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CNN Live Saturday

War of the Words Over Iraq Withdrawal; Firefighters Make Progress Against California Wildfire

Aired November 19, 2005 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead this hour, the fight for Iraq off the battlefield. Today, President Bush weighs in on the angry and bitter war of words.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Another bloody day in Iraq. Five U.S. soldiers killed in roadside bombs and 37 Iraqis killed in other bombings.

J.J. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm J.J. Ramberg in New York. A laptop containing information on thousands of employees from Boeing has been stolen. I'll have more for you on that later in the show.

WHITFIELD: Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after this check of the headlines.

Tropical Storm Gamma turns deadly in Central America. Gamma's heavy rains triggered landslides in Honduras that killed three people. Forecasters now believe the storm could blow across Florida, south Florida, just before the holiday. We'll have the very latest on Gamma in about 15 minutes.

Still no word of injuries or damage following a powerful earthquake off Indonesia. The 6.5 magnitude quake struck today off the coast of Sumatra, very close to the epicenter of last year's devastating earthquake. There are no reports of any tsunamis.

Canadian officials say they discovered the H5N1 bird flu virus in two ducks from the central province of Manitoba. But health officials it's not the same form of the virus that has killed more than 60 people in Asia.

A funeral procession, a busy market, a police patrol and U.S. soldiers all became targets of insurgents today in Iraq, capping off a particularly violent and bloody 48 hours. That as the war has prompted a war of words back in this country.

We begin with CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson. He's in Baghdad with details on these latest attacks -- Nic.

ROBERTSON: Fredricka, the bloodiest attack coming just as the sun was setting, as people were gathering for a funeral. Friends and family were gathering in a tent about 55 miles northeast of Baghdad. A suicide bomber drove his car into the tent where people were reading verses from the Koran, detonated his explosives. Twenty-five people killed, thirty wounded, according to local police.

Earlier in the day in a market in Baghdad, another bomber had struck mid-morning, letting off his explosives in the middle of the crowded market. Eleven people killed, 20 wounded in that attack. In the middle of the day, again a busy street in Baghdad. This time, the Iraqi police the target. Four policemen wounded, but was it was one Iraqi civilian who was killed and six others wounded.

We've also heard late this evening from the U.S. military that in the northern town of Beji, about 120 miles north of Baghdad, five U.S. soldiers were killed in two separate roadside bomb incidents in the town of Beji -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Nic, is there any indication as to why so many attacks all at once?

ROBERTSON: It's not clear, Fredricka. There seems to have been perhaps a slight increase in the number of attacks following the discovery earlier this week that inside a government -- a government- run detention facility, people were being tortured.

The fears in this community are that many of the people being tortured were Sunnis. And it's a Sunni-led insurgency. Perhaps the insurgents have decided to strike back as some sort of retaliation. But it's absolutely not clear -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nic Robertson in Baghdad, thank you so much.

Well, these latest attacks come just hours after a violent day that included two suicide attacks on a hotel in Baghdad. A security camera was rolling as a van full of explosives detonated near the building security blast wall. You're about to see it at the bottom of the screen. And there is the explosion.

A second vehicle blew up in about the same spot seconds later. At least six people were killed, including two children. The hotel is popular with Westerners.

President Bush arrived in China today, starting the most anticipated leg of his Asia trip. But it's the war in Iraq and the war of words that is prompting him to speak out.

CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the president. She filed this report from his earlier stop in South Korea.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our nation is grateful for your service, your service for freedom and peace.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush at Osan Air Base in South Korea, promoting his global agenda but also continuing to strike back at those who have been calling for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq. BUSH: In Washington, there are some who say that the sacrifice is too great and the urge is to set a date for withdrawal before we have completed our mission. Those who are in the fight know better.

MALVEAUX: Eager to prove that point, in Washington, House Republicans introduced a resolution for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops to try to force Democrats to take a stand on a quick exit from Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not support a precipitous pull-out from Iraq.

