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Bush Address Philly Crowd on Iraq; Iraqis Prepare for Election; Divers Searching Sunken Car in New York; Clock Running Down on Death Row Inmate

Aired December 12, 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, Georgia, I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's the stories that we're working on for you right now.
Challenges, setbacks and false starts in Iraq. President Bush delivers another speech just days before Iraqi elections.

A developing story. The search is on for a car in the water near a New York pier. Rescuers want to know was someone in it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't need to party. I'm homeless right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Could New Orleans' biggest party canceled? A move to do away with Mardi Gras. We'll debate it.

CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

A fragile country wracked by war, beset by challenges, setbacks and false starts on the road to democracy? Iraq? Yes, but President Bush went to Philadelphia today to make the point that America could have been described the same way in its early days.

In his third recent speech on the state of the war, the U.S. mission and its strategy for victory, Mr. Bush called 2005 a turning point for Iraq and the whole Middle East. He cited this week's elections for a full-fledged four year parliament as a prime example of progress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unlike the January elections, many Sunnis are campaigning vigorously for office this time around. Many Sunni parties that opposed the constitution have registered to compete in this week's vote. Two major Sunni coalitions have formed, and other Sunni leaders have joined national coalitions that cross religious, ethnic and sectarian boundaries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Major Sunni group declared last week that it will not take part in Thursday's vote. But this time, it isn't urging a full Sunni boycott.

In Philly today in an unexpected Q and A with the audience, the president addressed an issue that senior U.S. officials almost never address.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Since the inception of the Iraq war, I'd like to know the approximate total of Iraqis who have been killed, and by "Iraqis," I include civilians, military police, insurgents, translators.

BUSH: How many Iraqi citizens have died in this war? I would say 30,000, more or less, have died as a result of the initial incursion and ongoing violence against Iraqis. We've lost about 2,140 of our own troops in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Democratic Congressman John Murtha, the ex-Marine who set off a firestorm by calling for U.S. troops to pull out, plans to respond to the Bush address in a news conference later this hour. You'll hear excerpts from that right here on LIVE FROM.

Well, it's election week in Iraq, a pivotal turn and a national transformation that has proven more costly than promised. Early voting has started for a permanent national assembly, amid several positive signs, as hospital patients, even prisoners cast ballots. A new poll shows that Iraqis are optimistic about the election and the future. There are fewer calls to boycott, and Iraq's rebellious Sunnis appear to be poised to participate. Election day is Thursday.

To set the scene for us, CNN's Aneesh Raman, he's standing by live in Baghdad -- Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, good afternoon.

Voting has already begun. As you say, we've got some video earlier today from Baghdad, Iraqi army soldiers voting. Tomorrow the police will vote. Also today, the patients at the hospital, essentially trying to take out those who make it to polls and also the security apparatus that needs to take place on Thursday. Huge security measures. Borders have been closed. Inner country travel has been prohibited. Curfews will be extended. At the polling stations themselves, significant security measures to prevent suicide bombers from waiting in line with Iraqis going to vote.

At stake, Kyra, 275 seats. Essentially Iraqis are voting for a House of Representatives. They'll go into the ballot boxes and they'll vote for a party, though. So if you're voting in Boston, let's say, back home, you'll vote for Democrat or Republican not for a representative. Though they know who it is, but they're voting for the list.

Of that 275, to be a winning coalition, you need 184, No one ticket is going to hit 184, so we're expecting weeks of political wranglings between the various parties before we find out who's going to be prime minister -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So when do you think we could finally get some results?

RAMAN: It could be awhile. It took three months this past year in the formation of the transitional government. We expect about two weeks before the election results are officially certified. That will give us a sense of how much power each of these lists have.

You've got Ayad Allawi, a more secular list. You've got the ruling Shia coalition, more theocratic, more friendly to Iran. You've got Ahmed Chalabi, also running a secular ticket. So once we get the election results we know what kind of leverage each of these groups have. There could be weeks. It could be months of political wrangling before we find out who's in charge of the country.

PHILLIPS: Now, there are platforms just like here in the United States. They do the same thing. What would say are the top three key issues?

