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Four Fired in CBS News Controversy; Plans for Iraq Election Go Forward Despite Continued Attacks

Aired January 10, 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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Here's what's happening "Now in the News." Four CBS News employees have lost their jobs over the disputed report on the president's military service. We'll have developments in a live report in just a few moments for you.
The alleged ringleader in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal faces trial today. The court martial for specialist Charles Graner underway in Fort Hood, Texas. Graner told reporters on his way to court -- we quote him now, "We're going to find out what kind of monster I am today."

President Bush promising a long-term commitment in helping tsunami-stricken nations. The president spoke today after being briefed by the secretary of state, Colin Powell, who recently toured the region. However, Mr. Bush stopped short of promising more than the $350 million the U.S. has already pledged.

A challenging commute in Southern California, to say the least. That lingering winter storm responsible for street flooding and dangerous mudslides. The region has gotten up to two feet of rain over the past two weeks. More bad news for you. Forecasters say another storm system on the way.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: As Miles mentioned, the eye is on CBS News today. The network's erroneous story on President Bush's National Guard service has cost four employees their jobs. CBS ousted them today over the controversial report.

And CNN financial news correspondent Chris Huntington joins us now live from New York with all the details. Hi there, Chris.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Betty, hello. Well, an independent review of the CBS report that initially aired on "60 Minutes Wednesday" on September 8th, finds essentially that the producer of the report, a veteran who had won Emmy awards, was pretty much pushing a story that she thoroughly believed in, but pushing it past new managers at "60 Minutes Wednesday" in a fashion that did not even stand up to the existing standards of journalism at CBS.

Now, the review that was conducted by former attorney general Richard Thornburgh, as well as the man who formerly ran the Associated Press, Louis Boccardi, was a scathing indictment of what happened at CBS. There is an interesting paper trail, though, that revolves around these documents that were purported to have come from Lieutenant Jerry Killian, who was a commander of President Bush in the Texas Air National Guard.

What is interesting is that Dan Rather and also the president of CBS News, Andrew Heyward, were expressing concerns and caution about the report, albeit late in the process. In fact, Dan Rather apparently saying to Andrew Heyward, the president of CBS, quote, "the story could be radioactive" and that Heyward should have it checked out thoroughly. Andrew Heyward, then, according to the independent review, turned to Betsy West, who was the executive overseeing the "60 Minutes" broadcast, saying to West in an e-mail, "We're going to have to defend every syllable on this one."

But West, in fact, lost her job. She apparently, according to the review, only really stepped in to take a look at the report the day before it was broadcast. Also, being asked to resign, the executive producer of "60 Minutes Wednesday," Josh Howard, and his immediate deputy, senior broadcast producer, Mary Murphy. The woman who produced the segment, Mary Mapes, a longtime veteran of CBS News, was described in the independent review as zealously pushing this report.

No -- the report was very critical of the process by which she and some other producers at CBS tried to authenticate the documents, saying basically, finding that they had only been able to authenticate from one document expert the handwriting of the signature and not the content of the documents themselves, which, in fact, were multigenerational copies, not original documents.

So the end result of this is a very embarrassing situation for CBS which, of course, defended the broadcast for up to a week following the initial showing of that segment. CBS News, indeed, trying to put the bright face on this and say they will make some changes. There were changes recommended by the independent review that a new standards and practices executive should be put in place -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Changes on the way. All right. Chris Huntington, thank you for that report.

CBS chairman and CEO, Les Moonves, will be a guest on "Paula Zahn Now." That is tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific. They'll talk about the fallout from today's report and what new safeguards are in place to prevent it from happening again.

O'BRIEN: 20 days and counting until the Iraqis go to the polls. As we mentioned earlier, more violence today, more promises the election won't be derailed as well. CNN's Chris Lawrence with the latest live from Baghdad -- Chris.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, it's a quiet night here in Baghdad, at quite a contrast to how this day started. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the Iraqi people face many enemies in their search for peace. And that was evident today when explosives detonated at a girls high school here in Baghdad and an insurgent was killed while trying to blow up a boys middle school. No children were hurt in these attack, but both schools were being prepped to become voting centers during the election. Now, some of these attacks have been even more specific. You can see what is left of the car owned by the deputy police chief of Baghdad. He was driving to work today with his son when two cars pulled up alongside him, they opened up with machine gunfire, and killed them both. Around the same time, a suicide bomber drove his vehicle right through the front gate of a Baghdad police station.

