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Tsunami Survivors Discovered; President Prepares For State of the Union
Aired February 02, 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: Details now about that remarkable survival story, nine people discovered on a remote Indian island more than a month after the tsunami. The rescue party is calling it a miracle.
CNN's Satinder Bindra with us live now via videophone from New Delhi -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, you're absolutely right.
This is being described as a miracle, 38 days after the tsunami struck, police saying they found nine survivors on the island of Great Nicobar. They were found by a police party early this morning. Police officials say all nine appear disoriented.
They were weak. They were hungry, but as soon as the police party approached them, these tribals started jumping with joy. They hugged their police rescuers and they told the police that they had survived for 38 days by living on wild bore, on coconuts and on several roots.
When the tsunami struck, these nine people had made out for the hills. And the police officer who found them said he was extremely proud. He said he didn't expect to find anyone, but, as of right now, all nine survivors have been taken to a hospital. Two of them are dehydrated. And all nine, Miles, are expected to survive. They're in quite decent health.
O'BRIEN: Do we have any indication from the authorities, Satinder, as to when we might get some pictures of them?
BINDRA: Well, we are hoping to get pictures of them perhaps in the next six to seven hours. The area, as we well know, is extremely remote. That area actually is even infested with crocodiles, so getting there is quite a difficult task, but we hope to have a crew out there in the next few hours.
There's also another problem. According to Indian rules, these rules are laid down by India's Supreme Court, it's not possible for photographers to take any pictures of these tribals. These tribals, in the past, several hundreds of them have been wiped out when they've come into contact with outsiders. Even a common cold has been enough to kill a lot of them. So they live in very remote areas. They live a different style of life. And perhaps it's that lifestyle that saved them, because they could light fires out in the jungle. They could hunt. They knew what roots to eat. So this is a story, Miles, after several days of sadness and despair, a story of great hope. Police say they'll be encouraged now continue with more searches.
O'BRIEN: It's just fascinating. Satinder, thank you. I hope we do get an opportunity to hear from them. We appreciate that. And, as you get more information, please share it with us -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A little immigration, a little education, some energy and tort reform, a lot of Iraq, and tight budgets and especially Social Security.
Reports in the run-up to the president's State of the Union speech indicate a heavy mix -- or heady mix, rather, of domestic and international objectives, a few of which will dominate official Washington for years. Others, if history is any guide, will quickly and quietly disappear.
CNN's Joe Johns has the state of the State of the Union preparations.
Hi, Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
It will be the president's first speech here at the Capitol after the inaugural address, the first speech of his second term, an opportunity for the president to try to generate some excitement, some enthusiasm, if you will, about his second-term agenda.
People at the White House have said that speech is expected to last about 45 minutes. People here at the Capitol were told today that speech would last a little under an hour.
His biggest domestic idea, Social Security, of course, already a national debate. Aides say he will try to -- quote -- "move the ball" in that debate, but there will not be a lot of specifics. There is hope here, particularly among Republicans, that the president will try to reassure people approaching retirement age that their benefits will not be touched.
Of course, many Republicans here say that's very important to this debate. At the same time, the president is expected, of course, to push his idea for personal retirement accounts, something Democrats are flatly opposed to, at least so far. The speech is also, of course, expected to highlight the situation in Iraq, the success there last weekend of the election.
The president is not expected to issue any timetable for the withdraw of troops. After that, of course, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate will deliver essentially a rebuttal to the president -- Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Joe Johns, thanks so much. And tonight, count on CNN for extensive live coverage of the president's State of the Union address. Our prime-time event begins at 8:00 Eastern.
O'BRIEN: So, who will lead the department aimed at keeping the U.S. safe? That question leads our CNN "Security Watch" today. Michael Chertoff promised to balance security with civil liberties if confirmed as the homeland security secretary.
Senate Democrats asked Chertoff whether, as a top government prosecutor, he had a role in approving torture for terror suspects. Chertoff said he only gave broad guidance. He faced pointed questioning today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Those theories helped to create an environment in which the abusive behavior of prisoners was either permitted or was perceived to be permitted. That distortion of our legal and moral obligation to treat prisoners humanely undermines the safety of our troops. It also undermines our standing in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: And attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales is denying that he advocates torture. That concern raised during debate by the full Senate. Gonzales expected to be confirmed possibly as early as tomorrow.
More than 50 agencies involved in security for Sunday's Super Bowl in Jacksonville, some are closely watching the river that flow through the city. Everything from cruise ships to jet skis routinely use the St. John's River. Authorities are checking all vessels and restricting private boats. Coast Guard divers are searching the river regularly.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: Now to the latest on the health of Pope John Paul II. The Vatican says there's no reason to be alarmed, despite the pope's hospitalization for breathing problems. Catholics around the world are keeping him in their thoughts today, from London to Moscow, where believers are saying prayers for his speedy recovery.