Reporter: Well, I should say first, just like in the United States, when you talk to the voters, their first concern is that no one's talking about the issues, that among all the glossy ads and the posters no one is actually saying what they're going to do to change Iraq.

Everyone here is aware that in Iraq all politics are global. This is an historic moment. And so the politicians have been speaking in the abstract: we will set Iraq on a path that is more secular, more conservative, more moderate.

But for Iraqis this government is a four-year government, the first chance for their leaders to effect change in daily lives. They want security fixed. They want basic services guaranteed. The two previous governments in power for just a matter of months, used that as an excuse. They said, "Look, we don't have enough time to change your life." Well, for Iraqis this government has no excuse, they want their daily life changed more than history laid out by these leaders.

PHILLIPS: All right, Aneesh Raman. We'll stay in touch. Thank you so much, Aneesh.

Another bomb mangled vehicle on the streets of Baghdad. This one a minibus that apparently rolled over a bomb near a police checkpoint downtown. Two people were killed, 14 hurt, five of those police officers.

Elsewhere in Baghdad three police officers were killed today in a firefight, a fourth in an ambush. Also, police found the bodies of four men who had been dragged out of a house the night before by gunmen wearing police uniforms.

We've got a developing story in New York City involving a car that landed on the Hudson River. Our Tony Harris working it in the newsroom -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Kyra. Good to see you.

We're looking at a rescue now right along the Hudson River, as you mentioned. It's under way right now in New York City. These are pictures from a short time ago.

We understand a vehicle, most likely a car, has gone off one of the piers there and into the Hudson River. We've seen firefighters working the scene. We don't know for sure at this point if anyone is in that vehicle.

This is what's being called a swift water rescue. The water, as you can see, is dark. We understand there was a lot of debris in that water. And divers, two at a time, are being sent in to work on this rescue.

There are also buoys in the water, as well, to keep other vessels out of the area.

These are pictures from a little earlier. The helicopter that's been providing us live pictures has just flown away and I'm guessing will be back shortly.

But again, this is a rescue that is underway right now in New York City, in the Hudson River right now. You can see the divers going in and under the water right now. They're sending in teams of divers looking for this vehicle and presumably someone who is inside that vehicle. We will keep an eye on the situation, Kyra, and we will get back to you with any updates.

PHILLIPS: All right. Keep me posted.

HARRIS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Thanks so much, sure. Our affiliate pictures there from WABC.

Meanwhile, the highest court in land is reportedly ready to mess with Texas. Congressional districts, that is. It's the latest twist in a convoluted process that's kind of sort of tangled up in the troubles with Tom DeLay, Texas lawmaker and former House majority leader.

The high court is agreeing to hear appeals to the congressional map that DeLay helped engineer in 2003, a map that led Republicans to win 21 of Texas' 32 seats in Congress in 2004.

The money laundering charges that cost DeLay his leadership post and for which he'll stand trial sometime next year pertain to campaign contributions to state Republican candidates in 2002, candidates who, once elected, approved the map DeLay wanted.

Are you still with me? Well, you may also remember the spectacle of Texas Democrats fleeing the state during that restructuring ruckus in Austin. And there, too, DeLay stirred up an added controversy by using the FAA to track the Democrats down. Arguments on the redistricting are expected in the spring. We'll stay on top of all that and try to make sense of it.

Now more details emerging when it comes to Karl Rove's roll in the CIA leak case. They're coming from "TIME" magazine reporter Vivica Novak. She says that the White House chief of staff's lawyer was told that Rove may have disclosed Plame's status as an undercover CIA operative to another "TIME" reporter. That was months before Rove corrected his statements to investigators.

As you know, Rove remains under investigation, and a spokesman for his legal team says he's cooperated fully with prosecutors. Rove told investigators he forgot about a conversation he had with reporter Matt Cooper in 2003 when Plame was allegedly discussed.

This is it, the last day for a decision that could spare the life of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Williams is now looking to a federal appeals court or California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to stop his execution. California's Supreme Court has rejected a late appeal. Without a stay or clemency, Williams will be put to death at midnight Pacific Time.

Our Kareen Wynter is outside San Quentin Prison in California. What's the latest from the governor?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Well, the governor has not expressed reaction to this one way or another, whether or not he's considering this new piece of information that came forward late yesterday.

