Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Arson Investigator on Trail of Malibu Fire; Americans Travel Back Home after Holiday; Preparing for the CNN/YouTube Debates; Mideast Summit

Aired November 25, 2007 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More than 24 hours later and it's still burning. And now we're finding out more on how the Malibu fires started. Arson investigators hot on the trail. Did the first spark come from this location right here? A cave, during a post- Thanksgiving party.
And are you home yet? Millions of Americans fly or drive today so they can get to work tomorrow.

Hello everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Well things are looking up today in the fight against the Malibu wildfire. But that's little solace for dozens of families whose homes are now gone. There are reports the tragedy fire might have strung from a careless outdoor party. Standing by live with the latest, CNN's Ted Rowlands.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fredricka, as you can see, there is no wind, but you can also see what this fire has left behind, complete devastation -- 49 homes at least have been completely destroyed, dozens of other homes partially destroyed by this fire.

Most of the fire damage occurred in the first few hours and this was early Saturday morning. And arson investigators now believe that this fire was started by a group of people out in a remote area of this canyon at a classic party spot if you will, where neighbors say kids go all the time.

They say there was a campfire out there early in the morning on Saturday morning and that's when those Santa Ana winds whipped up and that's what they believe started this devastating fire.

Firefighters were out in force because of the Santa Ana winds, but they were just rendered - they were out matched for a few hours there, especially during the evening hours, or early morning hours when it was still dark.

They were able to get planes up and they were able to save dozens and dozens of homes, but unfortunately 49 homes lost here in Malibu. The other fire last month here in Malibu only saw 12 homes lost so this one much more significant to this community.

Statewide, last month's fires were much more devastating, with over 1,200 homes lost. But for this community it was horrible and today they were allowed back. A lot of these residents and unfortunately, a lot of them came back to this. Two arson investigators we talked to say they believe there was a group of people partying in this spot. They have not identified them yet, they have been going around these neighborhoods looking for clues as to if they can get any identities. They're hoping that someone will step up and come forward, they're not ruling this arson, they want someone to take responsibility, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Wow, that's remarkable, I know a lot of homeowners are incredibly outraged to hear that it could be from some night of fun that could cause a tragedy like this. Meantime Ted, do we know any more about any of these homeowners because Malibu Hills is inhabited by a lot of Hollywood star types, a lot of celebrities.

ROWLANDS: And there had been reports that, a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers lost his home. We haven't been able to confirm a lot of these so I hate to just throw them out there. So we'll stay away from that.

But then obviously a lot of homes in a lot of exclusive areas. But a home lost is a home lost no matter where it is in the country and you see the same type of reaction today, we saw a family come back and it's heart breaking to watch them because they're going through their stuff and there's just nothing left and they had minutes to get out for their own safety and they had no time to gather the things they really cherished in a lot of these cases.

And then you add to the fact, because this is fire country, they know there's a risk, but you add to the fact that this may have been started by people out partying and starting a campfire in the middle of a Santa Ana wind event. I can only imagine not only the disappointment but the fury that a lot of these homeowners are going to be feeling over the next few weeks.

WHITFIELD: Right, and you can't help think about the many homeowners who may have been out of town too because it was indeed the holiday weekend, only to see their homes perhaps on the airwaves going up in flames. Ted Rowlands, thanks so much.

Well CNN i-Reporters are still sending in some pretty impressive and heart breaking and frightening pictures as well. These photos were taken yesterday as the Malibu fire hit its peak. Take a look at this one shot from the beach. I-Reporter Julie Ellerton sent it to us. And i-Reporter Chris Gay sent us this perspective from a flight taking off from LAX. And if you perhaps would like to send an i- Report, go to CNN.com and click the i-Report button near the top of your screen.

Other news, the last 77 tourists stranded on an island near Antarctica were flown back to civilian today. They spent two nights on King George Island after their cruise ship hit an iceberg and sank. All 91 passengers and 54 crew evacuated safely onto lifeboats. They spent a couple cold hours bobbing around before being rescued by a Norwegian ocean liner. Boy, are they lucky. Half were flown to Chile yesterday. The other half now also safe and warm in South America.

