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Marines Arrive in Sri Lanka with Aid; Baghdad Governor Assassinated; Plane Hits Water Buffalo, Temporarily Halts Supply Runs; Man Arrested for Laser Incidents

Aired January 04, 2005 - 13:00   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.


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're responding because of the human dimensions of this catastrophe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Responding to overwhelming need. Aid making its way to tsunami survivors. American Marines now on the ground. We're live from Sri Lanka.

MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Wings of mercy. We'll take you inside relief flights to people still waiting for medical care more than a week after the tsunami struck.

PHILLIPS: Assassination in Iraq. Insurgents hit a high profile target. We're live from Baghdad with more on the campaign against upcoming elections.

O'BRIEN: The makers of Prozac know about the drug's risk of suicide as long as 15 years ago. CNN has some documents, and we'll have a full report for you.

From CNN's Washington's newsroom, I'm Miles O'Brien.

PHILLIPS: And from the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

The Marines have landed in tsunami ravaged southern Sri Lanka. And they haven't come empty-handed. The latest phase of the U.S. military aid effort includes hundreds of troops and hundreds of tons of food, water, water purification gear, bulldozers, and generators.

Indonesia, meanwhile, welcomes the U.S. secretary of state and governor of Florida on this second stop of their three-nation fact- finding mission. A donors meeting is planned for Thursday in Jakarta.

By CNN's count, more than 155,000 tsunami victims are dead, a figure only slightly higher than yesterday's. Ninety-four thousand, or roughly 60 percent of the total, died in Indonesia alone.

CNN, of course, has correspondents and crews throughout the subcontinent. Today, we see 14 reporters and anchors in four countries. O'BRIEN: The brigadier general in charge of Marines getting settled in Sri Lanka today estimates they can start making a significant impact by the weekend.

CNN's Satinder Bindra is in Colombo, that nation's capital -- Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Miles. We're already seeing first signs of this impact. Just earlier today, a Marine helicopter touched down in the city of Galle. Galle is in southern Sri Lanka. And as I've been reporting all along, this is one of the worst affected areas here. Thousands of people are homeless, more than 2,000 dead in this city alone.

And ten days after the tsunami wrecked their lives, the residents of the city raced to the helicopters to pick up their supplies. An emotional moment, Miles, both for the locals, as well as for the Marines on board that helicopter.

Also today, a large C-5 transport plane touching down in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. On board that plane, water purification equipment and equipment to reconstruct Sri Lanka's ravaged economy.

Also on board, dozens of Marines. Eventually, Miles, their strength here will grow to about 1,200. They will be supported in their mission by one large ship, 12 helicopters, even a hovercraft.

A short while ago, Miles, I spoke exclusively to the general commanding this mission of mercy. And here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. FRANK PANTER, U.S. MARINES: We estimate that I'll have sufficient forces in the area for, maybe five days.

BINDRA: And where's the focus of this mission going to be?

PANTER: The focus will be south, down south, off in the Galle vicinity and in that area.

BINDRA: You're going to be using some unique technology as part of this mission, right?

PANTER: Yes, I will. Things like hovercraft. I'll have some of those. And the L-CAC. We'll be using engineering equipment ashore and supplies from the amphibious shipping.

BINDRA: Describe the mood of your men.

PANTER: Well, they're anxious to get started. Interesting, we had no problem getting volunteers for this mission. And in fact, I couldn't possibly bring all the servicemen and women that would like to be part of this.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BINDRA: Now, Miles, the Marines saying they'll stay as long as their friends, the Sri Lankans, want them to, and they will complete their mission, they say.

O'BRIEN: Satinder, Sri Lanka is a nation divided, has been for 20 years. Is the U.S. servicemen and women -- are they providing supplies to both north and south, the north controlled by the Tamil Tigers, the south controlled by the Sri Lankan government?

BINDRA: So far, Miles, we know that the Marines will focus their attention in the south. The general commanding the Marines has said he will begin with the south. But he said everything can change and everything will depend on the conditions.

O'BRIEN: And of course, that does raise the concern that that could just exacerbate divisions between north and south, by doing that approach.

BINDRA: Miles, one of the things that has happened in the face of this tragedy is the north and south of this country have united somewhat. People have united in the face of tragedy.

Even the government, which earlier wasn't keen on relations with the north. They weren't keen on talks. Now even the government says aid should go there.

