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Northern California Hit with Back-to-Back Storms; Wildfires Rage in Oklahoma, Texas; Iraqis Demonstrate in Streets Against Voter Fraud; National Guard Strives to Save Iraqi Baby's Life

Aired December 28, 2005 - 13:00   ET

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

CAROL LIN, HOST: From CNN's world headquarters, I'm Carol Lin, in for Kyra Phillips.
Today on LIVE FROM, live pictures from San Francisco, where they're bracing for back to back major storms. We are on the story.

And fatal fires whipping across Oklahoma and Texas. We're going to show you the damage and track the winds fanning the flames.

And Baby Noor, the Iraqi infant who desperately needs life saving treatment. I'm going to talk with the senator trying to cut through the red tape to get her to the United States, quick.

All that and more, straight ahead. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

Weather alert for the west coast right now. Specifically, northern California. Marin and Sonoma counties and the Napa Valley and the San Francisco area, three big wet back to back storms are heading that way.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is out in the middle of it. She joins me now from San Francisco.

Rusty, is it raining out there?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, actually, we're in a break right now between the storms. We're even seeing some blue sky. And the sun was shining a minute ago.

These things come through in bands. But they're back to back, as you said, and they're also -- these major storm systems are back to back. So basically, the area does not have any time to recover. The soils are saturated, which of course, creates problems with mudslides.

Now, one of the big things, also, has been the surf. They've been saying that the swells have been coming in at 20 to 25 feet. Inside the Golden Gate, not really seeing that, maybe six feet. Yesterday, surfers were out en masse. I'm sure they'll be back later this morning as the tide goes out.

But we're not seeing those kinds of winds. We're seeing a few them coming up over the side here. But up north in Washington, of course, they got hit with some big snowfall up at Snow Quality Pass (ph), causing major problems there for truckers, for cars. Also in the Sierra Nevada, they already had had snow from storms from the past week. They're expecting to get about two feet of snow. Now remember, these storms are back to back. So they're going to go through the weekend, meaning when people want to come back on Sunday and Monday, it could be a nightmare, because highways 80 and 50 that go across the Sierra often shut down when there are major snowstorms.

But right here in San Francisco now, there's not a lot going on. There's expecting -- if the storms continue today, some local flooding and possibly mudslides. As I said, as the soil so saturated, and all this runoff comes down, there's no telling where those floods are going to happen. But the flood watch is in effect in the Napa and Sonoma valleys -- Carol.

LIN: Hey, Rusty, you told us earlier that you were expecting some sneaker waves. What are sneaker waves?

DORNIN: Sneaker waves just came by. In fact, a little earlier. As you'll notice, people are walking behind me right now. A lot of runners and all that along here. What happens is you get these waves. The waves usually come in sets. But occasionally, you get a huge wave that comes, and often it can sweep people off the shoreline.

The National Park Service often when these waves come in, it gets too big, they close this whole road so that people can't walk here because it's just too dangerous. Because they think they're fine and then all of a sudden, a huge wave will come in and sweep them out to sea.

LIN: Hey, Rusty, there are a few behind you. I'm a little worried. OK? So let's get you out of camera, because...

DORNIN: They've actually hit us a couple times.

LIN: Also hit when they ran by. Be careful out there, OK? All right, we're checking in with Rusty throughout this afternoon.

In the meantime, unusually dry conditions, high winds and open, grassy plains. You're looking at a live picture from our affiliate KWTW over the Oklahoma area which has been burnt out.

Gusty winds were preventing helicopters from flying and dropping water on some of those flames. And the winds were supposed to pick up again today. It is lousy working conditions working against firefighters in north Texas, as well.

Now, we're going to show you Cross Plains, Texas, overnight near Abilene. More than two dozen homes and a church have been burned there so far. National Guard troops on the way to help firefighters.

Back to Oklahoma. We're talking about communities west of Oklahoma City. They're also calling in for reinforcements. Across that state, wildfires have now searched more than 20 buildings and hundreds of acres. Authorities say people are being careless and that's partially to blame.

So we want to find out what the big weather picture is right now for that region. Chad Myers taking a look at these fires.

Chad, you just don't think of wildfires in the middle of wintertime.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: We need the wet stuff, moving east. Chad, thank you very much. Good aerials there.

Imagine flying, though, on an airplane with a hole in its side. It actually happened this week on an Alaska Airlines jet. A passenger with a cell phone camera captured what it was like inside after Flight 536 lost cabin pressure. Look at that. Oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling. And the plane made a rapid descent 20 minutes after taking off from Seattle, Washington.

