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Violence Erupts in Haiti Following Elections; Bird Flu Expanding Across Much of Asia, Africa and Europe; Wayne Gretzky Faces Questions About Gambling Ring; Olympics Update

Aired February 13, 2006 - 15:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Before we move on. Betty Nguyen with a developing story in the news room. Betty?

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, we want to take you to Toronto, Canada where the legend, Wayne Gretzky, is talking to the media before he heads to to Torino, Italy, with Canada's Olympic hockey team there. He's going to be coaching.

But what journalists were focusing on today was not the Olympics. What they wanted to know was about this alleged gambling ring that involved one of his assistant coaches with the Phoenix Coyotes. And whether Gretzky or his wife placed bets with this gambling ring. Take a listen to what Gretzky had to say during today's press conference.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE GRETZKY, COACH PHOENIX COYOTES: Not much really to add other than what I said two days ago and yesterday. There was nothing for know talk about. I'm not involved. And it's been a hard week for my family. And the only focus I have right now is this hockey team and getting ready for the Olympic games. And the focus should be on these athletes who have worked their lives to be in the Olympic games. And so --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: While Gretzky wants the focus to be on the Olympic games. Obviously an investigation is under way into this illegal gambling ring. So far his wife Janet says there has been no involvement. At no time did she place any wagers on behalf of her husband. But I do want to tell that three men so far have been charged in the case. One of them Rick Tocchet, which is Gretzky's assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.

All three men face charges of promoting gambling, laundering money and conspiracy, but all have denied those charges. Those men will face arraignment on February 21st. So this investigation is still under way, Kyra, as Gretzky heads off to Italy to coach the Olympic -- his team in the Olympic games there, Canada.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks so much.

Well accidents happen and the victim is expected to recover. But why the delay? That's the question the White House press corps asked over and over about Vice President Cheney's hunting accident on Saturday. Witnesses say Cheney was shooting quail when a member of his hunting party, a 78-year-old lawyer and Republican activist came up unannounced.

Cheney didn't see him and hit him in the face and chest with birdshot. His office didn't publicly report accident for almost 24 hours. The White House is defending the delay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The very first priority was making sure Mr. Whittington was getting medical care. That's where all efforts were focussed. There wasn't a press corps traveling with the vice president. He didn't have a full entourage that he might have on other trips, official trips.

This was a weekend hunting trip. And then secondary to that is gathering the facts. So you want to get the facts together so you can provide that information to the public. And I think that's important to do. And so they gathered facts together. And those facts were coming back to us throughout the evening and into the morning hours of Sunday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A local sheriff says that deputies are investigating the incident but consider the shooting an accident. Harry Whittington meantime is in stable condition at a Corpus Cristi hospital.

Post-election protests in Haiti. A supporter of the front runner, Renay Preval, was shot to death in chaos surrounding partial vote counts showing Preval may have to stand in a run-off. Preval is a former president and protege of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. His supporters charge polling officials are trying to prevent their men from winning. Vote counting still under way.

With each new case the fear spreads from Southeast Asia to Africa and now Europe. Birds, in some cases wild but also domestic, are dying at an alarming rate. The cause, a mysterious strain of bird flu. CNN's Morgan Neil takes a look.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN NEIL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The usually tranquil seaside town of Stavros is now the focus of international alarm. Several of the swans that normally grace its harbor have died. Victims of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. Officials have removed dead birds from local beaches and residents are worried that their poultry will be next. Local officials are issuing new precautions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If you see a dead bird, do not touch it. Try to cover it and immediately inform the authorities to its location so they can come and take it away.

NEIL: The government has ordered a quarantine on eggs and poultry within a three kilometer radius. Avian flu has arrived in much of Southeastern Europe. Slovenia is awaiting results of lab tests on dead swans while Bulgaria and Romania have both confirmed cases.

Across the Adriatic the first outbreak in Italy. Several dead swans in the south tested positive for the H5n1 strain.

In Europe, the arrival of bird flu may be cause for concern. But for Nigeria, it threatens an economic crisis. An estimated 100,000 birds here have died. In a country where poultry is an important source of income and food for millions. Poultry markets are still open but countries across Africa have banned imports of Nigerian birds.

Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have arrived to help cull birds in the north of the country and tests are being done on a family that lived close to one of the infected farms after two children fell ill.

