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Live From...
Threat of Bird Flu Looms; Hostage Takers Threaten to Kill Peace Activists in Iraq
Aired December 09, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get straight to the news room. We have some developing news. Betty Nguyen covering that for us.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hi, Kyra. New Jersey Governor- Elect Jon Corzine has just named Robert Menendez his successor to the U.S. Senate. Let's take a listen to that.
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GOV.-ELECT JON CORZINE (D), NEW JERSEY: I'm proud to announce, some of you maybe gun jumped a little bit. I'm proud to announce this afternoon that Congressman Robert Menendez is my choice to fill out the term.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So here's how it's going to work. Menendez will simultaneously serve the remaining of Corzine's Senate term in 2006 while launching his own campaign for a full six-year term. Here's a live picture now of this press conference that's taking place as governor-elect of New Jersey, Jon Corzine, has just announced that Robber Menendez -- Robert Menendez that is -- will be his successor to the U.S. Senate.
Now, just so that you know, Menendez was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and he currently serves as the chairman of the Democratic Caucus. So we're covering all of this and we're bringing you the latest news as it happens here. And there you have it, the new successor to Jon Corzine.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks so much, Betty.
Well, straight ahead, held hostage in Iraq. Captors holding four peace activists issue an execution deadline just hours from now. When we come back, brothers of one of those hostages will join me live to talk about how their family is coping.
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PHILLIPS: Well, since it was first detected in 1997, fewer than 150 people have been infected by the H5N1 virus. Only several dozen have died from it. So why are world and global health officials so worked up about the threat of bird flu?
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has some pretty potent reasons why pandemic planning is on the front burner here in the U.S. from the president on down.
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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We all remember the horrifying images from the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands waited and waited and waited to be rescued without food, water or shelter, day after sweltering day. Many who were ill died before help ever came.
It was hard to comprehend that this was even possible in the United States of America. But some health experts say if Americans don't prepare immediately the human suffering could be even more painful during a worst-case flu pandemic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States.
GUPTA: Under the president's national strategy for pandemic influenza, the federal government will stockpile vaccine and drugs to protect Americans.
(on camera): It's 2005 now, and the president's announced a plan to try to protect Americans against the bird flu. You heard it. Will it work?
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Well, we also have to understand it's a lot like the guy who has got his 25th class reunion tomorrow and he's decided that he wants to lose 50 pounds tonight.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I'm asking that the Congress fund $1.2 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to purchase enough doses of this vaccine from manufacturers to vaccinate 20 million people.
GUPTA (voice-over): But the vaccine is still in clinical trials. It isn't approved by the FDA, and you can't go to your doctor's office and get it. And the amount of vaccine the president's talking about would be enough to vaccinate only one in 14 Americans. And only if the virus doesn't change significantly.
If a vaccine isn't available to stop a pandemic, what else might? Like many countries, the United States government is attempting to stockpile two antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza. That might be helpful.
Some European countries are stockpiling enough for 25 percent of their populations, but the U.S. only has enough to treat about two percent. It could take two years before the goal of 25 percent can be met.
Even if we did have enough Tamiflu or Relenza, are scientist scientists sure they would even work? None of these drugs have actually been tested against bird flu.
And what about the things most people haven't even thought about?
OSTERHOLM: We can assure that things like food, basic healthcare, the kinds of things around security are all there. We've got to do that now.
GUPTA: In fact, Osterholm says in the disasters of Katrina we find lessons for the flu.
OSTERHOLM: Imagine in the hospital setting that we saw in New Orleans, seven to 10 days in what was an absolutely horrific situation brought these people to the very edge of their fatigue and capability. Now imagine having to try to do that for 12 to 18 months.
GUPTA: Osterholm says many of the problems we saw after Katrina would be magnified in pandemic flu. Grocery store shelves would be empty. Mail could stop. There would likely be a gasoline shortage.
(on camera): What are you doing to prepare?
OSTERHOLM: I bought some masks and I've stockpiled some food. And I think at the very least I also have a plan to communicate with my family. I know what we're going do, I know where we're going to go.
GUPTA (voice-over): The key, he says, is to have a plan. Prepare now to be able to sustain your own family for several months so you don't have to wait for days for help that in the case of pandemic flu might not be coming.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
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PHILLIPS: And all this week we're taking a special look at bird flu. And this Sunday, Dr. Gupta has a special report from the front lines. What are the chances bird flu could erupt into a global pandemic? Don't miss "Killer Flu: A Breath Away," Sunday night at 10:00 Eastern, only here on CNN.
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PHILLIPS: The International Red Cross says it's still struggling to get access some U.S.-held terror detainees. The Red Cross says it has been allowed access to many of the detainees, but it says an unknown number of terror suspects being held in secret prisons remain off limits. The Geneva Conventions on prisoner treatment authorize the Red Cross to conduct inspections, but the Bush administration contends that the conventions don't apply to terror suspects.
The House of Representatives may be getting ready to pass an anti-torture bill. Reports say that House Republican leaders are discussing a deal to pass a measure similar to the torture ban already approved by the Senate. The White House has opposed a formal ban on torture, even though administration officials deny assertions that terror detainees have been treated inhumanely.
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CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States does not engage in torture, doesn't condone it, doesn't expect its employees to engage in it.
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PHILLIPS: In Washington, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked about reports that the administration is ready to drop its opposition to the torture ban.
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QUESTION: Sir, is the administration giving in on the McCain torture amendment? Are you going to accept the language of...
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The White House has been doing all of this. You'll have to talk to...
QUESTION: But you're the defense secretary. Are you accepting the torture amendment in the McCain language? Presumably this is your area.
