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Meeting With Iraqi President And President Obama; 20 Days Until Higher Taxes; Syrian Protesters Fear Massacre; U.S., Iraq Mark War's End; High Court To Review Arizona Law; Gingrich And Huntsman Debate Today; Sandusky To Face Accusers Tomorrow; Funeral For Virginia Tech Officer; Indiana's $320 Million Bonus; Romney vs. Gingrich

Aired December 12, 2011 - 13:04   ET

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

JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR: President of the United States there meeting with Iraqi president Nouri al-Maliki, discussing all of the things that are going on with the United States government and Iraq as we move toward that day when the United States forces are removed from that country. The president saying the U.S. relationship with Iraq is going to be very similar to the relationship of the United States with other countries that the United States shares an interest in.

Hello, everybody. I'm Joe Johns in today for Randi Kaye. It's 1:00 on the east coast.

Let's get straight to some of the other news. Mention holiday this week in Congress and you won't see many jolly faces. That's because time is running out to pass an extension of a payroll tax holiday that's benefited everybody who draws a paycheck all year long. Top Republicans are promising a deal will get done and they're trying again tomorrow in the house. Both parties agree on one thing, they'd really like to wrap things up by Friday and start their holiday recess.

Tonight is the deadline reportedly set by Syria for anti- government protesters in the city of Hom to get back in line or else. An opposition group called the Free Syrian Army fears a massacre if residents fail to turn in their weapons and give up military defectors as Damascus is demanding. Activists say security forces have killed 20 people nationwide today alone. Officials haven't publicly acknowledged the deadline and have denied opposition claims that the city's being cut off from water, electricity and food.

As we just heard, live from the White House, the U.S. and Iraq are marking an honorable end to an arduous war. President Obama hosted Iraqi president prime minister Nouri al-Maliki 19 days before the last American troops are due to be gone from Iraqi soil. The president says it's time to honor sacrifices borne by troops and civilians of both nations and to start a normal relationship based on respect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Today, only several thousand troops remain there and more are coming home every day. This is a season of home comings and military families across America are being reunited for the holidays. In the coming days, the last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq. With honor, and with their heads held high. After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Mr. Obama is warning Iraq's neighbors not to interfere when the U.S. leaves.

The Supreme Court says it will review Arizona's controversial immigration law. Among other things, the Arizona law requires police to detain people who can't produce proof they're legal U.S. residents. The Obama administration opposes the measure arguing that only the federal government can enforce immigration laws. Lower courts have blocked much of the law but today's announcement means those rulings could be reversed. The Supreme Court could hear arguments in April with a final ruling coming in June.

Think too many candidates are competing for time at most of the Republican presidential debates? Have we got a debate for you. Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman will face off in a two-man Lincoln-Douglas style debate in Manchester, New Hampshire this afternoon. And there could be some bad blood. CNN has learned Huntsman is losing a high- profile supporters to Gingrich. Richard Brothers is a former state employee and security commissioner, formerly listed as one of Huntsman's alternate delegate to the national convention. Brothers will join the Gingrich team instead.

Former Penn State assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, will face some of his accusers this week. Sandusky is charged with molesting 10 boys enrolled in his Second Mile charity. Now grown men, at least five of his alleged victims, are scheduled to testify at a preliminary hearing tomorrow morning. CNN's Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin says it will be an important session for both sides.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: This is going to be a very serious moment for these victims, because it is going to be the first time that they've told their story in public. It's a very embarrassing situation for most of them to be sure, and they're going to be cross examined by someone who is determined to show they're lying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Jerry Sandusky is not expected to testify.

Virginia governor, Bob McDonald, will speak today at the funeral service for Virginia Tech police officer, Deriek Crouse. The service is set to start about an hour from now at Virginia Tech's Castle Coliseum. Kraus was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car Thursday by a 22-year-old man who later killed himself. The attack appeared to be unprovoked and there's still no word on any motive. The murder revived grim memories of 2007 when a Virginia Tech student shot 33 people to death, including himself. State governments across the country are having financial problems. That's no news, but long last, one state government is reporting some good news. Indiana governor, Mitch Daniels, says his state has discovered $320 million that it didn't know it had. It's corporate tax revenue that had been accumulating unnoticed since 2007. Critics say the state should do a better job keeping track of its money, but Daniels is looking on the bright side. He says, Christmas came early.

