Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Alleged Abu Ghraib Ringleader to Stand Trial; Pentagon Steps Up Efforts in Tsunami Countries; Arrests in Civil Rights Murders
Aired January 07, 2005 - 10:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We got to run, too. Here's Daryn and Rick now at the CNN Center on a Friday. Good morning to you guys.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning to the both of you. Good going there, guys, by the way.
And we do have an opportunity to break some of that new video that's been coming in down for our viewers, all in an effort to get a better handle or perspective on what's going on in the tsunami affected areas.
KAGAN: Yes. And we're going to get to that in a minute. Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
We begin with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has wrapped up his tour of three south Asian countries devastated by the tsunamis. In Sri Lanka, Powell's last stop, relief missions ratcheted up today with U.S. Marine Corps helicopters, ferrying supplies across the region. Powell says he'll share his findings with President Bush on Monday.
Jury selection gets under way today in the military trial of U.S. Army Specialist Charles Graner. He, the alleged ringleader of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Iraq. Some charges have been dropped but Graner still faces charges of assault and conspiracy. His attorney is expected to claim he was only following orders.
Winter storms that tormented the Midwest for most of the week have moved to the northeast. But most troubles linger behind. In Ohio, tens of thousands of people are without power after ice snapped free limbs and power lines. Central and southern Ohio is dealing with flooding across the country messy roads are blamed for 17 traffic deaths.
A new jobs report came out about 90 minutes ago, showing that the total number of jobs created in 2004 was the best showing in five years. The Labor Department says 2.2 million jobs were created last year. The White House says nearly as many new jobs will be created this coming year.
A good Friday morning to all of you out there. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
The latest on the tsunami involves more aid, more inspections and sadly more bodies. Here we go.
We begin in Indonesia where authorities in the Aceh Province have pulled 4,000 more bodies from the rubble. Touring that area, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the devastation the worst he has ever seen. There are security concerns for aid workers in Indonesia. U.S. relief groups are pulling banners from trucks to try to keep a low profile in the predominantly Muslim nation.
And a brighter note, tourists in Thailand are now saying that they are amazed at how fast the resorts are getting back to normal. Cleanup is nearly done in some areas, with hotels eager to try and attract visitors once again.
And then we had mentioned at the very beginning of this newscast, we do have some new video to show you now. Well, it shows the power of the tsunami. Take a look at these pictures, these waves. This is video shot by a 16-year-old boy. He and his family were visiting a rock memorial about 500 yards at the very tip of India. They were waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this ferry to arrive. But it wouldn't get there.
Eight hundred people, mostly tourists, ended up taking shelter, as they were hit by the big waves. The ferries were shut down. The boat at sea stranded. Finally, this helicopter showed up and tried to do sorties to stop the visitors and take them off the ferries and part of the island, as well. Boats were finally sent out and rescued some of the remaining tourists.
KAGAN: Now to Secretary of State Colin Powell. He has wrapped up his tour of the tsunami swept nations today. In an exclusive interview with our John King, the secretary of state talked about what he saw on this trip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Sri Lanka is the third and final stop of Secretary Powell's tour of the countries most devastated by the tsunami. And while here, he took a helicopter ride to the coastal city of Galle, some 4,000 people died there of the 30,000 people who died in Sri Lanka. Mr. Powell, at one point, walking through a relief center. Food and medical supplies stacked as he walked by.
Also seeing here, more extensively than anywhere else on this trip, survivors of the tsunami. Mr. Powell, at one point, kneeling down to say hello to a young child sitting on his mother's lap while waiting for medical care.
He also received a briefing from the top U.S. aid official here in Sri Lanka, who told him so far so good from his perspective in terms of getting food and medicine. The most urgent need here, Secretary Powell was told, is for temporary use housing. Many still living under plastic sheeting or in schools that are being used as temporary shelter.
The secretary announced the United States would give another $10 million for Sri Lanka, to bring to $24 million the total aid committed to this country so far. That latest $10 million to be used for temporary housing.
Secretary Powell, after his tour here in Sri Lanka, gave CNN an exclusive interview in which he talked of his visit to all three countries. Visiting in Thailand where the bodies washed ashore on the beaches. Sumatra in Indonesia, where the island half disappeared. Houses crumbled to rubble. And here, where he drove along the coast, and saw boats tossed along the shoreline.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Think of what it must have been like when that wave hit, and the horror that must have been in the hearts and minds of these people knowing they're facing sudden death. And you now see cleanup activity under way.
You see buildings knocked down. But what you don't see any longer are the people who were here. Thousands upon thousands of people who simply lost their lives in a matter of moments. So every building that I saw that was knocked down or the debris that I saw, that represented human beings that lost their lives here in one terrible, horrible devastating moment on December 26.
KING: Secretary Powell said he expects to speak to the president sometime Friday, then will brief him back at the White House on Monday. As he has throughout this trip, Secretary Powell saying he does not believe money is an issue right now. He does not believe food is an issue right now.
The most important issue, he says, is to coordinate all the food, all the medicine, all the supplies, and all the aid workers flooding into these agencies. The secretary says he is somewhat optimistic. But he says if more American help is needed, for example more Marines on the way to Sri Lanka, Secretary Powell says that aid will come.
John King, CNN, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Well, you heard in that report by John King with Secretary Powell was saying. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan took his own tour of the tsunami destruction today. Had a similar reaction. All things considered, Annan's helicopter flight took him over Indonesia's Aceh Province. Annan was joined by his wife and the World Bank president.