So people of all religious faiths and communities, whether they be Tamils or Sunila (ph), whether they be Muslim or Christians, they're all coming together, because they know they have to stand together to rebuild this tiny island nation.

O'BRIEN: As the prime minister put it there, they are brothers in misery. Satinder Bindra, in Colombo, thank you very much.

Now, as we mentioned, the region's needs and the world's responses are being gauged firsthand by the U.S. secretary of state, now in Jakarta, Indonesia. The scenes from behind me are actually from Phuket, Thailand, where Colin Powell met today with relief workers and later, briefly with reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POWELL: The significant challenge that I've seen here this afternoon that, I will go back and see if there is not more we can do, has to do with identification of remains, forensic activity, forensic pathology, and see whether or not there's more we can do to assist Thai authorities and international authorities with the identification effort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Powell's traveling companion, Florida governor and the president' brother, Jeb Bush. In Phuket, Governor Bush stood among thousands of photos of the dead and missing as he talked with CNN's John King about the U.S. response and long-term needs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: I'll tell you that the prime minister here said the -- he appreciated the call. The first call that the foreign minister got was from Secretary Powell. The response by the United States military has been impressive. I think that he's done exactly what he should do.

And this needs to be an ongoing thing. Once CNN leaves and I leave and others leave, there's going to be a lot of work to be done. And I think, basically, that's my message to the president, will be to make this a long-term effort, provide the support, and I believe he will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Of course, CNN's not leaving anytime soon. Jeb Bush notes more people died in Thailand alone than on 9/11 in the United States.

PHILLIPS: Twenty-six days before Iraqis go to the polls, insurgents are going to extremes to blow up that process, not to mention government officials and people in uniform.

Today, the governor of Baghdad province was shot to death in the capital, while eight Iraqi police commandos were killed in a suicide truck bombing. U.S. forces are still in the crosshairs, as well. Five more dead since yesterday.

CNN's Jeff Koinange brings us up to date now from Baghdad -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. The first incident happened in the al-Hurriyah neighborhood in northern Baghdad, where Governor Ali al-Haidari and six of his bodyguards were in a three-car convoy, heading from his home to his office, when they were intercepted by unidentified gunmen, who sprayed his vehicle with machine gunfire, killing the governor and also a bodyguard, wounding two other bodyguards.

No word yet on whether the insurgents were either killed or captured.

This is not the first time that an assassination attempt has happened on the governor. Almost three months to the day, a similar ambush on his convoy. In that incident, two bodyguards were killed.

Kyra, this comes -- less than an hour earlier a suicide bomber, in an oil tanker filled with gasoline and laden with explosives, crashed his vehicle right outside the Green Zone. His target, police command headquarters.

In that incident, ten people were killed, eight of them Iraqi commandos, and two civilians. We hear that 60 people were wounded in that incident.

So another bloody day of mayhem, as insurgents step up their attacks, attacking anything and at will and with a certain element of impunity, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff, two quick questions. Just within the violence, I want to ask you about the elections. And first of all, with regard to security.

Is there going to be a change in focus with regard to protecting the candidates? Even the voters who, I'm being told, are also being threatened? In addition, the talk of the election being pushed until later. Is that even possible?

KOINANGE: Well, here's the deal, Kyra. Already the U.S. military has their hands full protecting their own. The Iraqi National Guard can't even protect themselves. The police are having a hard time protecting themselves.

So what the Iraqis are asking is if these forces cannot protect themselves, who's going to protect us as we're lining up on election day, trying to cast our votes? We'll be standing in line for hours on end. Who's to stop someone to walk in, strapped with explosives and exploding himself in our presence?

That's the big question that people here are asking and nobody seems to have the answers for, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff Koinange, thanks so much. We'll continue to check in with you.

And two more U.S. troops are dead in Afghanistan, after separate attacks, hundreds of miles apart. One soldier killed, three others wounded, by an improvised explosive device, the usual term for a roadside bomb. In Kunar Province near the Pakistan border is where that took place.

And another was cut down in a firefight near a western airfield during what the military calls a routine search of a compound. Together, they bring the number of U.S. military dead in the Afghan war to 155.

O'BRIEN: American soldiers, answering a new call of duty, including a very specialized unit needed for tsunami relief efforts. We'll show you what this Virginia-based unit will be doing to help the relief effort, just ahead on the program.

Plus, flying in the injured. One of our reporters based in Indonesia shows us what U.S. Navy crewmen are encountering in the tsunami zone.