And we have now learned that that driver was driving an Iraqi police vehicle, or one made to look just like it, right down to the emergency light on top. That explosion killed six Iraqis and the driver. And despite this pattern of attacks, Prime Minister Allawi said today he is confident about the state of security here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The ability of the Iraq security forces are increasing, and there will be no safe haven for these terrorists in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: Now, the prime minister also said they have captured several terrorist leaders here in Iraq. But to have a successful election, you've got to have voters feeling confident enough to walk into those polling places, not having to worry about being killed, and you need local Iraqi security forces to provide that kind of security. Today's attacks were clearly designed to cause concern in both those areas -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: And, of course, Chris, not a lot of time to rectify those problems.

LAWRENCE: No. Exactly. In terms of training the Iraqi forces and building them up, it's a race against time for the coalition forces. 20 days to go now.

O'BRIEN: As the helicopters come in, we'll bid you adieu. Chris Lawrence, live in Baghdad. Thank you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Grieving families in Louisiana are planning funerals for six of their loved ones killed in a single bomb blast in Iraq. Three of the soldiers from the city of Houma. Dave McNamara of affiliate WWL reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVE MCNAMARA, WWL REPORTER (voice-over): Families in Raceland, more families in Houma and still more families in Chauvin are grieving today. They are the wives, they are mothers, fathers, the children and the grandparents of soldiers killed in Baghdad. It was midnight when the knocks on doors began.

ANGELA BEHGERON, SOLDIER'S MOTHER: When my husband woke me up and told me there was a soldier outside, I knew right away. That he was gone. MCNAMARA: Angela Behgeron's son of, Corporal Bradley Behgeron of Chauvin, was driving the Bradley fighting vehicle on patrol. A roadside bomb exploded, it flipped over the armored vehicle and then there were more explosions inside. All seven soldiers aboard were killed. Among them, Sergeant First Class Kurt Comeaux of Raceland. His wife, Tiffany, never watches the news, but one of the couples' three sons stumbled on to news from Baghdad last night.

TIFFANY COMEAUX, SOLDIER'S WIFE: And they were showing pictures, and he was, like, wait look. And they said bradleys. And one of my twins, Brody, was asking me, that's what daddy rides in, a bradley. And I was telling them no, that's not daddy, that's not where daddy's at. And then 45 minutes later, I got the knock on my door that's was where his daddy was at. And it was him.

MCNAMARA: Richard and Charlotte Babin of Houma got the same knock on their door. Today, Charlotte holds Seargent Christopher Babin's 9-month-old son. Chris was also in that bradley.

CHARLOTTE BABIN, SOLDIER'S MOTHER: He wanted to be everybody's hero. And he said he was going to, in this war, to serve his country. And he said he wore his uniform very proud. And he says mom and dad, I will be back. I don't know in what condition, but I will be back.

MCNAMARA: Specialist Luke Frickey (ph) of Houma also died in the blast. His grandmother says Luke asked relatives to send candy to soldiers in Iraq.

PEGGY GAIENNIE (ph), SOLDIER'S GRANDMOTHER: But he said the farmers, they were in an area that was farmlike and that the farmers were friendly and whatever. He asked us to send candy so that when they made the door-to-door searches, they could give candy to the children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that was reporter Dave McNamara of WWL.

The Army believes insurgents using an electric -- electronic detonator set off that roadside bomb that killed six Louisiana soldiers and one from New York last week in Iraq.

The U.S. Military reports that 1,358 U.S. troop fatalities since the Iraq war began. 1,070 U.S. service members have died in combat and 288 in non-hostile circumstances.

