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U.S. Contractors Kidnapped in Iraq; North Carolina Recovers from Deadly Tornado; GOP to Vote on House Leaders; One Injured in St. Louis Airport Fire

Aired November 17, 2006 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Don Lemon.

PHILLIPS: Americans ambushed. A fake checkpoint, kidnappers posing as police. Now an aggressive hunt for contractors seized in Iraq.

LEMON: And nature on a rampage. A killer tornado shreds a North Carolina town, and the storm moves on. Pounding rains, winds and floods from Maryland all the way to New York.

PHILLIPS: Forget the garter and bouquet. Grab a pan, a comb and a cat. The poetry of vows as Scientology seizes the spotlight in the Cruise-Holmes wedding. We're live in Bracciano, Italy.

First today, report out of southern Iraq that two of five kidnapped contract workers are free. The four Americans and a former Austrian (ph) soldier are security specialists. Among them, Minnesotan Paul Reuben, a former policeman.

With the very latest, CNN's Arwa Damon joins us live from Baghdad -- Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, hello.

The details are murky at this point regarding who has been released or not. And let me just run through what happened today and yesterday and try and shed some clarity on what's happening.

Today, there was an attack in the vicinity of Basra against a private security company. In that attack, we do now know that one British contractor was wounded. We are hearing from this security company that it's called Secure a Force. That the whereabouts of four of their employees are currently unknown.

This follows an incident that happened yesterday, again, in the vicinity of Basra, in which we have been able to confirm that four U.S. contractors were kidnapped and one Austrian contractor was kidnapped, as well. Yesterday's incident involved a security company known as the Crescent Security Group.

Both incidents appear to have happened in the same manner. The convoys drove up to fake checkpoints where militiamen are -- were posing, masquerading, Iraqi police.

Now, we are hearing from the Iraqi minister, Ministry of Interior, a spokesman for the ministry who is saying that a little over an hour ago, Iraqi police launched an operation in the vicinity of where one of these attacks took place and that they found two American hostages.

However, both security companies and the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. military at this point are not able to verify that information, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Arwa, this is not the first time that we've reported on attacks on contractors. How bad is it getting? And is it happening more often than we thought?

DAMON: Well, Kyra there are constantly, as you just mentioned, attacks against contractors. And if we look at the events that happened over the last two days down in Basra, it certainly does seem to be increasing.

Contractors, for the most part, when they're doing convoy security or just securing officials around here are viewed as being, perhaps, a softer target than the U.S. military. And they are, oftentimes, associated either with the U.S. military or with the Iraqi government, which makes them a prime target for the insurgent groups operating here, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And how are these insurgents getting these Iraqi police uniforms? And are they actual uniforms? Or are they counterfeit?

DAMON: Well, Kyra, it really depends on the particular circumstances. It's not that difficult to get your hands on an Iraqi police or an Iraqi army uniform. You can still go, for example, to one of the marketplaces in Baghdad. And if you have $20 if your pocket, you can buy an Iraqi police uniform.

Now, in the recent months, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has issued new hard to copy uniforms for the police force. But many people aren't able to differentiate between the old uniforms and the new ones.

Plus, you've also got the reality that the Iraqi police and, to a certain degree, the Iraqi army, are infiltrated by militias, and at times these uniforms do just go missing and hand up -- end up in the hands of armed groups that are then going around and setting up checkpoints.

PHILLIPS: Arwa Damon, live in Baghdad.

And later this hour, we're going to speak with Roy Hallums. He's the former American contractor who was held in Iraq for more than 300 days. He's going to join us at 1:30 Eastern.

LEMON: It's a visit filled with symbolism, if not pure irony. An American president presiding over an unpopular war, visiting Vietnam to talk about economic progress and freedom.

President Bush is in Hanoi for this weekend's Asian economic summit. Today, he met with the government and the community party leaders and lunched with Australia's prime minister.

As for possible parallels between Vietnam and Iraq, the president says the U.S. can't back away from its commitments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll succeed unless we quit. The Maliki government's going to make it, unless the coalition leaves before they have a chance to make it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And in his meetings, Mr. Bush also brought up the POW/MIA issue. More than 1,300 U.S. personnel are still unaccounted for in Vietnam.

Now pouring rain and flood alerts from Maine to Canada, remnants of a storm that destroyed so much in the South, then drenched much of the mid-Atlantic. The heavy rain and winds have knocked out power to thousands, washed out roads and flooded homes and businesses.

