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Roland Burris Turned Away From Senate; Obama's Pick for CIA; Civilians Killed & Wounded in Gaza

Aired January 06, 2009 - 11:00   ET

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

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ROLAND BURRIS (D), ILLINOIS SENATE APPOINTEE: Members of the media, my name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from the state of Illinois.

I presented my credentials to the secretary of the Senate and advised that my credentials were not in order, and I would not be accepted, and I would not be seated, and I would not be permitted on the floor. And therefore, I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation. I will now consult with my attorneys, and we will determine what our next step will be.

Thank you all very much, and God bless each and every one of you. Thank you.

My attorneys will now speak to you -- attorney Tim Wright.

TIMOTHY WRIGHT III, ROLAND BURRIS' ATTORNEY: My name is Timothy W. Wright III. I'm an attorney with Gonzalez Saggio and Harlan. We represent Senator Roland Burris.

We have presented our credentials to the secretary of the Senate, per the law. Our credentials were rejected by the secretary of the Senate. We were not allowed to be placed in the record books, we were not allowed to proceed to the floor for purposes of taking oath, all of which we think was improperly done, and it is against the law of this land. We will consider our options, and we will certainly let you know what our decisions will be soon thereafter.

QUESTION: What are those options? Can you give us those options?

WRIGHT: Number one, our options is to file in the district court. Our option is to seek to continue to deliberate with the Senate leadership, and perhaps get them to reverse themselves. I think there are several options that were accorded.

And let me introduce the other lawyers, William Jeffreys (ph) and Kurt Schmoke (ph), and perhaps we can entertain some of the legal questions that you have.

QUESTION: Do you plan to file anything today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not likely. HARRIS: All right. So we have lost our audio. The picture remains of this extraordinary scene, and just a very quick statement there from Roland Burris. And then others with him stepping to the microphone now to offer their statements and to answer questions from the media right now.

Credentials presented, credentials rejected, in essence, by the secretary of the Senate.

Our Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash is watching really this surreal, political scene unfold, as it has for nearly an hour now. Dana is with us now.

And Dana, where are you? There were two positions here. There is -- you could be following Roland Burris at this point, or you could still be at the lectern where the microphones are.

Where are you this morning?

DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Tony, I'm just up the street, and I literally just watched Roland Burris get into a minivan and drive away with some of his associates.

You know, he came here to, as you heard him say, to try to change the secretary of the Senate's mind, and more importantly, change the Democratic leadership's mind about seating him. But the outcome of this is no surprise. No surprise at all.

He knew full well that he was going to come here and that the pictures would tell the story of what he was trying to do, but the outcome of the story would not change. And that is that the Democratic leadership, on this day, when they are swearing in less than an hour the brand-new 111th Congress, that the Democratic leadership made clear that because of who appointed him, the governor of Illinois, he is not going to be a senator who will be sworn in.

So quite a spectacle, Tony. Quite a scene. And that is, to be honest with you, precisely what Roland Burris and his associates knew would happen. And...

HARRIS: And let me -- and Dana, let me pick up on that point, because I'm just sort of curious. As I was watching this unfold, on the monitors all around, our headquarters here in Atlanta, I'm just sort of curious.

Is there anything to suggest that the actions of Roland Burris -- and we're talking about -- let's just take the last 24 hours -- of holding a news conference at Midway Airport before boarding a flight to Washington, D.C., getting off that flight, and holding, I guess, another press availability at BWI yesterday, the statement today.

Is there any suggestion that his actions over the course of the last 24 hours, over the course of the last, say, week or so, have brought any sympathy to his position that he should be seated?

BASH: Sympathy? No. I think, frankly, it probably has done just the opposite, because this is a Democratic leadership that is not enjoying this in the least, is not happy with the scene that we saw here. So sympathy, no. But political urgency, possibly.

And that will be much more of an important factor, I think, than sympathy, because, you know, this -- as we have been talking about for the last, you know, hour or so, this is something that is not welcome inside Democratic circles.