In his birthplace of Poland, priests are celebrating with special mass, and the faithful are lighting candles.
Our Jim Bittermann is monitoring the pope's condition in Rome -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the absolute latest comes now from no less than the prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, who was speculating just a few hours ago to the Italian press that, in fact, the pope could leave the hospital within two or three days. But it's speculation, because he didn't go to the hospital to talk to the doctors or the pope. His health minister did.
Girolamo Sirchia went earlier this evening. And here's what he had to say to reporters as he left.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIROLAMO SIRCHIA, ITALIAN HEALTH MINISTER (through translator): He is improving. The doctors are optimistic. The medical bulletin that has been released is absolutely truthful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: That kind of optimism we've been hearing all day long from the Vatican, the Vatican spokesman saying that, as you mentioned, there's nothing to be alarmed about. But, clearly, less than 24 hours ago, there was a great deal of alarm over at the Vatican, because they had rushed the pope from the Vatican to the Gemelli Hospital, which is a couple miles away, in the middle of the night last night to help out a situation in which the pope was apparently gasping for breath and choking, suffering for from something that they called laryngitis spasms, muscular spasm of the larynx.
So, it was clearly a dire situation last night that made them make the move. But they say today, the pope's condition has stabilized. But there is one thing that they're still pointing to. And that is this respiratory infection, an acute respiratory infection. And that, doctors say, not the pope's doctors, but doctors familiar with these cases, say that that could be very serious, indeed, particularly with someone with Parkinson's and someone bedridden, like the pope is. At his age, it could turn into pneumonia at some point.
PHILLIPS: We'll continue to monitor his condition. Jim Bittermann, thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: It's being called a failed takeoff. Indeed.
Now more on this morning's corporate jet crash at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, just a little distance from Manhattan; 19 went to the hospital, including one victim reported in critical condition. No reported fatalities, however.
CNN's Jason Carroll with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Members of the National Transportation Safety Board are here on the scene trying to determine exactly what caused the crash of that small corporate jet.
If you take a look behind me, you can see that there are still a number of emergency crews that are out here on the scene. Investigators are there as well. When you take a look at the wreckage, it's really incredible that, at this point, there are no reports of any fatalities. Just a review of what happened with the crash. The crash happened early this morning at 7:23. That twin-engine jet was traveling down the runway trying to take off. It skidded down the runway, through a fence, across Route 46, a highway out here, crashed into the Strawberry clothing warehouse and then burst into flames.
As it crossed Route 46, it did clip two cars. Two people inside those cars were seriously injured. A little while ago, investigators held a press conference where they provided more details about exactly what happened.
GOV. RICHARD CODEY (D), NEW JERSEY: The accident was a failed takeoff. And I want to make it clear, the plane never took off. On Teterboro runway No. 6, which is roughly 6,000 feet long. The aircraft, as I said, was on the ground and rolled off the runway and across Route 46 and into the warehouse building.
CARROLL: Eleven people were on board that CL-600, that corporate midsize jet. It actually has the capacity to seat 13, but there were eight passengers and three crew members on board.
We also have updated numbers from the hospital, 19 people taken to area hospitals. The most severely injured was a motorist who was inside his car on Route 46. He is in critical condition with head injuries. Also, the co-pilot is in serious condition with a broken leg. Both admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center.
The hospital also treated three bystanders, as well as the eight passengers who were on board. Those were minor injuries. In fact, many of them at this point have been treated and released.
At this point, again, NTSB is here. They are on the scene. They are trying to again determine exactly what caused the crash. They are not ruling anything out at this point. Two of the most important interviews that they will have to make are the co-pilot and the pilot.
Jason Carroll reporting -- now back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jason. Appreciate that.
He's the most experienced young mountain climber in America. With Everest in his pocket already, he's now looking to conquer Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. It's part of his quest to do all seven summits on the seven continents on our planet. Up next, Ben Clark will join us live from this mountain. He's not at the top yet, but we'll check in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF THOMASON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: It's my 15 minutes of fame. And I'm enjoying it. I know two weeks from now, I'll be sitting at my desk and just be like, what just happened to me?
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: From construction worker to NFL receiver in just two short weeks. One man's unlikely Super Bowl dream is about to come true.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Well, it's a view most of us will never get to see. My next guest has been to the top of the world and back, plans to do it, in all, seven times on seven continent. Ben Clark calls himself the most experienced, young mountaineer in America. He's all of 23.
