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Los Angeles Firefighters Rescue Crane Operator; Sunni Vs. Shiite Violence Rocks Iraq; Egypt Battles Bird Flu

Aired February 23, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are keeping an eye on a developing story
Let's check in with Carol Lin in the newsroom -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, we're monitoring a situation in Century City, California. It's just outside of Beverly Hills, where a rescue operation is under way.

You're watching videotape that just came in to the CNN Center. You're watching as a fire department paramedic is being loaded on to a building crane. That's the man in blue there. They had to lower him from a helicopter because the crane operator is in some kind of medical distress.

This crane is some 300 feet up in the sky, all right, on the 2000 block of South Century Park East in Century City, for anybody familiar with that location.

They were having -- they have -- they have just been finishing up a decision-making process, because they didn't quite know how to get to the crane operator. And they figured, the only way to do this was to get the paramedic down on to the crane by getting him up by helicopter.

So, some dramatic visuals here -- we don't know what happened to the crane operator, Fred. But it's actually shortly before -- it's actually about 12:00 noon out there...

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: ... as this rescue operation under way.

WHITFIELD: Wow -- remarkable pictures. And this rescue operation, certainly by description, and now picture as well, really are underscoring the potential dangers of just the rescue operation...

LIN: Right.

WHITFIELD: ... in and of itself.

LIN: Right. How do you get to the guy?

WHITFIELD: Golly. All right.

Well, Carol, thanks so much. LIN: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Continue to keep close tabs on that, and keep us posted.

LIN: All right. Will do.

WHITFIELD: Is the new Iraq the latest victim of the Shiite-vs.- Sunni violence sweeping that country? It may seem that way -- scores killed since Shiites went on a rampage, after the bombing of one of their major mosques -- more than 100 Sunni shrines damaged or destroyed -- an attempt to build a unity government on hold.

CNN's Aneesh Raman has the latest now from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is a country struggling to stay together -- in Baquba, the cries of Sunnis, suffering reprisal attacks nationwide that have killed at least 53 people, dozens of Sunni mosques attacked in the past two days, at least five destroyed, as sectarian strife edges near the breaking point, as Sunni pain mixes with Shia anger.

Thousands poured on to the streets.

(CHANTING)

RAMAN: In Samarra, demonstrators stood atop the ruins of the revered Shia mosque hit in Wednesday's attack.

In the holy city of Najaf, they carried posters of the country's Shia spiritual leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who, a day after making a rare television appearance calling for peaceful protests, sparked indirect and unusually strong criticism from a prominent group of Sunni clerics enraged at the revenge attacks.

"We point the finger of blame at certain Shiite religious authorities," says a spokesman, calling for demonstrations while they know Iraq cannot control the streets.

From the people, to the clerics, to the politicians, divides are only getting deeper. Iraq's largest Sunni political bloc Thursday suspended all negotiations with the Kurds and the Shia on forming a new government, after, they say, notable silence from the country's leaders in condemning the string of reprisal attacks against Sunnis.

But there are isolated and important signs of unity. In the city of Kut, tens of thousands of Sunnis and Shias joined together, carrying the Iraqi flag, finding, as well, a common foe, chanting, "No to America" -- the United States coming under fire as well from key Shia leaders, a week after the U.S. ambassador threatened to cut off funding for Iraq's security forces if the new government is sectarian.

ABDUL-AZIZ AL-HAKIM, IRAQI SHIITE LEADER (through translator): The ambassador's statements have given the green light for terrorist groups to carry out more violence. Consequently, he bears some responsibility.

RAMAN: In the past two days, blame has been easy to find -- hope, far more difficult.

(on camera): As tensions rise, as the situation continues to deteriorate, and, as the country's leaders try to find common ground, the vast majority of Iraqis are struggling with the uncertainty of what comes next.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now, can the U.S. troops in Iraq do anything to stop this sectarian violence? Should they even try?

Joining me with the Pentagon's take on all of this, CNN's Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, very, very sober words from here -- publicly, of course, the continuing call in Washington for calm in Iraq, the hope, to try and stitch back together whatever national unity government can possibly be formed in that country

But, behind the scenes, senior U.S. military commanders tell CNN they are extremely concerned. They see these attacks as very serious, possibly the greatest challenge to Iraq to date -- at this point, in Baghdad, a top commander talking about the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJOR GENERAL RICK LYNCH, U.S. MILITARY COMMAND IN BAGHDAD SENIOR SPOKESMAN, U.S. ARMY: We're also concerned about the killings that we have seen. We have seen a Sunni imam killed in Basra, and we have seen a Sunni imam up in the vicinity of Baghdad, and we have seen a Sunni sheik killed and his son kidnapped in the vicinity of Husainiyah (ph) here -- here, by Baghdad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So, Fredricka, what for U.S. troops?