Hundreds of people, including this SUV driver, had to be rescued when flash flooding caught them by surprise. Take a look at that video.

It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing in parts of upstate New York, either.

PHILLIPS: Of course, none of that compares to the misery in Riegelwood, North Carolina, where survivors of yesterday's deadly tornado are starting to work at rebuilding their splintered lives.

Let's get straight to CNN's Rick Sanchez. He's on the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, let me start out by just showing you one of the homes that was obliterated by this tornado. That used to be a home where a couple lived with their son. The couple died as a result of this tornado. Their son, we understand, has survived.

It's just part of what is being called the worst natural disaster in the history of Columbus County.

(voice-over) The sheriff's department got the first warning at 6:29 in the morning. Fifteen minutes later, the tornado was on the ground. Mark Brown was home when it arrived.

MARK BROWN, TORNADO SURVIVOR: It sounded like a train was coming. I said, let me get up and look out that door and see what's going on. When I looked out that door, the tornado was coming. SANCHEZ: Brown's house was destroyed. He was lucky to have survived. Others in the town of Riegelwood, North Carolina, never had a chance.

JANICE WADDELL, TORNADO SURVIVOR: It was real terrible. I never seen anything like it before. And I hope I never see anything like it again.

SANCHEZ: The tornado was a killer. Among the dead, two children. The victims lived in this mobile home park sheriffs say was disintegrated by the storm.

SHERIFF CHRISTOPHER BATTEN, COLUMBUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: It is a major catastrophe. There's an area that's probably almost a half a mile wide. It reaches probably three quarters to a mile in length, stretching northward, that is totally demolished: homes turned upside down, vehicles completely destroyed.

SANCHEZ (on camera): Authorities say this tornado was so ferocious, its wind so strong that some of the deceased were found in the woods, a full 200 yards -- two football fields -- away from where they were when the tornado first touched.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We assume that the tornado created that kind of damage.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Literally took them from their home to the place where they were found?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

SANCHEZ: Authorities say 20 people were injured. Four, including three small children, are in critical condition.

Meanwhile, thousands are still without power.

To look at the devastation, it's amazing the death toll isn't higher. And then there's this to think about. The town doesn't have a siren to alert residents of an impending tornado.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not have that type of system in this county.

SANCHEZ (on camera): So there is no siren?

BATTEN: No.

SANCHEZ: No siren no warning. Perhaps that's what happened with the people who lived in this home who perished.

In fact, officials are saying that, really, the only way in that 15 minute period between the National Weather Service's tornado warning and the time when it actually struck at 6:44, would be if people were watching TV or listening to the radio at the time. Otherwise, there's a good chance that they probably didn't even know it was coming. Kyra, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: North Carolina's Governor Mike Easley, live, right now.

GOV. MIKE EASLEY, NORTH CAROLINA: At this point, we know that we have at least 35 residences that have been damaged or destroyed. We think it's 15 that have been completely destroyed, 15 with minor damage and five with major damage, nearly destroyed.

We know that there are eight fatalities. Twenty people were taken to the hospital. Eight have been treated and released.

Four still remain in very, very critical condition. And we will update you on that as we get the information. But we don't have anymore information at this point. We know they're in surgical trauma right now.

We have our assessment teams out today. Search and rescue was yesterday and last night. And they did a good job of determining where everybody was. They found those who have been unaccounted for. They have now been accounted for.

But I do want to remind you at the same time law enforcement needs to continue to work that area, because they do not know who may have been there that was not anticipated and who may have been walking through there and was unknown at the time, so they still have work to do as they're cleaning up. But we don't know what else we might find.

The assessment teams report back to me. I don't have a final number yet. Not anticipated and who may have been walking through there and was unknown at the time so they still have work to do as they're cleaning up. And we don't know what else we might find.

The assessment teams report back to me. I don't have a final number yet. I do have those -- those numbers of homes that were destroyed or hurt in some way, harmed in some way. And our immediate needs, other than trying to get those in the hospital out, is trying to figure out how we're going to deal with the damages.

The three things that we do. No. 1, I take the assessment, to total number of homes, total amount of damage, and I send it, asking for federal declaration to Washington. And that letter's ready to go as soon as we fill in the blanks. It would appear to me at this time that we will not reach that critical mass for federal declaration of disaster.

