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109th Congress Focuses on Tsunami Relief Efforts; Arab Reaction

Aired January 04, 2005 - 15:00   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, White House officials seriously considering a change in the way Social Security benefits are calculated. That could mean lower benefits for future retirees. The approach is called price indexing, which uses inflation rates to figure benefits, instead of using workers' wages.
The White House says elections in Iraq will go forward this month as scheduled, despite the latest round of insurgent violence. A White House spokesman saying interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi spoke yesterday by phone with President Bush about the security situation. At least 20 were killed today, including the provincial governor of Baghdad and five U.S. military personnel as well.

And big news in Major League Baseball. Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Boggs not seen here. There is Sandberg there. Boggs is a five-time American League batting champ who spent 11 seasons of his career with the great Red Sox. Sandberg, a second baseman with the Cubbies for all but one of his 16 seasons in the bigs.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: If you have been watching CNN, you have just heard the Pentagon's take on the U.S. military's aid campaign on the inundated Asian subcontinent.

Well, the U.S. Pacific Command is overseeing what is now dubbed a combined support force, including hundreds of Marines who arrived today in Sri Lanka. They are bringing food, water, water purification equipment and generators. And they expect to begin having a significant impact by the weekend.

Back in Washington, the 109th Congress came into being today with a moment of silence for the victims and a full-speed-ahead approach to monetary aid. President Bush has promised $350 million, but lawmakers can and probably will add more.

Now, only on CNN will you see the work of dozens of correspondents, anchors, producers and crews stationed all across the Indian Ocean rim. Here's a snapshot, 14 reporters and anchors in four countries, from Anderson Cooper in Sri Lanka to Atika Shubert in Indonesia. Eight arrivals in the latter country were held up for hours today when a 737 hit a water Buffalo on Banda Aceh's only working airstrip.

CNN's Mike Chinoy is there.

(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: Those helicopter missions on Banda Aceh originate from the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln off of Indonesia's western coast.

CNN's Atika Shubert spent a few hours there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Halazaran 2 (ph), the helicopter squadron on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The squadron plays a critical role in the flow of aid to Aceh's hardest-hit and most inaccessible regions.

Before dawn, pilots are briefed on the day's mission in the Halazaran 2 ready room. Lieutenant Commander Mark Leavitt has been flying to Aceh's devastated West Coast for the last three days. He starts at the Banda Aceh Airport, transporting anything from food and water to medical teams. Indonesia's military pitches in with coordination and a helping hand.

So far, Halazaran 2 has delivered more than 100,000 pounds of aid. It can be harrowing, he says, delivering supplies to desperate people.

COL. MARK LEAVITT, HELICOPTER PILOT: They are very excited to see us, oftentimes running up underneath the helicopter, running around the tail rotor. So you are a little afraid at first. And then you see a body or you see someone that is severely hurt and you are brought back to the reality of what had happened there. So it's the range of emotions every day you fly here.

SHUBERT: This Indonesian soldier broke his leg a week ago in the U.S. Halazaran 2 will deliver him to a hospital before returning to the Lincoln for the night.

(on camera): This is a 24-hour operation. For every one-hour flight, there are 15 hours of maintenance. Mechanics work through the night, so helicopters can fly during the day.

(voice-over): In the pitch darkness of the flight deck, a crew of five to seven mechanics checks every part while pilots rest. It is grueling work, 12-hour shifts, five hours per helicopter, each aircraft worked on simultaneously.

JOSEPH COELHO, HELICOPTER MECHANIC: It is a rush to try and get these aircraft turned around and maintained and get back out there to do the mission. But at the same time we want to be safe and do it slowly enough to make sure we're not overlooking any steps.

SHUBERT: Getting enough rest on an aircraft carrier can be difficult even for pilots. And then there's the worry.

LEAVITT: Knowing people that are out there having problems living through the night makes it hard to sleep.

SHUBERT: But sleep they must. Halazaran 2 is still needed tomorrow.

Atika Shubert on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: A little bit closer to home, the 109th Congress was sworn into office today and one of its first orders of business is passing resolutions expressing sympathy for the victims of the tsunami disaster. The House is slated to pass its resolution this hour.

CNN's congressional correspondent is on Capitol Hill, Ed Henry, with the latest.

Hello, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon again, Miles.

That's right. With expanded majority in the House and Senate, Republicans have high hopes this year of passing President Bush's second term agenda on everything from Social Security reform to an overhaul of the federal tax code. But, as you mentioned that, that will have to wait until after the inauguration. For now, all of the focus is on tsunami relief, after a bit of housekeeping today.