He joins us now live. And we believe this is the first live shot ever from the Aconcagua Mountain in Argentina. He's using a videophone that we gave him to tote along.
And we're sorry about the extra poundage, Ben, but it's great to see you. It looks like you're having a great day. Can you hear me OK, first of all?
BEN CLARK, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: Oh, yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, tell me what's going on. How's the expedition so far?
CLARK: Can you hear it?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
CLARK: It's awesome.
Yes. We've just walked for about three days and about 36 miles right into here at 14,000 feet, sitting here at the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. And we are having an awesome time. It's just great weather, clear, little bit windy on occasion, which is typical of Aconcagua. And I've been here three times. It's the best I've seen it in base camp since. So it's a great time, great time.
O'BRIEN: We're looking at a picture you sent us just a little while ago, Ben, which shows you party walking across kind of a flat plain with the snow cap mountain which exceeds 22,000 feet in the distance.
CLARK: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What was going on there?
CLARK: Well, we -- our approach was pretty mellow. We had kind of a long, flat type hike to get in here. We started out at 8,000 feet, and then it took us about three days to work ourselves up about 36 miles to 14,000 feet.
And so, along that trek, we walk in, in an old valley, a stream bed, glacial runoff, until finally reaching a larger valley, but then came up to our 14,000 foot base camp. So pretty mellow, good hiking.
(CROSSTALK) O'BRIEN: Mellow, good hiking. He's at 14,000 feet at Aconcagua. And it's mellow, dude.
CLARK: Oh, yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, so let's take a look at this picture. You got the group here.
(CROSSTALK)
CLARK: Hey, hey.
O'BRIEN: You've got a fairly large party there. Some paying customers. You're a guide. This is part of you do.
CLARK: We do. We do.
O'BRIEN: And you're shooting a movie along the way. You're doing everything you can to pull this whole stunt off. How is the group? Everybody getting along? Is everybody doing OK?
CLARK: Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Everybody's getting along. It's awesome.
We've got nine clients here that we're instructing and trying to teach to be better climbers and more efficient climbers. And then we've got five Everest summiters, so I've got a great staff with me. Everyone's working hard to just make this thing safe and fun. That's our objective, is to come out here, have a great time and to learn a little bit about both ourselves and how to become better climbers.
And that's what we do. Any time you get to lead a group that large of 15 people, it's always a pleasure to work with and try to adapt to different styles and just try and meet up and accomplish your objectives.
O'BRIEN: All right, there's a shot here.
CLARK: That's exactly where we're at. And everyone's on board.
O'BRIEN: There's a shot here. It looks like you're kind of trying to jump over a puddle or something. I assume it's not quite that. What are you doing here?
CLARK: Yes. Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: ... jump off that rock there?
CLARK: That was awesome.
Yes, with the stream crossing. On the way in here, I say it's mellow, but it does have some really exciting parts, like the stream crossings. That actually, it's our friend Doug (ph). He works for Turner (ph) there. And he was down here. And we had two crossings. One of them was about 8:30 in the morning. And, man, I will tell you what. I will never get used to how cold that water is, 8:00 in the morning when you're getting up and it's just above freezing. Horrible. But you know what? That shot was from later in the day. And, luckily, we didn't actually have to climb up and over that thing, so it was a lot better.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: There's nothing worse than having cold, wet feet when you're doing something like this.
And we have got a shot here now which shows I guess your camp. I don't know if it's your current camp. But it shows your tent and kind of your accommodations there. Just give us, as we leave you here, give us a sense of what lies ahead and how frequently you'll be able to check in with us?
Did we lose him? I'm afraid we lost Ben. Well, this is obviously pushing the envelope of technology, as we like to say. Ben Clark, one very mellow dude up there at 14,000 feet, on his way to 22,000. And we're going to have him check in along on the way just because, we can.
PHILLIPS: Well, you should point out you that taught him how to use this equipment. He's setting up this whole live shot.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: No, I didn't teach him. Arnie Christensen (ph) did.
PHILLIPS: Our engineering guru.
O'BRIEN: Our genius of all portable satellite technology set him up, gave him the gear. Off he went. And, of course, we're going to have a few foibles along the way. But we thought it would be kind of fun to follow him along the way as he goes up...
PHILLIPS: We're going to get him at the top, right, the very top of the mountain.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely, yes.
Well, the actual -- the top of the top of the summit, we're not going to get. He'll be at the last stage camp. We'll figure it out.
But, as he goes along, we'll be checking in.
PHILLIPS: All right.
O'BRIEN: And I may be gone, because I'm going to the South Pacific next. So you might have to do this.
PHILLIPS: All right. I'm in.
(CROSSTALK) PHILLIPS: Because I've been to Antarctica.