MALVEAUX: Democrats denounced the move as a stunt and joined the GOP in reject the resolution outright. The White House used the failed measure to argue Congress was on the president's side. In a statement released from South Korea, the press secretary said, "Congress, in strong bipartisan fashion, rejected the call to cut and run."

The Republican maneuver was prompted by a call made the day before from the powerful Democratic hawk Congressman John Murtha to withdraw troops within six months. The White House painted the decorated veteran as out of the mainstream.

BUSH: One of our top commanders in Iraq, Major General William Webster, says that setting a deadline for withdrawal from Iraq would be, quote, "a recipe for disaster." General Webster's right.

MALVEAUX: But a senior defense official tells CNN a withdrawal plan for U.S. troops in Iraq has already been submitted to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld by the top U.S. commander there, General George Casey. The official said the plan has numerous options and recommends that brigades begin leaving Iraq by early 2006. The official says the plan has yet to be signed by Rumsfeld and is conditioned on whether certain milestones are met.

MALVEAUX (on camera): One of those milestones will be elections in mid-December when Iraqis transition to fully governing themselves.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Osan Air Base, South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: More on that raucous debate about Iraq on Capitol Hill last night. The House overwhelmingly voted against immediate pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, but not before bitter exchanges between Democrats and Republicans. Congressman John Murtha prompted the House action by calling on President Bush to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. But he said he his resolution was completely different from the one introduced by Republicans and voted on last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: When introduced this resolution, I didn't introduce this as a partisan resolution. I go by Arlington Cemetery every day. And the vice president, he criticize Democrats? Let me tell you, those gravestones don't say Democrat or Republican! They say American!

REP. SAM JOHNSON (R), TEXAS: When I was a POW, I was scared to death when our Congress talked about pulling the plug, that I would be left there forever. I know what it does to morale, I know what it does to the mission, and so help me God, I will never, ever let our nation make that mistake again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Last night's vote was 403-to-3 against the resolution.

On the West Coast, firefighters are making tremendous progress against a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California. Calmer winds are helping crews rein in a 3,700-acre blaze in Ventura County after it nearly doubled in size overnight.

CNN's Kareen Wynter joins us from Ventura County with a look at what's happening right now. And have they figured out as of yet, Kareen, what even started this in the beginning?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are fizzling out a bit in terms of the hot spots. But it's not out of woods yet in terms of, you know, whether or not they're going to be putting this out any time soon, Fredricka. In fact, right now between the hours 1:00 to 3:00 Pacific time, that's when fire crews on the ground here are saying that the breeze could be picking up and so the winds could actually impede efforts. So we're keeping our eyes on that.

But in the canyons behind me, while there's a lot of work going on -- in fact, we shot some video a short time ago with fire crews. They're in some very remote hillsides, some locations that are very, very hard to get to. But we did see some crews on the ground and they're using hoses to cool down those hot spots. It's not just some of the smoke that's still smoldering there, but also some power lines that snapped, that went down as a result of yesterday's fire. And there were few sparks that our cameras actually picked up.

Again, nothing too dangerous right now, but with these conditions, out there, anything can definitely take a turn as the day progresses. There is still a sense of urgency that we're hearing from fire crews. But in terms of where we are right now compared to yesterday, completely different picture. The conditions have been cooperating all day. We're keeping our eye, again, on the next several hours.

The temperatures are way into the 80s. So that's something else that could be of concern for crews. But right now they're definitely having the upper hand on this. And we'll see how things progress throughout the day. In terms of a timeline, we're at 30 percent containment right now. But it will take a few days. That's the word that we're getting here in Ventura County from officials, that perhaps by Tuesday, things will be fully contained, 100 percent. Right now, just at 30 -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right. Kareen Wynter. Thanks so much. In Ventura County, California.

Tropical Storm Gamma in the Gulf and possibly East Coast. The storm's already causing headaches for the Yucatan Peninsula, but is Gamma gaining speed toward the U.S.? We'll get an update from the CNN weather center.

