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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Administration Struggles to Explain Wiretaps; Donald Rumsfeld Visits Troops in Iraq; Muslims Groups Have Been Monitored by the Government; The Theft of a Large Amount of Explosives Causes Alarm;

Aired December 24, 2005 - 18:00   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military will prevail in Iraq. That's Donald Rumsfeld's message to American troops in Mosul today. His send straight Christmas Eve visit to Iraq.
And the number of shopping days until Christmas? Zero! Coast to coast, the last-minute desperation gift grab is in full effect.

And how many times have you seen "It's a Wonderful Life" this holiday season? Well, the veteran character actress who played Mr. Martini's wife in that movie has died.

Argentina Brunetti died this week in Rome. She was 98.

Telephone call, Internet traffic, here in the United States and abroad. There are reports today that the National Security Agency has peeked in on much more communication than previously known in its war on terror. Here's CNN's Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The National Security Agency collects, traces and analyzes a large amount of information with the help of U.S. telephone and Internet companies. A source familiar with the program confirms to CNN. It's part of the president's secret directive in 2002 to monitor communication inside the U.S. with terror suspects abroad. "The New York Times" which first reported the story says American telecommunications companies granted the NSA access to monitor without a warrant large volumes of telephone and internet communications flowing into and out of the United States.

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: I authorized the interception of international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations.

BASH: In acknowledging the NSA domestic surveillance program, the president did not let on that the government is not just eavesdropping on conversations, but engaging in what intelligence and law enforcement experts call data mining. Described to CNN by former officials familiar with the program as collecting and combing through large amounts of phone and Internet traffic, who talked to whom, from where and when. Looking for patterns that point to terror suspects or plots. GEORGE BAURIES, FORMER FBI AGENT: And if two phones talking 50 times a day, you've established that there's some type of relationship between those two parties. You don't know the nature of it. You don't know whether it's criminal, non-criminal. But it furthers the investigative effort.

BASH: CNN was unable to confirm with any telecommunications companies whether they're cooperating with the government. The White House refused to confirm "The New York Times" report saying, only, "This administration will continue to aggressively fight the war on terror and protect the American people, while at the same time uphold the civil liberties of the American people."

Intelligence experts warn any public discussion of highly classified activities is like revealing a battle plan to the enemy.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, FORMER DEPUTY CIA DIRECTOR: You talk about programs like this publicly, the terrorists will go to school on everything they can learn, and they will tighten their communications and they will make the job of intercepting them, the job of finding out what they're doing all the more difficult.

BASH: But civil liberties groups say collecting and using such information, especially without a warrant is a major violation of privacy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the United States, no matter what the technology is, the American people have a right to privacy. They have a right to privacy with their communications. When they sign up for telephone service or sign up for Internet service, they're not signing up for monitoring by the federal government.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (on camera): And officials familiar with the program insist that they understand the sensitivities. That is why it is carefully reviewed every 45 days to make sure, they say, there are no abuses, Carol.

LIN: Well, Dana, but how many more safeguards can the government offer to make sure that the average innocent citizen is not being illegally spied upon?

BASH: Well, you know, that's a tough question, because when you get into the nitty-gritty about this program with officials who are familiar with it, it's hard to get to the nitty-gritty, because it is so highly classified. The president has been very careful, other officials have been very careful as to what they have said.

But I talked to one official today who did say, you know, if people think that they are being spied on or their communications are being looked at if they're talking to their grandmother across the country, even across the world, they shouldn't worry about it. It's really -- the information that they have about suspects that is really being mined here and sifted through. Having said that, if you talk to civil liberties groups, some Democrats, even some Republicans, they say that's beside the point. What they say is that they believe the president is stretching the law, even going around the law because there are laws that are on the books that the president, again, went around in putting this executive order on.

LIN: Dana Bash, thank you very much. Live at the White House.

Well, it remains to be seen how these developments will translate into approval numbers for the president. Gallup results released today show 43 percent look favorably on the president's overall performance. Now, that's an up on the recent up-and-downtrend since September.