And later, a laser arrest. A New Jersey men accused of pointing a laser at an aircraft now has some explaining to do to the FBI. Stay with us.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: Tsunami aid efforts in Indonesia's devastated Aceh province were buffaloed today temporarily by a run-in on the only operating runway in the provincial capital.

With more on that and all the day's developments, here's CNN's Mike Chinoy at Banda Aceh airport.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A day of drama and frustration at Banda Aceh Airport.

Throughout the day, U.S. Navy helicopters have been flying missions to the hardest hit areas on the western coast of Sumatra. The helicopters have been taking on supplies here and delivering them to the victims in remote areas not accessible by road.

They've also been bringing some of those injured in the tsunami and the earthquake back here to the airport for treatment. Those injured with puncture wounds, infections, broken legs, malnutrition, dehydration, and trauma. A very, very grim scene, as they were unloaded from the choppers and rushed to an emergency medical tent at the airport.

Compounding the difficulties, both of Banda Aceh's functioning hospitals are overflowing and are no longer accepting patients. U.S. pilots had been instructed not to bring injured back here any more until that problem is sorted out. However, the pilots say they intend to ignore that advice, because there's so many people in need.

Meanwhile, for many hours during the day, the main runway at the airport was closed. A Boeing 737 commercial cargo plane ran into a water buffalo and blocked the main runway. The upshot was complete paralysis, the delaying of all incoming fixed wing airport carrying relief supplies.

In the end, a joint U.S., Indonesian and Australian contingent of military personnel improvised a device to tow the aircraft off the runway. And those flights began.

U.S. pilots said that if they hadn't found that solution, by tomorrow the aid effort would have been seriously jeopardized because of the lack of incoming supplies.

CAPT. MATT KLINDER, U.S. NAVY: Fortunately today, we had enough aid and supplies here that we were not set back. The helos were able to move nonstop, so we weren't set back. Now, tomorrow would have been a horrendous problem.

Fortunately, now, we've got this moved. We'll clear the airport with our Indonesian friends, be ready for business. We'll be ready to go.

CHINOY: Mike Chinoy, CNN, Banda Aceh Airport, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE) O'BRIEN: Got to love that can-do effort. Americans seeing the tremendous devastation in tsunami-ravaged southern Asia are answering the call to duty.

Soldiers from the 49th Quarter Master Group, Fort Lee, Virginia, heading to the disaster zone to join the recovery efforts. The soldiers belong to the only active duty mortuary affairs unit in the army. Their deployment came as no surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. DAVID MOUNT, U.S. ARMY: When I first saw it, I actually expected our company to deploy, because it's really what we do. We're here for disasters. And when I saw it, I was hoping that we could make a difference, help out if we could.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Some of the soldiers helped in the recovery efforts after -- at the Pentagon, after 9/11.

O'BRIEN: A Texas group is heading to hard-hit Sri Lanka with hopes of preventing more deaths from disease. The Texas Baptist Men, experts in cleaning water, are taking purification units and food to help thousands of people now homeless in Sri Lanka.

In the past decade, the group has provided disaster relief in 44 countries.

Well, an airplane carrying tons of emergency supplies has set off for parts of battered southern Asia, also. That plane, carrying food, medicine, baby supplies and tools, left Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday.

Carl Linder, part owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and his family chipped in $200,000 to pay for that flight.

Thinking about donating money to the tsunami relief efforts? Well, one organization is saying no thanks.

Doctors Without Borders is asking people to stop sending money. The organization says it's been overwhelmed with donations for the tsunami mission. And the group's director now says it's the first time it's experienced such levels of generosity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, cheaper tickets and simpler air fares, a major airline's plan to make major changes. Could it change the way you fly?

Later on LIVE FROM...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's, like, so scary. One second you're just there and then everything's gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How far do they want to go with this? How much can they handle?

PHILLIPS: Talking with children about the tsunami. A teacher shares her lessons from the classroom.

Tomorrow on LIVE FROM, cell phone satisfaction. Which companies offer the best service? Which ones should you hang up on? We're dialing up "Consumer Reports'" new annual survey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the FBI has filed its first charges in a series of mysterious incidents involving laser beams and aircraft. Our Mike Brooks has been following the latest story on this.

Tell us about the suspect. Not a one-time offender?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Apparently, this guy doesn't have any criminal record. It's 38-year-old David Banach from Parsippany, New Jersey.