And the doctor prescribes them, but there may be specifications as to how you take them. We'll explain.

And they won millions so what do they have to say about it? Hear from the recent winners of the Mega Millions Lottery.

And coming up Monday, a CNN exclusive interview. Bob Woodward joins Larry King to talk about when he knew and when he knew it and why he stayed silent for nearly two years. Don't miss this CNN exclusive Monday, Bob Woodward on "LARRY KING LIVE," CNN Monday night 9:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Could Florida be facing more tropical weather? Tropical Storm Gamma, the 24th named storm of the busy hurricane season is making a beeline for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. From there, forecasters predict it could take a turn toward Florida.

Meteorologist Monica McNeal is monitoring the storm in the CNN weather center, a new and very welcome face around here. Good to see you again, Monica.

MONICA MCNEAL, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thank you. And good to see you too. And I'll tell you what, Fredricka. This thing is very disorganized and it's drifting erratically, just about all over the place.

This is new information from the National Hurricane Center. Upper level winds now appear unfavorable for strengthening. Now just an hour ago it looked like it was going to strengthen. Now the storm is starting to somewhat fall apart.

As can you see suddenly see on our satellite imagery, you can see that it's not very well-defined at all. It's in an area of weak steering currents which basically means it's going to keep the storm from strengthening. So much so that Yucatan Peninsula, Belize and also Bay of Honduras have all canceled their tropical storm warnings at this point.

Let's talk about what's going to happen in terms of where this storm is going to go. We're monitoring it, will continue to be just south of Florida. But as you can notice, it will certainly curve more toward the north and northeast and it's going to move directly over parts of Cuba at this point. By 1:00 p.m. Monday, it should move directly through Cuba and continue on out into the Caribbean. So this storm will certainly need to be monitored.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Monica.

Katrina's aftermath: thousands of hurricane victims brace for another potential disaster. A looming FEMA deadline, as if they hadn't been through enough already. We'll explain.

Plus...

JJ RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Information from thousands of employees of Boeing has been stolen. I'm JJ Ramberg. And I'll have more on that for you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The theft of a laptop computer has Boeing scrambling this weekend. Company officials are trying to head off the potential theft of thousands of employees' identities, personal information including Social Security numbers for some 161,000 workers. All of that was on a computer which was stolen.

Our JJ Ramberg is in New York with more than that. How frightened are people about their identities being lifted?

JJ RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. Well, they certainly should be frightened. Right now the company is saying they have not identified any misuse of this information. But a laptop containing all of this information was stolen from an employee who was working off-site. Now again, the company said so far they haven't seen anything wrong.

We spoke to an employ or official of the company earlier today, he said this to us -- he said, "we deeply regret that this has happened and we're strongly committed to helping all affected employees avoid any adverse consequences that potentially could result from this theft. Safeguarding the personal information of our employees remains a priority for Boeing."

So what is Boeing doing to offset any consequences that could happen? Well, so far they're notifying every employee either by e- mail or by phone call. They are trying to track down the former employees that could be affected by this. They're also going to pay for a fraud protection alert.

Now, Boeing is far from the only company that has experienced a breach like this. According to one watchdog group in California, 51 million pieces of person identifying information have been stolen just this year. That's quite a bit. And something people and companies really need to be concerned about.

Now in 2003, California passed a law that required companies to notify either customers or employees of personal information has been stolen. and A few states have followed.

But right now, there is a bill making its way through the House of Representatives that is addressing this same exact issue. This is called the Data Accountability Trust Act. And what it would do is require information brokers to notify the FTC about information protection plans. it Would also require information brokers to submit security audits. And it requires companies to notify individuals when data is compromised.

Though, there are a lot of critics out there who are saying that this act is just not tough enough because employees only have to notify customers, employers only have to notify customers -- or employers only have to notify customers or employees if there is a significant risk of identity theft. But it doesn't define significant risks. So it's up to each company to define what that means. Critics are saying that's not tough enough, though at least this is a step in the right direction -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, I wonder in the meantime, JJ, does this mean that it's up to each individual employee or retiree to perhaps check their credit report to make sure that no one has used their Social Security for any fraudulent actions?