In the Senate, Vice President Cheney swore in freshman and newly elected senators. A funny moment came when he swore in Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. You will remember last year the vice president directed a four-letter word at Leahy on the Senate floor. A few moments ago, I ran into Vice President Cheney in a Capitol hallway and asked him what they exchanged this time. And with a smile, the vice president said they exchanged pleasantries.

So, obviously, everything getting off to a good start. Over in the House, Speaker Dennis Hastert was reelected to another term as speaker. And then he swore in new members there in the House as well. And Speaker Hastert gave a speech in which he said that the Congress will rally around the tsunami victims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Our deepest condolences go to all those who lost loved ones in this terrible event. And just as former Presidents Clintons and Bush will join together to coordinate private relief efforts here in the United States, we in the Congress will work together on a bipartisan basis to get the necessary relief to those in need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: The House and Senate today will each pass resolutions expressing support for the $350 million aid package that President Bush has already pledged.

But those resolutions also leave the door open for the Congress to expand the relief package later this month if, in fact, lawmakers visit the region and after those visits if they see that -- if they make an assessment and see that they believe there needs to be more relief, they will pass an emergency bill later this month to get that relief to the tsunami victims.

One of the lawmakers heading to the region tonight in fact is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. And today he praised the efforts of the U.S. military in particular.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: Medicine, tents, water, ladders, food, all being delivered through the compassion of the international community. We have more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft that have been made available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies; 12,000 of our men and women in uniform are working around the clock right now to reach survivors in remote corners of the region and to participate in the delivery of that relief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: In order to encourage more private donations, Senators Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley today introducing legislation that would allow U.S. taxpayers to take a deduction, a tax deduction in the tax year 2004 even if they make a donation in 2005 -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ed, what are lawmakers saying are their constituents? Are constituents in a generous mood? And will these numbers go up as a result?

HENRY: A lot of staffer, senior aides here on the Hill are saying they expect the $350 million aid package to expand a lot later this month after the those assessments are made. And also lawmakers here expressing a lot of support for President Bush's decision to add a bipartisan note in encouraging those private donations. Since the federal government has budget deficits, they want those private donations that former Presidents Clinton and Bush are encouraging, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill, thank you very much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Outrage in Sweden. Citizens of the Scandinavian country are seething over what they believe was their government's slow response to the tsunami disaster. They're especially upset over some 2,000 Swedes who are either missing or unaccounted for.

CNN's Robyn Curnow is in Stockholm with more.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, I'm standing outside the Stockholm Airport. As you can see, it is pouring with rain. It's cold. It's icy here. And it's in these conditions you can imagine why Swedes went to Thailand for their Christmas holidays. It's also why so many Scandinavians were caught up in that tsunami, because the weather here is just so bad at this time of the year.

Now, six Swedes confirmed dead are on their way home in coffins. They will be arriving overnight. And these are just the first bodies that will be arriving home from the tsunami disaster. All in all, we're looking at just under 2,000 Swedes either dead or missing or unaccounted for. Now, this is a huge amount of people affected. If you consider this is a nation of nine million people, they haven't been at war in 200 years. And they have one of the biggest -- longest life expectancies in the world. People live long here. So, the fact that nearly 2,000 people might or be presumed dead in the coming weeks is a huge blow to this very small nation. And, of course, there is a sense of anger because they feel that the government didn't do enough, didn't help the people who were trapped in Thailand, didn't get them medical help as soon as possible. And the fact that the bodies are only starting to come back now over a week later has really made some of the Swedish population quite angry -- Kyra.

Robyn Curnow live from Stockholm -- thank, Robyn.

O'BRIEN: Insurgents unleash more deadly attacks in Iraq, one of their victims, the governor of Baghdad Province. Militants ambushed his convoy. He and a bodyguard were killed. And near the heavily fortified Green Zone, a suicide bomber detonated a fuel tanker loaded with explosives near an Iraqi military post, eight Iraqi police commandos, two civilians killed. At least 60 others were wounded.

PHILLIPS: Well, some people in Arab countries are being critical of their governments over the response to the tsunami crisis. Find out why just ahead on LIVE FROM.

And taking stock on Wall Street, how women CEOs are affecting their company's bottom lines. That's just moments away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: The tsunami tragedy offers layer upon layer of sadness, suffering and horror. Now consider this. United Nations officials fear a possible wave of kidnappings by child-peddling networks, including criminal gangs that sell children for sex. One official says that even all the chaos and the family disruptions, it's almost certainly occurring right now.