O'BRIEN: Some of the children in Sri Lanka are going back to school for the first time since the tsunami, the day after Christmas. But of course they won't start their lessons right away, as you can see. Also ahead, the story of a young CNN viewer so touched by one couple's survival story, she started her own fund-raising drive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Millions of children in Sri Lanka back in school for the first time since the tsunami hit. But as CNN's Kasra Naji has found, many of the schools not ready for them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was meant to be the first day back in school after the new year. But the parents and children found a lot has to be done first to clear out the sludge and the debris the tsunami has left behind. Everyone wants to start school as soon as possible to bring back a semblance of normal life. Several classrooms were destroyed along with the library and the science room. Microscopes and other lab equipment have all been broken. The three computers and the CD players stolen.

The school's principal lost her life in the tsunami. She had come to work on her day off to prepare the children's return. She drowned here on the school grounds. At the classroom, many students are absent. But teachers say, according to their information, none of the students have been killed. But several parents died. There are usually sine 1,400 children in school, but today, only 300 turned out. It's told the rest of them are either living with relatives or in shelters and temples far away. School officials have now decided to reopen the school on the 25th, two weeks from now allowing enough time to clean up the school and send messages to all students to turn up then.

SAM DE SILVA, TEACHER: We have only four buildings, and we have two other activity rooms. Now what we have planned is now we are going to establish 37 classes here.

NAJI: Some 60 percent of the children here have lost their homes together with their possessions, pens, textbooks, uniforms.

WASSANA JAYARATNE, TEACHER: We want them a better life. We want your help.

NAJI: But judging by the zeal shown here to go back to the classrooms as soon as possible, there is little doubt these children will be back on their feet in no time at all. Kasra Naji, CNN, southern Sri Lanka.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: They're amazingly resilient, aren't they?

Since the tsunami struck, tens of thousands of viewers have e- mailed CNN.com, some searching for loved ones, others wanting to help. CNN's Veronica De La Cruz reports on one message that stood out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Missy McDonough was touched by the pictures she was seeing on television of the tsunami tragedy. While doing homework, she heard the story of Ron Rubin and Rebecca Bedall, the couple who saved the Swedish boy and reunited him with his father.

REBECCA BEDALL, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: Basically, I just -- I just held him and cuddled him for the day.

DE LA CRUZ: After watching LARRY KING LIVE, Missy told her mother she wanted to help. She sent an e-mail to CNN. "My name is Missy, and I am 9 years old. My great grandmother just recently passed away and left me some money. I want to send $100. I just watched your show, and it had Ron and Rebecca on it. How can I send my money to them so they can give it to the people who need it most?" So we connected Missy and the young couple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rebecca?

BEDALL: Yes, Missy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw you and Ron on the news. And I saw how you saved that little boy. So I wanted to send you guys $100 to give to the people.

BEDALL: Oh. Thank you so much. Missy, that is so nice of you.

You know how many people that's going to help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

DE LA CRUZ: And she continues with the effort. Missy is collecting money at local YMCAs around her Florida home. Veronica De La Cruz, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right. Tip of the LIVE FROM hat to her. Congratulations and good work, Missy.

You can share your tsunami experiences, read other people's stories or learn how to help the relief effort by logging on to CNN.com/quake.

NGUYEN: Ahead on LIVE FROM, the invention that gives new meaning to the phrase "pay phone." Leave your wallet at home. Just grab that cell phone.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. One of Hollywood's hottest couples speaks out on the separation of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. We hear from Nick and Jessica when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, first it was the demise of Bennifer. Now Hollywood's other it couple is taking a pit stop on the road of love. Former friends star Jennifer Aniston and her movie star husband Brad Pitt are separated.

CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas joins now with the scoop from L.A. Say it isn't so?

VARGAS: That's what I'm saying! I was saying the same thing, say it isn't so! Say it isn't so! But Hollywood -- they say Hollywood marriages don't last. And in the case of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, they were right. After four and a half years of marriage, Tinseltown superstar couple is calling it quits.

