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Congress Pledges to Increase Tsunami Relief Funds; Malaysian Businessman Volunteers to Help Tsunami Victims in India; Donations Pour in to Rebuild Sri Lankan Orphanage

Aired January 03, 2005 - 14:30 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: Let's talk about that security for a minute. If you were in charge, if you were commanding this effort from a strategic level, looking at protecting polling places, candidates, Iraqi police, how would you prioritize those efforts right now if you were in charge? What would be the first thing you would make sure was secure?
MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Kyra, the first thing that has to happen is the mechanisms for the election have to be put in place. That means there have to have ballots. You've got to be able to distribute those ballots.

All of those kinds of details are extremely important and must be, in effect, working, and the movements have to be put down so that we can get to the elections. Now, that's No. 1 and that's going. And that's happening right now.

The security situation has got to take place at multiple levels. And it's -- it's tougher than to say here's the very first thing that must take place. It's a combination of factors and strategies that take place at the very highest levels to ensure that Syria is doing its part to seal the borders as best they can. They've got to stand up to do that.

And then the continuing training of the Iraqi forces and putting forces out on the street, the Iraqi forces as best we can. And to plus up with the U.S. forces. That has already taken place and will continue to roll in through the middle of the month.

PHILLIPS: Looking at all the money that's going into Iraq, all the assistance and now taking into account the amount of money from the U.S. that's going to help the victims from the tsunami disaster, can the U.S. afford both a wartime effort and a peacekeeping effort?

MARKS: Kyra, they can. And clearly they must. That's a very clear priority that the nation has got to step up and really be counted and heard and be acknowledged as the world leader, which I think it is, on this effort to assist all of our friends and allies in Southeast Asia and the greater subcontinent area.

PHILLIPS: Finally, once this election happens, how does that change U.S. presence?

MARKS: You know, it's a wait and see. We can't establish -- the United States and the coalition won't establish a time line. It's not an end date that we're looking for. It's end state, or it's conditions that must be met. So anyone's guess is as good as yours or mine in terms of how long those forces will remain in place following the elections.

PHILLIPS: General James Marks, thanks for your time today, sir.

MARKS: Kyra, thank you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Now in the news, presidents 41, 42 and 43 all together to appeal for aid for tsunami victims. President Bush asking for more private donations in the tsunami disaster.

The president has tapped his father, former President Bush, and former President Clinton to head a nationwide charitable effort. We'll hear from them very shortly.

Secretary of State Colin Powell will get a firsthand look at the devastation in Asia. The secretary and the president's brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush, arrived in Bangkok today. Secretary Powell will also meet with Asian leaders at a donors' conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, this week.

Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson is at home after being treated for bronchitis over the weekend. A spokeswoman says she's feeling much better. The 92-year-old widow of former President Johnson was rushed by ambulance to an Austin, Texas, hospital on Saturday after she felt faint. These are obviously file pictures.

We've heard the Grapevine is shut down in southern California. Guess we heard that through the grapevine. Heavy snow shut down a section of Interstate 5, known by that name, outside of L.A. Rain has also flooded roads in the Sierra Nevada, making the commute treacherous. It's the second week of stormy weather in the region.

PHILLIPS: The tsunami disaster will be at the top of the agenda when the new Congress convenes tomorrow. CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry with more now on -- from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senior lawmakers are already vowing to sharply increase emergency funds to victims of the tsunami disaster.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The $350 million that President Bush has now asked Congress for, I believe, will be a floor and not a ceiling.

HENRY: Congressional leaders will pass a resolution on Tuesday, pledging their support for the victims, while the State Department actually delivers the money.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Accounts that we have, and we take the money from those accounts. But those funds were supposed to go somewhere else. So they'll have to be replenished. HENRY: Later this month, Congress will repay those accounts with an emergency spending bill that is likely to include even more aid. The lawmakers first want to assess the full extent of the crisis before deciding on an exact figure.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: A lot of people say we're not moving fast enough or we're moving too fast, depending on who you're talking to. We just need to take a major response, assess, make the diagnosis and respond appropriately.

HENRY: For that diagnosis, Frist is leading a delegation to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Since he's a heart surgeon, Frist may even operate on victims who need help.

FRIST: To be on the ground as a physician, I -- I do best when I see what's actually happening, see the patients, see the people affected, see the orphans. See if the aid that is coming in is being used effectively and efficiently and not just piles of supplies over in some building.

HENRY (on camera): Lawmakers will also consider a global warning system for tsunamis. Tens of thousands of lives may have been saved if such a system existed in the Indian Ocean.

Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Untold numbers of volunteers are pouring into tsunami stricken Asia. CNN's Ram Ramgopal found one volunteer who traveled thousands of miles to India to help out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAM RAMGOPAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, handouts for the hungry. Last Sunday, this area was inundated by the tsunami, among the worst affected districts in Chennai, the city formerly known as Madras.

One week on, a sea of humanity is surging for help in the form of food, clothing, anything anyone can provide.

(on camera) Because of its urban setting, this is among the better organized distribution points, but here, as in many other places, the need is reflected in long lines that stretch into the distance.

(voice-over) As these people patiently await their turn, a humanitarian provides sustenance. It's the hand of Thomas Cheng, an insurance executive from Malaysia. Touched by the suffering he saw on TV, Cheng was moved to travel thousands of miles at his own cost to help in the relief work here.

THOMAS CHENG, VOLUNTEER: I see the people here. There are hungry faces, and the suffering is just overwhelming. RAMGOPAL: Cheng is also capturing the experience on his own camcorder. Here at a relief camp, he helped serve dinner to up to 350 people.

CHENG: Through these things, we realize we all are brothers and sisters. You know, there's -- if one brother suffers we also feel the same.

RAMGOPAL: On Chennai's famed Marina Beach, the damage is extensive. This shantytown on the sands has been nearly leveled. Dozens drowned in these waters.

Today, the focus is on basics like food. Tomorrow it will be about much larger issues: a roof over these people's heads, their livelihoods, school.

In the historic Santum (ph) cathedral, a prayer is said for the lost souls of Asia and candles are lit to dispel the darkness.

Ram Ramgopal, Chennai, southern India.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: On a seashore in Sri Lanka, an orphanage built by the sacrifice of one man's comfortable life in America lies in rubble. But, as CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports, the orphans' home may rise again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIYANA SANDERS, SISTER OF ORPHANAGE FOUNDER: We wish you and your family many prayers throughout this tragedy.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The mail has brought Diyana Sanders condolences and checks.

DIYANA SANDERS: It's a check for $100, for $800, $500, $250.

MESERVE: In one day, a total of $7,400 to rebuild the orphanage Diyana's brother, Dayalan Sanders established on a sliver of seaside in Sri Lanka in 1994.

DAYALAN SANDERS, ORPHANAGE FOUNDER: She's just 10 years old, and she's been with us just a couple of months.

MESERVE: Dayalan left a comfortable life in the U.S., selling his home to finance the building of the orphanage and help the children in his native country.

KAMALAN SANDERS, DAYALAN'S MOTHER: Since he was a little boy, he was always a very caring person. He would collect money in a little purse and give it away to beggars.

MESERVE: Twenty-eight children found a home at the orphanage until last Sunday. DAYALAN SANDERS: There are no words in human speech to describe what we saw. It was a 20-foot wall of sea just bearing down on us like an angry monster.

MESERVE: Dayalan crammed the orphans and his family into one small boat, which, uncharacteristically, started on the first try.

DIYANA SANDERS: The boat capacity was only 15 people. There were like 30-33 people cramped in there, trying to get across to the city. And they were all dead bodies in this lagoon. And there were people holding on to rafters and branches and screaming to them and asking them to help them.

MESERVE: Dayalan and the children survived. The orphanage did not.

KANYA SANDERS, DAYALAN'S SISTER: It's been incomprehensible and just, you know, mind blowing, but you know, we are so, so thankful and grateful to God, you know, that they were saved so miraculously.

MESERVE: Dayalan's family and friends in Maryland immediately set about raising the estimated $400,000 it will take to rebuild the orphanage. Two newspaper stories have helped generate a torrent of calls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Samaritan Home Relief. How can I help you?

MESERVE: And contributions.

DIYANA SANDERS: Wow. $1,500. Amazing. "It's my sympathy to you and your fellow countrymen from Sri Lanka. I hope this gift will help towards building the orphanage."

MESERVE: An orphanage that Sri Lanka needs now more than ever before.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: CNN has a special primetime coverage of the tsunami aid efforts tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. Anderson Cooper anchors from Sri Lanka. And at 9 Eastern, Larry King interviews former presidents Bush and Clinton about their new tsunami relief effort.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Visibility may be zilch at times in southern California, in certain mountains, zilch being a technical term, of course. It's week two of a record-breaking snowstorm. It's piling on layers and layers of fresh -- powder, I should say. It would be great for skiers. Of course, the ski resorts are having a problem. People can't get there, because it is a lot of snow.

Ted Rowlands live now in Soda Springs... PHILLIPS: Air lifted.

O'BRIEN: ... monitoring wild weather out west. Kyra insists you were air lifted in there. Would you dispel people of that notion? You actually put the chains on the vehicle, right?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, chain requirements up old I-80. It was open when we came up yesterday night.