So the second thing that we do is then try and see who can qualify for SBA loans. It appears we'll have enough damage to qualify for that program. So we'll ask all of those who were hurt, damaged, in some way, by this event, to fill out those applications.

The third place we go, if they cannot qualify for SBA loans, which are very low interest loans, Congressman McIntyre is going to help us expedite that. We then go to straight declaration of disaster. And if I make a state declaration of disaster, then we go up to $28,000 of uninsured damage.

So what I've asked the sheriff to do and our regional coordinator with emergency management, along with the rest of the first responders, is try and bring these families together and determine, first of all if they can qualify for SBA loan. And secondly, whether there is insurance. And, third, how much damage there is, so that we can expedite this matter and get people back into homes as soon as possible.

We're going to do everything we can to try and make folks whole as soon as possible, to try and disrupt their lives as little as possible, try to keep the kids in school, try to keep people working. And we're going to do it as fast as we possibly can.

We activated SERT yesterday morning. That's our State Emergency Response Team. Emergency management coordinators were here, and continue to stay here. The other counties in the state don't have any serious damage, only one injury, one still hospitalized, and that's in Iredell (ph) County. The rest of the problems are here.

State highway patrol is here with two extra squads. We'll continue to stay here. Anything else the emergency coordinator needs or Sheriff Batten needs, he will get that from the state.

There are some -- things people can do to help. Everybody wants to volunteer. At this point, the sheriff tells me he has about as many volunteers as he needs.

What we do need is some donations through the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. And if people will just make a notation on their contribution that it is for the Riegelwood fund, the Riegelwood fund, will get us there.

And I'll give you one hotline number. We activated the governor's hotline, which is 888-835-9966. And that can be used statewide and nationally and internationally, 888-835-9966. And we can take contributions and direct people to how they can be -- best assist us there.

With that, let me stop and thank Congressman McIntyre for being here with us today. And helping us expedite what we're trying to do in Washington with the SBA loans and ask him to say a few words to you.

Congressman, thank you for being here. I appreciate your help.

REP. MIKE MCINTYRE (D), NORTH CAROLINA: Thank you, governor. Thank you so much.

And you know, walking through this firsthand it gives you the experience that you see what families have suffered. It's not quite the same when you watch it, you think, through the eyes of the cameras. But when you come and see the devastation these families have suffered, you can understand how much they do need our help. And that's why I know that we appreciate the governor being here. That's why I wanted to get back down from Washington as soon as I could. We know that this community's been rocked. But the foundation of faith and of prayer and of encouragement, of compassion and help, has just been overwhelming. And that has sustained the people here in this community.

And we want to thank all the volunteers who have come. The great job the sheriff's here have done and sheriffs in the surrounding counties and all the agencies that have come together to help give the help that's been needed.

From the federal level, as you heard, once the state has done its assessment, we will wait for that work to be finished, and then we will be ready to cooperate any way we can with the governor's request and what the state desires.

The two principal agencies that are normally involved, as you know, normally FEMA and SBA. As it looks now, we will be trying to activate help from the SBA. The Small Business Administration not only helps businesses, but it also helps individuals and families. And we want to emphasize that fact, because many people do not realize that, that despite its name, SBA, that it is an agency that works with families and individuals, as well.

Our Wilmington office right down the road. The phone number's 910-815-4159. We want to make sure that we're available to help folks if they need help filling out the federal forms as they become available.

And also, I have Miss Marie Thompson who's with me here today. That is my director for this district and can also work with anybody from the federal level, that we can work personally with constituents to help them here.

But we want to thank, again, all those who have done such an excellent job, and Sheriff Batten, to you and your force and all fire, rescue, all the law enforcement and emergency personnel. We cannot thank you enough.

We do have federal agencies on standby. We'll be ready to act just as soon as the assessments are done to continue to work with the governor and with the state.

Thank you very much, Governor.

EASLEY: Thank you. I'm just reminded by the sheriff that funds to help those victims of this disaster have been set up at the United Methodist Church here. Also, at the federal credit union, and at BB&T. So there are a lot of different ways people can give and can help.

But we want to try to reach out. We're going to be doing more of this, in the next day or so. We'll try to reach out to those folks we've had in the shelters last night. We have them placed somewhere else now, and want to get them all back together through the sheriff's department in cooperation with the fire department.