This is a Democratic Congress that wants to be celebrating the things that they need (ph) to celebrate in the fact that they are now going to have a Democratic president to work with, and celebrating the new members that are going to be sworn in at high noon, and not be talking about one of their own, their own brethren, a fellow Democrat who they are not going to seat.

So, you know, it's going to be very interesting to see whether or not the fact that all of this tension has been on Roland Burris and not what the Democrats want to focus on. Whether that will particularly expedite a possible compromise.

And as we have been reporting, they are talking about potential compromises to try to figure this out quickly, but it's a lot easier said than done, because these are uncharted waters.

HARRIS: Yes. And Dana, take on this question, and then I want Brianna Keilar to weigh in, as well.

I'm curious, to that last point, does it in any way, the spectacle, the circus rolling into town, the sideshow, does it in any way change the dynamic of the discussion that is to be held tomorrow? Does it force some kind of accommodation for Roland Burris?

BASH: You know, it's unclear. I think the best way to answer that is to try to, you know, see whether or not there is a practical accommodation that Democratic leaders can work out, including the very adamant statements that they have been making about the fact that they do not believe he should be seated because of who appointed him. So, you know, they have really dug (ph), the Democratic leadership.

In the past 24, 48 hours, we have heard a lot more of a conciliatory tone. Harry Reid saying that, you know, he's a trial lawyer, and he doesn't want to close the door on negotiating. And we do know that there has been the kept-up effort internally inside the Democratic leadership. But I really think the best way to determine whether or not there would be accommodation is to see how quickly they could come up with a practical way to do it.

Right now, just in terms of the big picture here, the (INAUDIBLE) for the Democratic leadership to kind of wait this out and see what happens. It (ph) is the course in Illinois, see what happens with the legislature in Illinois with regard to impeaching Rod Blagojevich, and refer this to the Senate Rules Committee, which is basically a holding pattern to try to have them deliberate about what to do while they have their fingers crossed and see what happens to Illinois. You know, that is the sort of picture plan. But the political reality is, as we have been talking about, they also realize that this is something that they probably want to work out faster rather than slower, and so they're trying to figure out if they can find that -- as you call it, that accommodation.

HARRIS: Yes. OK.

Brianna, let me have you take that question on, as well. I'm just sort of curious as to your thoughts on whether this scene, this spectacle -- oh, no Brianna?

OK. Well, then let me offer this up to you, Dana. As I look at the pictures here -- and I'll circle back to this whole idea of some kind of sympathy, maybe not within the Democratic Senate leadership. But I've got to tell you something, as I look at these pictures, and maybe I'm dead wrong on this, he is a 71-year-old man.

If not for the fact that Blagojevich is tainted under this criminal complaint, there is no one suggesting that this man doesn't have the credentials to hold this seat.

He is 71 years old. It is raining, it is cold there in Washington, D.C. I'm telling you that there is a real chance that there is some sympathy building for this man in the general public.

BASH: I'm sorry. I thought you were talking to Brianna. I think you were talking to me.

That's entirely possible. And, you know, we haven't been able to get, you know, Roland Burris' -- you know, a conversation with him or any of his associates to get any kind of behind-the-scenes motivation here. And he has been very adamant that his only motivation is to be seated as a senator, because he believes that it is his right and his duty and his obligation.

But there is no question that because of the fact that he knew the outcome, his associates knew the outcome, he knew already yesterday the secretary of the Senate rejected his bid to be seated, so this was something that they were doing for public consumption, 100 percent. Because, you know, they already got their answer.

HARRIS: Yes.

BASH: And the Democratic leadership was not thrilled when they realized this morning that he was going to go through with his -- with his attempt to physically go talk to the secretary of the Senate. So I think that the answer to your question is, you know, it will be interesting to see whether or not -- whether or not the public actually agrees with him after they have seen...

HARRIS: Yes.

BASH: But the scenes that came out of what he tried to do today.

HARRIS: Yes. I mean, he looks cold, he looks haggard. He looks -- look -- well, I think it's playing before a couple of different audiences. Let me just sort of leave it there.

