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Bush Signs Intelligence Reform Bill; New Study Reveals Potential Celebrex Risks; U.N. Official Implicated in Oil-for-Food Scandal; Former Welfare Mom Tops Politicians to Watch in '05
Aired December 17, 2004 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Well, if you're taking Celebrex, listen up. A new concern about the risks of taking this popular painkiller.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry, live from Washington, where the president has signed the intelligence reform bill into law. How much safer are we? That's coming up.
TONY HARRIS, CO-HOST: From the Super Bowl to the cell block, football legend Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson talks about his long journey back after losing it all to drugs and alcohol.
PHILLIPS: 2004 is almost over. Who's going to make headlines next year? Our Carlos Watson here to talk about the five faces to watch in '05.
From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris in for Miles O'Brien.
PHILLIPS: They'll be watching us all right.
HARRIS: This hour of CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.
A mission that's 563 pages long. A plan to bring together 15 different agencies and a single goal to protect the country from another September 11. That's a snapshot of the bill that's finally law after months of wrangling and debate.
President Bush signed it today, activating the biggest overhaul of U.S. intelligence in more than 50 years. Among the changes, the creation of a national counter-terrorism center and a new intelligence super-boss.
CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry joins us now from Washington.
Hi, Ed.
HENRY: Good afternoon, Tony.
After lobbying for this sweeping intelligence reform bill for over three years now, 9/11 families are feeling a little bit of celebration but, obviously, they're also saying this is a bittersweet day because their families are not here to see this day. This bill actually lays out some -- is now law and is going to create a national director of intelligence. Also puts teeth into this national counter-terrorist center that we've heard so much about. It also will hire new border patrol agents, more sky marshals, as well.
And when the president signed it into law today, he said it will help make the nation safer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The many reforms in this act have a single goal: to ensure that the people in government responsible for defending America have the best possible information to make the best possible decisions.
The men and women of our intelligence community give America their very best every day. And in return, we owe them our full support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Despite the celebration, some of the president's fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill are saying the job isn't finished yet. Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner was angry that his tough immigration provisions were not included. And some 9/11 family members are also saying that without Mr. Sensenbrenner's proposals, this is really not real reform.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MCILVANE, FATHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: I've been trying to think of an analogy. And I came up with we've all had root canal work. And to me, it's going into the dentist with a sore tooth, and he puts a crown on it and says, "Leave." Well, to me, you're not getting to the root of the problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Republican Senator John McCain has also complained that this law only reforms the executive branch, ignoring the 9/11 Commission's findings that congressional oversight of the intelligence community is in a bad need of an overhaul -- Tony.
HARRIS: Ed Henry in Washington. Ed, thank you.
And many of the most dangerous detainees in the war on terror have ended up behind bars at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now there are new details about a detention center within the detention center.
A former Pentagon official confirms the CIA has a facility inside the larger prison complex. Mark Jacobson said it's used to hold high value al Qaeda prisoners.
The "Washington Post" today reports the facility has housed detainees from Pakistan, West Africa, Yemen and other countries. The CIA itself declined to comment, but officials from the agency have long said they've been interrogating dozens of high-value prisoners at undisclosed locations around the world.
PHILLIPS: Now to concerns about what may be a prescription for trouble. Millions of people take Celebrex to relieve the pain of arthritis. But it's their hearts that could suffer in the process. It's the latest sobering news about a so-called blockbuster drug.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has been on this story all day.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: And actually, even before that. You'll remember back in September, we were on the story of a drug called Vioxx, which is a similar drug to Celebrex. And both of them are called COX-2 inhibitors. As Kyra said, people take them for pain.
Vioxx was taken off the market because of concerns that it increased risk of heart attacks. Well, now, the same concerns about Celebrex.
Pfizer, the company that makes Celebrex, released the results of two studies today. They actually have conflicting results. Let's take a look at the first study.
The first study was done by the National Cancer Institute. And what they found is that people taking Celebrex have 2 1/2 times higher risk of a major cardiovascular event. Usually that means a stroke or a heart attack. Two and a half times higher risk.
The second study was done by Pfizer itself. And that found no increased risk of major cardiovascular events.
Now one reason for the differences in those two studies could be the study that found there were problems, people were taking either 400 or 800 milligrams. The study that found no problems, people were taking only 400 milligrams.
Now Pfizer has confirmed to CNN today that at this point they are not taking the drug off the market. Of course, give what happened with Vioxx, people will be watching.
PHILLIPS: So should you still take it or not? I mean, what should folks do that have been used to taking this for awhile?
COHEN: Well, you never want to just stop taking a drug because of a news report. What you want to do is you want to talk to your doctor.