It all started Wednesday night. Wednesday evening, a chartered Cessna was coming in to Teterboro Airport. At about 13, about 12, 11 miles outside of the airport at about 3,000 feet, the aircraft got lit up with three laser lights. Hit the windshield three times. So they filed a report.

Then on Friday night, New Year's Eve, the Port Authority and other investigators were trying to find out exactly where this light was coming from. So they were flying around this neighborhood, and lo and behold, a laser beam lights up the Port Authority helicopter.

And it also had the pilot on board, who was trying to pinpoint exactly where the laser beam lit up his particular plane.

PHILLIPS: All right. We've talked about this. You and I have talked about this. We've -- Miles has talked to you about this.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: The threat of lasers, by terrorists, to throw a pilot off.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: What is this man being charged with and is it related to terrorism at all? Does it look like he's being used as sort of the example? It's sort of interesting what's happening to him.

BROOKS: I think they're trying to send a message with this particular charge. He's charged with, one, lying to the FBI, because initially he said, when they found out exactly where the beam was coming from, he said, "I didn't do it. My daughter did it." And he showed them a laser. Then they took him down to the FBI office. He submitted to a polygraph. During the polygraph, he then said, "Well, it wasn't my daughter who shined the light on the helicopter. It was me."

Then he continued on with the polygraph. He then said that he was lying and that he shined it both on the Cessna private aircraft and on the helicopter.

What he's being charged with today, lying to a federal agent, and also Title 18, Section 1993, where it said the actual charge is terrorist attacks or other acts of violence against mass transportation systems. And it goes then and says, "Whoever willfully interferes with or incapacitates any driver or captain or person while they're employed in operating a mass transportation vehicle -- mass transportation vehicle, with reckless disregard for the safety of human life."

PHILLIPS: It doesn't say by what.

BROOKS: No.

PHILLIPS: Anyway, I mean, laser, anything.

BROOKS: Anyway. That's exactly right. And this particular passenger craft had 13 passengers on board. Temporarily blinded the co-pilot and co-pilot. They were able to regain their sight and land the plane safely. But it could have been disastrous.

PHILLIPS: Well, did he say why he was doing it? Did he give authorities -- I mean, was he experimenting? Was he trying to cause trouble? We know you can buy these lasers just on the Internet.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: And he was, what, 3,000 feet away?

BROOKS: Three thousand feet away -- Well, actually, it was at 3,000 feet. He was on the ground, so he's about 3,000 feet. But the plane's coming in, moving pretty fast. Hit it three times as it was approaching the airport.

PHILLIPS: Now, pilots are also getting training on how to deal with these lasers. We had talked a little bit about that yesterday, too.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: Like U.S. Airways, I think it was. Any other airlines training pilots on how to deal with lasers?

BROOKS: Just a few moments ago, I spoke with Denny Dolan (ph) from the Airline Pilots Association. He says that he does not know of any formal training that any -- you know, they're getting across the board.

But he said their big concern right now is safety, because of this, because of flash blindness, these kind of things.

And also, he said, security. The FBI has come out and said that this particular incident is not terrorism-related. And he said the other -- they've also said the other ones are not.

But they want to make sure that there is not any terrorist motive at all in any of these other incidents. We've had other incidents in Colorado Springs, Oregon.

There was one in Washington, D.C. I just spoke with a law enforcement source who told me that that incident apparently was not a laser but it was the reflection off of a landing light as it was approaching the airport. So there was not an incident in Washington, D.C.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now they told us the suspect is going to appear in court this afternoon. We'll follow it. Mike Brooks, thank you so much.

BROOKS: Good to be with you.

PHILLIPS: All right. CNN, as you know, is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. So stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Focusing on business for us today, like a laser beam, Susan Lisovicz is at the stock exchange. And you know, it's hard to believe it, but when we say gas prices are close to two bucks, we say that's a deal. You know? I mean, it's amazing how we've been desensitized to all this, right?

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Other stories now in the news.

Five U.S. service personnel killed today in Iraq. Three soldiers died in a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad. A fourth was killed in a similar attack near Balad. And a U.S. Marine was killed in action in al-Anbar province.

In the Middle East, seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza. Israeli sources say it was in response to a Palestinian mortar attack that wounded one Israeli civilian. The sources say the tank rounds were fired at civilians, but Palestinian sources say children are among the dead.

In Chile, the Supreme Court has ruled that former dictator Augusto Pinochet can stand trial on murder and kidnapping charges. He's accused of killing political opponents during his rule in the 1970s and '80s. Pinochet is 89 and has never stood trial.