Well, what commanders is, don't expect them to -- to see them out on the streets, in any great numbers, in a very visible role. As we see those photos, those -- that video coming in of demonstrations and violence across Iraq, you do not see U.S. troops there, and for a very good reason.

The feeling is that they could possibly incite more violence and more riots by their very presence on the streets of Iraq, as a so- called occupation force, that that's how Iraqis, at this point, might perceive the U.S. troops. So, don't expect to see them.

They are there. They are in a backup role to Iraqi security forces. They are on standby. They are ready to move in. But, at this point, what U.S. troops are going to do is watch very carefully. And they say, the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical, to see if Iraq, as a country, can move past this episode of violence and return to the political agenda at hand -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Barbara Starr, thanks so much, from the Pentagon.

Well, people don't need to worry about security -- those the words of President Bush today, as he tried to calm the uproar over the Dubai ports deal. Despite his assurances, though, the controversy remains front and center on Capitol Hill, as senators debate the wisdom of letting a Middle Eastern company take over management of six U.S. ports.

Critics say, Dubai Ports World, based in the United Arab Emirates, could be susceptible to terrorist infiltration. But supporters of the deal say, that's paranoia.

Here's some of what was said at today's Senate Armed Services Committee briefing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: The president's threat to veto any legislation that even delays this sale, in order to give Congress more time to analyze it, shows how out of touch the administration is with the public's and Congress' legitimate concerns about the vulnerabilities of our ports. It also demonstrates presidential disdain for outside views in general and congressional views in particular.

GORDON R. ENGLAND, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The terrorists want us -- they want our nation to become distrustful; they want us to become paranoid and isolationist. And my view is, we cannot allow this to happen. It needs to be just the opposite.

So, the Department of Defense again, Senator, did this review -- in-depth and comprehensive -- and, of course, we were only one part of all the agencies, but I believe we did this fully in compliance with the law and -- and our responsibilities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Now let's go to the newsroom and Carol Lin with more on this rescue effort in Century City, California.

LIN: Right.

With me right now on the telephone is Brian Humphrey. He's with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Brian, we're watching these dramatic pictures live of this rescue of this crane operator in Century City.

Can you can tell me how he's doing? BRIAN HUMPHREY, SPOKESPERSON, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT: Well, Carol, I'm very pleased to report that the man is doing quite well at this time.

What you may not be able to gauge from this picture is, this man and the firefighters you see are 310 feet in the air.

LIN: Right, very high up in the air at this construction site in Century City.

We are looking at the man in blue with the yellow jacket. That, I think, is the paramedic who responded. And now they're starting to strap in the crane operator.

How are you going to get him out, by helicopter?

HUMPHREY: Well, this male, apparently 60 years of age, began experiencing some chest discomfort. And the option of having him climb down the ladder was ruled out.

And we couldn't lower him with the crane, because he's the only person on site who can safely operate that device.

LIN: I see.

HUMPHREY: The plan C actually ended up being us utilizing an LAFD air ambulance. This aircraft will be moving into the picture shortly. This aircraft, which in -- in Los Angeles, is staffed around the clock with flight medics, was on the scene in five-and-a-half minutes after being called.

The crews have been lowered down. And the care will be transferred from the ground-based firefighters, who climbed up this 310-foot iron ladder, to the airborne-based crews, who will fly the approximately 35 seconds to nearby UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, where this man will be receiving treatment.

LIN: Brian, you're making it sound easy. But this is actually a pretty tricky rescue operation, isn't it?

HUMPHREY: Well, we spell success with four T.'s, timing, training, teamwork, and tenacity.

And it's that training that will help us. We train on this daily. Our flight crews, I'm proud to say, are some of the best in the business.

And because we have more than 785 high-rise buildings in the city of Los Angeles alone, the potential for these kinds of rescues are, indeed, a daily occurrence. So...

LIN: All right. So...

HUMPHREY: ... the crews are well-trained. And we are confident we will have the man hoisted aboard the aircraft shortly. LIN: So, what is going to happen next? I saw that the helicopter -- look -- is -- is lowering the hoist. It's coming along the crane. They have got to grab it -- good shot there.

HUMPHREY: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: He got it.

HUMPHREY: Indeed. They have to -- to ground that.