And speaking of Christmas, while many of you are out there shopping for the holidays, you might want to consider this. Come January 1st, you may be taking home less pay than you are right now. Why? Got one word for you, Congress. Washington cannot agree on a plan to extend payroll tax cuts, and time is running out. So, is there any hope left? That's next.

But first, in a star-studded ceremony last night, Robin Lim was named the 2011 CNN hero of the year. And Mother Robin, as she is called, is a mid wife who helps thousands of low-income Indonesian women deliver their babies for free. She says when a woman gets pregnant in Indonesia, her chances of dying multiply by 300. Congrats to Robin and all of the heroes nominated this year. You are all truly inspiring and total "Rock Stars."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: A new year is now just 20 days away, and with it, a cut in your take-home pay. That is if you have a job and if Congress can't agree on extending payroll tax cuts. If you don't have a job, you may run out of unemployment benefits a whole lot sooner than you thought. Twice now in two weeks lawmakers have blocked plans to continue the tax cuts and jobless aid. And while the House may pass a new plan tomorrow, the Senate probably won't. This isn't their only deadline even though it's their nearest one, a stop-gap measure funding several government departments runs out on Friday. To keep the money flowing, a new measure needs to be hammered out and posted online today.

Two familiar faces joining me now in Face Time. Peter Morici, Professor of International Business at the University of Maryland, and Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy at U.C. Berkley, and former Labor Secretary under President Clinton. Welcome to you both. Professor Reich, what is the harm, would you say, in letting the payroll tax rate go back to the way it was last year?

ROBERT REICH, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY, U.C. BERKLEY: Well, the big problem is not only that individuals, families will be paying more, they will -- you know, they had been enjoying essentially just about $1,000 a year tax cut. They're going to have to be paying $1,000 more, but also that means less money in their pockets to buy things which means, in this sense, a drag on the entire economy because they can't turn around and buy things that create more jobs.

JOHNS: Peter Morici, I talked today to Roberton Williams over at the Tax Policy Center in Washington, D.C. He says this -- this tax cut, if you will, works out to about $32 every two-week pay period. Is that enough to have, you know, a big knock-down drag-out in the Congress and get people all upset?

PETER MORICI, PROF. OF INTL. BUSINESS, UNIV. OF MARYLAND: Well, it's really a matter of principle with the Republicans. They feel that all this stuff should be paid for. You know, in the past, we really haven't paid for stimulus. And now they're saying, well, if you want to continue the payroll tax cut, you know, the economy is in recovery, so you have to pay for it with some sort of spending cuts. And that's where, you know, the problem lies. The Democrats are willing to pay for it with a tax on millionaires, and you know how well that goes over with the Tea Party. So essentially the standoff is over how to pay, not whether.

JOHNS: Robert Reich, how much of this also is really about getting the Republicans on the spot, if you will? We know after the events of August, that a lot of Americans really turned against the Congress and their approval ratings, if you will, are lower than ever. Does this sort of just fit in to the political narrative and help the Democrats more than anything?

REICH: I think it's going to hurt both sides, honestly, Joe, if there is no agreement on this. Americans are going to see their -- either paychecks shrink and they're not going to know that it's Republicans that didn't agree to this or Democrats who didn't agree to that. But let me just say, it is peculiar, with regard to the Republicans' insistence, that a tax cut has to be paid for because for years, remember, Republicans have said, tax cuts will pay for themselves in terms of economic growth.

JOHNS: What do you say to that, Peter Morici? Will tax cuts pay for themselves?

MORICI: Oh, I don't know that these tax cuts will pay for themselves. There are more fundamental structural problems in the economy that we've spoken about. You know, the trade deficit, the banks, our huge energy consumption. They need to be addressed. Although the Democrats are guilty themselves of using language two ways. This would be -- this -- eliminating a temporary tax cut is a tax increase.

But the Bush taxes snapping back is not a tax increase, but rather ending temporary tax cuts. So, you know, all this stuff is in the eyes of the beholder. But I think the president comes out well on this either way.

JOHNS: Now if the Congress doesn't get a deal, just how bad is it going to be for the economy, realistically, considering the amount of money we're talking about and the size of the federal economy overall? Bob Reich, I'll ask you first.

