just that. It's an outrage. In a press conference the day after his release, Amal Hakim says U.S. soldiers shoved, cuffed and blindfolded him.
TRANSLATOR: The security plan's success relies on it not straying from its path. It should target wrongdoers. But for it to be used as a free pass, this is not right.
DAMON: Amal Hakim is the son of Abdul Aziz al Hakim (ph), arguably the most influential Shia figure in Iraq, the head of Iraq's most powerful Shia political party and the leader of the majority Shia bloc in parliament. Put simply, Abdul Aziz al Hakim is the backbone of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's government and an ally the U.S. cannot afford to lose. Just last December, al Hakim received the red carpet treatment in Washington. At a time when anti-American sentiment in Iraq is increasing al Hakim is a moderate voice and Hakim and his son also maintain very close ties with a rival of the United States, Iran. Both lived there in exile under Saddam. The arrest of al Hakim's son, so potentially explosive, putting America's top diplomat in an awkward position.
ZALMAY KHALILZAD, US AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: We do not mean any disrespect to Hakim or to his family.
DAMON: But the apology from the American ambassador and the explanation from the U.S. military were not enough for the enraged Shia populus, even causing some senior Iraqi politicians to say the incident illustrates the U.S. military's lack of understanding of Iraqi society. A lack of understanding that many say has been a problem here since day one. And as the military cracked down to secure the capital continues, mistakes like this arrest may happen again raising concerns of damaging political fallout. Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
NGUYEN: We do hear a lot about the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent in Iraq. But now there is an uproar over what is not being spent. Turns out the Iraq government is holding on to billions it promised to spend on reconstruction. CNN Joshua Levs joins us with this reality check. And Josh, I understand that some U.S. lawmakers are wondering if Iraq is just waiting for the U.S. to cover everything?
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. That's what they're looking into right now. This is the exact opposite of what we hear about so often. A lot of time we hear about money spent in Iraq, money being maybe wasted, disappearing. This is the opposite. The money's right there. It's sitting in Iraq's treasury and not being spent on reconstruction while the United States tosses billions in to Iraq. Ultimately this means yet another hurdle for President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: The president's new plan for Iraq includes this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To show that it is committed to delivering a better life. The Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs.
LEVS: But will that happen? Iraq budgeted about $6 billion for reconstruction last year. It spent less than $1 billion. Iraq's finance minister says at least $9 billion that should have been spent on reconstruction is sitting in the treasury. U.S. Representative Lacey Clay, a Democrat, said he's concerned Iraq may be waiting for the U.S. to spend American taxpayer dollars so that it doesn't have to spend Iraqi money. Stewart Bowen, the U.S. inspector general for Iraq, called that plausible. But Iraqi leaders have said they're committed to taking efforts into their own hands. So, why not spend the money? The U.S. inspector general says Iraqi leaders have given no explanation. However, Iraq is behind in its reconstruction efforts, stymied by violence and disagreement over what to do. The case of the unspent cash is drawing increased skepticism of President Bush's plan.
REP. NITAL LOWEY (D) NEW YORK: I'm particularly interested in how you will ensure that Iraq spends the $10 billion of its own revenues on reconstruction and how this spending will be monitored.
LEVS: The administration says it will keep after Iraqi leaders.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: They do need to spend that money. I am absolutely in agreement with you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: And this is part of the new dynamic in Washington. What's happening now is that Democrats have taken over Congress and so issues that might once upon a time have not gotten that much attention now all of a sudden can become major sticking points. And political analysts are saying this kind of thing could ultimately lead Congress to deny President Bush some of his requests for the funding of this war, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Joshua Levs, thank you.
HOLMES: That window sticker may say it but the gas tank however does not. Now the government is reworking those miles per gallon claims to reflect life on the real highway. Here now, CNN's Carol Costello.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jason Diaz knows all about the high cost of fuel. He runs a service called taxi pass. Some of his drivers use hybrids powered by gasoline and electricity. Just like the Ford Escape he's driving right now. As for how many miles to the gallon he gets, well, it's not what he thought he'd get.
