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CNN Live Today

Update on Battle of Falluja; Arafat's 'Final Phase'; Terror Tape

Aired November 10, 2004 - 10:59   ET

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

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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: At the top of the hour now our look at what's "Now in the News."
The Iraqi military says troops have found hostage slaughterhouses used by Muslim kidnappers in Falluja. U.S. forces continue to tighten the noose on militants in the Iraqi city. The military says U.S. troops now control 70 percent of Falluja. The latest on the Falluja offensive straight ahead.

Sources say Palestinian officials are making plans for Yasser Arafat's funeral as he hovers between life and death at a Paris hospital. Israeli officials say they will allow Arafat to be buried at his Ramallah compound in the West Bank. We'll take you there live in about six minutes.

We could find out as early as today who President Bush wants to replace Attorney General John Ashcroft. A senior administration official say it's likely to be White House counsel Alberto Gonzales. Details on that and the latest Bush cabinet changes in a live report later on in this hour.

And the jury in the Scott Peterson murder trial goes back to the beginning. Deliberations will start over this hour after the judge dismissed one of the jurors yesterday. Sources tell CNN that juror number 7, identified as Fran Gorman, was accused of conducting her own research on the case.

It's now 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And a pleasure to have you, my friend.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. Good to be here.

KAGAN: Good morning, everyone. I'm Daryn Kagan.

Want to get started this hour with the battle of Falluja. The military saying that U.S. troops now control about three-quarters of the Iraqi city after three days of fighting. We should learn more this hour, when U.S. and Iraqi officials update reporters. You're going to see that live right here on CNN.

Meanwhile, let's check in with Jane Arraf, who is embedded with the military near Falluja -- Jane. JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Daryn, we've been going through the industrial area of Falluja on the southeast and eastern side and have found a trail of explosives, bombmaking facilities. And everything indicating that they had rigged the entire sector of the city, perhaps, to prepare for -- to fight U.S. forces. The mystery is why more of them didn't stay and fight.

Now, there's still pockets of fighters, certainly, as we drove through those streets. The armored vehicles we were in received gunfire from several sides.

They responded, but the amazing thing was the trail of explosives that they found, anti-tank landmine-laden streets, bunkers with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades in them. It looked like it had been used to make bombs, all the supplies there, including food, clearly left in a hurry. Everything that would have been -- would have prepared them, had they stayed to put up a fight against the forces coming in -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Jane, the sense that they're not fighting back, that the insurgents, or at least the leadership of the insurgents are not there, is there any -- I don't know if you can answer this from where you are -- any sense about where they might have gone, or what this is going to mean in terms of trying to hold that city as civilians might come in and insurgents could be mixed in around them?

ARRAF: That is absolutely a danger and one we've seen in other cities. In Samarra, for instance, which just a short while ago was said to be a test case for Falluja, the insurgency was said to be virtually defeated when U.S. forces retook the city. But the insurgents either stayed and hid and came back, or came back from elsewhere. And that could be the case here, Daryn.

Now, U.S. forces have -- say that they launched artillery attacks. The unit we're with, the Army unit, launched artillery attacks yesterday on what was believed to be a safe house, killing between 15 and 20 insurgents. They saw others fleeing from there.

Clearly, some are still in the city. Some may be relatively senior people. But the fighting is going on, still, and it's probably too early to tell -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Jane Arraf, reporting after being -- while being embedded with the U.S. Army. Thank you for that.

Another story we're following out of Iraq, the discovery -- and this is from our Karl Penhaul, who is near Falluja -- the discovery of hostage slaughterhouses in Falluja. The safe houses -- not safe, but hostage slaughterhouses where foreign captives were held. And this is according to the commander of the Iraqi forces there, where hostages were held.

We're expecting to get more information about that in a news conference that's set to start any minute. And it's coming live from camp Falluja. You'll see that live right here on CNN, for the latest from Falluja. And this from Baghdad. At least two, possibly three members of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family were kidnapped from their home today. A group calling itself Ansar al-Jihad took responsibility for the abductions.

The kidnappers demanded the end of hostilities in Falluja within 48 hours. The prime minister's office confirms today that Allawi's elderly cousin is among the relatives who are missing.