Another country suddenly dealing with bird flu among its many troubles, Iraq. The virus has been detected in several areas. Amarra in the south, Fallujah in the west, and now the Kurdish north.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know the economic situation here is difficult. We know that communications are difficult. And we want to make sure that they do have the resources that are needed to control this epidemic outbreak in birds.

NEIL: At least one Iraqi girl has died from the H5n1 virus. There are several other suspected cases. Health ministries around the world are on the look-out for cases of human to human transmission. Though there are no confirmed cases so far, that remains the big fear among health experts. Morgan Neil, CNN, Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Straight to Fran Townsend, the president's homeland security adviser, talking about the president's response to Katrina. Let's listen in.

FRANCES TOWNSEND, HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: ...FEMA headquarters, FEMA's regional offices, the National Hurricane Center and representatives from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

The president personally encouraged state and local officials to take all precautions and get word out to their citizens. He offered the full support and resources of the federal government.

I reject outright the suggestion that President Bush was anything less than fully involved. He received regular briefings, had countless conversations with federal, state and local officials and took extraordinary steps prior to landfall. Most notably, he signed disaster declarations to accelerate and streamline the prepositioning of manpower and material. This decision was significant and rare. Significant because it allowed predeployed commodities and other assets to be immediately delivered to the states and made clear the president's intention and direction that the federal government provides states with full assistance to save lives and property even before the impact. Rare, because it has only been declared prelandfall once since 1990. That was by president Clinton in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd.

President Bush knew well the danger of the storm and said so publicly. He knew then and knows today that the best way to protect people in these situations is to get them out of harm's way.

We have seen over the years the benefits of early evacuation before storms. By evacuating early, we have been able to save lives. And so we must continue to encourage folks to always listen to the local authorities and to please take your calls for evacuations seriously.

Second, the administration was well aware of flooding which was why or top priority in those early hours was on search and rescue and saving lives. A lot of talk has recently focused on the precise timing of the system-wide failure of the levees. Levees like those in New Orleans cannot be repaired in a matter of hours or even days. So knowing exactly when they deteriorated from 75 percent efficiency to 35 percent to zero would not have dramatically changed our response posture at the time.

Our priority was finding and moving to safety those people who, for whatever reason, did not or could not evacuate and were caught by the rising floodwaters.

My review has examined all these events. Yet, I want to make the point that we cannot attempt to rewrite history by pointing fingers or laying blame. Not withstanding the many mistakes and defects we and others have identified, it is worth noting how different and clear a situation can appear with the benefit of hindsight.

PHILLIPS: After criticism from city and states all the way to the president of the United States, every level about response to Hurricane Katrina and of course we were following the hearings that were taking place last week.

Fran Townsend, the president's homeland security adviser, speaking to Emergency Management Association in Alexandria, Virginia, defending the president, his response and the fact that he, she says, how he was fully involved in every part of responding to Hurricane Katrina. We'll continue to follow that. You can watch it on CNN.com/pipeline if you want to continue to see it in its entirety.

Straight ahead Olympic action in full swing. We are live from Torino, Italy, with an update on the competition's highs and lows. The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Skiers once suspended now cleared to compete on a day of frightening crashes.

CNN's Larry Smith following all the action at the winter games in Torino.

What happened, Larry?

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I tell you what, what a wild day today that it was, Kyra.

First thing first, Lindsey Kildow, the second-ranked skier in the world, she is in a hospital overnight for observation after a horrific crash during a practice run today in preparation for Wednesday's downhill. X-rays were negative. She suffered a severe hip contusion, and so Lindsey Kildow says that she still hopes to compete and try for gold in Wednesday's downhill.

Now tonight another very scary crash in the luge competition, the fastest sport on ice. Racers go up to 85 miles per hour. Samantha Retrosi injured in a crash during the luge. The 20-year-old, her body was limp as she skidded down the track after smashing into a barrier. U.S. officials say she was treated for a concussion and also a laceration under her chin.

That's some of the scary stuff. Now some of the good news. Three U.S. medals today, including the latest, Joey Cheek. He struck gold in the men's 500 speed skate tonight, as he got the best of his competition.

Also earlier today Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler went gold, silver in the women's snowboard halfpipe.

And two U.S. cross country skiers have now been cleared to compete after being suspended briefly last week for testing for high levels of hemoglobin. Leif Zimmerman and Kikkan Randall said they are ready to go. In fact, Randall expected to compete as early as tomorrow.