O'BRIEN: You'll be in with the mellow dude.
PHILLIPS: I didn't mean to rub that in.
O'BRIEN: Yes, well.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: All right, it was a moment to remember -- Antarctica, too -- but a forecast you might want to forget. Up next, the wintry weather prediction from Punxsutawney Phil.
O'BRIEN: She looks a lot like you, by the way.
PHILLIPS: Oh, so mean.
O'BRIEN: And from hard hat to helmet. This guy says he's the luckiest guy in the world. He was putting in studs. Now he is a stud. Find out why next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As I study the sun, it's all about fun. But I'm sorry to say, I see my shadow today.
(BOOING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I see my shadow, six more weeks of winter looms.
(BOOING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's only the messenger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Oh, the crowd turned momentarily ugly at Gobblers Knob today when it heard Punxsutawney Phil's forecast.
In response to the poor reaction, peevish Phil decided to let his bladder speak for him. Meanwhile, Phil's country cousin in Lilburn, George, didn't see his shadow. But General Beauregard Lee did get a look at his new gal pal, because General Lee is getting up there in groundhog years. Game officials hope the two critters will produce a successor who can take over when Beau is ready to hang up the weathervane.
Now, whatever team you're rooting for, this has got to be the feel-good story of the Super Bowl. After retiring from the NFL two years ago, Jeff Thomason is trading in his hardhat for a helmet and one last hurrah.
Our Larry Smith is in Jacksonville with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It used to be stars were made on Super Bowl Sunday. Not this year. Meet Jeff Thomason.
THOMASON: It's my 15 minutes of fame. And I'm enjoying it. So I know it's going to be another two weeks now that I'll be sitting back at my desk and it will be like, what just happened to me?
SMITH: It started when Eagles tight end Chad Lewis broke his foot in the NFC Championship game. In urgent need of a replacement, the Eagles called this 35-year-old project manager for a construction company in New Jersey.
THOMASON: Initially I thought it was just a joke. And when I told people they thought the same thing. You know, I had to tell them three or four times before it actually sunk in.
TONY CASAPULLA, TOLL BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION: He said, I'm going to the Super Bowl. And I said, Cool, great. You got tickets? He says, No, I'm going to play in the Super Bowl. And I nearly fell out of my chair.
THOMASON: And he said, Come on in, catch some balls for us. And see if you can still do it. And luckily I could.
SMITH: The Today Show, David Letterman, 60 Minutes and on and on have all been clambering for the guy who swapped his hard hat for a helmet. His 15 minutes of fame is now entering day nine.
THOMASON: Definitely more media than I ever had in 10 years in the NFL.
DEREK BOYKO, EAGLES P.R. DIRECTOR: Marino, Steve Young, Brett Favre, there hasn't been a more requested player in a week of a Super Bowl than Jeff Thomason. The guy's a star.
IKE REESE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: I thought I would have a booth -- I mean a podium down here. They didn't want to give me a podium, but that's OK. Jeff Thomason has a podium because we picked him up off the street two weeks ago.
JEVON KEARSE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Jeff is the man. He's cashing in right now.
REESE: I'll tell you what, if he goes out there and scores a game with a touchdown Sunday , he's really going to blow up.
SMITH (on camera): So Jeff, is Sunday your last football game?
THOMASON: I believe it is. I believe it is. I don't know if I can get 16 games in my body, but I definitely have one.
SMITH (voice-over): And where will it end? How can the latest and most famous player in Super Bowl history hop off this joyride? Well he won't be going to Disney World.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're coming back, right?
THOMASON: Oh, yes.
SMITH: He's got to be back at work on Monday, when his two weeks' vacation are up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: In fact, Thomason says he was surprised at all the media attention. He says, in the past two Super Bowls he played in with the Green Bay Packers, he was an afterthought on Super Bowl media day.
The chilly weather continues here in Jacksonville as we get ready for Super Bowl XXXIX, Eagles and Patriots, a very rainy, chilly day, although they're saying a high of around 70 on Sunday in time for day game. If that doesn't happen, I'll tell you this much, Kyra. You better bring a winter coat. It's an outdoor stadium here in Jacksonville.
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. I've been there. I've seen a few games there. It's pretty fun. And you're not close to a really fun bar there, too, Larry. But that's a whole 'nother story. Thanks, Larry Smith.
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: OK.
PHILLIPS: The football player, he even had the walk. He had the whole strut going on there.
O'BRIEN: No. Not many know people it, but I'm a wide receiver, too, for the Falcons on just Sundays, just on the side. It's just a little thing.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM.
You're not buying it, are you?
PHILLIPS: And he wears blue shirts, too, on the field.