REICH: Joe, it's relatively small. Certainly compared to the economy overall. But, look, every fiscal drag, every time taxes go up or, you know, people have -- there's fewer -- there's less stimulus, is a problem, particularly right now when you have the headwinds coming from Europe, the European debt crisis, and we are still struggling to get out of this jobs recession. You know, the last jobs report was moderately encouraging. But remember, 315,000 Americans dropped out of the labor force all together, stopped looking for jobs. So you might say, in a sense, we are still very much in the jobs recession. We need every bit of stimulus, every bit of tax cut we can get.

JOHNS: And to you, Peter Morici, how much of this is just about expectations? If Congress fails to act, do we end up in a situation where the American economy perceives a hit and therefore shows us a hit, if you will.

MORICI: No, this isn't large enough to sink the American economy. Much more troublesome is what's going on in Europe. And whether or not we have this payroll tax cut, events in Europe are going to determine whether or not we have a recession. If Europe's economy contracts a percentage point or two, we survive that. But if Europe has a major recession and its banks start to fail, we know what contagion looks like. There are real vulnerabilities over here. And that's the real problem.

JOHNS: Peter Morici, Robert Reich, thanks so much for coming in. Also, can't go away without mentioning your book, Robert Reich. This latest book, "Aftershock: The Next Economy & America's Future." We appreciate you both coming on.

REICH: Thanks very much.

MORICI: Everyone should read it.

JOHNS: We'll take you globe trekking to a country that has suffered months of deadly violence and now there's word of a government ultimatum fueling fears of a possible massacre today. Do you know what country we're talking about? The answer after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: Globe trekking begins in Syria. There's a fear of a possible massacre in the city of Homs, the center of a nine-month-old popular uprising against the government. Opposition forces say the government issued an ultimatum on Friday, giving residents until today to give up their weapons and surrender. An opposition commander says Syrian troops have dug trenches around the city. He says there are fears of violence similar to a 1980 massacre. In that year, a government assault on Homs, Syria, killed thousands.

Now to Russia, where anger over recent parliamentary elections is fueling an unusual amount of dissent. Tens of thousands of Russians joined a protest in Moscow over the weekend. Thousands more rallied in St. Petersburg. They say the election was fixed in favor of the ruling United Russia Party and they want a new vote. In a Facebook message, Russia's president promised an investigation, but he did not discuss the possibility of new elections.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin plans to run for president next year, but it now looks like he'll face some opposition. A prominent Russian billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, is Russia's third-richest man. He also happens to be the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team in the United States. He calls his decision to run probably the most important decision in his life. But some Russian dissidents are skeptical. They suggest his candidacy may be part of a Kremlin scheme to make it look like the election is a legitimate contest. Finally to the Philippines, where a Filipino-American boy has turned up safe. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Lunsmann disappeared with his mother and cousin in July, apparently abducted by suspected Islamic militants. His mother and cousin were released by their captors earlier. The boy was spotted alone over the weekend. His father says the boy managed to escape from his captors while they were sleeping and walked two days before he was found.

His front-runner status is all but gone thanks to Newt Gingrich, but now Mitt Romney comes out swinging hard against the former speaker. Find out why he's calling Gingrich reckless and erratic. Will the personal attacks work? That's "Fair Game" next.

But first, here's your political junkie question of the day. How many candidates have won the Iowa caucuses and the White House that same year? The answer just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: Before the break we asked you how many candidates have won the Iowa caucuses and then gone on to win the presidential election later the same year. The answer is three -- Barack Obama, George W. Bush in 2000 and Jimmy Carter in 1976. Although Carter actually finished behind none of the above that year. But I'm sure you already knew that.

This is part of the show where we go beyond the partisan talking point to the heart of the political debate, where all sides are "Fair Game." The Republican presidential fight is starting to get a little nasty with just about three weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses. It's especially bad between the top two, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. This morning, Mitt Romney called Gingrich reckless and said some of Gingrich's comments are fine in a campaign, but far from presidential. Joining me now is CNN contributor Will Cain and Democratic political consultant Ed Espinoza.