Another accusation aimed at the Bush White House today, that the FBI has been keeping a close eye on U.S. cities with high numbers of Muslim residents. From New York and to DC, to Seattle and Las Vegas. Sources tell CNN government officials are looking for high levels of radiation. A clue that a dirty bomb or other radiological weapons are being handled.

The assistant FBI director says the makeup of a city does not determine the agency's policy. And he said, and I'm quoting here, "The FBI does not target any group based on ethnicity, political or religious belief."

Well, it was the biggest theft of explosives reported to the ATF this year. And today, four men are locked up and charged with stealing and hiding more than 500 pounds of military grade explosives and detonators and shock tubes. Federal officials say they haven't stopped searching for suspects.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE DIXIE, ATF: This theft is the largest reported to ATF in 2005. And we and our partners have left no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators that stole the explosives. Investigators continue to solicit the help of the public for any additional information.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. So stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

It has been a deadly Christmas Eve in Iraq. Insurgents killed 11 people in Baghdad and Baqubah. Despite the violence, there's an effort to bring a touch of home to American troops. Aneesh Raman has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wrapping up a three-day trip to Iraq that included one night in Amman, Jordan. This morning the secretary serving an early Christmas Eve dinner to troops in the northern city of Mosul and he also spoke to the troops there saying that victory and winning this war is within the grasp of the U.S. troops and that Iraqis stand on the side, he said, of freedom. Also in a rare moment of public emotion, Donald Rumsfeld speaking about his own impressions of these U.S. troops.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I've lived a long life, and as I think about it, it's hard to think of anything I've ever done that is as important or as, gives me as much pleasure as working with each of you, doing what you're doing. You do it so well.

RAMAN: The secretary spent last night in the capital. Here he met with U.S. troops and he also dined with Iraq's political leadership as they seek to form a government by early next year. Secretary Rumsfeld also had a briefing on improvised explosive devices. Those IEDs remain the biggest killer of U.S. forces in Iraq and he also spoke with top intelligence officers about how to gather better intel on Iraq's insurgency.

Now, the headline of this trip, of course, came yesterday when Secretary Rumsfeld announced president's decision to downsize a number of battalions in Iraq going into next year from 17 to 15, which means some 7,000 U.S. troops will not be coming to Iraq in early 2006. Half of them staying in the U.S., half of them in Kuwait. It also brings to below 138,000 the number of U.S. troops by early next year. That number had been the baseline of troops throughout 2005. The secretary said any further reductions in U.S. troops would be dependent on the situation on the ground, that being the success of Iraq's security forces to take over more control of the country, and, also, how quickly and effectively Iraq's government forms early next year. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Now, President Bush also reached out to Americans serving away from home during the holidays. Calling from Camp David, he thanked troops in each of the services. Some in Iraq, and some on the high seas, and even one in Japan.

Well, millions of you are waiting for a visit this holiday season. More than 63 million someones are traveling over 50 miles from home. And more than 51 million are going by car. About nine million are going by air. And three million by train or bus.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: Well, the husband of a sea plane pilot remembered his wife today as a courageous woman who loved to fly. Michelle Marks, and 19 others, died after a wing detached from their sea plane on Monday, sending the plane into the ocean off Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK MARKS, WIDOWER OF SEAPLANE PILOT: What you can't see in this picture is how lovely her spirit was. She just -- she never had an unkind word for anyone. And she brought happiness to everyone she met. It was such a rare quality. And she was fearless. She was absolutely fearless. I -- I don't know how to honor her greater than to find out why all of them had to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Our hearts go out to Mark Marks. The exact cause of the crash has not been determined. But stress fractures were found in the right wing supports.

Well, the tsunami zone one year later, as thousands of people are still without homes. There are new signs of hope tonight.

And tonight's on the front lines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We missed a whole year of our lives. There's no way -- you can't get that back. No matter how much you share. You can't get that year back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: We are going to introduce you to a mom who took care of her 11 kids. All by herself for a year. While dad was fighting in Iraq.