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Aired January 4, 2005 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're responding because of the human dimensions of this catastrophe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Responding to overwhelming need. Aid making its way to tsunami survivors. American Marines now on the ground. We're live from Sri Lanka.

MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Wings of mercy. We'll take you inside relief flights to people still waiting for medical care more than a week after the tsunami struck.

PHILLIPS: Assassination in Iraq. Insurgents hit a high profile target. We're live from Baghdad with more on the campaign against upcoming elections.

O'BRIEN: The makers of Prozac know about the drug's risk of suicide as long as 15 years ago. CNN has some documents, and we'll have a full report for you.

From CNN's Washington's newsroom, I'm Miles O'Brien.

PHILLIPS: And from the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

The Marines have landed in tsunami ravaged southern Sri Lanka. And they haven't come empty-handed. The latest phase of the U.S. military aid effort includes hundreds of troops and hundreds of tons of food, water, water purification gear, bulldozers, and generators.

Indonesia, meanwhile, welcomes the U.S. secretary of state and governor of Florida on this second stop of their three-nation fact- finding mission. A donors meeting is planned for Thursday in Jakarta.

By CNN's count, more than 155,000 tsunami victims are dead, a figure only slightly higher than yesterday's. Ninety-four thousand, or roughly 60 percent of the total, died in Indonesia alone.

CNN, of course, has correspondents and crews throughout the subcontinent. Today, we see 14 reporters and anchors in four countries. O'BRIEN: The brigadier general in charge of Marines getting settled in Sri Lanka today estimates they can start making a significant impact by the weekend.

CNN's Satinder Bindra is in Colombo, that nation's capital -- Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Miles. We're already seeing first signs of this impact. Just earlier today, a Marine helicopter touched down in the city of Galle. Galle is in southern Sri Lanka. And as I've been reporting all along, this is one of the worst affected areas here. Thousands of people are homeless, more than 2,000 dead in this city alone.

And ten days after the tsunami wrecked their lives, the residents of the city raced to the helicopters to pick up their supplies. An emotional moment, Miles, both for the locals, as well as for the Marines on board that helicopter.

Also today, a large C-5 transport plane touching down in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. On board that plane, water purification equipment and equipment to reconstruct Sri Lanka's ravaged economy.

Also on board, dozens of Marines. Eventually, Miles, their strength here will grow to about 1,200. They will be supported in their mission by one large ship, 12 helicopters, even a hovercraft.

A short while ago, Miles, I spoke exclusively to the general commanding this mission of mercy. And here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. FRANK PANTER, U.S. MARINES: We estimate that I'll have sufficient forces in the area for, maybe five days.

BINDRA: And where's the focus of this mission going to be?

PANTER: The focus will be south, down south, off in the Galle vicinity and in that area.

BINDRA: You're going to be using some unique technology as part of this mission, right?

PANTER: Yes, I will. Things like hovercraft. I'll have some of those. And the L-CAC. We'll be using engineering equipment ashore and supplies from the amphibious shipping.

BINDRA: Describe the mood of your men.

PANTER: Well, they're anxious to get started. Interesting, we had no problem getting volunteers for this mission. And in fact, I couldn't possibly bring all the servicemen and women that would like to be part of this.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BINDRA: Now, Miles, the Marines saying they'll stay as long as their friends, the Sri Lankans, want them to, and they will complete their mission, they say.

O'BRIEN: Satinder, Sri Lanka is a nation divided, has been for 20 years. Is the U.S. servicemen and women -- are they providing supplies to both north and south, the north controlled by the Tamil Tigers, the south controlled by the Sri Lankan government?

BINDRA: So far, Miles, we know that the Marines will focus their attention in the south. The general commanding the Marines has said he will begin with the south. But he said everything can change and everything will depend on the conditions.

O'BRIEN: And of course, that does raise the concern that that could just exacerbate divisions between north and south, by doing that approach.

BINDRA: Miles, one of the things that has happened in the face of this tragedy is the north and south of this country have united somewhat. People have united in the face of tragedy.

Even the government, which earlier wasn't keen on relations with the north. They weren't keen on talks. Now even the government says aid should go there.

So people of all religious faiths and communities, whether they be Tamils or Sunila (ph), whether they be Muslim or Christians, they're all coming together, because they know they have to stand together to rebuild this tiny island nation.