WHITFIELD: Daryn, an aide to Yasser Arafat says the Palestinian leader is in the final phase of his life, and sources say officials are making plans for his funeral. A top Palestinian Islamic cleric rushed to Arafat's bedside this morning.

Tasir de Tammimi (ph) described Arafat's condition as very difficult. But he said Islamic law forbids disconnecting his life support as long as there are signs of life.

Palestinian and Israeli officials have resolved the politically- sensitive issue of where Arafat will be buried. CNN's Michael Holmes join us from the Palestinian leader's Ramallah compound in the West Bank -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, that has been resolved. As you know, there was a dispute. Really, Yasser Arafat himself wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. Israel said that was never going to happen.

They wanted it to be in Gaza, which is where there is an Arafat family plot. But it's sealed off. And that's probably more the consideration, that it was a very secure area, as far as Israel was concerned.

Well, they compromised. And Yasser Arafat, when he does die, will be buried here, and in Ramallah, at the Muqata behind me.

You may be able to hear earth-moving equipment and trucks in the background. That's because they're clearing away all of the rubble, the detritus of the last three years of fighting that's gone on around this compound while Yasser Arafat has been holed up inside.

They're moving it aside so that they can bury him. Really, it's going to be about 50 feet from the offices where he was in four rooms, really, for so long. And it's going to be on the site of a mosque that he used to pray in. And literally, 200 yards from here.

Now, we are told, however, that there is a hope within a lot of the Palestinian leadership that at some stage in the future, well down the line, perhaps, if and when there is a Palestinian state with Jerusalem or east Jerusalem as a capital, that Yasser Arafat may be moved there. Now, that's all very -- very much theory at the moment.

What we are told, that when he dies, he will be taken to Cairo. There will be a ceremony there, a lay in state for a matter of some hours, apparently, and then flown by military helicopter directly here to Ramallah. We're also told that his wife, Suha, of course at the center of much consternation a day or two ago over control of Yasser Arafat's medical treatment and access to him, she will attend both of those ceremonies, both in Cairo and here in Ramallah.

We heard from a very senior Palestinian spokesman just a couple of minutes ago, the foreign minister, Nabil Sha'ath. He tells us that, as far as Yasser Arafat's health is concerned, his heart is beating well. He says his kidneys and liver, however, are functioning very poorly. He does say -- also confirms that the funeral and the burial will be on the same day.

All of this is in motion. The planning is moving ahead. However, of course, Yasser Arafat, is, as you said, still alive. And this could all be postponed.

At the moment, it's penciled in for Friday. It may move. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael. Thanks so much.

KAGAN: Well, he calls himself Azzam "The American." Now intelligence officials believe they have identified the man in a videotape warning of more terror attacks against the U.S. As national security correspondent David Ensor now reports, the man is someone authorities were already trying to find.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the videotape, obtained in Pakistan in late October by ABC News, a young man identified as Azzam "The American," his face concealed, threatened more terrorism against the United States.

AZZAM "THE AMERICAN": The magnitude and ferocity of what is coming your way will make you forget all about September 11.

ADAM GADAHN: What about the garbage problem at the Grand Canyon?

ENSOR: Now U.S. intelligence officials say they believe that voice is probably the same as this one, the voice of Adam Gadahn of Riverside County in southern California, who appeared years ago as a teenager, along with his father, discussing environmental issues at a news conference.

GADAHN: How does the garbage project help the future of the Earth?

ENSOR: Gadahn, born in 1978 as Adam Perlman, has been on an FBI list since May of suspects wanted for possible involvement in terrorist threats.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Adam Gadahn is a U.S. citizen who converted to Islam, who associated with Abu Zubaydah in Pakistan and he attended the training camps in Afghanistan. He is known to have performed translations for al Qaeda as part of the services he has provided to al Qaeda.

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: He's somebody that the FBI regards as one of the seven people they'd most like to find. One or two of those people have been found in Pakistan since, but Gadahn obviously remains at liberty.

ENSOR (on camera): Officials note that Gadahn's voice also appears to be on another al Qaeda tape released earlier. U.S. officials say his family are under loose surveillance in case he tries to contact them.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, from taxes, to Social Security, to the environment, President Bush has big plans for the next four years. We'll take a detailed look at his agenda.

