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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Acts of Terror Caught on Tape; Jury to Decide Peterson's Fate

Aired December 10, 2004 - 19:00   ET

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

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


ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening from New York. I'm Anderson Cooper.
Acts of terror caught on tape.

360 starts now.

A shocking tape by Iraqi terrorists, indoctrinating children, attacking U.S. troops, and claiming credit for the slaughter of innocents.

The Pentagon flip-flops. They claimed they were doing all they could to protect the troops. So why did they suddenly announce they can make more armored Humvees? Tonight, the armored outrage, and why it took a soldier's question to wake the Pentagon up.

Pakistani schools teaching kids to hate America. Are we doing enough to win over the Muslim world? Are we even waging a war of ideas?

Scott Peterson's family waits and worries. The jury is still out. How close are they to deciding if a murderer should live or die?

What's happening to the holidays? Winter solstice, a community tree? Is the government going too far taking the Christ out of Christmas? Tonight, the battle between faith and freedom in America.

And is streaking back in style? Why do some silly folks insist on showing off their bits and pieces?

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: And good evening again.

With three weeks left to go, it is already a certainty that 2004 will be bloodier by far than 2003 in Iraq. And that the steady stream of casualty reports, the list names blurring into one another, weren't enough to convince any of just how hard the next year promises to be, today came more evidence, a terrorist video showing just how brazen, how capable and committed some terrorists are.

CNN's Tim Lister has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Never before has an insurgent group produced such a comprehensive visual a record of its operations. In a 40-minute video, the Islamic Army in Iraq shows a wide range of operations, from remotely controlled roadside bombs, to shoulder-launched rocket attacks, and attempts to bring down U.S. aircraft.

In this incident, the insurgents claim to have shot down a Chinook helicopter. One sequence includes a mortar attack on a U.S. base. Expecting return fire, the insurgents leave the area, but keep their camera rolling. A graphic appears that says, "Ten minutes later," and then the camera records incoming fire from coalition forces as they pinpoint the insurgents' position.

The video, which was quickly posted on several Islamic Web sites, specifies that some of the attacks were west of Baghdad and near Falluja.

In one sequence, the insurgents appear to be arming an improvised roadside bomb. The next sequence shows traffic passing along the road, and then, amid cries "Allah Akhbar," God is great, an armored car is blown up.

In another part of the video, a toddler is shown barely managing to hold an automatic weapon, while the Arabic audio relates a poem from his father, which includes the lines, "Stand by, my son, and seek martyrdom. Stand by, my son, and do your duty."

The Islamic Army in Iraq is one of the largest and best-organized insurgent groups operating in the Sunni triangle. This video seems designed to show just how audacious it's become.

Tim Lister, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, the controversy over the Pentagon's handling of the armoring of vehicles in Iraq has turned into a bit of a put up or shut up. The Pentagon has now asked the company that makes the armored Humvees to increase its production by 100 vehicles per month. That's something the company said it could do but hadn't been asked. That's what they said yesterday.

Now, this all began the other day when a soldier in Kuwait boldly asked Mr. Rumsfeld why he and so many others like him were having to make their own armor out of scrap. Turned out the soldier, Specialist Thomas Wilson, had the help of an embedded "Chattanooga Times Free Press" reporter in phrasing his question, and that cast a shadow on the charge itself.

But CNN has exclusively obtained these photos. They are from the "Chattanooga Times Free Press," which the newspaper says clearly show the problem its reporter, Edward Lee Pitts, and Specialist Wilson together decided to confront Mr. Rumsfeld about -- that is, soldiers fashioning armor of their own to fit their Humvees and other vehicles.

The latest now on the armor uproar from CNN Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Army is moving to buy more armored Humvees and to see if other production lines can be accelerated, just two days after a pointed question from this soldier put Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the spot about the lack of armor for military vehicles.

Army officials say they were surprised to hear from news reports that Armor Holdings of Jacksonville, Florida, was prepared to sell the Pentagon 550 armored Humvees a month, because originally the Army was told it could buy only 450 a month because of commitments to other customers.

Pentagon officials say the new Army secretary, Francis Harvey, who was sworn in less than a month ago, called the head of the company directly and is negotiating to buy all the Humvees the company can supply.

Sources say if the production line is retooled and the company drops other customers, it could produce up to 100 more armored Humvees a month, but not right away.

Another company, ArmorWorks of Tempe, Arizona, says it could double production of armor plates that can be added to existing Humvees.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We produce 300 kits a month. We could be doing 600 kits a month. So when you hear language from the Pentagon that we're doing everything humanly possible, I'm telling you that the industry base is being underutilized.

MCINTYRE: But the Army says it already has a backlog of armor kits for Humvees and can't install them any faster.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned that the U.S. Army arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois, was ordered just this week to resume around-the- clock shifts to make cab armor kits for five-ton trucks and fuel tankers, which is a critical need.

And the army secretary has created a new armor task force to examine all existing contracts to see if there are other opportunities to speed up production of armor, or other ways to get it to the battlefield faster.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And Anderson, Armor Holdings has just issued a statement saying it has agreed to increase production of Humvees to 550 a month, but they say it's going to take them until February or March to ramp up to that level. Meanwhile, they have to make sure they can still provide Humvees to their other main customer, the United States Marine Corps, Anderson.

COOPER: Jamie, I just want to make sure we're zeroing in on what the facts are here. Yesterday, this company said that they could make 100 more per month, and that they had told the Pentagon that, and the Pentagon had never gotten back to them. Now the Pentagon is saying that's really not the message they got. Who is telling the truth?

MCINTYRE: Well, I'm not sure where the communication, the miscommunication is. But it seems clear that the company is not prepared to produce that higher number now. It's going to take some amount of time. And they do have to be careful, because they do, as I said, have another customer, the Marine Corps.

So they made a statement that they could provide more. Today the Army decides to take them up on that. They're negotiating it. Looks like it's going to take several months, but they will be able to ramp up the production.

COOPER: All right, Jamie McIntyre, thanks for that from Washington.

Joining me now, also in Washington, is David Chasteen, who was a captain in the U.S. Army chemical corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Chasteen has been with an organization called Operation Truth since then, a veterans' advocate. That group has been in the forefront of raising awareness about the armored vehicles issue.

Appreciate you being with us, David. Thanks very much.

I want to ask you, the military says 75 percent of the Humvees in Iraq, in Afghanistan, have some level of armor, and that nonarmored Humvees are used mainly in camps, not on patrol. Do you believe that's true?

DAVID CHASTEEN, OPERATION TRUTH: I think that's probably true. The problem is that the armor that these guys are using, like we said before, when they talk about the level one or level three armor that these guys are putting on these vehicles, they are essentially scrounging trash to weld onto their vehicles, when there are other options that are available.

The problem is that the Pentagon's focusing on -- you know, has been focusing on, for the past couple of years, this perfect solution of the up-armored Humvees, when instead we should have been focusing on a stopgap solution. As you heard described, it could take 18 months to get the right equipment to the field.

You know, Patton used to say, a good plan executed right now and violently is much better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow. We should have been focusing on these kits.

And this is ridiculous, that we're coming up on two years since I drove across the border into Iraq in a Humvee with cloth doors, wearing a vest that wouldn't stop a .762 round fired from an AK-47. You know, the Pentagon and these other guys are trying to act like this is a new issue, and that's ridiculous.

COOPER: Let, let me just, you know, we like to look at all sides here. So let me just argue the Pentagon's case a little bit to you, just to play devil's advocate. They say, Look, clearly -- or they may not say this, but clearly, the insurgency was not anticipated to continue to exist as it still does today. They didn't realize there would be this danger. And they have responded, they say, you know, from a point where only a small fraction of Humvees ever were armored, to the point where the majority of them are armored.

You're just saying, what, it's not moving fast enough?

CHASTEEN: That's essentially correct. I mean, the key assumption you hear every time is, Well, you know, Armor Holdings or AM General is making these things as fast as they can.

Well, I've heard stories of a time when the government would show up at a factory and say, You're making Army trucks now, and that factory would, you know, accept the potential loss in their profits because they knew that that loss was minuscule compared to the loss of the kids whose parents wouldn't be coming home for Christmas.

The idea that we can only have one factory that can make these vehicles, and that a country that puts a man on the moon and can fly an invisible airplane halfway around the world to blow up a camel, can't come up with another factory, it's ridiculous.

COOPER: Of course, now, you know, more, as more attention is being paid to this, it's not just the Humvees, of course. There are trucks which are not even armored, and it's one of the most dangerous jobs, you know, for a lot of these soldiers, these Marines, driving these fuel trucks not armored and getting hit in these convoys.

Dave Chasteen, appreciate you joining us. Thanks very much.

CHASTEEN: Thank you.

COOPER: Messy maritime accident in the Bering Sea tops our look at what's happening right now cross-country.

A cargo ship ran aground in the Aleutians, broke completely in half, and is dumping fuel into the Bering Sea. Here's the worst part. A Coast Guard helicopter sent to rescue the crew crashed overnight. Ten people were on board. Only four of them have been picked up so far. Wintry conditions are hampering efforts to find the rest.

Take you to Washington, D.C., now. Although battling thyroid cancer, Chief Justice William Rehnquist still plans to swear in President Bush for a second term on January 20. It had been unclear if Rehnquist would be well enough to do so. He's been absent, of course, from the court since late October because of his rigorous cancer treatment.

Fabens, Texas, now, check this out. A small plane that had lost power briefly landed atop an 18-wheeler before crashing onto Interstate 10. Two people aboard the plane came out unscathed, amazingly. The truck driver never even heard a thing.