And just trying to get everybody together and work through these applications so that we cut out 30 to 45 days that you usually see after a hurricane. This is a smaller group of people, and we hope to be able to do that.

So if anybody's hearing what I'm saying now, and you've been a victim of this tornado, contact the sheriff's department as soon as you possibly can in Columbus County. And we're going to get -- try and get you back on your feet and back in housing, permanent housing, as soon as possible.

Any questions you would like for any of these folks to take?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor, what's the federal limit for disaster declaration? You said you think the damage is below that.

EASLEY: The -- they've got several limits. One is the number of homes. But it's -- I want to say it's $8.8 or $8.9 million. And what's the number got to be?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

EASLEY: It has to be about 100 homes with 40 percent or better damage. And we're not going to reach that level, thank goodness.

The difference is that, if you can qualify that way, the federal government pays 75 percent, state 25. And if you don't qualify that way, the state pays it all. But that's -- that's what the rainy day fund is for. And we just want to pay it as soon as we can and get people back in their homes and working again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor, do you think this disaster perhaps underlines the need for a tornado siren system in this area?

EASLEY: I think it's something that needs to be considered. The -- we got about 12 minutes' notice on this one. There is a radio system in effect. So that people, if they have the radios on, as we asked them to do, they get that same siren. We hope that people did have that on. It sounds like most of them just heard that -- as they say they heard the train.

We're going to re-look at it. It doesn't work nearly as well in rural areas like this as it does in the urban centers. But Secretary Beatty and I have already discussed it. And it's something we obviously need to look at.

Anything else? Yes, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

PHILLIPS: North Carolina's Governor Mike Easley, briefing reporters. A couple of things. He's talking about the damaged homes in the area, eight deaths now. Yesterday, we were reporting seven. The governor now saying eight deaths in that area that was just ravaged by the tornado; 20 injuries, four still in critical condition. Search and rescue missions pretty much over, because everyone's been accounted for that they know of that live in this area. However, they're still going through and sifting through the debris, just in case there were people in the area they didn't know about, possibly visitors, people from out of town. So they're keeping their eyes open. The crews are, still, for that possibility.

And now as they're dealing with the damage, the governor is making it very clear he wants to take care of everybody, make sure that everyone can get their funds and get back into a home, talking about the availability of SBA loans, very low-interest loans, and also getting state disaster funds to help them out.

Finally, if you want to help, he said the Red Cross and the Salvation Army desperately need donations. You can log on to their sites, obviously. The Riegelwood fund is what you can donate your money, or there's a number, 888-835-9966.

LEMON: And Kyra, we'll certainly be following that story throughout the rest of the day here in the NEWSROOM.

And coming up in the NEWSROOM, show me the honey. The connubial countdown continues in Bracciano, Italy. Of course, the NEWSROOM's mobile matrimony unit is there as Tomkat prepares to tie the knot. Man, looks like the whole world is there.

And supply and demand and the PlayStation 3. Action, drama, suspense, violence. And we hear the games are pretty exciting, too. Catch the madness right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Covering the angles, uncovering the details. See for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Well, they liked them as a majority; they'll keep them in the minority. House Republicans today voted John Boehner minority leader when the new Democratic-led Congress convenes in January.

For more, let's bring in our congressional correspondent, Andrea Koppel.

Hey, Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

By an overwhelming majority, Republican rank and file turned to two of the members of their old guard to help lead them into the 110th Congress. As you mentioned, John Boehner, who is the current majority leader, is now going to be the new minority leader. By an overwhelming vote of 168-27, he was elected to that post.

And then also Roy Blunt, congressman from Missouri, who has served the last two terms as his party's vote-counting whip, will now serve a third term. He won by a vote of 137-57.

And in addressing reporters after the votes, he made very clear that the conference wants to look beyond last week's stunning defeat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROY BLUNT (R-MO), MINORITY WHIP-ELECT: In the last ten days, our conference has come together with an appreciation for the opportunity to redefine who we are, to provide the kind of alternatives that we want to provide, to look toward the future. Frankly, to get rid of the bad habits that we may have developed in 12 years in the majority. It's not our job to defend business as usual, not our job to try to define the federal government in the biggest possible way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Now, two of the members who tried to unseat Blunt and Boehner had campaigned on a platform of trying to push through some new faces. John Shadegg and Mike Pence were unsuccessful in that attempt.