KAGAN: Also, a flu epidemic too deadly for vaccines to ward it off. Experts from around the world are gathering this week to talk about that very possibility. I'll have a chance to talk with one of them.

WHITFIELD: And later on, over the last 50 years, "Life" Magazine photographers have seen a lot. And they've brought it all to us. We'll show you some of their most memorable moments when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Health officials unveil a plan to allocate the limited flu vaccine so that those most at risk can get their shots. There were about 11 million doses of the vaccine remaining as of November 1. And here's how they will be distributed.

7.2 million doses will go to high-priority populations nationwide. 3.1 million doses will be sent to state and local health departments. And the CDC will hold 1.3 million doses in reserve to be sent wherever it might be need later.

KAGAN: The flu vaccine shortage in the U.S. and the bird flu outbreak in Asia have raised fears about a global pandemic. So health officials and vaccine companies are holding a summit tomorrow beginning in Switzerland.

Dr. is head of the Global Influenza Program for the World Health Organization. And he joins us now from Geneva.

Doctor, thank you for being here with us.

DR. KLAUS STOHR, GLOBAL INFLUENZA PROGRAM, WHO: Thank you.

KAGAN: First, if you could explain the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic.

STOHR: An epidemic occurs every year, and between 500,000 to one million people are dying every year from influenza. In the U.S., it's around about 36,000. This influenza virus is circulating year-round and causes disease and deaths and hospitalization.

Now, pandemics do not occur every year. They occur three to four times in a century. They can occur when avian or other animal influenza viruses jumps the species barrier, merge with human influenza virus, and cause a global outbreak with this new influenza virus.

KAGAN: So what kind of numbers are you talking about that you fear might come together?

STOHR: During the last century there were three pandemics. During the biggest one, in 1918, when only two billion people were on Earth, around about 50 million, 40 to 50 million died.

Now (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the third one in '68, last century, between one to four million people died. It's very hard to predict what the pathogenicity, the disease-causing effect of this new virus is. But we know that it will cause a global health emergency.

KAGAN: And doctor, what is happening right now? What elements are in play worldwide, health-wise, that's making you think that this might be coming?

STOHR: Well, somebody calculated that every 27 years a pandemic occurs, on average. The last one was 36 years ago. So we are somewhat beyond the odds.

And in addition, we are seeing in Asia an avian influenza virus circulating which has managed already to cross the species barrier. It does not transmit easily from person to person. But it's missing -- this influenza virus changes its behavior, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) human influenza virus, then creates its transmission-ability. And then this virus can cause a pandemic.

That's why we are quite concerned. And that's why we believe that pandemic preparedness is -- should be starting now.

KAGAN: Which leads me to my next question. What can be done to lessen this impact, or even, if possible, prevent it?

STOHR: First, the global spread of such a pandemic virus cannot be prevented. It will spread. We can perhaps slow it down initially. But it will go around the globe.

The best thing to have is a vaccine. We cannot produce a vaccine now because we don't know which virus might cause the pandemic.

Having a vaccine means production companies are ready. They have done all the paperwork. They have done all the trials. And that will take about six to eight months. That's about the same time this virus might need to travel around the globe. So we believe that all these -- all trials, all research, all paperwork should take place now so that the vaccine companies can start producing when it's emerged; namely, when this virus is going to emerge.

KAGAN: And is there anything that anybody at home, individuals, can do to try to protect themselves at this point?

STOHR: Well, at this point of time there is not much the individual citizen can do. An influenza vaccine, a pandemic vaccine is considered by some governments as a public health good, something the society should have access to.

Therefore, for instance, in the U.S. there is some support to companies to help them get the clinical trials done, to help them to license these products because there is currently no market. And of the 10 large influenza vaccine companies, only two are working on the registration of a product. That's too little, and that's why we are organizing this meet meeting tomorrow in order to expedite the research and development on pandemic vaccine, particularly considering the situation which is happening in Asia right now with this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) virus, which is transmitting to human and has a very high mortality rate.

KAGAN: A very important meeting, indeed, getting under way in Geneva. Dr. Stohr, thank you for take time to talk to us about the situation.

STOHR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, this next occurrence, it's not a pandemic.

KAGAN: No.