And that's a quick look at stories right now cross-country. 360 next, a battle over faith and freedom in America. Is Christ being taken out of Christmas? Take the heated debate 360.

Also tonight, the war of ideas. Jihad 101 in Pakistani schools. What, if anything, can the U.S. do about it? How can we win this war of ideas?

All that ahead. First, your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, since 9/11, we've seen a number of terrorist videos like the one released today. They use them as a recruitment tool, also to bolster their image, also to affect a new generation. A sign of that is in the today's video.

Look at this. The image of a young child carrying a weapon, as a father is heard telling his son to strive to be a martyr. It's a disturbing reminder that across the Middle East, at some homes and schools, children are being taught to hate the West, the kind of education the U.S. is fighting, or trying to, in the war of ideas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Kutter Atullah Afiz (ph) is like millions of Pakistani children enrolled in strict Islamic schools. He's being taught to hate America.

"The United States is bombing innocent Muslims," he says. "America says Osama bin Laden is a terrorist. They blame the Taliban, but they are the biggest terrorist of all."

Kutter Atullah learned all this at his madrassa, a conservative religious school for kids too poor to attend government schools.

There are tens of thousands of madrassas in Pakistan, offering free books, free meals, and free education, a daily dose of radical Islam and jihad.

NAJUM MUSHTAO, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: They are given books in which they learn math by counting dead bodies. They learn the alphabet through images of jihad. That's what the printed on their minds.

COOPER: After September 11, the U.S. demanded Pakistan crack down on madrassas, which the Pakistan government now says it's done. It passed a law requiring the registration of all religious schools, and regulating their curriculum and funding.

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: We are doing a lot. What we have done is, that we are asking them to teach all subjects, and take board examinations. They have accepted our point of view, and they are coming on board.

COOPER: But passing laws is one thing, actually enforcing them quite another. Critics say the Pakistani government has only paid lip service to actually reforming the madrassas.

The 9/11 commission warns some madrassas are still being used as incubators for violent extremism.

If America is to more effectively fight the war of ideas, reaching the next generation of Muslim kids may be one place to start.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Unbelievable. So the question, how do you change these kids' minds? How do you effect change in the Muslim world?

We're joined by Christopher Hitchens, contributing editor for "Vanity Fair" and author of "Love, Poverty, and War." He's in Washington, along with Andrew Sullivan, senior editor of "The New Republic," columnist for "TIME" magazine, and grand poobah of AndrewSullivan.com.

Andrew, let me start off with you. Pentagon's Defense Science Board published this report recently. Pretty critical of our efforts thus far to affect change in the Muslim world. They said, I'm going to put it on the screen, "To succeed, we must understand the United States is engaged in a generational and global struggle about ideas, not a war between the West and Islam."

A, do you believe it? And B, if you do, how do we win the war of ideas?

ANDREW SULLIVAN, SENIOR EDITOR, "THE NEW REPUBLIC": Well, I think the war of ideas is more complicated than that. It is a war of ideas between the West and Islam. It's a war of ideas between those of us who believe that politics should be separate from religion, and those who think that religion and politics are exactly the same thing.

I think the main thing we can do is, of course, broadcast as much as we can to educate people about that distinction. But I think also the project in Iraq and Afghanistan is also essential, because if we can show the population of the Middle East that the pluralist democratic society can exist alongside Islam, then that in itself will be the best lesson we can teach everybody in that region.

COOPER: Christopher, let me bring you in. Andrew's supportive of the war. I know you've been supportive of the war in Iraq as well. Has it helped our status, though, in the Muslim world? And again, I point to this Pentagon report. They said, and I quote, "American direct intervention in the Muslim world has paradoxically elevated the stature of and support for radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single digits in some Arab societies."

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS, "VANITY FAIR": Well, I know that's a commonplace view, and it's held by a lot of Western liberals as well. But it wasn't what they said, for example, when the United States rescued the Muslim populations of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The European Muslim minority, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) minority, from being destroyed by Christian fascists. And it wasn't what they said when the Muslim society and member of the Arab League Kuwait was rescued not from invasion, don't forget, but from annexation, from actually being obliterated by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

The Kurdish people, whose flag I'm wearing in my buttonhole, for example, are all silly Muslims, but they've happened to be able to create a pretty well-functioning regime-changed secular democracy in northern Iraq.

So it's not comparing like with like, I don't believe. If I was a Pakistani watching what you just showed us, I would be much more frightened than if I was an American. Those people mean business in enslaving and stultifying Pakistan, which they might be able to do if given the chance.

COOPER: But how do, I mean, how...

HITCHENS: This is a civil war, this is a civil war within Islam.

COOPER: Well, exactly, but how...

HITCHENS: It is not war between our, it's not a war between our religion and (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: How do, how do we...

HITCHENS: ... have one (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: ... encourage...

HITCHENS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: ... debate within Islam? How do we encourage, you know, the radical Islamists to change so that suicide bombing isn't viewed as an acceptable act? I'll, Andrew.

SULLIVAN: Well, the first...

HITCHENS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

SULLIVAN: ... thing you have to do is create a democratic space in those countries, which we have managed to do in Afghanistan, and now Iraq. It's only when that breathing space is open that the debate within Islam can happen. But we can't force-feed that. We have to just provide the incentive for that to happen.

But it is happening, because when Arabs and Muslims concede that the way of life, for example, in a future democratic Iraq is so much better than in the mullah Iran, Iran, then that will slowly percolate out and do the job that we want it to do.

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

SULLIVAN: But, you know, these people that say you can't -- intervening will make us more unpopular, that's a recipe for doing nothing ever. COOPER: But Christopher, you know everywhere you go in the Arab world, at least, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the constant refrain is, Oh, we don't hate America, we don't hate American people, we hate your policies. Do you buy that?

SULLIVAN: Yes, well, they would say that, wouldn't they? Maybe, maybe, maybe -- They don't hate our policies that we're saving Muslims.

HITCHENS: Well, no, I mean, not only that, but obviously, the more, the nearer you get to something like a pluralistic and decent society in, say, Afghanistan, the more violent these other factions will be. It's -- we're not doing this just to make them feel peaceful. These are people who are our declared enemies and who we have to destroy.

There's no question of negotiating with the war or trying to find ways of making nice. We have to destroy them, so that they do not win the civil war within the Islamic world.

But once you define it as that, and you think of the many, many millions of Muslims who not only don't want to go back to the Ottoman caliphate, the barbaric empire that Osama bin Laden wants to restore, or to the seventh-century desert, neither of these things are possible, even if they were not so undesirable.

There are millions of Muslims who don't want to do that. And we must make sure that they're not enslaved as their Afghan brothers and sisters and Iraqi brothers and sisters were by their co-religionists.

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

HITCHENS: And we have the right to, we have the right to claim an interest there, because when those failed states turn into rogue states, they don't blame themselves for trying to do everything out of a madrassa and out of the Koran, they blame us, they blame the crusader-Jewish conspiracy, and they think they have the right to export violence.

So we have a right to be involved in this and don't need to apologize about it.

COOPER: Are we doing enough? Is, I mean, you don't hear much, Andrew, you don't hear much about people talking about sort of this war of ideas. I mean, do you think we're focused on it enough?

HITCHENS: Oh, I think, I mean, I think the government could do a lot better job, for example, of providing really more effective, for example, television channels in Iraq. They could do a better job at providing more funding for groups that are favoring democracy in Iraq and into even Afghanistan. We can always do a better job on that.

But look, this is a debate within Islamic societies about the future that they want to have. The silent majority, I'm absolutely convinced, want and would prefer a free democratic society rather than these theocracies. And we have to be faithful that that's -- that is the truth, that people are like that. They are saying, and they do want a better future. And we just have to keep our nerve, provide the space for that within Iraq and Afghanistan. If we hadn't intervened, there would be no space in the Arab world for that. And I hope for the best.

HITCHENS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: I'm going to have to leave it there...

HITCHENS: ... agree with Andrew, but that amazing stuff that recently in the Arab press, saying, you know, how self-critical should we be? Important editors are saying in Arab newspapers. There are only two elections in the Arab world under way at present. They're both scheduled for next month. One of them is in Iraq, and the other is among the Palestinians.

COOPER: Yes.

HITCHENS: And no Arab society (UNINTELLIGIBLE) such a process. Of course, in the long run, this (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COOPER: We got to leave it there. Christopher Hitchens, author of "Love, Poverty, and War," appreciate you joining us. And Andrew Sullivan, always good to have you on the program. Thanks very much.

SULLIVAN: Thanks, Anderson.

COOPER: Call for peace, not war, as the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. That tops our look at what's going on around the world in the uplink.

Oslo, Norway, on accepting the award, environmental activist Wangari Maathai said sweeping changes are needed to restore, quote, "a world of beauty and wonder" by overcoming challenges ranging from global warming, hatred, and AIDS.

Near Shangsha (ph), China, fireworks explosion. Unbelievable video. Rail car filled with fireworks on fire. No deaths. Eighteen people are injured. Investigators trying to figure it all out.

Paris, France, now, figure-eights inside the Eiffel Tower, 188 feet up on an observation deck, there's an ice-skating rink little bigger than a tennis court, holds 80 skaters. Just no pushing, please.

