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CNN Live Today
Filling Another Cabinet Vacancy; Developments in Case of 'BTK'c Serial Killer; Beefing up Forces in Iraq
Aired December 02, 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.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here's a looking at what's happening in the news right now.
Ongoing violence and upcoming elections add up to more U.S. forces in Iraq. The Pentagon is sending 1,500 additional troops and extending the tours of more than 10,000 others. That would raise the number of troops in Iraq to a record of about 150,000 that will be there.
President Bush picks a replacement for outgoing secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman. An administration official says Mr. Bush will nominate Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns. The nominee to oversee the country's food and farms program must be confirmed, of course, by the Senate.
New Jersey Senator Jon Corzine is expected to announce today that he's running for governor. Democratic Party officials say that Corzine has told them that he plans to enter the 2005 race. He's been mentioned as a candidate since August. That when Governor Jim McGreevey announced his resignation after an extramarital affair with another man.
Another day of waiting and watching in the Ukraine. For the fourth day, the country's supreme court is deliberating allegations of voter fraud in the disputed presidential election. Both the opposition leader and the prime minister have agreed to accept the court's decision.
Keeping you informed, this is CNN, the most trusted name in news.
It is the top of the hour for all of you all over the country. And from the CNN Center in Atlanta, we're happy to say, welcome one and all. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, filling another cabinet vacancy. President Bush is announcing his nominee for Agriculture secretary today. We expect that announcement in about a half-hour.
Let's go to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
Suzanne, the announcement in a moment. But first, I also understand you have news about the Cheneys. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We have a lot of news, Daryn, this morning. We just got an announcement that Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, both of them are going to be traveling to Kabul, Afghanistan, December 7. That is next Tuesday. It is for the inauguration of the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai.
Now, it's a very important visit, symbolically, of course. The Bush administration considers the Afghan elections to be a real success when it comes to democracy. We understand that Cheney will also address the troops there and thank them for their hard work.
The big question, however, Daryn, of course, is Iraq. It is a big credibility test for the president, whether or not they will be able to conduct their elections on time, January 30.
Now, President Bush this morning, meeting with the president of Nigeria, was asked after that meeting whether or not he believed that the six-month delay that some of the Iraqi leaders are calling for should be put into place considering the situation on the ground, considering how dangerous it is. And President Bush was very insistent that they should stick with that deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, first of all, the elections should not be postponed. It's time for the Iraqis, the citizens, to go to the polls. And that's why we are very firm on the January 30 date.
Secondly, I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground. And our commanders requested some troops delay their departure home and the expedition of other troops to help these elections go forward. And I honor their request.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: This is really seen as a credibility test for the president. And he is insisting, of course, that they move forward in a timely fashion. And that is why he continues to say they should hold the elections on January 30.
Now, I should let you know as well, of course, we have another announcement, another cabinet announcement, about 20 minutes or so in the Roosevelt Room. President Bush will be announcing his nominee for Agriculture secretary. That is Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns.
He's a Republican. He was born in Iowa, raised on a dairy farm. He won the governor's office in 1998 and 2002, and became the first Republican governor to win reelection there in more than 40 years.
And when you look at his policies, he is big on tax relief. He's also big on big trade missions overseas.
Those are two of the things, of course, the Bush administration is looking for in their candidate. They say it will certainly reflect the Bush administration's policy to increase their own trade overseas and also, of course, to keep those tax cuts in place -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, a lot happening there at the White House today. As you said, we'll go back live in about 20 minutes.
SANCHEZ: There's an update now on a terrifying story that's been followed in the area of Kansas. It's about the BTK killer. By the way, BTK stands for bind, torture and kill. This is a person who has been linked to eight unsolved homicides that have terrorized the Wichita, Kansas, area between 1974 and 1986.
Don't know who he is, hasn't been apprehended. Maybe an update on this story.
Let's go now if we can to Jonathan Freed. He's following the story out of Chicago.
Jonathan, what do we know?
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.