Now, fortunately, the pilot made a safe emergency landing back in Seattle. Safety inspectors say a ramp worker admitted hitting the plane with a baggage cart or a belt machine before taking off and not telling anyone about it. The accident caused a crease that grew into a foot-long hole when the jet climbed to 26,000 feet.

Clearly losing cabin pressure on a plane doesn't happen that often, but here's a quick look at the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The National Transportation Safety Board reports at least seven times in the last 23 years loss of cabin pressure has created a significant safety risk to passengers on a flight in the United States.

The most recent notable case, though, was overseas. On August 14 of this year, a Greek airliner crashed, killing all 121 people on board. It's believed the flight may have lost cabin pressure before the crash. Greek investigators are still looking into it.

Among the depressurization incidents in the U.S., there have been two major accidents in the last 23 years. The more recent was the crash that killed golfer Payne Stewart six years ago. Stewart and five others died when their Learjet crashed in South Dakota in October 1999. The plane had flown for more than four hours without radio contact. And it's believed the crew and passengers were unconscious due to lack of breathable oxygen.

The other major U.S. depressurization accident occurred in 1989 when United Airlines Flight 811 lost a cargo door between Hawaii and Australia. The decompression pulled nine passengers out of the plane, and they were lost at sea. The other 347 passengers and crew members returned safely to the airport in Honolulu.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: In Iraq, calls for boycotting the new parliament and mass street demonstrations. All part of the new political scene after the aftermath of this month's national elections. Now these are pictures of the latest demonstration. Thousands of protesters rallied today, north of Baghdad, in the Sunni city of Samarra, charging the vote was rigged and demanding new elections.

But a United Nations official says the elections were credible and there's no need for another vote. Now that's also the opinion of former prime minister, Ayad Allawi. But he is highly critical of the way the elections were conducted and is calling for an investigation into allegations of fraud.

Allawi spoke with CNN's Jennifer Eccleston today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, FORMER IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: We tried to play by the rules ourselves. We never thought of rigging or intimidation of anybody. We are respected and still respect democracy. And we think that democracy, at the end of the day, will prevail here in Iraq. Unfortunately, others used different tactics. And they used the religious symbols, intimidations, assassinations, rigging of boxes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Well, joining me now from Baghdad, CNN's Arwa Damon.

Arwa, the former prime minister was running for a seat in parliament, right, in these last elections?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, that is correct. He was running for a seat. His party was running. The turnout for his party, the number of votes that they managed to obtain were not quite what they expected.

And they're alleging quite a number of things. They're alleging voter fraud in that they're alleging -- they're demanding basically that the IECI be suspended, that they also be investigated.

Now what they are saying is that -- their allegations range from those that stemmed from before the elections, when there were assassinations against members of Dr. Allawi's party, when his headquarters were burnt down, to allegations against the electoral process itself, of voter fraud, of ballot stuffing, of all sorts of riggings.

And what he's hoping for, what he is essentially demanding right now, is answers. He wants these allegations to be answered. And they are saying if these are not answered, than this is not the democracy that he and his supporters have been fighting for. Without a transparent process, this is not the democracy that so many Iraqis have lost their lives for -- Carol.

LIN: Well, Arwa, the former prime minister, though sounds like he lost his election, and he's saying, well, no necessary proof of voter fraud. But he's saying there could be new elections held in parts of the country. So it sounds like he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. What is he trying to gain from this politically? DAMON: That's difficult to tell right now. Of course, naturally, his party did not do as well as he expected, as well as many watching this entire process expected them to do.

Now, he's also made a statement that at this stage he's not speaking with other political parties. Of course, no one really wants to see this entire electoral process take a number of steps back. Most in Iraq want to see the country go forward. Perhaps at this point he is searching for a compromise.

Now what we do know is the demonstration in Baghdad, for example, yesterday it wasn't organized by an umbrella alliance that his political party is a member of. And now they did take to the streets and demand a revote countrywide.

He is also saying at the same time, you know, maybe a re-vote countrywide is not entirely realistic. Maybe a re-vote should be considered in some areas.

He is a politician. He is a very smart man, and perhaps right now he's just trying to test the waters, see how much support he will have as an opposition figure or see if he has to somehow come to the table with the political parties that do end up being in power -- Carol.

LIN: Arwa, thank you very much, live from Baghdad.

Now, an unusual but still dangerous mission for the National Guard in Iraq. Under the cover of darkness, U.S. soldiers mobilize on a heartfelt mission to save the life of a sick little girl. An update on Baby Noor's story when LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: An update now on a story that LIVE FROM has been following since last week about a mission to save the life of a baby girl in Iraq. Now, these are the newest pictures of little Baby Noor at a U.S. military base. But getting her to this point was no small achievement.