And now it has actually stopped snowing and it is just beautiful. People are still digging out, though. All morning long, we've been traveling around and meeting people whose cars are completely covered with snow.

The snowplow industry is hard at work, as well, up here. As you can imagine, it has caused travel problems and it is also causing people that live here major headaches, trying to get this nine feet of snow in some areas off of their driveways, off of their cars, off of their front steps so that they can maneuver around.

There is a bit of a respite, which it looks as though it has started now. It is expected, however, that there will be more snow coming in here later this week. Folks here say they are very used to very heavy snow levels but not all at once.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six, seven foot snow banks beside the road is actually typical right around Christmas. But it usually comes over a succession of several snows instead of pretty much all at once. We had only about two feet before this came down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: And, of course, snow here in the higher elevations means rain at the lower elevations. It's not only here in northern California but southern California, as well. Los Angeles is getting hammered today and has for some time now. The west is quite soggy.

Folks here are hoping that this will slow down, but forecasters say, as I mentioned, a little bit of a respite for the next few days. But by week's end, more rain across the state -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: It's worth pointing out that folks in that part of the world get their water from the melting snow. So this is actually good news for places that have encountered a lot of drought in recent years.

ROWLANDS: Yes, undoubtedly. All this snow pack is going to melt down and alleviate some problems with water that have been forecasted, especially in the state of Nevada. They get a lot of water from run off, as well.

So it's welcome news over the long haul. Short-term, though, it's a little bit tough to deal with, this much all once. O'BRIEN: That's for sure. Right now looks it looks like a picture postcard, Ted Rowlands. Hope you have some opportunity to strap on some kind of board while you're there. Ted Rowlands reporting for now, playing later.

Let's check the forecast with Jacqui Jeras.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, in showbiz news now, as Miles and I like to say, we say this very slowly. Folks are flocking to see "The Fockers" and a major celebrity show shows generosity to victims...

O'BRIEN: I've got to say, it's bad enough just having to say that, but then to say folks are flocking to see.

PHILLIPS: Sibila, I think that someone is trying...

O'BRIEN: It's like an anchor test.

PHILLIPS: to make us screw it up.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I love it. I know, Fockers. How could you -- OK, I'm not going to go there. Happy new year, guys.

Well, it's official. Moviegoers are in love with the Fockers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUSTIN HOFFMAN, ACTOR: The piece de resistance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: Oh, I see.

BEN STILLER, ACTOR: I'll be in in a sec.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: "Meet the Fockers" came in first at the box office for the second week in a row, reeling in $42.8 million.

According to studio estimates, the star-studded comedy has grossed more than $163 million during its 12-day run. It crushed the competition including "Lemony Snicket," "The Aviator," "Fat Albert" and "Oceans 12." In fact, "Meet the Fockers" set the records for the biggest gross on New Year's Eve and on new year's day.

And the film's success helped produce record box office revenues for 2004. According to public relations (ph), the industry generated a gross of $9.4 billion, an increase of 1.4 percent over last year.

But attendance fell 1.7 percent for the second time in 10 years Hollywood has seen back-to-back annual declines in its theatrical audience.

Well, if you're like me and you own a TiVo, you love it. I mean, how can you beat TV when you want it? Well, how about TV where you want it? TiVo is unveiling a portable service called TiVo to Go.

That means not only will you be able to record your favorite shows in your living room but now you'll be able to transfer your recordings to PC's or laptops and take them on the road with you.

That is, however, if the show is not specifically tagged with copy restrictions. Now the company plans to extend TiVo to go so it will work on other portable media, as well. So not bad, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Doesn't sound bad. All right. On a much more serious note, celebrities are stepping up to the plate and helping tsunami victim efforts.

VARGAS: That's right. A very generous Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross to assist in the tsunami relief. This is the second time that the actress has given such a gift.

And a group of British artists, mostly British artists, at least, are joining to -- forces to release a charity single to raise money for the millions of victims. Boy George has signed on and Olivia Newton John and Robin and Barry Gibb are being asked to lend their vocals.

Funds raised by the song, called "Grief Never Grows Old," will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee. Now, that's an umbrella organization for British charities.

The single's producers hope to have it completed within a week to get it to shops as soon as possible. Good news, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is good news. Sibila Vargas, thanks so much -- Miles.

VARGAS: Thanks.

O'BRIEN: CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash sat down with two former presidents, presidents Bush and Clinton. Let's listen to her interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush, President Clinton, this is obviously a unique partnership, two former rivals coming together for an unprecedented effort, obviously an unprecedented disaster in modern times.