Plus live pictures from Vatican City where midnight mass is under way. Straight ahead, we're going to take you there to Bethlehem, which seems to be experiencing a rebirth of its own. You're watching CNN SATURDAY. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back. Let's start off with our news around the world. An avalanche buries traffic on the main road linking Russia and Georgia. Three passengers were killed when their truck was covered with heavy snow.

And a top opposition leader in Egypt gets five years in prison. Ayman Nour was convicted of forging signatures on petitions. He claims the government set him up.

And a ceremony in Thailand to remember the British tsunami victims; 126 British nationals were among those killed last December when the massive wave came onshore.

Now, tsunami survivors in Banda Aceh are remembering the dead. But also trying to move forward with their lives. A massive earthquake spawned tsunami came from the sea last December 26th. In all, a dozen countries were hit. An estimated 179,000 people were killed. The world responded with over $14 billion in donations. John Irvine has a look at Banda Aceh one year later.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN IRVINE, REPORTER, ITV NEWS (voice over): He's less than a minute old. After all the misery and grief, the cry of new life is not only cherished here, but eagerly sought. One year on, and Banda Aceh is enjoying a baby boom. The doctor said that sheer human instinct persuaded couples who had lost children in the tsunami to have more. But many of the newcomers have not been born to an easy life.

The tsunami made 600,000 people here homeless. In this camp, we find Kuz Mayata (ph) and her 3 week-old baby. Her two other children were killed by the wave.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We decided to have a baby as soon as possible because we tried to move on. But sometimes the sadness struck me when I remember those two kids that were lost.

IRVINE: Among the problems here is that land on which thousands of homes once stood is now either seabed or uninhabitable swamp. That said, reconstruction is gathering pace where possible, and the experts are satisfied that the world's largest charitable donation is not being squandered.

DOUG KEATING, OXFAM: We are very happy with the relationships we have, where the money's being spent. We are rigorously audited by outside auditors internally. And I think really the work is going on.

Look behind you. The job is getting done, and I can confidently say that to people.

IRVINE: Off the southwestern coast, fishermen are back at sea. In pulverized villages, mosques that were structural sole survivors no longer stand alone.

This one is used as a kindergarten, although there are few children. The teacher doesn't talk about the tsunami, and the boys don't ask.

Nearby, mass graves, a callous necessity a year ago, are now neat and tended. Fitting memorials at the heart of small communities where people are trying to make the most of having lived.

What they went through is so cataclysmic the rest of us still find it unimaginable.

(on camera): There are pictures of the tsunami coming ashore in Thailand and elsewhere. But none from here, in Indonesia.

So how big was it? Well, look at the evidence. This tree is one of very few left standing here. The tsunami ripped off most of its branches. By my reckoning, that makes the wave at least 70 feet high at this particular point.

(voice over): In terms of infrastructure, it will take years to undo what the tsunami did. Six thousand miles of road were destroyed, although this one, the coastal highway, is manageable once more, even if it does now follow a different path.

Retracing the steps of a year ago, we return to the remnants of another village. Last December, we couldn't discover its name, for there was nobody to ask. But incredibly, there were survivors in Karang (ph), and a few of them have come back to new homes on a hillside.

It was by running to higher ground that this woman escaped the wave. She said her 4-year-old son was washed away, never to be seen again. By contrast, this little boy was the only survivor of his family. His adoptive parents who lost four of their own have named him Rahmed (ph). It means blessing. He's a miracle child in the land of the world's worst recorded natural disaster.

And at the end of year one, post-tsunami, those who have come through it are coping as well as anybody could have hoped.

John Irvine, ITV News, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And on this Christmas Eve, we're going to take you right now to the birthplace of Christianity. You're looking at a live picture of the ceremonies in the holy city of Bethlehem. Our Guy Raz is reporting from that region and he is telling us that Bethlehem is celebrating a rebirth of its own.

And next, taking care of the home front while loved ones are on the front line. Meet one woman who cared for her 11 children, all by herself, while her husband was serving in Iraq.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, every week we like to bring you the more personal stories from the front lines. So today we're going to tell you a story that is actually from the home front. And the story of one mother who was home all alone with a whole army of kids while her husband served in Iraq. Kelly Wallace reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONNA SCHULTZ, MOTHER OF 11: This is like one of 40 loads a week.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donna Schultz, a mother of 11, says she never let the kids see her cry while her husband Karl was away in Iraq. Only now that he's home safe and sound, can she let it all out.