O'BRIEN: As the prime minister put it there, they are brothers in misery. Satinder Bindra, in Colombo, thank you very much.

Now, as we mentioned, the region's needs and the world's responses are being gauged firsthand by the U.S. secretary of state, now in Jakarta, Indonesia. The scenes from behind me are actually from Phuket, Thailand, where Colin Powell met today with relief workers and later, briefly with reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POWELL: The significant challenge that I've seen here this afternoon that, I will go back and see if there is not more we can do, has to do with identification of remains, forensic activity, forensic pathology, and see whether or not there's more we can do to assist Thai authorities and international authorities with the identification effort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Powell's traveling companion, Florida governor and the president' brother, Jeb Bush. In Phuket, Governor Bush stood among thousands of photos of the dead and missing as he talked with CNN's John King about the U.S. response and long-term needs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: I'll tell you that the prime minister here said the -- he appreciated the call. The first call that the foreign minister got was from Secretary Powell. The response by the United States military has been impressive. I think that he's done exactly what he should do.

And this needs to be an ongoing thing. Once CNN leaves and I leave and others leave, there's going to be a lot of work to be done. And I think, basically, that's my message to the president, will be to make this a long-term effort, provide the support, and I believe he will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Of course, CNN's not leaving anytime soon. Jeb Bush notes more people died in Thailand alone than on 9/11 in the United States.

PHILLIPS: Twenty-six days before Iraqis go to the polls, insurgents are going to extremes to blow up that process, not to mention government officials and people in uniform.

Today, the governor of Baghdad province was shot to death in the capital, while eight Iraqi police commandos were killed in a suicide truck bombing. U.S. forces are still in the crosshairs, as well. Five more dead since yesterday.

CNN's Jeff Koinange brings us up to date now from Baghdad -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. The first incident happened in the al-Hurriyah neighborhood in northern Baghdad, where Governor Ali al-Haidari and six of his bodyguards were in a three-car convoy, heading from his home to his office, when they were intercepted by unidentified gunmen, who sprayed his vehicle with machine gunfire, killing the governor and also a bodyguard, wounding two other bodyguards.

No word yet on whether the insurgents were either killed or captured.

This is not the first time that an assassination attempt has happened on the governor. Almost three months to the day, a similar ambush on his convoy. In that incident, two bodyguards were killed.

Kyra, this comes -- less than an hour earlier a suicide bomber, in an oil tanker filled with gasoline and laden with explosives, crashed his vehicle right outside the Green Zone. His target, police command headquarters.

In that incident, ten people were killed, eight of them Iraqi commandos, and two civilians. We hear that 60 people were wounded in that incident.

So another bloody day of mayhem, as insurgents step up their attacks, attacking anything and at will and with a certain element of impunity, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff, two quick questions. Just within the violence, I want to ask you about the elections. And first of all, with regard to security.

Is there going to be a change in focus with regard to protecting the candidates? Even the voters who, I'm being told, are also being threatened? In addition, the talk of the election being pushed until later. Is that even possible?

KOINANGE: Well, here's the deal, Kyra. Already the U.S. military has their hands full protecting their own. The Iraqi National Guard can't even protect themselves. The police are having a hard time protecting themselves.

So what the Iraqis are asking is if these forces cannot protect themselves, who's going to protect us as we're lining up on election day, trying to cast our votes? We'll be standing in line for hours on end. Who's to stop someone to walk in, strapped with explosives and exploding himself in our presence?

That's the big question that people here are asking and nobody seems to have the answers for, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff Koinange, thanks so much. We'll continue to check in with you.

And two more U.S. troops are dead in Afghanistan, after separate attacks, hundreds of miles apart. One soldier killed, three others wounded, by an improvised explosive device, the usual term for a roadside bomb. In Kunar Province near the Pakistan border is where that took place.

And another was cut down in a firefight near a western airfield during what the military calls a routine search of a compound. Together, they bring the number of U.S. military dead in the Afghan war to 155.

O'BRIEN: American soldiers, answering a new call of duty, including a very specialized unit needed for tsunami relief efforts. We'll show you what this Virginia-based unit will be doing to help the relief effort, just ahead on the program.

Plus, flying in the injured. One of our reporters based in Indonesia shows us what U.S. Navy crewmen are encountering in the tsunami zone.