JASON DIAZ, BUSINESS OWNER: It's not surprising that the EPA is dropping some of these numbers, because it's always been a bunch of BS.
COSTELLO: He's right. It was BS, bad statistics. For most people, the mileage estimates on the sticker have been higher than reality. So after more than 30 years, the EPA has a new formula to determine how many miles to the gallon. Let's use Jason's Ford Escape as an example. When he bought the SUV, the EPA approved sticker told him he'd get 34 miles to the gallon. After the recalculation, the EPA now says this year's model gets 30 miles per gallon although Jason says it's even less than that.
Take a look at all the new numbers. The Toyota Prius, old miles per gallon, 55, new, 46, the Honda Civic hybrid, 0ld, 50, new, 42, the Toyota Camry, old, 39, new 34 and the Saturn Vue, old, 29 miles per gallon, new, 26. The new ratings come as President Bush again touts his goal of reducing gasoline use by 20 percent over the next decade.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's going to require making sure our smartest scientists understand that this is a national priority.
COSTELLO: Jason wants to believe that, but he's skeptical. After all, he thought his car was a whole lot greener than it's turned out to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: That fateful day. New home video released this week of the JFK assassination. Does this quell conspiracy theories?
HOLMES: And we're following a developing story in Florida. The hunt for an armed kidnapper after a brazen bus stop abduction.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And this week and the Oscars are handed out. They may be the best that Hollywood has to offer, but this year's crop is putting forward a very international face. We'll have that story. We're in the NEWSROOM, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Going global now, one person is killed, more than 70 others injured after a high-speed passenger train derailed in northern England. The London to Glasgow train was doing 95 miles per hour when it left the track. The cause of the crash now under investigation.
NGUYEN: Vice President Cheney says it is up to Australia to decide whether Australian troops will remain in Iraq. Cheney held a meeting in Sydney with Australian Prime Minister John Howard who voiced continued support for the U.S. effort in Iraq. The Australian leader said a coalition defeat there would make Iran more dangerous.
HOLMS: And tight security any Dublin, Ireland. Teams from England and Ireland play rugby today in a London or rather, Dublin park. This was site of a violent 1920 confrontation between British troops and Irish nationalists. Many consider the park the cradle of Irish nationalism. This is the first time a British team has ever been allowed to play there.
NGUYEN: The Academy Awards are almost here. The final preparations are under way and tomorrow night we find out who goes home with this year's Oscars. And CNN's Richard Quest is joining us now with a preview. You know he's going to be watching. Who will you be watching in particular, Richard?
QUEST: I think we have to remember that when it comes to this year's Oscars, it is probably the most international flavor that the Oscars have had for many a year. Just look, for example. I think if you look at the best picture category you have, of course, "Babel" which of course, was shot both in numerous countries and in many parts of the film. It is subtitled. You have "Letters from Iwo Jima" another movie that is subtitled. You have, of course, "The Queen." the story of Queen Elizabeth II in the days after Diana's death starring Helen Mirren, Dame Helen. And if you then translate that Betty into some of the other awards, just take, for example, a performance by an actress in a leading role. Penelope Cruz, Judy Dench, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslett. I'm sorry to say in many of these categories it's a case of, spot the Americans.
NGUYEN: There are a lot of Brits up for awards. So is there anyone in particular that you think is going bring home the big prize? Helen Mirren, maybe?
QUEST: You know, you don't have to be a rocket scientist. Here in Britain, everybody is rooting for Dame Helen Mirren who will probably -- I'd be absolutely godsmacked, as we say over here, if Helen didn't take home the Oscar. She's taken home the SAG. She got the Golden Globe. She took home the BAFTA. They have a saying in Hollywood. Jeremy Irons was telling me, they have a saying, you get a feeling that it is someone's year. And when it comes to two particular stars, Forest Whitaker, again, another international film, the story of Idi Amin in Uganda, (INAUDIBLE) he is going to take that. I will be shocked, shell shocked, bemused and bewildered if Mirren doesn't get that. It's when it comes to best picture that I think we're going to have very interesting moments, Betty.