DONNA SCHULTZ: He missed a whole year of our lives. There's no way that -- you can't get that back. No matter how much you share, and -- you can't get that year back. It doesn't make any difference. But ...

WALLACE: Once the tears come they are so hard to stop.

DONNA SCHULTZ: They come because I really, really, really tried hard to keep it normal for them. Because they -- I could understand, they cannot.

WALLACE: They are her children, nine still live at home here in Cleveland, Ohio, eight ages 13 and younger are adopted, and most of them have special needs. DONNA SCHULTZ: OK.

WALLACE: Like nine-year-old Curtis (ph) who is mildly autistic and home-schooled by Donna every day. And seven-year-old Taisha (ph) whose development is similar to that of a six-month-old. Managing this complex household all by herself this past year meant prioritizing and definitely letting some things go.

DONNA SCHULTZ: We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese and hot dogs because the kids like it and it's quick.

WALLACE: And quick is key.

DONNA SCHULTZ: Quick is key.

WALLACE: And socks, I guess, just had to go?

DONNA SCHULTZ: Exactly. I could not sort by boys and girls. I just putting them together and throwing them in the drawer. You find the pair that fits you.

WALLACE: It was almost exactly a year ago on Christmas day when Karl, an army reservist had to say good-bye to his family and head for the unknown in Iraq.

How hard is that? As a father, a husband. As a friend.

KARL SCHULTZ, JUST RETURNED FROM IRAQ: You try not to cry, but, you know, you're around other people. But you do. You know? And you look at it like, okay, it's time to go.

WALLACE: One of the toughest times for this family was back in August when Donna took the kids to a memorial for 14 marines from Cleveland who were killed in Iraq. Eleven-year-old Samuel who tagged along with his dad just about everywhere took it the hardest.

DONNA SCHULTZ: And I kept trying to tell him that daddy was going to be safe. That it would be okay. But I'm sure the wives told their children the same thing - so, anyway.

WALLACE: Donna says her faith helped her when she worried most. So did her family. Her son Daniel says there was also something else.

DANIEL SCHULTZ, SON: Obviously the piano. That's mom's therapy, as far as I'm concerned.

WALLACE: Now the family is preparing to celebrate on Christmas. Karl says he's not going anywhere. He plans to stay up late, admiring the tree.

K. SCHULTZ: Thank God, you know, I made it through that year.

WALLACE: Donna says she's not thinking about all the shopping she still hasn't done. Her thoughts are elsewhere.

DONNA SCHULTZ: It's just hard to explain, because all of the other junk that goes along with the holiday, I'm not even thinking about. He's just here. That's just it, he's here.

WALLACE: Kelly Wallace, CNN, Cleveland, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Wow, 11 kids.

Around the country today, last-minute shoppers hit the malls, and some professionals followed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a picket pocket. He's a pickpocket. And so is this one. So is this one. There are four guys here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Wow. The art of steal, incredible hidden video of pickpockets at work. How you can avoid being picked clean.

And some of you may be shopping today. And you may have picked up a new iPod or holiday sweater for a loved one. But how about an MRE handbag? It's Christmas, Katrina style. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back. Here's a quick look at what's happening right now in the news.

New revelations about domestic spying by the National Security Agency. A source tells CNN the NSA collects, traces and analyzes large amounts of information from U.S. phone and Internet companies in its war on terror.

And China is working to contain a toxic river spill, the second in recent weeks. The government is dumping other chemicals into the river in hopes of neutralizing that spill.

And an American soldier died today from wounds suffered from a rocket-propelled grenade attack. The incident happened during a patrol in northern Iraq.

President Bush spent some time at Camp David today thanking U.S. troops serving far away from home. He called eight men and a woman deployed from Japan to the Persian Gulf.