And keep in mind that information about dosage. You might want to talk to your doctor about that. Is it safe for it at one dose rather than another?
Also if you're concerned, you can talk to your doctor about alternatives. Celebrex is a painkiller. Lots of other painkillers out there, as well.
PHILLIPS: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much. COHEN: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: We also have experts lined up to address your concerns about Celebrex. E-mail your questions now to HouseCall@CNN.com and tune in tomorrow morning.
Elizabeth, you're going to be there, right?
COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: Eight thirty Eastern, OK, for answers during a special live edition of "HOUSE CALL." And it will be here, of course, right here on CNN.
Now, from a shortage to a surplus. Federal health officials now say tens of thousands of doses of flu vaccine could go to waste. And they're considering lifting recommendations that the vaccine be limited to high-risk patients.
It's been a relatively mild flu season, and a CDC study reveals that only half of high-risk individuals even tried to get a shot. Still, authorities say supply varies, and some states are experiencing shortages.
Six weeks until the election in Iraq, and the violence shows no sign of easing. In the restive Al Anbar province, a U.S. Marine assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action.
The military says the Marine was killed during security and stabilization operations. No other details.
In Mosul, four people were killed when their car was attacked with small arms fire. The black sedan was then set on fire. Witnesses say one of those killed was an Iraqi. The others were foreigners.
Insurgents are active in the city, which has been the sign of frequent attacks in recent weeks.
Taking the heat. Another no confidence vote for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Senator Trent Lott is the latest Republican to blast the secretary. Lott says Rumsfeld doesn't listen to his uniformed officers and should go.
On Monday, Senator John McCain said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld. The defense secretary is being criticized for the Pentagon's failure to armor vehicles used in Iraq and for remarks he made on the issue in Kuwait last week.
PHILLIPS: It's a growing scandal. Allegations of payoffs, pocketing cash and political corruption. The United Nations and its oil-for-food program continue to make headlines.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan under pressure to come up with some answers as has son Kojo has also been implicated. Now another name has surfaced in the scandal.
For the latest, let's bring in CNN's Liz Neisloss.
Liz, you've been working this story. Tell us about Benin Sevan. And I hope I'm saying that name properly.
LIZ NEISLOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You are saying the name correctly.
PHILLIPS: OK.
NEISLOSS: And actually, Kyra, the name has been floated around for quite awhile. It's appeared in many circles. And as you know, the oil-for-food scandal is something of political red meat on Capitol Hill these days.
Benin Sevan, however, is the only U.N. official who has actually been publicly implicated in the oil-for-food scandal. And for months he's refused to comment on the allegations. He refused to answer questions about whether or not he actually took any oil money from Saddam Hussein while he was head of the program.
Benin Sevan worked for seven years as head of the oil-for-food program. But now breaking that silence, he tells CNN he has done nothing wrong.
And he told us in a statement, "Mr. Sevan" -- this is through his attorney -- he said, "Mr. Sevan is cooperating fully with the independent investigative committee. He has provided all the information that they have asked for, and he is confident that he will be fully vindicated."
And Kyra, the independent investigative committee is the organizational body that Annan -- Kofi Annan, the head of the U.N., has come up with to root out any wrongdoing, specifically by U.N. staff or any corruption within the U.N. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So within the information, within that investigation, has Sevan mentioned anything about Kojo Annan, Kofi Annan's son?
NEISLOSS: At this point there really is technically no link whatsoever between Benin Sevan and Kojo Annan, Kofi Annan's son.
I think, really, the only tie you might be able to make is that these are two individuals, two high-profile individuals.
And as one analyst recently said to us, you know, "People are much more able to understand personal scandal, personal stories, as opposed to institutional scandal."
Benin Sevan, for example, may have profited, too, several million dollars, if, in fact, he did take oil vouchers which would have permitted him to sell Iraqi oil to make a profit.
The entire scandal is potentially much bigger, many more millions of dollars. But in this case, I think people are really very interested in the personal stories, and, obviously, Kojo Annan, as son of the secretary-general, is of very high interest -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And it says here that the committee investigating this is following the money trail of Sevan, his bank accounts, possibly family members. What more do you know about that, and is that happening with anybody else?
NEISLOSS: Well, there are really two places where this whole search for what Benin Sevan has done is under way.
One is with this independent investigative committee. And that's the U.N. agency headed by Paul Volcker, the former U.S. Federal Reserve chair.
The other is in Congress. The U.S. Congress has about five different committees, and they are combing through documents. At this point, the only specifics that we really have are from documents that have been dug up basically by Charles Duelfer, who was the U.S. man -- and still is -- in charge of weapons inspections in Iraq.