RUMSFELD: I said to you that the White House is handling the negotiations (INAUDIBLE).
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PHILLIPS: Well, up to this point, the administration has insisted the CIA should be exempted from any torture ban.
Well, more than three months after Hurricane Katrina roared ashore the DNA testing of storm victims has finally gotten under way. But as Keith Oppenheim reports that is little comfort to the family members that are still missing.
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KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Baton Rouge, lab technicians are packing bones. The bone fragments in these boxes hold the DNA of Hurricane Katrina victims. And maybe the answer to the question that has been pressing since Katrina happened three months ago, who were these victims?
LOUIS CATALDIE, LOUISIANA MEDICAL EXAMINER: Now the samples are literally in the mail. And that's a relief.
OPPENHEIM: But the relief comes after weeks of anguish, as relatives of victims were waiting for identification of the dead.
Susie Eaton lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her 79-year-old mother, Viola (ph), was a resident of New Orleans' Ninth Ward. Now this is all that's left of Viola's home.
SUSIE EATON, NOVEMBER 15, 2005: She had not been officially been dead nor has she been officially being alive. So I really don't know.
OPPENHEIM: Susie Eaton has been trying to find out if her mother is even in the state morgue. She had been hoping a sample of DNA from the family would make the difference.
EATON: I think there should be definitely be a better system. And I think they should get the DNA process -- they should get it on the ball.
OPPENHEIM: For weeks it seemed like no one was on the ball. State and federal officials fought over who would pay for testing. And three months after the hurricane struck it hadn't begun.
Meantime there were nearly 300 unidentified bodies at the state morgue. Finally a resolution, FEMA agreed to pay.
But with the good news, state medical examiner, Louis Cataldie, cautioned that DNA testing doesn't hold all of the answers. It's effective only when there is a sample of the victim or a relative and a match can be made.
He says at the state morgue there are more than 100 cases where officials have no idea who the dead could be.
CATALDIE: These are people who were found in the streets, floating in the streets or people who ultimately were found out in fields after the water had gone done. I have no location. I have just no identifiers.
And I've got 4,000 people saying they have, you know, missing loved ones. So, ultimately we can probably get some match there. There will be definitely be people that will never match.
OPPENHEIM: Still, DNA testing could quickly resolve 121 cases.
CATALDIE: I've got two situations in which I had entire families drowned in their homes, and if I've got one identified I can subsequently identify others and make those I.D.'s.
OPPENHEIM: For some devastated families waiting as of today, 100 days for answers, identifying more of Katrina's dead will give them closure and assurance that they can finally say goodbye.
Keith Oppenheim, CNN, New Orleans.
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PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, Londoners line the streets today to pay tribute to a bus. So what makes the city bus so special? If you've ridden one, you know. We're going to tell you the next hour on LIVE FROM.
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PHILLIPS: Well, looming deadline and hopes for mercy, hostage takers in Iraq are threatening to kill four western peace activists if thousands of Iraqi prisoners are not released by tomorrow.
The hostages are an American, Briton and two Canadians. One of the Canadian aide workers is James Loney. His two brothers, Edward and Matthew Loney join me now live from Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.
Gentlemen, thanks so much for being with me. I know this is not easy for you, for your entire family. But I want you both to tell me about Jim.
Edward, why don't we start with you? Tell me about your brother.
EDWARD LONEY, HOSTAGE'S BROTHER: Jim is a really interesting and dynamic fellow. He's got real strong values both to peace and loving people equally and getting a message out about human rights, the importance of human rights for all individuals.
PHILLIPS: Matthew, has he been a real influence on your family with regard to what your other brother just said?
MATTHEW LONEY, HOSTAGE'S BROTHER: Absolutely. I think most of us, since this unfortunate incident in Iraq--this is his third trip over there-- but we're really starting to learn a lot more about the kind of work he's been doing and it's really mind boggling.
You wouldn't believe the stories that have come out about Jim from all, from not only locally but also internationally the support that we've received especially from the Muslim community.
And we're really encouraged by the fact that his work has not gone unnoticed in this world.
PHILLIPS: Well, brag about him, Matthew. Tell me what you've heard and what he's done. And I know that he's reported back to you in the past months about amazing things that he's been doing. Tell us about him.
M. LONEY: Well, I think the best way I could put it is that he and his colleagues have acted kind of like an intelligence service for humanitarian rights in that they go in and gather information outside of the green zone.
And really since the unfortunate bombing suicide attacks against the U.N. and the Red Cross, their infrastructure, their intelligence gathering infrastructure, those two agencies has really been diminished.
And so James and his colleagues are really the last people out there that are actually gathering information about the kinds of things that are going on in the war zone outside the green zone.
PHILLIPS: Edward, why did your brother want to go to Iraq specifically?
E. LONEY: Well, he realized that there's some really important work to be done on the ground in Iraq because there's so many people's stories, who are being detained by the occupation forces for whatever reason and are being treated brutally, really.
So it was important for CPT and my brother's team to be there to hear the testimonials of people who are being snatched up in the night and detained against their will.
PHILLIPS: Both of you, growing up and knowing your brother so well I want you both to respond to this. As a man of faith and strong character, how do you think he's holding out right now? What do you think he's doing right now as he's dealing with his captors?
E. LONEY: Well, I think he's really taking solace in the fact that he's got a support network. And I know that he's really concerned about the other people that are being held captive with him and their treatment, as well as what's happening to his own family and his own network of friends.
PHILLIPS: Matthew?
M. LONEY: I really can't say it any better.
He's an individual who is, I think, trying his best to get all four of those captives out of there and everybody safe and out of that situation.