And they will be placing a -- a helmet on the victim, just to protect him from any downwash or any debris. And, most importantly, right now, they're giving him the comfort and reassurance necessary. And, again, he's medically stable at this time. He's approximately 60 years of age, a -- a male diabetic, with some chest pain.

LIN: Uh-huh.

HUMPHREY: So -- and -- and to be precautious, we are going to give him the confidence that he needs to make this short distance into this LAFD helicopter, again, a Bell model 412 aircraft, a very stable air platform...

LIN: Mmm-hmm.

HUMPHREY: ... that will bring him on board, perform a brief medical assessment, and fly him to nearby UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.

LIN: All right. Brian, right now, it looks like they're strapping him in, probably some reassuring words. I, myself, in any condition, may not want to be hoisted up into the air into a helicopter...

(LAUGHTER)

LIN: ... hovering above.

What are they him right now?

HUMPHREY: Right now, they're reminding of -- of the -- the confidence he has daily.

As a crane operator, operating 310 feet in the air, is -- again, that's his workspace, in that little cubicle -- but to remind him that, again, we were lowered down by the crane -- by the helicopter -- pardon me -- and that he can be -- can -- can survive this -- this event.

I have been told that he's a very calm and -- and very rugged man, who has tremendous confidence in...

LIN: There he goes.

HUMPHREY: ... the paramedics.

LIN: There he goes.

HUMPHREY: So...

LIN: All right. And the -- and the -- the firefighter with him. All right.

HUMPHREY: Yes. The...

LIN: Can you imagine that conversation on the way?

HUMPHREY: This firefighter with him is one of the L.A. Fire Department's firefighter paramedics assigned to the air ambulance.

And he will be maintaining face-to-face contact with him. Oh, see -- you see him nodding, reassuring the victim, and reminding him, OK, we're halfway there; we are three-quarters of the way there, and then soon to bring him on.

The most difficult maneuver in all of this, of course, is the last 18 inches into the helicopter.

LIN: Right.

HUMPHREY: But these hoists are -- are -- are rated for a few thousand pounds. And, obviously, it's not the load factor, but mostly the skilled flying.

LIN: All right. Here we go. This is the part that you're talking about, firefighters reaching over...

HUMPHREY: We are -- we are...

LIN: ... pulling both men in. All right, they have stopped there.

HUMPHREY: That's correct.

They have -- they have split out -- our air ambulances -- these helicopters are configured full-time as air ambulances. They actually have a gurney there. And, though it appears we are halting, what we are doing is making sure that the gurney is stable and able to accept him.

This will be the one and only move. In other words, make the move once. Make it count. Get him strapped in. This is great flying. This -- this pilot here is -- is hovering. Although it appears he's moving, he's very, very stable. And those people, other than the rotor wash, are feeling very little, if any, motion -- no sense as though they are going to fall.

LIN: It is remarkable, just remarkable, what technology can do.

And he can get treatment on board as well?

HUMPHREY: He is -- he is being treated right now.

The -- the paramedic who is talking to him would have his hands on his wrists, monitoring his pulse, again, offering reassurance, his level of consciousness.

It's interesting to note that city of Los Angeles has five helicopters assigned. The four larger of our aircraft are configured for around-the-clock air ambulance use. And, indeed, many times each week, these kinds of incidents happen over our nearly 400-square-mile jurisdiction.

LIN: You bet. And, with traffic in Los Angeles, you want to make sure that you have got some air flight on your backside.

HUMPHREY: Well, indeed.

Now, we are on board the -- the craft. And once the doors are closed, then the pilot will -- will veer slowly towards the north, and make his way. The UCLA Medical Center in Westwood has been apprised are awaiting the arrival.

And, there, in the back shot, of course, you see the twin towers made famous in -- in multiple motion pictures.

LIN: Right.

HUMPHREY: Here, again, about 10 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, in Century City.

LIN: And Beverly Hills right there.

(CROSSTALK)

HUMPHREY: Indeed.

And we are on our way to UCLA.

LIN: There they go.

Brian, you know, when the camera pulled out, we really got an appreciation for how high up that crane was, and how steady that helicopter was able to maintain its flight pattern over the rescue operation.

HUMPHREY: Well, our operation was made very smooth, thankfully, to the cooperation, the -- ground-based crews down there, that we were quite high for rotor wash.

The construction crews wet down the earth. They controlled traffic for us. They were supportive of their co-worker on our arrival. So, again, it's really a team effort. We don't do this alone. The public support we get allows us to offer these kind of amazing aircraft that can fly people in distress...

LIN: Mmm-hmm.