I have been speaking to various sources in Wichita, Kansas, this morning, including the Wichita Police Department. I'll tell you what we know.
We do know that a 64-year-old man was arrested last night. We do know that his house is near train tracks. We do know, based on what police had told us earlier this week, that the person they're looking for, that this BTK killer, had suggested over the years to them he was fascinated with trains. That's part of the basis for which the local media in Wichita is swarming all over this story this morning and reporting that police have arrested somebody in connection to the case.
Now, police in Wichita are being somewhat coy with us this morning. They're saying -- they're using language like, "Well, we can't confirm or denay. Yes, we have arrested a 64-year-old man based on a tip, but we get a lot of tips." And language like, "Well, that's all we're saying at this point."
That kind of thing tends to fuel the speculation in Wichita and in other places that perhaps they may finally, after decades, be close to a significant advance in the case. But again, they are saying nothing about that at this point. But they're also not doing a lot to really back us off -- to completely wave us off.
You're right that the BTK killer was responsible for eight murders between 1974 and 1986. Now, if you rewind, Rick, nine months to March of this year, a letter was sent to the "Wichita Eagle" newspaper which police investigated and then determined that this was the killer resurfacing after a two-decade absence, which baffled a lot of people. And in that letter he was effectively claiming responsibility for that 1986 murder.
So that re-ignited a lot of the fear that the people of Wichita had felt during the 1970s. This guy had been gone for two decades, Rick. They thought that this thing was over and done with, that perhaps he had died or moved on, maybe he was in prison for something else.
Investigators weren't sure why he had been absent for so long, and they still don't know for sure. But, again, we may have something this morning. And there is a briefing going on at the police department at this hour.
But when I last spoke to the Wichita Police Department, Rick, they were saying -- they weren't entirely waving us off. When I spoke to them earlier today, it was a complete wave-off of, "No, no, no, no, no. This has nothing to do with this case." When I spoke to them a second time, and pushed them pretty hard, the language changed and it became, "Well, that's all we're saying at this point" -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's a good thing you do that. We can certainly understand just from my reading of this case why people would be terrified in this area, just the name alone, BTK.
Were all his victims random? Enough to put the fear into all these people that they could be the next victim?
FREED: That's a good question. And, yes, that is indeed part of what was going on.
One of the things that were really puzzling investigators -- and I spent quite a bit of time talking to the former police chief. He's now gone on to do something else in life, but a man named Richard Lemonyon (ph), who was the police chief at the time, during the 1970s, and quite visible during the investigation.
And he said one of the things that was really frustrating for him is that there were no -- there were only dotted lines connecting the various clues and the various victims. There was no consistency to who he was choosing as his victims.
SANCHEZ: Whoa. All right. We thank you. Jonathan Freed bringing us an update on a very important story for the people certainly living in that area.
Jonathan, thanks so much for doing that for us.
FREED: Thank you.
KAGAN: Now to Iraq and the military move to beef up its U.S. forces there. More than 10,000 troops will have to stay longer and another 1,500 are being deployed. That will bring troop levels to an all-time high of about 150,000. The Pentagon says the extra forces are needed to bolster security ahead of Iraqi elections in January.
The violence that threatens the Iraqi elections flared again today. Mortar fire in Baghdad, killing one person and wounding 12 others. Baghdad police say at least five mortars exploded in the city. Also today, two local officials were killed in a drive-by shooting near Baquba. SANCHEZ: This increase in U.S. troop strength in Iraq underscores the dangers that still exist and the challenges that remain in securing the country. For a closer look at conditions on the ground, we turn now to CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, who is joining us by phone from northern Iraq.
Nic, set the scene there for us, if you would.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, the scene in Mosul is that the insurgents continue to carry out attacks in the city, continue to intimidate and threaten the people of Mosul. What is concerning the troops at this particular base is they're anticipating an upsurge in the insurgent activity ahead of the elections.
They believe -- the coalition commanders here believe that the insurgents have targeted Mosul to disrupt it ahead of the elections. And all their efforts are engaged at this time in trying to track down key people who are behind the insurgency, taking part in nighttime raids.