And Dana, if you would stand by. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Let me bring in Brianna Keilar.

And Brianna, I understand you have a guest.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Tony. I'm walking away from the Capitol right now with Timothy Wright, who is one of Roland Burris' lawyers. And I'm just going to hand the phone over to him, Tony, so that he could speak to you.

HARRIS: Great.

KEILAR: Here he is.

HARRIS: Timothy, let me just take up a couple of issues with you. First of all, this outcome today was not unexpected -- credentials presented and credentials essentially denied. I'm sort of curious as to, first of all, kind of the public approach to this -- the press conference at Midway yesterday, the press conference at BWI yesterday, going and arriving into the Baltimore/Washington area, the statement today, the -- by all accounts, the spectacle of all of the media surrounding Roland Burris, your client, as he's walking to the Capitol complex.

Tell me why the approach that we have witnessed just over the last 24 hours?

WRIGHT: Tony, look, that's not a legal issue. But let me give you my perspective on that.

I think that there is an issue of public interest. Roland Burris -- Senator Roland Burris represents the state of Illinois and all of its population. I think people are very interested in this matter, and interested in Senator Burris being seated.

And so I think it would probably be untoward (ph) if he did not make himself available to the various questions from the public.

HARRIS: Well, let me ask you about the legal issues. Where do you go from here?

WRIGHT: Well, we're looking at our options. We know what they are.

We think that there still may be a possibility to have this matter negotiated with the Senate leadership so that Mr. Burris is seated. We think that the denial of his credentials was unlawful, illegal and improper.

We believe there are remedies before us to right those wrongs. And so we will prepare to take the necessary actions to ensure that the people of the state of Illinois are represented in the U.S. Senate by two senators. HARRIS: What are you willing to accept to keep this episode from moving further in the court system? What are you willing to accept tomorrow from the Democratic Senate leadership to bring this to some kind of a resolution?

WRIGHT: What we're willing to accept, Tony, is that the senator, the junior Senator from the state of Illinois, is accorded all the rights as any other senator, and that he be allowed to receive the oath of office, that he be allowed to conduct his responsibilities as a U.S. senator on behalf of the citizens of the state of Illinois.

HARRIS: So you want a complete and total vindication of the appointment of his right, as you see it, for Roland Burris to be seated in the 111th Senate?

WRIGHT: Tony, I think any fair reading of the law suggests that, in fact, Roland Burris is the U.S. senator from Illinois, and that he should be accorded the privileges of any other citizen.

So we are seeking that he be allowed to take the oath of office and presume his duties as the senator from the state of Illinois.

HARRIS: Do you expect that to happen today? In less than an hour?

WRIGHT: Well, you know what? I don't know when it's going to happen. I do know that it will happen. And we will take the necessary actions to ensure that it does.

HARRIS: Wow. You understand, of course, that as this appears right now, we are going to continue at loggerheads. There is nothing to suggest that the Senate Democratic leadership is willing to acknowledge this man's place with full privileges. There is nothing out there to suggest that that's going to happen.

I'm not saying that it won't, but there is nothing right now to suggest that it will happen the way you want it to, unless, of course, you have been a part of conversations to suggest there is a possible outcome here. Negotiating outcome.

WRIGHT: Tony, I think you need to be patient, as we are patient.

HARRIS: I don't want to be patient. I want to know where this is going to go, and I want to know if you have been privy to conversations that suggest that there is an outcome in the offing here.

WRIGHT: As the people of Illinois have been patient, I think that my reading of the law suggests that we will be seated. I think that, you know what? We will work with Senate majority leadership to discuss these issues. And if not, we will take the necessary actions to ensure that Senator Roland Burris has an opportunity to serve the people of Illinois.

HARRIS: OK. One last question, Timothy. I know you're on the move here. Just give me some landmarks to look forward to. For example, out of the meeting tomorrow, how will we know if you have received the outcome that you are hoping for? And if not, what will be the following court actions? What will we see in terms of filings and whatever else, legally?