HUMPHREY: ... in America's second largest city.

And, again, without these helicopters, and the support of -- of our local legislators to make sure that we have these around the clock, we couldn't perform this kind of a rescue.

LIN: Good work.

Brian Humphrey, thank you very much to you, and your firefighters, and the paramedics who responded to the scene in Century City.

Fred, all right, brought you a dramatic rescue. And it looks like that gentleman is going to be A-OK.

WHITFIELD: Yes, that's incredible.

LIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And I think we all have a full appreciation now for that kind of training, for these guys to be able to do that...

LIN: You bet.

WHITFIELD: ... as safely...

LIN: You bet.

WHITFIELD: ... and succinctly.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Carol.

Shiites vs. Sunnis, all are Muslims, but, in Iraq, they are killing each other. Why? An Islamic cleric joins me to discuss that and much more -- when LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Sunni-Shiite violence calls for a quick review of these two schools of Islam and how this tension came to be in the first place.

Here are the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SENIOR EDITOR FOR ARAB AFFAIRS (voice over): About one in every five people on the planet consider themselves Muslim. That's about 1.2 billion.

But there are many divisions in the Muslim community, the largest being between Shiites and Sunnis. The majority of the world's Muslim population follows the Sunni branch. Only about 15 percent follow the Shiite branch. But, in some countries, the concentration of Shiites is larger. These nations are Bahrain, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Iran and Iraq.

Shiites historically believe that religious authority has been handed down from Prophet Mohammed through bloodlines.

When you hear the terms imam and ayatollah, these refer to Shiite religious leaders. Sunnis attach much less importance to their leaders and much more importance on Muslim traditions. There can be extremists in both branches of Islam.

But Sunni extremists, like Osama bin Laden, have focused predominantly on the corruption of the religion and, specifically, the negative influence of Western culture.

In Iraq, both Shiite and Sunni insurgent groups have carried out attacks against coalition forces, but most Shiite groups have dropped violent opposition to pursue political activism.

As the majority, Shiites have been successful in dominating the leadership of Iraq's new government. Needless to say, many Sunni insurgent groups have not been satisfied by the results of these Democratic elections.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And joining me now to discuss the violence in Iraq between the Shiites and the Sunnis, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. He is the author of "What's Right With Islam."

Good to see you, Imam.

IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF, FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, CORDOBA INITIATIVE: And good to see you, Fredricka Whitfield.

WHITFIELD: Well...

ABDUL RAUF: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

Well, this is certainly widening the divide between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq. But can you break it down? In the first place, what is it that has brought about this wide divide between these two, in Iraq, specifically?

ABDUL RAUF: Well, as you pointed out in your fact-check, the original split between Sunni and Shia was about who would be the political leader, or the successor to the prophet.

The Sunnis adopted the position that anyone could do it. The Shias believed and adopted the position that he should be a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, and, in -- specifically, through his son-in- law, Ali, who was the first of the 12 imams that the -- the Shia community that -- that is predominant in Iraq and Iran subscribe to.

And this particular mosque which was just bombed is the burial place of the 10th and 11th of these imams, and the location of the occultation of the 12th imam, who -- who is -- whose return is expected by the Shia community.

WHITFIELD: So, because of the significance of the location of this very prominent mosque, are you convinced, then, that this attack was carried out by a Sunni or a Sunni group? Or might it be a decoy, perhaps carried out by some other terrorist group or some other group to make it look like it was a Sunni attack?

ABDUL RAUF: Well, I certainly don't have information as to who was responsible for this. But it's very clear that whoever perpetrated this heinous act did it to enhance, or to amplify and create sectarian strife.

And this, by the way, is considered one of the most heinous sins in Islam. The Koran is very, very specific, unequivocal, in -- in condemning the -- whoever perpetrates sectarian strife, human strife, based upon ethnic lines or religious lines, is considered -- is deemed guilty of a sin called (SPEAKING ARABIC) and it makes it very clear that those who are guilty of this deserve the most grievous punishment.

So, there's no doubt, in my mind, that whoever is responsible for this deliberately wanted to upset the -- whatever efforts towards harmony in Iraq are being waged, and -- and wants to create a great -- a -- a great destabilization of Iraq, the danger of civilian strife -- of -- of sectarian strife...

WHITFIELD: Would you be...

ABDUL RAUF: ... and civil war.

WHITFIELD: Would you be in agreement with those who have said that fanning the flames were the Shiite religious leaders, who said, it is time now time to get out and demonstrate, after the Shiite mosque was targeted?