CNN's Arwa Damon has exclusive video from the first stage of a long journey and more from the U.S. soldiers who are single-minded in their devotion to help save of life of this one child.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON (voice-over): Another risky night mission for these soldiers of the Georgia National Guard in the deadly Abu Ghraib streets. Tonight, not in pursuit of insurgents, but returning to a home to try to save a life.

Three-month-old Noor has a severe form of spina bifida. Iraqi doctors had predicted she'd be dead by now. But she has clung on to life. Soldiers first met her searching the house and were unable to forget her. SGT. MICHAEL SONEN, GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD: We, as a group, collectively decided this is going to be our project. And if this is the only contribution that we have to defeating the war on terrorism this is going to be it.

DAMON: we are not showing her family's faces. They fear retaliation by insurgents for seeking American help. But they also know this is the only chance to save Noor's life.

SONEN: We've had some time to spend with the family, and they're very, very appreciative of the opportunity that they have to try to save the life of their daughter. And it does great things for us as soldiers and as Americans.

DAMON: Upset by the commotion in the middle of the night, too young to realize what is happening, Noor cries out. Accompanied by her father and grandmother, she begins the first step in her long journey towards a chance at life.

Her protectors alert. Despite their mission, these are still dangerous roads.

Now back safely on a U.S. military base, Noor receives the first of many examinations. In a few days, if the visas come through, she should be on her way to Atlanta for life-saving surgery.

And for these soldiers attached to the 10th Mountain Division, battling in the dangerous streets of Abu Ghraib, this is their way of getting through. Concentrating on one baby's life, a necessary distraction to survive their war in Iraq.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: More now on the status of those visas for Baby Noor and her family. Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss has been working to clear the way for Noor to get to Atlanta for the surgery that could save her life.

So Senator, has there been some red tape involved in getting her here?

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: Well, there sure has, Carol. It's a difficult process, No. 1, to communicate inside of Iraq. And when these soldiers did this terrorist raid and, of course, to have the compassion which they showed to see this little girl and want to help save her life is just a great story in and of itself.

But the fact is that we had to then begin the process of trying to figure out, No. 1, could we get her here, who should come with her. They have to do background checks inside of Iraq. They have to have passports issued in Iraq, Iraqi passports, before we could even get to the U.S. visa process.

So there's been a lot of red tape. And on top of all this, for any Iraqi to socialize or have a lot of contact with American soldiers puts their life in danger in this part of Iraq. So it's been a lot of cloak and dagger exercise going on inside of there.

Very, very brave men and women who are American soldiers, not only fighting and winning the war on terrorism, but also having the compassion to save this little girl's life.

Thank goodness we're now at a point where the U.S. military has control of this little baby, and the process being carried out by the ambassador in Iraq, Ambassador Khalilzad, is moving, and we're very hopeful that within a matter of hours and not days now we're going to see this little girl in Atlanta.

LIN: When do you think that might happen, best case scenario?

CHAMBLISS: Well, I think over the weekend, there's hope that it can be done by then. There's still a few more...

LIN: Some stumbling blocks?

CHAMBLISS: ... obstacles to overcome. But most of those have been taken out of the way now. And the folks at Scottish Rite Hospital here, Dr. Huggins and his staff, are sitting and ready, and they've just been extremely cooperative, very compassionate here, also.

Child Spring International (ph) has done great work. A couple of churches in Atlanta have been involved. This truly is a great exhibition of real American spirit to see this little girl come to the United States.

LIN: Compassion. In the meantime, the time -- the clock is ticking for this little baby.

CHAMBLISS: Yes.

LIN: So this paperwork has to happen quickly.

CHAMBLISS: Yes, it does. And the fact that she's survived as long as she has is somewhat of a miracle in and of itself. So she is certainly a child of destiny. But she is 3 months old now. The doctors did not give her hope to live to three months of age when she was born, doctors inside of Iraq.

But now that she has survived, she's in American custody, and she's getting some preliminary treatment there by physicians. So we're very hopeful that when she gets here that the process obviously will move very quickly then and it will be totally successful. And as one so soldier said early on this may be the first female president of Iraq.

LIN: Could very well be, but first things first. You know, to see these pictures of these rough and tumble guys -- I mean, the 10th Mountain Division, these are the guys that go into the most dangerous missions, right, in the most remote areas.

CHAMBLISS: Yes.

LIN: To see them tenderly holding this little Iraqi baby, it just brings tears to my eyes.