Although the extension of rotation doesn't appear to affect anyone on this base, there was no surprise from some of the officers I talked to when we discussed -- when we discussed the increase in troop strength. They said that they could see that that was going to be quite possibly necessary because of the upcoming anticipated upsurge in violence from the insurgents.
What we have been told here, as far as the increase in security around the elections is concerned, not to expect to see U.S. troops manning positions outside election booths. What is more likely to be happening, the expectation here is that the offensive against the insurgents will increase, perhaps in intensity and pace ahead of the elections to try and head off or try and deal with any increase in the insurgency violence -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Let me tell you or quote "The New York Times," what they say this morning. They say Mosul's 5,000-member police force has -- and this is the word they use -- "disintegrated." If that's the case, is it safe to then assume that the reason we're sending more troops there is to do the job that we were once hoping these 5,000 would have helped -- would have done?
ROBERTSON: Well, I put that to the Task Force Olympia commander here, Brigadier General Carter Hamm, a few days ago. He said no. He said he has enough troops to meet the requirements. But he does have concerns about rebuilding the police force.
He said he did think that he could bring it up using other Iraqi security assets, the Iraqi National Army, the Iraqi National Guard, and some of these special commando police units that are being formed around the country. But in terms of rebuilding the police, some 5,000 approximately police cut down by four-fifths to just barely 1,000.
Some of those have begun to come back to duty, but General Hamm and other coalition commanders here were surprised at the way the police collapsed. They know -- they say they know they have a huge job on their hands trying to rebuild the police, but they don't anticipate stepping in and playing the part of the police in the elections.
What the coalition commander here stresses is it's important for Iraqis to see that the election is being carried out by Iraqi officials and that this doesn't, if you will, have the hand of the United States on the elections. It's important for the legitimacy of the elections, it's important, they say, for the people of Iraq to have faith in their own new government and who they vote for.
The United States Army isn't seen to have -- play a big role in the elections. But certainly, not having a strong police force, he said, will be a big problem in providing that security. And he does expect problems in some parts of the city.
SANCHEZ: Nic Robertson right there on the ground for us following the story. We thank you, Nic -- stay safe -- for keeping us abreast of details there of what's going on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Back here in the U.S., the State Department is not weighing in on a call for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to resign. A State Department spokesman says that Annan has been cooperating in the investigation of Iraq's Oil-for-Food program. But the chairman of the Senate committee investigating the scandal wants Annan to step down now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: We're not going to get to the bottom of this with any kind of credibility unless the guy that was in charge steps back and then lets us figure out what happened. And bottom line is, what happened to the billions that are out there? And are those billions being used to fund an insurgency that's taking American and coalition lives today?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Well, Kofi Annan is getting some support from the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee. Senator Carl Levin says there's no evidence of wrongdoing by Annan. He does stress the need to get to the bottom of the scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: There were problems in the Oil- for-Food program. As a matter of fact, the United States contributed to those problems very significantly because we knew, for instance, that a -- that about $15 billion in direct oil sales were being made by Iraq to Jordan, and to Turkey and to Syria. And, as a matter of fact, under our law, that meant that we should stop foreign aid to Jordan and to Turkey as a result of their receiving directly oil from Iraq instead of putting the money into this escrow at the U.N. for humanitarian purposes.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: Levin says that -- Levin says that Senator Coleman went too far in calling for Annan's resignation.
Some families of the 9/11 victims are demanding that President Bush pressure Congress to pass the intelligence reform bill. The families have organized a series of daily vigils in support of the bill. The measure creates a national intelligence director. It is strongly opposed by the Pentagon and some Republican leaders.
SANCHEZ: Who is watching you while you are at work? Her.
KAGAN: I'm watching.
SANCHEZ: Coming up, the important and maybe unnerving facts behind how and why your boss may want to know more about you than you think, thanks to your computer and your e-mail. Did you know?