RAMBERG: That's absolutely something that everybody should do, even if you've not been alerted by your company that that information has been stolen, because there is so many different ways to steal information that we should all get in the habit a few times a year of checking our credit reports.

WHITFIELD: All right. JJ Ramberg, thanks so much.

Well, checking other news across America now. About 80 members of the Utah National Guard are adjusting to life back in the states. They arrived in Salt Lake City last night after a very lengthy tour of duty in Iraq.

Best known as the fighting gladiator on film, actor Russell Crowe was in a New York courtroom Friday. He pleaded guilty to third degree assault stemming from an incident when he threw a phone -- a telephone at a hotel clerk. The judge told Crowe to be good for a year and all will be well.

Boxing is on the card tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. Former president Bill Clinton is among the dignitaries gathering in the hometown of the man known worldwide as the greatest. They are taking part tonight in the grand opening of the Muhammad Ali Center. It's designed to promote the humanitarian ideas and boxing legacy of the three-time heavyweight champion.

A California cab driver says he didn't give much thought to a pouch a passenger just happened to leave in the cab of his Los Angeles airport taxi rather. But later, when he opened the bag, he discovered about 100 diamonds worth $350,000. Lucky for a New York jeweler who misplaced the diamonds, he also left his cell phone bill. The cabbie called him and returned the stones to the rightful owner.

Another worry for Hurricane Katrina victims. First forced from their homes, now they're being made to move again. We'll tell you both sides of the controversy. Plus, another controversy, this one over shoes. We'll introduce to you one designer whose work will be on the feet of illegal immigrants taking their first step across America's border.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking the headlines right now in the news. Twenty-five people are dead after a suicide car bombing in Iraq targeted a funeral ceremony north of Baghdad. Police say the bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a mourning tent outside a house. It detonated as mourners were reading verses from the Koran.

President Bush is hoping to send a visible message about human rights with his visit to China. He'll attend church services Sunday morning in Beijing before meeting with top Chinese leaders. The State Department this month cited China as one of eight countries of particular concern for denying religious freedoms.

South Florida could see heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Storm Gamma by Monday afternoon. The storm is drifting off the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula right now. The 24th named storm of the hurricane season along the Atlantic had been forecast to make direct landfall in Florida.

Now to a post-Katrina image that was particularly haunting. Remember the image of an elderly woman in a wheelchair, dead, while outside New Orleans Convention Center? The woman's body remained there several days. We learned that body had a name, 91-year-old Ethel Freeman. Her death symbolized what many called the failure of the federal government to respond promptly to hurricane victims.

Mrs. Freeman was buried earlier this week. Her son is suing FEMA. He spoke out last night on "ANDERSON COOPER 360" and talked about what he went through trying to track down his mother's body.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HERBERT FREEMAN, MOTHER DIED AT CONVENTION CTR: I was confused. I was angry. I didn't know what to do. But I had prayed and the spirit told me just to hold out a little longer, that my help was coming, you know.

So just I kept asking around, searching different help lines. And the latest help line I got did help like, you know, to find -- the people that was living or people that was dead, so it was Ms. Sue Faulkner from Baton Rouge. And she had guaranteed me -- she almost promised me on the phone that she would find my mother, and she did. She called like two or three days later and told me she found her.

JOHN MASSICOT, HERBERT FREEMAN'S ATTORNEY: Ethel Freeman survived Hurricane Katrina. She didn't survive the rescue. And what I think this is a monumental failure on all levels federal, state and local, to implement what clearly was an emergency plan that was in place but apparently no one knew how to implement it or was in a position to implement the plan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD:: Freeman's lawyer told CNN's Anderson Cooper the way Ethel Freeman was treated before and after her death is, quote, a symbol of neglect. "ANDERSON COOPER 360" is seen week nights at 10:00 Eastern only here on CNN.

