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Search & Rescue Teams Still Finding Survivors of Quake in South East Asia

Aired October 10, 2005 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The three police officers are free on bond, pending a January 11th trial. I spoke with acting New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley about an hour ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, first of all, these officers now out on bond. I have to ask you, are you concerned about that? Are you concern about these officers being back on the street?

ACTING SUPT. WARREN RILEY, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: No, I'm not concerned about them being back out on the street. I'm think they went through due process. They were released by a judge, I'm satisfy with that.

PHILLIPS: Sir, do you think they'll stay on the job?

RILEY: That I don't know. That will be revealed in the investigation once that's concluded.

PHILLIPS: Let talk about the man we saw in the videotape, the man arrested by police and the man appears to have been beaten up on that videotape. We also don't see what happens, what leads to the end result. Can you tell us anything about Robert Davis', a 64-year-old man. Do you know if he had alcohol in his system? Do you know if he had drugs? Do you know if he had a weapon?

RILEY: Well, the reports are that he was intoxicated. That's all I really knew about the gentleman. The investigation is ongoing. We're attempting to actually ascertain exactly why this encounter occurred at all, but I don't have any other information other than that and what I've seen on the video.

PHILLIPS: Well, sir, no doubt, this is an extremely difficult time for the New Orleans police department. And I must say with this situation, when those stories came out about the looting, it took a long time to get to the bottom of that and to see some action go forward.

But you reacted quickly when this happened and you talked to the cameras and you got out how you felt about how you felt about this situation. Will you be doing that on a regular basis, when something like this goes down, how fast will you be to react?

RILEY: Well, certainly, we hope we do have not many incidents like this at all. However, when we do in fact, have incidents, we will take swift and decisive action. In this particular case there was video which gave a clear depiction of our officer using force beyond, what I describe, force that was beyond what was necessary in this incident based on the video.

But we will take decisive action once we gather all the facts. We will take quick action, yes. Not only in a negative sense. If officers are in fact -- if officers are in fact that the evidence shows that they were following policy and procedure, we will not be taking such punitive-type action.

PHILLIPS: Let me ask you a question, sir. I remember when you were a captain in the Sixth District when I was a reporter there in New Orleans 10 years ago. And I remember you were part of the changes taking place when officers were dealing drugs and allegedly putting hits out on individuals. It was a troubled time and you were involved with the community and trying to get -- or be a part of this new department and holding these types of officers accountable.

Ten years has passed. You have a chance now as acting superintendent to completely change this department, to get rid of this ever happening again. You've got police officers that have left. You have police officers that don't want to be on the job any more and you have a lot of fantastic police officers staying in the fight and working in that city.

What can you do right now, 2005, to make sure what we've seen over the past decade and what we're seeing now on videotape will never happen again? You have such an opportunity here.

RILEY: Well t is a great opportunity. It's a great opportunity to give the police department a new direction, a direction where we will focus on integrity, professionalism and where we want every citizen of New Orleans, every citizen in this nation, to be proud of this department. Throughout Hurricane Katrina many stories have not gotten out about the heroism of the police and some of the things that they actually went through and still came to work. But this is an opportunity for us to ensure that the police department is one that is respected around the country for its professionalism.

Those handful of officers that we have, and I'm not -- I want to clarify, I'm saying that these three officers are part of that. That investigation will reveal it. But those handful of officers that we have, who have been involved in incidents that have embarrassed this police department, or cause us any problems, we want to weed them out.

We also want to say that the vast majority of NOPD officers are hard working, true professionals, men and women who are out here risking their lives on a daily basis working to make New Orleans a safe place. We hope to continue that and hopefully you won't see us back on CNN, or any other news channel, in a negative light for a long time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, with efforts to repair levees and remove debris winding down, many of the federal troops working in New Orleans are expected to go home this week. General Russel Honore says most of the Army's remaining tasks will be turned over to the Louisiana National Guard. After this week the remaining federal troops will be concentrated at the combat support hospital in the New Orleans convention center.

Still ahead on LIVE FROM, a conservative split. Why the nomination of Harriet Miers seemed to be dividing the Republican Party. Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr gives us his take on the situation, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More rough going for Harriet Miers. President Bush's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, criticized first by the Republican right, Miers now faces questions from a key Republican moderate, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Specter says Miers, who has never been a judge, must show at her confirmation hearing that she understands constitutional law. Another emerging question is whether Miers has tipped the White House on how she would vote on Supreme Court cases that deal with abortion. Joining me to talk all about it, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, now a CNN contributor.

All right, Bob, your major concerns with her nominations?