Sp speaking of travels, airports, roads and train stations all pretty popular places today as millions of you wrap up your Thanksgiving vacations and head on home. CNN's Kathleen Koch is in the thick of it all at Reagan National Airport in Washington. However Kathleen, it looks kind of calm behind you.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I was going to say perhaps we should say the thin of it, Fredericka. The flow of travelers here at Reagan National has really slowed this evening. Still some 2.5 million Americans were expected to fly today. But the departure boards here really did tell the story. Really no delays, virtually every flight on time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH (voice-over): From Chicago to Atlanta, many passengers on this busiest air travel day of the year were pleasantly surprised.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was very relaxed, very calm, got in and out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was perfect, I couldn't believe it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they were prepared.

KOCH: Airlines determined to avoid last year's travel nightmare stocked up and the federal government opened restricted military air space off the East Coast to passenger planes for the Thanksgiving holiday. Airlines say 10 to 25 flights an hour have been using the extra lanes in the sky.

DAVID CASTLEVETER, SPOKESMAN, AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSN: It helped. At the end of the day what causes delay is weather and volume. And we have volume clearly over Thanksgiving, and what we didn't have is weather. If we did have weather, the highest levels of preparedness would not have prevented delays.

KOCH: The Federal Aviation Administration also suspended non- essential maintenance projects to further reduce slowdowns.

DAVID STEMPLER, AIR TRAVELERS ASSN: Well I think the biggest factor has been the fear factor. I think the airlines, airports and the FAA realized that they could not afford to have another black eye so everyone was pitching in.

KOCH: But pilots and air traffic controllers are skeptical about the long-term impact of the government's Thanksgiving fixes.

CAPT. TERRY MCVENES, AIRLINE PILOTS ASSN: These Band-Aid type approaches, they offer some short-term benefits, but what really needs to be done is to find long-term solutions for the congestion we have in our air space today.

PAUL RINALID, NATL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN: The long-term solution is building more gates, building more runways, streamlining the procedures. And if you're going to give us air space one day a year, it makes no sense whatsoever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: Well, still at last check, the FAA says that the aviation system nationwide is working exceptionally well as the Thanksgiving holiday wraps up. The only delays they see are a few sporadic ground delays in Atlanta because of some rain earlier today, much-needed rain we should say and also some congestion delays in New York. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right in fact, that gives us so much into Jacqui Jeras. Thank you so much, Kathleen -- into the kind of congestion that we're seeing in New York, weather related perhaps?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right well listen up, something to spoil your dinner. Check your freezer, there's another beef recall. The latest involves some 96,000 pounds of course and ground beef chuck sure sirloin and chopped beef steak from American Food Groups of Wisconsin. It's the processing date of October 10th that is suspect. The concern is meat could be contaminated with e. Coli. Two people reportedly have already gotten sick.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of late John F. Kennedy is in a Boston hospital. Doctors will only say that the 86-year-old patient is in fair condition. They will not elaborate on the nature of her illness, but a family spokesman does admit that Shriver has had a number of health challenges of late.

And speaking of health, an Indiana newspaper reports that 69- year-old Congresswoman Julia Carson has terminal lung cancer. Carson says her cancer had been in remission for years but now she says it's returned with quote, "a terminal vengeance." She has represented the Hoosier State's seventh district since 1996.

And in Aruba tomorrow one of the prime suspects in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway goes before a judge. You're about to see, right there, Joran van der Sloot, Friday night pictures here. Authorities brought him back to Aruba from the Netherlands. He and two other suspects were rearrested earlier in the week. Prosecutors say that they have new evidence in the case. They also say that they can prove Holloway is dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have evidence that she is dead and I can tell you any day that passes now is extra proof that she's not alive anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Be sure to join us for our live continuing coverage from Aruba with CNN's Susan Candiotti starting tomorrow morning with van der Sloot's latest court appearance.

Another case being closely watched the world over, the murder of a British exchange student in Italy. Her American roommate is one of three people in police custody. New today the latest suspect detained is saying he saying he confronted Meredith Kercher's killer. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston joins us now by phone with the latest. Jennifer?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on phone): That's right, Fredricka. The mystery surrounding the death of British exchange student Meredith Kercher deepened this weekend as the fourth suspect claimed he didn't murder Kercher, but he saw and fought the man who did. Rudy Hermann Guede was arrested last week. He told authorities there he was in Kercher's bathroom when the 21-year-old's throat was cut.