Now, let's backtrack a bit. After last Thursday's clemency hearing, a man came forward saying that he had, quote, "evidence" that Williams was framed here, that a key witness used by the prosecution was actually coached by law enforcement and presented false testimony, testimony they say helped put Williams away behind bars. So we're waiting for the governor to respond to this.

We've also put in calls to prosecutors. They're not saying much. Even defense attorneys say they don't want to jump the gun here in commenting on this, that this is still a confidential issue, but we'll have to see how this plays out in these final hours, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kareen, is he getting any visitors today? Is he allowed to see anybody?

WYNTER: In fact, this morning prison officials confirmed with CNN that Williams was visited by his attorneys. And peeking over my shoulder right now, you can see some of the traffic moving in and out. And things are still business as usual here. The situation will change, but right now Williams is being spoken to by his attorneys, maybe receiving other visitors, as well.

We also asked what his frame of mind was, Kyra, how he feels going into this. And his attorneys would just say that he remains cautiously optimistic but that he's also had a lot of time to ponder this day.

PHILLIPS: What about the prison lockdown, any extra security?

WYNTER: That may happen sometime today. They're not putting a time line on this but we are told around 6 local time later this evening that this whole area that you see behind me where the cars are moving in and out, well, it's actually going to be barricaded. There are going to be guards out there. They're not letting anyone in or out, and they're going to go in lockdown mode.

This is typical of executions, we're told. Not really in part of concern over inmates but that they're going to be redirecting all the staff that usually facilitate other areas of the prison to help prepare for this execution. So it's a little bit on what we can expect.

PHILLIPS: Kareen Wynter, thank you so much.

As the clock does wind down, Governor Schwarzenegger considers a last minute appeal on the Williams case. We thought you'd like to see juts how often clemency is granted in death penalty cases. The answer is not very often at all. Here's the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): The last California governor to grant clemency was Ronald Reagan in 1967, and in that case the inmate had been brain-damaged. During that period, clemency was also much more common. Nationwide, more than 200 inmates were spared from death sentences between 1960 and 1970, while clemency has only been granted 63 times in the last three decades.

That's not including the 167 inmates whose death sentences were commuted by the governor of Illinois in 2003. That was a story unto itself.

The state of California doesn't execute people very often. Despite having more than 600 inmates on death row, only 11 people have been executed in California since the death penalty was reinstated in the late '70s.

The state of Texas has 400 inmates currently on Death Row and has executed 355 people since the death penalty was reinstated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, soldiers dealing with the stress of combat after coming home from war. New information on how you can help someone cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The news keeps coming. We're going to keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: Back here live in B Control. We're talking about U.S. troops returning from the war in Iraq. They're continuing to face so many challenges. Just adjusting to what their life was like before combat is tough. But for some of these men and women, the stresses are pretty in overwhelming.

CNN national correspondent Kelly Wallace examines post-traumatic stress disorder, and in her special series today, Kelly focuses on what could be done if you or someone you know might have what is a very real illness.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the small town of Emmetsburg, Iowa, Army National Guard reservist Tyler Peters likes to keep busy.

(on camera) How much is that keeping your mind off things?

TYLER PETER, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD RESERVIST: Quite a bit.

WALLACE (voice-over): Spending his days studying auto collision technology is one of the ways he tries to cope with his illness, post- traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD.

(on camera) How hard has all this been for you?

PETER: Very hard.

WALLACE (voice-over): According to a study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" last year, as many as 17 percent of the men and women who served in Iraq have shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety. That's a higher rate than the study found for Afghanistan veterans but believed to be lower than what we saw after Vietnam.

Still, many may not be getting help. Fewer than four percent of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have sought medical treatment for PTSD, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Army captain and psychologist Dr. Bobby Sidell represents one of the military's newest tools to deal with PTSD: therapists like himself going where they have not gone in previous wars, to the front lines. Sidell spent a year in Iraq.

DR. BOBBY SIDELL, ARMY PSYCHOLOGIST: If you can go take care of the issue before it becomes a major problem, it has a lot of carryover effect. Obviously, the soldier's able to carry on with their mission, as well as when they get home they're going to have an easier time transitioning back with their families, and friends and loved ones.