Both of them, Kyra, members of the Republican Study Conference, the largest caucus within the Republican leadership -- within the Republican Party in the House. They were unsuccessful in their attempt.

Nevertheless, Republicans are saying that they, in fact, do have new faces within the top of their leadership, because they say that you no longer have two of the most well-known members, that is, Speaker Dennis Hastert, and, of course, you no longer have the other key member, Tom DeLay, who lost his seat earlier this year -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Andrea Koppel on the Hill, thanks, Andrea.

LEMON: Developing story. Let's go straight to the NEWSROOM. T.J. Holmes following that for us.

What do you have, T.J.?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) We have a fire at the airport, Lamberton National Airport at St. Louis. It's not exactly the airport but at a building, a facility, a power plant building, that's just west of that airport.

We've been watching these pictures. You can't see the ones we've been looking at here for the past several minutes or so that did show more smoke and whatnot coming out of that building.

But to tell you where it is and what's happening, this was a power plant building. And specifically, the fire started in an electrical shop, according to the A.P.

And what happened is that this plant here obviously supplies some power to the airport. And for a short time, according to the A.P., the -- in fact, some power was out at the airport there, the main terminal. At the airport there, the power was out for a short time. It is supposed to be back up -- what we're being reporting now -- or what we're being told now, is that power is back up at the terminal. Some of the power was out, actually, at some of those spots, that security lines and whatnot, security screeners. Power was out there for a short time.

According to airport officials, traffic -- airport traffic is still going. People are still -- they're still processing passengers there. However, some passengers could possibly expect some delays.

You do see some of the pictures now of the firefighters fighting this fire. Also, we're getting word that at least one person did have to be taken away on a stretcher from this fire.

Not clear exactly what started this fire, how it started. But it did happen about 11:30 local time. So not too long ago. Still trying to get the fire under control and out.

But again, one injury, at least, that we know of, somebody taken away on a stretcher. And still, passengers, flights still going at the airport. But might be some delays there.

LEMON: And T.J., as we linger on these pictures a little bit, St. Louis Lambert Field, very busy airport, right in the middle of the country, all of this happening in the middle of the day in the flight schedule.

HOLMES: Oh, yes. Never a -- I guess really never a good time for this but certainly not right now.

LEMON: Yes. You can see the roof there and the firefighters with hoses. So we'll check back in with you. Thanks, T.J.

HOLMES: All right.

PHILLIPS: Italy rolls out the red carpet for a Hollywood couple. But Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes won't have everything their way when they get ready to tie the knot. That story straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, boy, we're getting close. It's all over but the doubting as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes inch towards the aisle. Our intrepid Alessio Vinci is hanging on to a piece of turf in Bracciano, Italy, where a photo of the bride and the groom could be worth a fortune Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It could be. Actually, one entertainment reporter here telling me that a picture of the two cutting the wedding cake could be sold for up to $1 million. I'm not sure if that is a realistic figure or not. But that's what some of the entertainment reporters here are saying. With that said, there's still no official confirmation that this is the place, the castle behind me, where the actual wedding will take place. But we do know that VIPs from Hollywood are arriving in Rome. The latest arrival, Will Smith, as well as international football star David Beckham with his wife Victoria. No sign yet of a big friend of Tom Cruise, John Travolta, who was supposed to fly earlier today with his own 707 carrying even more VIPs here to Rome.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VINCI (voice-over): It is one of the best locations in Italy money can buy. Tom Cruise reportedly paid close to $400,000 just to rent Castello Descalchi, overlooking Lake Bracciano, one hour north of Rome. The total bill for the whole wedding around $1.5 million, reports say. A lot, but less than the $3 million originally estimated. But money can't buy everything. Authorities rejected the request to close the airspace above the castle to keep paparazzi helicopters away. And speaking of the media, they have taken the small town by storm and they, too, appear to spare no expenses. A window overlooking the castle's main entrance is worth more than $1,000.

ALLAN HALL, STAR MAGAZINE: The photographers have got lenses that you can see craters on the moon on, hoping for a shot up there to get the bride and groom.

VINCI (on camera): Details of the wedding are a close-guarded secret. But many here speculate that the couple will reach the castle through this tunnel. At the end of it, hordes of journalists will be waiting for them on this side. Before the couple will disappear beyond this gate, off limits to anyone without an invitation.