Guys, in that same interview, Romney also said Gingrich should give back any money he got from consulting for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Let's listen to Gingrich's reaction to that this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would just say that if Governor Romney would like to give back all the money he's earned from bankrupting companies and laying off employees over his years of being, that I would be glad to then listen to him. And I'll bet you $10, not $10,000, that he won't take the offer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Are Romney's attacks a good idea or a bad idea? Will Cain, let's start with you.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: They're a little bit of a head scratcher. He's in a tough spot, Joe. Look, you say, why has support gone to Newt Gingrich. Let's try to figure that out and attack him on that level. Well, we know it's not for substance, because Gingrich has been on every side of the issues. It's not for character. We know about his fidelity issues. So you say I'm left with two options. It's because stylistically Newt is ready to, you know, aggressively take it to President Obama, or, b, it's because Newt's not a Mormon. It's one of those two.

Either way, Mitt can't attack on that level. So all he's got to do is keep pushing the substance, keep pushing the issues, keep showing how Newt is inconsistent and hypocritical. And hopefully, sooner or later, that will catch up with Newt.

JOHNS: Now, Ed, technically you don't have a dog in this fight. Nonetheless, I have to ask you, is this good politics what Romney's trying to do?

ED ESPINOZA, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Well, I don't know if it's good politics or bad politics. The bottom line is, it is politics and we're three weeks out from the first primary. So Mitt Romney has to do something differently because if you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to keep getting what you're getting. And something's got to change.

The heat of the campaign happens a month out and we're in that window right now. So he's got to land some blows. Whether it's over money or anything else, you know, he's got to find something to go after Gingrich and look for that weakness.

JOHNS: Well, what about the idea of just sort of letting Gingrich implode. Everybody knows that Newt Gingrich has a way with words that sometimes upsets a lots of people. Will Cain, what do you think the chances are that Newt Gingrich is going to say something that rubs the voters the wrong way between now and the caucus?

CAIN: Decent. Decent. As you said, he's shown a habit of it. That strategy has worked for Romney so far. It worked against Michele Bachmann. It worked against Rick Perry. And it worked against Herman Cain. Newt Gingrich is an extremely volatile front-runner. In fact there's a -- you know, polls, horse race, nonsense. But there is a poll out today from the American Research Group from Iowa -- likely Iowa caucusgoers that show both Gingrich and Romney in the 20s. It could already begin starting to catch up to Gingrich.

JOHNS: Do you think the voters --

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNS: Go ahead.

ESPINOZA: The problem that Romney's got with Gingrich right now that's different than the other ones is Gingrich has the benefit of time on his side. When you get closer to an election, voters start to become more pragmatic with their decisions. They start to gravitate towards someone and settle on that choice. So Will's right that Romney definitely has to go after him and Gingrich does have the ability to unravel. But he's got a bit of time on his side that helps him a little bit more than the others.

JOHNS: We know also that Newt Gingrich has certain issues in his background that some of the other candidates don't. He's been married three times. He's admitted adultery. And he got quizzed quite a bit over the weekend in that debate about that. All the candidates got to respond.

Will Cain, I'll ask you. Do you think that evangelical voters have forgiven Newt Gingrich, if you will, suitable to the point where they'll actually vote for him?

CAIN: I don't know. I mean Gingrich is working on a lot of forgiveness right now. Because people are looking over all of the logical reasons that Newt Gingrich doesn't fit to be not just the Republican nominee but the Tea Party nominee. 82 percent of Tea Party supporters say Newt Gingrich is their guy but that doesn't make any logical sense, not substantively, not on the issues and not character issues as well. So, yes, maybe they're willing to forgive him or maybe it's just not resonating with them, Joe. Maybe they just don't know about it all right now. Maybe it is not just sinking in.

JOHNS: All right, Will and Ed, thank you so much.

And, Ed, by the way, happy birthday.

CAIN: Yes, Ed.

(LAUGHTER)

ESPINOZA: Thanks.

JOHNS: All right, thanks.

That's "Fair Game."

Coming up next, the Iraq war is all but over now. How do our troops feel about it now eight years later?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT HOWARD, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I have a hard time understanding why we went there in the first place.

SARAH OLDRIDGE, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I know there have been a lot of Iraqi casualties. How many more would there have been if we weren't there?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CNN's Kyra Phillips sits down with veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. You might be surprised what they say.