PHILLIPS: I guess my final question, I know that both of you desperately want him home for Christmas, and you never know what he is able to see or what those captors are allowing him to see. But I would like to give both of you a chance just to say something to him.
M. LONEY: We love you, James. And we're thinking about you. We're thinking about all four of you.
And we -- we want to see you back. We want to see you around the card table playing some cards with us.
PHILLIPS: Oh.
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E. LONEY: Also, we know that the work that you're doing is really important, and you have got our support 100 percent. And we think about you all the time, all of you that are held captive.
PHILLIPS: Edward and Matthew Loney, you two are extremely strong individuals and dedicated brothers. It was a -- a pleasure talking to you both.
And I know you were from Ontario -- joining us live from Ontario, not not Michigan. But thank you both very much for your time. I appreciate it.
E. LONEY: Thanks for that correction.
M. LONEY: Thank -- thank you.
E. LONEY: Appreciate that. PHILLIPS: You bet.
PHILLIPS: Stay strong, guys.
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E. LONEY: Bye.
PHILLIPS: Well, the wind was strong and the snow was deep, and the plane was full and coming in fast. But whether awful weather was really the cause or even a crucial factor in last night's deadly accident at Chicago's Midway Airport will take a team of investigators a year or more to find out.
A young boy was killed, several were people hurt, when this Southwest Airlines 737 skidded off a runway and slammed into cars at a busy intersection.
Hours later, passengers remember the landing as, more or less, routine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN MORNING")
MIKE ABATE, PASSENGER ON CRASHED AMERICAN AIRLINES 737: He was tapping on the brakes quite a bit. And then he went into tap on the brakes the last time and that's when you could feel the plane sliding out of control.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: OK. So, at that point, it almost was like a -- the sensation of fishtailing in a car or something like that?
ABATE: Exactly. Exactly. You could feel -- and, then, shortly after that, when you realize, when -- when you realized he wasn't able to keep it controlled, we -- we hit a huge bump, what felt like a bump, and we all lurched, you know, up in our seats.
And that's when, you know, I think we went through the barrier at that point. And the nose gear had given out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, our coverage continues with reporter Phil Hayes of our Chicago affiliate WFLD.
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PHIL HAYES, WFLD REPORTER: Southwest Airlines chief executive officer, Gary Kelly, met with reporters a short time just to brief us on the very latest from this deadly crash here at Midway Airport last night.
He began his briefing by expressing his condolences to the victims, the injured and the family of the dead child.
GARY KELLY, CEO, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: It was with great sadness that we learned of death of a child who was in one of the vehicles hit by the aircraft. The entire Southwest family is grieving this loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the child's family, friends and loved ones.
HAYES: Now for the information on the crew -- we're told the captain is 59 years old. He's been with Southwest Airlines for more than 10 years and has other flying experience.
The first officer is 35 years old. He's been with Southwest for two-and-a-half years, but also has other flying experience. Now for the information about the plane -- we're told it is one of their newer planes, just put into service July 2004. It has made 2,890 takeoffs and landings, logged just over 5,000 hours of flying time.
And its recent maintenance check was just done on December 7. And no problems were reported or found. CEO Gary Kelly said that the plane did, apparently, circle the airport twice last night, before landing. He said the information provided at the time indicated that the braking action for the planes was considered fair to good. And he dispelled any rumors about concerns about the length of the runway being too short.
Reporting from Midway Airport, Phil Hayes, for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, you may remember that, as we have been covering this story -- and we covered this breaking news last night -- that, when that airplane skidded off the runway, it went through that fence right on the side of the runway into an intersection.
And a 6-year-old boy was killed when the plane crashed into his family's car.
Ronald Stearney is the attorney for that family of that 6-year- old boy, Joshua Woods, the 6-year-old that lost his life. He's joining me now on the phone.
Can you hear me OK, Ronald?
RONALD STEARNEY, WOODS FAMILY ATTORNEY: Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS: Well, first of all, I appreciate your time and just want to ask you, how is -- how is the family holding up? How are they doing right now? It really hasn't been much time between right now and last night.
STEARNEY: Well, you know, as anyone can imagine, losing a 6- year-old boy is just terrible. And they're just devastated, completely devastated.
And I don't think they're -- they can completely appreciate, at this point, take in what has happened. They're just devastated.
PHILLIPS: Have they shared with you, Ronald -- I'm sure they have -- of exactly what happened, what they remember? Were they stopped at the intersection and then, all of a sudden, saw the airplane coming toward them?
STEARNEY: Well, I -- I think that what the -- the details of the accident are -- are rather poignant.
What happened is, is, they were traveling, go to their -- the children's grandparents' house. And, you know, kids, you know, always are looking to see the aircraft that are landing at Midway. And, apparently, the -- they heard the sound of engines and it -- the roar kept getting louder and louder. And then, the next thing they knew, there was the impact.
And -- and the father looked out his left window and saw the turbine of the 737 still turning. And he was afraid to get out, but they were -- they -- it was just -- happened instantaneously. And then they realized afterward that it was -- the noise was of the aircraft's engines in reverse thrust.
PHILLIPS: Wow. So -- so, what -- did it -- did the aircraft come up? Did it come to the side of the car or the back of the car? Was -- was...
STEARNEY: My...
PHILLIPS: Yes.
STEARNEY: My understanding is that it came just on top, and they were -- the facts are still kind of sketchy. The -- they're -- it's difficult to, you know, sort through everything completely right now.