ABDUL RAUF: Well, it's -- it's understandable that the -- that the sentiments of having been hurt makes one want to -- makes people want to respond by expressing their deep sense of pain and anguish.

Again, the Koran said that the -- the higher ground is what should be done. We should re -- we should respond to an evil act by a good action, so that those between whom there is enmity will be transformed and become your -- your greatest friends.

And Ayatollah Sistani and Muqtada al-Sadr have called for restraint. They -- they understand the need to express these -- these sentiments, but, at the same time, also have called for restraint, just as what happened with the Danish cartoon situation.

The -- the major Muslim leaders throughout the world have condemned the action -- they understand -- but have also called for -- for restraint and for nondestruction of property and nondestruction of life, because property and life are two of the five fundamental things that have to be protected under Islamic law, under Sharia law.

WHITFIELD: Well, what is your concern about where it goes from here? Who or what could be the intervention?

ABDUL RAUF: That is -- that is -- that's the big question right -- that remains today.

In fact, I was deeply -- I'm deeply troubled by this development. There have been those who have even accused the Americans of having played a cameo role in -- in being responsible for this. So, there's no doubt, in my mind, that what it requires is a partnership effort between the United States and its representatives, between religious leaders, both Sunni and Shia, between other religious leaders and heads of states of other Islamic states to -- to...

WHITFIELD: But would you be concerned, too...

ABDUL RAUF: ... pull together.

WHITFIELD: Would you be concerned, too, that, in some way, the U.S. would be interpreted as taking sides, even if it were to confer with both sides?

ABDUL RAUF: Well, if it -- if it -- if it creates a -- a multi- Sunni and Shia group, so it -- there's no predominance one, if it calls in the OIC, if it calls in other states -- you have to remember, Fredricka, that Iraq is bounded by six countries, Iraq -- Iraq bounded by Iran, by Turkey, by Syria, by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

And, just like if something were happening in Canada or Mexico, the American government would be deeply concerned. There are very strong interests in the neighboring states for -- for both -- you know, both pro and con, a harmonious situation or a civil war in the region.

So, it's important for us to bring in the -- the neighboring countries to play a role in -- in creating a stable -- a stable Iraq.

WHITFIELD: Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, also, the author of "What's Right With Islam," thank you so much for being with us.

ABDUL RAUF: Thank you, Fredricka, for having me.

WHITFIELD: Now, how ready are you for a female president? No fibbing. How ready?

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: The poll numbers tell an old-fashioned story.

The news keeps coming. And we will bring it to you -- more of LIVE FROM after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In Egypt, the arrival of bird flu means a little fear and a lot of fish. As health officials do all they can do to prevent a human outbreak, the Egyptians are learning to live without birds.

CNN's Ben Bedewan -- Wedeman -- has more in Cairo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For centuries, Cairenes have cherished their birds, symbols of freedom and mobility in a cramped city. But now that bird flu has come to Egypt, they have become symbols of disease. Infected birds have been culled. The virus has shown up in almost of Egypt's 26 provinces.

Workers in the Egyptian Health Ministry's central lab are checking throat swabs from people who may have been exposed.

DR. HALA ESMAT, EGYPTIAN HEALTH MINISTRY: We are searching now in all the people working among those farm -- affected places and affected farms. We -- this is what we're doing now, screening all the (INAUDIBLE)

WEDEMAN: Every day, they receive around 100 samples here. Until now, all tests have come back negative. But experts warn, it's only a matter of time before someone falls victim to bird flu here.

DR. IBRAHIM EL KERDANY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: In countries which are densely populated, like Egypt, like Nigeria, like India, it will be more expected, because the -- the -- the stock, the poultry stock, and the people live very closely together.

WEDEMAN (on camera): Since the outbreak of bird flu in Egypt, just a week ago, poultry, which was the main source of protein for most Egyptians, has largely disappeared from Cairo's markets...

(voice-over): ... leaving many wondering what they will feed their families.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With five pounds, less than $1, you can buy everything. You can buy chicken, you can buy some vegetables, and to make a very good meal for all the family.

WEDEMAN: But chicken is out, fish is in. The government says fish sales are up by 40 percent.

"Yesterday, fish was cheap, now it's a bit more expensive," fish monger Mahmoud (ph) tells me. "It's all about supply and demand."

At least for some, the dark cloud of bird flu has a silver if somewhat slimy and scaly lining.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well in the Philippines rescue workers need to be rescued themselves, putting the search for mudslide survivors on temporary, perhaps permanent hold. No survivors have been found since last Friday, the day a rain-soaked mountain collapsed in a small village of the island of Leyte. It buried more than 1,000 people, including scores of school children.