We'll be right back. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, even on the smallest matters, it's hard to get just two people to agree. So you can understand why 12 men and women are in no rush to decide if Scott Peterson should live or die. About an hour ago, they retired for the second straight day, a total of eight hours without reaching a verdict. The jury will resume deliberations Monday morning.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has the latest now on another anxious day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite more than a full day of deliberation, the jury that found Scott Peterson guilty still can't decide whether he should live or die.

ROBERT TALBOT, LEGAL ANALYST: Probably leaning one way or the other, but the people might have some strong feelings about it, and we might be looking for a hung jury.

ROWLANDS: Outside the courthouse, a crowd of people gathered throughout the day, many of them waiting for hours, along with members of the news media, for a verdict.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't want to be in their shoes, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they're going to have to live with this for the rest of their life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm down here to see justice is done and to work my karma or my powers of persuasion or projection to hope that the jury does the right thing and comes in with the death penalty.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: The jury will be back at it at 8:00 a.m. local on Monday morning. They will be sequestered for the weekend, spending the weekend alone with each other in a local hotel room, Anderson.

COOPER: Hey, Ted, thanks very much. Did that guy say he was working his karma to affect the jury?

Anyway, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), covering the Peterson deliberations for us in justice served tonight is defense attorney Jayne Weintraub.

Good to see you, Jayne.

What do you make of this? I mean, Ted said it was a full day. But as you pointed out, they were done at, like, 3:30 this afternoon.

JAYNE WEINTRAUB, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Three-thirty the jury was excused. I just find that amazing that they didn't work longer and put in the time to reach a verdict.

COOPER: Does it indicate that there's, I mean, did you read it one way or another, or?

WEINTRAUB: I do, I think there's serious dissension, and the judge must be aware of that, and that's why he can say, Oh, better just chill, take the weekend to think, and come back Monday morning fresh.

But I do think that this, it's significant that they've waited so long. I think in death penalty cases, typically, when there was a verdict on the guilt-innocence reached, I think that they made a decision that it would be a life verdict, and they signaled us with a second-degree murder conviction for Conner, the baby, not first. And I think it was going to be...

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), how was that a single (UNINTELLIGIBLE), a signal?

WEINTRAUB: Well, because there's no basis in law for that. I mean, either it was an acquittal or it was first-degree murder. Second kind of was giving it to the defense. So if they're going to give them anything, I thought it would be a life recommendation. I think that break in between, when the sequestered jury was out in the public and realized they will be lauded as heroes and a parade will follow with a death recommendation, life recommendation isn't going to be so great in that town. And they might even be in trouble publicly.

They might be looking for the book deal.

COOPER: So you think -- you, really, you think, you think their effect? I mean, you interview juries after cases you work on.

WEINTRAUB: Yes, I do.

COOPER: Do you think they're affected by that sort of thing?

WEINTRAUB: I do. And this jury is very well aware of the sensationalized jury appeal, public appeal, public opinion. Look, number five came out. We know from Mark Geragos in one of his filings recently, that the foreman who was kicked off of the jury last time made mention in the jury room about a popular verdict and a good book deal. I think that's exactly what's going on.

COOPER: Do you think Monday there will be a verdict?

WEINTRAUB: I do.

COOPER: Really? All right, we'll leave it there. Jayne Weintraub, good to have you. Thanks very much.

WEINTRAUB: Thank you, Anderson.

COOPER: What's happening to the holidays? Winter solstice, a community tree? Is the government going too far, taking the Christ out of Christmas? Tonight, the battle between faith and freedom in America.

And is streaking back in style? Why do some silly folks insist on showing off their bits and pieces?

360 continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: If you walk a few blocks anywhere in America, you'll surely see colorful lights, decorated trees, and garland covering, you know, just about everything right now. If you go to the malls, and they're packed with every shop playing some sort of holiday music, which shouldn't be confused with Christmas music. Have you noticed? This year it's more "Jingle Bells" than "Away in a Manger" -- all part of the clash in this country between faith and freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Just what are we celebrating anyway? In small towns and big cities, there's been an effort to be PC and not offend anyone who may not celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. You know, that other story, not the one with the reindeer.

There are plenty of examples. In Denver, the city turned down efforts by a local evangelical Christian church to add a religious theme float to the annual parade of lights. In Wichita, Kansas, the Christmas tree is the community tree. In Florida and New Jersey, some school districts have banned Christmas carols, and a high school in Kirkland, Washington wouldn't allow a production of "A Christmas Carol," because Tiny Tim says "God blesses everyone."

Some people are crying hum-bag.

MANUEL ZAMORANO, COMMITTEE TO SAVE MERRY CHRISTMAS: Removing merry Christmas is political correctness gone amok.

COOPER: They have had some success. Hundreds protested the Denver parade by singing Christmas carols.

And under pressure, the city's mayor reversed his decision to change the capital's "Merry Christmas" sign to "Happy Holidays." He also said the city's public nativity scene will stay put.

Downtown Chicago also has a nativity, and is not budging either, despite protests from non-Christian groups. And in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger officially brought an end to calling the state Christmas tree a holiday tree.

But those actions also have consequences. Many say government- sponsored Christmas decorations violate the separation of church and state and are insensitive to non-Christians.

And so the battle goes on.

ZAMORANO: Season's greetings and happy holidays is never a substitute for merry Christmas, never will be.

COOPER: Whatever happened to 'tis the season to be jolly anyway?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So has the spirit of the season become more about sanitizing religious traditions than celebrating them? Now, we don't take sides on this program. We like to look at stories from all angles.

Joining me from Washington is the Reverend Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. And joining us on the phone from Nashville, Tennessee -- we had him on video, we had a problem with the satellite -- is William Greene, founder and president of RightMarch.com.

Gentlemen, appreciate both of you being on the program.

There are hundreds, William, of religions in this country, of course. Now, if you can avoid offending someone by putting up a sign that says happy holidays instead of merry Christmas, then why not?

WILLIAM GREENE, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, RIGHTMARCH.COM: You are not going to avoid offending anybody by putting up happy holidays. What if somebody comes in and they're not happy? What if they don't celebrate holidays?

I'm stunned that we are still having this conversation in this day and age. Over 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, whether in a religious or secular fashion. So to have to take out Christmas or merry Christmas, or when you have stores telling their employees you can't say merry Christmas, you have to say season's greetings or happy holidays, it has gotten to a ludicrous point now.

COOPER: Reverend Lynn, I'll read you something that William Donohue of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights said. He said this: "It's time practicing Christians demanded to know from these speech-code fascists precisely who it is they think they are protecting from dropping the dreaded C-word?" I guess that' Christmas.

Do you think your efforts are actually restricting their freedom of speech?

REV. BARRY LYNN, AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: No, the good news in America is that we can have both faith and freedom, that is to say that all of these 2,000 religions in this country and the 20 million or so of us that are non-believers in America all can feel like first class citizens by using private spaces, not government spaces to put up whatever religious or non- religious or neutral icons we choose.

The problem that's been occurring this year in particular is that some Christian groups have decided that it's not enough for us Christians to put up our symbols on private property, in our churches, on the church lawns and our houses. Now we have got to enforce the idea that these symbols will also be put up in government buildings.

We even had a threat of a lawsuit in New Jersey to demand that a holiday choral event include religious hymns. In other words, the school was just trying to be neutral, it was trying to be fair. It was not trying to promote any particular religious view, and some guy comes out and says, well, we're going to sue you to force you to include religious music. That's what's gone too far. There's nobody, Anderson, living anywhere but possibly the bat cave who does not know this is the Christmas season for the 90 percent of Americans that celebrate it. COOPER: William, would you be supportive if a mall decided to play, I don't know, Kwanzaa music, or if there was such a thing, or during Ramadan, played Islamic calls to prayer?

GREENE: Who cares. Let them do that. That's fine. The whole issue of -- I mean, for example, this school in New Jersey where they were talking about having the Christmas music put in. Well, we're talking about a group, a band that wasn't allowed to play instrumental music, because that instrumental music, if you actually had the lyrics to it, it would say something that would be of a religious nature, which of course Christmas is a religious holiday. That's what has gone too far. When we've got -- when we're pushing the political correctness envelope that far, it has gotten ludicrous, it's gotten out of hand. The fact of the matter is, it's a widespread Christmas holiday. It is not a matter of separation of church and state. This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. Because we're not establishing a religion by saying merry Christmas.

COOPER: Reverend Lynn, what about that? Reverend Lynn, though, what about that? I mean, in some school where they can't do a Christmas carol because one of the characters says God bless us all or God blesses everyone?

LYNN: Yeah, no, I don't think we should have a federal lawsuit on either side if somebody puts on a Christmas carol and they use the God blesses everyone line. But the truth is, if you took that line out of that story when you performed it, you also wouldn't destroy the essential message of the story.

COOPER: Wait, so you're saying they should take that line out?

LYNN: No, I'm just saying that either way, whether you leave it in or take it out, it shouldn't be an issue that literally becomes a federal court case, as some people would like it to become...

GREENE: But they are taking it out because they're afraid of people like Reverend Lynn suing them.

LYNN: Let me finish. This is not an issue of political correctness. It's just a notion that in a society that has got as many people and as many traditions as we have, just to be respectful to other people, it makes sense if you don't know that someone is a Christian to say something like happy holidays or have a nice season, because then you are not implying that you know they are a Christian and they are going to like a merry Christmas message.