But my suspicion is, is that it -- they were just off to the side of the body of the fuselage of the aircraft as it came down and -- and partially, perhaps, pinned under the wing, given the fact that the father saw the engine.
PHILLIPS: Was -- was little Joshua sitting in backseat, Ronald?
STEARNEY: And then, you know, the entire time that we are getting -- you know, as the father told us, that he's sobbing and crying. So, we're just trying to let -- we just got the initial facts from him and -- and, perhaps after he's had a little bit more time, then we can talk and get more details.
PHILLIPS: Are you -- are you there with the family now?
STEARNEY: No.
I -- I was at the hospital this morning. And I went to the crash scene and went to the aircraft. And then now I'm back at my office in Chicago.
PHILLIPS: Is the family suing Southwest Airlines, Ronald?
STEARNEY: We -- we don't want to discuss it at this point. We have been contacted by Southwest.
And, of course, Southwest extended its condolences and concern. And, at this point, it's too early to even think about something like that. With the amount of attention that's being given to this, it's -- it's difficult enough to have this type of a situation. And to add on it all the attention that's occurring, it's -- it's hard to take in.
So, at this time, we're just trying to manage -- deal with the immediate problem and of -- of making arrangements for Joshua. PHILLIPS: Ronald Stearney, the family -- or the attorney, rather, for the family of little Joshua Woods, the 6-year-old boy that died there in that intersection when the plane skidded off the runway.
Ronald Stearney, appreciate your time.
We're going to take a quick break -- more LIVE FROM right after this.
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PHILLIPS: Well, if you didn't think it felt a lot like winter yet, you're in deep denial, as deep as the snow that dumped on Indianapolis overnight, as this year's first snow maker headed eastward from the Great Lakes.
New Yorkers had a sloppy go of it this morning getting to work, while about five inches of snow accumulated in Manhattan. It has stopped already, and the sun's out, but it's pretty cold -- no melting for a while.
Boston is another story.
David Boeri from our Boston affiliate, WCVB, joins me now live.
Where exactly are you, David?
DAVID BOERI, WCVB REPORTER: I'm in Worcester, which is the hills of central Massachusetts, normally gets a lot of snow.
We have been getting it. This storm has had legs since early this morning. But, right now, we are in a temporary letup, as if it shut down cold for the cameras. But that fast-moving storm from the Midwest has come here. We have about 10 inches of snow that has accumulated here.
Far worse right now is to the east of us, towards greater Boston. It has been raining there all morning. Suddenly, we are getting reports of thunder and lightning, whiteout snow conditions, and heavy ice falling.
In fact, at Logan Airport, a little white ago, a Comair flight that had left Logan had to return after being struck by lightning. It landed safely. The plane is damaged, we are told, but there are no injuries.
So, that's it from here. It's worsening to the east of us, which was better. And, right now, it seems to have let up here, with 10 inches of snow on the ground. PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh, 10 inches.
So, let me ask you, David, are you from that area? So, you're -- I'm sure you're used to this. But exactly where you are right now, is that usually a happening area this time of day?
BOERI: Yes, we get about 120 inches of now out here in the Worcester area. People are used to this.
PHILLIPS: And quite friendly.
(LAUGHTER)
BOERI: They get by.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
BOERI: Yes. They're -- they're very friendly. They get by.
This is a working-class city. They work in snow. They're used to it. I'm from Alaska. I have seen worse.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Point well made. David Boeri, you're doing a great job. Thanks, David.
BOERI: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Well, a city in Toledo, Ohio, is say no to Nazis.
Remember, back in October, a Nazi group's planned march was canceled, which led to a rampage and more than 100 arrests. Well, they're being allowed to gather again tomorrow, but the city wants a judge to restrict the rally to downtown and kept out of residential neighborhoods. Hundreds of police will keep an eye on the Nazis. Toledo's police chief says -- quote -- "We have got it covered."
Mel Gibson is making headlines again, but it's not for any project that he's currently work on. It's for one that he's planning to tackle in the future.
Mary Snow reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was Mel Gibson's depiction of Jews in "The Passion of the Christ" that prompted critics to denounce the film as anti-Semitic. Now Gibson is planning a TV project on the Holocaust survivors sheltered by Christian families, and, already, it's raising eyebrows.
ABC says the deal is still in development with Gibson's production company. But some are raising concerns, since Gibson's father has been quoted in the past denying the Holocaust happened.
RAFAEL MEDOFF, WYMAN INSTITUTE FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES: He really needs to publicly repudiate the Holocaust denial statements that his father made, and he needs to acknowledge explicitly that there was a Holocaust.
SNOW: Rafael Medoff is a leading authority on the Holocaust, and says Gibson has dodged the issue in the past. In a 2004 "Reader's Digest" interview, for example, Mel Gibson was specifically asked whether the Holocaust happened. His response, quote -- "Yes, of course. Atrocities happen. War is horrible. The Second World War killed tens of millions of people. Some of them were Jews in concentration camps."
Critics say Gibson's statements don't go far enough.
RABBI MARVIN HIER, FOUNDER, SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER: You can't portray Jews as, yes, some of them suffered, too. And, you know, so, those were the reasons where many -- why many people have had great concerns about Gibson's views on the Holocaust.
SNOW: A representative for the actor/director says he's out of the country and can't be reached. Media observers say, even if Gibson doesn't have anything to say, his name alone draws an audience.
LYNETTE RICE, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": The controversy won't hurt. It -- it won't hurt at all. And, if anything, ABC will feed off of it.
SNOW: It's that publicity that worries critics, who say there's a fringe element in the U.S. of people who deny that six million Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II.
MEDOFF: There's a danger that he will be lending legitimacy or credibility to people who should basically be regarded as lunatics.