KAGAN: Yes, I was thinking about that.
And the changing face of Ukrainian politics. What happened, literally, to change the face of the country's opposition leader?
SANCHEZ: Wow.
KAGAN: I mean, this is just incredible. Before and the after. Was he poisoned, did he do something to change his appearance?
SANCHEZ: Sushi.
KAGAN: Sushi, all right. We will talk about that just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We continue to cover the story out of Ukraine. The supreme court there is on the cusp of history. A fourth day there. The high court is considering the nation's future of whether to toss out the results of the recent presidential runoff because of alleged fraud.
Both candidates say they will abide by the court's decision. And the nation's parliament has already weighed in with several resolutions that endorse a new election.
Then there's this aspect of the story that is really difficult to explain, but we're going to try. There is no greater visible metaphor for the dramatic changes taking place in Ukraine than the face of the opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko. And for that, here's CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He had movie star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister. But according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.
Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pock marks, and with them the contours of Ukraine's political landscape. Yushchenko told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.
VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, OPPOSITION LEADER (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities: you will not poison us.
CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion: Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.
The same Kremlin spin doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovych. "The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Gled Pavlovsky (ph) says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff used to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."
Whether the allegations are fairytales or not, Yushchenko the politician became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Wow.
KAGAN: To me, that gives me more questions than answers. That's -- for someone's appearance to change so quickly.
SANCHEZ: Right, no one seems to know. But they literally first said it was because he ate bad sushi. Of course that's what the opposition said.
KAGAN: Right.
SANCHEZ: Who knows.
KAGAN: We continue to cover the story out of the Ukraine. Of course the big question is, who's going to rule that country?
It can't really be seen, but it sure can be felt. Many in the Northeast being blown away by strong winds. The weather is up next.
SANCHEZ: And then later, it's being called Viagra for women. But what are the facts behind the female sex patch? That's what it's called. We're going to look into it for you in our daily dose of health news. So stay where you are.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Bundle up, America. Blustery winds are making life cold and miserable in some parts. This particular part we're showing you right now. Know where that is?
KAGAN: It looks like New York City.
SANCHEZ: Very good. That's the Northeast. I'm not sure if it's New York City or Boston. One of the two.
KAGAN: That would have been Boston.
SANCHEZ: Thousands -- yes, because it's a Boston umbrella.
KAGAN: Well, no, it said WABC there. See, that's WABC. And then the other one is a Boston affiliate.
SANCHEZ: OK. You're so good.
KAGAN: Alphabet soup.
SANCHEZ: I'm going to call you Barnaby Jones from now on.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are without power after wind snapped some of the utility polls.
KAGAN: New York umbrella.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KAGAN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Look at that. It's amazing. Some gusts, we understand, neared 60 miles an hour as a strong cold front just came in, just invaded just like that.
KAGAN: Makes you glad to be here in the Southeast, where it's not exactly balmy, but it's not...
SANCHEZ: It's cold here.
KAGAN: Yes. Well, you're a south Florida boy. You know, it gets below 80, brrr.
(LAUGHTER)
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Better bundle up.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Orelon.
SANCHEZ: You know, we have the computers here, right? I don't, can you see these over here? They're right here. Hold on. Let me go back over here.
Can you see it now? See these?
KAGAN: Can you see me now?
SANCHEZ: We kind of cheat while we're doing the news sometimes. We'll look at the wires or we'll read...
KAGAN: It's not cheating. It's an aid to help us do our job.
SANCHEZ: It's being -- well, it's doing research.
KAGAN: There you go.
SANCHEZ: Well, we want to ask you this question. You probably have one of these at work. Every time you hit one of these keystrokes, is your boss possibly checking to see what you're writing, what you're writing to, what you're writing about?
KAGAN: I'm really wondering what you're writing over there.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's what we're going to do a segment on. When we come back, we're going to tell if you your boss or someone else could be spying on you at work. It's a special report.