But many of those victims may never be recovered as relentless rains make the muck even more treacherous by the moment. CNN's Hugh Riminton has more from the devastated village and the return of the prodigal daughter determined to help.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUGH RIMINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally thanked rescue workers and met relatives of some of the missing Wednesday as she visited for the first time at the landslide scene. But she was almost upstaged by Imelda Marcos, the widow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was raised in the province, who was determined to make a good-will visit of her own.

IMELDA MARCOS, WIDOW OF FORMER PRESIDENT: I had to be here become I come from Leyte, I grew up.

RIMINTON: The staff to carry her handbag and sensible flat shoes, the 76-year-old hinted government policies may have contributed to the disaster in the 20 years since her husband was forced from office.

MARCOS: This is a big lesson for leaders that we should think not only of the taking care of the management of the human resource but also to make sure that there is an ecological balance.

RIMINTON (on camera): Ever the political grandee, Mrs. Marcos says she will stay here as long as she is needed. She's called in favors with powerful friends, cash and truckloads of food are now on their way.

ROSETTE LERIAS, PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR: Anyone who comes and expresses sympathy and understands how we feel, somehow -- I'm happy she came.

RIMINTON (voice-over): Meanwhile, a last ditch effort in what is still officially a search for survivors. A radar machine has begun readings that go down 20 meters. It won't detect humans, alive or dead, but could find locator items like school desks. It might also find cavity areas where even now however improbably, someone could still be alive.

The U.S. Marines meanwhile are flying in a specialist mining drill capable of piercing to 60 meters. Another handful of bodies was recovered Wednesday, no further hint of anyone living. Of the vast majority of the more than 1,000 people in the village when the mud and rocks hit, there remains no sign. Hugh Riminton, CNN, southern Leyte, the Philippines.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So here's a question for you. Is America ready for a female president? Maybe, but some people still say no way. A nation- wide poll finds that more than a quarter of all Americans say they would not vote for a women from either party, with two women in particular are running well with the party faithful.

The WNBC/Marist College survey asks Democrats who they would support for president in 2008. They like Hillary Clinton by a wide margin over John Edwards and John Kerry.

Among Republicans, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is one of three favorites. She is tied with Senator John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Well when enough is enough, why one Louisiana parish is rolling up the welcome mat and closing its doors on Hurricane Katrina evacuees, next on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: More fallout today from Hurricane Katrina. The White House issued an urgent call to action to all levels of government involved in disaster response. With a scant three months until hurricane season, the administration calls for a national system of preparedness to assure cooperation, rather, during the next disaster across all levels of government and among federal agencies. It want government efforts supported by the private sector, private citizens, and small communities. The most obvious of all, it says the mistakes that occurred after Katrina should not be repeated no matter what the trigger is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRAN TOWNSEND, HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: Whether the crisis was caused by a natural disaster or an act of terrorism, you need search and rescue capability, you need emergency medical response. You need an emergency alert system. All of these things you're going to need and so what you wanted is that capability in the very department that was going to be called upon to manage the federal response so that they could help build the capability, held build the preparedness, and then understand when they were called upon to respond or manage the response, what the capability was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A House report issued last week criticized President Bush. It said the Katrina response might have been smoother had Mr. Bush gotten involved more quickly.

A Washington based environmental group says children shouldn't return to New Orleans until potentially dangerous toxins have been removed. In a report issued today, the Natural Resources Defense Council charges government officials have minimized the health threat from arsenic, lead and other toxins spilled during Katrina and the storm's aftermath. The group says the toxins are especially dangerous to children and it calls on the government to clean up contaminated sediment around the city before it lets children return.

If they seemed like heroes then, folks who opened their doors to Hurricane Katrina's homeless look today like full-scale saints. Trouble is, many would trade their sainthood just to have their old lives back. Here's CNN's Susan Roesgen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Half an hour away from downtown New Orleans and practically untouched by the hurricane, St. John the Baptist Parish welcomed New Orleans evacuees six months ago.

That was then, this is now. Since September, the parish has grown by 24 percent. Nearly 18,000 evacuees poured into the parish early on, overwhelming local businesses and nearly crippling local traffic. Although crime in the parish is actually down 5 percent, something else has begun to flood this area. Fear, the uncertainty of what evacuees might bring.

MARGARET WILCOX, RESIDENT: Drugs, prostitution, murders, anything, you know.

ROESGEN: Why do you think that would come with hurricane evacuees?