(voice-over): All the money in the world won't buy Hollywood's hottest couple a Catholic wedding either. atom Cruise is divorced. So no way," says the local priest who, according to Catholic Church tradition, needs to authorize all marriages in his parish. The wedding won't even have legal status in Italy.

MAYOR PATRIZIA RICCIONI, BRACCIANO, ITALY: I understand that it will be a ceremony with Scientology rights," says the mayor of Bracciano, referring to Tom Cruise's religion, which isn't recognized here in Italy. "We at city hall have not received any request for a civil wedding."

VINCI: Locals will be disappointed if all this proves to have been a ruse to keep reporters away from the actual wedding location. Starting with this shopkeeper who dressed his window to honor Tom Cruise, hoping the wedding will also bring good business.

EMIDIO FALCIONE, SHOP OWNER: The most important window that we make is the "Top Gun" window, if you see. And we sell a lot of pilot jackets, like maverick in "Top Gun" film.

VINCI: And, of course, this being Italy, food is playing a prominent role. The restaurant across from the castle main entrance is already fully booked for Saturday. The chef will prepare a special dish, the Tom and Katie risotto, with mushrooms and truffles served in a parmesan basket.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

VINCI: And speaking of food, Don, we understand that Tom Cruise has booked an entire restaurant today in downtown Rome for his last night as an unmarried celibate man. However, we understand from an Italian newspaper, that he is on a diet, and, that therefore, he has to watch, because his suit that was provided by Italian designer Giorgio Armani may not fit tomorrow. Although a diet of course until tomorrow when the big party starts, at that moment, I guess, all bets are off. Back to you.

LEMON: All right Alessio.

PHILLIPS: Did he just say celibate?

LEMON: Kyra and I were like, celibate, they have a kid.

PHILLIPS: Alessio, come on now, who are you fooling?

LEMON: All right, I guess he's gone --

VINCI: Well, you know, that's why there is no wedding here that the Catholic Church wants.

LEMON: Alessio, thank you, sir. Well, first, you trade the something old and something new for a pan, a comb and a cat, and instead of that, love, honor and cherish business. (INAUDIBLE)) instead of that love, honor and cherish business, the affinity, reality and communication, our Brooke Anderson says it's a pretty tall order if TomKat's going to go by the Scientology book. Do you have that book there with you? It's a big book, right?

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I do, actually. It weighs about 15 pounds. It's a massive book if you can see it, Scientology's book of sermons and ceremonies. And you were referring Don to the pan, the comb, the cat, that's part of the distinct vows that are a part of the Scientology ceremonies. There are five different types of Scientology ceremonies a scientologist can choose from. The traditional, the informal, single ring, double ring and concise double ring. And if they chose the traditional ceremony, which is very formal, the minister would say this, Don. Now, Tom, girls need clothes and food and tender happiness and frills. A pan, a comb, perhaps a cat, all caprice if you will, but still they need them. And also, hear well, sweet Katie, for promise binds, young men are free and may forget. Remind him then that you may have necessities and follies, too. A Scientology minister who has performed countless ceremonies over the last 34 years told me the traditional ceremony is not the most popular because it is so formal and the wording is so unique.

So no word yet what type of ceremony they will choose. Tom's publicist just this morning told me they're not giving us any details until after the ceremony tomorrow. As you heard Alessio say, it's still not even confirmed that they are going to get married in that 15th century castle there in Bracciano. But I did speak to a young scientology couple who got married in Santa Barbara, California, just 2 1/2 months ago. And they had a beautiful ceremony. I think we have some video from their wedding if we can see that. On the outside, a Scientology wedding looks like any typical ceremony you could imagine. The bride could wear white, the bridesmaids, you have the bridesmaids, the flowers, the processional, toasts at the reception, the first dance, the music. But as I said, there are vast differences on the inside. And most of those do pertain to the vows. And Erin, the bride, as you see right there, who was gracious enough to lend us this video, told me that Scientology tenets and principles are woven into the ceremony. Let's listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIN, EX-SCIENTOLOGIST: There are Scientology principles that are put in the ceremony, like we said. So, really, that's what it is, because it's a wedding. If you just saw our video today, it's a wedding. It's those fundamentals of Scientology that are put in throughout the ceremony. And it's really beautiful because we both apply those philosophies to our life and those basics, like, you know, you don't go to sleep on an upset. And that's something that you agree to in the ceremony.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Don't go to sleep on an upset -- basically don't go to bed mad. Also, she told me the minister asked her to accept Nick for all his sterling qualities, as well as his faults. So like I say, the wording is unique. Also, Don, we spoke with a former Scientologist who now embraces Christianity. She told us she's attended five or six Scientology ceremonies and she says, again, the differences are vast. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN PRESSLY, EX-SCIENTOLOGIST: That is distinctly different from taking marriage vows, how you pledge, you know, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, until death do us part, that type of promise is not made. God is not part of the equation in a Scientology wedding because Scientology as a religious philosophy is not centered around God, Scientologists are really disciples of their own mind. They're not seeking a relationship with their creator because Scientologists believe that they are their own creator.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Karen also called Katie a baby Scientologist and said that she has no idea what's in store for her as a Scientologist because she says a lot of the tenets of the religion are kept secret until you reach a certain level in the church. But, Don, you know, the aesthetics on the outside, the dress, the rings, everything looks like a typical wedding.