The announcement follows months of tabloid stories, including a report that Pitt wanted to start a family, but Aniston did not. Now, others speculated that there was too much off-screen chemistry between Pitt and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star Angelina Jolie. Whatever the reason, the couple says they happily remain committed and caring friends -- Betty?.

NGUYEN: Friends they are. OK. Well, I know Miles is just sick over this. But how is Hollywood reacting to the news?

VARGAS: Well, we ran into America's newest sweethearts, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, as they walked into the People's Choice Awards last night and their hearts went out to the couple.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA SIMPSON, ENTERTAINER: We're sad. We're sad about the Brad and Jen thing. But, you know, we wish them the best. And, I mean, obviously, we know how hard it is to be in the public with a relationship.

NICK LACHEY, ENTERTAINER: I'm just glad I got her off the open market before Brad Pitt became available.

SIMPSON: Shut up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Nick and Jessica's "Newlyweds" show went on to win Favorite Reality Show at last night's awards, while Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" won for favorite movie and Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" won favorite film drama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MOORE, DIRECTOR: I know that there are many people tonight, mothers and fathers across this country who have sons and daughters in Iraq. Our prayers are with them. And I dedicate this award to them tonight.

MEL GIBSON, DIRECTOR AND ACTOR: More than any other thing I've ever worked on, when you circumvent the system, I depended on you. And you were there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: "Shrek 2" proved to be another big favorite amongst the people. The number one box office hit was picked for both top animated movie and top film comedy. And speaking of the box office, paranormal thriller "White Noise" sounded off at the box office.

But in the end, it was "Meet the Fockers" that made the most noise again. The Robert DeNiro/Ben Stiller comedy sold $28.5 million worth of tickets, pushing the film past the $200 million mark in just three weeks. It was followed by "White Noise," which opened with $24 million, "Leaving the Bronx," four, Martian Scorsese's "The Aviator," which took in another $7.6 million. And by the way, "Aviator" has six Golden Globe nominations, which will be handed out this coming Sunday.

NGUYEN: And speaking of that, you have a special coming up. We'll be talking about that a little bit later this week. Sibila Vargas, thank you.

VARGAS: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: All right. Well, Miles, you know, hey, they're separated, not divorced. So you're going to be OK for a few days.

O'BRIEN: So they might get back together?

NGUYEN: Maybe, maybe. If you keep your fingers crossed.

O'BRIEN: Oh, great. I was so worried about them. I thought that was one couple that was there for the long haul...

NGUYEN: Hollywood marriage.

O'BRIEN: Good three years in Hollywood would be that, right? OK. Cell phones.

NGUYEN: Business news now, yes.

O'BRIEN: Should we talk cell phones? Remember the shoe phone? You know, in Max Smart?

NGUYEN: Yes. I never got that one, the real that.

O'BRIEN: Remember that? "Get Smart"? I don't think it was. Maybe it's coming to a cell phone dealer near you. We've got cell phones that are really like wallets now, right?

NGUYEN: You can pay through them.

O'BRIEN: You can pay through them?

NGUYEN: Is that how it works, Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Well, you can use them for that, which means cell phones will be even more ubiquitous. You may soon have a ringing wallet. According to an article in "The New York Times," cell phone companies are pushing for a new kind of technology. By embedding the cell phone with a certain computer chip, your phone could soon double as your credit or debit card. The chip would perform the same function as that magnetic strip on the back of your credit card.

It's already becoming mainstream in Korea and Japan and the industry wants to bring the service here to the U.S. But don't plan on whipping out your cell phone and saying charge it anytime soon. The industry has to clear up some security and fraud concerns before the technology goes mainstream. Details. Betty, Miles, back to you.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: It's almost the top of the hour, which means it's time to check headlines.

NGUYEN: People in South Carolina who live near that deadly chlorine train wreck, well, they still can't go home.