And, we're watching a live event happening right now at Arlington National Cemetery. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki all in attendance. We'll bring it to you when it gets under way. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: Looking at a live picture right now at Arlington National Cemetery right across the river from Washington, D.C. This is where momentarily we're expecting President Obama with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Expected to have a traditional wreath laying there, a ceremony very much like the type of ceremony you might see on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Of course, the United States and Iraq having so much to share in the nature of veterans and people who have died in a long conflict. So we'll be bringing you pictures when the president arrives there. Also expecting Vice President Joe Biden as well. A pretty chilly day there in Washington, D.C.

All this week, CNN is going "In-Depth" on the final days of the war in Iraq. Operation New Dawn might be over, but for some troops coming home their battle is far from over.

CNN's Kyra Phillips reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: The mission objectives -- hit the target.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Seven aircraft did drop bombs over Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Eight years ago, I was there when the Iraq war began.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The campaign that's being called "Shock and Awe."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: From the air --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: You've got it in your sites and then you drop the ordinance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: -- land --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The number of threats that ground troops are dealing with. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: -- and sea --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: There are five weapons stations on this special operations craft.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I met some of the bravest men and women I've ever known. Bravery that came at a physical and mental price.

(on camera): In one word, how would you describe the war if Iraq?

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: Sacrifice.

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: Bittersweet.

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: Mistake.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): These are veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Army, Air Force, Marines, all impacted in some way by this war.

(on camera): Was the war worth it to you?

JOSH AGUILAR, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: As an infantry man, I was on the ground a lot and I talked to a lot of families and a lot of individuals in the Iraqi populous.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Staff Sergeant Josh Aguilar was on the ground when the invasion began, his first of three deployments.

AGUILAR: I feel as long as I gave somebody else the opportunity to have the same democracies, the same freedoms, the same hopes and dreams that we can have every day, then maybe some of those things that I did and some of the sacrifices that my friends made were worth a little bit of something.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Aguilar retired six months ago and starts school in January.

(on camera): Sarah, how about you? Was it worth it?

OLDRIDGE, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I think I'm on the fence. I know there have been a lot of Iraqi casualties but how many more would there have been if we weren't there?

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Staff Sergeant Sarah Oldridge is now a paralegal in the Air Force Reserve and works at a private security company.

(on camera): You were a teenager building bombs. How did you process that?

OLDRIDGE: You build those bombs that all come back, you know someone's dead. It is hard to be happy about that but at the same time I was happy it wasn't me.

(on camera): How did that change you?

OLDRIDGE: I think, at the time, you just kind of become cold and callous to it. It is self-preservation.

PHILLIPS: Matt, you went from being a U.S. Marine to studying peace and conflict at U.C. Berkeley. Talk about a switch.

HOWARD: I have a hard time understanding why we went there in the first place. Going in under false pretenses for weapons of mass destruction. Wanted to gain a better understanding of what I had experienced. Getting out of the military took me at least a year to try to negotiate being a civilian again.

PHILLIPS: Negotiate being a civilian. What do you mean by that?

HOWARD: I was very definitely ready to end my five-year enlistment. But when I got out, I didn't anticipate the feeling of loss, especially in terms of the really strong ties and bonds between me and the guys that I served with.

JESSI TSENG, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: I struggled with seeing my friends contemplate suicide.

PHILLIPS: Jessi Tseng was an Army sergeant in Iraq, assistant to a brigade commander. Now with a degree in sociology, she's dedicating her life to saving fellow vets.

TSENG: Seeing them deal with alcohol abuse, drug abuse, homelessness, that was the most difficult thing for me to see. I witnessed them save someone's life in Iraq and they can't save their own anymore? It hurt me.

PHILLIPS: Ramsey Raher was an Army specialist, honorably discharged just five months ago. He's now living in a transitional housing facility.

(on camera): You've also struggled quite a bit since you've gotten back. You're two months sober. That's positive.

RAMSEY RAHER, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: But why did you turn to alcohol?

RAHER: I had to see good, patriotic Americans with -- that were fathers, that were good parents, good sons, good daughters, pay the ultimate sacrifice and that played an emotional toll on myself.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Ramsey received two Purple Hearts in less than a year. RAHER: There was small arms contact, mortar attacks, RPG attacks, and direct fire on bases. I mean you're constantly dealing with a barrage of ammunitions. Some of those events still haunt me.

PHILLIPS: Do you feel safe now?