Welcome back. You are looking at live pictures from the Vatican, where it's already Christmas day. Thousands have gathered for Pope Benedict's first Christmas service since becoming pontiff.

Excitement is in the air in Bethlehem, the historical birthplace of Jesus Christ. It's 1:30 in the morning there and CNN's Guy Raz is reporting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Midnight in Bethlehem, where for 2,000 years Christians have gathered to celebrate mass. The birthplace of Christianity, experiencing a rebirth of its own. Tourists thumbing through guide books, a sight practically unseen in the last five years.

MAYOR VICTOR BATARSEH, BETHLEHEM: Most of the hotels are booked and I hope that this trend will keep on for the whole year around, not just at Christmas time.

RAZ: 30,000 pilgrims packed into manger square to welcome the arrival of Latin patriarch, Michelle Sabah (ph). Security a bit tighter this year with Palestinian police making their presence felt.

Earlier this week, Bethlehem City Hall was taken over by armed Palestinian militants, protesting the lack of jobs. But this Christmas Eve the mood was spiritual rather than anxious. Even, said British tourist Margaret Percy, hopeful.

MARGARET PERCY, BRITISH TOURIST: It gives me a sensation that we are all human and that we will get it right, you know. I think we will. I've been hoping and praying and -- all my life, but -- when I come here, I think that -- I think there's a chance.

RAZ: There are few commercial trappings of Christmas here. The decorations are spare, few signs of Santa Claus, Christmas in Bethlehem is still very much about its namesake.

RAZ (on camera): The atmosphere in Bethlehem during Christmas time often serves as a gauge for the broader Palestinian-Israeli conflict. If this year is anything to go by, the atmosphere is changing. Perhaps for the better. Guy Raz, CNN, Bethlehem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIM: In news across America, it is a joyous Christmas for Robert Clark in Atlanta. His first as a free man after being wrongly imprisoned for 24 years for rape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT CLARK, JUST RELEASED: I'm free now. And that's the most important part. I'm back with my family. That's important. They know I didn't do it. That's important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIM: Philadelphia residents donate Christmas presents to replace what burglars stole from a day care center. About 100 wrapped toys were taken the night before the children's party.

And a former dairy farmer spreads holiday cheer in Pennsylvania. With a Santa suit and a 1946 Jeep, decked out with reindeer. He's been riding the rig for 14 years.

And on this Christmas Eve, millions of Americans are on the road. Take a look at the roads out in Los Angeles. This is actually pretty clear for that city. At least the road conditions, and maybe even the weather. Let's see how things are shaping up around the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: Now in the crowds of last-minute Christmas shoppers, some people are getting a nasty surprise. Where there are crowds, there are pickpockets. Our consumer correspondent Greg Hunter shows us how to keep from getting ripped off. And it's a story first shown on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Watch this lady very carefully. You're about to witness a crime. Here it comes. Did you see it?

Within two seconds this woman's wallet got picked out from a bag. Here it is again, as the woman walks, the guy on the right distracts her. Then the guy on the left slips his hand into her bag and snags her wallet, right there. It looks like a pretty simple crime. But in fact, there's a lot to it.

BOB ARNO, PICKPOCKET EXPERT: Trust me, when it happens to you, you'll remember it for a long time.

HUNTER: Bob Arno is a former entertainer from Sweden. He used to have a pickpocketing stage act. He's perfected his craft so well he now teaches police officers how to protect against pickpockets.

HUNTER (on camera): What would you call yourself?

ARNO: Basically I'm a thief hunter. I'm always looking for these guys.

HUNTER (voice over): Armed with a hidden camera, Arno travels the world trying to catch pickpockets in action.

ARNO: That's me there.

HUNTER: He showed me some of his never-before-seen video.

(on camera): You basically set yourself up to get the video.

ARNO: There's no question that we are setting ourselves up to be the victim. That is how we most of the time can catch them.

HUNTER: These aren't actors?

ARNO: No, real crooks.

HUNTER: Here you actually see someone take his wallet.