This is all about being sensitive. It is not some kind of effort by fascists, as Mr. Donohue, I believe, called us, to have politically correct speech in America. It is just to try to be sensitive to diversity. You don't seem to care much about diversity. That's one of the problems. Let's get over these battles, let's go back to this being a time where whether we're religious or not we can celebrate some good feelings about this country, about this time of year, and not try to use the government to promote particular religions over others. COOPER: Reverend Lynn, I've got to interrupt. Appreciate you joining us. And William Greene as well on the phone. We're going to continue to look at this, continue our series, "Faith and Freedom."

The calls for Christ back in Christmas could get even louder, especially when you consider how many Americans are Christians. Let's put religious beliefs in American perspective for a moment. 77 percent of Americans, or more than 159 million people are Christian. 2.8 million, or nearly 1.4 percent are Jewish, .5 percent are Muslim, same applies for Buddhist, and almost 29.5 million, or 14 percent have no religious affiliation.

360 next, George Clooney's European vacation. Get ready for the second coming of the "Rat Park," a look in the Weekender that.

And a littler later, a live and unexpected strip act on our own program. See the guy behind him? Being naked on TV is nothing knew. We'll take a look at streaking coming back.

In a moment today's 360's Challenge. How closely have you followed today's news? Find out next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right. Time for today's 360 challenge. Be the first to answer all 3 questions correctly, we'll send you a 360 shirt.

No. 1, what's the date of the formal sentencing in the Peterson case?

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast which some fear are nurturing young jihadists are called what?

No. 3, and according to the U.S. census, what percentage of Americans is Christian?

Take the challenge. Log on to cnn.com/360. Click on the answer link. Answer first, we'll send you a shirt. We'll find out last night's winner and tonight's answers coming up in a bit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: During the holidays most people like to get letters in the mail, of course, hopefully from a loved one, or friend sending tidings of joy. But letters recently sent to two Cleveland high schools were anything but that. And as CNN's Keith Oppenheim reports, they've made students both concerned and afraid.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The boys at St. Ignatius High School change classes like it's a typical day, but the sense of security here has been threatened because of what arrived in the mail. Eight letters came in November, letters filled with racist language and hate for black men who date white women. School officials say the target of these letters was two African- American student athletes. Investigators believe because those students were seen in the newspaper posing in prom photos with white females, the letter writer threatened castration, and death. And urged white students to stop associating with the 2 black students.

PETER CORRIGAN, ST. IGNATIUS PRINCIPAL: It shakes the individual kids who think they are a potential victim.

OPPENHEIM: Another school, St. Edwards, got two threat letters the FBI believes is from the same author.

SPEC. AGENT ROBERT HAWK, FBI: What we're concerned with is maybe this behavior may become more aggressive and someone may get hurt.

OPPENHEIM: The FBI's Robert Hawk says agents believe these most recent letters are connected to at least 60 other similar letters sent to prominent black men in the last two years to players in the NFL...

HAWK: Actors, members of Hollywood, members of the Judiciary, those kind of people have received letters in the U.S..

OPPENHEIM: Investigators say this is the first time they know that high school students have been the target of this writer's hate mail. At St. Ignatius, the letters triggered deep fears.

CORRIGAN: There was a larger scaled level of alarm by parents of many minority students and athletes, as well.

OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Cleveland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: CNN's in-depth reporting continues tonight on "PAULA ZAHN NOW" and "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN." Let's get a preview of both programs.

We continue with Heidi Collins who is filling in for Paula Zahn tonight -- Heidi.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Anderson. You know, there is a lot being said about shortage of armor for our troops in Iraq. But no one knows the consequences of that better than parents who have lost a son in a Humvee attack.

It happened to Brian and Alma Heart last year. And the Heart's say their son talked about the lack of armor. They are my guests coming up next hour -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right. Heidi, thanks -- Aaron.

AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it was a headline in the morning papers segment last night that led us Robert Loriah (ph), a young man in the army who lost an arm in Iraq. He is broke. He's in Ft. Hood, Texas. And the Army wants from him almost $2,000. We'll explain why the Army wants the money and what happened after the headline on "NEWSNIGHT" 10:00 Eastern tonight.

COOPER: All right. Aaron, Heidi, thanks.

360 next, the naked truth. We had a close encounter last night with one very naked man. What is it with streakers and TV? When did streakers come back? Find out "Inside the Box."

Plus, the boys are back for another caper in Ocean's Twelve. A closer look at the film ahead in the "Weekender."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: At the movies this weekend, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and the rest of the updated Rat Pack return in "Ocean's Twelve." It is a sensitive little indie film. Not. This ring-a-ding romp is overstuffed with enough Hollywood heavyweights to fill St. Bart's. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know it premieres tonight. So let's check it out in "The Weekender."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: We didn't want them back. They all just sort of contractually came back.

COOPER (voice-over): Yeah, sure, George, who leads his crew for another big score. And I'm not just talking about a heist, I'm talking about all those really rich Hollywood stars getting paid to hang out in Europe for a few months. Take the tough assignment Catherine Zeta-Jones had to endure.

CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, ACTRESS: Turn-down service for Mr. Ryan.

My husband used to say, it's like, what are you doing today? I said, I'm kissing Brad Pitt, we're at a fountain and this. And he went, OK, have a great day's work. What are you doing tonight? Well, I'm going to kiss Brad Pitt on a bridge.

COOPER: "Ocean's Twelve" also packs in enough inside gags to make us all realize that, yes, celebrities do in fact have it better.

BILL MURRAY, ACTOR: Swamp leeches, everybody. Check for swamp leeches.

COOPER: From the ocean we head to the deep sea in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou." Bill Murray is a Jacques Cousteau-like diver in search of an elusive shark. Along the way, he finds time for the usual family dysfunction. There's a treat.

MURRAY: You're supposed to be my son, right?

COOPER: Good news for Wesley Snipes and vampire slayer fans. "Blade: Trinity" arrives on the big screen. This one continues the battle of the undead, and I'm not just talking about the script.

On DVD, "Maria Full of Grace," a powerful and affecting movie about drug mules and how far the desperate will go to be free. On TV, Dale Earnhardt. Tomorrow night, ESPN chronicles the life and death of the race car legend.

And if you're near the Louisville zoo between now and December 19th, stop by for brunch with Santa. There'll be sing-alongs, prizes and maybe a bagel with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for old St. Nick.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, tonight we bring you the 360 full monty. Live TV, you know, is always kind of risky. There's a chance the feed will go down, the interview will turn bad, or in some cases a naked man will present himself. That's what happened to us last night where for reasons we truly may never know, a streaker let the world know -- or let the world see his shortcomings, actually, "Inside the Box."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're joining you live now, Anderson, in front of the...

COOPER (voice-over): CNN correspondent Keith Oppenheim was covering a vigil outside a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio where there was a shooting that ended in five deaths. And for reasons we may never know, or surely couldn't comprehend, that's the moment this guy picked to show off his shortcomings, so to speak.

It was hard to pay attention because there was a naked guy behind you.

The streaker was rewarded for his trouble by being tackled by police, thrown to the ground, handcuffed and placed under arrest on a cold Ohio night, still naked.

We could go on about his inappropriate timing or his lack of originality. I mean, people have been shedding their wardrobes, along with their dignity, to attract the public's attention for years. They just usually choose occasions that are somewhat less solemn.

Remember this guy, Robert Opel, the streaker at the 1974 Oscars?

DAVID NIVEN, ACTOR: Fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.

COOPER: Or Brian Richard Reid (ph), who showed off his own crown jewels to her majesty the queen a couple of years ago.

Which brings us back to this guy. We tried to find out who he is and what became of him after he was hauled off to the hoosegow, but Columbus police, probably still investigating a multiple murder, didn't return our calls.

Not so good for the naked guy. After all, what's the point of putting your assets out there in a naked grab for fame when nobody even knows your name? "Inside the Box." (END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: I love how they led him away still completely naked.

360 next, Houston, we have a problem. Hunger pains aboard the International Space Station. Fellow earthlings, there is a way to help. We'll take that to "The Nth Degree." And on Monday, a new 350 special series, "Ancient Cures: Modern Hope or Hoax?" Doctors putting holes in the head to treat depression. Does it work? What are they thinking?

360 challenge. Here's another look at tonight's questions.

No. 1: What's the date for formal sentencing in the Peterson case?

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast, which some fear are nurturing young jihadists are called what?

And no. 3, according to the U.S. Census, what percentage of Americans is Christian?

Log on to cnn.com/360. Click on the answer link to play.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right, time now for the answer to today's 360 "Challenge."

No. 1: What's the date for formal sentencing in the Peterson case? The answer, February 25th.

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast, which some fear are nurturing young jihadists, are called what? The answer: Madrassas.

And no. 3, according to the U.S. Census, what percentage of Americans is Christian? The answer, 77 percent.

The first person to answer all three questions correctly will be sent a 360 t-shirt. You can tune in Monday to find out if you're the one. Last night's winner, Bev White of Morris, Illinois. Congratulations. Another 360 "Challenge," another chance to win on Monday.

Tonight, taking the food drive to "The Nth Degree."

Now, this is serious. The astronauts up there on the International Space Station, one American and one Russian, are running so low on chow they have been instructed to cut their rations to make the grab last until a supply ship arrives on Christmas Day. People of Earth, no way we can stand by why our highest high flyers go hungry. Listen up, we have a plan.

Head out there and hurl a burger as high as you can. Chuck some cheese, pitch a pizza, blast breakfast, launch lunch, sling supper. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It may be true that you can't solve a problem by throwing money at it, but perhaps we can solve this one by throwing food. Heave whatever you have, whether liquid or solid. Remember the old saying after all, that him who is without gin among you cast the first scone.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching 360. Have a great weekend. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

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


Aired December 10, 2004 - 19:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening from New York. I'm Anderson Cooper.
Acts of terror caught on tape.

