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Saddam Hussein Curses Out Judge; Two Bodies Found in New Orleans Home; Madrid Bomb Blasts Blamed on Separatists; Health Officials Look at Pandemic Scenario

Aired December 06, 2005 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: From CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's the stories that we're working on for you right now.
Defiant defendant: Saddam Hussein shouts that he won't come back to court. We're LIVE FROM Baghdad with more.

He's leading the battered Gulf Coast recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Vice Admiral Thad Allen joins me live and answers your questions.

And don't ask, don't recruit? Should the military's policy on gays keep you from signing up at school? The Supreme Court is deciding.

All that and more as CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

Another day of anguish, anger and allegations of terrorism in the trial of Saddam Hussein. And that's just from Hussein himself. At the end of a wrenching day of testimony, during which Saddam sat mostly quietly, the ousted dictator reached his boiling point. He told the judge to go to hell, declared he won't be coming back and complained once again about life as a detainee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SADDAM HUSSEIN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQ (through translator): These days we spent with this shirt and underwear. And there's no room for us to smoke, to smoke, if some smoke, or swim or walk for two -- for two steps outside of the cell. That is -- that is -- that's causing us discomfort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And earlier, the witnesses hid behind curtains out of fear of the same kind of treatment or worse that they described under oath. True to form, however, the lead defendant was the center of attention, or should we say the epicenter.

CNN's Aneesh Raman can testify to that.

Aneesh, did it seem like Saddam Hussein was gaining control of that courtroom?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, just at the end there, it was a resigned Saddam Hussein for parts of the day. He was also given the chance to speak at length by the judge. At times Saddam was completely incoherent, clearly unaware of how the proceedings were taking place.

But at the end, as you just said, brought to light the issue that he had not been able to change clothes for three days. And because of that, did not want to see the trial resume tomorrow. And the judge did not, obviously, acquiesce to that. Saddam threatened essentially to not show up. Now whether he will or not remains to be seen tomorrow morning, whether it's just a hollow threat, as well.

But as you say, it ended the day, nine hours in the courtroom. Five witnesses testifying, all of them anonymously. They were seated behind blue curtains. Their voices were disguised. Their names withheld. We only know them as witnesses "A" through "E."

They all, in detail, described what happened to them after they were imprisoned, after the failed assassination attempt on Saddam in July of 1982. They also spoke to relatives that were executed.

Throughout the day, we saw the judge pester them with questions, trying to keep them specific -- as specific as possible. Because Kyra, this is as much a court of public opinion and those who are watching. But inside, it is a legal proceeding, and everything must be proven.

And so, as often as possible, the judge was trying to get names of those that were doing the torture. And also trying to link the eight men in those docks, the defendants, directly to the crimes being alleged by the witnesses.

Now one of the witnesses did point a finger at Barzan Hasan, Saddam Hussein's half-brother, saying that he was in Dujail the day of the incident at the Ba'ath Party headquarters. Two others said they laid blame to Saddam Hussein, because he's president of Iraq. But that's not going to be enough.

This process will go on tomorrow with two more witnesses. We expect it to then adjourn until after the December 15 election. But as we go forward, it's likely we'll see a higher-up, higher-ups in terms of the intelligent service, testifying to prove that chain of command, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You talk about the judge having to keep the witnesses focused, but what about keeping Saddam Hussein in focus and on a respectable track? Has that been possible? And can he just say that he's not coming back and not come back?

RAMAN: There are so many questions around this court. And a lot of them just get figured out essentially on the fly as the proceedings go forward, which is why we saw wrangling tack place at the first two sessions. So whether or not he can just decide on his own to show up isn't clear.

But as you say, it's the judge's discretion in terms of who speaks and when. And this judge has had critics in Iraq who say he's been too weak, that he's allowed the defendants to stand up. Yesterday, he stood up and shouted "Long live Iraq, Saddam Hussein." The others co-defendants stood up, pledging allegiance to him.

Today, the judge giving a lot of time to Saddam, perhaps to show that he's unaware of how these proceedings are taking place, because he was incoherent at times. But again, at the end, a defiant Saddam Hussein, wrangling power back, leaving us with that question that only rests with Saddam Hussein and the court, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Aneesh Raman, live from Baghdad. Thanks, Aneesh.