Two-and-a-half months after Hurricane Katrina some 53,000 families left homeless by the store are still living in hotels mostly paid for by FEMA but not for long. Come December 1, FEMA says it's going to stop paying hotel bills for most evacuees. And as Jason Carroll explains, many people have no idea where they're going to go next.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This morning, Quintin Garrus took time to play with his kids, 9-month-old Justice and 2-year-old Zaria (ph). For the family, a brief moment of happiness before harsh reality sets in.

QUINTIN GARRUS, KATRINA EVACUEE: We're frustrated, angry, tired, disgusted, disappointed, just ready to settle down.

CARROLL: Since September, this family of four, forced from their New Orleans home by Hurricane Katrina, has been living in a New York hotel room, temporary housing, paid for by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The family's funds are running low. They've been unable to find work or affordable permanent housing in a city where an average cost of a one-bedroom is more than $1,000 a month. They say FEMA has done little to help.

DANIELLE WEST, KATRINA EVACUEE: FEMA never came here and said well, this is what we're doing for you all. This is housing and you can go here and they're going to have this and that for you.

CARROLL: Now FEMA says as of September 1st, it will stop paying hotel bills for Quintin and some 51,000 other evacuees living in hotels across the country.

WEST: Can't imagine being homeless all of a sudden with two children. On the 1st, all of my things are going to be put out on the street.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't know what to do at this point because we keep getting pending, pending, pending.

CARROLL: On Friday, a roomful of evacuees living in New York hotels faced FEMA and city officials.

KEN CURTIN, FEMA: I'm here to tell you what the reality is. I'm the messenger.

CARROLL: Danielle West hoped to hear something encouraging, but most of what she listened to were complaints from others just like her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have not received a check. I have not received any assistance whatsoever from FEMA.

CURTIN: But if they have told you that there's a check that's been sent, that in a way is good news because that means you're eligible and we need to find that check.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: December 1st date was not told to us. OK? We found out that through a rumor.

CARROLL: Then, some encouraging words. New York City officials say the city would pick up the tab, and allow evacuees, under certain conditions, to stay in hotels until January 1st. But then the city representative said something no one wanted the hear.

MONICA PARIKH, NYC DEPT OF HOMELESS SERVICES: But the shelter system is an available resource.

CARROLL: Critics say some of the city's shelters are so unsafe, even the homeless won't stay there. West had enough.

WEST: I've never been homeless a damn day in my life.

(CROSSTALK)

WEST: I should go to a shelter?

(CROSSTALK)

PARIKH: I know this's hard.

CARROLL: West was too upset to talk with us after that. FEMA's representative didn't want to talk either.

(on camera): Why, at this point, are we still hearing the same kind of complaints we heard several weeks ago? More than a month ago? Why are we still here?

Tonight, New York City's mayor sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, asking them to extend hotel funding and consider postponing the deadline.

(voice-over): Despite the city's efforts, many here aren't sure what their futures now old or who they can turn to for help.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And FEMA says the hotel cutoff doesn't mean the end of its assistance for evacuees. For more information on FEMA's hotel deadline and happens next to the victims of Hurricane Katrina log onto our Katrina web page at CNN.com/specials/2005/Katrina.

St. Bernard Parish was hard hit by Katrina. And it will begin demolishing damaged and destroyed buildings there in about three weeks. The parish council says about 320 buildings are on the list for destruction. But as some officials focus on tearing structures down, one man is on a mission to get things rebuilt. Tom Foreman takes a look as Mayor Ray Nagin goes to Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than twice as much money as NASA needs to put humans back on the moon, twice as much as the government of India spends in a year, six times as much as the entire homeland security budget, that's how much money New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin needs, $250 billion to rebuild the nation's 35th- largest city. And he's furiously working Washington to pick up a lot of that tab.

MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: I would like to see things happen much quicker, but they're not, so I have to agitate, stimulate, bother, become a pest, if you will. And that's what we're trying to do to make sure that we get the resources.

Now get off your asses and let's do something!

FOREMAN: Nagin's angry call for federal help in the chaos after Katrina has been transformed into a calm insistent push. He visits D.C. once a week now to plead his case.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I think that Congress on both sides of the aisle stand ready to help the people.

FOREMAN: This meeting was to figure out if tens of thousands of homeowners can be kept out of foreclosure as they try to recover. It may get a vote by year's end. Beyond the committees, he's doing what politicians do: shaking hands, comparing notes, worrying that Katrina fatigue is already sapping the political will to help.

NAGIN: I'm not up here talking about whether you should give me $250 billion or not. I'm saying, give me three things: build my levees, help me with housing, and create the right environment for both businesses and people to come back. And we'll take it from there.

FOREMAN: Nagin knows this is a terrible time to remind people of the flood. Washington is wrapped up in war, a Supreme Court nomination, a CIA leak scandal, even bird flu. He knows, too, many here think he was in over his head during the storm and still is.

(on camera): Are you the right man for this effort, because you know there questioning you about that?

NAGIN: Well, you know, I'm in a leadership position, I've taken some tough stance, I've -- you know, done some things very well and I could have done some things much better. But going forward, my background, I definitely think I'm the right man for the job.

FOREMAN (voice-over): The question remains what do the widely scattered voters of New Orleans think? They're to vote in February on whether Ray Nagin remains their man in Washington and mayor of their town.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITIFELD: Now getting the most out of your medication: how to make it work better for you.

Plus, just months after his death, the life of Pope John Paul II is the focus of a new TV mini series. What does the Vatican think about that? Straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In our "Living Well" segment today, getting the most from medication, what can you eat or drink can have an impact on your medicine, something worth noting as we head into cold and flu season. Dr. Bill Lloyd is joining us from Sacramento, California today with some tips on how to get the most from your meds. Good to see you doctor.

DR. BILL LLOYD, UC DAVIS: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, folks really need to ask some questions sometimes, don't they, when they are prescribed some medicine, some real instructions sometimes need to go along with your medicine to make sure you're taking it right?

LLOYD: Absolutely right. You know, whether you're from a red state or blue state, I want to talk to you about the genuine drug benefit plan. People often pay, $3, $4, $5 for a single tablet. And if you don't take it the right time of day, or following the right instructions, you might as well be throwing that pill down the sink.

So, let's break it down. You want to maximize the amount of drug that you get in your body. So, that means you start with an accurate dose. Never take medications in the dark and don't use a teaspoon in the kitchen, they're often wrong especially with in children's medicines where a small mistake can make a big mistake. So, ask the pharmacist for one of those disposable little syringes, or those little plastic cups.

Timing is everything. Many medications that you perhaps just once a day will work better if you take it at bedtime. Glaucoma eye drops are a great example.

You often wonder about the stomach, Fredricka, should I take it on an empty stomach or a full stomach. You are familiar with that expensive pill called Prosomax for women with osteoperosis. Listen to this, if you don't take Prosomax on an absolute empty stomach, without any food or any fluids, you won't absorb any of the drug. You might as well just throw the pill away.

And finally, if you're taking mutliple pills, talk to your pharacist. Is this pill going to mess up what the other pill is doing. Will there be an adverse reaction?

WHITFEILD: And maybe some -- those are some of the things you need to consider when you have got prescribed medicine, but what about over the counters, especially as we head into the winter season, people are going to their drug stores, they're picking up stuff and they figure if it's over the countter it must be OK for me. But you still need to ask some questions, don't you?

LLOYD: Many people think over the counters don't really count as drugs. Whenever you speak with your doctor and they want to make a change in your prescription or your pharmacist, tell them whatever over the country drugs you're taking as well as what eye drops you're taking, they're medicines too, what vitamins you're taking, and even what herbal supplements. Herbal supplements can interfere with drugs, like those that are taken for high blood pressure and for folks that are taking medicines for clinical depression.