O'BRIEN: Yes. When I do it, yes.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 2, 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: Details now about that remarkable survival story, nine people discovered on a remote Indian island more than a month after the tsunami. The rescue party is calling it a miracle.
CNN's Satinder Bindra with us live now via videophone from New Delhi -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, you're absolutely right.
This is being described as a miracle, 38 days after the tsunami struck, police saying they found nine survivors on the island of Great Nicobar. They were found by a police party early this morning. Police officials say all nine appear disoriented.
They were weak. They were hungry, but as soon as the police party approached them, these tribals started jumping with joy. They hugged their police rescuers and they told the police that they had survived for 38 days by living on wild bore, on coconuts and on several roots.
When the tsunami struck, these nine people had made out for the hills. And the police officer who found them said he was extremely proud. He said he didn't expect to find anyone, but, as of right now, all nine survivors have been taken to a hospital. Two of them are dehydrated. And all nine, Miles, are expected to survive. They're in quite decent health.
O'BRIEN: Do we have any indication from the authorities, Satinder, as to when we might get some pictures of them?
BINDRA: Well, we are hoping to get pictures of them perhaps in the next six to seven hours. The area, as we well know, is extremely remote. That area actually is even infested with crocodiles, so getting there is quite a difficult task, but we hope to have a crew out there in the next few hours.
There's also another problem. According to Indian rules, these rules are laid down by India's Supreme Court, it's not possible for photographers to take any pictures of these tribals. These tribals, in the past, several hundreds of them have been wiped out when they've come into contact with outsiders. Even a common cold has been enough to kill a lot of them. So they live in very remote areas. They live a different style of life. And perhaps it's that lifestyle that saved them, because they could light fires out in the jungle. They could hunt. They knew what roots to eat. So this is a story, Miles, after several days of sadness and despair, a story of great hope. Police say they'll be encouraged now continue with more searches.
O'BRIEN: It's just fascinating. Satinder, thank you. I hope we do get an opportunity to hear from them. We appreciate that. And, as you get more information, please share it with us -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A little immigration, a little education, some energy and tort reform, a lot of Iraq, and tight budgets and especially Social Security.
Reports in the run-up to the president's State of the Union speech indicate a heavy mix -- or heady mix, rather, of domestic and international objectives, a few of which will dominate official Washington for years. Others, if history is any guide, will quickly and quietly disappear.
CNN's Joe Johns has the state of the State of the Union preparations.
Hi, Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
It will be the president's first speech here at the Capitol after the inaugural address, the first speech of his second term, an opportunity for the president to try to generate some excitement, some enthusiasm, if you will, about his second-term agenda.
People at the White House have said that speech is expected to last about 45 minutes. People here at the Capitol were told today that speech would last a little under an hour.
His biggest domestic idea, Social Security, of course, already a national debate. Aides say he will try to -- quote -- "move the ball" in that debate, but there will not be a lot of specifics. There is hope here, particularly among Republicans, that the president will try to reassure people approaching retirement age that their benefits will not be touched.
Of course, many Republicans here say that's very important to this debate. At the same time, the president is expected, of course, to push his idea for personal retirement accounts, something Democrats are flatly opposed to, at least so far. The speech is also, of course, expected to highlight the situation in Iraq, the success there last weekend of the election.
The president is not expected to issue any timetable for the withdraw of troops. After that, of course, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate will deliver essentially a rebuttal to the president -- Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Joe Johns, thanks so much. And tonight, count on CNN for extensive live coverage of the president's State of the Union address. Our prime-time event begins at 8:00 Eastern.
O'BRIEN: So, who will lead the department aimed at keeping the U.S. safe? That question leads our CNN "Security Watch" today. Michael Chertoff promised to balance security with civil liberties if confirmed as the homeland security secretary.
Senate Democrats asked Chertoff whether, as a top government prosecutor, he had a role in approving torture for terror suspects. Chertoff said he only gave broad guidance. He faced pointed questioning today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Those theories helped to create an environment in which the abusive behavior of prisoners was either permitted or was perceived to be permitted. That distortion of our legal and moral obligation to treat prisoners humanely undermines the safety of our troops. It also undermines our standing in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: And attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales is denying that he advocates torture. That concern raised during debate by the full Senate. Gonzales expected to be confirmed possibly as early as tomorrow.
More than 50 agencies involved in security for Sunday's Super Bowl in Jacksonville, some are closely watching the river that flow through the city. Everything from cruise ships to jet skis routinely use the St. John's River. Authorities are checking all vessels and restricting private boats. Coast Guard divers are searching the river regularly.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: Now to the latest on the health of Pope John Paul II. The Vatican says there's no reason to be alarmed, despite the pope's hospitalization for breathing problems. Catholics around the world are keeping him in their thoughts today, from London to Moscow, where believers are saying prayers for his speedy recovery.