KAGAN: Also, a lot more ahead, other news as well, the top stories.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired December 2, 2004 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here's a looking at what's happening in the news right now.
Ongoing violence and upcoming elections add up to more U.S. forces in Iraq. The Pentagon is sending 1,500 additional troops and extending the tours of more than 10,000 others. That would raise the number of troops in Iraq to a record of about 150,000 that will be there.
President Bush picks a replacement for outgoing secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman. An administration official says Mr. Bush will nominate Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns. The nominee to oversee the country's food and farms program must be confirmed, of course, by the Senate.
New Jersey Senator Jon Corzine is expected to announce today that he's running for governor. Democratic Party officials say that Corzine has told them that he plans to enter the 2005 race. He's been mentioned as a candidate since August. That when Governor Jim McGreevey announced his resignation after an extramarital affair with another man.
Another day of waiting and watching in the Ukraine. For the fourth day, the country's supreme court is deliberating allegations of voter fraud in the disputed presidential election. Both the opposition leader and the prime minister have agreed to accept the court's decision.
Keeping you informed, this is CNN, the most trusted name in news.
It is the top of the hour for all of you all over the country. And from the CNN Center in Atlanta, we're happy to say, welcome one and all. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, filling another cabinet vacancy. President Bush is announcing his nominee for Agriculture secretary today. We expect that announcement in about a half-hour.
Let's go to our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
Suzanne, the announcement in a moment. But first, I also understand you have news about the Cheneys. SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We have a lot of news, Daryn, this morning. We just got an announcement that Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, both of them are going to be traveling to Kabul, Afghanistan, December 7. That is next Tuesday. It is for the inauguration of the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai.
Now, it's a very important visit, symbolically, of course. The Bush administration considers the Afghan elections to be a real success when it comes to democracy. We understand that Cheney will also address the troops there and thank them for their hard work.
The big question, however, Daryn, of course, is Iraq. It is a big credibility test for the president, whether or not they will be able to conduct their elections on time, January 30.
Now, President Bush this morning, meeting with the president of Nigeria, was asked after that meeting whether or not he believed that the six-month delay that some of the Iraqi leaders are calling for should be put into place considering the situation on the ground, considering how dangerous it is. And President Bush was very insistent that they should stick with that deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, first of all, the elections should not be postponed. It's time for the Iraqis, the citizens, to go to the polls. And that's why we are very firm on the January 30 date.
Secondly, I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground. And our commanders requested some troops delay their departure home and the expedition of other troops to help these elections go forward. And I honor their request.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: This is really seen as a credibility test for the president. And he is insisting, of course, that they move forward in a timely fashion. And that is why he continues to say they should hold the elections on January 30.
Now, I should let you know as well, of course, we have another announcement, another cabinet announcement, about 20 minutes or so in the Roosevelt Room. President Bush will be announcing his nominee for Agriculture secretary. That is Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns.
He's a Republican. He was born in Iowa, raised on a dairy farm. He won the governor's office in 1998 and 2002, and became the first Republican governor to win reelection there in more than 40 years.
And when you look at his policies, he is big on tax relief. He's also big on big trade missions overseas.
Those are two of the things, of course, the Bush administration is looking for in their candidate. They say it will certainly reflect the Bush administration's policy to increase their own trade overseas and also, of course, to keep those tax cuts in place -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, a lot happening there at the White House today. As you said, we'll go back live in about 20 minutes.
SANCHEZ: There's an update now on a terrifying story that's been followed in the area of Kansas. It's about the BTK killer. By the way, BTK stands for bind, torture and kill. This is a person who has been linked to eight unsolved homicides that have terrorized the Wichita, Kansas, area between 1974 and 1986.
Don't know who he is, hasn't been apprehended. Maybe an update on this story.
Let's go now if we can to Jonathan Freed. He's following the story out of Chicago.
Jonathan, what do we know?
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.
I have been speaking to various sources in Wichita, Kansas, this morning, including the Wichita Police Department. I'll tell you what we know.