And in Duelfer's highly publicized CIA report, he basically reproduces these lists. These are lists from former Iraqi oil ministry officials. They indicate that he, Benin Sevan, was allocated 13 million barrels of oil.
The lists also seem to indicate that Benin Sevan may have actually cashed in more than half of those allocations. And Charles Duelfer himself, in his congressional testimony, said he has high confidence in those documents -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: We've heard so much about Kofi and Kojo. Now we're hearing a lot of actual dollar signs with Benin Sevan. Liz Neisloss, thank you so much.
HARRIS: Police in a massive Maryland arson case say they've got their man. Up next, details on the suspect and why more arrests could be coming.
PHILLIPS: Plus, politics' Fab Five in '05. Carlos Watson gives us a preview of who could be making headlines in the new year.
HARRIS: And still to come, the lessons learned by a controversial football star. We'll talk with Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson about his battles on and off the gridiron.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Authorities described it as one of the worst ordeals they've ever had to deal with. A Missouri woman eight months pregnant is killed, and the fetus is removed from her body.
Twenty-three-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett was murdered at her home in Skidmore. Now an Amber Alert has been issued.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF BEN ESPEY, NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI: They're looking for a red car that had been setting in the driveway from 2:30 to 3 p.m., which we're going to rule that's about, probably, the time that this all took place.
Red car is a late '80s, early '90s Honda, a two-door hatchback. Last night at 12:45 a.m., we -- Atchison County thought they saw this vehicle. They gave pursuit. Notified several other agencies. We were unable to locate this vehicle. They lost sight. He turned his lights off. It was dark.
We've never seen this vehicle. We put about 18 patrol cars over in Atchison County, and this car has not surfaced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, Stinnett's body was found by her mother, who's the one that called 911. Doctors who examined the body say -- here's the catch -- that baby is likely alive. FBI agents are checking out one lead involving a woman who returned home with a 1-day-old baby but had not gone to the hospital.
HARRIS: News across America now.
A new turn in the Maryland arson investigation. A security guard accused of torching several homes at an upscale development is due in federal court in about an hour. The Associated Press reports Aaron Speed failed a voluntary polygraph test.
In court papers, authorities say he admitted being at the scene and knowing of a plan to set fires at the development in Charles County.
Suicide in California's Crystal Cathedral. An employee at the world famous church opened fire and then barricaded himself in a bathroom for nine hours. The standoff ended with the man, a musical director, taking his life.
Police said he had a history of mental illness and was involved in an argument earlier on.
Double-trouble. One week after he pleaded guilty to plowing through an airport gate while on drugs, rapper DMX is in trouble again. He's been arrested for allegedly speeding and driving with a suspended license in Westchester County, New York.
The rapper, real name Earl Simmons, was clocked at 104 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone.
PHILLIPS: Well, you heard it here first. We call them the Fab Five in '05, the movers and shakers who will dominate the headlines in the coming year. Who are they?
For the answer to that, let's bring in CNN political analyst Carlos Watson.
Just because you called Barack Obama, we're counting on you to call the next Barack Obama of 2005, Carlos. Good to see you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Kyra Phillips, you want me to give you the real skinny or you want me to do it easy like everybody else?
PHILLIPS: OK. I want the real skinny. Where should we start? I got the five names. Where do you want to start?
WATSON: Well, let's start with No. 5. Other than George Bush, in 2005, the most important world leader will be who? Won't be Tony Blair of England. Won't be Vladimir Putin of Russia.
It will be a name a lot of people don't know, Hu Jintao, the leader of China.
Why do I say he'll be the most important leader? Because whether you're talking about nuclear issues in North Korea or whether you're talking about gas prices in America or whether you're talking about human rights in Taiwan and other places, he's going to be the name that you end up knowing.
So you just had a story on the U.N., and one of the big issues in 2005 will be how the U.N. changes. You'll hear that name. You heard it here first.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. All right. Julian Castro. This is the one you are saying, the Barack Obama of Tejas.
WATSON: You bet. You bet. Now remember, we did call Barack Obama early. Remember this name as well. A young guy, 30 years old. Grew up in a single parent household, ended up going from public school to Stanford on his way to Harvard Law School. Got elected to the city council at age 26.
Now running in order to be the mayor in a big race in May against two older, well established, well financed opponents. Sounds a lot like Barack.
But I think this guy's got a real shot. Interesting ideas on the economy. Interesting ideas on the environment. If he wins, you'll hear his name a lot and they'll call him the Barack Obama of Texas.
PHILLIPS: Thirty years old, though?
WATSON: Thirty years old. Now remember, San Antonio is interesting in that they've got a history of having young mayors. The current mayor is 32. Henry Cisneros got elected at 33.