SNOW (on camera): ABC had no comment on the project. It says it's ordered a script from Gibson's production company, but has not yet given it the green light.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: For the record, Flory Van Beek, the Dutch Holocaust survivor who wrote the book the Gibson project is based on, told "The New" -- "The New York Times": "I know his father doesn't believe in the Holocaust. But maybe, when there's money involved, maybe they don't care."
But she added: "I don't know him. All I know is Gibson is a staunch Catholic, and the people who saved our lives are Catholic." And she said, "I respect everybody's belief."
Well, a Hollywood director starts to make a sci-fi movie and, instead, becomes an activist. He ended up making a very different kind of movie about slavery taking place right now. He joins me live coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, he lived a nightmare for almost a quarter century, imprisoned for a 1981 rape that he didn't commit. Now Georgia's Robert Clark is a free man. And he insists he's not bitter about his ordeal. DNA testing proved he was innocent. It has also indicated a one-time friend.
Robert Clark and his family spoke with our David Mattingly in an interview for tonight's "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How does today feel different?
ROBERT CLARK, FREED BY DNA TESTING: It don't seem like it's real.
(LAUGHTER)
CLARK: It seems like it's -- I don't know. It seems like there's strings attached. You know, I just got to cut the wires off of me, you know?
(LAUGHTER)
CLARK: No, I ain't got to go back.
MATTINGLY: And something else I have noticed, you were holding your son's hand. You're holding your sister's hand. It look likes nobody -- it looks like nobody wants to let you go now.
(LAUGHTER)
CLARK: I don't want to let them go no more. You know, they didn't go off and leave me, you know? I was taken away from them. So, it's like I went off and left them.
MATTINGLY: Who's holding who right now?
CLARK: I'm holding...
(CROSSTALK)
VIRGINIA JACOBS, SISTER OF ROBERT CLARK: He's holding me.
(LAUGHTER)
MATTINGLY: But that idea of not wanting to let anybody go right now, and -- and, again, more tears of joy.
JACOBS: I can't help it. I'm a crybaby. When I used to go see him, I would cry...
CLARK: Yes.
JACOBS: ... because I knew he had no business being there. And he would say, don't cry; it's going to be OK. I said, but you have no business here. You have no business here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: You don't want to miss that interview. You can see David Mattingly's complete interview with Robert Clark later tonight. "PAULA ZAHN NOW" airs at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
Well, cyber-security types are buzzing these days about an Internet bug that may already be inside your computer. It's what they call a worm that lives hidden in your machine. I'm sure you have heard of it. This one, though, has an interesting name, Sober.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Programmers who have picked it apart say that this worm may soon start sending neo-Nazi e-mails automatically from infected P.C.s. Their advice, update your anti-virus software and don't open weird-looking e-mails you don't recognize.
Well, Delta pilots have authorized a vote for a strike, but the airline is standing firm on its wage-cut request.
Kathleen Hays joins us live at the New York Stock Exchange for more on that story -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Yes, Delta says it's negotiating position will not change, even after its pilot union decided to ask its members to authorize a strike. The company says it still needs $325 million in concessions and is willing to negotiate a consensual deal. A decision by the union's executive committee to seek a strike authorization came yesterday, after a daylong closed-door meeting of union leaders.
Delta lawyers have said in court that the company could impose new contract term on its pilots starting December 16.
Let's turn to the markets now, where stocks are actually higher. After some early losses., the Dow industrials are gaining about 38 points, a third of a percent -- the Nasdaq composite up nearly half-a- percent. Oil prices came down a bit today, and that gave the market a boost it appears.
A tip for holiday shoppers: If you're thinking of buying those five gold rings ahead of the Christmas holiday, you better act fast, because gold prices just keep on rising. Gold is rushing past $530 an ounce in New York trading, its highest level in nearly a quarter- century.
In fact, it's up nearly 14 percent just over the last month alone. This surge is partly due to fears of rising inflation and rising interest rates. Gold is traditionally seen as a safe-haven investment. Increased demand for physical gold in strong Asian economies, like China and India, is also causing gold to shine for investors.
That's the latest from Wall Street. Join me at the end of the hour for a wrap-up of the trading day and the closing bell.
LIVE FROM continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: So, wondering what thunder snow is. It's happening in Boston.
Chad Myers, tell us what's going on.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: If you're...
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: If you're out in Boston right now, and you think heard thunder and you think, wait, it's snowing, that can't happen, well, certainly, it can.
And it has been happening at Boston Logan, all the way up, even up to about Lawrence seeing some snow. I'm going to switch colors on you here, so you can tell where the darkest purple is. That's where the heaviest snow is coming down. This is Portland, Maine. There's down Boston on the bottom now.
And, as we zoom into a couple of spots, getting these enhanced areas of snow along I-95 in Maine, a little farther to the south now -- finally, the snow just about to end in Worcester -- but one-eighth- of-a-mile visibility at Boston Logan Airport, with heavy snow and thunder there, as all of this comes rolling in.
Many areas have already picked up over 10 inches -- the Berkshires up to 14, some spots, I'm just seeing now. And, then, through the Poconos and the Alleghenys, back into the east of Pittsburgh, over 10 inches into State College as well -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, keep us posted...
MYERS: All right.
PHILLIPS: ... as those things happen. Chad, thank you.
Well, every day, we talk about the war in Iraq. We talk about bombings, the abductions, and the massive effort by the U.S. government to put things there back on track. But rarely do we hear about the people, the Iraqis and the Americans there who are risking their lives, often every day, to make things right.