But there's already enormous outpouring of private donations. What can the two of you do that's not already being done?

GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A greater outpouring of private donations, emphasizing the importance of this, by pointing out that a private donation of cash is more important at this stage of the recovery than sending things, items, tents, whatever.

Because we've heard that the best way to do this is to send the cash that then can get right to the delivery system better than some, you know, some guy in his garage working out of his heart says, "I'm going to give you these four cots." Well, how do you get them there? So that's what we believe.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I also think we can raise more money for certain specific things.

In the days ahead, it will become clear that, while the American people have been phenomenally generous, and people throughout the world have, there may be particular shortages. Maybe there's a shortage of medicine and antibiotics to prevent malaria and cholera. Maybe it will be a shortage of water purification equipment, that we can go then get some money to deal with that.

I also, to go back to what President Bush said about cash, I think a lot of people will say, "Well, that's all right." They can give big checks and we will. He has and I will. "But I only have $10."

But because of the Internet, that $10 can be efficiently merged with other funds. And there's a White House web site, which is USAFreedomCorps.gov. USAFreedomCorps.gov. It's got a list of kind of the charities that they know will -- and you get a feeling from the web site for what they do.

And AOL and Apple have set up Web sites to collect small donations. I think AOL collected $7 million in 36 hours in mostly small donations.

So that's the other thing we want to do. We want to convince people to shift from in kind to cash and to do it even if they can only give a little bit.

And over the long run, three months from now, when you'll be doing an interview with somebody about something else, we may really need some more private money, and we're prepared to do that, too.

BASH: President Clinton, there has been criticism of President Bush that he was too slow in coming out to show, if not just U.S. action but at least moral leadership, symbolic leadership. What do you make of that?

CLINTON: Well, let me say two things. First of all, today, the three of us went to the embassies of the countries affected most. It was his idea, not mine and not his father. It was his idea to do it. And I can tell you it had a big impact on the people there, and it will in the countries affected. They think America is on their side.

Second thing I'd like to say is I think that not only in asking us to help, but in pledging $350 million in government aid and sending those military helicopters to Aceh to deliver those life-saving supplies to the Indonesians, and in promising that we would do more through the government, if need be, I don't see how he could have done more.

I think that right now we are where we need to be, and we shouldn't be looking back. We should be looking forward.

BASH: And President Bush, as this is obviously a disaster, but how do you see this as a chance, perhaps, for President Bush to use this to earn some good will. To put it bluntly, he's not that popular. Not that popular around the world, but perhaps that's not the goal here but in the end.

BUSH: It's not the goal. It's not the goal.

BASH: Could that perhaps help?

BUSH: You've got to know the president. You've got to know what's in his heart. I guess I know it better than anybody. Maybe Laura. No, I think I do. Or Barbara. You know, what's in his heart. And also what he'd like to do as president.

Didn't matter, polls in Indonesia, if they go up a bit. Or if something over here, CNN, does it go down. That's not what this is about. It's about saving lives, about caring. And the president cares, and I think all this thing, it wasn't early enough or quick, and that's an inside the Beltway game. You wait, and a week from now you find anybody that gives any credence to that at all, given the enormity of the government effort. And hopefully, the response to the private sector.

That's what matters.

BASH: Having said all that, though, is this an opportunity, though, to show some good will?

BUSH: Sure. Any time that the United States helps somebody, through aid or through missions of this nature, or you can say to a person that's suffering from loss of children in Indonesia or Sri Lanka, of course it helps. We are a compassionate nation. And they see it.

And you should have been at that embassy talking to these ambassadors and what they feel in their heart about -- about the willingness of the United States to support them, whether it's our helicopters or whether it's the private sector, or whether it's some private group coming in with whatever it is over there. It's just enormous.

CLINTON: I think, you know, first, I agree with that, but I think it's important that we not even for a moment act like that's why we do it. We did it because it's 150,000 dead human beings, a lot of them little bitty kids. There are millions of people who have been dislodged from their homes.

You know, I saw a man on your network crawling on his hands and knees in the sand trying to dig his fishing boat out. And he was asked why he was doing it, and he said, "My wife and three children were killed. I don't want to lose my livelihood, too."

I mean, let's not forgot about this. Will it help America? It always helps America when countries that aren't as rich and powerful as we are think we're pulling for them. And they get it.

Just like you get it. You talk to people, you have a reaction to them. That's the way countries are. They're no different from people.

But the best way for us to help ourselves is to do what's right without regard to how people feel for us. Just do it, and it will happen. The rest will come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That's our five-minute taste of what you'll see if you tune in tonight, 9 p.m. Eastern, for "LARRY KING LIVE." Presidents number 41 and 42, his guests. We hope you'll join us.