But I think this guy is a big-time winner. Interestingly enough, he's got an identical twin brother who's also in the state legislature. So there's a little bit of Kennedy-esque stuff going on here, with Johnny and Bobby.
But very interesting. A very interesting guy, Julian Castro.
PHILLIPS: Now, we've got to talk homeland security. Fran Townsend, obviously a person to watch next year.
WATSON: Person to watch. Right now she's the White House adviser on domestic security, so she's on the president's internal staff.
But like Alberto Gonzales, like, Condoleezza rice, she might get promoted from the staff to becoming a cabinet secretary, perhaps taking over for Tom Ridge. Remember Bernard Kerik pulled out.
She's a 13-year veteran of the Justice Department. And if she does take over, instead of that color coded system, her face may become the face of domestic homeland security, whether it's protecting our ports, protecting the trains or, frankly, getting that department to work.
So she still hasn't been chosen. I'm going out on a limb here. But if she does get chosen, she may be one of the most important people in 2005.
PHILLIPS: All right. The final two. Lindsey Graham, the new John McCain?
WATSON: The new John McCain. Southern fried John McCain.
This is a guy who was in the House of Representatives. Was an impeachment manager for Bill Clinton. Very conservative. But won election in 2002 and won election trumpeting Social Security reform.
So what's going to be the biggest domestic issue in 2005? It will be Social Security reform.
And like John McCain, so far Lindsey Graham seems willing to buck his party, create coalitions across the aisle. And by the way, this is a guy who, if he does well on this issue, could be a candidate in 2008 for the presidency.
So I'm calling Lindsey Graham one of our Fab Five in '05.
PHILLIPS: All right. No. 1, here's my favorite: Gwen Moore. Former welfare mother turned politician. Unbelievable.
WATSON: Incredibly compelling story. Three kids, has been in the state legislature in Wisconsin for 14 years, just got elected. The only African-American to get elected.
And across the aisle, whether you're Democrat, Republican, independent, people all seem to love her. They love her smarts. They love her attention to detail. She's a very talented politician by all accounts.
And she's also someone that people just flat-out like. So I could easily see her not only doing well in her first term in the House, but ultimately getting elected to the Senate and having that special kind of voice.
You know how Oprah has an unusual voice when it comes to television, the extra credibility?
PHILLIPS: Sure, the Oprah of the Senate.
WATSON: I could -- I could see Gwen Moore ending up in the U.S. Senate and being the Oprah of the Senate, being the conscience of the Senate. Someone who, when she speaks, not only do a few people, but a lot of people listen.
PHILLIPS: Sounds like your mom.
All right. Shameless, Carlos Watson CNN.com column plug, go.
WATSON: Not only should people tune into my column at CNN.com/Carlos, but you know what's coming up next month, Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Yes. Oh, your big show.
WATSON: The new show, "OFF TOPIC."
PHILLIPS: You can't forget "OFF TOPIC."
WATSON: We've got three great guests, January 23, 10 p.m. Eastern. Again, at 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
And we've got the star of "Desperate Housewives," Eva Longoria. We've got Arnold, the big guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger and I driving his hummer. And then last, but not least, we've got the guy we're calling the new face of religion in America, Dr. Creplo A. Dollar (ph). If you haven't heard about him before, tune in to "OFF TOPIC" and you'll see all three.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it's pretty interesting. I can't believe your mother let you actually ride in a Hummer with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But that's a whole other story. You're probably grounded.
WATSON: That's only because she loves Kyra Phillips, and she loves Kyra's husband John.
PHILLIPS: Carlos, you are ratting me out.
HARRIS: Got you.
PHILLIPS: We'll see you -- we'll see you in 2005, Carlos, and all your big names.
WATSON: Tell -- tell Tony I said hi and tell Tony that my aunt said hi.
PHILLIPS: He is such a schmooze.
HARRIS: He did it.
PHILLIPS: Isn't he a schmooze?
HARRIS: He got you. Zorro, "X" marks the spot. Got you.
All right, Carlos. Take care, man. Happy holidays.
WATSON: Take care, guys. Have a great one.
PHILLIPS: All right.
HARRIS: And still to come -- why Cuba is using a Nazi symbol to respond to a U.S. Christmas display in Havana.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm David Haffenreffer at the New York Stock Exchange. Serious new concerns about the safety of Pfizer's blockbuster drug Celebrex. I'll have market reaction, coming up on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: First, it was Vioxx. And now No. 1 drug maker Pfizer is questioning the safety of its arthritis drug Celebrex.