RAHER: Now that I'm sober, yes.

PHILLIPS: The war in Iraq, how did it impact your marriages, your families?

OLDRIDGE: You know how they say the first year of marriage is tough? Well try to pull through one after you've been married. You learn a lot about yourself, about your marriage, about your spouse. We had a lot of fights but we talk it out and I can definitely say that our marriage is much stronger.

PHILLIPS: Josh, you've got a bit of a different story.

(LAUGHTER)

AGUILAR: A little bit. I was actually married six months before I deployed the first time in Iraq. And I very specifically remember writing my wife a letter saying things are different for me and I can feel them, I can tell. So when I came home, on top of me dealing with my own issues, and on top of her becoming pregnant with our first child, it caused a lot of big gaps in our relationship. By the time I deployed for my second deployment, a year-and-a-half later, it was over because I was locking up the door, I already knew this is the last time we're going to share a home together.

PHILLIPS: Our troops are coming home. What's your advice?

RAHER: My advice is just listen to the command. They do a very good job of giving mandatory briefings that deal with subjects such as suicide, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse. And don't diminish the good work that you did.

OLDRIDGE: You have to be open. You have to communicate. You have to be willing to talk about what you're feeling. Otherwise, you're just going to bottle it up and be angry.

HOWARD: Realistically, people are not necessarily meant to kill other people and they're going to have a reaction to that.

AGUILAR: Fighting those emotions and fighting the -- those problems on your own isn't going to help. You can -- you fight as a team. You need help as a team.

TSENG: 18 veterans, six committing suicide a day. And 32 veterans attempt to commit suicide every day. And these are insane statistics and it's real.

I always think about everyone that we've lost in Iraq and I live my life to fulfill what they could have done in the future but they can't now. PHILLIPS: Five voices of survival and sacrifice, soon to be joined by the nearly 40,000 troops headed home, leaving Iraq for good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Kyra Phillips, both looking back and looking forward on the war in Iraq.

We have some pictures now of something occurring just a few minutes ago. The president of the United States at Arlington National Cemetery, A wreath laying there. He's appearing with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. This is an upbeat moment, if you will, for the president of the United States, having made this promise that all the troops will be returning home by the end of the year, talking about the notion of homecomings, and a time of re-uniting the families of the military people who are in Iraq, now coming home. So let's listen.

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: Present arms!

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: (INAUDIBLE). Halt. Halt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: Let's check stories making headlines at "Street Level."

Police in Hollywood are still trying to figure out why a man went on this shocking shooting spree.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a madman in the street.

(GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my god! You all right?

(GUNFIRE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Police say the man you see here is 26-year-old Tyler Brehm, who was seemingly shooting people at random Friday. "The Los Angeles Times" said Brehm had recently broken up with his girlfriend, but investigators are still trying to figure out a motive. Brehm ended up wounding three people before police shot and killed him.

You won't believe what investigators say a woman in Hanover, Virginia, did to scam people. Deputies arrested this 42-yeawr-old woman, Martha Nicholas, for allegedly faking her battle with cancer. According to affiliate, WRIC, Nicholas claimed to be a four-time cancer patient with stage-four ovarian cancer. Investigator received an anonymous tip and found no evidence she was sick. However, they did find evidence Nicholas allegedly bilked cancer supports out of thousands of dollars. According to report, her children even believed Nicholas was dying of cancer.

A Secret Santa in Plainfield Township, Michigan, has unleashed an unexpected chain of holiday cheer. It started with a simple message. The mystery woman reportedly picked three random layaway order at local Kmart, paying off the balance, spending about $500. But that one act is causing a chain reaction of kindness. According to "The Detroit News," Kmart has had other Secret Santas donate up to $300 every day since the news got out. And it's spread to other stores in Michigan and California.

By this time tomorrow, former Penn State coach, Jerry Sandusky, will have come face to face with his accusers in court. At least half of the alleged 10 victims are expected to take the stand. But can they convince a judge Sandusky should be tried? HLN's Nancy Grace is on the case. She joins me live next.

But first, Manuel Noriega is back in Panama. The former drug- trafficking dictator isn't home to visit glory days. After more than two decades in prisons in the U.S. and France, the 77-year-old is now serving time for crimes committed in Panama during his rule. Noriega, your power and influence once loomed large in South America, but get comfortable. You may be home, but your 15 minutes are up.