WILCOX: Well, if it's from the people that lived in New Orleans, that lived that lifestyle, I don't want to be around it because that's why I never went into the city because of that.

ROESGEN: Margaret Wilcox lives across the street from a FEMA mobile home park that hasn't opened yet. When it does, it will be one of the last in the parish to take anymore evacuees.

NICKIE MONICA, PARISH PRESIDENT: We have several on a book that are already, you know, en route to St. John's, but no new additional permits will be issued.

ROESGEN: This week, Parish President Nickie Monica said enough is enough. No more FEMA trailers or mobile homes will be allowed.

MONICA: As a local elected official, our primary concern is our constituents in St. John's Parish. And although we would do everything we can to help our neighbors to the east, we just want to take a step back, evaluate where we are in the process and hopefully in the near future, to start working with FEMA to allow more temporary housing in St. John's Parish.

AZELEAN BICKHAM, EVACUEE: It's livable.

ROESGEN: That means New Orleans evacuees like Azalean Bickham, who are already in the parish, can stay, but other evacuees won't get a trailer.

BICKHAM: But I really appreciate St. John letting us stay here. Where can you go when you have nowhere else to go.

ROESGEN: St. John the Baptist Parish, which gathered the homeless in at first, can find room for no more.

Susan Roesgen, CNN, La Place, Louisiana. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And they are the hit of the Olympics, a group of young American athletes with a style all their own. Coming up on LIVE FROM, we'll bring you the wacky world of snowboarding.

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WHITFIELD: Showdown on ice. It's the talk of Torino and everywhere else. Sasha Cohen and Irina Slutskaya battling for gold in ladies figure stating. And after the short program, the American has an ever-so slight lead, a three hundredth of a point. If she wins, it will be the third straight Olympic gold for the U.S. in that event. Of course, both could be upstaged by this woman, Japan's Shizuka Arakawa. She is .71 off the lead.

And this is the face of a medal-winning run. Rosey Fletcher on the way to a bronze in the women's parallel giant slalom.

Well, they flip and they fly through the air and sometimes fall pretty hard. They're free-spirited and they're brash as well. A new colorful breed of athletes.

Our Mark McKay goes along for the ride in Torino.

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HANNAH TETER, WON GOLD IN WOMEN'S HALFPIPE: The difference between snowboarders and everyone else? We're pretty laid back.

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're a group of winter Olympians who most definitely move to their own beat. U.S. snowboarders have been golden in Torino, but don't credit their success to any kind of strict training regimen.

STEVE FISCHER, U.S. SKI TEAM: People ask us, like, how we train and what we do to train. And you know, like, for the most of us, we just kind of laugh at everybody. It's like, train? What is that?

TETER: I find myself just trying to have fun all the time. Just, like, you know, being focused and being committed and being driven, but still just having a good time.

LINDSEY KILDOW, U.S. SKI TEAM: I don't think they take things too seriously and, you know, like going to the gym maybe or, you know, like eating healthy.

MCKAY (on camera): Snowboarding combines elements of skiing, surfing and skateboarding and attracts a colorful breed of athletes. Once considered outcasts on their local mountains, this band of boarders represents a new wave at the Winter Games who no longer need to worry about not fitting in.

SETH WESCOTT, WON GOLD IN SNOWBOARDCROSS: As I was a young kid, I would be chased by police officers everywhere, just trying to ride my skateboard in town. So you grow up with this different view of what it's like to participate in a sport, because it's not accepted by the mainstream.

MCKAY (voice-over): They may be brash, but they're rarely bitter, as their rivalries generally are of the better variety.

ROSS POWERS, U.S. OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDER: We want to see someone do something better, and then we're going to try even harder. And you know, in a lot of other sports, they're just so competitive with each other and they don't take the time to be friends with each them.

DANNY KASS, WON SILVER IN MEN'S HALFPIPE: There's a lot of downtime. And just everybody gets to have fun together and kind of kick the pressure off and have fun.

MCKAY: Snowboarders have this way of rubbing off on even the most traditional of Winter Olympians. They even speak the same language.

TETER: I came out to Italy super fresh and just, I don't know, everything just clicked. The sun and the vibe and the people and all the riders were super stoked, so that just made me excited, and it was awesome.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think everybody kind of rages at the Olympics. I've been talking to, like, the curlers and all those guys. They're like, yes. That's why they came out here. They're like, yes, well, we're going to compete, but we're going to rage.

MCKAY: It seems at these games, snowboardes are, indeed, all the rage.

Mark McKay, CNN, Torino.

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WHITFIELD: Stoked.