In his birthplace of Poland, priests are celebrating with special mass, and the faithful are lighting candles.
Our Jim Bittermann is monitoring the pope's condition in Rome -- Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the absolute latest comes now from no less than the prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, who was speculating just a few hours ago to the Italian press that, in fact, the pope could leave the hospital within two or three days. But it's speculation, because he didn't go to the hospital to talk to the doctors or the pope. His health minister did.
Girolamo Sirchia went earlier this evening. And here's what he had to say to reporters as he left.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIROLAMO SIRCHIA, ITALIAN HEALTH MINISTER (through translator): He is improving. The doctors are optimistic. The medical bulletin that has been released is absolutely truthful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: That kind of optimism we've been hearing all day long from the Vatican, the Vatican spokesman saying that, as you mentioned, there's nothing to be alarmed about. But, clearly, less than 24 hours ago, there was a great deal of alarm over at the Vatican, because they had rushed the pope from the Vatican to the Gemelli Hospital, which is a couple miles away, in the middle of the night last night to help out a situation in which the pope was apparently gasping for breath and choking, suffering for from something that they called laryngitis spasms, muscular spasm of the larynx.
So, it was clearly a dire situation last night that made them make the move. But they say today, the pope's condition has stabilized. But there is one thing that they're still pointing to. And that is this respiratory infection, an acute respiratory infection. And that, doctors say, not the pope's doctors, but doctors familiar with these cases, say that that could be very serious, indeed, particularly with someone with Parkinson's and someone bedridden, like the pope is. At his age, it could turn into pneumonia at some point.
PHILLIPS: We'll continue to monitor his condition. Jim Bittermann, thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: It's being called a failed takeoff. Indeed.
Now more on this morning's corporate jet crash at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, just a little distance from Manhattan; 19 went to the hospital, including one victim reported in critical condition. No reported fatalities, however.
CNN's Jason Carroll with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Members of the National Transportation Safety Board are here on the scene trying to determine exactly what caused the crash of that small corporate jet.
If you take a look behind me, you can see that there are still a number of emergency crews that are out here on the scene. Investigators are there as well. When you take a look at the wreckage, it's really incredible that, at this point, there are no reports of any fatalities. Just a review of what happened with the crash. The crash happened early this morning at 7:23. That twin-engine jet was traveling down the runway trying to take off. It skidded down the runway, through a fence, across Route 46, a highway out here, crashed into the Strawberry clothing warehouse and then burst into flames.
As it crossed Route 46, it did clip two cars. Two people inside those cars were seriously injured. A little while ago, investigators held a press conference where they provided more details about exactly what happened.
GOV. RICHARD CODEY (D), NEW JERSEY: The accident was a failed takeoff. And I want to make it clear, the plane never took off. On Teterboro runway No. 6, which is roughly 6,000 feet long. The aircraft, as I said, was on the ground and rolled off the runway and across Route 46 and into the warehouse building.
CARROLL: Eleven people were on board that CL-600, that corporate midsize jet. It actually has the capacity to seat 13, but there were eight passengers and three crew members on board.
We also have updated numbers from the hospital, 19 people taken to area hospitals. The most severely injured was a motorist who was inside his car on Route 46. He is in critical condition with head injuries. Also, the co-pilot is in serious condition with a broken leg. Both admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center.
The hospital also treated three bystanders, as well as the eight passengers who were on board. Those were minor injuries. In fact, many of them at this point have been treated and released.
At this point, again, NTSB is here. They are on the scene. They are trying to again determine exactly what caused the crash. They are not ruling anything out at this point. Two of the most important interviews that they will have to make are the co-pilot and the pilot.
Jason Carroll reporting -- now back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jason. Appreciate that.
He's the most experienced young mountain climber in America. With Everest in his pocket already, he's now looking to conquer Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. It's part of his quest to do all seven summits on the seven continents on our planet. Up next, Ben Clark will join us live from this mountain. He's not at the top yet, but we'll check in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF THOMASON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: It's my 15 minutes of fame. And I'm enjoying it. I know two weeks from now, I'll be sitting at my desk and just be like, what just happened to me?
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: From construction worker to NFL receiver in just two short weeks. One man's unlikely Super Bowl dream is about to come true.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Well, it's a view most of us will never get to see. My next guest has been to the top of the world and back, plans to do it, in all, seven times on seven continent. Ben Clark calls himself the most experienced, young mountaineer in America. He's all of 23.
He joins us now live. And we believe this is the first live shot ever from the Aconcagua Mountain in Argentina. He's using a videophone that we gave him to tote along.