(SINGING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: In less than 24 hours, Penn State former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, will face his accusers for the first time in court for what could prove to be an explosive and critical moment in this case. It comes just days after he was arrested and charged with abusing two new alleged victims. At least half of 10 alleged victims are expected to take the stand and painfully recount how Sandusky allegedly molested and, in some cases, raped them repeatedly.

Not only that, the prosecution's key witness, Mike McQueary, who told a grand jury he saw Sandusky raping a young boy in a locker room shower, is also expected to testify. But now there are conflicting reports about what McQueary really saw. There's a lot to cover.

Nancy Grace is here to talk it through with us.

Nancy, I want to get McQueary in a second. But first, Tuesday's hearing is obviously big because it's going to determine if Sandusky's case is going to trial. What do you think is going to happen?

NANCY GRACE, HOST, NANCY GRACE: Well, I think it will be bound over, is the technical term that's used. In a lot of jurisdictions you have to have a preliminary hearing before that case is bound over, and it goes to a real jury. There's a petit jury, a jury of 12 or six, in some jurisdictions or a grand jury.

Now, here's the deal. I think it's a huge mistake, Joe Johns, for the state to reveal their entire case. They do not have to put up all of these victims, all these alleged victims, and witnesses. That gives the defense a dry run at their cross-examination and allows the defense to go on a so-called fishing expedition to see what they can find wrong with each witness. Why do it? In this type of case, that is trial suicide. What I think the state should do -- and in this case hearsay is allowed -- is to put up a chief detective who can summarize what all the victims are saying. It's called course of conduct, exception to the hearsay rule. That way all these victims won't be cross-examined by the defense.

Long story short, let's just get right down to it. Apparently, they're going to put up all the victims. All right, mistake. The case will be bound over. It will go to a big courtroom, not just a grand jury, not just a preliminary hearing, for a jury trial. Unless they can give this guy straight probation, which they're it not going to do, I don't see him taking a plea.

JOHNS: Let's talk now a little bit about some of the conflicting testimony. This McQueary is one of the people that you really sort of have are to touch on because people have heard so much about it.

I think we have a graphic perhaps.

Now, McQueary are told a grand jury apparently he heard slapping sounds, saw Sandusky allegedly raping a boy in the shower, and so there's some eyewitness testimony, if you will, there. Meanwhile, we have this Dr. Jonathan Dranov, his testimony conflicts. He said he heard sex sounds. He sees a young boy who sticks his head out and then an arm pulls the child out of view. Sandusky leaves the shower. So it doesn't sound quite like there's evidence that McQueary actually saw what he said he saw, or is there?

GRACE: OK. Joe Johns, let's break it down what we've got here. We've got Mike McQueary, apparently, telling authorities that he goes into the men's locker room and he observes Sandusky having anal sodomy on a little boy. That's the first story. Now we're getting wind that Mike McQueary goes home and he is talking about what he has observed, and he is speaking to Dranov and says he hears sex sounds. He sees a little boy poke his head around the corner and an adult arm grabs the child back around the corner.

Now, as a judge used to tell me, an 84-year-old judge -- god rest his soul -- it's your duty to make all witnesses speak the truth. In other words, both of these could be true. All right? He could have heard what he told Dr. Dranov. He could have seen what he saw Dranov, and then walked around the corner and se the rest. I don't want to call this an inconsistent or conflicting statement until I hear the whole thing.

And this is another thing, Joe, that I've learned handling, let me say, maybe, 10,000 felony witnesses in the past. Very often it depends on if you ask the right question. For instance, he may have told Dr. Dranov what he heard. And nobody said, what did you see? It depends on the question asked the witness. And also, sometimes it takes more than one interview to get the whole story out of a witness. You have to question them before you hear the whole thing. I will be concerned, however, about McQueary's testimony if it does turn out to be that he actually changed his story. Then the state's got a problem.

But remember, there's about 12 victims. 10 in all, I believe. If this victim doesn't pan out, there's nine others Sandusky's got to deal with.

JOHNS: All right. Nancy Grace, thank you so much for that. I'll be back tomorrow. Perhaps we can talk about it again.

Brooke Baldwin takes over here in the CNN NEWSROOM -- Brooke.