It was from there he heard her screams and then fought with the man who attacked her. The killer, whom he says was Italian, but not recognizable to him, then fled the house. Guede says as he tried to resuscitate the dying student, she whispered the initials of her attackers. She then scribbled those initials, he tells police, A.S., in blood on the wall of her bedroom.

And then he fled the house and the country for fear of being blamed for the crime. But forensics technicians who are investigators scene Fredricka say no initials were found on the wall. What they did find was DNA samples from Guede on Kercher's body, his bloody fingerprints on a pillow under her body and other DNA samples in the house's bathroom.

The prosecution says this evidence does not back up his story. They are awaiting his extradition which at which point he will then be put in the same Perugia jail as the American suspect Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.

WHITFIELD: Jennifer, this is starting to sound like some mystery novel. Now what about the American roommate?

ECCLESSTON: She's still in jail. She's still a prime suspect. You know, in Italy they're allowed to hold suspects for up to a year before charging them as the investigation continues. Later this week, her lawyers will go to court again and the prosecution has to make the case before her lawyers and the judge who was presiding over this case to determine whether they still have enough evidence to hold Amanda Knox and her boyfriend as this investigation continues and until they're charged. Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: Wow, fascinating stuff. Jennifer Eccleston thank you so much for that latest update.

Well now how about this? Take a look at this picture. Children inside what really is a house here, it's hard to make out that image. They had to run for their lives when a U-Haul literally crashed into the house.

Also ahead, you ask, they answer. The time is running out. If you want to be part of the CNN/YouTube debate, act fast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The question is if you were president would you join with the pope, the European Union, Turkmenistan, Cambodia and 68 other nations and support a culture of life by abolishing the death penalty?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, that's just one of thousands of questions you have sent us for the YouTube debate this Wednesday. Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider looks at what we can expect from this interactive stop on the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: By our count over 4,000 questions have come in so far for this Republican debate and questioning is still open until about midnight Eastern time tonight, that's Sunday night. And the questions are coming in faster and in larger numbers than they did for the Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina.

So there's a lot of interest here in this Republican race. The two front-runners, Giuliani nation and Mitt Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire have been getting rough with each other. Giuliani has been criticizing Mitt Romney's record in Massachusetts. He's been attacking his health care plan, he calls it Hillary's plan for Massachusetts. Them's fighting words in the Republican Party, as well as his economic policies.

And Romney has been criticizing Giuliani's policies on illegal immigration, saying that he made New York a welcome place for illegal immigrants and he's criticized his association with his indicted colleague Bernard Kerik.

In turn, Giuliani criticized one of Romney's judicial appointments. So it's getting pretty hot out there and we're going to see some fireworks I think in this debate Wednesday night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Bill Schneider part of the best political team on television. CNN is bringing you the debate this Wednesday, mark your calendar, November 28. Your voice will be heard but you must first have your questions in by midnight tonight. So go to CNN.com/YouTubeDebates and post your questions for the Republican presidential candidates.

Straight ahead, return from exile. Pakistan's former prime minister back in the country and back in the political spotlight. But with the country in turmoil, what does his return really mean? You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A major player in Pakistan's ongoing political drama is back home and back in the mix. I'm not just talking about Benazir Bhutto, but another former prime minister. This one, Nawaz Sharif. He returned to Pakistan today ending seven years in exile. Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf to end the emergency rule before parliamentary elections are in January.

Sharif himself is planning to run in that election and possibly forge an alliance with other opposition groups. So what would a leadership change in Pakistan really mean for the U.S., because they are intimately involved at least in the ongoing fight against terrorism, the U.S. and Pakistan. So we asked our Josh Levs to look into all of this and boy, this is really getting complicated, isn't it?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know, because this sounds like it's a world away, but it's actually probably the most important country for fighting al Qaeda in the world. And so what means is that any leadership change could have a huge impact.

Let's start with some basics. Pakistan is a critical ally in the general fight against terrorism. So that means it can get very complex. Now a lot of al Qaeda and Taliban members actually are in Pakistan in ungoverned tribal areas. U.S. intelligence officials also believe Osama bin Laden is along the Afghan/Pakistan border. And President Musharraf has said he wants to find bin Laden. And some U.S. lawmakers question whether he's really doing all he can.