O'BRIEN: And here's some video that gives you an idea of how intense the rains are in Southern California. Hear from one of the firefighters who helped rescue this -- every time I see that, I think, wow! That a button and it was awfully close. Anyway, we'll hear from the firefighter who was on the scene. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired January 10, 2005 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Here's what's happening "Now in the News." Four CBS News employees have lost their jobs over the disputed report on the president's military service. We'll have developments in a live report in just a few moments for you.
The alleged ringleader in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal faces trial today. The court martial for specialist Charles Graner underway in Fort Hood, Texas. Graner told reporters on his way to court -- we quote him now, "We're going to find out what kind of monster I am today."

President Bush promising a long-term commitment in helping tsunami-stricken nations. The president spoke today after being briefed by the secretary of state, Colin Powell, who recently toured the region. However, Mr. Bush stopped short of promising more than the $350 million the U.S. has already pledged.

A challenging commute in Southern California, to say the least. That lingering winter storm responsible for street flooding and dangerous mudslides. The region has gotten up to two feet of rain over the past two weeks. More bad news for you. Forecasters say another storm system on the way.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: As Miles mentioned, the eye is on CBS News today. The network's erroneous story on President Bush's National Guard service has cost four employees their jobs. CBS ousted them today over the controversial report.

And CNN financial news correspondent Chris Huntington joins us now live from New York with all the details. Hi there, Chris.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Betty, hello. Well, an independent review of the CBS report that initially aired on "60 Minutes Wednesday" on September 8th, finds essentially that the producer of the report, a veteran who had won Emmy awards, was pretty much pushing a story that she thoroughly believed in, but pushing it past new managers at "60 Minutes Wednesday" in a fashion that did not even stand up to the existing standards of journalism at CBS.

Now, the review that was conducted by former attorney general Richard Thornburgh, as well as the man who formerly ran the Associated Press, Louis Boccardi, was a scathing indictment of what happened at CBS. There is an interesting paper trail, though, that revolves around these documents that were purported to have come from Lieutenant Jerry Killian, who was a commander of President Bush in the Texas Air National Guard.

What is interesting is that Dan Rather and also the president of CBS News, Andrew Heyward, were expressing concerns and caution about the report, albeit late in the process. In fact, Dan Rather apparently saying to Andrew Heyward, the president of CBS, quote, "the story could be radioactive" and that Heyward should have it checked out thoroughly. Andrew Heyward, then, according to the independent review, turned to Betsy West, who was the executive overseeing the "60 Minutes" broadcast, saying to West in an e-mail, "We're going to have to defend every syllable on this one."

But West, in fact, lost her job. She apparently, according to the review, only really stepped in to take a look at the report the day before it was broadcast. Also, being asked to resign, the executive producer of "60 Minutes Wednesday," Josh Howard, and his immediate deputy, senior broadcast producer, Mary Murphy. The woman who produced the segment, Mary Mapes, a longtime veteran of CBS News, was described in the independent review as zealously pushing this report.

No -- the report was very critical of the process by which she and some other producers at CBS tried to authenticate the documents, saying basically, finding that they had only been able to authenticate from one document expert the handwriting of the signature and not the content of the documents themselves, which, in fact, were multigenerational copies, not original documents.

So the end result of this is a very embarrassing situation for CBS which, of course, defended the broadcast for up to a week following the initial showing of that segment. CBS News, indeed, trying to put the bright face on this and say they will make some changes. There were changes recommended by the independent review that a new standards and practices executive should be put in place -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Changes on the way. All right. Chris Huntington, thank you for that report.

CBS chairman and CEO, Les Moonves, will be a guest on "Paula Zahn Now." That is tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific. They'll talk about the fallout from today's report and what new safeguards are in place to prevent it from happening again.

O'BRIEN: 20 days and counting until the Iraqis go to the polls. As we mentioned earlier, more violence today, more promises the election won't be derailed as well. CNN's Chris Lawrence with the latest live from Baghdad -- Chris.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, it's a quiet night here in Baghdad, at quite a contrast to how this day started. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the Iraqi people face many enemies in their search for peace. And that was evident today when explosives detonated at a girls high school here in Baghdad and an insurgent was killed while trying to blow up a boys middle school. No children were hurt in these attack, but both schools were being prepped to become voting centers during the election. Now, some of these attacks have been even more specific. You can see what is left of the car owned by the deputy police chief of Baghdad. He was driving to work today with his son when two cars pulled up alongside him, they opened up with machine gunfire, and killed them both. Around the same time, a suicide bomber drove his vehicle right through the front gate of a Baghdad police station.