CHAMBLISS: Yes, and if that doesn't strike your emotions, something's wrong with you as a person, much less an American. But you know, these are very brave men and women. And they discovered this little girl in the midst of a terrorist raid...

LIN: They had even detained her uncle.

CHAMBLISS: Yes, there's some folks involved in her family who possibly could be involved in the insurgency. So this is -- it's been an unbelievable story from day one. The fact they would go back, not once, not twice, but several times...

LIN: Risking their lives.

CHAMBLISS: ... just to see that this girl was being taken care of, and then to ultimately take the journey over to take possession of her, that in and of itself was just one heck of a mission for the American soldiers to carry out.

LIN: One that we're...

CHAMBLISS: I'm very proud that a lot of these folks are from Georgia but I'm most proud that they're all Americans. And they're really just doing an unbelievable job of working to save this little girl's life.

LIN: Senator, tell us the very second you know that the visas have gone through and that little girl is on the plane.

CHAMBLISS: We'll do that. And I hope that's going to be, like I say, within a matter of hours.

LIN: All right. We're counting on it. Thank you very much, Senator.

CHAMBLISS: Sure.

LIN: All right. In the meantime, we want to tell you if you want to help, here's how you can do it. There's a web site taking donations: www.LifeOver.org. Or you can send donations to Shepherd of the Hills, United Methodist Church. The address is 4283 Chapel Hill Roll -- Road, excuse me. Douglasville, Georgia. And the zip code is 30135.

All right, not getting much sun this winter? You may want to stock up on supplements after hearing about an intriguing study on vitamin D and cancer. We're going to have more details when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: All right. We've got a developing story this afternoon, as grass fires are raging across Texas and Oklahoma.

I've got on the telephone with me right now KWTW's pilot, Mason Dunn.

Mason, can you give us an update on the situation in Oklahoma?

MASON DUNN, KWTW PILOT: Hello, Carol.

This area you're looking at, this is three or four homes that have been destroyed here. This is about one mile south of Seminole. And as we can pan out, and pan to the right, you can see there are several homes over here in the burn area.

Very large burn area out here, Carol. We've got at least 2,000 to 3,000 acres that have burned. I'm going to guess about 10 homes have been destroyed out here. And as we pan all around to the left here, you can see that these fires are still raging out here with the winds picking up today, Carol

LIN: That's right. The forecast was that the winds might pick up. They were having trouble getting water dropping helicopters over the area. Do you know how they're able to fight the fire right now?

DUNN: Well, we were flying all day yesterday, and the winds were about 40 knots out of the northwest, west-northwest, and I guess with the helicopters having so much of a load, a swing load, that's hard for them to do. It would be nice if they could get some helicopters out here and get some swing load water buckets to help put these fires out, because these fires are kicking back up out here and carrying on to the east, Carol.

LIN: Do they have firefighters on the ground?

DUNN: We have lots of firefighters on the ground. This is only one fire that I'm showing you in Oklahoma. There is another one down around Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, that covered about 4,000 acres. And we had several in New Metro (ph) yesterday. And we've had several homes destroyed. I'm going to guess about 30 in all, Carol.

LIN: What a serious situation. Mason, we heard that there was a firefighter injured due to smoke inhalation. Any other injuries?

DUNN: We had -- the Oklahoma City Fire Department had a couple of firefighters overtaken by the heat or exhaustion yesterday. One had a head injury.

We had several civilians that were hurt trying to fight the fires with their shirts or jackets, water buckets, anything they could use yesterday. So we try not to get civilians out here fighting fires, but they had no choice to go out there and try to save their homes.

LIN: Well, thank God so far nobody has lost their life. And you're right, Mason, people have got to pay attention to those evacuation orders, because this fire is still on the move, and you've got some winds picking up this afternoon. Mason, thank you very much for that report. DUNN: You're welcome.

LIN: Mason Dunn, KWTW's pilot.

All right. Better news: could the answer to preventing certain cancers be as easy as popping a vitamin? Well, cancer specialists say a 40 year review of research shows that a daily dose of vitamin D can actually cut the risk of breast, colon, and ovarian cancer in half. And they say the evidence is so overwhelming they are urging health experts to boost recommended levels.

Now, it's already known that the sunshine vitamin can help prevent heat and lung disease and other conditions. The new study can be found in "The American Journal of Public Health."

All right. A new development now in the Enron case could make life a whole lot tougher for the company's top two former executives. Susan Lisovicz live from the New York Stock Exchange with more on that story -- Susan.

(STOCK REPORT)

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