Let's go back to you.

All right. Larry, thanks so much. We'll keep talking with you throughout the week.

And just a few hours left before the day devoted to devotion. Ahead on this Valentine's eve edition of LIVE FROM, a soldier who volunteered for a war zone and the woman who was there in his darkest hours. You are going to meet them both and hear about how love conquers all.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Love conquers all. The Roman poet Virgil wrote that more than 2,000 years ago. And on this day before Valentine's Day we found 21st century proof. Meet Joe and Jenn Washam. In their case, love conquered Joe's deployment to a war zone, a horrific explosion and a long recovery from severe burns.

Joe and Jenn are live in our Dallas bureau to tell us their story and of course talk about the coalition to salute America's heroes.

It's great to see you both.

JENN WASHAM, WIFE: Hi, Kyra.

SGT. JOE WASHAM, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Hi.

PHILLIPS: So Joe, tell me how you met Jenn.

SGT. WASHAM: We met in fall 2003 at a college party.

PHILLIPS: And love at first sight?

SGT. WASHAM: No, not quite at first.

J. WASHAM: Not so much.

PHILLIPS: How could it not be love at first sight? Look at her. What about for you, Jen?

J. WASHAM: I thought he was a nice guy. But it was about a month or two later before we actually had our first date.

PHILLIPS: OK. So you had your first date. What was the first date, Joe?

SGT. WASHAM: The first date we went to Ihop and had hot chocolate together.

PHILLIPS: Aww. Now that is cute. Wait, Jenn's kind of shaking her head. Is it true?

J. WASHAM: It's true. It's true. That was his second attempt though. I turned him down the first time.

PHILLIPS: Now why would you turn him down?

J. WASHAM: I don't know. I guess I was playing hard to get. I don't know.

PHILLIPS: All right, well I tell you. The relationship definitely did get hard. You didn't get to see each other for quite a long time. And that's because Joe, you went off to Iraq. When you left were you thinking about your relationship with Jenn or were you thinking more of OK, I am going overseas to fight this war?

SGT. WASHAM: I was thinking about Jenn quite a bit. We had gotten very close before I left, but I volunteered to go over to Iraq. And I had a mission I had to do over there, but I thought about her every day.

PHILLIPS: And Jenn did you worry about him?

J. WASHAM: I worried every day. I watched way too much news and knew way too much what was going on over there. But I just missed him mostly. PHILLIPS: So you had just met. You were developing this great relationship. It happened quickly. And then, Joe, you were out on a hunt for weapons of mass destruction. Tell us what happened.

SGT. WASHAM: Yes, I was with the Iraq Survey Group in Baghdad, Iraq on the 26th of April, 2004. And we had just inspected a chemical weapon site. And we were there for a very short time. And the building exploded. And I was in the Humvee. And the Humvee was engulfed in flames.

And I exited the vehicle and ran across the street. And while I was running the building exploded more times. And I was probably engulfed in flames for a good two to three seconds.

PHILLIPS: We actually have a picture from when that happened. Did you realize the type of burns -- I mean, just looking at this picture at that moment. Can you remember what you felt and what you were thinking? And did you realize how bad it was?

SGT. WASHAM: When I had gotten across the street away from the actual explosion I looked down at my hands and I realized how badly burned I was. But at that time, I was just trying to assess myself to make sure all my body parts were still on me.

And I also noticed how a lot of the other soldiers were running around and acting a little frantic. And I was just grateful to be alive. And at that time I just tried to calm down some of the other soldiers who were getting a little worried when they saw me.

PHILLIPS: Wow, and Jenn, how did you find out about this?

J. WASHAM: Technically I read the article online before I even knew it was Joe, which was pretty crazy. But his dad called me later that evening and I found out that he was injured pretty severely. And we got a little bit of information.

And a couple of days later he was here back in the states, and I was able to go to San Antonio to visit him at Brook Army Medical Center.

PHILLIPS: Now Jenn when you got there, he wasn't awake yet, right?

J. WASHAM: No, he was actually unconscious, completely unconscious. He didn't even know that we were there. He didn't know where he was, I guess.

PHILLIPS: Joe, when you opened up your eyes and you saw Jenn, is that exactly what you needed at that moment?