WALLACE: Tyler Peters says he didn't have any access to counselors in Iraq, in part because he was almost always on the road. Instead, about six months after he came home, he went to a V.A. hospital, got medication, and received one-on-one counseling at a vet center like this one here in Des Moines.

Katina Mach is the center's director.

KATINA MACH, DIRECTOR, DES MOINES VETERANS CENTER: It can be a very big problem, especially if it's ignored. I would like to use the example of Vietnam veterans. I'm still seeing Vietnam veterans 25, 30 years later coming through the door that said they've never addressed these issues.

WALLACE: Dr. Steven Hagemoser of the V.A. center is treating vets from Iraq with PTSD.

DR. STEVEN HAGEMOSER, VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER: We don't use the word cheer with our veterans, but we like to let them know the truth that there is life after PTSD.

WALLACE: Dr. Hagemoser tells his patients the stakes couldn't be higher, that left untreated, the high risk behavior of PTSD will only continue. Tyler Peters knows that firsthand.

PETERS: Like I said, with the whole anger thing, God only knows where I'd be, prison, wherever, because I couldn't -- wasn't myself, couldn't control myself. But there's been a lot of things that have kept me going.

WALLACE: And he hopes other veterans from Iraq keep going as well by getting the help they need.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Spencer, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, the first federal lawsuit over the pain killer Vioxx has declared with a hung jury. The judge declared a mistrial today, saying jurors couldn't reach verdict after three days of deliberations. They were trying to decide whether Merck, the drug's maker, was liable in the death of a man who had been taking Vioxx for a month.

Merck pulled the painkiller from the market last year after a study showed long term use could double the risk of heart attack or stroke. The company now faces about 6,500 lawsuits over that drug. Merck says Vioxx hasn't killed anyone.

A nasal spray flu vaccine may not only be more convenient than a flu shot; it may also be more effective. The company, MedImmune, said that fewer than four percent of patients who use an improved version of its flu mist in a clinical trial came down with the flu. In comparison, the company says the rate of patients who still got ill after receiving a conventional flu shot was more than double that. MedImmune says that it will ask the FDA for a priority review of the drug next year.

Still ahead, lifting the ban on U.S. beef. The cattle industry getting a boost right today. It's happening right now. LIVE FROM has got the news you want all afternoon. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to the newsroom, Tony Harris working that water rescue for us. Tony, what do you know? HARRIS: Kyra, just wanted to give you a quick update. As you mentioned, a water rescue is on the way right now at the Hudson River in New York City. And we're going to give you a little mix of life here and some taped pictures, as well.

We understand that a car has gone off one of the piers there on the Hudson River. Let's see if we can go to the map now so we can put a finer point on exactly where this is.

This is the 72nd Street pier right there in New York City, right along the Hudson. NYPD, NYFD, as you can imagine, right there on the scene.

An interesting note about this pier as we zoom in here. It is attached to a boardwalk that is only open to emergency vehicles and New York City park vehicles. And Kyra, there were also pylons, concrete pylons, to make this kind of thing very difficult, as difficult as possible.

We don't even know at this point if there is anyone in this vehicle. What's going on now is what is described as a swift water rescue. The water's very dark, very murky, a couple of divers in as teams at a time. And just a moment ago you saw one of the teams of divers pushing one of the buoys out into the water to keep the other vessels out of the area.

This is the scene right now, the Hudson River in New York City, where a rescue attempt is under way right now. We will continue to gather some more information on this, Kyra, keep an eye on that, with the live pictures of their aid (ph). We'll bring you more information as we get it.

PHILLIPS: All right, Tony. Appreciate it.

HARRIS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Thanks so much.

Well, the beef trade is about to resume between the United States and Japan. Japan says it will buy beef from North American cattle for the first time since Mad Cow Disease was found in the U.S. herd two years ago.

The Bush administration responded by lifting its ban on Japanese beef, also prompted by the discovery of Mad Cow Disease. U.S. officials are calling on other Asian countries, including Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore, to follow Japan's lead.

Well, a huge deal in the movie industry is catching Wall Street's attention today, catching Susan Lisovich's, attention, as well. She's live at the New York Stock Exchange.

Hey, Susan.

(STOCK REPORT)

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