NGUYEN: I'm interested how you're going to watch this. Do you have your own Richard Quest Oscar party? What are you going to be doing tomorrow night?
QUEST: Well, I shall be doing what most people in Britain - we'll be staying up very late. I'm be catching of course hopefully the CNN pre-Oscar party. I'll be watching Sibila and co (ph) on the red carpet. I just spent the last five weeks doing red carpet in Hollywood.
NGUYEN: You don't sound so excited about it.
QUEST: oh, I've got scars and bruises and I'll be in therapy for months after that. But clearly, I mean, I think perhaps the best picture - I'm going to go out on a limb here, I think the best picture is going to go to "The Departed," Martin Scorsese.
NGUYEN: I'm so happy you said that because that is exactly what I think. I think that is a fantastic film and I believe the Oscar is going to go to that film.
QUEST: And I think it's going to knock out "Little Miss Sunshine" which may be artsy fartsy and it may have garnered quite a lot of respect, but basically I think the academy is going to go for big and brash, big names, like Martin Sheen, and all the big names, Leonardo.
NGUYEN: Yes.
QUEST: Jack Nicholson. I think that they're finally going to go for that one.
NGUYEN: Artsy fartsy for "Little Miss Sunshine." only you could say that, Richard. Thank you. We appreciate it and we'll all be watching tomorrow.
And you don't want to miss our special preview of the big night, CNN is live from the red carpet at the Academy Awards. That, again, tomorrow night, 7:00 Eastern. Don't miss it. After, stay tuned, because you've seen the big show and all the winners, then CNN is your all-access pass to those big parties, the winners and all the Oscar action, CNN Sunday at midnight Eastern.
HOLMES: You can make your own award. (INAUDIBLE) cnn.com, inside the envelope game, correctly guess the most winners for a chance to win a home theater system which includes a 42-inch high def plasma TV. Go to cnn.com/ite for more details.
And of course need to let you know, remind you that we are tracking a developing story in Florida, the manhunt for an armed kidnapper. Call the number you see on your screen if you have any information about this man and this kidnapping we just saw in Florida. But we're all over it.
NGUYEN: And you remember the event, but have you seen this? Just released film, moments before the JFK assassination. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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HOLMES: The JFK assassination, do you believe there was a conspiracy or do you accept the official finding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone? Until most recently the complete and best-known photographic evidence was the Abraham Zapruder film, but now, we learn someone else also filmed that fateful motorcade and this new film has been donated to the Sixth Floor museum at the assassination site and Gary Mack is the museum curator. He joins us now from Dallas. Sir, thank for being here. You certainly say you found a treasure here with this new film.
GARY MACK, CURATOR, SIXTH FLOOR MUSEUM: Thank you TJ. I appreciate it. There were almost 200,000 people along the motorcade route that day and many of them had cameras. Most of them seemed to think that if they didn't actually photograph the assassination, their pictures are not important, but of course, to historians, all pictures are very important. We want to round them up and preserve them all.
HOLMES: You think this is certainly going to be a good way to get that message out and hopefully a lot of folk will go through those old boxes in the attic and possibly find some more treasures.
MACK: That was our intent when we released the film the way we did on Presidents Day, which is also the museum's birthday. But as it turns out, that Kennedy mystique is still very powerful and folks all over the world are fascinated with this film, also the fact that it's been sitting in this man's closet now for 43 years. Again he did not think there was anything particularly important about it. It happens to be the clearest, best view of Jacqueline Kennedy in that motorcade that day.
HOLMES: All right. We're going to get to some of the conspiracy theories and how this film help or hurts their calls or whatnot, but again you kind of hit on it there. But what is so special about this video and something we've never seen before?