Stay with us for more LIVE FROM after a short 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 January 3, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about that security for a minute. If you were in charge, if you were commanding this effort from a strategic level, looking at protecting polling places, candidates, Iraqi police, how would you prioritize those efforts right now if you were in charge? What would be the first thing you would make sure was secure?
MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Kyra, the first thing that has to happen is the mechanisms for the election have to be put in place. That means there have to have ballots. You've got to be able to distribute those ballots.

All of those kinds of details are extremely important and must be, in effect, working, and the movements have to be put down so that we can get to the elections. Now, that's No. 1 and that's going. And that's happening right now.

The security situation has got to take place at multiple levels. And it's -- it's tougher than to say here's the very first thing that must take place. It's a combination of factors and strategies that take place at the very highest levels to ensure that Syria is doing its part to seal the borders as best they can. They've got to stand up to do that.

And then the continuing training of the Iraqi forces and putting forces out on the street, the Iraqi forces as best we can. And to plus up with the U.S. forces. That has already taken place and will continue to roll in through the middle of the month.

PHILLIPS: Looking at all the money that's going into Iraq, all the assistance and now taking into account the amount of money from the U.S. that's going to help the victims from the tsunami disaster, can the U.S. afford both a wartime effort and a peacekeeping effort?

MARKS: Kyra, they can. And clearly they must. That's a very clear priority that the nation has got to step up and really be counted and heard and be acknowledged as the world leader, which I think it is, on this effort to assist all of our friends and allies in Southeast Asia and the greater subcontinent area.

PHILLIPS: Finally, once this election happens, how does that change U.S. presence?

MARKS: You know, it's a wait and see. We can't establish -- the United States and the coalition won't establish a time line. It's not an end date that we're looking for. It's end state, or it's conditions that must be met. So anyone's guess is as good as yours or mine in terms of how long those forces will remain in place following the elections.

PHILLIPS: General James Marks, thanks for your time today, sir.

MARKS: Kyra, thank you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Now in the news, presidents 41, 42 and 43 all together to appeal for aid for tsunami victims. President Bush asking for more private donations in the tsunami disaster.

The president has tapped his father, former President Bush, and former President Clinton to head a nationwide charitable effort. We'll hear from them very shortly.

Secretary of State Colin Powell will get a firsthand look at the devastation in Asia. The secretary and the president's brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush, arrived in Bangkok today. Secretary Powell will also meet with Asian leaders at a donors' conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, this week.

Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson is at home after being treated for bronchitis over the weekend. A spokeswoman says she's feeling much better. The 92-year-old widow of former President Johnson was rushed by ambulance to an Austin, Texas, hospital on Saturday after she felt faint. These are obviously file pictures.

We've heard the Grapevine is shut down in southern California. Guess we heard that through the grapevine. Heavy snow shut down a section of Interstate 5, known by that name, outside of L.A. Rain has also flooded roads in the Sierra Nevada, making the commute treacherous. It's the second week of stormy weather in the region.

PHILLIPS: The tsunami disaster will be at the top of the agenda when the new Congress convenes tomorrow. CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry with more now on -- from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senior lawmakers are already vowing to sharply increase emergency funds to victims of the tsunami disaster.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The $350 million that President Bush has now asked Congress for, I believe, will be a floor and not a ceiling.

HENRY: Congressional leaders will pass a resolution on Tuesday, pledging their support for the victims, while the State Department actually delivers the money.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Accounts that we have, and we take the money from those accounts. But those funds were supposed to go somewhere else. So they'll have to be replenished. HENRY: Later this month, Congress will repay those accounts with an emergency spending bill that is likely to include even more aid. The lawmakers first want to assess the full extent of the crisis before deciding on an exact figure.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: A lot of people say we're not moving fast enough or we're moving too fast, depending on who you're talking to. We just need to take a major response, assess, make the diagnosis and respond appropriately.

HENRY: For that diagnosis, Frist is leading a delegation to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Since he's a heart surgeon, Frist may even operate on victims who need help.

FRIST: To be on the ground as a physician, I -- I do best when I see what's actually happening, see the patients, see the people affected, see the orphans. See if the aid that is coming in is being used effectively and efficiently and not just piles of supplies over in some building.

HENRY (on camera): Lawmakers will also consider a global warning system for tsunamis. Tens of thousands of lives may have been saved if such a system existed in the Indian Ocean.

Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Untold numbers of volunteers are pouring into tsunami stricken Asia. CNN's Ram Ramgopal found one volunteer who traveled thousands of miles to India to help out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAM RAMGOPAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, handouts for the hungry. Last Sunday, this area was inundated by the tsunami, among the worst affected districts in Chennai, the city formerly known as Madras.