Reporter Shirley Gosh (ph) has the story from Thailand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHIRLEY GOSH, REPORTER (voice-over): When the wave struck the coast of Thailand nine days ago, they not only ripped away lives, but tore thousands of families apart, parents from children, brother from sister.

Among the survivors were youngsters left injured, orphaned, traumatized and alone. Now Thai authorities are investigating the dreadful possibility that when some of these victims needed help the most, they may have fallen prey to child traffickers. The father of this boy, 12-year-old Christian Walker (ph), is desperately trying to discover if his son was one of those victims.

Christian was on holiday in Khao Lak with his mother, now presumed dead, and his brother and sister, who were found safe in Phuket. Doctors at this hospital have confirmed they treated Christian for minor injuries the day after the tsunami, but they say he left the hospital with a dark-haired European man and he hasn't been heard of since. Swedish police are now treating Christian's disappearance as a possible kidnapping. Aid agencies say children are particularly vulnerable to child snatchers in the chaotic aftermath of disasters. They have reported cases of local children being abducted by ruthless child sex traders, but this is a first time a Western child has been taken. It's a nightmare for any parent. Christian's family are now doing all they can to trace him with the help of the Thai authorities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Now, as a preemptive strike against child abductions, Indonesia has placed restrictions on youngsters leaving the country and has police on the lookout at refugee camps -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Saudi Arabia is tripling its donation for tsunami relief and planning a fund-raiser on Saudi television.

Octavia Nasr, senior editor for Arab affairs here at CNN, takes a closer look at how the Arab world is responding to that crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SR. EDITOR FOR ARAB AFFAIRS (voice-over): Arab media dispatched correspondent to disaster stricken areas, focusing their coverage on Muslim towns and villages in Sri Lanka and Indonesia; mosques that survived the devastation, the stories of survivors and deliveries of aid, some of it by the U.S. military.

This Al-Jazeera in Sumatra says away from the war in Iraq, but on a mission just as important, U.S. military personnel deliver much- needed food aid to areas struck by the tsunami.

But when it comes to aid pledges from nations around the world, Arab countries are at the bottom of the list. Saudi Arabia has pledged $10 million. Compare that to the $155 million raised in 2002 at this telethon on Saudi TV for families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Prince al Walid bin Talal donated $27 million out of his own pocket to that fund-raiser.

In Arabic chat rooms, a genuine anger at Arab governments and Arab media alike. An Arab talk show host says, Many Arab viewers have become racist. Unfortunately, the tragedy that befell Asians has no effect on many of them.

An Arab intellectual writes, "This is the chance for to show their humanity regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, giving just because it is the right thing to do."

At least the Emirate of Dubai has made a start. This shipment of clean drinking water has already made it to Sri Lanka. And a walkathon is planned for Thursday to raise funds for tsunami victims.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NASR: And, Kyra, when you think about all these Asian workers, guest workers, all over the Middle East and especially in Gulf countries, you can only expect the story to be a huge one. So you can understand the disappointment on Arab streets at how their governments are responding to the crisis so far.

PHILLIPS: Well, obviously, it's an amazing effort, but I do want to ask you, you know, how do you know that this is legitimate, the fund-raising and where the money will go? You mentioned briefly in the piece about the past.

NASR: Right, and you are right. This is one concern.

A lot of people are saying, you know, the U.S. has closed down many Muslim charities because they believe that some of the money given to charities are being -- is being funneled to terrorists. There is no way to track these things down. We cannot ourselves as journalists do that.

You have to give them credit, though. You have to give credit to the Saudi government for calling for a telethon. The question is going to be how much this telethon is going to raise. We talked about 2002; $165 million were raised for families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Well, in 2003, there was a telethon on Saudi TV to help Iraq and they were able to raise only $11.5 million.

It will be very interesting to see how much the Saudis and also especially the royal family is going to be able to give to that telethon. That's going to be very telling. We'll watch on Thursday.

PHILLIPS: OK, we'll do a follow-up.

NASR: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Octavia, thank you so much.

Well, how good are former presidents at raising money for tsunami relief? Just ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS,' Judy Woodruff tallies the donations after just one day on the job as fund-raisers-in-chief.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(FINANCIAL UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: That does it from here in Atlanta. We'll go back to Washington -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Kyra, that's all the time we have for today. Thank you very much. We'll be back out of Washington again tomorrow. I'm Miles O'Brien.