We do know that a 64-year-old man was arrested last night. We do know that his house is near train tracks. We do know, based on what police had told us earlier this week, that the person they're looking for, that this BTK killer, had suggested over the years to them he was fascinated with trains. That's part of the basis for which the local media in Wichita is swarming all over this story this morning and reporting that police have arrested somebody in connection to the case.
Now, police in Wichita are being somewhat coy with us this morning. They're saying -- they're using language like, "Well, we can't confirm or denay. Yes, we have arrested a 64-year-old man based on a tip, but we get a lot of tips." And language like, "Well, that's all we're saying at this point."
That kind of thing tends to fuel the speculation in Wichita and in other places that perhaps they may finally, after decades, be close to a significant advance in the case. But again, they are saying nothing about that at this point. But they're also not doing a lot to really back us off -- to completely wave us off.
You're right that the BTK killer was responsible for eight murders between 1974 and 1986. Now, if you rewind, Rick, nine months to March of this year, a letter was sent to the "Wichita Eagle" newspaper which police investigated and then determined that this was the killer resurfacing after a two-decade absence, which baffled a lot of people. And in that letter he was effectively claiming responsibility for that 1986 murder.
So that re-ignited a lot of the fear that the people of Wichita had felt during the 1970s. This guy had been gone for two decades, Rick. They thought that this thing was over and done with, that perhaps he had died or moved on, maybe he was in prison for something else.
Investigators weren't sure why he had been absent for so long, and they still don't know for sure. But, again, we may have something this morning. And there is a briefing going on at the police department at this hour.
But when I last spoke to the Wichita Police Department, Rick, they were saying -- they weren't entirely waving us off. When I spoke to them earlier today, it was a complete wave-off of, "No, no, no, no, no. This has nothing to do with this case." When I spoke to them a second time, and pushed them pretty hard, the language changed and it became, "Well, that's all we're saying at this point" -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's a good thing you do that. We can certainly understand just from my reading of this case why people would be terrified in this area, just the name alone, BTK.
Were all his victims random? Enough to put the fear into all these people that they could be the next victim?
FREED: That's a good question. And, yes, that is indeed part of what was going on.
One of the things that were really puzzling investigators -- and I spent quite a bit of time talking to the former police chief. He's now gone on to do something else in life, but a man named Richard Lemonyon (ph), who was the police chief at the time, during the 1970s, and quite visible during the investigation.
And he said one of the things that was really frustrating for him is that there were no -- there were only dotted lines connecting the various clues and the various victims. There was no consistency to who he was choosing as his victims.
SANCHEZ: Whoa. All right. We thank you. Jonathan Freed bringing us an update on a very important story for the people certainly living in that area.
Jonathan, thanks so much for doing that for us.
FREED: Thank you.
KAGAN: Now to Iraq and the military move to beef up its U.S. forces there. More than 10,000 troops will have to stay longer and another 1,500 are being deployed. That will bring troop levels to an all-time high of about 150,000. The Pentagon says the extra forces are needed to bolster security ahead of Iraqi elections in January.
The violence that threatens the Iraqi elections flared again today. Mortar fire in Baghdad, killing one person and wounding 12 others. Baghdad police say at least five mortars exploded in the city. Also today, two local officials were killed in a drive-by shooting near Baquba. SANCHEZ: This increase in U.S. troop strength in Iraq underscores the dangers that still exist and the challenges that remain in securing the country. For a closer look at conditions on the ground, we turn now to CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, who is joining us by phone from northern Iraq.
Nic, set the scene there for us, if you would.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, the scene in Mosul is that the insurgents continue to carry out attacks in the city, continue to intimidate and threaten the people of Mosul. What is concerning the troops at this particular base is they're anticipating an upsurge in the insurgent activity ahead of the elections.
They believe -- the coalition commanders here believe that the insurgents have targeted Mosul to disrupt it ahead of the elections. And all their efforts are engaged at this time in trying to track down key people who are behind the insurgency, taking part in nighttime raids.