And later, a laser arrest. A New Jersey men accused of pointing a laser at an aircraft now has some explaining to do to the FBI. Stay with us.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: Tsunami aid efforts in Indonesia's devastated Aceh province were buffaloed today temporarily by a run-in on the only operating runway in the provincial capital.

With more on that and all the day's developments, here's CNN's Mike Chinoy at Banda Aceh airport.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A day of drama and frustration at Banda Aceh Airport.

Throughout the day, U.S. Navy helicopters have been flying missions to the hardest hit areas on the western coast of Sumatra. The helicopters have been taking on supplies here and delivering them to the victims in remote areas not accessible by road.

They've also been bringing some of those injured in the tsunami and the earthquake back here to the airport for treatment. Those injured with puncture wounds, infections, broken legs, malnutrition, dehydration, and trauma. A very, very grim scene, as they were unloaded from the choppers and rushed to an emergency medical tent at the airport.

Compounding the difficulties, both of Banda Aceh's functioning hospitals are overflowing and are no longer accepting patients. U.S. pilots had been instructed not to bring injured back here any more until that problem is sorted out. However, the pilots say they intend to ignore that advice, because there's so many people in need.

Meanwhile, for many hours during the day, the main runway at the airport was closed. A Boeing 737 commercial cargo plane ran into a water buffalo and blocked the main runway. The upshot was complete paralysis, the delaying of all incoming fixed wing airport carrying relief supplies.

In the end, a joint U.S., Indonesian and Australian contingent of military personnel improvised a device to tow the aircraft off the runway. And those flights began.

U.S. pilots said that if they hadn't found that solution, by tomorrow the aid effort would have been seriously jeopardized because of the lack of incoming supplies.

CAPT. MATT KLINDER, U.S. NAVY: Fortunately today, we had enough aid and supplies here that we were not set back. The helos were able to move nonstop, so we weren't set back. Now, tomorrow would have been a horrendous problem.

Fortunately, now, we've got this moved. We'll clear the airport with our Indonesian friends, be ready for business. We'll be ready to go.

CHINOY: Mike Chinoy, CNN, Banda Aceh Airport, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE) O'BRIEN: Got to love that can-do effort. Americans seeing the tremendous devastation in tsunami-ravaged southern Asia are answering the call to duty.

Soldiers from the 49th Quarter Master Group, Fort Lee, Virginia, heading to the disaster zone to join the recovery efforts. The soldiers belong to the only active duty mortuary affairs unit in the army. Their deployment came as no surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. DAVID MOUNT, U.S. ARMY: When I first saw it, I actually expected our company to deploy, because it's really what we do. We're here for disasters. And when I saw it, I was hoping that we could make a difference, help out if we could.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Some of the soldiers helped in the recovery efforts after -- at the Pentagon, after 9/11.

O'BRIEN: A Texas group is heading to hard-hit Sri Lanka with hopes of preventing more deaths from disease. The Texas Baptist Men, experts in cleaning water, are taking purification units and food to help thousands of people now homeless in Sri Lanka.

In the past decade, the group has provided disaster relief in 44 countries.

Well, an airplane carrying tons of emergency supplies has set off for parts of battered southern Asia, also. That plane, carrying food, medicine, baby supplies and tools, left Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday.

Carl Linder, part owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and his family chipped in $200,000 to pay for that flight.

Thinking about donating money to the tsunami relief efforts? Well, one organization is saying no thanks.

Doctors Without Borders is asking people to stop sending money. The organization says it's been overwhelmed with donations for the tsunami mission. And the group's director now says it's the first time it's experienced such levels of generosity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, cheaper tickets and simpler air fares, a major airline's plan to make major changes. Could it change the way you fly?

Later on LIVE FROM...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's, like, so scary. One second you're just there and then everything's gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How far do they want to go with this? How much can they handle?

PHILLIPS: Talking with children about the tsunami. A teacher shares her lessons from the classroom.

Tomorrow on LIVE FROM, cell phone satisfaction. Which companies offer the best service? Which ones should you hang up on? We're dialing up "Consumer Reports'" new annual survey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the FBI has filed its first charges in a series of mysterious incidents involving laser beams and aircraft. Our Mike Brooks has been following the latest story on this.

Tell us about the suspect. Not a one-time offender?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Apparently, this guy doesn't have any criminal record. It's 38-year-old David Banach from Parsippany, New Jersey.

It all started Wednesday night. Wednesday evening, a chartered Cessna was coming in to Teterboro Airport. At about 13, about 12, 11 miles outside of the airport at about 3,000 feet, the aircraft got lit up with three laser lights. Hit the windshield three times. So they filed a report.