We appreciate you joining us on LIVE FROM.

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Aired January 4, 2005 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, White House officials seriously considering a change in the way Social Security benefits are calculated. That could mean lower benefits for future retirees. The approach is called price indexing, which uses inflation rates to figure benefits, instead of using workers' wages.
The White House says elections in Iraq will go forward this month as scheduled, despite the latest round of insurgent violence. A White House spokesman saying interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi spoke yesterday by phone with President Bush about the security situation. At least 20 were killed today, including the provincial governor of Baghdad and five U.S. military personnel as well.

And big news in Major League Baseball. Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Boggs not seen here. There is Sandberg there. Boggs is a five-time American League batting champ who spent 11 seasons of his career with the great Red Sox. Sandberg, a second baseman with the Cubbies for all but one of his 16 seasons in the bigs.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: If you have been watching CNN, you have just heard the Pentagon's take on the U.S. military's aid campaign on the inundated Asian subcontinent.

Well, the U.S. Pacific Command is overseeing what is now dubbed a combined support force, including hundreds of Marines who arrived today in Sri Lanka. They are bringing food, water, water purification equipment and generators. And they expect to begin having a significant impact by the weekend.

Back in Washington, the 109th Congress came into being today with a moment of silence for the victims and a full-speed-ahead approach to monetary aid. President Bush has promised $350 million, but lawmakers can and probably will add more.

Now, only on CNN will you see the work of dozens of correspondents, anchors, producers and crews stationed all across the Indian Ocean rim. Here's a snapshot, 14 reporters and anchors in four countries, from Anderson Cooper in Sri Lanka to Atika Shubert in Indonesia. Eight arrivals in the latter country were held up for hours today when a 737 hit a water Buffalo on Banda Aceh's only working airstrip.

CNN's Mike Chinoy is there.

(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: Those helicopter missions on Banda Aceh originate from the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln off of Indonesia's western coast.

CNN's Atika Shubert spent a few hours there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Halazaran 2 (ph), the helicopter squadron on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The squadron plays a critical role in the flow of aid to Aceh's hardest-hit and most inaccessible regions.

Before dawn, pilots are briefed on the day's mission in the Halazaran 2 ready room. Lieutenant Commander Mark Leavitt has been flying to Aceh's devastated West Coast for the last three days. He starts at the Banda Aceh Airport, transporting anything from food and water to medical teams. Indonesia's military pitches in with coordination and a helping hand.

So far, Halazaran 2 has delivered more than 100,000 pounds of aid. It can be harrowing, he says, delivering supplies to desperate people.

COL. MARK LEAVITT, HELICOPTER PILOT: They are very excited to see us, oftentimes running up underneath the helicopter, running around the tail rotor. So you are a little afraid at first. And then you see a body or you see someone that is severely hurt and you are brought back to the reality of what had happened there. So it's the range of emotions every day you fly here.

SHUBERT: This Indonesian soldier broke his leg a week ago in the U.S. Halazaran 2 will deliver him to a hospital before returning to the Lincoln for the night.

(on camera): This is a 24-hour operation. For every one-hour flight, there are 15 hours of maintenance. Mechanics work through the night, so helicopters can fly during the day.

(voice-over): In the pitch darkness of the flight deck, a crew of five to seven mechanics checks every part while pilots rest. It is grueling work, 12-hour shifts, five hours per helicopter, each aircraft worked on simultaneously.

JOSEPH COELHO, HELICOPTER MECHANIC: It is a rush to try and get these aircraft turned around and maintained and get back out there to do the mission. But at the same time we want to be safe and do it slowly enough to make sure we're not overlooking any steps.

SHUBERT: Getting enough rest on an aircraft carrier can be difficult even for pilots. And then there's the worry.

LEAVITT: Knowing people that are out there having problems living through the night makes it hard to sleep.

SHUBERT: But sleep they must. Halazaran 2 is still needed tomorrow.

Atika Shubert on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: A little bit closer to home, the 109th Congress was sworn into office today and one of its first orders of business is passing resolutions expressing sympathy for the victims of the tsunami disaster. The House is slated to pass its resolution this hour.

CNN's congressional correspondent is on Capitol Hill, Ed Henry, with the latest.

Hello, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon again, Miles.

That's right. With expanded majority in the House and Senate, Republicans have high hopes this year of passing President Bush's second term agenda on everything from Social Security reform to an overhaul of the federal tax code. But, as you mentioned that, that will have to wait until after the inauguration. For now, all of the focus is on tsunami relief, after a bit of housekeeping today.