One week on, a sea of humanity is surging for help in the form of food, clothing, anything anyone can provide.

(on camera) Because of its urban setting, this is among the better organized distribution points, but here, as in many other places, the need is reflected in long lines that stretch into the distance.

(voice-over) As these people patiently await their turn, a humanitarian provides sustenance. It's the hand of Thomas Cheng, an insurance executive from Malaysia. Touched by the suffering he saw on TV, Cheng was moved to travel thousands of miles at his own cost to help in the relief work here.

THOMAS CHENG, VOLUNTEER: I see the people here. There are hungry faces, and the suffering is just overwhelming. RAMGOPAL: Cheng is also capturing the experience on his own camcorder. Here at a relief camp, he helped serve dinner to up to 350 people.

CHENG: Through these things, we realize we all are brothers and sisters. You know, there's -- if one brother suffers we also feel the same.

RAMGOPAL: On Chennai's famed Marina Beach, the damage is extensive. This shantytown on the sands has been nearly leveled. Dozens drowned in these waters.

Today, the focus is on basics like food. Tomorrow it will be about much larger issues: a roof over these people's heads, their livelihoods, school.

In the historic Santum (ph) cathedral, a prayer is said for the lost souls of Asia and candles are lit to dispel the darkness.

Ram Ramgopal, Chennai, southern India.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: On a seashore in Sri Lanka, an orphanage built by the sacrifice of one man's comfortable life in America lies in rubble. But, as CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports, the orphans' home may rise again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIYANA SANDERS, SISTER OF ORPHANAGE FOUNDER: We wish you and your family many prayers throughout this tragedy.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The mail has brought Diyana Sanders condolences and checks.

DIYANA SANDERS: It's a check for $100, for $800, $500, $250.

MESERVE: In one day, a total of $7,400 to rebuild the orphanage Diyana's brother, Dayalan Sanders established on a sliver of seaside in Sri Lanka in 1994.

DAYALAN SANDERS, ORPHANAGE FOUNDER: She's just 10 years old, and she's been with us just a couple of months.

MESERVE: Dayalan left a comfortable life in the U.S., selling his home to finance the building of the orphanage and help the children in his native country.

KAMALAN SANDERS, DAYALAN'S MOTHER: Since he was a little boy, he was always a very caring person. He would collect money in a little purse and give it away to beggars.

MESERVE: Twenty-eight children found a home at the orphanage until last Sunday. DAYALAN SANDERS: There are no words in human speech to describe what we saw. It was a 20-foot wall of sea just bearing down on us like an angry monster.

MESERVE: Dayalan crammed the orphans and his family into one small boat, which, uncharacteristically, started on the first try.

DIYANA SANDERS: The boat capacity was only 15 people. There were like 30-33 people cramped in there, trying to get across to the city. And they were all dead bodies in this lagoon. And there were people holding on to rafters and branches and screaming to them and asking them to help them.

MESERVE: Dayalan and the children survived. The orphanage did not.

KANYA SANDERS, DAYALAN'S SISTER: It's been incomprehensible and just, you know, mind blowing, but you know, we are so, so thankful and grateful to God, you know, that they were saved so miraculously.

MESERVE: Dayalan's family and friends in Maryland immediately set about raising the estimated $400,000 it will take to rebuild the orphanage. Two newspaper stories have helped generate a torrent of calls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Samaritan Home Relief. How can I help you?

MESERVE: And contributions.

DIYANA SANDERS: Wow. $1,500. Amazing. "It's my sympathy to you and your fellow countrymen from Sri Lanka. I hope this gift will help towards building the orphanage."

MESERVE: An orphanage that Sri Lanka needs now more than ever before.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: CNN has a special primetime coverage of the tsunami aid efforts tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. Anderson Cooper anchors from Sri Lanka. And at 9 Eastern, Larry King interviews former presidents Bush and Clinton about their new tsunami relief effort.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Visibility may be zilch at times in southern California, in certain mountains, zilch being a technical term, of course. It's week two of a record-breaking snowstorm. It's piling on layers and layers of fresh -- powder, I should say. It would be great for skiers. Of course, the ski resorts are having a problem. People can't get there, because it is a lot of snow.

Ted Rowlands live now in Soda Springs... PHILLIPS: Air lifted.

O'BRIEN: ... monitoring wild weather out west. Kyra insists you were air lifted in there. Would you dispel people of that notion? You actually put the chains on the vehicle, right?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, chain requirements up old I-80. It was open when we came up yesterday night.