BOB BARR (R), FMR. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: The major concern I have is this is a woman, no paper trail, no record of any deep understanding of matters that are likely to come before the Supreme Court. You know, there have been a lot of Supreme Court justices over the years that haven't been judges, that's not a prerequisite. But I cannot remember somebody in modern history who comes forward to be a justice on the United States Supreme Court with no paper trail, whatsoever. I think that's a real problem for the president.

PHILLIPS: Why so much controversy? Is it because so many people just don't understand, or don't have a clue possibly into what her opinions might be, or the way she might go on various issues. Is that the mystery of it all?

BARR: That's certainly a part of it for those who are sort of looking for a litmus test. Those there are a lot of those folks in Washington, of course.

But the real problem is the president has picked somebody and thrown her name out there and given nobody a real good reason to defend her. And yet there are all sorts of reasons, real or imagined, not to support her. So, basically, he's left her out there to hang with no constituency other than White House insiders to really push for her. The fact of that matter, is Kyra, that simply blind loyalty to the president is not a good reason to put somebody on the Supreme Court.

PHILLIPS: Senator Arlen Specter has called the criticism of Miers, that of a, quote, "lynch mob". Do you think that's a bit harsh? BARR: It is a bit harsh. And it reflects, I think, some posturing on the part of those in Washington. But the real problem, again, for the president, is on the one hand he's alienated the conservatives who are looking for some reason to really support her. And on the other hand, if he gives those conservatives a real reason to support her, such as signaling her position on Roe v. Wade, then he is going to alienate the Democrat moderates who are likely to support her. So, the president really seems to be caught in a Catch 22 here and it's largely of his own making.

PHILLIPS: James Dobson, of course, head of Focus on the Family, talking about a conversation that he had -- or his feelings about Harriet Miers. Let's listen to what he had to say. I want to get your reaction to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES DOBSON, FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: When you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn't know, that take me in this direction. You will understand why I have said with fear and trepidation why I have said that I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: He said the part about -- I probably shouldn't know, "things I know that I probably shouldn't know". That is a little strange.

BARR: Well, it is. It's kind of silly to say that.

PHILLIPS: Why would he do that?

BARR: I'm not sure. Either there's a deliberate effort to undermine her, sort of an entwisted Washington logic here, or, he just didn't think threw what he was saying. That opens the door to all sorts of very legitimate questions whether or not she has, in fact, committed to a particular position. If that's the case, it's improper. And secondly, it will very decidedly undercut the Democrat opposition.

I really think that this may be a situation where the president will have not just second thoughts, but may have to withdraw this nomination. I know it's too early, that may be the case here.

PHILLIPS: What does it come down to? We're hearing from James Dobson and also last week her pastor, actually, when she became a Christian, her pastor that counseled her was on NPR last week and talking about how she keeps her faith very private and it is something very special to her.

Do we need to know about her faith? Do we need to know that personal side to her?

BARR: I certainly don't. I'm much more concerned about her judicial philosophy, her judicial temperament, and whether or not she really has the depth of understanding of the constitutional issues.

PHILLIPS: Of the law.

BARR: And the law. But, again, there are so many folks in Washington, on both sides of the political spectrum, that are just fixated on one issue, that is abortion and Roe v. Wade. And to them, regardless of which side you're on, that issue of faith is very, very important. It shouldn't be, but it has become, in a sense, a litmus test.

PHILLIPS: Bob Barr, thanks for your time today.

BARR: Sure.

PHILLIPS: We have been getting a number of amazing pictures out of Islamabad. Our Becky Anderson reporting back to us since the earthquake overseas. Still searching for survivors in Southeast Asia. Some pretty amazing pictures of rescue workers actually pulling, just about half an hour ago, a child out of the rubble.

It happened right here via our live picture, via videophone, you can see there. So, along with those, of course, that are still missing and those already reported dead. Pretty amazing stories about those surviving and being pulled from the rubble. We'll talk more to her. We'll take a quick break and be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The creators of Wallace & Gromit may be wondering whether to laugh or cry. The animated puppet teams the first full- length film, "The Curse of the Wererabbit", was the number one movie at U.S. theaters over the weekend. But early today a fire at a warehouse in England destroyed props, sets and models used in earlier Wallace & Gromit shorts. The cause is undetermined.

The studio spokesperson says the fire wiped out the puppet duos entire history, but he says the loss won't effect future productions.

A big announcement from one of the world's biggest companies, IBM is rolling out a new privacy policy that puts workers genetic information off limits. Susan Lisovicz joins us now, live from New York stock exchange with more.