Well, this Sunday, CNN will tell some powerful stories of the people in the midst of that storm. And we can pretty much promise you will want to watch.
Here's part of what you will see.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're just searching the...
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... two passengers. They will stop this one, I think, this one.
ROBERTSON: Bassam Hamid's (ph) is a policeman that I met here a couple of years ago. When I first met him, he was a major in the Iraqi police force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most dangerous I.P.s (ph). Be careful.
ROBERTSON: And -- and, you know, and he felt torn, because he could see what the occupation was doing. He felt that the occupation was making mistakes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You didn't understand what those people said. He's Iraqi. Why he is holding a stick? Why he is trying to...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Forget about the guy with the stick. That's not what we're dealing with. We're dealing with 7,000 people.
ROBERTSON: Meeting Bassam Hamid's (ph) family was an incredibly humbling experience. Here was a man who was putting his life on the line for his country and for the U.S. forces every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Fort Knox.
ROBERTSON: There was candlelight, because electricity was out. And he was even living in a protected house in the Green Zone.
The kitchen was very bare. It was a simple plastic table and chairs. And his wife had very kindly cooked and prepared dinner for us. You know, one of the interesting things that we discussed was, you know, what does your wife say to you when you go out in the morning, when you go to work?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before the war, when I used to leave my home to my office, she asked me, what do you want to have for lunch or dinner? Are we going to go tonight or tomorrow to my family or to your family? Now, and today, I think most of the wives, they didn't ask this question. All what they do is to pray that their husband or their sons or their children will return back safe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, this black...
ROBERTSON: For the policemen that have died?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: How many friends have you lost?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The -- the past month, I lost three.
ROBERTSON: In the last month?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All in the last month, yes.
ROBERTSON: In the last two-and-a-half years?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty, 25.
I lost the people who -- who used to talk to me, who used to encourage me, who were worried about me.
ROBERTSON: He doesn't think the U.S. forces are going -- are going to leave any time soon. He doesn't think it's a good idea. He thinks that there would be much greater bloodshed if that was to happen right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the -- the world needs to help the Americans to find a political solution for them, because they are in a bad situation now.
ROBERTSON: You know, right now, Bassam Hamid (ph) has been promoted from major to a lieutenant colonel. And because of the studies that he has put in before -- he's now studying criminology at a university in England, University of Leicester.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been managing the bureau here for about the past two-and-a-half years.
There isn't one person who works here who has not been touched in some way by the events here since the invasion. There are people on staff whose relatives have been killed by insurgents, people whose friends, other family members, have been caught up in car bombs and murdered.
In the beginning of 2004, we went through the nightmarish scenario of having two of our Iraqi employees killed in an ambush south of Baghdad. And that event was jarring and a complete and utter wake-up call to not only for CNN and us here in the bureau, but for journalists, all journalists operating here.
The worst possible moment for me was telling the father of one of our employees that he had been killed in this attack. And I'll never forget it. It was the hardest conversation I've ever had to have here, and one that I never want to have again.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: In the heart of the Sunni Triangle we ran across one of the most heartbreaking stories that I've seen. And there have been a lot of heartbreaking stories.
(voice-over): This was a man, Latif Alo (ph), who was the electricity minister in Diyala province. He yearned for the day Saddam would be gone and Iraq would have a future and his family would have a life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the area with the floor, she dreamed that we would -- someday Iraq would become as this picture.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: When fighting with insurgents broke out on June 24th, Latif sent his wife and six of their children to Baghdad in a car. Alo's nephew, Ahmed (ph), was driving.
(on camera): He seems to take a wrong turn and he turns down the street where there are American tanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Apparently the driver may have been scared, thinking that it was insurgents firing at him.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: So he had to speed up to go to the safety of the Americans.
(voice-over): The tanks shot at the car. And as that car was burning, his wife managed to escape. His wife managed to get out of that burning car where her children were burning and run to the American soldiers and say, don't shoot us. And they shot her. We went to see the soldiers that did this. And they were so traumatized.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's not a place that I will go for the rest of my life that I will not have a picture of Latif's family.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: These were extraordinary children by any standards. They played music and they read poetry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't like the news that talks about death. I ask myself, why don't the grownups think to teach me instead of fighting?
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Latif Alo, despite all this, seems to harbor almost no trace of bitterness. It's a tragedy. He believes it should not have happened, they should have been more careful. But he isn't bitter. And he actually says that the loss of his family is the price that he has been willing to pay for the future of Iraq. An absolutely extraordinary man.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: "CNN PRESENTS: 1,000 Days in Iraq," the program airs in its entirety this Sunday 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 pacific. We sure hope you'll join us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, this is a story of two journeys: one made by millions of people who are sold into slavery each year, and the other a journey of a discovery made by a Hollywood actor and filmmaker. The United Nations estimates that by the end of this year, at least two million people, the majority of them young girls will be sold into slavery. And 70 percent of those girls are exploited sexually.
When Hollywood director and actor, Michael Cory Davis, heard about this on a trip to Bulgaria, well, he decided to make the film "Svetlana's Journey." It's based on the true story of a Bulgarian girl who was forced into prostitution. And the film is raising awareness and winning awards. It took top honors at the Hollywood Film Festival.
The writer and director, Michael Carey David, joins me now live from our Los Angeles bureau. Michael, great to see you.
MICHAEL CORY DAVIS, DIRECTOR, "SVETLANA'S JOURNEY": Great to see you, too. Thank you so much.
PHILLIPS: Oh, it's my pleasure. And I was telling you earlier, just seeing this film, you know, it's tough to watch. It's really tough to watch. And I just -- I can't imagine that there you were to do a sci-fi film in Bulgaria, right? And then tell me what happened and how you took off on this other adventure.
