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Iraqi Ambassador Comments on Oil-for-Food Scandal; Shaq & Kobe Reunite for NBA Tilt on X-Mas Day

Aired December 24, 2004 - 13:31   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, CNN ANCHOR: Up next -- separated at Christmas. A soldier serving in Iraq and his pregnant wife back here in the States reunite on CNN. You'll hear from both of them, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The United Nations always the bearer of some criticism, depending on which way the wind is blowing. But now especially, allegations of fraught and nepotism have weakened confidence in the world body's leadership. Three high-level officials have just stepped down and controversy over the Oil-for-Food Program is keeping a harsh light on the secretary-general.

Let's discuss this with Feisal al-Istrahadi, he's Iraq's deputy ambassador to the United States. Mr. Ambassador, thanks so much for being with us.

FEISAL AL-ISTRAHADI, IRAQI DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO THE UN: My pleasure to be with you.

PHILLIPS: Well, we'll get to oil for food in just a moment. But more importantly at this moment I'd like to talk to you about what happened in Mosul and the relationship between Iraqis. Iraqi national guard, Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops, seeing what happened with the suicide bomber. Where do you go from here with regard to trust and building relationships between the two cultures?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I think you have to realize that the overwhelming majority of the people of Iraq, by which I mean probably very close to 100 percent, are very much grateful for the United States and very relieved that the United States removed the dictator. Without the United States' intervention, we know, and the multinational force, of course, British and others, we know that we would still be living under the brutal tyranny of a heinous dictator. Unfortunately, there are still elements of Iraqi society who want to turn the clock back and take us back to tyranny and dictatorship. That is something that the people of Iraq reject.

I will again express my condolences to the families of all those who were killed in this attack and remind you and your viewers that not only were Americans killed but that Iraqis were killed as well and that once again the blood of American troops and Iraqi troops has been commingled in the fight against tyranny and terrorism and remind you also that for every American soldier who has been killed, a fact we mourn, there have been at times, 15 to 20 Iraqis, most of them civilians, who have been targeted and killed by these terrorists. So we are in the fight together. And ...

PHILLIPS: Let me ask you about that fight together, sir. If you say the majority of Iraqis want democracy, that they appreciate the U.S. presence there, then you would think with those Iraqis and with U.S. forces together they would be able to combat the insurgency and end this. Is it possible? I mean, is it possible to break this insurgency when you are seeing them get the upper hand in surprising ways, more recently this suicide bombing?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I mean, I don't quite know what you mean by gaining the upper hand. They will no doubt be able to score tactical successes. They will be, in short, they will be able to kill people. Americans, Iraqis, others. No question about that.

PHILLIPS: So you want to remind folks that ...

AL-ISTRAHADI: Let me remind you. Hang on. Let me remind you that 19 very dedicated individuals, sick, but dedicated, criminal, but dedicated, were able to kill nearly 3,000 people in this city. Despite the fact that the over -- that 100 percent of the people that live in this country oppose these barbarous tactics. The point is that it is not possible, regretfully, in the world in which we live, for us to guarantee anyone's safety, civilian or military. That is simply a fact that we have to live with, at least for the time, and I take it that that is what the fight against terrorism is about. Now, if anyone believes that the fight against terrorism is going to come without a price, unfortunately, I wish they were right, but, in fact, they are mistaken. There is a price to be paid for combating the terrorism but - the terrorists. But after all, what is the alternative?

PHILLIPS: Ambassador, point made. I want to ask you about the oil for food scandal now. A number of people coming forward asking for the resignation of Kofi Annan, blaming him for the billions of dollars in money that was diverted and the number of companies that received kickbacks. Do you support Kofi Annan?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I think that those that call for the resignation of Kofi Annan fail to take into account that Kofi Annan was not running the oil-for-food program. The Security Council and the 15 members of the Security Council ...

PHILLIPS: What about Benan Sevan, sir, Annan's right hand man, the one that was in charge with that program along with the other individuals you are mentioning?