In the Senate, Vice President Cheney swore in freshman and newly elected senators. A funny moment came when he swore in Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. You will remember last year the vice president directed a four-letter word at Leahy on the Senate floor. A few moments ago, I ran into Vice President Cheney in a Capitol hallway and asked him what they exchanged this time. And with a smile, the vice president said they exchanged pleasantries.

So, obviously, everything getting off to a good start. Over in the House, Speaker Dennis Hastert was reelected to another term as speaker. And then he swore in new members there in the House as well. And Speaker Hastert gave a speech in which he said that the Congress will rally around the tsunami victims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Our deepest condolences go to all those who lost loved ones in this terrible event. And just as former Presidents Clintons and Bush will join together to coordinate private relief efforts here in the United States, we in the Congress will work together on a bipartisan basis to get the necessary relief to those in need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: The House and Senate today will each pass resolutions expressing support for the $350 million aid package that President Bush has already pledged.

But those resolutions also leave the door open for the Congress to expand the relief package later this month if, in fact, lawmakers visit the region and after those visits if they see that -- if they make an assessment and see that they believe there needs to be more relief, they will pass an emergency bill later this month to get that relief to the tsunami victims.

One of the lawmakers heading to the region tonight in fact is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. And today he praised the efforts of the U.S. military in particular.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: Medicine, tents, water, ladders, food, all being delivered through the compassion of the international community. We have more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft that have been made available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies; 12,000 of our men and women in uniform are working around the clock right now to reach survivors in remote corners of the region and to participate in the delivery of that relief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: In order to encourage more private donations, Senators Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley today introducing legislation that would allow U.S. taxpayers to take a deduction, a tax deduction in the tax year 2004 even if they make a donation in 2005 -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ed, what are lawmakers saying are their constituents? Are constituents in a generous mood? And will these numbers go up as a result?

HENRY: A lot of staffer, senior aides here on the Hill are saying they expect the $350 million aid package to expand a lot later this month after the those assessments are made. And also lawmakers here expressing a lot of support for President Bush's decision to add a bipartisan note in encouraging those private donations. Since the federal government has budget deficits, they want those private donations that former Presidents Clinton and Bush are encouraging, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill, thank you very much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Outrage in Sweden. Citizens of the Scandinavian country are seething over what they believe was their government's slow response to the tsunami disaster. They're especially upset over some 2,000 Swedes who are either missing or unaccounted for.

CNN's Robyn Curnow is in Stockholm with more.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, I'm standing outside the Stockholm Airport. As you can see, it is pouring with rain. It's cold. It's icy here. And it's in these conditions you can imagine why Swedes went to Thailand for their Christmas holidays. It's also why so many Scandinavians were caught up in that tsunami, because the weather here is just so bad at this time of the year.

Now, six Swedes confirmed dead are on their way home in coffins. They will be arriving overnight. And these are just the first bodies that will be arriving home from the tsunami disaster. All in all, we're looking at just under 2,000 Swedes either dead or missing or unaccounted for. Now, this is a huge amount of people affected. If you consider this is a nation of nine million people, they haven't been at war in 200 years. And they have one of the biggest -- longest life expectancies in the world. People live long here. So, the fact that nearly 2,000 people might or be presumed dead in the coming weeks is a huge blow to this very small nation. And, of course, there is a sense of anger because they feel that the government didn't do enough, didn't help the people who were trapped in Thailand, didn't get them medical help as soon as possible. And the fact that the bodies are only starting to come back now over a week later has really made some of the Swedish population quite angry -- Kyra.

Robyn Curnow live from Stockholm -- thank, Robyn.

O'BRIEN: Insurgents unleash more deadly attacks in Iraq, one of their victims, the governor of Baghdad Province. Militants ambushed his convoy. He and a bodyguard were killed. And near the heavily fortified Green Zone, a suicide bomber detonated a fuel tanker loaded with explosives near an Iraqi military post, eight Iraqi police commandos, two civilians killed. At least 60 others were wounded.

PHILLIPS: Well, some people in Arab countries are being critical of their governments over the response to the tsunami crisis. Find out why just ahead on LIVE FROM.

And taking stock on Wall Street, how women CEOs are affecting their company's bottom lines. That's just moments away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: The tsunami tragedy offers layer upon layer of sadness, suffering and horror. Now consider this. United Nations officials fear a possible wave of kidnappings by child-peddling networks, including criminal gangs that sell children for sex. One official says that even all the chaos and the family disruptions, it's almost certainly occurring right now.