SGT. WASHAM: Actually when I woke up, Jenn wasn't there. She was back up in Dallas. She had finals in college. But my father was with me. And he explained to me that I was engaged to Jenn and that was the only way she could see me was while I was in ICU, intensive care unit. PHILLIPS: Now here's where the twist comes in. He tells you were engaged. Obviously you're thinking, OK, dad, I really don't remember doing that, but whatever you say, I've sort of been through some trauma here.

Jenn, tell us happened and why you had to act like his fiancee.

J. WASHAM: Well, when we got to the emergency room or the waiting room actually they denied me access to go see him because we weren't directly related. And I guess being his girlfriend wasn't enough.

So his parents actually made up a lie. I didn't know anything about it. They told the nurses and doctors that we were engaged and that was my ticket in. And that was the role that I had to play the rest of the time he was there in the hospital.

PHILLIPS: And you actually didn't have to role play very much longer. Joe, you evidently proposed a thousand times? Is that right? Since that moment is that true?

SGT. WASHAM: That's about correct just about everyday throughout the day I'd ask her multiple times if she really wanted to be with me due to the severity of my injuries and just my disfiguring looks.

PHILLIPS: And Jenn, you look at him and you see quite a beautiful man, don't you?

J. WASHAM: Absolutely. Absolutely. The most beautiful man.

PHILLIPS: What made you decide to say yes?

J. WASHAM: I didn't think twice about it. Sounds crazy but a long time before he even left I kind of had a feeling he was the one. And it made it easy wherever the question came up.

PHILLIPS: All right, Joe. What are you going to do for Valentine's Day?

SGT. WASHAM: We are both going to study for exams.

PHILLIPS: Oh, Joe, after everything you've been through, can't you be just a little more romantic?

SGT. WASHAM: Well, we just purchased a new house. And I'll probably make her dinner tomorrow night.

PHILLIPS: Now we're talking. All right.

Jenn, Joe, the organization is Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. You can check on at saluteheroes. org. Get involved. You can donate. It's amazing to see what you two have been through. And it was wonderful to see the wedding pictures. I'm glad it worked out.

Jenn, I'm glad you said yes.

Joe, you are both very lucky people.

SGT. WASHAM: Thank you very much.

J. WASHAM: Thank you. Thank you Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right Happy Valentine's Day.

J. WASHAM: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He is standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Wolf, will you be my Valentine?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, of course, Kyra, any time. Thanks very much.

Coming up right at the top of the hour, a CNN exclusive. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, he just met with President Bush. Now he's in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Also, the vice president shoots a fellow hunter. But the news is kept quiet for a day. Who knew what when? And why wasn't the public informed right away? We are asking some of these tough questions.

Plus, a failure of leadership. That's what a Republican committee calls the federal response to Katrina. We are taking a closer look here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

And defiant Saddam Hussein. Another three ring circus at the dictator's trial. We'll take you to Baghdad. All that, Kyra, coming up at the top of the hour. And will you be my Valentine?

PHILLIPS: Of course. I just, you know, I wanted a little more excitement from you.

BLITZER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: OK. Thank you. Thanks for asking. Now I'm happy.

We are going to take a quick break.

Wolf--oh, that's just for us, Wolf, can you hear it?

BLITZER: I hear you. I hear.

PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break. Wolf and I are going to start dancing but not on camera. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: New York City covered in snow.

But our Susan Lisovicz still made it to work. She's live at the New York Stock Exchange. OK. So how did you do it? And do you still have that cast on your leg from skiing last week? That's what I want to know.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, you know, the last time, Kyra, that I played in the snow I brought back a hopefully not a permanent injury. So yes, some of the accoutrements today to get into work includes this cane, which is very good for not slipping on the snow.

But also I have the hat, the insulated hat, that looks like it's from outer Mongolia.

PHILLIPS: Oh nice.

LISOVICZ: I have the boots that look like they are donated from the Brawny man also insulated flat heel. I have the scarf, the obligatory gloves. You know, it really wasn't that fun. It took a whole lot longer. And no I wasn't sliding on sleds. I was just walking or hobbling very gingerly, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You do whatever you do to get to us and the closing bell. We love you Susan.

LISOVICZ: Thank you, Kyra. Love you right back. You can be my Valentine's Day as well.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LISOVICZ: Now it is time for THE SITUATION ROOM and Wolf Blitzer.

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