AL-ISTRAHADI: It remains that the Security Council and the 15 members of the Security Council, including the five permanent members, including the United States and Great Britain and France and Russia and China, were the ones that were charged with overseeing the program. What I don't want to see happen is anyone, any one individual, including the secretary-general, being taken out as a scapegoat, being picked out as a scapegoat. And made to pay a price for something that, to my knowledge, no one has accused him of being personally corrupt.

And I think that you know that the secretary of state has expressed this confidence in Mr. Annan as has the American permanent Ambassador Danforth. So Ii think that these calls for the resignation of the secretary-general are not well taken.

PHILLIPS: Iraq's deputy ambassador to the UN, Feisal al- Istrahadi. Sir, we appreciate your time and look forward to talking to you again.

AL-ISTRAHADI: Thank you and Happy Christmas.

PHILLIPS: Thank you. Miles?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This Christmas Eve we have in our minds the hundreds of thousands of U.S. military men and women who will spend the holidays away from home, outside the country and in many cases, of course in harm's way. A couple of hours ago we managed to make a cross-the-world connection with a marine in Iraq and someone back home who misses him very deeply.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PFC JOSHUA COLVIN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I just want to tell her I miss her and I love her very much and can't wait to come home. I want to wish her a merry Christmas and I just love her a lot.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: No, that was good. Pam, what do you think? There he is. Can you hear him?

PAM COLVIN, JOSHUA COLVIN'S WIFE: Yeah, I can hear him.

HARRIS: What do you want to say to him?

PAM COLVIN: Just that I miss him and I love him and I hope he comes home soon.

HARRIS: Josh, give us a sense of what it's been like for you? How long have you been deployed? Where are you? Are you in Falluja, Baghdad, where are you?

JOSHUA COLVIN: Right now I'm in the area of Falluja. We've been here for a few months. Right now morale is pretty high right now. We're doing all right trying to keep our spirits up for Christmas as much as we can being away from our families and all, Tony.

HARRIS: Yeah. You know what, Pam, let's put that split screen back up there and, Pam, I want you to talk to your husband. I know we're kind of eavesdropping and it's not the most comfortable situation to be in, but you've got a couple of million people listening in on your conversation right now. What do you want to say to your husband and talk to him about this baby you are about to have here.

PAM COLVIN: I just hope maybe he can come home before the baby is born and then if not, he'll be ready to see him when he gets home.

HARRIS: Joshua, make her feel a little better. She's emotional. I can see it on her face. You know, reach out to her all these thousands of miles away and make her feel better.

JOSHUA COLVIN: It's all right, honey. You are doing a great job. I miss you and I love you and I hope I can be home in time to see the baby born. But if not, I know you'll do just fine. I love you a lot. Merry Christmas.

HARRIS: Pam, what are you having?

PAM COLVIN: We're having a boy.

HARRIS: Does he know that?

PAM COLVIN: Yeah.

HARRIS: So how excited are you about your boy?

JOSHUA COLVIN: I am very excited. Just happy. I'm just hoping it's going to be healthy. I didn't really care if it was a boy or girl. Just want a healthy baby. That's what I'm looking forward to, that's what we're both looking forward to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, if he didn't know it was a boy before, he certainly does no. Marine Private First Class Joshua Colvin in Iraq, his wife Pam in Michigan expecting across the miles on this Christmas Eve. Our hearts go out to them and the rest of them that are separated in this way. It's not the only reunion we've held here on CNN. Of course, you've seen them if you've been watching. Join us tomorrow morning, Christmas Day, 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Special reunion time. We'll connect wounded soldiers in Mosul and their loved ones at home. That's tomorrow 8:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

Well, a reunion on the basketball court on Christmas Day. It's Kobe and Shaq together, sort of, for the first time since their bitter separation. What can we expect to see?

And we all remember what happened last month when the Pistons and Pacers met. Could this be what happens when Kobe and Shaq get together? Will peace prevail when the two teams meet tomorrow?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're selling the mugs on eBay.

O'BRIEN: No, we're not. Don't start...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: All right. I'm just kidding.

O'BRIEN: They aren't on eBay.