360 starts now.

A shocking tape by Iraqi terrorists, indoctrinating children, attacking U.S. troops, and claiming credit for the slaughter of innocents.

The Pentagon flip-flops. They claimed they were doing all they could to protect the troops. So why did they suddenly announce they can make more armored Humvees? Tonight, the armored outrage, and why it took a soldier's question to wake the Pentagon up.

Pakistani schools teaching kids to hate America. Are we doing enough to win over the Muslim world? Are we even waging a war of ideas?

Scott Peterson's family waits and worries. The jury is still out. How close are they to deciding if a murderer should live or die?

What's happening to the holidays? Winter solstice, a community tree? Is the government going too far taking the Christ out of Christmas? Tonight, the battle between faith and freedom in America.

And is streaking back in style? Why do some silly folks insist on showing off their bits and pieces?

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: And good evening again.

With three weeks left to go, it is already a certainty that 2004 will be bloodier by far than 2003 in Iraq. And that the steady stream of casualty reports, the list names blurring into one another, weren't enough to convince any of just how hard the next year promises to be, today came more evidence, a terrorist video showing just how brazen, how capable and committed some terrorists are.

CNN's Tim Lister has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Never before has an insurgent group produced such a comprehensive visual a record of its operations. In a 40-minute video, the Islamic Army in Iraq shows a wide range of operations, from remotely controlled roadside bombs, to shoulder-launched rocket attacks, and attempts to bring down U.S. aircraft.

In this incident, the insurgents claim to have shot down a Chinook helicopter. One sequence includes a mortar attack on a U.S. base. Expecting return fire, the insurgents leave the area, but keep their camera rolling. A graphic appears that says, "Ten minutes later," and then the camera records incoming fire from coalition forces as they pinpoint the insurgents' position.

The video, which was quickly posted on several Islamic Web sites, specifies that some of the attacks were west of Baghdad and near Falluja.

In one sequence, the insurgents appear to be arming an improvised roadside bomb. The next sequence shows traffic passing along the road, and then, amid cries "Allah Akhbar," God is great, an armored car is blown up.

In another part of the video, a toddler is shown barely managing to hold an automatic weapon, while the Arabic audio relates a poem from his father, which includes the lines, "Stand by, my son, and seek martyrdom. Stand by, my son, and do your duty."

The Islamic Army in Iraq is one of the largest and best-organized insurgent groups operating in the Sunni triangle. This video seems designed to show just how audacious it's become.

Tim Lister, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, the controversy over the Pentagon's handling of the armoring of vehicles in Iraq has turned into a bit of a put up or shut up. The Pentagon has now asked the company that makes the armored Humvees to increase its production by 100 vehicles per month. That's something the company said it could do but hadn't been asked. That's what they said yesterday.

Now, this all began the other day when a soldier in Kuwait boldly asked Mr. Rumsfeld why he and so many others like him were having to make their own armor out of scrap. Turned out the soldier, Specialist Thomas Wilson, had the help of an embedded "Chattanooga Times Free Press" reporter in phrasing his question, and that cast a shadow on the charge itself.

But CNN has exclusively obtained these photos. They are from the "Chattanooga Times Free Press," which the newspaper says clearly show the problem its reporter, Edward Lee Pitts, and Specialist Wilson together decided to confront Mr. Rumsfeld about -- that is, soldiers fashioning armor of their own to fit their Humvees and other vehicles.

The latest now on the armor uproar from CNN Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Army is moving to buy more armored Humvees and to see if other production lines can be accelerated, just two days after a pointed question from this soldier put Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the spot about the lack of armor for military vehicles.

Army officials say they were surprised to hear from news reports that Armor Holdings of Jacksonville, Florida, was prepared to sell the Pentagon 550 armored Humvees a month, because originally the Army was told it could buy only 450 a month because of commitments to other customers.

Pentagon officials say the new Army secretary, Francis Harvey, who was sworn in less than a month ago, called the head of the company directly and is negotiating to buy all the Humvees the company can supply.

Sources say if the production line is retooled and the company drops other customers, it could produce up to 100 more armored Humvees a month, but not right away.

Another company, ArmorWorks of Tempe, Arizona, says it could double production of armor plates that can be added to existing Humvees.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We produce 300 kits a month. We could be doing 600 kits a month. So when you hear language from the Pentagon that we're doing everything humanly possible, I'm telling you that the industry base is being underutilized.

MCINTYRE: But the Army says it already has a backlog of armor kits for Humvees and can't install them any faster.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned that the U.S. Army arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois, was ordered just this week to resume around-the- clock shifts to make cab armor kits for five-ton trucks and fuel tankers, which is a critical need.

And the army secretary has created a new armor task force to examine all existing contracts to see if there are other opportunities to speed up production of armor, or other ways to get it to the battlefield faster.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And Anderson, Armor Holdings has just issued a statement saying it has agreed to increase production of Humvees to 550 a month, but they say it's going to take them until February or March to ramp up to that level. Meanwhile, they have to make sure they can still provide Humvees to their other main customer, the United States Marine Corps, Anderson.

COOPER: Jamie, I just want to make sure we're zeroing in on what the facts are here. Yesterday, this company said that they could make 100 more per month, and that they had told the Pentagon that, and the Pentagon had never gotten back to them. Now the Pentagon is saying that's really not the message they got. Who is telling the truth?

MCINTYRE: Well, I'm not sure where the communication, the miscommunication is. But it seems clear that the company is not prepared to produce that higher number now. It's going to take some amount of time. And they do have to be careful, because they do, as I said, have another customer, the Marine Corps.

So they made a statement that they could provide more. Today the Army decides to take them up on that. They're negotiating it. Looks like it's going to take several months, but they will be able to ramp up the production.

COOPER: All right, Jamie McIntyre, thanks for that from Washington.

Joining me now, also in Washington, is David Chasteen, who was a captain in the U.S. Army chemical corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Chasteen has been with an organization called Operation Truth since then, a veterans' advocate. That group has been in the forefront of raising awareness about the armored vehicles issue.

Appreciate you being with us, David. Thanks very much.

I want to ask you, the military says 75 percent of the Humvees in Iraq, in Afghanistan, have some level of armor, and that nonarmored Humvees are used mainly in camps, not on patrol. Do you believe that's true?

DAVID CHASTEEN, OPERATION TRUTH: I think that's probably true. The problem is that the armor that these guys are using, like we said before, when they talk about the level one or level three armor that these guys are putting on these vehicles, they are essentially scrounging trash to weld onto their vehicles, when there are other options that are available.

The problem is that the Pentagon's focusing on -- you know, has been focusing on, for the past couple of years, this perfect solution of the up-armored Humvees, when instead we should have been focusing on a stopgap solution. As you heard described, it could take 18 months to get the right equipment to the field.

You know, Patton used to say, a good plan executed right now and violently is much better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow. We should have been focusing on these kits.

And this is ridiculous, that we're coming up on two years since I drove across the border into Iraq in a Humvee with cloth doors, wearing a vest that wouldn't stop a .762 round fired from an AK-47. You know, the Pentagon and these other guys are trying to act like this is a new issue, and that's ridiculous.

COOPER: Let, let me just, you know, we like to look at all sides here. So let me just argue the Pentagon's case a little bit to you, just to play devil's advocate. They say, Look, clearly -- or they may not say this, but clearly, the insurgency was not anticipated to continue to exist as it still does today. They didn't realize there would be this danger. And they have responded, they say, you know, from a point where only a small fraction of Humvees ever were armored, to the point where the majority of them are armored.

You're just saying, what, it's not moving fast enough?

CHASTEEN: That's essentially correct. I mean, the key assumption you hear every time is, Well, you know, Armor Holdings or AM General is making these things as fast as they can.

Well, I've heard stories of a time when the government would show up at a factory and say, You're making Army trucks now, and that factory would, you know, accept the potential loss in their profits because they knew that that loss was minuscule compared to the loss of the kids whose parents wouldn't be coming home for Christmas.

The idea that we can only have one factory that can make these vehicles, and that a country that puts a man on the moon and can fly an invisible airplane halfway around the world to blow up a camel, can't come up with another factory, it's ridiculous.

COOPER: Of course, now, you know, more, as more attention is being paid to this, it's not just the Humvees, of course. There are trucks which are not even armored, and it's one of the most dangerous jobs, you know, for a lot of these soldiers, these Marines, driving these fuel trucks not armored and getting hit in these convoys.

Dave Chasteen, appreciate you joining us. Thanks very much.

CHASTEEN: Thank you.

COOPER: Messy maritime accident in the Bering Sea tops our look at what's happening right now cross-country.

A cargo ship ran aground in the Aleutians, broke completely in half, and is dumping fuel into the Bering Sea. Here's the worst part. A Coast Guard helicopter sent to rescue the crew crashed overnight. Ten people were on board. Only four of them have been picked up so far. Wintry conditions are hampering efforts to find the rest.

Take you to Washington, D.C., now. Although battling thyroid cancer, Chief Justice William Rehnquist still plans to swear in President Bush for a second term on January 20. It had been unclear if Rehnquist would be well enough to do so. He's been absent, of course, from the court since late October because of his rigorous cancer treatment.

Fabens, Texas, now, check this out. A small plane that had lost power briefly landed atop an 18-wheeler before crashing onto Interstate 10. Two people aboard the plane came out unscathed, amazingly. The truck driver never even heard a thing.