MACK: There's one of the conspiracy theories is the bunch theory. That came about because the hole in the coat that President Kennedy was wearing seems to be lower by two or three inches than the actual wound in the body. And the conspiracy folks were trying to make some sense of all that. You go back and look at the pictures of the motorcade like the George Jeffries film and you can see that his coat was riding up on his back a little bit and that might be the answer. Again, that's just a theory and people will make of it what they will.
HOLMES: You don't think this help or hurts? You got some out there that see this film and they say this definitely resolves the issue. There was not a second shooter. Do you think it hurts, helps or hurts anybody case one way or another?
MACK: Not really. Since the film was shot about 90 seconds before the assassination, you can see riding on the back of the cars, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect Jackie Kennedy. Usually he rode on the car right behind Kennedy. But when the crowds were really huge and surging out in to the street, he would jump off and run up and actually ride closer on the car so he could be of help to Jackie Kennedy, if necessary.
HOLMES: Why is this video so important, even if, surely, it might not resolve or put to rest some of those questions and conspiracy theories out there Why is it so important to have a film like this and others that are out in to make sure they get out?
MACK: It's important to remind people that the Sixth Floor museum, which is a nonprofit organization, is actively trying to preserve these films because history will tell us later on what's important that day. We don't know all the questions that are going to be asked. So if this prompts someone to pick up the phone and call us, that's great. That's what we hope will happen.
HOLMES: Are you able to go through this film as well and you can see like you said, a couple hundred thousand people lining the streets and some of this film may show you other people across the street and other people who had video cameras and regular cameras, are you going through a process of trying to maybe go through and I don't know, it might seem like an impossible task, but maybe track down some folks who may have some of this video?
MACK: Believe it or not I spoke to a guy on the phone yesterday who believes he is in the crowd right across the street. There's a landmark there, the old Hotel Maurice, which is long gone from Dallas. But he remembers being in front of the hotel. He did not have a camera. But who knows what's going to turn up. People see these pictures. They start thinking, they remember, oh, I remember that guy. He had a camera. We'll go call that museum.
HOLMES: All right. Gary Mack, museum curator at the Sixth Floor museum there at the assassination site. This is a great video. We appreciate you sharing it with us. It gives us a great look. No matter what you have, I don't think anybody's ever going to put some of those conspiracy theories to rest.
MACK: You're probably right. Thank you TJ.
NGUYEN: That is so true.
More news coming up in the NEWSROOM with CNN's Fredricka Whitfield, looking forward to that.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, thanks so much. Good to see you guys this morning. We're going to continue in the noon hour and then throughout the day. We're going to continue to look into the fact that the search intensifies for the man who allegedly abducted and bound a 13-year-old Florida boy. Thankfully the boy is back home with his family. But police have now released this composite sketch and they have a better description of the vehicle this person may be in and they're relying on the community to help.
Also, in the noon hour, perhaps you all have heard of the movie "Freedom Writers," maybe even saw it. It's about a first-year teacher who is very courageous and innovative, who uses the written word to reach students that have been classified as unteachable. Well, the real life teacher, Erin Grewell (ph) will be joining us in the NEWSROOM in the noon hour as well as one of the actors in this film and the director, a really compelling story about how this whole thing came together in a six-year project. It's a fascinating story.
NGUYEN: Looking forward to that. Thank you Fred.
You can hear if there and you are seeing pictures of hail in Kansas. Severe weather popping up in many areas of country this morning. We have more details on this ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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NGUYEN: Check this out, down she comes. Look at what 400 pounds of strategically placed explosives will do.
HOLMES: Strategically.
NGUYEN: Yes absolutely. That building once home to Duke Power in Charlotte. After a few seconds, though, it turned into a dusty pile of rubble. Now builders plan to replace the Duke building with a condo retail complex.
HOLMES: Well, you know what else is going down right now?
NGUYEN: What is that?
HOLMES: The CNN NEWSROOM going down right now with Fredricka Whitfield. That's coming up.
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