PHILLIPS: All right, for basketball fans, the real Christmas present won't be under the tree this year. It's going to be on the court in the NBA's version of the Hatfields and McCoys as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant face off for the first time since Shaq was traded to Miami. CNN's Steve Overmyer with a recap of our dramatic saga so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

STEVE OVERMYER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were brought in the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, a dynasty was born. But so was a soap opera. Despite three straight NBA championships, the two stars found it difficult to coexist and complained about each other through the media. The rift grew wider in the summer of 2003 when Bryant was accused of rape by a Colorado woman. During a conversation with police, Bryant implied that O'Neal had extramarital affairs and had paid those women to keep the encounters quiet.

Finally, in June, after being swept by the Pistons in the NBA finals, Lakers management made changes. Phil Jackson was not retained as head coach and O'Neal was traded to Miami amid reports that Bryant had a hand in both their departures.

JACK MCCALLUM, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": I think Kobe probably needed new teammates because I think what the old Lakers -- Kobe had pretty much alienated most of the Lakers.

OVERMYER: On Christmas Day in a nationally televised game, O'Neal will return to LA. to face Bryant and the Lakers for the first time.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, MIAMI HEAT: Christmas is just going to be just a normal game. Two good teams going at it. Of course, ABC and all the marketing firms are trying to hype it up. But to me it's just going to be a regular game.

CHARLES BARKLEY, TNT NBA ANALYST: This is really an ego game. Shaq wants to prove to them something. I always say this. You always hate your ex-wife. You want to see them suffer.

MAGIC JOHNSON, TNT NBA ANALYST: I want to see them smack each other. Like Charles said. If it was me coming back, I am smacking some people.

KENNY SMITH, TNT NBA ANALYST: Kobe has to try to dunk on Shaq the first play of the game. That's what I want to see. I want to see if Shaq levels him or Kobe dunks on him.

KOBE BRYANT, LA LAKERS: We've had our share of battles in practice and nobody really had an opportunity to see it. We'd go at it, man. I don't back away from anything. If I have to go to the basket and go to the rim, I'm going to go to the rim.

OVERMYER: Many will be going to their TVs to see if this game lives up to its hype.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. If that's not enough juice for you connoisseurs of sports feuds, Steve Overmyer joins us to further whet your appetite for NBA destruction. Boys behaving badly.

OVERMYER: NBA destruction on Christmas Day. It doesn't sound right. Especially with this Kobe and Shaq. I think Kobe wants peace on earth about now and Shaq will probably be singing "all I want for Christmas is Kobe's two front teeth." We'll see which one comes to fruition, I guess in that game.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll all be watching. All right. Pacers/pistons. The Basketbrawl. What's the latest?

OVERMYER: Remember, of course, back on November 19th these guys got involved in the Motown melee. Well these two teams will be facing each other for the first time since the Motown melee. However, it's not going to be in Detroit. It's going to be in Indiana. Interesting thing here is one of the key players involved in that for the Indiana pacers, Jermaine O'Neal will be granted a temporary reprieve from his suspension and will be able to play in this game. Of course, this NBA is going to be appealing this. A judge reduced his suspension from 25 to 15 games. So Jermaine O'Neal will be playing in this Basketbrawl part 2. I don't see this kind of thing happening again. Number one, because this was in Detroit, not in Indiana. And I think the Indiana Pacers fans are going to be cheering very loudly. But I don't see them throwing anything.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know security isn't changing at all. So they better behave.

OVERMYER: Donny Walsh said security measures won't change at Indiana because it happened in Detroit and the Indiana Pacers fans won't do that.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to be watching. We'll see what happens. Steve Overmyer, thanks.

O'BRIEN: All right. We got a soldier on the line. I don't want to take any more time. Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Breaking news here at CNN. We are hearing preliminary reports of a powerful blast in the western Baghdad neighborhood of al Mansour. You may recall al-Mansour from the days of the war there was a noted attempted attack on Saddam Hussein at a restaurant in this well-to-do neighborhood. We're told by witnesses on the scene the smoke can be seen rising from the area. Heavy gunfire heard after the explosion. Not clear what caused the blast at this point. We're getting numerous reports from wire services now, as well as our own people on the scene. Not too far away from the so-called Green Zone which is in the center part of Baghdad. But this western part of Baghdad historically was where many of the loyalists to Saddam Hussein and his regime were located. As I say, an affluent neighborhood. Once again, to just bring you up to date. A powerful blast that lit up the night sky in Baghdad. Smoke rising from the area. Lots of gunfire to report. We're doing our best to get further details for you and will bring them to you as soon as we get them.