ARNO: The thief will immediately realize that there's a little gaping here. It stands out. That means you have something heavy in the pocket. HUNTER (voice over): Arno says pickpockets usually work in teams, like this man and woman. One is pretending to shop. The other is stalking his victim. The real shopper has no idea what's about to happen to her. The moment she turns her back her wallet is swiped, just like that. She doesn't even realize it's gone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey! stay out of my pocket!

HUNTER: This guy caught a pickpocket while Arno was videotaping. Turns out, the crook wasn't alone.

ARNO: He's a pickpocket, he's a pickpocket. And so is this one.

There are four guys here.

Four guys here.

HUNTER: And remember this video? That's Arno's wife whose wallet was taken while he was videotaping. There were at least two people involved here.

ARNO: They are slightly out of sync between the two of them. That will never happen.

HUNTER: How do you protect yourself? The secret is understanding the crime. And nobody knows it better than 13-year veteran detective Cedric Mitchell of the Metro Transit Police in Washington, D.C.

DET. CEDRICK MITCHELL, DC METRO TRANSIT POLICE: It's hard to keep statistics. If you're a good pickpocket, the victim never knows they're a victim. They think they lost their wallet. So how do they make a police report. They can't make a police report. It's probably one of the most underreported crimes in the country.

HUNTER (on camera): Most crooks hate a crowd, pickpockets, just the opposite. The more people, the better it is.

A crowd is a pickpockets best friend?

MITCHELL: Best friend. Partner in crime and they don't even realize it.

HUNTER (voice over): That's because in a crowd, thieves can get close to you, without any questions. Like they did to Helen Williams on a jammed escalator three years ago.

HELEN WILLIAMS (pickpocket victim): I think I may have felt someone brush against me.

HUNTER (on camera): You were carrying this purse?

WILLIAMS: I was carrying this purse. And the wallet was usually -- probably propped up against my items, up front. So it was an easy target. Very easy for someone to just lift.

HUNTER (voice over): In a flash, it was gone. She took immediate action.

WILLIAMS: I canceled credit cards, checks. I canceled my debit card, my ATM card. I knew I would be okay once I did that.

HUNTER: But the nightmare was just beginning. Within a few weeks, she started receiving bill after bill for purchases she had never made, totaling $10,000. It took about a year to clear it all up.

WILLIAMS: Clothing, toys, food, computers, books.

HUNTER (on camera): They were living on you?

WILLIAMS: Yes. Living on me for quite some time. And they got a lot of good things in my name.

HUNTER: But Helen played a big role in luring the pickpocket. For one thing, she was carrying an open purse with no zipper. And it was swung behind her. A common mistake.

HUNTER(on camera): A lady's purse is hanging in the back, she's in trouble.

ARNO: It depends, of course, on the back and forth. On a one to 10 that's a nine for a thief to get into it.

HUNTER (voice over): It's almost as easy to snatch the purse. Look at what happened to this 76-year-old woman whose handbag was ripped away from her last year.

HUNTER (on camera) Were you afraid?

ISABEL MANUEL, PICKPOCKET VICTIM: Yes, of course. I was trembling. I was scared.

HUNTER: Isabel Manuel's purse was snatched right here in this Tucson, Arizona parking lot. She was robbed all right. But this crime was anything but random.

HUNTER (voice over): Like pickpockets, this guy took his time to find the perfect victim. He hung around the parking lot, pretending to play a video game. Isabel and her daughter, Myra, weren't paying any attention to him, and that was a mistake. So he waited until Myra sat in the driver's seat and Isabel's back was turned.

HUNTER (on camera): The door's open, you're doing what?

Groceries right there. The guy --

MANUEL: The guy is pulling my bag.

(CROSS TALK)

HUNTER: Then what do you do?

MANUEL: I saw him. I do this to him. HUNTER: He's pulling you?

MANUEL: Yes.

HUNTER: And you're pulling back?

MANUEL: Yes.

HUNTER (voice over): After taking that nasty fall, Isabel is on the mend. The crook was caught and convicted. Isabel and Myra are on guard now every time they go out. But plenty of people aren't.