And we have now learned that that driver was driving an Iraqi police vehicle, or one made to look just like it, right down to the emergency light on top. That explosion killed six Iraqis and the driver. And despite this pattern of attacks, Prime Minister Allawi said today he is confident about the state of security here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The ability of the Iraq security forces are increasing, and there will be no safe haven for these terrorists in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: Now, the prime minister also said they have captured several terrorist leaders here in Iraq. But to have a successful election, you've got to have voters feeling confident enough to walk into those polling places, not having to worry about being killed, and you need local Iraqi security forces to provide that kind of security. Today's attacks were clearly designed to cause concern in both those areas -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: And, of course, Chris, not a lot of time to rectify those problems.

LAWRENCE: No. Exactly. In terms of training the Iraqi forces and building them up, it's a race against time for the coalition forces. 20 days to go now.

O'BRIEN: As the helicopters come in, we'll bid you adieu. Chris Lawrence, live in Baghdad. Thank you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Grieving families in Louisiana are planning funerals for six of their loved ones killed in a single bomb blast in Iraq. Three of the soldiers from the city of Houma. Dave McNamara of affiliate WWL reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVE MCNAMARA, WWL REPORTER (voice-over): Families in Raceland, more families in Houma and still more families in Chauvin are grieving today. They are the wives, they are mothers, fathers, the children and the grandparents of soldiers killed in Baghdad. It was midnight when the knocks on doors began.

ANGELA BEHGERON, SOLDIER'S MOTHER: When my husband woke me up and told me there was a soldier outside, I knew right away. That he was gone. MCNAMARA: Angela Behgeron's son of, Corporal Bradley Behgeron of Chauvin, was driving the Bradley fighting vehicle on patrol. A roadside bomb exploded, it flipped over the armored vehicle and then there were more explosions inside. All seven soldiers aboard were killed. Among them, Sergeant First Class Kurt Comeaux of Raceland. His wife, Tiffany, never watches the news, but one of the couples' three sons stumbled on to news from Baghdad last night.

TIFFANY COMEAUX, SOLDIER'S WIFE: And they were showing pictures, and he was, like, wait look. And they said bradleys. And one of my twins, Brody, was asking me, that's what daddy rides in, a bradley. And I was telling them no, that's not daddy, that's not where daddy's at. And then 45 minutes later, I got the knock on my door that's was where his daddy was at. And it was him.

MCNAMARA: Richard and Charlotte Babin of Houma got the same knock on their door. Today, Charlotte holds Seargent Christopher Babin's 9-month-old son. Chris was also in that bradley.

CHARLOTTE BABIN, SOLDIER'S MOTHER: He wanted to be everybody's hero. And he said he was going to, in this war, to serve his country. And he said he wore his uniform very proud. And he says mom and dad, I will be back. I don't know in what condition, but I will be back.

MCNAMARA: Specialist Luke Frickey (ph) of Houma also died in the blast. His grandmother says Luke asked relatives to send candy to soldiers in Iraq.

PEGGY GAIENNIE (ph), SOLDIER'S GRANDMOTHER: But he said the farmers, they were in an area that was farmlike and that the farmers were friendly and whatever. He asked us to send candy so that when they made the door-to-door searches, they could give candy to the children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that was reporter Dave McNamara of WWL.

The Army believes insurgents using an electric -- electronic detonator set off that roadside bomb that killed six Louisiana soldiers and one from New York last week in Iraq.

The U.S. Military reports that 1,358 U.S. troop fatalities since the Iraq war began. 1,070 U.S. service members have died in combat and 288 in non-hostile circumstances.