All right. We'll take a break. Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: We promised details for you on this explosion in Baghdad as they came in. They are coming in right now. Iraqi police are telling us they think the explosion that was heard in the western Baghdad neighborhood of al Mansour was actually triggered by a fuel truck exploding. Unclear whether that was a deliberate act or an accident at this point. But just to backtrack a little bit. What we told you right before the break, very powerful blast. Shaking the western Baghdad neighborhood, lighting up the sky. Columns of smoke seen in that area and then after the explosion, a lot of heavy gunfire. U.S. military is obviously investigating this as well.

Al Mansour is the wealthy district where many loyalists to Saddam Hussein lived at the time of his regime. And in the midst of the invasion of Iraq, a very much discussed attempt on Saddam Hussein's life was taken in that al Mansour district at a restaurant. That attempt, obviously, unsuccessful. Residents in the area saying the smell of explosives is hanging over the whole area. Al Mansour today is home to several senior politicians, embassies, many of the foreign contractors. All of them linked to the U.S.-funded projects in Iraq. People who are driving by in that area say there was a very bright flash. It lit up the night sky. If you know, Baghdad is about eight hours ahead of Eastern Time. Eastern Time now about 2:00 p.m. It's about 10:00 p.m. at night there.

A resounding boom echoing over the city. But just to underscore the point, very large blast in this western affluent neighborhood linked to a fuel truck. What is unclear is was this some sort of deliberate terrorist act near a telecommunications center in this affluent neighborhood or was it some sort of accident? Obviously, lots of details to unfold.

And now what are we going to do? Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to take a quick break. Coming up, we are going to talk more about actually a special online video games. You know our technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg has been bringing us his special all week. Today he's going to wrap it up for us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired December 24, 2004 - 13:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Up next -- separated at Christmas. A soldier serving in Iraq and his pregnant wife back here in the States reunite on CNN. You'll hear from both of them, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The United Nations always the bearer of some criticism, depending on which way the wind is blowing. But now especially, allegations of fraught and nepotism have weakened confidence in the world body's leadership. Three high-level officials have just stepped down and controversy over the Oil-for-Food Program is keeping a harsh light on the secretary-general.

Let's discuss this with Feisal al-Istrahadi, he's Iraq's deputy ambassador to the United States. Mr. Ambassador, thanks so much for being with us.

FEISAL AL-ISTRAHADI, IRAQI DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO THE UN: My pleasure to be with you.

PHILLIPS: Well, we'll get to oil for food in just a moment. But more importantly at this moment I'd like to talk to you about what happened in Mosul and the relationship between Iraqis. Iraqi national guard, Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops, seeing what happened with the suicide bomber. Where do you go from here with regard to trust and building relationships between the two cultures?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I think you have to realize that the overwhelming majority of the people of Iraq, by which I mean probably very close to 100 percent, are very much grateful for the United States and very relieved that the United States removed the dictator. Without the United States' intervention, we know, and the multinational force, of course, British and others, we know that we would still be living under the brutal tyranny of a heinous dictator. Unfortunately, there are still elements of Iraqi society who want to turn the clock back and take us back to tyranny and dictatorship. That is something that the people of Iraq reject.

I will again express my condolences to the families of all those who were killed in this attack and remind you and your viewers that not only were Americans killed but that Iraqis were killed as well and that once again the blood of American troops and Iraqi troops has been commingled in the fight against tyranny and terrorism and remind you also that for every American soldier who has been killed, a fact we mourn, there have been at times, 15 to 20 Iraqis, most of them civilians, who have been targeted and killed by these terrorists. So we are in the fight together. And ...