WHITFIELD: It's not sparking an epidemic. Nothing of the sort. But it is remarkable. Each without high plumes of smoke shooting into the sky, dramatic things are happening on top of Mount St. Helens, and we have video for you. We'll show you that next.

KAGAN: And later on, a vitamin that may, in fact, increase your risk of dying? Don't want to take that. Stay with us for details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Want to show you a live picture right now at Camp Falluja, where an Iraqi major general and an Iraqi spokesperson, along with representing the U.S. General John Sattler, are holding their press conference there, all talking about Operation New Dawn and also being asked questions about the recent discovery of a hostage slaughterhouse there, near Falluja.

Let's listen in right now.

QUESTION: How many more Fallujas can you have if this is meant to be the last stand? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Good luck translating all that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. The first question was -- in Arabic...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they can't hear you in Arabic. No, that's great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. In Arabic, (SPEAKING IN ARABIC). I think -- let me answer the first question again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The general and myself, today we were with the soldiers in one area of Falluja. And we saw some CDs that show actual beheadings.

At the same time, there were the clothes that they used when you saw them on TV, those black clothes that they used to wear so no one knows them. This is what our soldiers found in some of the houses that were used to hold hostages and kill them.

What was the second question now?

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The operations against the enemy is left to us. One hundred percent, we're going to go after them. They cannot resist for too long.

They can pull out. They can run away. Yesterday, we saw them in the morning try to leave Falluja, but the area is surrounded. This doesn't mean that they cannot flee.

WHITFIELD: You're listening to the -- you're listening to the leaders of the coalition forces there talking about Operation New Dawn and what they discovered when they came across these hostage slaughterhouses. They came across the black clothes that are usually worn by the hostage-takers to conceal their identity, as well as also uncovered some CDs that actually showed some of the beheadings.

Meantime, we have some new videotape we want to bring to you which helps exemplify what coalition forces are calling so far the success of Operation New Dawn. There, along with Iraqi forces, the U.S. as well, they're planting there the Iraqi flag, right there in Falluja. However, Operation New Dawn still goes on.

KAGAN: And we're going to focus on what's happening here in the U.S. The election behind us, President Bush is making plans for the next four years. We're going to take a look at how -- what might be on his agenda and how it will affect your life. That's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired November 10, 2004 - 10:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: At the top of the hour now our look at what's "Now in the News."
The Iraqi military says troops have found hostage slaughterhouses used by Muslim kidnappers in Falluja. U.S. forces continue to tighten the noose on militants in the Iraqi city. The military says U.S. troops now control 70 percent of Falluja. The latest on the Falluja offensive straight ahead.

Sources say Palestinian officials are making plans for Yasser Arafat's funeral as he hovers between life and death at a Paris hospital. Israeli officials say they will allow Arafat to be buried at his Ramallah compound in the West Bank. We'll take you there live in about six minutes.

We could find out as early as today who President Bush wants to replace Attorney General John Ashcroft. A senior administration official say it's likely to be White House counsel Alberto Gonzales. Details on that and the latest Bush cabinet changes in a live report later on in this hour.

And the jury in the Scott Peterson murder trial goes back to the beginning. Deliberations will start over this hour after the judge dismissed one of the jurors yesterday. Sources tell CNN that juror number 7, identified as Fran Gorman, was accused of conducting her own research on the case.

It's now 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And a pleasure to have you, my friend.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. Good to be here.

KAGAN: Good morning, everyone. I'm Daryn Kagan.

Want to get started this hour with the battle of Falluja. The military saying that U.S. troops now control about three-quarters of the Iraqi city after three days of fighting. We should learn more this hour, when U.S. and Iraqi officials update reporters. You're going to see that live right here on CNN.

Meanwhile, let's check in with Jane Arraf, who is embedded with the military near Falluja -- Jane. JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Daryn, we've been going through the industrial area of Falluja on the southeast and eastern side and have found a trail of explosives, bombmaking facilities. And everything indicating that they had rigged the entire sector of the city, perhaps, to prepare for -- to fight U.S. forces. The mystery is why more of them didn't stay and fight.

Now, there's still pockets of fighters, certainly, as we drove through those streets. The armored vehicles we were in received gunfire from several sides.