LEMON: I know, but reading that stuff, a pan, a comb, and a cat, I thought people were kidding. It sounded like Dr. Seuss to me, but, it's true.

ANDERSON: No, it is serious and it's from this enormous book that they have.

LEMON: And you have it. You do your research. Brooke Anderson, thank you very much. So what exactly happens in a Scientology ceremony? Ahead in the NEWSROOM, we'll ask the president of the church of Scientology in New York, the Reverend John Carmichael joins us live.

PHILLIPS: Supply and demand and the PlayStation 3 action drama suspends violence. Well we hear the games are getting pretty exciting too. Catch the madness right here from the NEWSROOM.

And we're working a developing story in St. Louis, Missouri, a fire near Lambert Airport, live coverage straight ahead.

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LEMON: Following some breaking news, T.J. Holmes what do you have for us.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: We have an update now on that fire we were showing you a little bit ago out of St. Louis, Lambert International Airport. We're now being told that flights are not being allowed to land but planes are still taking off. Again, this was the fire we were showing you at the electrical building. This is just west of St. Louis' Lambert International Airport. But again, planes -- actually we might have it a little backwards here. Planes not taking off, but they continue to land there. So want to make that clear. But planes are not taking off. But they are being allowed to land. Again, we saw that at least one person was taken away on a stretcher in this fire. Not sure about the condition of that person. And we're also getting word, this was a fire at an electrical building. This play supplies some of the power to the airport, power went out for a short time at the main terminal there.

We were told that the power was back up and running at that main terminal. However, we have been told by American Airlines at least, that they were having problems with their computers and that some of their computers, or that all of their computers were down at the airport. Don't know how that might be affecting their operation and their planes taking off and landing, and certainly processing passengers and don't know if other airlines are experiencing some of those same issues that American Airlines is having a problem with. Again, this was at an electrical building, specifically, it was in an electrical shop at this power plant building. And a generator really is where this fire started. It looks like firefighters are getting maybe a pretty good handle on that fire at that building. But still, just the fire that it did happen at this power plant causing some problems for the airport and those problems look like they may be there for some time, so we're keeping an eye on that. Don?

LEMON: T.J., just to clarify, you said being allowed to land and not take off?

HOLMES: Yes, planes not taking off, but they are being allowed to land. So we do want to make sure we have that clear. Again, still looking at some of those live pictures of the fire at that building. So again, the fire itself and the building itself doesn't look like the biggest issue. Still some bad news here, but still, might be causing a whole new type of headache for folks at the airport. Don?

LEMON: T.J. Holmes, thank you so much for that.

Let's assume for a moment it's not insane to line up for days and nights outdoors in November for anything.

PHILLIPS: Well, is Sony's new PlayStation 3 worth it? We're going to check in with technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg. Apparently, he thinks so.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Kyra and Don, I would have to fight you guys off if you were down here. We're talking about long lines, a lot of hype and hysteria. What's it all about? It's about some new video game consoles. And coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM, we will show you and demonstrate for you what we're talking about. All right, Scott, ready to go?

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LEMON: Well, as you may well know, if you live within a mile of a big box retailer, you've been watching TV or on the internet or on the radio, Sony's PlayStation 3 went on sale at midnight. A Super Wal-Mart store in California was forced to shut down after some shoppers got out of hand. In Ohio armed gunmen stormed an electronic store and made away with all five of the store's consoles. In Wisconsin, a man was hurt when he ran into a pole in his rush to get a spot outside a Wal-Mart. Ouch. Muggers tried to rob people waiting in line in Connecticut. One man was shot. No word on his condition.