WRIGHT: Well, let me just say that the outcome that we'll be looking for is that Senator Roland Burris will be standing on the floor of the Senate, conducting his responsibilities as a junior senator from the state of Illinois. I think if that does not occur, then I think that we will take the necessary actions to get the highest court of the land to adjust whether that's correct or not.

HARRIS: All right. So the highest court in the land is the U.S. Supreme Court. You see...

WRIGHT: Well...

HARRIS: You see a pathway wherein a scenario in which this ends up at the U.S. Supreme Court?

WRIGHT: Well, I think everything as a consequence may end up there. I believe that the law is clear. I believe that any judge in a district court will rule accordingly. We just have to wait and see, Tony.

HARRIS: All right.

Timothy Wright, Roland Burris's attorney.

Timothy, we appreciate your time. Thank you.

WRIGHT: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: OK. We are back in a moment with more after this quick sound bite from Roland Burris.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BURRIS: Members of the media, my name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from the state of Illinois.

I presented my credentials to the secretary of the Senate and advised that my credentials were not in order, and I would not be accepted, and I would not be seated, and I would not be permitted on the floor. And therefore, I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation. I will now consult with my attorneys, and we will determine what our next step will be.

Thank you all very much, and God bless each and every one of you. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: A surprise pick by President-elect Barack Obama to head the CIA, former Clinton chief of staff Leon Panetta. Panetta's lack of direct experience in intelligence is raising some questions.

Kate Bolduan live from Washington, D.C.

Kate, good to see you. What can you tell us? What are you learning about this pick?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it may be seen as a bit of a rocky start to 2009 for the president-elect and the transition. The president-elect is working to round out his cabinet, but that task may prove more difficult than the transition had hoped, possible political trouble over the president's choice for a key intelligence post, CIA director.

The news of Leon Panetta, former Clinton White House chief of staff, as the CIA nominee is not getting a warm reception from some key Democrats. Dianne Feinstein, for one. She's the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in charge of that position's confirmation hearing.

She basically slammed the pick, releasing a statement to say, "I was not informed." She goes on to say, "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."

One former top CIA official seems to agree. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL SCHEUER, FMR. CIA ANALYST: Mr. Panetta could be the best direct CIA that ever lived. It's just not apparent he has any talent that's pertinent to the job.

And Admiral Blair's selection is a very funny one, because for the first time in a long time, America has a large number of major generals and lieutenant generals who are serving who have seen combat recently, and who know how the intelligence agency works with the military. To pick someone who has been out in the Pacific for so long is very -- is very inexplicable to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Now, he mentioned Dennis Blair there. He is retired Admiral Dennis Blair, Obama's pick for director of national intelligence.

I should note, there are some Democratic lawmakers that are coming to Panetta's defense. Senator Ron Wyden, also a member of the Intelligence Committee, he praised Panetta, saying he has the skills to usher in a new era of accountability at the CIA. He also is saying very clearly that he believes that Panetta is a strong choice for the position.

HARRIS: All right. Kate Bolduan for us.

Kate, appreciate it. Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

HARRIS: All right. We want to hear from you on the news of the morning. Obviously, it is all -- well, the media scrum around Roland Burris. What do you think should happen to Roland Burris? And maybe throw in your thoughts on what you watched this morning.

Just e-mail us at cnnnewsroom@cnn.com.

Israel and Hamas and all the victims left in the destruction.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: New reports from Gaza. An Israeli missile strikes near a U.N. school. Palestinian medical sources report 44 people killed. A U.N. official puts the number of dead at 10.

This, just hours after an Israeli missile hit a different U.N. school. Three people killed in that attack.

Eleven days into Israeli's blistering offensive, the top United Nations official in Gaza says everyone there is terrorized and traumatized.

More Israeli shells are pounding the region, its troops and tanks now surrounding heavily populated Gaza City. Some 555 Palestinians have been killed so far, including at least 100 women and children, more than 2,700 wounded. Israel reports eight killed, including three soldiers who died in a friendly fire incident.