They responded, but the amazing thing was the trail of explosives that they found, anti-tank landmine-laden streets, bunkers with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades in them. It looked like it had been used to make bombs, all the supplies there, including food, clearly left in a hurry. Everything that would have been -- would have prepared them, had they stayed to put up a fight against the forces coming in -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Jane, the sense that they're not fighting back, that the insurgents, or at least the leadership of the insurgents are not there, is there any -- I don't know if you can answer this from where you are -- any sense about where they might have gone, or what this is going to mean in terms of trying to hold that city as civilians might come in and insurgents could be mixed in around them?

ARRAF: That is absolutely a danger and one we've seen in other cities. In Samarra, for instance, which just a short while ago was said to be a test case for Falluja, the insurgency was said to be virtually defeated when U.S. forces retook the city. But the insurgents either stayed and hid and came back, or came back from elsewhere. And that could be the case here, Daryn.

Now, U.S. forces have -- say that they launched artillery attacks. The unit we're with, the Army unit, launched artillery attacks yesterday on what was believed to be a safe house, killing between 15 and 20 insurgents. They saw others fleeing from there.

Clearly, some are still in the city. Some may be relatively senior people. But the fighting is going on, still, and it's probably too early to tell -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Jane Arraf, reporting after being -- while being embedded with the U.S. Army. Thank you for that.

Another story we're following out of Iraq, the discovery -- and this is from our Karl Penhaul, who is near Falluja -- the discovery of hostage slaughterhouses in Falluja. The safe houses -- not safe, but hostage slaughterhouses where foreign captives were held. And this is according to the commander of the Iraqi forces there, where hostages were held.

We're expecting to get more information about that in a news conference that's set to start any minute. And it's coming live from camp Falluja. You'll see that live right here on CNN, for the latest from Falluja. And this from Baghdad. At least two, possibly three members of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family were kidnapped from their home today. A group calling itself Ansar al-Jihad took responsibility for the abductions.

The kidnappers demanded the end of hostilities in Falluja within 48 hours. The prime minister's office confirms today that Allawi's elderly cousin is among the relatives who are missing.

WHITFIELD: Daryn, an aide to Yasser Arafat says the Palestinian leader is in the final phase of his life, and sources say officials are making plans for his funeral. A top Palestinian Islamic cleric rushed to Arafat's bedside this morning.

Tasir de Tammimi (ph) described Arafat's condition as very difficult. But he said Islamic law forbids disconnecting his life support as long as there are signs of life.

Palestinian and Israeli officials have resolved the politically- sensitive issue of where Arafat will be buried. CNN's Michael Holmes join us from the Palestinian leader's Ramallah compound in the West Bank -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, that has been resolved. As you know, there was a dispute. Really, Yasser Arafat himself wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. Israel said that was never going to happen.

They wanted it to be in Gaza, which is where there is an Arafat family plot. But it's sealed off. And that's probably more the consideration, that it was a very secure area, as far as Israel was concerned.

Well, they compromised. And Yasser Arafat, when he does die, will be buried here, and in Ramallah, at the Muqata behind me.

You may be able to hear earth-moving equipment and trucks in the background. That's because they're clearing away all of the rubble, the detritus of the last three years of fighting that's gone on around this compound while Yasser Arafat has been holed up inside.

They're moving it aside so that they can bury him. Really, it's going to be about 50 feet from the offices where he was in four rooms, really, for so long. And it's going to be on the site of a mosque that he used to pray in. And literally, 200 yards from here.

Now, we are told, however, that there is a hope within a lot of the Palestinian leadership that at some stage in the future, well down the line, perhaps, if and when there is a Palestinian state with Jerusalem or east Jerusalem as a capital, that Yasser Arafat may be moved there. Now, that's all very -- very much theory at the moment.

What we are told, that when he dies, he will be taken to Cairo. There will be a ceremony there, a lay in state for a matter of some hours, apparently, and then flown by military helicopter directly here to Ramallah. We're also told that his wife, Suha, of course at the center of much consternation a day or two ago over control of Yasser Arafat's medical treatment and access to him, she will attend both of those ceremonies, both in Cairo and here in Ramallah.

We heard from a very senior Palestinian spokesman just a couple of minutes ago, the foreign minister, Nabil Sha'ath. He tells us that, as far as Yasser Arafat's health is concerned, his heart is beating well. He says his kidneys and liver, however, are functioning very poorly. He does say -- also confirms that the funeral and the burial will be on the same day.