And that's a quick look at stories right now cross-country. 360 next, a battle over faith and freedom in America. Is Christ being taken out of Christmas? Take the heated debate 360.

Also tonight, the war of ideas. Jihad 101 in Pakistani schools. What, if anything, can the U.S. do about it? How can we win this war of ideas?

All that ahead. First, your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, since 9/11, we've seen a number of terrorist videos like the one released today. They use them as a recruitment tool, also to bolster their image, also to affect a new generation. A sign of that is in the today's video.

Look at this. The image of a young child carrying a weapon, as a father is heard telling his son to strive to be a martyr. It's a disturbing reminder that across the Middle East, at some homes and schools, children are being taught to hate the West, the kind of education the U.S. is fighting, or trying to, in the war of ideas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Kutter Atullah Afiz (ph) is like millions of Pakistani children enrolled in strict Islamic schools. He's being taught to hate America.

"The United States is bombing innocent Muslims," he says. "America says Osama bin Laden is a terrorist. They blame the Taliban, but they are the biggest terrorist of all."

Kutter Atullah learned all this at his madrassa, a conservative religious school for kids too poor to attend government schools.

There are tens of thousands of madrassas in Pakistan, offering free books, free meals, and free education, a daily dose of radical Islam and jihad.

NAJUM MUSHTAO, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: They are given books in which they learn math by counting dead bodies. They learn the alphabet through images of jihad. That's what the printed on their minds.

COOPER: After September 11, the U.S. demanded Pakistan crack down on madrassas, which the Pakistan government now says it's done. It passed a law requiring the registration of all religious schools, and regulating their curriculum and funding.

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: We are doing a lot. What we have done is, that we are asking them to teach all subjects, and take board examinations. They have accepted our point of view, and they are coming on board.

COOPER: But passing laws is one thing, actually enforcing them quite another. Critics say the Pakistani government has only paid lip service to actually reforming the madrassas.

The 9/11 commission warns some madrassas are still being used as incubators for violent extremism.

If America is to more effectively fight the war of ideas, reaching the next generation of Muslim kids may be one place to start.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Unbelievable. So the question, how do you change these kids' minds? How do you effect change in the Muslim world?

We're joined by Christopher Hitchens, contributing editor for "Vanity Fair" and author of "Love, Poverty, and War." He's in Washington, along with Andrew Sullivan, senior editor of "The New Republic," columnist for "TIME" magazine, and grand poobah of AndrewSullivan.com.

Andrew, let me start off with you. Pentagon's Defense Science Board published this report recently. Pretty critical of our efforts thus far to affect change in the Muslim world. They said, I'm going to put it on the screen, "To succeed, we must understand the United States is engaged in a generational and global struggle about ideas, not a war between the West and Islam."

A, do you believe it? And B, if you do, how do we win the war of ideas?

ANDREW SULLIVAN, SENIOR EDITOR, "THE NEW REPUBLIC": Well, I think the war of ideas is more complicated than that. It is a war of ideas between the West and Islam. It's a war of ideas between those of us who believe that politics should be separate from religion, and those who think that religion and politics are exactly the same thing.

I think the main thing we can do is, of course, broadcast as much as we can to educate people about that distinction. But I think also the project in Iraq and Afghanistan is also essential, because if we can show the population of the Middle East that the pluralist democratic society can exist alongside Islam, then that in itself will be the best lesson we can teach everybody in that region.

COOPER: Christopher, let me bring you in. Andrew's supportive of the war. I know you've been supportive of the war in Iraq as well. Has it helped our status, though, in the Muslim world? And again, I point to this Pentagon report. They said, and I quote, "American direct intervention in the Muslim world has paradoxically elevated the stature of and support for radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single digits in some Arab societies."

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS, "VANITY FAIR": Well, I know that's a commonplace view, and it's held by a lot of Western liberals as well. But it wasn't what they said, for example, when the United States rescued the Muslim populations of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. The European Muslim minority, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) minority, from being destroyed by Christian fascists. And it wasn't what they said when the Muslim society and member of the Arab League Kuwait was rescued not from invasion, don't forget, but from annexation, from actually being obliterated by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

The Kurdish people, whose flag I'm wearing in my buttonhole, for example, are all silly Muslims, but they've happened to be able to create a pretty well-functioning regime-changed secular democracy in northern Iraq.

So it's not comparing like with like, I don't believe. If I was a Pakistani watching what you just showed us, I would be much more frightened than if I was an American. Those people mean business in enslaving and stultifying Pakistan, which they might be able to do if given the chance.

COOPER: But how do, I mean, how...

HITCHENS: This is a civil war, this is a civil war within Islam.

COOPER: Well, exactly, but how...

HITCHENS: It is not war between our, it's not a war between our religion and (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: How do, how do we...

HITCHENS: ... have one (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: ... encourage...

HITCHENS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: ... debate within Islam? How do we encourage, you know, the radical Islamists to change so that suicide bombing isn't viewed as an acceptable act? I'll, Andrew.

SULLIVAN: Well, the first...

HITCHENS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

SULLIVAN: ... thing you have to do is create a democratic space in those countries, which we have managed to do in Afghanistan, and now Iraq. It's only when that breathing space is open that the debate within Islam can happen. But we can't force-feed that. We have to just provide the incentive for that to happen.

But it is happening, because when Arabs and Muslims concede that the way of life, for example, in a future democratic Iraq is so much better than in the mullah Iran, Iran, then that will slowly percolate out and do the job that we want it to do.

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

SULLIVAN: But, you know, these people that say you can't -- intervening will make us more unpopular, that's a recipe for doing nothing ever. COOPER: But Christopher, you know everywhere you go in the Arab world, at least, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the constant refrain is, Oh, we don't hate America, we don't hate American people, we hate your policies. Do you buy that?

SULLIVAN: Yes, well, they would say that, wouldn't they? Maybe, maybe, maybe -- They don't hate our policies that we're saving Muslims.

HITCHENS: Well, no, I mean, not only that, but obviously, the more, the nearer you get to something like a pluralistic and decent society in, say, Afghanistan, the more violent these other factions will be. It's -- we're not doing this just to make them feel peaceful. These are people who are our declared enemies and who we have to destroy.

There's no question of negotiating with the war or trying to find ways of making nice. We have to destroy them, so that they do not win the civil war within the Islamic world.

But once you define it as that, and you think of the many, many millions of Muslims who not only don't want to go back to the Ottoman caliphate, the barbaric empire that Osama bin Laden wants to restore, or to the seventh-century desert, neither of these things are possible, even if they were not so undesirable.

There are millions of Muslims who don't want to do that. And we must make sure that they're not enslaved as their Afghan brothers and sisters and Iraqi brothers and sisters were by their co-religionists.

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

HITCHENS: And we have the right to, we have the right to claim an interest there, because when those failed states turn into rogue states, they don't blame themselves for trying to do everything out of a madrassa and out of the Koran, they blame us, they blame the crusader-Jewish conspiracy, and they think they have the right to export violence.

So we have a right to be involved in this and don't need to apologize about it.

COOPER: Are we doing enough? Is, I mean, you don't hear much, Andrew, you don't hear much about people talking about sort of this war of ideas. I mean, do you think we're focused on it enough?

HITCHENS: Oh, I think, I mean, I think the government could do a lot better job, for example, of providing really more effective, for example, television channels in Iraq. They could do a better job at providing more funding for groups that are favoring democracy in Iraq and into even Afghanistan. We can always do a better job on that.

But look, this is a debate within Islamic societies about the future that they want to have. The silent majority, I'm absolutely convinced, want and would prefer a free democratic society rather than these theocracies. And we have to be faithful that that's -- that is the truth, that people are like that. They are saying, and they do want a better future. And we just have to keep our nerve, provide the space for that within Iraq and Afghanistan. If we hadn't intervened, there would be no space in the Arab world for that. And I hope for the best.

HITCHENS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

COOPER: I'm going to have to leave it there...

HITCHENS: ... agree with Andrew, but that amazing stuff that recently in the Arab press, saying, you know, how self-critical should we be? Important editors are saying in Arab newspapers. There are only two elections in the Arab world under way at present. They're both scheduled for next month. One of them is in Iraq, and the other is among the Palestinians.

COOPER: Yes.

HITCHENS: And no Arab society (UNINTELLIGIBLE) such a process. Of course, in the long run, this (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COOPER: We got to leave it there. Christopher Hitchens, author of "Love, Poverty, and War," appreciate you joining us. And Andrew Sullivan, always good to have you on the program. Thanks very much.

SULLIVAN: Thanks, Anderson.

COOPER: Call for peace, not war, as the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. That tops our look at what's going on around the world in the uplink.

Oslo, Norway, on accepting the award, environmental activist Wangari Maathai said sweeping changes are needed to restore, quote, "a world of beauty and wonder" by overcoming challenges ranging from global warming, hatred, and AIDS.

Near Shangsha (ph), China, fireworks explosion. Unbelievable video. Rail car filled with fireworks on fire. No deaths. Eighteen people are injured. Investigators trying to figure it all out.

Paris, France, now, figure-eights inside the Eiffel Tower, 188 feet up on an observation deck, there's an ice-skating rink little bigger than a tennis court, holds 80 skaters. Just no pushing, please.

We'll be right back. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, even on the smallest matters, it's hard to get just two people to agree. So you can understand why 12 men and women are in no rush to decide if Scott Peterson should live or die. About an hour ago, they retired for the second straight day, a total of eight hours without reaching a verdict. The jury will resume deliberations Monday morning.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has the latest now on another anxious day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite more than a full day of deliberation, the jury that found Scott Peterson guilty still can't decide whether he should live or die.