HUNTER (on camera): Walking around our nation's capital, Detective Mitchell and I easily find prime targets for pickpockets. Excuse me, ma'am? I'm Greg Hunter with CNN. How you doing? This is Detective Mitchell.

Could we just open your purse to see how easy it is to open?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Okay.

HUNTER: You had your purse behind your back?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yes.

HUNTER: How easy is that?

MITCHELL: Very easy.

HUNTER (voice over): Look. Her wallet was sitting right on top.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: What should I do?

MITCHELL: What should you do.

Carry your purse this way. Now there's no way I can get into the pocketbook.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Oh. Good. Thank you.

HUNTER (on camera): The purse in front. Not behind.

MITCHELL: There you go. Perfect. Now you can't be a victim.

HUNTER (voice over): Men, especially if they look like they have money, are also targets.

HUNTER (on camera): Where do you carry your wallet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inside pocket. Jacket open.

HUNTER: Jacket open is bad. Why?

MITCHELL: Because it lends myself to easily get into your pocket. I would get in here, and they hold on and slide it out.

HUNTER: How much did you feel?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't feel it at all.

MITCHELL: If you just button that button right there, you just safeguard yourself.

HUNTER (voice over): And check out this woman. She's got a backpack. Mitchell says it's too easy for a crook to get into. And he finds things she should leave at home.

MITCHELL: And take all those checkbooks out.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Okay.

MITCHELL: The more things you carry, checkbooks and credit cards, the more you get them to steal.

HUNTER (on camera): How do you feel now?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I feel better. Because I'm going to do something about it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Wow. I didn't realize it was that easy.

Now, straight ahead, you are going to have to wait a little bit longer to say happy New Year this year. We're going to tell you why New Year's is going to be slightly delayed.

The holiday season usually consists of family, friends and plenty of food. So, up next we're going to tell you how to enjoy your holiday meals without packing on the pounds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: In your "Health Watch: tonight how to keep the weight off. The guy in the red suit might not care if his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly, but you probably don't want to look like that.

Yes, it's possible to make it through all those holiday parties and dinners without gaining much weight. Samantha Heller of "Health" Magazine has some tips. Samantha?

SAMANTHA HELLER, "HEALTH" MAGAZINE: Merry Christmas.

LIN: Merry Christmas. How much weight do people normally gain around this time of year?

HELLER: People used to think it's five to ten pounds but it's only one to two pounds over the holidays. The problem is we tend not to lose the two pounds, and in five years, that's five to ten pounds. We need to be careful.

LIN: It's that easy to pick it up, huh, from nibbling here and there? HELLER: It is. Those nibble calories really add up. You know the cheese balls with the nuts? A couple of smears of that on a cracker can be 200 calories.

LIN: And we haven't gotten to dinner.

HELLER: And that's only maybe your first hors d'oeuvre. We want to be cautious and thoughtful about what our choices are.

LIN: But you say to prepare mentally before going into that big holiday spread. But people want to have a good time, you know? They want to indulge themselves.

HELLER: Of course they do. And what I mean by mentally prepare is, prepare yourself for who you're going to see in your situation. So that your emotions with crazy situations don't get away from you. And you don't self-medicate with cookies and too much alcohol.

But also, preparing yourself psychologically for the food that's going to be there. If you have special foods that are sort of souvenir foods, the once a year foods that you love, certainly have some of those. But just don't overdo it.

LIN: There are choices that you can make when you approach the table, some foods that are still fun have fewer calories and less fat than others?

HELLER: Certainly. Go for the shrimp and the salsa instead of the cheese and creamy dips. You know, choose the pumpkin pie which is 200 calories instead of the cheesecake which is 500 calories.

LIN: Wow. One slice?

HELLER: One slice.

LIN: Wow.

HELLER: It can add up. And it tastes really good. I would also suggest don't go hungry. Don't go to parties or social events hungry, because then it's very difficult to slow down your eating and control how much you're eating.

LIN: Do you think people have a craving for sweets when they go in, because they know there are going to be pies and cakes and cookies?