O'BRIEN: Some of the children in Sri Lanka are going back to school for the first time since the tsunami, the day after Christmas. But of course they won't start their lessons right away, as you can see. Also ahead, the story of a young CNN viewer so touched by one couple's survival story, she started her own fund-raising drive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Millions of children in Sri Lanka back in school for the first time since the tsunami hit. But as CNN's Kasra Naji has found, many of the schools not ready for them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was meant to be the first day back in school after the new year. But the parents and children found a lot has to be done first to clear out the sludge and the debris the tsunami has left behind. Everyone wants to start school as soon as possible to bring back a semblance of normal life. Several classrooms were destroyed along with the library and the science room. Microscopes and other lab equipment have all been broken. The three computers and the CD players stolen.

The school's principal lost her life in the tsunami. She had come to work on her day off to prepare the children's return. She drowned here on the school grounds. At the classroom, many students are absent. But teachers say, according to their information, none of the students have been killed. But several parents died. There are usually sine 1,400 children in school, but today, only 300 turned out. It's told the rest of them are either living with relatives or in shelters and temples far away. School officials have now decided to reopen the school on the 25th, two weeks from now allowing enough time to clean up the school and send messages to all students to turn up then.

SAM DE SILVA, TEACHER: We have only four buildings, and we have two other activity rooms. Now what we have planned is now we are going to establish 37 classes here.

NAJI: Some 60 percent of the children here have lost their homes together with their possessions, pens, textbooks, uniforms.

WASSANA JAYARATNE, TEACHER: We want them a better life. We want your help.

NAJI: But judging by the zeal shown here to go back to the classrooms as soon as possible, there is little doubt these children will be back on their feet in no time at all. Kasra Naji, CNN, southern Sri Lanka.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: They're amazingly resilient, aren't they?

Since the tsunami struck, tens of thousands of viewers have e- mailed CNN.com, some searching for loved ones, others wanting to help. CNN's Veronica De La Cruz reports on one message that stood out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Missy McDonough was touched by the pictures she was seeing on television of the tsunami tragedy. While doing homework, she heard the story of Ron Rubin and Rebecca Bedall, the couple who saved the Swedish boy and reunited him with his father.

REBECCA BEDALL, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: Basically, I just -- I just held him and cuddled him for the day.

DE LA CRUZ: After watching LARRY KING LIVE, Missy told her mother she wanted to help. She sent an e-mail to CNN. "My name is Missy, and I am 9 years old. My great grandmother just recently passed away and left me some money. I want to send $100. I just watched your show, and it had Ron and Rebecca on it. How can I send my money to them so they can give it to the people who need it most?" So we connected Missy and the young couple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rebecca?

BEDALL: Yes, Missy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw you and Ron on the news. And I saw how you saved that little boy. So I wanted to send you guys $100 to give to the people.

BEDALL: Oh. Thank you so much. Missy, that is so nice of you.

You know how many people that's going to help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

DE LA CRUZ: And she continues with the effort. Missy is collecting money at local YMCAs around her Florida home. Veronica De La Cruz, CNN, Atlanta.

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O'BRIEN: All right. Tip of the LIVE FROM hat to her. Congratulations and good work, Missy.

You can share your tsunami experiences, read other people's stories or learn how to help the relief effort by logging on to CNN.com/quake.

NGUYEN: Ahead on LIVE FROM, the invention that gives new meaning to the phrase "pay phone." Leave your wallet at home. Just grab that cell phone.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. One of Hollywood's hottest couples speaks out on the separation of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. We hear from Nick and Jessica when LIVE FROM returns.

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NGUYEN: Well, first it was the demise of Bennifer. Now Hollywood's other it couple is taking a pit stop on the road of love. Former friends star Jennifer Aniston and her movie star husband Brad Pitt are separated.

CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas joins now with the scoop from L.A. Say it isn't so?

VARGAS: That's what I'm saying! I was saying the same thing, say it isn't so! Say it isn't so! But Hollywood -- they say Hollywood marriages don't last. And in the case of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, they were right. After four and a half years of marriage, Tinseltown superstar couple is calling it quits.

The announcement follows months of tabloid stories, including a report that Pitt wanted to start a family, but Aniston did not. Now, others speculated that there was too much off-screen chemistry between Pitt and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star Angelina Jolie. Whatever the reason, the couple says they happily remain committed and caring friends -- Betty?.