Well, a police academy becomes the target of a brazen attack in Iraq. The U.S. military says that a suicide bomber blew himself up today outside the academy in Baghdad.

After that blast, dozens of Iraq police and recruits ran outside. That's when a second bomber detonated his explosives. Iraqi police say at least 36 officers and recruits were killed. Dozens more were wounded. Two groups, Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic Army in Iraq, have claimed responsibility.

Another American may have been taken hostage in Iraq. A new video shows what captors claim to be an American man with his hands behind his back. That video first aired today on the Arab language television network Al Jazeera.

On the video, the captors say they will kill the man in 48 hours if Washington doesn't release prisoners. President Bush said today the U.S. will work for the return of captive Americans but will not pay any ransom.

And with word of another American possibly killed in Iraq, we want to take a look at how many U.S. citizens are still being held or are unaccounted for in that country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If today's claim of another American hostage is true, then there are at least seven Americans currently missing or kidnapped in Iraq.

Christian aide worker Tom Fox was kidnapped more than a week ago, along with two Canadian and a British aid worker from his organization. The group holding him has threatened to kill him this week if its demands are not met.

American contractor Jeffrey Ake was kidnapped earlier this year in Baghdad. He later appeared on a videotape holding his passport.

Two other U.S. citizens taken last year also appeared on tape. You may recall truck driver Timothy Bell. He's been unaccounted for since his convoy came under attack near Baghdad in April 2004.

Army Reservist Matthew Maupin was also killed in early 2004. The U.S. has not confirmed the videotape allegedly showing his execution. All told, at least 15 Americans have gone missing in Iraq. As many as seven are still unaccounted for. But five of the 15 either escaped or were released, including Roy Hallums. He was rescued in September after being held for nearly a year.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: They're furious, they're frustrated, and they're proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

Hurricane Katrina survivors, many of them evacuees, some of them on Capitol Hill right now as we monitor these live pictures. They're waiting for a chance to tell lawmakers what's what.

Over the next three hours, you're going to hear what some of them have been through and what they think needs to be done to get their hometowns on the road to recovery.

And back in New Orleans, many are asking how could this have ever happened, after two bodies are found in a home, a home caught in a path of hurricane -- of a hurricane, rather, more than three months ago, a home supposedly searched in the weeks after.

Our story now from CNN's Keith Oppenheim.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Her nickname was Tony (ph). And this picture from 40 years ago is the only one friends could find of her.

Eighty-eight-year-old Antonia Jackson lived with her 97-year-old husband Eddie in this house in Gentilly, a New Orleans neighborhood. Their best friend, Gwendolyn Alexander, checked in on them regularly, but says Hurricane Katrina changed all that. The destructive floods of New Orleans forced her to flee to Texas. And ever since then, Gwendolyn says she's been trying to find out what happened to the Jacksons.

GWENDOLYN ALEXANDER, FRIEND: It's not like her. She would have called me.

OPPENHEIM: Gwendolyn says she kept making phone calls to the house and to authorities.

ALEXANDER: I called the police department. I had them ride by. They said they came in, they checked the house, nobody was in the house.

OPPENHEIM: In fact, when Gwendolyn came to the house once before, she saw official markings on the outside, seeming to indicate zero bodies were found in the home on September 14. She didn't go inside. Still, something didn't sit right with her.

ALEXANDER: Even when my kids would come here to New Orleans to see about their property, they'll ride by and they say, "Mama, they have a zero on the house."

I say, you go check on Miss Tony (ph).

They said, "Ma, they have a zero on the house. That means no one is in the house." And that's what I kept saying, I said, well, maybe she's someone else. It just stayed on my mind. Check the house, check the house.

OPPENHEIM: Monday afternoon, Gwendolyn decided to check again. With some help from a friend, she made the decision to go inside.

ALEXANDER: so he pushed the door open, and we went in. As we was walking in, we got to the kitchen part, trying to open the door, so we could have a little light to see. And I screamed. That's all I can remember. I seen a body laying down on the floor and I screamed.

OPPENHEIM: Gwendolyn told me the body on the floor was Eddie. They later found Tony (ph) dead in the living room. Gwendolyn was convinced until her entry, no one had gone into the home to check on the Jacksons.