Then on Friday night, New Year's Eve, the Port Authority and other investigators were trying to find out exactly where this light was coming from. So they were flying around this neighborhood, and lo and behold, a laser beam lights up the Port Authority helicopter.

And it also had the pilot on board, who was trying to pinpoint exactly where the laser beam lit up his particular plane.

PHILLIPS: All right. We've talked about this. You and I have talked about this. We've -- Miles has talked to you about this.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: The threat of lasers, by terrorists, to throw a pilot off.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: What is this man being charged with and is it related to terrorism at all? Does it look like he's being used as sort of the example? It's sort of interesting what's happening to him.

BROOKS: I think they're trying to send a message with this particular charge. He's charged with, one, lying to the FBI, because initially he said, when they found out exactly where the beam was coming from, he said, "I didn't do it. My daughter did it." And he showed them a laser. Then they took him down to the FBI office. He submitted to a polygraph. During the polygraph, he then said, "Well, it wasn't my daughter who shined the light on the helicopter. It was me."

Then he continued on with the polygraph. He then said that he was lying and that he shined it both on the Cessna private aircraft and on the helicopter.

What he's being charged with today, lying to a federal agent, and also Title 18, Section 1993, where it said the actual charge is terrorist attacks or other acts of violence against mass transportation systems. And it goes then and says, "Whoever willfully interferes with or incapacitates any driver or captain or person while they're employed in operating a mass transportation vehicle -- mass transportation vehicle, with reckless disregard for the safety of human life."

PHILLIPS: It doesn't say by what.

BROOKS: No.

PHILLIPS: Anyway, I mean, laser, anything.

BROOKS: Anyway. That's exactly right. And this particular passenger craft had 13 passengers on board. Temporarily blinded the co-pilot and co-pilot. They were able to regain their sight and land the plane safely. But it could have been disastrous.

PHILLIPS: Well, did he say why he was doing it? Did he give authorities -- I mean, was he experimenting? Was he trying to cause trouble? We know you can buy these lasers just on the Internet.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: And he was, what, 3,000 feet away?

BROOKS: Three thousand feet away -- Well, actually, it was at 3,000 feet. He was on the ground, so he's about 3,000 feet. But the plane's coming in, moving pretty fast. Hit it three times as it was approaching the airport.

PHILLIPS: Now, pilots are also getting training on how to deal with these lasers. We had talked a little bit about that yesterday, too.

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: Like U.S. Airways, I think it was. Any other airlines training pilots on how to deal with lasers?

BROOKS: Just a few moments ago, I spoke with Denny Dolan (ph) from the Airline Pilots Association. He says that he does not know of any formal training that any -- you know, they're getting across the board.

But he said their big concern right now is safety, because of this, because of flash blindness, these kind of things.

And also, he said, security. The FBI has come out and said that this particular incident is not terrorism-related. And he said the other -- they've also said the other ones are not.

But they want to make sure that there is not any terrorist motive at all in any of these other incidents. We've had other incidents in Colorado Springs, Oregon.

There was one in Washington, D.C. I just spoke with a law enforcement source who told me that that incident apparently was not a laser but it was the reflection off of a landing light as it was approaching the airport. So there was not an incident in Washington, D.C.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now they told us the suspect is going to appear in court this afternoon. We'll follow it. Mike Brooks, thank you so much.

BROOKS: Good to be with you.

PHILLIPS: All right. CNN, as you know, is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. So stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Focusing on business for us today, like a laser beam, Susan Lisovicz is at the stock exchange. And you know, it's hard to believe it, but when we say gas prices are close to two bucks, we say that's a deal. You know? I mean, it's amazing how we've been desensitized to all this, right?

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Other stories now in the news.

Five U.S. service personnel killed today in Iraq. Three soldiers died in a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad. A fourth was killed in a similar attack near Balad. And a U.S. Marine was killed in action in al-Anbar province.

In the Middle East, seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza. Israeli sources say it was in response to a Palestinian mortar attack that wounded one Israeli civilian. The sources say the tank rounds were fired at civilians, but Palestinian sources say children are among the dead.

In Chile, the Supreme Court has ruled that former dictator Augusto Pinochet can stand trial on murder and kidnapping charges. He's accused of killing political opponents during his rule in the 1970s and '80s. Pinochet is 89 and has never stood trial.

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