PHILLIPS: For the reaction on Wall Street, let's go to David Haffenreffer. He's standing by at the New York Stock Exchange -- David.
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 17, 2004 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Well, if you're taking Celebrex, listen up. A new concern about the risks of taking this popular painkiller.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry, live from Washington, where the president has signed the intelligence reform bill into law. How much safer are we? That's coming up.
TONY HARRIS, CO-HOST: From the Super Bowl to the cell block, football legend Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson talks about his long journey back after losing it all to drugs and alcohol.
PHILLIPS: 2004 is almost over. Who's going to make headlines next year? Our Carlos Watson here to talk about the five faces to watch in '05.
From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris in for Miles O'Brien.
PHILLIPS: They'll be watching us all right.
HARRIS: This hour of CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.
A mission that's 563 pages long. A plan to bring together 15 different agencies and a single goal to protect the country from another September 11. That's a snapshot of the bill that's finally law after months of wrangling and debate.
President Bush signed it today, activating the biggest overhaul of U.S. intelligence in more than 50 years. Among the changes, the creation of a national counter-terrorism center and a new intelligence super-boss.
CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry joins us now from Washington.
Hi, Ed.
HENRY: Good afternoon, Tony.
After lobbying for this sweeping intelligence reform bill for over three years now, 9/11 families are feeling a little bit of celebration but, obviously, they're also saying this is a bittersweet day because their families are not here to see this day. This bill actually lays out some -- is now law and is going to create a national director of intelligence. Also puts teeth into this national counter-terrorist center that we've heard so much about. It also will hire new border patrol agents, more sky marshals, as well.
And when the president signed it into law today, he said it will help make the nation safer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The many reforms in this act have a single goal: to ensure that the people in government responsible for defending America have the best possible information to make the best possible decisions.
The men and women of our intelligence community give America their very best every day. And in return, we owe them our full support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Despite the celebration, some of the president's fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill are saying the job isn't finished yet. Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner was angry that his tough immigration provisions were not included. And some 9/11 family members are also saying that without Mr. Sensenbrenner's proposals, this is really not real reform.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MCILVANE, FATHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: I've been trying to think of an analogy. And I came up with we've all had root canal work. And to me, it's going into the dentist with a sore tooth, and he puts a crown on it and says, "Leave." Well, to me, you're not getting to the root of the problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Republican Senator John McCain has also complained that this law only reforms the executive branch, ignoring the 9/11 Commission's findings that congressional oversight of the intelligence community is in a bad need of an overhaul -- Tony.
HARRIS: Ed Henry in Washington. Ed, thank you.
And many of the most dangerous detainees in the war on terror have ended up behind bars at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now there are new details about a detention center within the detention center.
A former Pentagon official confirms the CIA has a facility inside the larger prison complex. Mark Jacobson said it's used to hold high value al Qaeda prisoners.
The "Washington Post" today reports the facility has housed detainees from Pakistan, West Africa, Yemen and other countries. The CIA itself declined to comment, but officials from the agency have long said they've been interrogating dozens of high-value prisoners at undisclosed locations around the world.
PHILLIPS: Now to concerns about what may be a prescription for trouble. Millions of people take Celebrex to relieve the pain of arthritis. But it's their hearts that could suffer in the process. It's the latest sobering news about a so-called blockbuster drug.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has been on this story all day.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: And actually, even before that. You'll remember back in September, we were on the story of a drug called Vioxx, which is a similar drug to Celebrex. And both of them are called COX-2 inhibitors. As Kyra said, people take them for pain.
Vioxx was taken off the market because of concerns that it increased risk of heart attacks. Well, now, the same concerns about Celebrex.
Pfizer, the company that makes Celebrex, released the results of two studies today. They actually have conflicting results. Let's take a look at the first study.
The first study was done by the National Cancer Institute. And what they found is that people taking Celebrex have 2 1/2 times higher risk of a major cardiovascular event. Usually that means a stroke or a heart attack. Two and a half times higher risk.
The second study was done by Pfizer itself. And that found no increased risk of major cardiovascular events.
Now one reason for the differences in those two studies could be the study that found there were problems, people were taking either 400 or 800 milligrams. The study that found no problems, people were taking only 400 milligrams.
Now Pfizer has confirmed to CNN today that at this point they are not taking the drug off the market. Of course, give what happened with Vioxx, people will be watching.
PHILLIPS: So should you still take it or not? I mean, what should folks do that have been used to taking this for awhile?
COHEN: Well, you never want to just stop taking a drug because of a news report. What you want to do is you want to talk to your doctor.
And keep in mind that information about dosage. You might want to talk to your doctor about that. Is it safe for it at one dose rather than another?