HELLER: Certainly. And once you start eating them and they taste so good, you want to keep eating them. A suggestion would be, control your portions and maybe pop a mint or a piece of gum to take the sweet taste out of your mouth. That will help reduce the craving for more. But certainly have a little bit of the foods you love.

LIN: It's really hard to, you know think on your feet when you're in a social situation like that.

HELLER: It can be very difficult. That's why prepare yourself mentally is going to help you with that control and also not being starving will also help with that control.

LIN: Samantha, you look like you're dressed up to go out tonight. Do you have big plans?

HELLER: I have plans for the holidays and I want to wish everyone happy holidays this year. I will be careful. I will not go hungry. And also, one thing to remember is watch your alcoholic beverage intake. Because that can really lower your control over how much you're going to eat later.

LIN: Yes, how much you're going to eat and a whole lot of other things. Thanks very much. Have a great time tonight.

HELLER: You, too. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

LIN: Happy holidays.

LIN: From holiday weight to holiday giving, would you consider a chocolate house with a blue tarp? Well, how about a pile of trash? Made out of chocolate and coconut. It's Christmas, New Orleans style, next.

And this.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, Sara. It's such a harsh light.

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LIN: Tracking the most popular stories on CNN.com. What critics are saying about Jennifer Aniston's new holiday movie, next.

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LIN: Among the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com, hybrid cars. If you just bought a brand-new fuel efficient hybrid vehicle, sorry, but you should have waited. Starting January first some hybrids actually get a hefty tax break.

Rumor has it, well, this film's a stinker. Jennifer Aniston stars as a woman who learns her messed-up family may have been the inspiration for the graduate.

Click on to CNN.com for more details.

It's the first Christmas since Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast. Needless to say, the holiday will be different for people in New Orleans this year. CNN's Gulf Coast Correspondent Susan Roesgen has more.

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SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is one of the popular chocolate stores in New Orleans. Blue frog chocolates where customers can get a whiff of sugar and satire. Chocolate houses with blue tarp roofs. And Katrina trash piles made out of chocolate and coconut. Store owner Ann Strieffer says New Orleans needs chocolate right now.

ANN STREIFFER, STORE OWNER: It's actually been shown to process endorphins in our brains and makes us a little happier. So it's just something that helps us get through this.

ROESGEN: For many people in New Orleans, it's a bittersweet Christmas. But this is retail therapy. At Minon Faget (ph)Gift Shop, the big sellers are anything with a fleur-de-lait, the symbol of this badly damaged city.

New Orleanians are proud of their history and distraught about what has been lost. But there's a spirit here that no hurricane could touch, a spirit that laughs when others cry.

ROESGEN (on camera): New Orleans women like to dress up. There's one item every fashionable woman here wants. It's the MRE handbag.

HEATHER MACFARLANE, HANDBAG DESIGNER: You couldn't destroy this, even if you wanted to. And an electrical cord, which the brown matched this brown perfectly.

ROESGEN (voice over): This is the zany side of New Orleans this Christmas. But there's a sentimental side, longing for the way things were. Perhaps the most popular gifts of all this year are what you'll find at Octavia Bookstore, books that show New Orleans before Katrina. The city in all her splendor, with hope for a better Christmas next year.

Susan Roesgen. CNN, New Orleans.

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LIN: Let's hope it will be a better one next year.

The party is once again all night long in parts of New Orleans, though. For the first time since the hurricane, bars and restaurants in the French Quarter can stay open all night. Midnight to 6:00 a.m. curfew remains in other parts of the town including the Lower Ninth Ward.

Speaking of time, the new year will be delayed by one second. The U.S. Naval Observatory says a leap second is being added to make sure super accurate atomic clocks match the slightly less accurate rotation of the Earth.

There's lots more ahead on CNN tonight. At 8:00, "CNN PRESENTS" reveals the history behind the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene.

At 9:00, Larry King sits down and talks with Oprah.

I'll be back at 10:00 eastern to talk Oscars, who's hot and who's not. And surprises in store. All of that when Hollywood insider Tom O'Neil joins me live. In the meantime, a special "LARRY KING" begins after a quick break. -

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