PHILLIPS: Let me ask you about that fight together, sir. If you say the majority of Iraqis want democracy, that they appreciate the U.S. presence there, then you would think with those Iraqis and with U.S. forces together they would be able to combat the insurgency and end this. Is it possible? I mean, is it possible to break this insurgency when you are seeing them get the upper hand in surprising ways, more recently this suicide bombing?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I mean, I don't quite know what you mean by gaining the upper hand. They will no doubt be able to score tactical successes. They will be, in short, they will be able to kill people. Americans, Iraqis, others. No question about that.

PHILLIPS: So you want to remind folks that ...

AL-ISTRAHADI: Let me remind you. Hang on. Let me remind you that 19 very dedicated individuals, sick, but dedicated, criminal, but dedicated, were able to kill nearly 3,000 people in this city. Despite the fact that the over -- that 100 percent of the people that live in this country oppose these barbarous tactics. The point is that it is not possible, regretfully, in the world in which we live, for us to guarantee anyone's safety, civilian or military. That is simply a fact that we have to live with, at least for the time, and I take it that that is what the fight against terrorism is about. Now, if anyone believes that the fight against terrorism is going to come without a price, unfortunately, I wish they were right, but, in fact, they are mistaken. There is a price to be paid for combating the terrorism but - the terrorists. But after all, what is the alternative?

PHILLIPS: Ambassador, point made. I want to ask you about the oil for food scandal now. A number of people coming forward asking for the resignation of Kofi Annan, blaming him for the billions of dollars in money that was diverted and the number of companies that received kickbacks. Do you support Kofi Annan?

AL-ISTRAHADI: Well, I think that those that call for the resignation of Kofi Annan fail to take into account that Kofi Annan was not running the oil-for-food program. The Security Council and the 15 members of the Security Council ...

PHILLIPS: What about Benan Sevan, sir, Annan's right hand man, the one that was in charge with that program along with the other individuals you are mentioning?

AL-ISTRAHADI: It remains that the Security Council and the 15 members of the Security Council, including the five permanent members, including the United States and Great Britain and France and Russia and China, were the ones that were charged with overseeing the program. What I don't want to see happen is anyone, any one individual, including the secretary-general, being taken out as a scapegoat, being picked out as a scapegoat. And made to pay a price for something that, to my knowledge, no one has accused him of being personally corrupt.

And I think that you know that the secretary of state has expressed this confidence in Mr. Annan as has the American permanent Ambassador Danforth. So Ii think that these calls for the resignation of the secretary-general are not well taken.

PHILLIPS: Iraq's deputy ambassador to the UN, Feisal al- Istrahadi. Sir, we appreciate your time and look forward to talking to you again.

AL-ISTRAHADI: Thank you and Happy Christmas.

PHILLIPS: Thank you. Miles?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This Christmas Eve we have in our minds the hundreds of thousands of U.S. military men and women who will spend the holidays away from home, outside the country and in many cases, of course in harm's way. A couple of hours ago we managed to make a cross-the-world connection with a marine in Iraq and someone back home who misses him very deeply.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PFC JOSHUA COLVIN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I just want to tell her I miss her and I love her very much and can't wait to come home. I want to wish her a merry Christmas and I just love her a lot.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: No, that was good. Pam, what do you think? There he is. Can you hear him?

PAM COLVIN, JOSHUA COLVIN'S WIFE: Yeah, I can hear him.

HARRIS: What do you want to say to him?

PAM COLVIN: Just that I miss him and I love him and I hope he comes home soon.

HARRIS: Josh, give us a sense of what it's been like for you? How long have you been deployed? Where are you? Are you in Falluja, Baghdad, where are you?

JOSHUA COLVIN: Right now I'm in the area of Falluja. We've been here for a few months. Right now morale is pretty high right now. We're doing all right trying to keep our spirits up for Christmas as much as we can being away from our families and all, Tony.

HARRIS: Yeah. You know what, Pam, let's put that split screen back up there and, Pam, I want you to talk to your husband. I know we're kind of eavesdropping and it's not the most comfortable situation to be in, but you've got a couple of million people listening in on your conversation right now. What do you want to say to your husband and talk to him about this baby you are about to have here.