WHITIFIELD: All right. And I have to apologize to my mom in advance, because I'm about to reveal -- she does something that I think a lot of people do with their medicine cabinets and it just might mean that they hold on to things a little too long. I understand you really don't like medicine cabinets for that reason and others too, like what?

LLOYD: Yeah. Rip them down. You want a nice clean look in those bathrooms. You know, drugs begin to deterioriate the day they leave the factory. And sunlight, heat and moisture will accelerate that deterioration. And the power of the drugs will fail long before the expiration date.

So, get them out of the medicine cabinets and the bathroom which are warm and moist and put them someplace else like on the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet away from children where it is nice and dry and dark. And those drugs will live as long as they need to.

WHITFIELD: And you also said something really important, expiration, people have to pay attention to the expiration that's on some of that medicine, especially the ones that are over the counter.

LLOYD: And thsoe expiration dates apply only to containers of medicine that have never been opened, that have always kept cool and kept in the dark. So, the minute you open that container and start taking that medication, the drug begins to deterioriate, and it may wear off in its effect, even though the pill looks normal, and looks intact, it may only have half its potency if you don't take good care of it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, Dr. Bill Lloyd. And sorry, mom, for revealing what you got in your medicine cabinet.

LLOYD: Happy Thanksgiving.

WHITFIELD: All right. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Our Carol Lin is here to give us a preview what's to come straight ahead. CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Other than an angry e-mail from your mother.

WHITFIELD: I know, I know. Sorry.

LIN: We're going to be following, of course...

WHITFIELD: Looking out for her.

LIN: Absolutely.

But also looking out for the situation in Iraq. A very violent situation. We're going have a fresh report at the top of the hour.

And also, have you ever asked yourself do you eat chunky peanut butter or smooth and what does that really mean?

WHITFIELD: Smooth peanut butter girl.

LIN: You know, you have something in common with the average American. I have a guy who actually found the average American. You'll learn a lot about yourself then in that segment.

At 6:00 a medical report in your health watch. I'm going to be talking about a whole generation of people who are living with cancer. I mena, they have cancer in their bodies, but technology and drugs have advanced to such a degree that people can live full lives even with what used to be a death sentence. So a special report in health watch at 6:00.

WHITFIELD: New meaning to cancer survivors. All right. thank you so much, Carol.

Well, it's not often that Hollywood looks to the Vatican for approval, right? So a new TV mini series depicts the highlights of Pope John Paul II's life and his last days. The actor playing the lead credits his Catholic upbringing for helping him get the role. Here's our Jennifer Eccleston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High drama, intrigue, humor and love. The television mini series Pope John Paul II with actor Jon Voight as the late pontiff and a papal stamp of approval.

John Paul's successor watched the film during it's world premiere at the Vatican, thanking the film's actors and producers for honoring the memory of his dear friend.

It's not often the Catholic church gives such approval. It's not often TV executives seek out such an endorsement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was giving out the dimension that the Vatican was with us was supporting this movie. ECCLESTON: The Rome-based producers close contact with senior Vatican officials and the film's scant mention of the more controversial aspects of John Paul's papacy like the sexual abuse scandal in the U.S. may have hastened the Holy Sea's warm embrace.

(on camera): An embrace that included script guidance, insight from Vatican historians, rare filming privileges within the secretive city-state and access to behind the scenes footage.

(voice-over): John Paul's varied travels and private conversations, including rare moments with the ailing pontiff just days before his death.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Sunday before he died, so he appeared, basically for the last time trying to talk with themselves. But because he was so emotional, he couldn't talk. And it was just one week before dying. So we will tell to the audience what happened in Rome when they closed the window.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He blessed us.

ECCLESTON: Extraordinary insight for the actor who portrays John Paul.

JON VOIGHT, ACTOR: He certainly healed a lot of wounds and brought people together, very impressive fellow. So for me it was an honor to be asked to do it. And it was a joy to work on it.