DAVIS: It's definitely an interesting story to go from shooting fictional dinosaurs to making movies about real life atrocities, 100 percent. "Svetlana's Journey" began in 2003, actually, when I was hired to do this film in Bulgaria. And I attended a fundraiser than the Bulgarian organization Face-To-Face invited me to.
And at that fundraiser I found out about the large numbers of Bulgarian girls and Eastern European women being trafficked out of the Bulgaria throughout Europe as well as into the United States. From that point on I asked them how they could use me to in some way, shape or form help their campaign about -- on spreading awareness. And I -- go ahead.
PHILLIPS: No, no. I'm sorry. I was going to say so you actually talked with these kids and you heard their story.
DAVIS: I met ...
PHILLIPS: Right, you met these kids.
DAVIS: I met about 300 kids during that three-week period while I was shooting the film. And I returned to Los Angeles in 2004 and the kids that I met were sending me pictures through my Web site. I still kept in touch with the Bulgarian organization. And what happened was, that's actually how I found out about Svetlana's story.
I found out that she was one of the girls that I met. And there was a newspaper article that detailed her just horrifying story, and I ended up turning it into a film in about four hours one night, and moved back to Bulgaria with $200 in April of 2004. And I set on a mission to raise corporate sponsorship and DAVIS: ...with $200 in April of 2004, and I set on a mission to raise corporate sponsorship and to paint myself out as an actor as much to try to raise money to shoot the film.
PHILLIPS: Wow.
Now, you actually showed this film to these kids whether it was in the orphanages or some of these schools. And my question to you was, but, gosh, it's so graphic, it's about rape and about, you know, these awful people just taking these young girls and forcing them into this.
But you said, look, they went through it. They experienced this. So for them, was it a sense of freedom just to meet you and hear from you, look, you don't have to do this anymore, there are other -- don't listen to these men that are trying to talk you into this?
DAVIS: Most definitely. I find a lot of these young kids in Bulgaria, as well as even here in the states, they're not used to male figures speaking to them in the way that the organization asked me to. They're not used to repetitive behaviors like I showed up to the orphanages, talked with them. And when I returned the next day, they were so impressed and surprised.
So once they saw that I was willing to see them on a more consistent basis, they opened up to me and they listened to me. And that was the most important thing.
And yes, some of the kids really were not that horrified to see what happened. In fact, many of them knew about it and many of them even told me stories about pimps in that neighborhood and those regions trying to get at them.
PHILLIPS: Gosh.
DAVIS: This is not only in Bulgaria, you know. Keep in mind, this is all over the world.
PHILLIPS: Well, in this scene right now that we're looking at is the man who paid thousands of dollars for Svetlana, the young girl that you met in real life. And tell me, in the film she ends up becoming pregnant and actually commits suicide. But in real life, she survives that attempted suicide, right? What happened to her? What is she doing now?
DAVIS: From what I understand she's in child protective services. I have no more dealings with her. The Bulgarian organization does, but I'm not allowed to really disclose any more information than that.
I do want to touch on something being that you raised the topic. She was impregnated and like many of the victims of sex trafficking, they do end up pregnant. And some of them go through nine, 10, 11 and more abortions.
I've met the victims actually who have had more than nine or 10 abortions. It is frightening. And a lot of these young girls end up having infants, and these infants are raised with this disgusting destiny that is set for them as infants on throughout their future. It's horrible, horrible situation.
PHILLIPS: Now, Michael, you have got a great acting career. I mean from the movies to soaps to television. I mean, why did you -- what was it that moved you and caused you to do this and put in so much of your own time and money into pursuing this and wanting to help?
DAVIS: You know, when I check my bank account I ask my myself the same thing all the time. You know what...
PHILLIPS: You have a big heart. You're crazy and you've got a big heart.
DAVIS: Indeed. Indeed and many people don't understand that.
But, you know, I met the victims, and I've been meeting people here in the United States, subject matter experts and law enforcement, who are working towards stopping this. And they have the same attitude.
You know, the thing is I'm an artist. And as an artist I have the responsibility and the call of duty to bring to light through media, and through entertainment, what I see is going on that's hurting people, especially the young kids of today because they will be the adults of tomorrow. And they are the ones who are going to have to make the difference.
So as I had mentors growing up, and it's my way of paying back, you know, to the number of adults in my family who helped me growing up.
PHILLIPS: Well, if you want to get involved you can go to FacetoFace.bg to find out about this organization that you got involved in to help these kids.
DAVIS: Most definitely.
PHILLIPS: And how do folks get your film? How can they see it? How can they get their hands on it?
DAVIS: Go to www.michaelcorydavis.com.
PHILLIPS: There you go.
DAVIS: And proceeds of that do go back to Face To Face Bulgaria. So please come out and support. And if I can, Kyra, can I say something?
PHILLIPS: Of course you want to say something to mom and grandma, don't you?
DAVIS: I do. Actually, I may not make it home for Christmas. I have a very busy schedule. And I do want to say, mom, and grandma because of your selflessness and your love and watching you guys grow up, watching you guys while I was growing up I noticed and learned from you a lot.
And it's the reason why I am able to give the kind of love back. So just thank you guys for that. I love you. I love my family. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas. I may not see you guys.
PHILLIPS: Michael Corey Davis, what a pleasure to interview you.
DAVIS: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: The film was incredible. It's a powerful message. Thanks for your time.
DAVIS: Thank you. Take care.