All right. We'll help you face the paperwork nightmare. Tax tips next on LIVE FROM.

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WHITFIELD: Well, have you done your taxes yet? It's time, you know. But before you dive into your piles of forms and receipts, you should probably get a grip on some of this year's changes in the law. CNN's Valerie Morris did.

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VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The IRS says the biggest change this year is the definition of who is a child and who can claim him or her. It might seem like a no-brainer, but under the old tax code it was difficult to figure out.

For most taxpayers, now the determining factors are unified across all the tax code. In general, the tests are you must have a relationship to the child, have provided more than half of the child's financial support during the tax year. He or she must have lived with you for more than half of the tax year.

But the age requirements vary depending on whether you're claiming the child as a exemption, a child tax credit, a child dependent credit, or to claim your status as head of household. A child can be any age if permanently and totally disabled.

Another key change in the tax law involves donating a car or boat. The laws have been tightened. The value you can claim on your return must be the actual amount the charity gets for the vehicle.

MARK EVERSON, IRS COMMISSIONER: Not your own estimate of what the vehicle was worth. In the past, people could put down the Blue Book value and then if the charity actually received far less for it, that didn't matter.

MORRIS: So to claim a deduction, you also need a copy of the charity's bill of sale. However, if the charity keeps the car and uses it for official use, you can still claim fair market value.

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MORRIS: And living up to the IRS promise to be a kinder, gentler organization, the IRS is extending the deadline this year -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. And so what about those who want to file for extensions but they don't necessarily send a check along with it. Are they in trouble?

MORRIS: Well, yes, definitely. The problem with doing that is that most people will forget the fact that getting the extension just gives you more time to get the paperwork in. An extension doesn't give you more time to pay what you owe.

So with that in mind, if in fact you don't pay what is due or at least show good faith that you're wanted to send some money or arranging for a payment program, you're going to be facing stiff penalties and interest.

WHITFIELD: All right. Valerie Morris, thanks so much. Good to see you.

Well, perhaps you have some questions about fees or anything else for tax preparation. Are you worried you might get scammed? And are you considering filing online for the first time? Send us some of your questions, e-mail us, at taxes@cnn.com, and Valerie will get back with you tomorrow to answer some of your questions right here on LIVE FROM.

Well, time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in THE SITUATION ROOM to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour. Hello, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Fred. Thanks very much. Among other things, we're watching religious violence raging across Iraq. Will the country spiral into civil war and what impact will that have on U.S. troops on the ground?

Plus, port insecurity. The Bush administration facing tough questions on Capitol Hill. Find out if the critics are satisfied by the answers.

Also, Hurricane Katrina lessons learned. The White House releases its final report, but does that translate into action that will save you the next time disaster strikes? We're looking beyond the headlines. Among our guests, General Russel Honore.

And protesting at military funerals -- a fringe group torments families trying to bury their loved ones. Find out why several states and a group of motorcycle riders are standing up to this outrage.

All that, Fred, coming up right at the top of the hour.

WHITFIELD: All right, Wolf. Well, we look forward to that. Thanks so much. And the news keeps coming. We will bring it right to you right here on LIVE FROM.

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WHITFIELD: Almost closing time on Wall Street, on a day when the country's biggest retailer announces big changes and some good news for its employees, however. CNN's Ali Velshi is here with more on that. Hello to you, Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred, good to see you. Wal-Mart has about 1.3 million employees, and the company likes to say that it covers and insures more than a million people in terms of healthcare.

Well, that's true if you count the families of the far fewer employees who are, in fact, covered by Wal-Mart's health program. Some people think that up to half of Wal-Mart's employees are actually part-time and not covered by the plan. Wal-Mart -- I couldn't tell you how many are part-time, because Wal-Mart wouldn't tell me. It did say that less than half of its employees are part-time.

Anyway, the rule is now that a part-time employee has to wait for two years to partake in the company's healthcare program. Wal-Mart now announcing that they will bring it in line with their full-time employees, making them wait only six months.

Six months is a lot longer than the national average which is less than two months, and the average in the retail industry which is less than three months. Also Wal-Mart saying that families of its part-time workers for the first time will be eligible to buy into the low-cost healthcare plan, which is about $11 a month, although a lot of critics say that that's a pretty bare bones plan in the first place, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And this is all as a result of what? What was the impetus for that?

VELSHI: Massive criticisms. I mean, Wal-Mart's been getting criticism. They had a judgment -- they had some legislation passed against them in Maryland, so I think they're trying to get ahead of that whole situation by making some of these decisions, Fred.

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