Also if you're concerned, you can talk to your doctor about alternatives. Celebrex is a painkiller. Lots of other painkillers out there, as well.
PHILLIPS: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much. COHEN: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: We also have experts lined up to address your concerns about Celebrex. E-mail your questions now to HouseCall@CNN.com and tune in tomorrow morning.
Elizabeth, you're going to be there, right?
COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: Eight thirty Eastern, OK, for answers during a special live edition of "HOUSE CALL." And it will be here, of course, right here on CNN.
Now, from a shortage to a surplus. Federal health officials now say tens of thousands of doses of flu vaccine could go to waste. And they're considering lifting recommendations that the vaccine be limited to high-risk patients.
It's been a relatively mild flu season, and a CDC study reveals that only half of high-risk individuals even tried to get a shot. Still, authorities say supply varies, and some states are experiencing shortages.
Six weeks until the election in Iraq, and the violence shows no sign of easing. In the restive Al Anbar province, a U.S. Marine assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action.
The military says the Marine was killed during security and stabilization operations. No other details.
In Mosul, four people were killed when their car was attacked with small arms fire. The black sedan was then set on fire. Witnesses say one of those killed was an Iraqi. The others were foreigners.
Insurgents are active in the city, which has been the sign of frequent attacks in recent weeks.
Taking the heat. Another no confidence vote for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Senator Trent Lott is the latest Republican to blast the secretary. Lott says Rumsfeld doesn't listen to his uniformed officers and should go.
On Monday, Senator John McCain said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld. The defense secretary is being criticized for the Pentagon's failure to armor vehicles used in Iraq and for remarks he made on the issue in Kuwait last week.
PHILLIPS: It's a growing scandal. Allegations of payoffs, pocketing cash and political corruption. The United Nations and its oil-for-food program continue to make headlines.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan under pressure to come up with some answers as has son Kojo has also been implicated. Now another name has surfaced in the scandal.
For the latest, let's bring in CNN's Liz Neisloss.
Liz, you've been working this story. Tell us about Benin Sevan. And I hope I'm saying that name properly.
LIZ NEISLOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You are saying the name correctly.
PHILLIPS: OK.
NEISLOSS: And actually, Kyra, the name has been floated around for quite awhile. It's appeared in many circles. And as you know, the oil-for-food scandal is something of political red meat on Capitol Hill these days.
Benin Sevan, however, is the only U.N. official who has actually been publicly implicated in the oil-for-food scandal. And for months he's refused to comment on the allegations. He refused to answer questions about whether or not he actually took any oil money from Saddam Hussein while he was head of the program.
Benin Sevan worked for seven years as head of the oil-for-food program. But now breaking that silence, he tells CNN he has done nothing wrong.
And he told us in a statement, "Mr. Sevan" -- this is through his attorney -- he said, "Mr. Sevan is cooperating fully with the independent investigative committee. He has provided all the information that they have asked for, and he is confident that he will be fully vindicated."
And Kyra, the independent investigative committee is the organizational body that Annan -- Kofi Annan, the head of the U.N., has come up with to root out any wrongdoing, specifically by U.N. staff or any corruption within the U.N. -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So within the information, within that investigation, has Sevan mentioned anything about Kojo Annan, Kofi Annan's son?
NEISLOSS: At this point there really is technically no link whatsoever between Benin Sevan and Kojo Annan, Kofi Annan's son.
I think, really, the only tie you might be able to make is that these are two individuals, two high-profile individuals.
And as one analyst recently said to us, you know, "People are much more able to understand personal scandal, personal stories, as opposed to institutional scandal."
Benin Sevan, for example, may have profited, too, several million dollars, if, in fact, he did take oil vouchers which would have permitted him to sell Iraqi oil to make a profit.
The entire scandal is potentially much bigger, many more millions of dollars. But in this case, I think people are really very interested in the personal stories, and, obviously, Kojo Annan, as son of the secretary-general, is of very high interest -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And it says here that the committee investigating this is following the money trail of Sevan, his bank accounts, possibly family members. What more do you know about that, and is that happening with anybody else?
NEISLOSS: Well, there are really two places where this whole search for what Benin Sevan has done is under way.
One is with this independent investigative committee. And that's the U.N. agency headed by Paul Volcker, the former U.S. Federal Reserve chair.
The other is in Congress. The U.S. Congress has about five different committees, and they are combing through documents. At this point, the only specifics that we really have are from documents that have been dug up basically by Charles Duelfer, who was the U.S. man -- and still is -- in charge of weapons inspections in Iraq.
And in Duelfer's highly publicized CIA report, he basically reproduces these lists. These are lists from former Iraqi oil ministry officials. They indicate that he, Benin Sevan, was allocated 13 million barrels of oil.