ROBERT TALBOT, LEGAL ANALYST: Probably leaning one way or the other, but the people might have some strong feelings about it, and we might be looking for a hung jury.

ROWLANDS: Outside the courthouse, a crowd of people gathered throughout the day, many of them waiting for hours, along with members of the news media, for a verdict.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't want to be in their shoes, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they're going to have to live with this for the rest of their life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm down here to see justice is done and to work my karma or my powers of persuasion or projection to hope that the jury does the right thing and comes in with the death penalty.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: The jury will be back at it at 8:00 a.m. local on Monday morning. They will be sequestered for the weekend, spending the weekend alone with each other in a local hotel room, Anderson.

COOPER: Hey, Ted, thanks very much. Did that guy say he was working his karma to affect the jury?

Anyway, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), covering the Peterson deliberations for us in justice served tonight is defense attorney Jayne Weintraub.

Good to see you, Jayne.

What do you make of this? I mean, Ted said it was a full day. But as you pointed out, they were done at, like, 3:30 this afternoon.

JAYNE WEINTRAUB, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Three-thirty the jury was excused. I just find that amazing that they didn't work longer and put in the time to reach a verdict.

COOPER: Does it indicate that there's, I mean, did you read it one way or another, or?

WEINTRAUB: I do, I think there's serious dissension, and the judge must be aware of that, and that's why he can say, Oh, better just chill, take the weekend to think, and come back Monday morning fresh.

But I do think that this, it's significant that they've waited so long. I think in death penalty cases, typically, when there was a verdict on the guilt-innocence reached, I think that they made a decision that it would be a life verdict, and they signaled us with a second-degree murder conviction for Conner, the baby, not first. And I think it was going to be...

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), how was that a single (UNINTELLIGIBLE), a signal?

WEINTRAUB: Well, because there's no basis in law for that. I mean, either it was an acquittal or it was first-degree murder. Second kind of was giving it to the defense. So if they're going to give them anything, I thought it would be a life recommendation. I think that break in between, when the sequestered jury was out in the public and realized they will be lauded as heroes and a parade will follow with a death recommendation, life recommendation isn't going to be so great in that town. And they might even be in trouble publicly.

They might be looking for the book deal.

COOPER: So you think -- you, really, you think, you think their effect? I mean, you interview juries after cases you work on.

WEINTRAUB: Yes, I do.

COOPER: Do you think they're affected by that sort of thing?

WEINTRAUB: I do. And this jury is very well aware of the sensationalized jury appeal, public appeal, public opinion. Look, number five came out. We know from Mark Geragos in one of his filings recently, that the foreman who was kicked off of the jury last time made mention in the jury room about a popular verdict and a good book deal. I think that's exactly what's going on.

COOPER: Do you think Monday there will be a verdict?

WEINTRAUB: I do.

COOPER: Really? All right, we'll leave it there. Jayne Weintraub, good to have you. Thanks very much.

WEINTRAUB: Thank you, Anderson.

COOPER: What's happening to the holidays? Winter solstice, a community tree? Is the government going too far, taking the Christ out of Christmas? Tonight, the battle between faith and freedom in America.

And is streaking back in style? Why do some silly folks insist on showing off their bits and pieces?

360 continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: If you walk a few blocks anywhere in America, you'll surely see colorful lights, decorated trees, and garland covering, you know, just about everything right now. If you go to the malls, and they're packed with every shop playing some sort of holiday music, which shouldn't be confused with Christmas music. Have you noticed? This year it's more "Jingle Bells" than "Away in a Manger" -- all part of the clash in this country between faith and freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Just what are we celebrating anyway? In small towns and big cities, there's been an effort to be PC and not offend anyone who may not celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. You know, that other story, not the one with the reindeer.

There are plenty of examples. In Denver, the city turned down efforts by a local evangelical Christian church to add a religious theme float to the annual parade of lights. In Wichita, Kansas, the Christmas tree is the community tree. In Florida and New Jersey, some school districts have banned Christmas carols, and a high school in Kirkland, Washington wouldn't allow a production of "A Christmas Carol," because Tiny Tim says "God blesses everyone."

Some people are crying hum-bag.

MANUEL ZAMORANO, COMMITTEE TO SAVE MERRY CHRISTMAS: Removing merry Christmas is political correctness gone amok.

COOPER: They have had some success. Hundreds protested the Denver parade by singing Christmas carols.

And under pressure, the city's mayor reversed his decision to change the capital's "Merry Christmas" sign to "Happy Holidays." He also said the city's public nativity scene will stay put.

Downtown Chicago also has a nativity, and is not budging either, despite protests from non-Christian groups. And in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger officially brought an end to calling the state Christmas tree a holiday tree.

But those actions also have consequences. Many say government- sponsored Christmas decorations violate the separation of church and state and are insensitive to non-Christians.

And so the battle goes on.

ZAMORANO: Season's greetings and happy holidays is never a substitute for merry Christmas, never will be.

COOPER: Whatever happened to 'tis the season to be jolly anyway?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So has the spirit of the season become more about sanitizing religious traditions than celebrating them? Now, we don't take sides on this program. We like to look at stories from all angles.

Joining me from Washington is the Reverend Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. And joining us on the phone from Nashville, Tennessee -- we had him on video, we had a problem with the satellite -- is William Greene, founder and president of RightMarch.com.

Gentlemen, appreciate both of you being on the program.

There are hundreds, William, of religions in this country, of course. Now, if you can avoid offending someone by putting up a sign that says happy holidays instead of merry Christmas, then why not?

WILLIAM GREENE, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, RIGHTMARCH.COM: You are not going to avoid offending anybody by putting up happy holidays. What if somebody comes in and they're not happy? What if they don't celebrate holidays?

I'm stunned that we are still having this conversation in this day and age. Over 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, whether in a religious or secular fashion. So to have to take out Christmas or merry Christmas, or when you have stores telling their employees you can't say merry Christmas, you have to say season's greetings or happy holidays, it has gotten to a ludicrous point now.

COOPER: Reverend Lynn, I'll read you something that William Donohue of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights said. He said this: "It's time practicing Christians demanded to know from these speech-code fascists precisely who it is they think they are protecting from dropping the dreaded C-word?" I guess that' Christmas.

Do you think your efforts are actually restricting their freedom of speech?

REV. BARRY LYNN, AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: No, the good news in America is that we can have both faith and freedom, that is to say that all of these 2,000 religions in this country and the 20 million or so of us that are non-believers in America all can feel like first class citizens by using private spaces, not government spaces to put up whatever religious or non- religious or neutral icons we choose.

The problem that's been occurring this year in particular is that some Christian groups have decided that it's not enough for us Christians to put up our symbols on private property, in our churches, on the church lawns and our houses. Now we have got to enforce the idea that these symbols will also be put up in government buildings.

We even had a threat of a lawsuit in New Jersey to demand that a holiday choral event include religious hymns. In other words, the school was just trying to be neutral, it was trying to be fair. It was not trying to promote any particular religious view, and some guy comes out and says, well, we're going to sue you to force you to include religious music. That's what's gone too far. There's nobody, Anderson, living anywhere but possibly the bat cave who does not know this is the Christmas season for the 90 percent of Americans that celebrate it. COOPER: William, would you be supportive if a mall decided to play, I don't know, Kwanzaa music, or if there was such a thing, or during Ramadan, played Islamic calls to prayer?

GREENE: Who cares. Let them do that. That's fine. The whole issue of -- I mean, for example, this school in New Jersey where they were talking about having the Christmas music put in. Well, we're talking about a group, a band that wasn't allowed to play instrumental music, because that instrumental music, if you actually had the lyrics to it, it would say something that would be of a religious nature, which of course Christmas is a religious holiday. That's what has gone too far. When we've got -- when we're pushing the political correctness envelope that far, it has gotten ludicrous, it's gotten out of hand. The fact of the matter is, it's a widespread Christmas holiday. It is not a matter of separation of church and state. This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. Because we're not establishing a religion by saying merry Christmas.

COOPER: Reverend Lynn, what about that? Reverend Lynn, though, what about that? I mean, in some school where they can't do a Christmas carol because one of the characters says God bless us all or God blesses everyone?

LYNN: Yeah, no, I don't think we should have a federal lawsuit on either side if somebody puts on a Christmas carol and they use the God blesses everyone line. But the truth is, if you took that line out of that story when you performed it, you also wouldn't destroy the essential message of the story.

COOPER: Wait, so you're saying they should take that line out?

LYNN: No, I'm just saying that either way, whether you leave it in or take it out, it shouldn't be an issue that literally becomes a federal court case, as some people would like it to become...

GREENE: But they are taking it out because they're afraid of people like Reverend Lynn suing them.

LYNN: Let me finish. This is not an issue of political correctness. It's just a notion that in a society that has got as many people and as many traditions as we have, just to be respectful to other people, it makes sense if you don't know that someone is a Christian to say something like happy holidays or have a nice season, because then you are not implying that you know they are a Christian and they are going to like a merry Christmas message.

This is all about being sensitive. It is not some kind of effort by fascists, as Mr. Donohue, I believe, called us, to have politically correct speech in America. It is just to try to be sensitive to diversity. You don't seem to care much about diversity. That's one of the problems. Let's get over these battles, let's go back to this being a time where whether we're religious or not we can celebrate some good feelings about this country, about this time of year, and not try to use the government to promote particular religions over others. COOPER: Reverend Lynn, I've got to interrupt. Appreciate you joining us. And William Greene as well on the phone. We're going to continue to look at this, continue our series, "Faith and Freedom."