Israel's military says it has killed 130 Hamas fighters since its ground assault started over the weekend, but what is most concerning to many is the growing number of civilians killed and wounded in the Israeli assault.

Our Chief International Correspondent Christian Amanpour takes us to Gaza's overflowing hospital. We warn you, some of the images here are graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ambulances pull up round the clock at Gaza's main Shifa Hospital, off loading their casualties. Today and over the weekend, many of them have been the very young.

Norwegian Dr. Eric Foss (ph), who is volunteering at Shifa, says that in the past 24 hours, he has seen more women and children among the casualties than on any other day since the Israeli offensive began. He says most of the injured men he is seeing are civilians.

"We were hit with a rocket. Here's my brother," says this little boy, as his brother wanders dazed and nursing an injury to his ear. Another child sheds tears nearby.

A Palestinian doctor at Shifa Hospital says that when the Israeli airstrikes began last week, the first casualties they saw were fighters in military uniforms. But after that day, until this day, he says, "We didn't receive any men from the resistance or anyone in the military. All of them were civilians."

It's not clear whether Hamas dead and wounded are being taken to a different hospital. The Israeli government claims that Hamas are hiding fighters and weapons in hospitals. But on this day, here at Shifa's emergency ward, the images are heartbreaking.

A young girl moans for her mother as she lies in pain. Doctors trying to treat her injured limb.

While a woman wails, "Where are our leaders? Can they have mercy on our children?" all the dead are just lying around. This injured mother weeps for her 6-month-old baby. She says that he died after four days without food or water. A nurse, trying to set up an IV in another ward says that they're treating five people from one family alone.

Amid the chaos and the confusion, and the shortages of medicine, electricity and water, the stench of death hovers. The morgue is overflowing. Two bodies now crammed into each drawer.

Not even the very youngest are immune. Shoved into refrigerated storage until they can be claimed. And buried.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Israel has repeatedly said it has a right to defend itself against the barrage of mamas rockets terrorizing its civilians.

But what, ultimately, is Israel's end game here?

Our next guest says the fighting is helping Hamas more than hurting it.

He is Reza Aslan, internationally acclaimed religious scholar and author of "No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam."

Reza, good to see you again. Thanks for your time.

REZA ASLAN, AUTHOR OF "NO GOD BUT GOD: THE ORIGINS, EVOLUTION AND FUTURE OF ISLAM:" Hey, Tony.

HARRIS: You know, last week you said Hamas's relevancy is as opposition force. So by that logic, this battle would then cast Hamas perfectly.

Here's my question. What is the potential here for the young people, the kids in Christiane's piece, who survive this IDF incursion, to become the next generation of Hamas recruits?

I think you know the answer to that question. I think Israel knows the answer to that question.

I think throughout this whole affair, these 11 days of this incursion, there has been a couple contradictory statements coming out of the Israeli government.

Members of the military have been saying that this will be a brief incursion, that the ultimate goal of this is to just stop the rocketfire. Though we know of course, there's been at least two other incursions into Gaza, as a result of rocketfires, and thus far, hasn't really done much.

The other issue is of course is that certain members of the political establishment, particularly foreign ministers, Tzipi Livni, who is trying to become prime minister in elections in February, has been promising to essentially disarm Hamas, get rid of that Hamas completely. Change the equation as she says.

And unfortunately, that may turn out to be true, but not to Israel's benefit. The longer this bombing continues, the more Hamas is going to -- achieve precisely the kind of attention and sympathy that it is trying to achieve.

And the more, by the way, that the moderate element in the Palestinian entity, Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah political party, the more weakened that they're going to be seeming, because their entire reason for existence is to say that we should be negotiating, that our rights and freedoms can come from negotiations.

Well, Hamas's argument is that negotiations are a waste of time.

HARRIS: I'm just dumbfounded by this. And I take your words honestly as they are offered here.

But I go back to the woman in Christiane's piece crying, where are our leaders? Does the military wing of Hamas ever question tactics?