And now it has actually stopped snowing and it is just beautiful. People are still digging out, though. All morning long, we've been traveling around and meeting people whose cars are completely covered with snow.

The snowplow industry is hard at work, as well, up here. As you can imagine, it has caused travel problems and it is also causing people that live here major headaches, trying to get this nine feet of snow in some areas off of their driveways, off of their cars, off of their front steps so that they can maneuver around.

There is a bit of a respite, which it looks as though it has started now. It is expected, however, that there will be more snow coming in here later this week. Folks here say they are very used to very heavy snow levels but not all at once.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six, seven foot snow banks beside the road is actually typical right around Christmas. But it usually comes over a succession of several snows instead of pretty much all at once. We had only about two feet before this came down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: And, of course, snow here in the higher elevations means rain at the lower elevations. It's not only here in northern California but southern California, as well. Los Angeles is getting hammered today and has for some time now. The west is quite soggy.

Folks here are hoping that this will slow down, but forecasters say, as I mentioned, a little bit of a respite for the next few days. But by week's end, more rain across the state -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: It's worth pointing out that folks in that part of the world get their water from the melting snow. So this is actually good news for places that have encountered a lot of drought in recent years.

ROWLANDS: Yes, undoubtedly. All this snow pack is going to melt down and alleviate some problems with water that have been forecasted, especially in the state of Nevada. They get a lot of water from run off, as well.

So it's welcome news over the long haul. Short-term, though, it's a little bit tough to deal with, this much all once. O'BRIEN: That's for sure. Right now looks it looks like a picture postcard, Ted Rowlands. Hope you have some opportunity to strap on some kind of board while you're there. Ted Rowlands reporting for now, playing later.

Let's check the forecast with Jacqui Jeras.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, in showbiz news now, as Miles and I like to say, we say this very slowly. Folks are flocking to see "The Fockers" and a major celebrity show shows generosity to victims...

O'BRIEN: I've got to say, it's bad enough just having to say that, but then to say folks are flocking to see.

PHILLIPS: Sibila, I think that someone is trying...

O'BRIEN: It's like an anchor test.

PHILLIPS: to make us screw it up.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I love it. I know, Fockers. How could you -- OK, I'm not going to go there. Happy new year, guys.

Well, it's official. Moviegoers are in love with the Fockers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUSTIN HOFFMAN, ACTOR: The piece de resistance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: Oh, I see.

BEN STILLER, ACTOR: I'll be in in a sec.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: "Meet the Fockers" came in first at the box office for the second week in a row, reeling in $42.8 million.

According to studio estimates, the star-studded comedy has grossed more than $163 million during its 12-day run. It crushed the competition including "Lemony Snicket," "The Aviator," "Fat Albert" and "Oceans 12." In fact, "Meet the Fockers" set the records for the biggest gross on New Year's Eve and on new year's day.

And the film's success helped produce record box office revenues for 2004. According to public relations (ph), the industry generated a gross of $9.4 billion, an increase of 1.4 percent over last year.

But attendance fell 1.7 percent for the second time in 10 years Hollywood has seen back-to-back annual declines in its theatrical audience.

Well, if you're like me and you own a TiVo, you love it. I mean, how can you beat TV when you want it? Well, how about TV where you want it? TiVo is unveiling a portable service called TiVo to Go.

That means not only will you be able to record your favorite shows in your living room but now you'll be able to transfer your recordings to PC's or laptops and take them on the road with you.

That is, however, if the show is not specifically tagged with copy restrictions. Now the company plans to extend TiVo to go so it will work on other portable media, as well. So not bad, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Doesn't sound bad. All right. On a much more serious note, celebrities are stepping up to the plate and helping tsunami victim efforts.

VARGAS: That's right. A very generous Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross to assist in the tsunami relief. This is the second time that the actress has given such a gift.

And a group of British artists, mostly British artists, at least, are joining to -- forces to release a charity single to raise money for the millions of victims. Boy George has signed on and Olivia Newton John and Robin and Barry Gibb are being asked to lend their vocals.

Funds raised by the song, called "Grief Never Grows Old," will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee. Now, that's an umbrella organization for British charities.

The single's producers hope to have it completed within a week to get it to shops as soon as possible. Good news, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is good news. Sibila Vargas, thanks so much -- Miles.

VARGAS: Thanks.

O'BRIEN: CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash sat down with two former presidents, presidents Bush and Clinton. Let's listen to her interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush, President Clinton, this is obviously a unique partnership, two former rivals coming together for an unprecedented effort, obviously an unprecedented disaster in modern times.

But there's already enormous outpouring of private donations. What can the two of you do that's not already being done?

GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A greater outpouring of private donations, emphasizing the importance of this, by pointing out that a private donation of cash is more important at this stage of the recovery than sending things, items, tents, whatever.

Because we've heard that the best way to do this is to send the cash that then can get right to the delivery system better than some, you know, some guy in his garage working out of his heart says, "I'm going to give you these four cots." Well, how do you get them there? So that's what we believe.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I also think we can raise more money for certain specific things.

In the days ahead, it will become clear that, while the American people have been phenomenally generous, and people throughout the world have, there may be particular shortages. Maybe there's a shortage of medicine and antibiotics to prevent malaria and cholera. Maybe it will be a shortage of water purification equipment, that we can go then get some money to deal with that.

I also, to go back to what President Bush said about cash, I think a lot of people will say, "Well, that's all right." They can give big checks and we will. He has and I will. "But I only have $10."

But because of the Internet, that $10 can be efficiently merged with other funds. And there's a White House web site, which is USAFreedomCorps.gov. USAFreedomCorps.gov. It's got a list of kind of the charities that they know will -- and you get a feeling from the web site for what they do.

And AOL and Apple have set up Web sites to collect small donations. I think AOL collected $7 million in 36 hours in mostly small donations.

So that's the other thing we want to do. We want to convince people to shift from in kind to cash and to do it even if they can only give a little bit.

And over the long run, three months from now, when you'll be doing an interview with somebody about something else, we may really need some more private money, and we're prepared to do that, too.

BASH: President Clinton, there has been criticism of President Bush that he was too slow in coming out to show, if not just U.S. action but at least moral leadership, symbolic leadership. What do you make of that?

CLINTON: Well, let me say two things. First of all, today, the three of us went to the embassies of the countries affected most. It was his idea, not mine and not his father. It was his idea to do it. And I can tell you it had a big impact on the people there, and it will in the countries affected. They think America is on their side.

Second thing I'd like to say is I think that not only in asking us to help, but in pledging $350 million in government aid and sending those military helicopters to Aceh to deliver those life-saving supplies to the Indonesians, and in promising that we would do more through the government, if need be, I don't see how he could have done more.

I think that right now we are where we need to be, and we shouldn't be looking back. We should be looking forward.

BASH: And President Bush, as this is obviously a disaster, but how do you see this as a chance, perhaps, for President Bush to use this to earn some good will. To put it bluntly, he's not that popular. Not that popular around the world, but perhaps that's not the goal here but in the end.

BUSH: It's not the goal. It's not the goal.

BASH: Could that perhaps help?

BUSH: You've got to know the president. You've got to know what's in his heart. I guess I know it better than anybody. Maybe Laura. No, I think I do. Or Barbara. You know, what's in his heart. And also what he'd like to do as president.

Didn't matter, polls in Indonesia, if they go up a bit. Or if something over here, CNN, does it go down. That's not what this is about. It's about saving lives, about caring. And the president cares, and I think all this thing, it wasn't early enough or quick, and that's an inside the Beltway game. You wait, and a week from now you find anybody that gives any credence to that at all, given the enormity of the government effort. And hopefully, the response to the private sector.

That's what matters.

BASH: Having said all that, though, is this an opportunity, though, to show some good will?

BUSH: Sure. Any time that the United States helps somebody, through aid or through missions of this nature, or you can say to a person that's suffering from loss of children in Indonesia or Sri Lanka, of course it helps. We are a compassionate nation. And they see it.

And you should have been at that embassy talking to these ambassadors and what they feel in their heart about -- about the willingness of the United States to support them, whether it's our helicopters or whether it's the private sector, or whether it's some private group coming in with whatever it is over there. It's just enormous.

CLINTON: I think, you know, first, I agree with that, but I think it's important that we not even for a moment act like that's why we do it. We did it because it's 150,000 dead human beings, a lot of them little bitty kids. There are millions of people who have been dislodged from their homes.

You know, I saw a man on your network crawling on his hands and knees in the sand trying to dig his fishing boat out. And he was asked why he was doing it, and he said, "My wife and three children were killed. I don't want to lose my livelihood, too."

I mean, let's not forgot about this. Will it help America? It always helps America when countries that aren't as rich and powerful as we are think we're pulling for them. And they get it.

Just like you get it. You talk to people, you have a reaction to them. That's the way countries are. They're no different from people.

But the best way for us to help ourselves is to do what's right without regard to how people feel for us. Just do it, and it will happen. The rest will come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That's our five-minute taste of what you'll see if you tune in tonight, 9 p.m. Eastern, for "LARRY KING LIVE." Presidents number 41 and 42, his guests. We hope you'll join us.

Stay with us for more LIVE FROM after a short break.

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