The calls for Christ back in Christmas could get even louder, especially when you consider how many Americans are Christians. Let's put religious beliefs in American perspective for a moment. 77 percent of Americans, or more than 159 million people are Christian. 2.8 million, or nearly 1.4 percent are Jewish, .5 percent are Muslim, same applies for Buddhist, and almost 29.5 million, or 14 percent have no religious affiliation.

360 next, George Clooney's European vacation. Get ready for the second coming of the "Rat Park," a look in the Weekender that.

And a littler later, a live and unexpected strip act on our own program. See the guy behind him? Being naked on TV is nothing knew. We'll take a look at streaking coming back.

In a moment today's 360's Challenge. How closely have you followed today's news? Find out next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right. Time for today's 360 challenge. Be the first to answer all 3 questions correctly, we'll send you a 360 shirt.

No. 1, what's the date of the formal sentencing in the Peterson case?

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast which some fear are nurturing young jihadists are called what?

No. 3, and according to the U.S. census, what percentage of Americans is Christian?

Take the challenge. Log on to cnn.com/360. Click on the answer link. Answer first, we'll send you a shirt. We'll find out last night's winner and tonight's answers coming up in a bit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: During the holidays most people like to get letters in the mail, of course, hopefully from a loved one, or friend sending tidings of joy. But letters recently sent to two Cleveland high schools were anything but that. And as CNN's Keith Oppenheim reports, they've made students both concerned and afraid.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The boys at St. Ignatius High School change classes like it's a typical day, but the sense of security here has been threatened because of what arrived in the mail. Eight letters came in November, letters filled with racist language and hate for black men who date white women. School officials say the target of these letters was two African- American student athletes. Investigators believe because those students were seen in the newspaper posing in prom photos with white females, the letter writer threatened castration, and death. And urged white students to stop associating with the 2 black students.

PETER CORRIGAN, ST. IGNATIUS PRINCIPAL: It shakes the individual kids who think they are a potential victim.

OPPENHEIM: Another school, St. Edwards, got two threat letters the FBI believes is from the same author.

SPEC. AGENT ROBERT HAWK, FBI: What we're concerned with is maybe this behavior may become more aggressive and someone may get hurt.

OPPENHEIM: The FBI's Robert Hawk says agents believe these most recent letters are connected to at least 60 other similar letters sent to prominent black men in the last two years to players in the NFL...

HAWK: Actors, members of Hollywood, members of the Judiciary, those kind of people have received letters in the U.S..

OPPENHEIM: Investigators say this is the first time they know that high school students have been the target of this writer's hate mail. At St. Ignatius, the letters triggered deep fears.

CORRIGAN: There was a larger scaled level of alarm by parents of many minority students and athletes, as well.

OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Cleveland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: CNN's in-depth reporting continues tonight on "PAULA ZAHN NOW" and "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN." Let's get a preview of both programs.

We continue with Heidi Collins who is filling in for Paula Zahn tonight -- Heidi.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Anderson. You know, there is a lot being said about shortage of armor for our troops in Iraq. But no one knows the consequences of that better than parents who have lost a son in a Humvee attack.

It happened to Brian and Alma Heart last year. And the Heart's say their son talked about the lack of armor. They are my guests coming up next hour -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right. Heidi, thanks -- Aaron.

AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it was a headline in the morning papers segment last night that led us Robert Loriah (ph), a young man in the army who lost an arm in Iraq. He is broke. He's in Ft. Hood, Texas. And the Army wants from him almost $2,000. We'll explain why the Army wants the money and what happened after the headline on "NEWSNIGHT" 10:00 Eastern tonight.

COOPER: All right. Aaron, Heidi, thanks.

360 next, the naked truth. We had a close encounter last night with one very naked man. What is it with streakers and TV? When did streakers come back? Find out "Inside the Box."

Plus, the boys are back for another caper in Ocean's Twelve. A closer look at the film ahead in the "Weekender."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: At the movies this weekend, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and the rest of the updated Rat Pack return in "Ocean's Twelve." It is a sensitive little indie film. Not. This ring-a-ding romp is overstuffed with enough Hollywood heavyweights to fill St. Bart's. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know it premieres tonight. So let's check it out in "The Weekender."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: We didn't want them back. They all just sort of contractually came back.

COOPER (voice-over): Yeah, sure, George, who leads his crew for another big score. And I'm not just talking about a heist, I'm talking about all those really rich Hollywood stars getting paid to hang out in Europe for a few months. Take the tough assignment Catherine Zeta-Jones had to endure.

CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, ACTRESS: Turn-down service for Mr. Ryan.

My husband used to say, it's like, what are you doing today? I said, I'm kissing Brad Pitt, we're at a fountain and this. And he went, OK, have a great day's work. What are you doing tonight? Well, I'm going to kiss Brad Pitt on a bridge.

COOPER: "Ocean's Twelve" also packs in enough inside gags to make us all realize that, yes, celebrities do in fact have it better.

BILL MURRAY, ACTOR: Swamp leeches, everybody. Check for swamp leeches.

COOPER: From the ocean we head to the deep sea in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou." Bill Murray is a Jacques Cousteau-like diver in search of an elusive shark. Along the way, he finds time for the usual family dysfunction. There's a treat.

MURRAY: You're supposed to be my son, right?

COOPER: Good news for Wesley Snipes and vampire slayer fans. "Blade: Trinity" arrives on the big screen. This one continues the battle of the undead, and I'm not just talking about the script.

On DVD, "Maria Full of Grace," a powerful and affecting movie about drug mules and how far the desperate will go to be free. On TV, Dale Earnhardt. Tomorrow night, ESPN chronicles the life and death of the race car legend.

And if you're near the Louisville zoo between now and December 19th, stop by for brunch with Santa. There'll be sing-alongs, prizes and maybe a bagel with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for old St. Nick.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, tonight we bring you the 360 full monty. Live TV, you know, is always kind of risky. There's a chance the feed will go down, the interview will turn bad, or in some cases a naked man will present himself. That's what happened to us last night where for reasons we truly may never know, a streaker let the world know -- or let the world see his shortcomings, actually, "Inside the Box."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're joining you live now, Anderson, in front of the...

COOPER (voice-over): CNN correspondent Keith Oppenheim was covering a vigil outside a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio where there was a shooting that ended in five deaths. And for reasons we may never know, or surely couldn't comprehend, that's the moment this guy picked to show off his shortcomings, so to speak.

It was hard to pay attention because there was a naked guy behind you.

The streaker was rewarded for his trouble by being tackled by police, thrown to the ground, handcuffed and placed under arrest on a cold Ohio night, still naked.

We could go on about his inappropriate timing or his lack of originality. I mean, people have been shedding their wardrobes, along with their dignity, to attract the public's attention for years. They just usually choose occasions that are somewhat less solemn.

Remember this guy, Robert Opel, the streaker at the 1974 Oscars?

DAVID NIVEN, ACTOR: Fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.

COOPER: Or Brian Richard Reid (ph), who showed off his own crown jewels to her majesty the queen a couple of years ago.

Which brings us back to this guy. We tried to find out who he is and what became of him after he was hauled off to the hoosegow, but Columbus police, probably still investigating a multiple murder, didn't return our calls.

Not so good for the naked guy. After all, what's the point of putting your assets out there in a naked grab for fame when nobody even knows your name? "Inside the Box." (END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: I love how they led him away still completely naked.

360 next, Houston, we have a problem. Hunger pains aboard the International Space Station. Fellow earthlings, there is a way to help. We'll take that to "The Nth Degree." And on Monday, a new 350 special series, "Ancient Cures: Modern Hope or Hoax?" Doctors putting holes in the head to treat depression. Does it work? What are they thinking?

360 challenge. Here's another look at tonight's questions.

No. 1: What's the date for formal sentencing in the Peterson case?

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast, which some fear are nurturing young jihadists are called what?

And no. 3, according to the U.S. Census, what percentage of Americans is Christian?

Log on to cnn.com/360. Click on the answer link to play.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right, time now for the answer to today's 360 "Challenge."

No. 1: What's the date for formal sentencing in the Peterson case? The answer, February 25th.

No. 2, religious schools in the Mideast, which some fear are nurturing young jihadists, are called what? The answer: Madrassas.

And no. 3, according to the U.S. Census, what percentage of Americans is Christian? The answer, 77 percent.

The first person to answer all three questions correctly will be sent a 360 t-shirt. You can tune in Monday to find out if you're the one. Last night's winner, Bev White of Morris, Illinois. Congratulations. Another 360 "Challenge," another chance to win on Monday.

Tonight, taking the food drive to "The Nth Degree."

Now, this is serious. The astronauts up there on the International Space Station, one American and one Russian, are running so low on chow they have been instructed to cut their rations to make the grab last until a supply ship arrives on Christmas Day. People of Earth, no way we can stand by why our highest high flyers go hungry. Listen up, we have a plan.

Head out there and hurl a burger as high as you can. Chuck some cheese, pitch a pizza, blast breakfast, launch lunch, sling supper. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It may be true that you can't solve a problem by throwing money at it, but perhaps we can solve this one by throwing food. Heave whatever you have, whether liquid or solid. Remember the old saying after all, that him who is without gin among you cast the first scone.

I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching 360. Have a great weekend. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

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