Is anyone reflecting on what's going on and second guessing these Hamas tactics? You seem to be suggesting to us that just the contrary, that this is a tactic to an end, and that the end may be an emboldened and strengthened Hamas.

ASLAN: Well, look, make no mistake about this. Hamas is not loved by the Palestinian people. I mean, they're not dumb. They know what's going on. They understand the reasons for -- this incursion. And they recognize that Hamas has done very little to ease their suffering.

But I will say this one thing. Let's not forget what Hamas's goal in this is. Ultimately, their strategic plan is to end the blockade of Gaza. The blockade over the last 15, 16 months.

And no matter what happens at the end of this conflict, no matter who comes out on top, no matter how the incursion ends, no matter when it ends, one thing is absolutely guaranteed, when the fighting is over, the blockade will be lifted.

So in that regard, Hamas wins.

HARRIS: Reza, that's all of the time I have. I wish I had more.

Let's do this again soon.

ASLAN: Sure. Thank you.

HARRIS: All right. Stay right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We are bringing you live coverage from Capitol Hill. Members of the 111th Congress are gathering, but two Senate seats will remain empty.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The 111th Congress is about to open its doors for business, but the door was closed to one political appointee today. How about this scene, former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris was named to replace Barack Obama in the Senate. You know that.

But Democrats refused to seat him last hour. They say his appointment by governor Rod Blagojevich is tainted. I spoke by phone with Burris' attorney, Timothy Wright, just a short time ago.

VOICE OF TIMOTHY WRIGHT, ROLAND BURRIS ATTORNEY: The outcome that we'll be looking for is that (INAUDIBLE) Roland Burris will be standing on the floor of the Senate, conducting his responsibilities as a junior senator from the state of Illinois.

I think if that does not occur, then I think that we will take the necessary actions to get the highest court of the land to adjudge whether that's correct or not.

HARRIS: We have been asking for your reaction to the Roland Burris affair. We've got a couple of e-mails from you already. Let me read a couple.

This is from Karen who writes, "...the state of Illinois needs two senators. I am outraged at everyone involved in refusing to go seat him."

Frank writes, "...while I think he is a good and decent person, I believe he knew better than to accept such a tainted appointment. He is not a victim. He went into this knowing he probably would not get seated."

Jasmine writes, "...I am offended and upset that this 71-year- old, qualified American citizen is being treated this way by the Democratic party."

And Arnold writes, "...he knew he wouldn't be seated. He is enjoying his own private one-ring circus. He never met a camera he didn't like." Okay, once again, send in your thoughts, your reactions. What should happen to Roland Burris, and what is your reaction to the spectacle this morning?

Email us at CNNnewsroom@CNN.com.

And keeping the focus on the economy, President-elect Barack Obama meets with his money team again today. He wants quick action on a stimulus plan that could top out at $775 billion. The president- elect met with his economic team yesterday after sitting down with congressional leaders from both parties. He plans a major speech on the economy Thursday.

A big chunk of Barack Obama's stimulus plan would be used for tax breaks. About $300 billion worth.

On CNN's "American Morning," our chief business correspondent Ali Velshi examined the tax cut part of the plan, and whether it will help the economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It may not be clear that this is what's needed right now. First of all, these tax cuts will phase in over a couple of years. And that, you know, we need help immediately.

The second thing is, you know, people kept on saying, where is my bailout, everybody else was getting a bailout. Well, this was the middle class bailout, and this was exactly the problem. When you divide it over everybody who works, it will be $500 a person. If you're out of a job or you're losing your house, the $500 is not going to be helpful to you. If you didn't need the $500, it's nice, but you may not spend it in a way that's going to stimulate the economy.

So, the bottom line, almost nobody in America needs $500. Lots of people need a lot more and some people don't need it at all. But this is your way of spreading it through and that's where the problem comes in. It's politically effective. It may not be economically effective.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Ali Velshi joins us live next hour with more on the economic stimulus plan. He will also talk about his new book, "Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis." That's coming up around 12:20 Eastern time.