Now one more important point, just to toss into the mix here. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. All right, so put all those things together. You have al Qaeda, you have bin Laden and you have nuclear weapons. Clearly the U.S. needs them to have a leadership that will fight al Qaeda, prevent them from getting anywhere near those nukes and keep up the fight.

WHITFIELD: So the U.S. cares about what's taking place right now and what could happen next. But then I wonder how does the U.S. really play a part?

LEVS: Right and that's a good question, what do they do to get involved here?

So what they need to do is come to understand pretty much who these two figures are, as much as you can. So let's talk you through it, because now we keep hearing about these two figures, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Here's what we can tell you, so you have a basic idea.

They're both former prime ministers. But they have somewhat troubled histories. And so the trick for the U.S. is that these two are unknown quantities. Benazir Bhutto was accused of corruption as you see there, also intimidating the judiciary and undermining the justice system.

Meanwhile Nawaz Sharif was convicted of hijacking and terrorism for attempting to prevent a plane that Musharraf was flying in from landing in Pakistan. He was also convicted of corruption.

I know it's a lot of names, but what it boils down to is both of these people that we are hearing about have some troubled histories. Now they're back in Pakistan pushing for some power. And so what this really means Fred for the United States is such unknown quantities, they don't know if any one of those three would be the best to fight terrorism, but they know that the one they have right now is at least fighting al Qaeda.

WHITFIELD: Wow, so that's interesting. While these opposition leaders aren't necessarily on the same page together, they haven't necessarily been friends, maybe they are united in wanting to get rid of Pervez Musharraf?

LEVS: Yes. They both want to get rid of Pervez Musharraf. But that's all they have in common.

You can even see the statements they send us at CNN, which they both do, plenty. And they don't like each other, they don't like him. But they do want to see change.

They're pushing for democracy. The U.S. certainly wants democracy in general. And we all know what Pervez Musharraf has done lately, cracking down on the media, suspending the constitution, all these things.

But the number one priority for the U.S. is fighting al Qaeda. So when you hear these names, folks, what this all boils down to is three prominent figures, both of the others have been prime ministers in the past. They all have contingents in the country. Everybody has some supporters in that country. The U.S. sure would love to see democracy, but who will fight al Qaeda? Pervez Musharraf is doing it to some extent, but will the others do it more or less? With everything we know about them, we cannot know would they do more or less? Would they hurt or help the fight? That's why it's so complex for the U.S.

WHITFIELD: So a lot can happen between now and January.

LEVS: It can, and can I say one more thing? To me, this is what a presidential election is about. To me, this is what you watch for. Look for these complex interplays. We so often get 30-second sound bites from presidential contenders, but when you really look at it, a president has to balance this security and democracy, what do you do? Where do these people lay in? This is fascinating stuff because this is the complex life of a U.S. president.

WHITFIELD: Foreign affairs is definitely one of the issues that a lot of the candidates want to put out there and say hey, I'm the better candidate because I've kind of got that world experience. We'll see what it all boils down to. Josh Levs, thanks so much.

LEVS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: In fact, let's talk about some Republican candidates. Coming up Mitt Romney calling for the resignation of a judge he actually appointed. So why he wants the woman to step down.

And the quest for peace in the Middle East. Can it be reached here in the United States? We'll talk with a former U.S. ambassador about expectations for this week's Annapolis summit. And a woman jailed in connection with her son's death. Should her ex-husband still have to pay her alimony when she gets out of prison? It's a story that is sparking a lot of outrage. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Happening right now, firefighters hope milder winds will help them get the upper hand on wildfires in Malibu, California. So far the blaze has burned nearly 50 homes and charred almost 5,000 acres.

And Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot is set to appear in court in Aruba tomorrow. He and two other suspects were re-arrested last week in connection with the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalie Holloway.

And travelers returning from the long Thanksgiving weekend are finding few problems at the nation's largest airports. AAA estimates nearly 39 million people will travel more than 50 miles over the holiday period and nearly 5 million will actually travel by plane.