PHILLIPS: Well, straight ahead, Londoners line the streets today to pay tribute to a bus. What makes a city bus so special? Come on, if you've ridden one, you know, it's the big double Decker. We're going to tell you all about it when LIVE FROM continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, let's admit it, America, when it comes to international soccer, we're clueless. At this very moment as we go about our business, much of the world has stopped to watch an event playing out in former East Germany.
CNN's Patrick Snell is there to explain this monumental occurrence.
Patrick, of course, tell us about the World Cup and the selection process and what's happening right now.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, thank you. Welcome to Leipzig in the former East Germany. And I have to keep my voice down just a little bit because the draw is in progress, and I'm in the International Media Center. So it's with slightly hushed tones that I speak to you.
Yes, all of the drama, all the excitement, and the passion of the last few hours has finally come to fruition. The draw is underway. And of course many people are keeping an eye on the reigning world champions Brazil.
But Team USA, as well, they are in this draw having qualified as the head (INAUDIBLE), and they will be looking very much to improve on their showing at the 2002 Asian World Cup finals when they really did put in a great performance under Bruce Arena. They finished the quarter finals. They got that far.
And I know they are looking to try to build on that and try and have another impressive World Cup final. But they are in a part four along with four other Asian teams. Also there, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well.
So it's going to be very interesting when we see who plays who. But the good news is for the USA they are in the draw, and they are looking forward to the finals, which start June 9, next year--Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, now, Patrick, I know there's some big names there. The name that caught our attention this morning, you know, the soccer that inspired many of us play soccer, including me and my brother, Pele. Have you had a chance to see him? Did you get to interview him? And is he going to be drawing out of the big bowl?
SNELL: Pele, the legendary, the iconic Brazilian, yes, who helped Brazil win the World Cup, he is here. He is taking part in the draw. We will be speaking to him on CNN to get immediate reaction from him over the course of the next few hours once the draw is complete. But yes, an inspiration to so many, Pele. And he is closely associated -- whenever you think of the World Cup, you always think of Pele.
His role these days is perhaps more of a corporate one. But once that draw is taking place, he is there and he, as I say symbolic, is symbolic of the draw and everything that goes with those visions of marvelous goals in the '70s for which he became famous for. He is now an ambassador to so many different people, so many younger generations, as well. Pele, of course, he's at the World Cup finals. And he -- I know he's already looking forward very to the finals being played back in Europe again -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Indeed. Patrick Snell. He's a great athlete. All right. We'll keep our eye on the World Cup selections. Thanks, Patrick.
PHILLIPS: Well, they used to be called the monarchs of the road. Britain said goodbye today to the big red double-decker buses that helped define the image of post-war London, the routemasters.
CNN's Robyn Curnow reports now on why they'll be missed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A funeral-like fog descended on London, a bleak backdrop on the day a British icon has taken off the road. The 12:10 service from Marble Arch was the final route for the double decker red routemaster bus, with its hop on, hop off platform and ticket collecting conductor.
Jamaican-born Lloyd Licorish has been a London bus collector for nearly 36 years and he says he's not sorry he and the old bus are retiring.
LLOYD LICORISH, BUS CONDUCTOR: I'm not going to miss these masters. I'm actually going to miss my colleagues at work.
CURNOW: Colleagues like bus driver Winston Briscoe, who also doesn't mind that London's old lady is being replaced by a jazzier, faster, safer red bus. WISTON BRISCOE, BUS DRIVER: You'll have people hopping on, hopping off. It cause an accident. You always blame the driver. It doesn't matter what's gone wrong.
CURNOW: It seems London's passengers are more nostalgic. They like hopping on and hopping off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sad day for London to lose this wonderful bus. It's been here since 1955.
CURNOW: Across London, well-wishers paid their respects as Licorish and Briscoe drove the final route. Last stops at Oxford Circus, Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, before the 159 came to rest in Brixton.
Ten buses are being kept to operate a tourist route. The rest are packed off to warehouses.
(on camera): For London's double-decker routemaster buses, this is the end of the line, pensioned off after nearly 50 years of public service. But they haven't been consigned to the scrap heap just yet. You can actually buy one of these babies for just under $14,000 U.S.
(voice-over): Steve Newman's company fixes up abandoned routemasters, converting them into...
STEVE NEWMAN, ENSIGN BUS COMPANY: Lapdancing club, again, sight- seeing tour buses, bars, cafes, restaurants, English tea rooms, you name it.
CURNOW: Most of the 500 routemasters in the London fleet have been sold, a quarter of them overseas. So you're more likely to hop a ride in one of these in the U.S., Canada, Russia, or New Zealand than on a London street.
Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's holiday decoration time. And we know there are those out there, many of you out there, who see your house a blank canvas for the traditional blinking, twinkling kilowatt-draining light show, right? You know who you are.
Well, the Williams family of Mason, Ohio, is this year's victim of Christmas enthusiasm run amok. The light meister, Carson Williams. This Clark Griswold-wannabe draped his home in 2,500 lights. NASA wasn't complaining yet, but it was just a matter of time. So many people cruised past the Williams' home that the traffic and congestion forced them to shut down the show. Just wait until Easter.
Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at top of the hour in THE SITUATION ROOM. Hey, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Kyra. You've been talking a lot about that runway accident at the Midway Airport in Chicago. How vulnerable are other airports around the country? That's coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
The Republicans launching a new offensive today against Howard Dean and the Democrats on the war in Iraq. We'll show you what's going on.
And Miami steps up the heat on criminals, thanks to officer Shaquille O'Neal. We'll tell you all about the NBA star's new job. All that, coming up, right here, Kyra, in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
PHILLIPS: We'll be watching.
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