A rescue at sea, pictures you must see from a CNN i-reporter. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Before we get to Rob, just a couple of things you just have to see. Paris in the wintertime here. About 2 inches of snow fell on the city yesterday. Officials closed the Eiffel Tower due to icy and slippery conditions and canceled about a dozen flights because of bad weather in other parts of Europe. Still not a bad place to be stranded, I would submit.

HARRIS: Check this out. A frozen winter wonderland, complete with a working ice slide. Look at that! It's part of the annual ice festival in Harrbin (ph), China. Other sculptures include elaborate ice buildings that you can actually walk through, and a giant ice Buddha.

More pressing concerns here stateside. Hey Rob, what is the latest on that -- was it a tornado warning in Mississippi?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: All right. Rob, appreciate it. Thank you, sir. You know, we've been literally overwhelmed today by your i- reports. What's gotten into you? And by the way, we love it. Keep them coming.

We want to take a trip now CNN.com's i-report desk, and while we're there, we're going to check in with one of the guys helping run things at at our i-report operation.

You know him, you love him. Tyson Wheatley. Tyson's Corner, ramp it up.

There he is! What is that, a little argyle sweater or something? What do you have going on there. All right, good to see you. High- end fashion every day -- that we're with you.

TYSON WHEATLEY, CNN I-REPORT PRODUCER: I do what I can, tony.

HARRIS: You do what you can. Tyson, good to see you. We -- a moment ago, we talked about some incredible pictures of a boat rescue. Maybe you could share those with us.

WHEATLEY: Yes, talk about a really exciting cruise. Let's go straight to the pictures. These come to us from Debby Davis of Virginia. She was on a new year's cruise with her family when she captured a dramatic at-sea rescue of these five Cuban refugees. These photos were taken January 2nd as cruise members of the Norwegian Cruise ship Pearl, plucked these men from the water.

You can see there they have -- were in a small fishing vessel with some handmade paddles. And they were apparently had been adrift since Christmas day, so it was actually a very emotional moment for not only these men, but for Debby and her family and other passengers.

She tells us that the people aboard the ship all moved to the side of the boat to see the rescue, and actually the boat rocked this way, and people were cheering, and they were very emotional.

For Debby, she said something really kind of -- special. She said that seeing this rescue at that period with her family on this luxurious cruise ship really sort of helped put this in perspective and remind her and her family how good they have it. So... HARRIS: I think that's a great point. Yes. Tyson, you know, when we open up the doors and ask for i-reports, you never know what you're going to get, it's like the proverbial box of chocolate.

Talk to us about this Grateful Dead clip that you have for us.

WHEATLEY: Well, OK. So, you know, earlier this week, the Grateful Dead announced that the surviving members of this legendary jam band are going to reunite. And they're going to go back on tour.

The first tour that they've had in five years. So we figured this would be a great opportunity to reach out to Dead-heads and ask them, what is it about the Dead that is special to you.

And this picture comes to us from Craig Rutman of Apex, North Carolina who was fortunate enough to meet Bob Weir, he's there on the left, poolside by a concert in Reno, Nevada. And this is in 1997, and this is when he took his daughter Laura, then a toddler to her first show.

And Craig tells us they sat way back in general admission, first show, he said it was wonderful. Greg though, I'm sorry, Craig, he actually has 200 Grateful Dead shows under his belt, so he's a super fan.

HARRIS: Are you kidding?

WHEATLEY: I know, it's just amazing.

Now, you're going to love this next picture. This comes to us from Steve Maaske.

HARRIS: Oh, yes! That is fresh out of the '60s, right? Look at that.

WHEATLEY: This photo was actually taken in the summer of 2004.

HARRIS: Yes. Sure.

WHEATLEY: By Steve Maaske, he is a graphic designer from Omaha, Nebraska and he took these actually during the Grateful Dead's last tour, the wave the flag tour. And this was in East Troy, Wisconsin.

This was 11th time that Steve had seen them. And you know, I spoke to Steve this morning, actually I woke him up. I'm really sorry about that, Steve, by the way. He says he first got into them when he was an art student in Kansas and a group of friends put him on a bus and took him to Soldier Field to see them for the first time, so it turned into a week-long adventure.