Let's talk politics. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is taking the offensive this weekend, but this time he's not blasting his political rivals, no. He is denouncing a judge that he appointed to the bench while governor of Massachusetts. The reason? The judge released without bail a convicted killer who has since been charged with killing two more people. It's a case that has political dynamite written all over it.

CNN's Jim Acosta joins us now to dive into this pretty explosive story.

Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the holiday was anything but a breaking for Mitt Romney who found himself on the offensive for a judge he appointed during his days as governor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): Under mounting political pressure, former governor Mitt Romney called on one of his past judicial appointees, Massachusetts Superior court Judge Kathy Tutman, to step down over her decision to release a violent inmate from prison.

MITT ROMNEY, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Despite being a lawyer and order prosecutor, her lack of judgment shows she needs to resign from that position.

ACOSTA: Earlier this year, Tutman ruled against the wished of local prosecutors and granted the release of this man, Daniel Tavaras, who had finished the prison sentence for the stabbing death of his mother. State officials say Tavaras was a troubled inmate, who had scuffled with prison guards and had even threatened to kill Romney himself. Now just months after his release, Tavaras is charged in the slaying of Washington state couple, Brian and Betty Mauk, who were remembered at this memorial service over the weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED EULOGIST: Their time was short, it was filled with love.

ACOSTA: The case is a flash back to Willie Horton.

ANNOUNCER: This man is governor of Massachusetts. This man was convicted of murder.

ACOSTA: The convicted murder who was furloughed by a different Massachusetts governor running for president, Michael Dukakis. Horton, who later robbed and rapped a woman, became the subject of political attack ads that doomed Dukakis' 1988 White House campaign.

Fast forward to 2007 and now it's Rudy Giuliani's seizing on Romney's judicial appointment, telling the Associated Press, "It's hard to know how this is all going to come out, but the reality is he did not have a record of reducing violent crime.

Romney fired back, blasting Giuliani's friendship with now- indicted former police commissioner, Bernard Kerik.

ROMNEY: I must admit of all the people who might attack someone on the basis of an appointment, I thought he would be the last to do.

ACOSTA: Political observers say the escalating battle could shape the days leading up to the nation's first primaries.

UNIDENTIFIED ANALYST: The history of multi-candidate races, whenever these candidates go after each other, the bystanders are usually the winners.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: And if that pattern holds, a slug fest between Giuliani and Romney could benefit former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in Iowa and possibly John McCain in New Hampshire.

As to Tutman calls her to offices have not been returned.

And Tavaras, he pleaded not guilty to these latest murder charges -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: So, Jim, meantime, let's talk about the timing here. All this, a prelude to Wednesday's Republican debates that will be right here on CNN. It is it your feeling that Romney may try to clarify this by bringing it himself or is he going to wait for his opponents to bring it up?

ACOSTA: This race is going to be so down to the wire between four of five different candidates in both Iowa and New Hampshire, it would be shocking if this did not come up. This came up over the weekend and Romney defending his actions basically saying, you know, he can't really control what an individual judge that he appointed does. But Giuliani wasted no time laying into Romney over this appointment and that basically set the stage for them to go at each other.

And as Ron Brown Stevenson points out in that story, when you have two front-runners or two guys who are leading the pack going after each other, sometimes it's the bystanders who benefit. That could be Huckabee or it could be McCain.

WHITFIELD: This is the tip of the iceberg that could get ugly later on in the season.

ACOSTA: Could be.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much, Jim Acosta in New York.

ACOSTA: You bet.

WHITFIELD: At last report, a Houston girl was hospitalized in a coma after being hit by a U-Haul truck that smashed into her home. Well the 10-year-old was doing school work when the truck entered the home Friday night and according to CNN affiliate KTRK, police believe the driver suffered a heart attack or some other medical problem. He was hospitalized as well.

And this story too, which was very alarming for a long time and still is, several dozen people braise a chilly New York night to observe the anniversary of a wedding day slaying. A year ago today, Sean Bell died in a hail of police bullets after leaving the bachelor party at a strip club in Queens. Three undercover officers faced trial this winter. Two of them charged with manslaughter. Officials have said the officers' feared Bell was armed when his car allegedly lurched and bumped a police vehicle. No weapons were ever recovered.