And we're sorry about the extra poundage, Ben, but it's great to see you. It looks like you're having a great day. Can you hear me OK, first of all?
BEN CLARK, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: Oh, yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, tell me what's going on. How's the expedition so far?
CLARK: Can you hear it?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
CLARK: It's awesome.
Yes. We've just walked for about three days and about 36 miles right into here at 14,000 feet, sitting here at the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. And we are having an awesome time. It's just great weather, clear, little bit windy on occasion, which is typical of Aconcagua. And I've been here three times. It's the best I've seen it in base camp since. So it's a great time, great time.
O'BRIEN: We're looking at a picture you sent us just a little while ago, Ben, which shows you party walking across kind of a flat plain with the snow cap mountain which exceeds 22,000 feet in the distance.
CLARK: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What was going on there?
CLARK: Well, we -- our approach was pretty mellow. We had kind of a long, flat type hike to get in here. We started out at 8,000 feet, and then it took us about three days to work ourselves up about 36 miles to 14,000 feet.
And so, along that trek, we walk in, in an old valley, a stream bed, glacial runoff, until finally reaching a larger valley, but then came up to our 14,000 foot base camp. So pretty mellow, good hiking.
(CROSSTALK) O'BRIEN: Mellow, good hiking. He's at 14,000 feet at Aconcagua. And it's mellow, dude.
CLARK: Oh, yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, so let's take a look at this picture. You got the group here.
(CROSSTALK)
CLARK: Hey, hey.
O'BRIEN: You've got a fairly large party there. Some paying customers. You're a guide. This is part of you do.
CLARK: We do. We do.
O'BRIEN: And you're shooting a movie along the way. You're doing everything you can to pull this whole stunt off. How is the group? Everybody getting along? Is everybody doing OK?
CLARK: Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Everybody's getting along. It's awesome.
We've got nine clients here that we're instructing and trying to teach to be better climbers and more efficient climbers. And then we've got five Everest summiters, so I've got a great staff with me. Everyone's working hard to just make this thing safe and fun. That's our objective, is to come out here, have a great time and to learn a little bit about both ourselves and how to become better climbers.
And that's what we do. Any time you get to lead a group that large of 15 people, it's always a pleasure to work with and try to adapt to different styles and just try and meet up and accomplish your objectives.
O'BRIEN: All right, there's a shot here.
CLARK: That's exactly where we're at. And everyone's on board.
O'BRIEN: There's a shot here. It looks like you're kind of trying to jump over a puddle or something. I assume it's not quite that. What are you doing here?
CLARK: Yes. Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: ... jump off that rock there?
CLARK: That was awesome.
Yes, with the stream crossing. On the way in here, I say it's mellow, but it does have some really exciting parts, like the stream crossings. That actually, it's our friend Doug (ph). He works for Turner (ph) there. And he was down here. And we had two crossings. One of them was about 8:30 in the morning. And, man, I will tell you what. I will never get used to how cold that water is, 8:00 in the morning when you're getting up and it's just above freezing. Horrible. But you know what? That shot was from later in the day. And, luckily, we didn't actually have to climb up and over that thing, so it was a lot better.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: There's nothing worse than having cold, wet feet when you're doing something like this.
And we have got a shot here now which shows I guess your camp. I don't know if it's your current camp. But it shows your tent and kind of your accommodations there. Just give us, as we leave you here, give us a sense of what lies ahead and how frequently you'll be able to check in with us?
Did we lose him? I'm afraid we lost Ben. Well, this is obviously pushing the envelope of technology, as we like to say. Ben Clark, one very mellow dude up there at 14,000 feet, on his way to 22,000. And we're going to have him check in along on the way just because, we can.
PHILLIPS: Well, you should point out you that taught him how to use this equipment. He's setting up this whole live shot.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: No, I didn't teach him. Arnie Christensen (ph) did.
PHILLIPS: Our engineering guru.
O'BRIEN: Our genius of all portable satellite technology set him up, gave him the gear. Off he went. And, of course, we're going to have a few foibles along the way. But we thought it would be kind of fun to follow him along the way as he goes up...
PHILLIPS: We're going to get him at the top, right, the very top of the mountain.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely, yes.
Well, the actual -- the top of the top of the summit, we're not going to get. He'll be at the last stage camp. We'll figure it out.
But, as he goes along, we'll be checking in.
PHILLIPS: All right.
O'BRIEN: And I may be gone, because I'm going to the South Pacific next. So you might have to do this.
PHILLIPS: All right. I'm in.
(CROSSTALK) PHILLIPS: Because I've been to Antarctica.
O'BRIEN: You'll be in with the mellow dude.