We learned the markings came from the Oregon National Guard. Oregon Guard officials said the painted zero did not necessarily mean the inside of the home had been searched.

GEN. DOUGLAS PRITT, OREGON NATIONAL GUARD: The zero meant that there were no living inhabitants that identified themselves to us. We didn't put down that we found any remains because we didn't enter homes to find remains.

OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Katrina victims have so many questions and are having trouble getting answers. So we're giving you the chance to ask the top man in the Gulf right now. Vice Admiral Thad Allen joins us live at 3 p.m. eastern today. He'll take some of your e-mail questions. Just drop us a line at LiveFrom@CNN.com. Don't miss it, today 3 Eastern, noon Pacific, only here on LIVE FROM.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Five small bombs exploded on highways outside Madrid, Spain, today. The government says the blast happened after a warning from the Basque separatist group ETA. Sound familiar? It should. While there is little doubt that ETA did carry out today's attack, the government rushed to judgment on March 11 last year when bombs ripped through four Madrid commuter train, killing 191 people. Initially, the government blamed ETA. That has never been proven, but evidence gathered since then points to Islamic militants with possible links to Al Qaeda. Joining us with the insight on this, CNN Madrid bureau chief Al Goodman happens to be here in town. I guess perfect timing in one way or another. But today, once again, a signal from ETA. Why today? Nobody was injured in these attacks. But obviously, it's trying to get a message out.

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. Five small bombs on five highways around the capital. No injuries, as you say. There was a warning call. That's further to limit the injuries.

What's today? Today is a national holiday in Spain, celebrating the constitution, which grants broad autonomy to Spanish regions but not independence to the Basque region, which is what ETA wants.

PHILLIPS: There you go. I want to talk about ETA. A lot of people not familiar with this organization. You think a lot about Northern Ireland and how the IRA had been negotiating with the government about laying down its weapons and not committing terrorist attacks. ETA, the government, sort of coming to this, the same type of agreement?

GOODMAN: Well, experts say there's not a definite comparison. Or they're not exactly equal between the IRA and ETA. But if you think about how long it's taken the IRA from the initial agreement with the British government to get to where they are right now, decommissioning, OK? ETA would be at the beginning of that process.

So there's a lot of speculation right now in Madrid, open speculation, that ETA's about to call another cease fire. Some analysts say these kinds bombs today are to make ETA strong as they go into a possible negotiating stance with the government so they can look them right in the eye.

The government, of course, says that they call these people terrorists, and they say there will be no talks until they first renounce violence and lay down their arms. But everybody understands there's got to be a cease fire. That's the first step.

PHILLIPS: So is it possible to have a cease fire and for ETA to somehow become a player, a legitimate player in the government as elections come around?

GOODMAN: Well, there's an outlawed political party called Batasuna that, as part of the government's overall crackdown on ETA, the police against ETA cut off their financing, cut off this political party that's loosely equivalent to the Sinn Fein of the IRA. They're outlawed right now.

But they've just come out and they've said, "We need some sort of a political solution." They're looking ahead to the elections coming up in May of 2007. Currently, they don't hold any local government seats, and they want to get back in, get some local power. So they say let's have some talks.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's go back to the Madrid bombings. We'll never forget that day. We had rolling coverage for hours and hours, wondering if indeed it was Al Qaeda or not. What's the status of those suspects? And where does that stand, ETA, Al Qaeda?

GOODMAN: Well, you know that those attacks came three days before the national parliamentary elections. And the conservative government at the time said initially it was ETA. And they kept hammering away right up until the elections that ETA was a prime suspect.

In fact, the police and the courts have never found any strong evidence or any shred of evidence to support that. Instead, they've looked at Islamic terrorist. There are 109 people who have been charged in the case, and the indictments are expected anytime soon, maybe 30 to 40 people.

And who are these people? Many of them are Moroccans. The government says a Moroccan group called the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, which is linked to Al Qaeda, was possibly behind the attacks. So that is where the focus is right now. Even though the conservatives, who are currently out of power, continue to say ETA might have had some sort of dark hand in the Madrid train bombings.

PHILLIPS: So the government obviously trying to deal with the issue of ETA. What is Spain doing overall right now with regard to combating just the worldwide effort to bring down terror and to bring down groups like Al Qaeda and these other cells that you see developing in Spain?