And in western New York state, a 6-year-old boy proves he truly is mama's little helper. As he crawled into her bed, Connor noticed something was wrong with his mom so he called his dad. Dad told Connor he was on his way, but to call 911. Connor made the call, help arrived and mom, Wendy, was successfully treated for a diabetic shock. Needless to say, Connor is the talk of the town today.

KEITH PELKY, FATHER OF CONNOR: I'm beaming right now actually, he's a very special little kid and I'm very proud father right now.

WHITFIELD: Very proud father of that 6-year-old. Well, Wendy Pelkey says the family will do something pretty special to reward their little hero. Connor's suggestion, quote, "Give me a gift."

Here's a look at some of the most popular videos on cnn.com right now. The death of a Canadian man four days after police used a taser to subdue him has sparked federal and providential investigations. Robert Nitstrom died in British Columbia. He's the third person to die in recent weeks in Canada after being tasered.

The first group of survivors from the cruise liner that sank is back in the South American mainland. All 154 passengers and crew were rescued from life rafts after their ship hit an iceberg. That ship ended up sinking.

And two former political rivals coming face to face again on much friendlier terms. President Bush will host Al Gore and other American Nobel Peace Prize winners at the White House tomorrow. Gore won his Nobel Prize, along with a U.N. panel, on climate change for their collective work raising the public's awareness of global warming.

And can they find peace in America for unrest in the Middle East? Leaders from that region head to the U.S. for a high-stakes summit in Annapolis. We're live with a preview.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The White House is welcoming Syria's announcement that it will attend this week's Middle East peace summit in Annapolis, Maryland. The Bush administration is trying to keep anticipation for the talks low.

CNN's Ed Henry explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With rare personal involvement from President, Bush Israelis and Palestinians are hopeful about a Middle East peace deal during his final year in office.

SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: I'm not saying that 24 hours in Annapolis will produce the magic stick that will deliver. But the most important thing is that we start.

HENRY: Tuesday's conference in Annapolis, Maryland, got a slight boost when Saudi Arabia's foreign minister is said to attend, while Syria is sending its deputy foreign minister.

MIRI EISIN, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: It's positive that Syria chose to send anybody. We weren't sure they would send anybody.

HENRY: But White House officials say a major break through is a long shot so they're trying to lower expectations. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley going so far as to say the conference will not be a negotiating forum, which is why Israeli and Palestinian officials are being vague about key details, such as whether the two states could share Jerusalem as a capital.

ERAKAT: I don't want to go into details about how Jerusalem refugees, borders, securities and other issues will be done.

EISIN: Nobody has said that these issues were simple. If they were we probably would have resolved them a long time ago.

HENRY: And some Republican presidential candidates seem pessimistic about the prospect for peace, as they seek the votes of conservatives, concerned that Israel will give up too much land to strike a deal. As evidenced by Sunday's rally of Shalom International and the Coalition to Defend Israel, where protesters demanded the city not be shared with the Palestinians.

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let's be honest. There's not going to be some instant "kumbaya" moment where everybody builds the campfire, toasts marshmallows and holds hands.

FRED THOMPSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Until the Palestinians decide that they want a two-state solution to live in peace, I don't think it's going to happen, but hope springs eternal.

HENRY: Former Mideast negotiator Anthony Ziny is concerned failure in Annapolis could actually set the process back.

ANTHONY ZINY, FORMER MIDEAST NEGOTIATOR: They will be elements out there that will try to undermine this. And we can't fall back and give in to those in this process or the sense of despair will devastate the region again.

HENRY (on camera): The actual implementation of any agreement may be the hardest part of all, especially with Israeli, Palestinian and Americans all suffering from low popularity ratings back home.

Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So the summit offers a chance to renew peace efforts after what amounts to a seven-year low.

Here to talk about expectations, former ambassador to Israel, Mr. Martin Indyk.

Good to see you.

MARTIN INDYK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: He directs the Savin Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.

How encouraged are you that Syria says we're in?

INDYK: I think it's very important icing on the cake. This meeting is going to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian dimension of the conflict. But the Syrian conflict is important and the fact that the Syrians are aligned with Iran, but coming to the conference, is a way of demonstrating that there is broad Arab support for this effort at making peace at a time when the Iranians are preaching conflict, terrorism and violence.