PHILLIPS: Of course some of us don't get it and never will. But for those who get it and who somehow got a PS3, is it worth it? For answers, we go to technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg. From what I saw during the break, it looks pretty enjoyable.

SIEBERG: It is pretty enjoyable Kyra. Amidst all of the hype and hysteria, it is getting a little ugly out there though. We need to remind everybody that we are talking about video games here. There have been some long lines, people camped out for several days trying to get their hands on Sony's PlayStation 3, which goes on sale today in the United States. Also Nintendo's WII available on Sunday. These are very coveted items for the holiday season, very tough to get a hold of one, about 400,000 PS3's or PlayStation 3's available today at the launch, about another 600,000 or so expected by year end. Still tough to get your hands on one. But what's happening is, it's creating this underground economy. As people get a Sony PlayStation 3, they are in some cases not even playing it. They're putting it up on eBay and selling it for sometimes it's in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars. We've seen bids on ones that are upwards of three to five thousand dollars, which is well beyond what you would expect to pay. That's a $500 or $600 retail price. So some pretty intense times. But we're going to take a little bit of a break here. We're going to step back a bit and show you why it's enjoyable to play video games. Joining me now to talk about that is Scott Steinberg, he is with Embassy Multimedia Consulting.

Scott, we've set up our sort of virtual video game laboratory here, doing some research. You are playing the PlayStation 3. Let's talk a little bit about what are the odds of someone being able to get their hands on a PlayStation 3, first of all, because there's such high demand but low supply? SCOTT STEINBERG, EMBASSY MULTIMEDIA CONSULTING: Unfortunately I think it's going to be a little tough this holiday season. The big problem being, that so many people want these things and only 400,000 of them have supposedly shipped, with some analysts placing shipments as low as 150 to 200,000. Which basically means unless you were camped out for 24 to 48 hours or you have a lot of money to spend on eBay, it's going to be kind of tricky.

SIEBERG: If you do see one of these as a Christmas gift, you should either give the person a big hug or expect to possibly pay them back some money. In terms of the graphical capabilities of the PS3, higher end, it's got this next generation DVD player in it as well. Is it kind of competing with Microsoft's Xbox 360?

STEINBERG: Yes, definitely. It has these high definition graphics, the blue ray drive which enables it to play games that are light years beyond anything that we're able to get currently. Unfortunately, the downside to that is that developers actually haven't mastered the hardware yet. So it's going to be a couple of years before you get the maximum potential out of it. Right now though you will be able to enjoy games in high definition, you will be able to go online, you will be able to play all your PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 --

SIEBERG: While you're moving your controller, I want to get into that in just a second. But I think we've got an illustration that will point out the differences between both systems, the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's WII, which is as we're saying also goes on sale on Sunday. You can see there the differences between the two. The blue ray versus the playing of the HD DVD and the Xbox 360. No DVD capability on the WII. And the much lower price on the WII. We don't have a whole lot of time, Scott, but if we can go out here, just showing people what we're talking about with this motion sensor controller. Kyra I think we're running out of time. But this is an amazing feature with the Nintendo WII.

PHILLIPS: I think it's pretty cool, you can take the full swing, I love it.

SIEBERG: Absolutely, it doubles as your racquet basically and looks just like a TV remote.

PHILLIPS: I don't know, I'd rather be on the court. All right, we'll come back to you Daniel.

SIEBERG: Sounds good. We'll be playing.

PHILLIPS: Right on.

LEMON: Face-to-face with disaster, people in a tiny North Carolina town return to what's left of their storm ravaged neighborhoods. The governor's there, too. We'll take you back to Riegelwood ahead in the NEWSROOM.

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PHILLIPS: Let's check out the markets, Susan Lisovicz live from the New York Stock Exchange. Hey, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. Here's some news for you, the market's not rallying. Stocks technically mixed here on Wall Street, but we've got a negative tone. One reason why more signs of a major slowdown in the housing market. The number of building starts on new homes tumbled nearly 15 percent last month to the lowest level in more than six years. Right now, the Dow is up three points. Advancers are getting swamped by decliners here at the NYSE. The NASDAQ Composite meanwhile is down 9 points or a third of a percent. And that is the latest from Wall Street. More NEWSROOM in just two minutes.

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