PHILLIPS: I didn't mean to rub that in.
O'BRIEN: Yes, well.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: All right, it was a moment to remember -- Antarctica, too -- but a forecast you might want to forget. Up next, the wintry weather prediction from Punxsutawney Phil.
O'BRIEN: She looks a lot like you, by the way.
PHILLIPS: Oh, so mean.
O'BRIEN: And from hard hat to helmet. This guy says he's the luckiest guy in the world. He was putting in studs. Now he is a stud. Find out why next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As I study the sun, it's all about fun. But I'm sorry to say, I see my shadow today.
(BOOING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I see my shadow, six more weeks of winter looms.
(BOOING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's only the messenger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Oh, the crowd turned momentarily ugly at Gobblers Knob today when it heard Punxsutawney Phil's forecast.
In response to the poor reaction, peevish Phil decided to let his bladder speak for him. Meanwhile, Phil's country cousin in Lilburn, George, didn't see his shadow. But General Beauregard Lee did get a look at his new gal pal, because General Lee is getting up there in groundhog years. Game officials hope the two critters will produce a successor who can take over when Beau is ready to hang up the weathervane.
Now, whatever team you're rooting for, this has got to be the feel-good story of the Super Bowl. After retiring from the NFL two years ago, Jeff Thomason is trading in his hardhat for a helmet and one last hurrah.
Our Larry Smith is in Jacksonville with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It used to be stars were made on Super Bowl Sunday. Not this year. Meet Jeff Thomason.
THOMASON: It's my 15 minutes of fame. And I'm enjoying it. So I know it's going to be another two weeks now that I'll be sitting back at my desk and it will be like, what just happened to me?
SMITH: It started when Eagles tight end Chad Lewis broke his foot in the NFC Championship game. In urgent need of a replacement, the Eagles called this 35-year-old project manager for a construction company in New Jersey.
THOMASON: Initially I thought it was just a joke. And when I told people they thought the same thing. You know, I had to tell them three or four times before it actually sunk in.
TONY CASAPULLA, TOLL BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION: He said, I'm going to the Super Bowl. And I said, Cool, great. You got tickets? He says, No, I'm going to play in the Super Bowl. And I nearly fell out of my chair.
THOMASON: And he said, Come on in, catch some balls for us. And see if you can still do it. And luckily I could.
SMITH: The Today Show, David Letterman, 60 Minutes and on and on have all been clambering for the guy who swapped his hard hat for a helmet. His 15 minutes of fame is now entering day nine.
THOMASON: Definitely more media than I ever had in 10 years in the NFL.
DEREK BOYKO, EAGLES P.R. DIRECTOR: Marino, Steve Young, Brett Favre, there hasn't been a more requested player in a week of a Super Bowl than Jeff Thomason. The guy's a star.
IKE REESE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: I thought I would have a booth -- I mean a podium down here. They didn't want to give me a podium, but that's OK. Jeff Thomason has a podium because we picked him up off the street two weeks ago.
JEVON KEARSE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Jeff is the man. He's cashing in right now.
REESE: I'll tell you what, if he goes out there and scores a game with a touchdown Sunday , he's really going to blow up.
SMITH (on camera): So Jeff, is Sunday your last football game?
THOMASON: I believe it is. I believe it is. I don't know if I can get 16 games in my body, but I definitely have one.
SMITH (voice-over): And where will it end? How can the latest and most famous player in Super Bowl history hop off this joyride? Well he won't be going to Disney World.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're coming back, right?
THOMASON: Oh, yes.
SMITH: He's got to be back at work on Monday, when his two weeks' vacation are up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: In fact, Thomason says he was surprised at all the media attention. He says, in the past two Super Bowls he played in with the Green Bay Packers, he was an afterthought on Super Bowl media day.
The chilly weather continues here in Jacksonville as we get ready for Super Bowl XXXIX, Eagles and Patriots, a very rainy, chilly day, although they're saying a high of around 70 on Sunday in time for day game. If that doesn't happen, I'll tell you this much, Kyra. You better bring a winter coat. It's an outdoor stadium here in Jacksonville.
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. I've been there. I've seen a few games there. It's pretty fun. And you're not close to a really fun bar there, too, Larry. But that's a whole 'nother story. Thanks, Larry Smith.
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: OK.
PHILLIPS: The football player, he even had the walk. He had the whole strut going on there.
O'BRIEN: No. Not many know people it, but I'm a wide receiver, too, for the Falcons on just Sundays, just on the side. It's just a little thing.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM.
You're not buying it, are you?
PHILLIPS: And he wears blue shirts, too, on the field.
O'BRIEN: Yes. When I do it, yes.
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