WHITFIELD: Syria is aligned with Iran and at the same time Syria being linked to Hezbollah, or at least helping to provide the financing for the arms, et cetera. Does Syria come in saying, OK, we're willing to talk, or does Syria simply arrive saying, we are trying to send a message? INDYK: The Syrians want to talk about their grievance, which is the Golan Heights. They want to make sure that the Golan Heights are on the table. The Bush administration has finessed that issue.

I think it's important to recognize that the Bush administration's policy toward Syria has been one of pressure and isolation, and yet they have invited the Syrians here. So there is a diplomatic opening here not only between Israel and Syria, but between the United States and Syria that has broader strategic importance, not only for Hezbollah, but the headquarters of Hamas. Their external headquarters from in Damascus has well. And Damascus is the strategic gateway for Iran into the Middle East heartland.

WHITFIELD: It's interesting, the U.S. has a very important and rather tender role here, right? It, of course, is hosting this summit, but you underscored the relationship as a bit tenuous between the U.S. and Syria. Quite frankly, the U.S. relationship with almost everybody in the Middle East is tenuous right now. What kind of role does the U.S. play in this summit? Does it simply say we're the host, we have extended the invite, but we're going to keep our mouths shut here?

INDYK: The interesting thing is, as you say, the relationships with many in the Arab world, and the Muslim world more broadly, is tenuous. But some 16 Arab foreign ministers are going to turn up in Annapolis as well as the Palestinians. and some leading Muslim nations are also going to be represented there -- Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, I think that really sends a clear message that when it comes to making peace in the Middle East, all of these countries look to Washington. And the mistake, I think, has been that the president, President Bush has not been prepared to take this up earlier on. It's better late than never. But it demonstrates again when the United States leads on the peace process, the rest of the Middle East tends to follow.

WHITFIELD: So the U.S. is in a position to not only lead in the peace process of making promises here, but does that also mean the U.S. has to lead and actually delivering on the promises? Because we have seen plenty of promises come out of summits before. But, you know, the end-all, be-all, will be who's delivering on them?

INDYK: Right. The United States has played an important role in bringing the parties to the table. Annapolis will launch and blitz the beginning of this final stage of negotiations. There are complex issues that need to be dealt with -- Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees. And those issues will be difficult for the Israelis and Palestinians themselves to resolve without the active participation of the United States as an honest broker.

The United States is trusted by Israel because it gives such strong support to Israel because it gives such strong support to Israel, and the Palestinians look to the United States to use that influence to try to come up with reasonable solutions.

We need to look to what President Bush says on Tuesday about that role because we will see there the indications of the kind of thing that he's prepared to do to try to bring them to an agreement.

WHITFIELD: Former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk. I apologize for mispronouncing your name at the top. But thank you so much for your time.

INDYK: You're welcome. Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: And on world affairs, living the good life in Russia. Take a look. Iron curtains have given way to Rolls Royces, diamonds and all kinds of other luxuries. It's no big thing there in some parts, you know. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right tattoo artists from around the world gathered in, of all places, Lima, Peru, to show off their wares.

Oh, gosh. Someone warn me on that picture. OK, stop it.

As you can see, the U.S. art itself, known as The Enigma -- I wonder why -- is more than just one of the most eight individuals on earth. I'm hardly looking at his tattoos. I'm looking at all the other stuff. He's also quite handy with the tools. The Incan Tattoo Festival is in its second here.

In Moscow, thousands of Russians flock to the third annual Millionaire Fare. I want to be there. All kinds of luxury goods were on display. The fair is said to be a testament to how far Russia has come since communist rule ended 16 years ago. The crystal, the diamonds, the Rolls Royces -- I want an invitation.

TONY HARRIS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Nice.

WHITFIELD: Of course, I'm not a millionaire so that's why I didn't get an invitation. But that was fun.

HARRIS: You sure you don't want to go back to the picture of the guy hammering himself?

WHITFIELD: No.

HARRIS: You don't want to go back to that?

WHITFIELD: No. I need a warning on that. Ow.

HARRIS: Was that problematic for you, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HARRIS: A great one today.