All of this is in motion. The planning is moving ahead. However, of course, Yasser Arafat, is, as you said, still alive. And this could all be postponed.

At the moment, it's penciled in for Friday. It may move. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael. Thanks so much.

KAGAN: Well, he calls himself Azzam "The American." Now intelligence officials believe they have identified the man in a videotape warning of more terror attacks against the U.S. As national security correspondent David Ensor now reports, the man is someone authorities were already trying to find.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the videotape, obtained in Pakistan in late October by ABC News, a young man identified as Azzam "The American," his face concealed, threatened more terrorism against the United States.

AZZAM "THE AMERICAN": The magnitude and ferocity of what is coming your way will make you forget all about September 11.

ADAM GADAHN: What about the garbage problem at the Grand Canyon?

ENSOR: Now U.S. intelligence officials say they believe that voice is probably the same as this one, the voice of Adam Gadahn of Riverside County in southern California, who appeared years ago as a teenager, along with his father, discussing environmental issues at a news conference.

GADAHN: How does the garbage project help the future of the Earth?

ENSOR: Gadahn, born in 1978 as Adam Perlman, has been on an FBI list since May of suspects wanted for possible involvement in terrorist threats.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Adam Gadahn is a U.S. citizen who converted to Islam, who associated with Abu Zubaydah in Pakistan and he attended the training camps in Afghanistan. He is known to have performed translations for al Qaeda as part of the services he has provided to al Qaeda.

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: He's somebody that the FBI regards as one of the seven people they'd most like to find. One or two of those people have been found in Pakistan since, but Gadahn obviously remains at liberty.

ENSOR (on camera): Officials note that Gadahn's voice also appears to be on another al Qaeda tape released earlier. U.S. officials say his family are under loose surveillance in case he tries to contact them.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, from taxes, to Social Security, to the environment, President Bush has big plans for the next four years. We'll take a detailed look at his agenda.

KAGAN: Also, a flu epidemic too deadly for vaccines to ward it off. Experts from around the world are gathering this week to talk about that very possibility. I'll have a chance to talk with one of them.

WHITFIELD: And later on, over the last 50 years, "Life" Magazine photographers have seen a lot. And they've brought it all to us. We'll show you some of their most memorable moments when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Health officials unveil a plan to allocate the limited flu vaccine so that those most at risk can get their shots. There were about 11 million doses of the vaccine remaining as of November 1. And here's how they will be distributed.

7.2 million doses will go to high-priority populations nationwide. 3.1 million doses will be sent to state and local health departments. And the CDC will hold 1.3 million doses in reserve to be sent wherever it might be need later.

KAGAN: The flu vaccine shortage in the U.S. and the bird flu outbreak in Asia have raised fears about a global pandemic. So health officials and vaccine companies are holding a summit tomorrow beginning in Switzerland.

Dr. is head of the Global Influenza Program for the World Health Organization. And he joins us now from Geneva.

Doctor, thank you for being here with us.

DR. KLAUS STOHR, GLOBAL INFLUENZA PROGRAM, WHO: Thank you.

KAGAN: First, if you could explain the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic.

STOHR: An epidemic occurs every year, and between 500,000 to one million people are dying every year from influenza. In the U.S., it's around about 36,000. This influenza virus is circulating year-round and causes disease and deaths and hospitalization.

Now, pandemics do not occur every year. They occur three to four times in a century. They can occur when avian or other animal influenza viruses jumps the species barrier, merge with human influenza virus, and cause a global outbreak with this new influenza virus.

KAGAN: So what kind of numbers are you talking about that you fear might come together?

STOHR: During the last century there were three pandemics. During the biggest one, in 1918, when only two billion people were on Earth, around about 50 million, 40 to 50 million died.

Now (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the third one in '68, last century, between one to four million people died. It's very hard to predict what the pathogenicity, the disease-causing effect of this new virus is. But we know that it will cause a global health emergency.

KAGAN: And doctor, what is happening right now? What elements are in play worldwide, health-wise, that's making you think that this might be coming?

STOHR: Well, somebody calculated that every 27 years a pandemic occurs, on average. The last one was 36 years ago. So we are somewhat beyond the odds.