ECCLESTON: The former pope's message, he says, is universal, one that transcends the film's religious context.

VOIGHT: Share and appreciate each other, you know, and encourage each other sincerely. This was a marvelous thing that he did. It brought us all together.

ECCLESTON: The producers hope "John Paul II, the Movie" will also bring people together, a mini series for the masses and not just for the faithful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Jennifer Eccleston.

A fashion statement controversy, why one designer is turning heads because her shoes are being worn not by a model on a catwalk, but someone in something else. That story when CNN LIVE SATURDAY returns.

And coming up AT 8:00 TONIGHT on "CNN PRESENTS," a dramatic look inside North Korea. Dissidents smuggle out rare and disturbing hidden camera video including two public executions carried out by Kim Jong- il's regime. "CNN PRESENTS: Undercover in the Secret State" tonight at 8:00 pm only on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Call them the lucky seven, shoot, call them rich: they're the winners of $315 million from the Mega Millions Lottery. Tuesday's jackpot was the second richest on record for the multistate game on a single ticket. The winners include a receptionist and six lab workers from Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Garden Brook, California.

One winner described her shock at their great fortune.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HIBIB, LOTTERY WINNER: I turned on the news at 6:00 and I had a copy of our ticket there. And they said here's the winning Lottery ticket numbers, something to that effect. And I start writing them down on the paper and I said no, no, no, no this can't be. No, no, no. I got to call somebody. There was nobody home with me. I had nobody to call. My husband wouldn't answer his cell phone. Bob didn't answer his phone. I started calling Brenda. And Brenda finally answered her phone. I said we got ticket, go to work and check out the Internet and make sure, make sure I'm seeing what I'm seeing?

So, she did, and they did. I'm sorry I wasn't there to see it, because they were jumping up and down dancing and screaming. And then went back to work as usual.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Back to work as usual? Are you kidding me?

Well, before taxes, each of the winners will receive about $25 million.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. And if designer Judy Werthing has her way, illegal immigrants will take the steps across the border in her shoes. The names Brinco which means jump in Spanish. They sell for about $215 in the U.S. But Werthing handed them out for free on the Mexican side of the border.

CNN's Bill Tucker has the story of the art project that is also making a political statement.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the latest in illegal alien footwear, the cross border sneaker. It has a compasss, a mini flashlight and it's insole is a map of the US/Mexican border. The shoe is produced by the same people which produced the human cannonball, a project where a human was fired out of a cannon across the U.S./Mexico border. While the shoe is real, the company on the box, Brinco is fictitious.

JUDI WERTHEIN, ARTIST: This is an art project, really, it doesn't have -- it's not going to create a political transformation or whatever. It's art. TUCKER: Art, which she designed to draw attention to several issues. One, the dangerous nature of illegal border crossings. Two, the consumer driven desires of Americans. And three the way the desires are fulfilled.

WERTHEIN: These sneakers were manufactured in China in a factory that would manufacture shoes for any other American company that produces sneakers outside the U.S.

TUCKER: Only 1,000 were made. And the condition of their manufacturing are displayed on a tag in the shoe, quote, "manufactured in China under a minimum wage of $42 a month working 12 hour days."

Despite the artist's protest it is only art, there is a political statement made with the profits. That money is being distributed to shelters for illegal aliens along the Mexican side of the border.

The sneakers sell in only two art galleries, one in San Diego, and one in New York.

MAX SCHUMANN, PRINTED MATTER: This is kind of within that realm of bringing light to an issue that is part of our daily life and economic -- social and economic fabric but that is in many ways ignored or conveniently dismissed.

TUCKER: The price of desire is steep. The shoes sell for $215 a pair.

Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Still much more ahead on CNN including one of the latest battles raging in the south. This one centers around a road and honoring the past.

And do you prefer smooth or chunky peanut butter? Find out what your answer says about you coming up. More of CNN LIVE SATURDAY right after this.

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