The lists also seem to indicate that Benin Sevan may have actually cashed in more than half of those allocations. And Charles Duelfer himself, in his congressional testimony, said he has high confidence in those documents -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: We've heard so much about Kofi and Kojo. Now we're hearing a lot of actual dollar signs with Benin Sevan. Liz Neisloss, thank you so much.
HARRIS: Police in a massive Maryland arson case say they've got their man. Up next, details on the suspect and why more arrests could be coming.
PHILLIPS: Plus, politics' Fab Five in '05. Carlos Watson gives us a preview of who could be making headlines in the new year.
HARRIS: And still to come, the lessons learned by a controversial football star. We'll talk with Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson about his battles on and off the gridiron.
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PHILLIPS: Authorities described it as one of the worst ordeals they've ever had to deal with. A Missouri woman eight months pregnant is killed, and the fetus is removed from her body.
Twenty-three-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett was murdered at her home in Skidmore. Now an Amber Alert has been issued.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF BEN ESPEY, NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI: They're looking for a red car that had been setting in the driveway from 2:30 to 3 p.m., which we're going to rule that's about, probably, the time that this all took place.
Red car is a late '80s, early '90s Honda, a two-door hatchback. Last night at 12:45 a.m., we -- Atchison County thought they saw this vehicle. They gave pursuit. Notified several other agencies. We were unable to locate this vehicle. They lost sight. He turned his lights off. It was dark.
We've never seen this vehicle. We put about 18 patrol cars over in Atchison County, and this car has not surfaced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, Stinnett's body was found by her mother, who's the one that called 911. Doctors who examined the body say -- here's the catch -- that baby is likely alive. FBI agents are checking out one lead involving a woman who returned home with a 1-day-old baby but had not gone to the hospital.
HARRIS: News across America now.
A new turn in the Maryland arson investigation. A security guard accused of torching several homes at an upscale development is due in federal court in about an hour. The Associated Press reports Aaron Speed failed a voluntary polygraph test.
In court papers, authorities say he admitted being at the scene and knowing of a plan to set fires at the development in Charles County.
Suicide in California's Crystal Cathedral. An employee at the world famous church opened fire and then barricaded himself in a bathroom for nine hours. The standoff ended with the man, a musical director, taking his life.
Police said he had a history of mental illness and was involved in an argument earlier on.
Double-trouble. One week after he pleaded guilty to plowing through an airport gate while on drugs, rapper DMX is in trouble again. He's been arrested for allegedly speeding and driving with a suspended license in Westchester County, New York.
The rapper, real name Earl Simmons, was clocked at 104 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone.
PHILLIPS: Well, you heard it here first. We call them the Fab Five in '05, the movers and shakers who will dominate the headlines in the coming year. Who are they?
For the answer to that, let's bring in CNN political analyst Carlos Watson.
Just because you called Barack Obama, we're counting on you to call the next Barack Obama of 2005, Carlos. Good to see you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Kyra Phillips, you want me to give you the real skinny or you want me to do it easy like everybody else?
PHILLIPS: OK. I want the real skinny. Where should we start? I got the five names. Where do you want to start?
WATSON: Well, let's start with No. 5. Other than George Bush, in 2005, the most important world leader will be who? Won't be Tony Blair of England. Won't be Vladimir Putin of Russia.
It will be a name a lot of people don't know, Hu Jintao, the leader of China.
Why do I say he'll be the most important leader? Because whether you're talking about nuclear issues in North Korea or whether you're talking about gas prices in America or whether you're talking about human rights in Taiwan and other places, he's going to be the name that you end up knowing.
So you just had a story on the U.N., and one of the big issues in 2005 will be how the U.N. changes. You'll hear that name. You heard it here first.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. All right. Julian Castro. This is the one you are saying, the Barack Obama of Tejas.
WATSON: You bet. You bet. Now remember, we did call Barack Obama early. Remember this name as well. A young guy, 30 years old. Grew up in a single parent household, ended up going from public school to Stanford on his way to Harvard Law School. Got elected to the city council at age 26.
Now running in order to be the mayor in a big race in May against two older, well established, well financed opponents. Sounds a lot like Barack.
But I think this guy's got a real shot. Interesting ideas on the economy. Interesting ideas on the environment. If he wins, you'll hear his name a lot and they'll call him the Barack Obama of Texas.
PHILLIPS: Thirty years old, though?
WATSON: Thirty years old. Now remember, San Antonio is interesting in that they've got a history of having young mayors. The current mayor is 32. Henry Cisneros got elected at 33.