And in addition, we are seeing in Asia an avian influenza virus circulating which has managed already to cross the species barrier. It does not transmit easily from person to person. But it's missing -- this influenza virus changes its behavior, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) human influenza virus, then creates its transmission-ability. And then this virus can cause a pandemic.

That's why we are quite concerned. And that's why we believe that pandemic preparedness is -- should be starting now.

KAGAN: Which leads me to my next question. What can be done to lessen this impact, or even, if possible, prevent it?

STOHR: First, the global spread of such a pandemic virus cannot be prevented. It will spread. We can perhaps slow it down initially. But it will go around the globe.

The best thing to have is a vaccine. We cannot produce a vaccine now because we don't know which virus might cause the pandemic.

Having a vaccine means production companies are ready. They have done all the paperwork. They have done all the trials. And that will take about six to eight months. That's about the same time this virus might need to travel around the globe. So we believe that all these -- all trials, all research, all paperwork should take place now so that the vaccine companies can start producing when it's emerged; namely, when this virus is going to emerge.

KAGAN: And is there anything that anybody at home, individuals, can do to try to protect themselves at this point?

STOHR: Well, at this point of time there is not much the individual citizen can do. An influenza vaccine, a pandemic vaccine is considered by some governments as a public health good, something the society should have access to.

Therefore, for instance, in the U.S. there is some support to companies to help them get the clinical trials done, to help them to license these products because there is currently no market. And of the 10 large influenza vaccine companies, only two are working on the registration of a product. That's too little, and that's why we are organizing this meet meeting tomorrow in order to expedite the research and development on pandemic vaccine, particularly considering the situation which is happening in Asia right now with this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) virus, which is transmitting to human and has a very high mortality rate.

KAGAN: A very important meeting, indeed, getting under way in Geneva. Dr. Stohr, thank you for take time to talk to us about the situation.

STOHR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, this next occurrence, it's not a pandemic.

KAGAN: No.

WHITFIELD: It's not sparking an epidemic. Nothing of the sort. But it is remarkable. Each without high plumes of smoke shooting into the sky, dramatic things are happening on top of Mount St. Helens, and we have video for you. We'll show you that next.

KAGAN: And later on, a vitamin that may, in fact, increase your risk of dying? Don't want to take that. Stay with us for details.

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WHITFIELD: Want to show you a live picture right now at Camp Falluja, where an Iraqi major general and an Iraqi spokesperson, along with representing the U.S. General John Sattler, are holding their press conference there, all talking about Operation New Dawn and also being asked questions about the recent discovery of a hostage slaughterhouse there, near Falluja.

Let's listen in right now.

QUESTION: How many more Fallujas can you have if this is meant to be the last stand? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Good luck translating all that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. The first question was -- in Arabic...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they can't hear you in Arabic. No, that's great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. In Arabic, (SPEAKING IN ARABIC). I think -- let me answer the first question again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The general and myself, today we were with the soldiers in one area of Falluja. And we saw some CDs that show actual beheadings.

At the same time, there were the clothes that they used when you saw them on TV, those black clothes that they used to wear so no one knows them. This is what our soldiers found in some of the houses that were used to hold hostages and kill them.

What was the second question now?

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The operations against the enemy is left to us. One hundred percent, we're going to go after them. They cannot resist for too long.

They can pull out. They can run away. Yesterday, we saw them in the morning try to leave Falluja, but the area is surrounded. This doesn't mean that they cannot flee.

WHITFIELD: You're listening to the -- you're listening to the leaders of the coalition forces there talking about Operation New Dawn and what they discovered when they came across these hostage slaughterhouses. They came across the black clothes that are usually worn by the hostage-takers to conceal their identity, as well as also uncovered some CDs that actually showed some of the beheadings.

Meantime, we have some new videotape we want to bring to you which helps exemplify what coalition forces are calling so far the success of Operation New Dawn. There, along with Iraqi forces, the U.S. as well, they're planting there the Iraqi flag, right there in Falluja. However, Operation New Dawn still goes on.

KAGAN: And we're going to focus on what's happening here in the U.S. The election behind us, President Bush is making plans for the next four years. We're going to take a look at how -- what might be on his agenda and how it will affect your life. That's just ahead.

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