Hi, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

It sounds kind of Orwellian. Genetic information can be useful, but many privacy advocates worry that employers could use that data to deny some workers benefits. IBM saying today it will not use information from employee's DNA in hiring or determining eligibility for health plans. IBM, which has 300,000 workers around the globe, appears to be the first major company to make such a move. Genetic privacy is a growing concern and Congress is considering legislation on the issue.

Turning now to the markets. Well, things are getting worse here. Dow industrials right now off nearly 50 points. As you can see or half a percent. Nasdaq meanwhile, down 12 points or more than half a percent.

General Motors a big drag on the Dow. Right now its shares are down 7.5 percent. That's because Delphi bankruptcy filing over the weekend could mean an $11 billion hit for GM, because of contract obligations. GM has guaranteed the benefits of some Delphi workers when it spun the company off in 1999.

The filing could also disrupt the flow of auto parts, force major concessions from the United Autoworkers Union and load more costs on cash-strapped auto workers.

That is the latest from Wall Street. More LIVE FROM, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour in "The Situation Room".

Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: Hi, Kyra. Thanks very much.

Right at the top of the hour, landslides in Guatemala. More than 1,000 people feared dead. We'll take you there live for the latest.

Also, hurricane religion. Some say all the recent natural disasters around the world are a sign of bigger things. So, does God have a hand in what's happening right now? I'll can ask the Reverend Jerry Falwell.

Plus, more on more on that massive quake in Pakistan. Many of the victims are children. We're covering all the angles of this human disaster.

Much more coming up right at the top of the hour, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Wolf. Thanks so much.

We just got those pictures in of that baby being rescued in Islamabad. As you know, we've been bringing you live pictures throughout the day. There we are. We just got these in. This is amazing. Our Becky Anderson is there live on the scene and has been monitoring all the individuals that have been brought out of this rubble.

We've been talking so much about the thousands and thousands of people who lost their lives and the people that are still missing. It's pictures like this, boy, that make it all worth while. We're told this child is two years old, was just rescued moments ago and as each individual, and child, is rescued from this rubble, I can tell you we'll bring it to you live.

A number of rescue crews, U.S. military and, of course, Pakistani military responding to a number of apartment complexes in that area, specifically, in Islamabad that fell. Once again, there is our live picture via our videophone as those rescue workers continue to work to find individuals underneath that rubble, still alive and still breathing.

Across earthquake ravage South Asia this hour, the search goes on for the survivors and the bodies. As you know, Pakistani authorities say the death toll is more than 30,000 and still climbing. Now, Saturday's quake shook parts of India, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Here's a wrap up from ITN's Romley Weeks (ph).

ROMLEY WEEKS (ph), ITN CORRESPONDENT: This is Muzaffarabad, what's left of it. Once home to 600,000 people, there is now barely a home left standing. The search and rescue is becoming increasingly desperate as time slips by. This building was a school, no one knows how many children are buried inside.

"For God's sake, tell someone to rescue my children. Someone rescue my three children," this mother begs. But there just aren't enough rescuers to cope with the scale of the task. And too often, it's the dead they're bringing out now.

Hurt and hungry, families are camping out on the university sports field. The living next to the dead.

"Muzaffarabad is totally finished," this man says. "Look, the bodies have been recovered, many more are buried. Kashmir is totally destroyed."

In the far more accessible Islamabad, the relief effort is more organized. International search and rescue teams and sniffer dogs have joined the hunt for survivors. At this collapsed apartment block there have been some success stories.

GRAHAM PAYNE, DIRECTOR, RAPID-UK: We got three people out alive, which is very encouraging. There might be more people alive in there.

WEEKS (ph): This boy was pulled out of the rubble 37 hours after the earthquake struck. From hospital, looking amazingly unharmed, he thanked Allah for his survival

"It was because I had hope that I was able to survive for so many hours," he said.

But there are thousands with very little hope. This is Indian controlled Kashmir on both sides of the border in the remote mountainous areas. The survivors are finding it hard to stay alive. Food and water shortages are now becoming critical.

This is the only way to reach villages that have not had outside help for over two days. The death toll is already staggering. There are so many yet to be counted. All over the area, relief camps are being set up. Charities estimate hundreds of thousands are now homeless. Each one of them in desperate need. Romley Weeks, ITN News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We'll continue to bring live pictures and, of course, as babies and mothers and fathers, and family members are continuing to be pulled from that rubble, we'll bring you those pictures. That wraps up this Monday edition of LIVE FROM. You see now, once again, that shot of that two-year-old child being rescued from the rubble.

I'm Kyra Phillips that CNN Center in Atlanta. Of course, Wolf will continue this coverage as individuals and children are rescued from that rubble. He's live in THE SITUATION ROOM.

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