But I think this guy is a big-time winner. Interestingly enough, he's got an identical twin brother who's also in the state legislature. So there's a little bit of Kennedy-esque stuff going on here, with Johnny and Bobby.
But very interesting. A very interesting guy, Julian Castro.
PHILLIPS: Now, we've got to talk homeland security. Fran Townsend, obviously a person to watch next year.
WATSON: Person to watch. Right now she's the White House adviser on domestic security, so she's on the president's internal staff.
But like Alberto Gonzales, like, Condoleezza rice, she might get promoted from the staff to becoming a cabinet secretary, perhaps taking over for Tom Ridge. Remember Bernard Kerik pulled out.
She's a 13-year veteran of the Justice Department. And if she does take over, instead of that color coded system, her face may become the face of domestic homeland security, whether it's protecting our ports, protecting the trains or, frankly, getting that department to work.
So she still hasn't been chosen. I'm going out on a limb here. But if she does get chosen, she may be one of the most important people in 2005.
PHILLIPS: All right. The final two. Lindsey Graham, the new John McCain?
WATSON: The new John McCain. Southern fried John McCain.
This is a guy who was in the House of Representatives. Was an impeachment manager for Bill Clinton. Very conservative. But won election in 2002 and won election trumpeting Social Security reform.
So what's going to be the biggest domestic issue in 2005? It will be Social Security reform.
And like John McCain, so far Lindsey Graham seems willing to buck his party, create coalitions across the aisle. And by the way, this is a guy who, if he does well on this issue, could be a candidate in 2008 for the presidency.
So I'm calling Lindsey Graham one of our Fab Five in '05.
PHILLIPS: All right. No. 1, here's my favorite: Gwen Moore. Former welfare mother turned politician. Unbelievable.
WATSON: Incredibly compelling story. Three kids, has been in the state legislature in Wisconsin for 14 years, just got elected. The only African-American to get elected.
And across the aisle, whether you're Democrat, Republican, independent, people all seem to love her. They love her smarts. They love her attention to detail. She's a very talented politician by all accounts.
And she's also someone that people just flat-out like. So I could easily see her not only doing well in her first term in the House, but ultimately getting elected to the Senate and having that special kind of voice.
You know how Oprah has an unusual voice when it comes to television, the extra credibility?
PHILLIPS: Sure, the Oprah of the Senate.
WATSON: I could -- I could see Gwen Moore ending up in the U.S. Senate and being the Oprah of the Senate, being the conscience of the Senate. Someone who, when she speaks, not only do a few people, but a lot of people listen.
PHILLIPS: Sounds like your mom.
All right. Shameless, Carlos Watson CNN.com column plug, go.
WATSON: Not only should people tune into my column at CNN.com/Carlos, but you know what's coming up next month, Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Yes. Oh, your big show.
WATSON: The new show, "OFF TOPIC."
PHILLIPS: You can't forget "OFF TOPIC."
WATSON: We've got three great guests, January 23, 10 p.m. Eastern. Again, at 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
And we've got the star of "Desperate Housewives," Eva Longoria. We've got Arnold, the big guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger and I driving his hummer. And then last, but not least, we've got the guy we're calling the new face of religion in America, Dr. Creplo A. Dollar (ph). If you haven't heard about him before, tune in to "OFF TOPIC" and you'll see all three.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it's pretty interesting. I can't believe your mother let you actually ride in a Hummer with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But that's a whole other story. You're probably grounded.
WATSON: That's only because she loves Kyra Phillips, and she loves Kyra's husband John.
PHILLIPS: Carlos, you are ratting me out.
HARRIS: Got you.
PHILLIPS: We'll see you -- we'll see you in 2005, Carlos, and all your big names.
WATSON: Tell -- tell Tony I said hi and tell Tony that my aunt said hi.
PHILLIPS: He is such a schmooze.
HARRIS: He did it.
PHILLIPS: Isn't he a schmooze?
HARRIS: He got you. Zorro, "X" marks the spot. Got you.
All right, Carlos. Take care, man. Happy holidays.
WATSON: Take care, guys. Have a great one.
PHILLIPS: All right.
HARRIS: And still to come -- why Cuba is using a Nazi symbol to respond to a U.S. Christmas display in Havana.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm David Haffenreffer at the New York Stock Exchange. Serious new concerns about the safety of Pfizer's blockbuster drug Celebrex. I'll have market reaction, coming up on LIVE FROM.
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HARRIS: First, it was Vioxx. And now No. 1 drug maker Pfizer is questioning the safety of its arthritis drug Celebrex.
PHILLIPS: For the reaction on Wall Street, let's go to David Haffenreffer. He's standing by at the New York Stock Exchange -- David.
(STOCK REPORT)
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