Although the extension of rotation doesn't appear to affect anyone on this base, there was no surprise from some of the officers I talked to when we discussed -- when we discussed the increase in troop strength. They said that they could see that that was going to be quite possibly necessary because of the upcoming anticipated upsurge in violence from the insurgents.
What we have been told here, as far as the increase in security around the elections is concerned, not to expect to see U.S. troops manning positions outside election booths. What is more likely to be happening, the expectation here is that the offensive against the insurgents will increase, perhaps in intensity and pace ahead of the elections to try and head off or try and deal with any increase in the insurgency violence -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Let me tell you or quote "The New York Times," what they say this morning. They say Mosul's 5,000-member police force has -- and this is the word they use -- "disintegrated." If that's the case, is it safe to then assume that the reason we're sending more troops there is to do the job that we were once hoping these 5,000 would have helped -- would have done?
ROBERTSON: Well, I put that to the Task Force Olympia commander here, Brigadier General Carter Hamm, a few days ago. He said no. He said he has enough troops to meet the requirements. But he does have concerns about rebuilding the police force.
He said he did think that he could bring it up using other Iraqi security assets, the Iraqi National Army, the Iraqi National Guard, and some of these special commando police units that are being formed around the country. But in terms of rebuilding the police, some 5,000 approximately police cut down by four-fifths to just barely 1,000.
Some of those have begun to come back to duty, but General Hamm and other coalition commanders here were surprised at the way the police collapsed. They know -- they say they know they have a huge job on their hands trying to rebuild the police, but they don't anticipate stepping in and playing the part of the police in the elections.
What the coalition commander here stresses is it's important for Iraqis to see that the election is being carried out by Iraqi officials and that this doesn't, if you will, have the hand of the United States on the elections. It's important for the legitimacy of the elections, it's important, they say, for the people of Iraq to have faith in their own new government and who they vote for.
The United States Army isn't seen to have -- play a big role in the elections. But certainly, not having a strong police force, he said, will be a big problem in providing that security. And he does expect problems in some parts of the city.
SANCHEZ: Nic Robertson right there on the ground for us following the story. We thank you, Nic -- stay safe -- for keeping us abreast of details there of what's going on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Back here in the U.S., the State Department is not weighing in on a call for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to resign. A State Department spokesman says that Annan has been cooperating in the investigation of Iraq's Oil-for-Food program. But the chairman of the Senate committee investigating the scandal wants Annan to step down now.
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SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: We're not going to get to the bottom of this with any kind of credibility unless the guy that was in charge steps back and then lets us figure out what happened. And bottom line is, what happened to the billions that are out there? And are those billions being used to fund an insurgency that's taking American and coalition lives today?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Well, Kofi Annan is getting some support from the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee. Senator Carl Levin says there's no evidence of wrongdoing by Annan. He does stress the need to get to the bottom of the scandal.
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SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: There were problems in the Oil- for-Food program. As a matter of fact, the United States contributed to those problems very significantly because we knew, for instance, that a -- that about $15 billion in direct oil sales were being made by Iraq to Jordan, and to Turkey and to Syria. And, as a matter of fact, under our law, that meant that we should stop foreign aid to Jordan and to Turkey as a result of their receiving directly oil from Iraq instead of putting the money into this escrow at the U.N. for humanitarian purposes.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: Levin says that -- Levin says that Senator Coleman went too far in calling for Annan's resignation.
Some families of the 9/11 victims are demanding that President Bush pressure Congress to pass the intelligence reform bill. The families have organized a series of daily vigils in support of the bill. The measure creates a national intelligence director. It is strongly opposed by the Pentagon and some Republican leaders.
SANCHEZ: Who is watching you while you are at work? Her.
KAGAN: I'm watching.
SANCHEZ: Coming up, the important and maybe unnerving facts behind how and why your boss may want to know more about you than you think, thanks to your computer and your e-mail. Did you know?
KAGAN: Yes, I was thinking about that.
And the changing face of Ukrainian politics. What happened, literally, to change the face of the country's opposition leader?