NGUYEN: Friends they are. OK. Well, I know Miles is just sick over this. But how is Hollywood reacting to the news?

VARGAS: Well, we ran into America's newest sweethearts, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, as they walked into the People's Choice Awards last night and their hearts went out to the couple.

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JESSICA SIMPSON, ENTERTAINER: We're sad. We're sad about the Brad and Jen thing. But, you know, we wish them the best. And, I mean, obviously, we know how hard it is to be in the public with a relationship.

NICK LACHEY, ENTERTAINER: I'm just glad I got her off the open market before Brad Pitt became available.

SIMPSON: Shut up.

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VARGAS: Nick and Jessica's "Newlyweds" show went on to win Favorite Reality Show at last night's awards, while Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" won for favorite movie and Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" won favorite film drama.

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MICHAEL MOORE, DIRECTOR: I know that there are many people tonight, mothers and fathers across this country who have sons and daughters in Iraq. Our prayers are with them. And I dedicate this award to them tonight.

MEL GIBSON, DIRECTOR AND ACTOR: More than any other thing I've ever worked on, when you circumvent the system, I depended on you. And you were there.

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VARGAS: "Shrek 2" proved to be another big favorite amongst the people. The number one box office hit was picked for both top animated movie and top film comedy. And speaking of the box office, paranormal thriller "White Noise" sounded off at the box office.

But in the end, it was "Meet the Fockers" that made the most noise again. The Robert DeNiro/Ben Stiller comedy sold $28.5 million worth of tickets, pushing the film past the $200 million mark in just three weeks. It was followed by "White Noise," which opened with $24 million, "Leaving the Bronx," four, Martian Scorsese's "The Aviator," which took in another $7.6 million. And by the way, "Aviator" has six Golden Globe nominations, which will be handed out this coming Sunday.

NGUYEN: And speaking of that, you have a special coming up. We'll be talking about that a little bit later this week. Sibila Vargas, thank you.

VARGAS: Thank you so much.

NGUYEN: All right. Well, Miles, you know, hey, they're separated, not divorced. So you're going to be OK for a few days.

O'BRIEN: So they might get back together?

NGUYEN: Maybe, maybe. If you keep your fingers crossed.

O'BRIEN: Oh, great. I was so worried about them. I thought that was one couple that was there for the long haul...

NGUYEN: Hollywood marriage.

O'BRIEN: Good three years in Hollywood would be that, right? OK. Cell phones.

NGUYEN: Business news now, yes.

O'BRIEN: Should we talk cell phones? Remember the shoe phone? You know, in Max Smart?

NGUYEN: Yes. I never got that one, the real that.

O'BRIEN: Remember that? "Get Smart"? I don't think it was. Maybe it's coming to a cell phone dealer near you. We've got cell phones that are really like wallets now, right?

NGUYEN: You can pay through them.

O'BRIEN: You can pay through them?

NGUYEN: Is that how it works, Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Well, you can use them for that, which means cell phones will be even more ubiquitous. You may soon have a ringing wallet. According to an article in "The New York Times," cell phone companies are pushing for a new kind of technology. By embedding the cell phone with a certain computer chip, your phone could soon double as your credit or debit card. The chip would perform the same function as that magnetic strip on the back of your credit card.

It's already becoming mainstream in Korea and Japan and the industry wants to bring the service here to the U.S. But don't plan on whipping out your cell phone and saying charge it anytime soon. The industry has to clear up some security and fraud concerns before the technology goes mainstream. Details. Betty, Miles, back to you.

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O'BRIEN: It's almost the top of the hour, which means it's time to check headlines.

NGUYEN: People in South Carolina who live near that deadly chlorine train wreck, well, they still can't go home.

O'BRIEN: And here's some video that gives you an idea of how intense the rains are in Southern California. Hear from one of the firefighters who helped rescue this -- every time I see that, I think, wow! That a button and it was awfully close. Anyway, we'll hear from the firefighter who was on the scene. Stay with us.

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