Reporter Shirley Gosh (ph) has the story from Thailand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHIRLEY GOSH, REPORTER (voice-over): When the wave struck the coast of Thailand nine days ago, they not only ripped away lives, but tore thousands of families apart, parents from children, brother from sister.

Among the survivors were youngsters left injured, orphaned, traumatized and alone. Now Thai authorities are investigating the dreadful possibility that when some of these victims needed help the most, they may have fallen prey to child traffickers. The father of this boy, 12-year-old Christian Walker (ph), is desperately trying to discover if his son was one of those victims.

Christian was on holiday in Khao Lak with his mother, now presumed dead, and his brother and sister, who were found safe in Phuket. Doctors at this hospital have confirmed they treated Christian for minor injuries the day after the tsunami, but they say he left the hospital with a dark-haired European man and he hasn't been heard of since. Swedish police are now treating Christian's disappearance as a possible kidnapping. Aid agencies say children are particularly vulnerable to child snatchers in the chaotic aftermath of disasters. They have reported cases of local children being abducted by ruthless child sex traders, but this is a first time a Western child has been taken. It's a nightmare for any parent. Christian's family are now doing all they can to trace him with the help of the Thai authorities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Now, as a preemptive strike against child abductions, Indonesia has placed restrictions on youngsters leaving the country and has police on the lookout at refugee camps -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Saudi Arabia is tripling its donation for tsunami relief and planning a fund-raiser on Saudi television.

Octavia Nasr, senior editor for Arab affairs here at CNN, takes a closer look at how the Arab world is responding to that crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SR. EDITOR FOR ARAB AFFAIRS (voice-over): Arab media dispatched correspondent to disaster stricken areas, focusing their coverage on Muslim towns and villages in Sri Lanka and Indonesia; mosques that survived the devastation, the stories of survivors and deliveries of aid, some of it by the U.S. military.

This Al-Jazeera in Sumatra says away from the war in Iraq, but on a mission just as important, U.S. military personnel deliver much- needed food aid to areas struck by the tsunami.

But when it comes to aid pledges from nations around the world, Arab countries are at the bottom of the list. Saudi Arabia has pledged $10 million. Compare that to the $155 million raised in 2002 at this telethon on Saudi TV for families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Prince al Walid bin Talal donated $27 million out of his own pocket to that fund-raiser.

In Arabic chat rooms, a genuine anger at Arab governments and Arab media alike. An Arab talk show host says, Many Arab viewers have become racist. Unfortunately, the tragedy that befell Asians has no effect on many of them.

An Arab intellectual writes, "This is the chance for to show their humanity regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, giving just because it is the right thing to do."

At least the Emirate of Dubai has made a start. This shipment of clean drinking water has already made it to Sri Lanka. And a walkathon is planned for Thursday to raise funds for tsunami victims.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NASR: And, Kyra, when you think about all these Asian workers, guest workers, all over the Middle East and especially in Gulf countries, you can only expect the story to be a huge one. So you can understand the disappointment on Arab streets at how their governments are responding to the crisis so far.

PHILLIPS: Well, obviously, it's an amazing effort, but I do want to ask you, you know, how do you know that this is legitimate, the fund-raising and where the money will go? You mentioned briefly in the piece about the past.

NASR: Right, and you are right. This is one concern.

A lot of people are saying, you know, the U.S. has closed down many Muslim charities because they believe that some of the money given to charities are being -- is being funneled to terrorists. There is no way to track these things down. We cannot ourselves as journalists do that.

You have to give them credit, though. You have to give credit to the Saudi government for calling for a telethon. The question is going to be how much this telethon is going to raise. We talked about 2002; $165 million were raised for families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Well, in 2003, there was a telethon on Saudi TV to help Iraq and they were able to raise only $11.5 million.

It will be very interesting to see how much the Saudis and also especially the royal family is going to be able to give to that telethon. That's going to be very telling. We'll watch on Thursday.

PHILLIPS: OK, we'll do a follow-up.

NASR: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Octavia, thank you so much.

Well, how good are former presidents at raising money for tsunami relief? Just ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS,' Judy Woodruff tallies the donations after just one day on the job as fund-raisers-in-chief.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(FINANCIAL UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: That does it from here in Atlanta. We'll go back to Washington -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Kyra, that's all the time we have for today. Thank you very much. We'll be back out of Washington again tomorrow. I'm Miles O'Brien.

We appreciate you joining us on LIVE FROM.

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