SANCHEZ: Wow.
KAGAN: I mean, this is just incredible. Before and the after. Was he poisoned, did he do something to change his appearance?
SANCHEZ: Sushi.
KAGAN: Sushi, all right. We will talk about that just ahead.
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KAGAN: We continue to cover the story out of Ukraine. The supreme court there is on the cusp of history. A fourth day there. The high court is considering the nation's future of whether to toss out the results of the recent presidential runoff because of alleged fraud.
Both candidates say they will abide by the court's decision. And the nation's parliament has already weighed in with several resolutions that endorse a new election.
Then there's this aspect of the story that is really difficult to explain, but we're going to try. There is no greater visible metaphor for the dramatic changes taking place in Ukraine than the face of the opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko. And for that, here's CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He had movie star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister. But according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.
Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pock marks, and with them the contours of Ukraine's political landscape. Yushchenko told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.
VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, OPPOSITION LEADER (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities: you will not poison us.
CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion: Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.
The same Kremlin spin doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovych. "The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Gled Pavlovsky (ph) says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff used to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."
Whether the allegations are fairytales or not, Yushchenko the politician became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Wow.
KAGAN: To me, that gives me more questions than answers. That's -- for someone's appearance to change so quickly.
SANCHEZ: Right, no one seems to know. But they literally first said it was because he ate bad sushi. Of course that's what the opposition said.
KAGAN: Right.
SANCHEZ: Who knows.
KAGAN: We continue to cover the story out of the Ukraine. Of course the big question is, who's going to rule that country?
It can't really be seen, but it sure can be felt. Many in the Northeast being blown away by strong winds. The weather is up next.
SANCHEZ: And then later, it's being called Viagra for women. But what are the facts behind the female sex patch? That's what it's called. We're going to look into it for you in our daily dose of health news. So stay where you are.
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SANCHEZ: Bundle up, America. Blustery winds are making life cold and miserable in some parts. This particular part we're showing you right now. Know where that is?
KAGAN: It looks like New York City.
SANCHEZ: Very good. That's the Northeast. I'm not sure if it's New York City or Boston. One of the two.
KAGAN: That would have been Boston.
SANCHEZ: Thousands -- yes, because it's a Boston umbrella.
KAGAN: Well, no, it said WABC there. See, that's WABC. And then the other one is a Boston affiliate.
SANCHEZ: OK. You're so good.
KAGAN: Alphabet soup.
SANCHEZ: I'm going to call you Barnaby Jones from now on.
KAGAN: OK.
SANCHEZ: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are without power after wind snapped some of the utility polls.
KAGAN: New York umbrella.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KAGAN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Look at that. It's amazing. Some gusts, we understand, neared 60 miles an hour as a strong cold front just came in, just invaded just like that.
KAGAN: Makes you glad to be here in the Southeast, where it's not exactly balmy, but it's not...
SANCHEZ: It's cold here.
KAGAN: Yes. Well, you're a south Florida boy. You know, it gets below 80, brrr.
(LAUGHTER)
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Better bundle up.
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KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Orelon.
SANCHEZ: You know, we have the computers here, right? I don't, can you see these over here? They're right here. Hold on. Let me go back over here.
Can you see it now? See these?
KAGAN: Can you see me now?
SANCHEZ: We kind of cheat while we're doing the news sometimes. We'll look at the wires or we'll read...
KAGAN: It's not cheating. It's an aid to help us do our job.
SANCHEZ: It's being -- well, it's doing research.
KAGAN: There you go.
SANCHEZ: Well, we want to ask you this question. You probably have one of these at work. Every time you hit one of these keystrokes, is your boss possibly checking to see what you're writing, what you're writing to, what you're writing about?
KAGAN: I'm really wondering what you're writing over there.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's what we're going to do a segment on. When we come back, we're going to tell if you your boss or someone else could be spying on you at work. It's a special report.
KAGAN: Also, a lot more ahead, other news as well, the top stories.
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