PAM COLVIN: I just hope maybe he can come home before the baby is born and then if not, he'll be ready to see him when he gets home.

HARRIS: Joshua, make her feel a little better. She's emotional. I can see it on her face. You know, reach out to her all these thousands of miles away and make her feel better.

JOSHUA COLVIN: It's all right, honey. You are doing a great job. I miss you and I love you and I hope I can be home in time to see the baby born. But if not, I know you'll do just fine. I love you a lot. Merry Christmas.

HARRIS: Pam, what are you having?

PAM COLVIN: We're having a boy.

HARRIS: Does he know that?

PAM COLVIN: Yeah.

HARRIS: So how excited are you about your boy?

JOSHUA COLVIN: I am very excited. Just happy. I'm just hoping it's going to be healthy. I didn't really care if it was a boy or girl. Just want a healthy baby. That's what I'm looking forward to, that's what we're both looking forward to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Well, if he didn't know it was a boy before, he certainly does no. Marine Private First Class Joshua Colvin in Iraq, his wife Pam in Michigan expecting across the miles on this Christmas Eve. Our hearts go out to them and the rest of them that are separated in this way. It's not the only reunion we've held here on CNN. Of course, you've seen them if you've been watching. Join us tomorrow morning, Christmas Day, 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Special reunion time. We'll connect wounded soldiers in Mosul and their loved ones at home. That's tomorrow 8:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

Well, a reunion on the basketball court on Christmas Day. It's Kobe and Shaq together, sort of, for the first time since their bitter separation. What can we expect to see?

And we all remember what happened last month when the Pistons and Pacers met. Could this be what happens when Kobe and Shaq get together? Will peace prevail when the two teams meet tomorrow?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're selling the mugs on eBay.

O'BRIEN: No, we're not. Don't start...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: All right. I'm just kidding.

O'BRIEN: They aren't on eBay.

PHILLIPS: All right, for basketball fans, the real Christmas present won't be under the tree this year. It's going to be on the court in the NBA's version of the Hatfields and McCoys as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant face off for the first time since Shaq was traded to Miami. CNN's Steve Overmyer with a recap of our dramatic saga so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

STEVE OVERMYER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were brought in the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, a dynasty was born. But so was a soap opera. Despite three straight NBA championships, the two stars found it difficult to coexist and complained about each other through the media. The rift grew wider in the summer of 2003 when Bryant was accused of rape by a Colorado woman. During a conversation with police, Bryant implied that O'Neal had extramarital affairs and had paid those women to keep the encounters quiet.

Finally, in June, after being swept by the Pistons in the NBA finals, Lakers management made changes. Phil Jackson was not retained as head coach and O'Neal was traded to Miami amid reports that Bryant had a hand in both their departures.

JACK MCCALLUM, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": I think Kobe probably needed new teammates because I think what the old Lakers -- Kobe had pretty much alienated most of the Lakers.

OVERMYER: On Christmas Day in a nationally televised game, O'Neal will return to LA. to face Bryant and the Lakers for the first time.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, MIAMI HEAT: Christmas is just going to be just a normal game. Two good teams going at it. Of course, ABC and all the marketing firms are trying to hype it up. But to me it's just going to be a regular game.

CHARLES BARKLEY, TNT NBA ANALYST: This is really an ego game. Shaq wants to prove to them something. I always say this. You always hate your ex-wife. You want to see them suffer.

MAGIC JOHNSON, TNT NBA ANALYST: I want to see them smack each other. Like Charles said. If it was me coming back, I am smacking some people.

KENNY SMITH, TNT NBA ANALYST: Kobe has to try to dunk on Shaq the first play of the game. That's what I want to see. I want to see if Shaq levels him or Kobe dunks on him.

KOBE BRYANT, LA LAKERS: We've had our share of battles in practice and nobody really had an opportunity to see it. We'd go at it, man. I don't back away from anything. If I have to go to the basket and go to the rim, I'm going to go to the rim.

OVERMYER: Many will be going to their TVs to see if this game lives up to its hype.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. If that's not enough juice for you connoisseurs of sports feuds, Steve Overmyer joins us to further whet your appetite for NBA destruction. Boys behaving badly.