HARRIS: I bet it did. Yes.

WHEATLEY: That's him right there on the right in the tie-dye.

HARRIS: He probably doesn't remember a moment of it. Yes. WHEATLEY: You know, for Steve, he said that the crowds and the fans at these Dead shows are really the big draw for him. He says the band feeds off the crowd and vice versa. So we appreciate these two perspectives from some huge Dead-heads, and we're hoping that there's some more people out there that want to share their stories and we invite them to do so on i-report.com. HARRIS: Are you kidding? Legions of Grateful Dead fans out there. You're going to be overwhelmed with these i-reports.

WHEATLEY: Well, let's hear it. Yes. Overwhelm us.

HARRIS: All right, Tyson. Good to see you. See you tomorrow, sir.

WHEATLEY: Take care, Tony.

HARRIS: All right. We are less than 15 minutes away from the 111th Congress convening. You will see live coverage of the swearing in ceremonies beginning at noon Eastern right here on CNN.

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HARRIS: Warning from the International Red Cross. A full-blown humanitarian crisis right now in Gaza. Food, water and power in short supply 11 days into Israel's blistering assault.

More Israeli shells are pounding the region. Its troops and tanks now surrounding heavily populated Gaza City. Palestinian medical sources say an Israeli air strikes near a U.N. school today killed 44 people. A U.N. official puts the number dead at 10.

It comes just hours after an Israeli air strike killed three others at a different U.N. school. They're among some 555 Palestinians reported killed so far, including at least 100 women, children. Another 2,700 wounded. Israel reports eight killed including three soldiers who died in a friendly fire incident.

Hamas gets much of its backing from Syria, so that's where French President Nicolas Sarkozy went to try to push for Hamas ceasefire. After meeting with Mr. Sarkozy, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sat down with our own Cal Perry.

Cal joins us live now from Damascus. Cal, great to see you.

Does President Assad seem ready now to push Hamas to stop firing rockets at Israel?

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think he in's a very difficult position, and that's why we're here in Syria. When you look at the power base of Hamas it's not only found in Gaza, where all of these airstrikes are happening. It is found here in Damascus.

This is where Khaled Mushal, he is the militant leader of Hamas, resides here. I sat down with the president, and I pushed him on this issue. I said the United States and the European Union have declared Hamas is a terrorist organization. I asked him what is your response to that?

Take a listen to what he had to say, Tony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA: The support of political, the support of their cause, they are asking for independent states, and as far as I know that the whole world accept the independent Palestinian state. But so far nothing has happened.

This is the second, they have been under attack from the Israeli, even during the truce, even during the truce. But Israeli for the last few months, 40 Palestinians were killed. So, they have a cause. They are under the aggression not vice versa.

And actually what they do is they respond. They don't start. So we support their cause, we support the Palestinian state, independent Palestinian state and we support that their position as they defend themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PERRY: Yes. Tony, obviously the difference in definition of terrorism here is far different than it is in the United States and as it is in Europe.

Here, as we just the man say, Hamas is considered a resistance movement. Now, as the interview proceeded, I tried to pin him down on whether or not he is still in communication with Hamas. He says that his government does speak to the leaders of Hamas here in Damascus.

And I said what will it take to stop these rocket attacks? His response was very simple. He basically said -- and of course I'm paraphrasing here -- that the field has changed, the field of play has changed.

Now that the Israelis have gone in on the ground, they need to do certain things for Hamas to stop firing their rockets. He said they need to end the siege on Gaza and they need to leave the Gaza strip completely.

I said, if they do that, can you guarantee that Hamas will stop firing their rockets? And he said, absolutely, yes.

Tony --

HARRIS: Wow. OK. But that's a big ask. OK, Cal Perry for us in Damascus, Syria.

Cal, appreciate it. Thank you.

HARRIS: Preparing for the incursion. We will show you where the Israelis train for urban warfare. It is in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM.

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