WHITFIELD: Good to see you. Thanks.

HARRIS: Boy, oh, boy. "Trouble in Toy Land," great stuff.

WHITFIELD: Did you learn something when you talked to the little tykes?

HARRIS: First big shopping weekend after Thanksgiving.

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

HARRIS: So terrific timing on that.

WHITFIELD: Good, thank you.

HARRIS: Got to tell you what's coming up at 7:00 tonight. You remember the story so well. It was about two years ago this week that we all heard about what was at least billed initially as this rampage in the northern Iraqi town of Haditha. You remember the story?

WHITFIELD: I do.

HARRIS: This was the story where we allegedly we had Marines on a convoy. Here's a little bit of the animation of that. They lose one of their comrades in an IED attack. They go on a rampage through this town of Haditha and they end up killing two dozen Iraqi men, women and children. Those were the initial charges. A lot of the Marines were charged, in fact.

WHITFIELD: Lots of twists and turns in this one.

HARRIS: Lots of twists and turns. I saw this this weekend on "This Week at War" and had to bring it to the viewer tonight at 7:00. It's the story of what happens when your life as a Marine is turned upside down, you're facing these charges. You're telling everyone you're just following instructions and carrying out your responsibilities. You were essentially cleared by military investigators and, yet, you still have this stigma. What happens to your life at that point?

WHITFIELD: How do you recover? If recover is the right word.

HARRIS: Just a tremendous story. Shaun Caleb's filed it and you'll see it right here at 7:00 in the "NEWSROOM".

WHITFIELD: All right, Tony, thanks so much.

And last night you brought us an outrageous story, so outrageous that we decided to bring to it you again and take it a bit further, indeed.

His son died after a beating. Now the woman who did it, his ex- wife, is getting out of jail and he is supported to start paying her alimony again? That story is sparking outrage. Next in the "NEWSROOM".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right this is pretty outrageous for a lot of people. A New Jersey man wants to stop making alimony payments to his ex-wife. He's got a good reason why. She was convicted of beating the couple's son, who later died from his injuries. It's a family tragedy that's raising new legal questions now.

CNN's Jim Acosta has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): This is Chris Kalby (ph) and two sons in better times, before his oldest child, Matthew, died after he was beaten by his mother. That mother, Linda Kalby (ph), is now in prison. She pleaded guilty to assaulting Matthew.

BRIAN SOKOLOFF, BROTHER OF CHRIS KALBY (PH): It ripped his soul out.

But Chris Kalby (ph)'s (ph) brother, Brian Sokoloff, says this family tragedy gets worse. That's because, he says, his brother may still have to pay his ex-wife $4,000 a month in alimony for her living expenses.

Linda Kalby (ph) told the court she wants the payments to continue after she's released from prison, where she's unavailable for comment.

SOKOLOFF: I don't know how anybody, judge, a lawyer, a legislator, the governor, can look my brother in the face and tell them get out your pen and keep writing alimony checks.

ACOSTA (on camera): A New Jersey appellate court recently ruled that technically there's nothing stopping Linda Kalby (ph) from having her alimony reinstated once her sentence is completed.

But the court also seemed to called on state legislators to change the law, stating, "Nothing in this opinion prevents the legislature from amending the alimony statute to specify that a former spouse's criminal act in taking the life of one of the parties' children per se disqualified the ex-spouse from receiving alimony."

RICHARD HERMAN, LAW PROFESSOR: The court didn't have enough guts to stand up and take a position here.

ACOSTA: Law Professor Richard Herman argues the court did have the leeway to stop the alimony payments but didn't because the family law system is tilted too heavily against men.

HERMAN: It just shows you how skewed the system is in family court in favor of the spouse, the female. It really is.

ACOSTA: Brian Sokoloff wonders if this is a double standard.

(on camera): Would this be an issue if this was a man who had done?

SOKOLOFF: I can't believe it would. There's a sympathy for women in divorce court.

Maybe he didn't get the right legal advice at the time, but in his own mind, he said, there's no way that I'm required to continue paying alimony.

ACOSTA: Chris Kalby (ph) would rather spend that money raising the only son he has left.

Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thank you for joining us in the "NEWSROOM". "Lou Dobbs Tonight" starts right now.

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