OVERMYER: NBA destruction on Christmas Day. It doesn't sound right. Especially with this Kobe and Shaq. I think Kobe wants peace on earth about now and Shaq will probably be singing "all I want for Christmas is Kobe's two front teeth." We'll see which one comes to fruition, I guess in that game.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll all be watching. All right. Pacers/pistons. The Basketbrawl. What's the latest?

OVERMYER: Remember, of course, back on November 19th these guys got involved in the Motown melee. Well these two teams will be facing each other for the first time since the Motown melee. However, it's not going to be in Detroit. It's going to be in Indiana. Interesting thing here is one of the key players involved in that for the Indiana pacers, Jermaine O'Neal will be granted a temporary reprieve from his suspension and will be able to play in this game. Of course, this NBA is going to be appealing this. A judge reduced his suspension from 25 to 15 games. So Jermaine O'Neal will be playing in this Basketbrawl part 2. I don't see this kind of thing happening again. Number one, because this was in Detroit, not in Indiana. And I think the Indiana Pacers fans are going to be cheering very loudly. But I don't see them throwing anything.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know security isn't changing at all. So they better behave.

OVERMYER: Donny Walsh said security measures won't change at Indiana because it happened in Detroit and the Indiana Pacers fans won't do that.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to be watching. We'll see what happens. Steve Overmyer, thanks.

O'BRIEN: All right. We got a soldier on the line. I don't want to take any more time. Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Breaking news here at CNN. We are hearing preliminary reports of a powerful blast in the western Baghdad neighborhood of al Mansour. You may recall al-Mansour from the days of the war there was a noted attempted attack on Saddam Hussein at a restaurant in this well-to-do neighborhood. We're told by witnesses on the scene the smoke can be seen rising from the area. Heavy gunfire heard after the explosion. Not clear what caused the blast at this point. We're getting numerous reports from wire services now, as well as our own people on the scene. Not too far away from the so-called Green Zone which is in the center part of Baghdad. But this western part of Baghdad historically was where many of the loyalists to Saddam Hussein and his regime were located. As I say, an affluent neighborhood. Once again, to just bring you up to date. A powerful blast that lit up the night sky in Baghdad. Smoke rising from the area. Lots of gunfire to report. We're doing our best to get further details for you and will bring them to you as soon as we get them.

All right. We'll take a break. Back with more in a moment.

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O'BRIEN: We promised details for you on this explosion in Baghdad as they came in. They are coming in right now. Iraqi police are telling us they think the explosion that was heard in the western Baghdad neighborhood of al Mansour was actually triggered by a fuel truck exploding. Unclear whether that was a deliberate act or an accident at this point. But just to backtrack a little bit. What we told you right before the break, very powerful blast. Shaking the western Baghdad neighborhood, lighting up the sky. Columns of smoke seen in that area and then after the explosion, a lot of heavy gunfire. U.S. military is obviously investigating this as well.

Al Mansour is the wealthy district where many loyalists to Saddam Hussein lived at the time of his regime. And in the midst of the invasion of Iraq, a very much discussed attempt on Saddam Hussein's life was taken in that al Mansour district at a restaurant. That attempt, obviously, unsuccessful. Residents in the area saying the smell of explosives is hanging over the whole area. Al Mansour today is home to several senior politicians, embassies, many of the foreign contractors. All of them linked to the U.S.-funded projects in Iraq. People who are driving by in that area say there was a very bright flash. It lit up the night sky. If you know, Baghdad is about eight hours ahead of Eastern Time. Eastern Time now about 2:00 p.m. It's about 10:00 p.m. at night there.

A resounding boom echoing over the city. But just to underscore the point, very large blast in this western affluent neighborhood linked to a fuel truck. What is unclear is was this some sort of deliberate terrorist act near a telecommunications center in this affluent neighborhood or was it some sort of accident? Obviously, lots of details to unfold.

And now what are we going to do? Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to take a quick break. Coming up, we are going to talk more about actually a special online video games. You know our technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg has been bringing us his special all week. Today he's going to wrap it up for us. We'll be right back.

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