GOODMAN: Spain has been a huge background of sleeper cells, until the Madrid train bombing attacks. But just in September there was a trial that ended against 24 Al Qaeda suspects, 18 of them convicted. The most serious one among that group, the Al Qaeda leader in Spain, convicted of conspiracy in the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

There's another group, yet another group, that plotted to blow up the terrorism court, the national court, it's called in Madrid. So there are three main cases. The Al Qaeda case that's finished, Kyra. There's the Madrid train bombing case waiting to go to trial, and there's this other case that's still bubbling up, in addition to all sorts of arrests, as recently as last week, of four Algerians who were arrested for supporting terrorism, and they've been put in jail right now, as well.

PHILLIPS: All right. Stay on the story. Of course, you keep us updated. And you're also very lucky to live in Spain, I must say. It's an amazing country, aside from these things that happened today.

GOODMAN: You come see us, all right?

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. Al Goodman, thank you so much.

GOODMAN: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, in medical news today, China confirms a new human case of bird flu. The country's official news agency reports that a 10-year-old girl in southern China has tested positive for the H5-N1 virus. She becomes the country's fourth reported case since last month. One patient, a 9-year-old boy, has since recovered, but the other two cases were fatal. The girl has reportedly been sick with fever and pneumonia since November 23 and has undergone emergency treatment.

Bird flu is also on Washington's agenda today. Just a short time ago, President Bush held an Oval Office meeting with the director general of the World Health Organization. He told Mr. Bush that his agency has had its eye on avian flu and possible pandemic for years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to thank you, Dr. Lee, for staying on top of this issue, for raising the consciousness of the world, for helping to develop an international response and for working so closely with Mike Leavitt and Julie Gerberding and Bob Zoellick of the State Department. It's -- it's a remarkable collaborative effort to do our duty, to help people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department is taking bird flu on the road. Mike Leavitt plans to meet with state and local officials in all 50 states. His goal is to pin them down on their plans for a worse case scenario based on a possible pandemic model.

That model imagines a human outbreak that develops in a small village in Thailand. Within a short time, pandemic cases have spread across Europe and to the U.S.

By the end of week six, almost three quarters of a million Americans would have bird flu, and within 16 weeks, four months of the original Thai outbreak, more than 92 million Americans would have been affected.

Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt joined our Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM" with more on this worst case scenario.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, "THE SITUATION ROOM": You're saying week 16, right, 90 million Americans would come down with this virus. Of them, how many would die?

MICHAEL LEAVITT, HHS SECRETARY: In the 90 -- in the 16th week, 90 million would have had the disease at some point. The actual fatalities would be somewhere in the two percent to three percent range, we believe.

BLITZER: So that -- still, millions of people would be dead.

LEAVITT: Millions of people. This is a very serious, world- changing event if it occurs. Now there is no certainty that it will occur as the H5-N1 virus. But there is a high degree of probability that some pandemic will occur at some point, and we need to be better prepared than we are today.

BLITZER: How close are we to developing a vaccine that would save lives?

LEAVITT: The good news is, we have a vaccine that has demonstrated a sufficient immune response to prevent it. The bad news is, we lack the capacity to manufacture that vaccine fast enough and in large enough quantities to protect the entire country.

For that reason, the president has proposed a dramatic revamping of that industry. He's proposed $7.1 billion. We would have that capacity in three to five years from now. Until that time, we would have basic public health tools and those are limited tools, but we can make a difference if we're ready.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And as you know, the news doesn't end right after our show. Join Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM" this afternoon and for the live prime time edition, 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 Pacific.

All this week, we're taking a special look at bird flu. And this Sunday, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a special report from the front lines. What are the chances that bird flu could erupt into a global pandemic? Don't miss "KILLER FLU, A BREATH AWAY," Sunday night, 10 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Welcome back here to B Control.

It's not a sight you often see at the Vatican. The president of Ferrari paid a visit to Pope Benedict XVI yesterday. The head of the exotic car makers presented the pope with a check for more than $1 million for charity. The money is proceeds from a prized Ferrari sold at auction. The pope was also given a steering wheel from a Ferrari Formula One racing car.

Well, another big company is cutting back on retirement benefits for its employees, something we're hearing far too often.

Susan Lisovicz has more from the New York Stock Exchange -- Susan.

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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