Now, viewing the ravished homes and the flattened coastlines, Annan said, this is a direct quote, "You wonder where are the people. What happened to them," he said. But like Powell, Annan also saw signs of survivors starting to rebuild their lives in many cases.
Humanitarian operations picked up dramatically today at the airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. U.S. Marine helicopters began ferrying supplies to the decimated district of Ampara. That's on the country's east coast, as we've shown you in the last couple of days. Now, the Colombo Airport is the hub of Sri Lanka's relief effort. More than 130 relief flights have arrived from around the world. Crews unload 350 tons of goods daily there. The supplies are then taken to a warehouse. It's about the size of two football fields. From there, trucks take the supplies over rough roads to hit some of the areas that have been, well, affected the most. One U.S. Marine sergeant spoke of this cooperative effort.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDE PILE, STAFF SERGEANT, U.S. MARINES: We all fight for the same cause. We want to do the same thing. And that's just help the people here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Sergeant Pile goes on to say that this is one of the most important missions that he's ever been on.
KAGAN: It is a long time from Colombo's airport to the hard-hit coastal areas. But local aid groups and volunteers in one southern town aren't just waiting on international help.
CNN's Paula Hancocks looks at how people are helping one another in the village of Bentota.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A week and a half ago, this would have been a typical site at Bentota's Wunderbar; a 24-hour bar in southern Sri Lanka packed with tourists and frowned upon by some of the locals. But music has been replaced by cooking. The boys, who love to party all night, now slave over a hot stove until the early hours and deliver the food to the neighboring refugee camps.
Locally organized, internationally funded, the Wunderbar boys have joined the private fund-raising group rebuilding Sri Lanka to help the tsunami victims.
CHANCE: GUANATUKTA, OWNER, WUNDERBAR (through translator): Some people come here and help people. Today we distribute 1500-five packets. I help every percent. Whatever it is, Sri Lankan or Tamil Muslim, no matter.
HANCOCKS: A local refugee camp calls the group asking for mattresses for the babies to sleep on. Twenty minutes later, mattresses from a local hotel are being collected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever you do. Whatever we have.
HANCOCKS: The owner says he desperately wants to help. All he and others need is someone to tell them how. Just hours after their request for mattresses come in they arrive at the refugee camp.
I'm told there is enough food and water in this camp. But the scramble for the food this van has to offer tells a different story. Rebuilding Sri Lanka wants to take the relief process to the next level, albeit still a basic level of care and comfort.
This camp has just two working toilets between hundreds of people. The group wants to help the refugees to help themselves. Rebuilding their houses, restoring their independence. For that they need money. More money than a local initiative has. Many are asking where the international aid organizations are?
PARIYANTHA GUNARWARDENA, REBUILDING SRI LANKA: But I think they are actually too slow. They had to planned really well and we have to help right now. Because they are talking and I think maybe they will help. But it's getting too late now.
HANCOCKS (on camera): The power of local knowledge is immense when it comes to helping the victims rebuild their homes and their lives. Just one phone call means that the babies in that particular camp will now have something to sleep on tonight.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Bentota, Sri Lanka.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: If you want to donate to tsunami relief. You may still have time to get a 2004 tax break. Congress has approved a bill allowing Americans to deduct tsunami donations from their 2004 taxes. Donations would have to be made this month to a U.S. aid group. And President Bush still must sign the bill in to law.
Here's an easy way to find an aid group. Go to our Web site, cnn.com. On our home page you'll see a list of tsunami coverage. Click on the word "Donate" and that will take you to a page that links you to more than 70 relief organizations.
A big part of the story of how the United States has come to the world's help in this story has been the military.
Barbara Starr joins us now from the Pentagon about what the next step might be in terms of resources.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn. We've just had a telephone briefing from Utapao, Thailand, top military officials bringing the Pentagon press corps up to date on the situation. At this point, there are 17 U.S. military ships in the region. Ninety military aircraft delivering supplies and relief across the stricken areas.
What commanders are now saying is over the next 96 hours, they will begin to try and determine the long-term, long-range requirements for U.S. military, humanitarian and relief support in Sri Lanka, in Thailand, in Indonesia. Of course besides food and water, there is a great deal of concern about providing required medical care to the region. What officials are saying is the feeling now is that trauma care in the region is slowly but surely coming back online in regional hospitals. That the military, the U.S. military may not have to immediately deploy some mobile military hospitals that they were considering sending. But indeed, they are still sending the hospital ship Mercy to the region. That will take about 30 days to get there.
And here is the reason. Even though there is trauma care in the region, 30 days from now is a great deal of concern about epidemic and disease breaking out. And the feeling is that hospital ship will be on site and able to provide some care. One statistic the U.S. military subpoenas currently medically evacuating about 60 people a day out of the rural areas of Indonesia in the Sumatra region, bringing them back to hospitals, which can provide that trauma care.
There again, like we have heard so much in recent days, more anecdotes, small areas in which help is being offered, but yet so meaningful. What they have told us is a group of mechanics, military mechanics off the carrier Abraham Lincoln went and helped a hospital in Banda Aceh restart a broken generator. Basically, they manufactured a broken part, provided a new part and got that generator back online.
And finally, what they have told us here is, yes, the U.S. military is now going to provide mental health counseling and assistance for U.S. military members in the region, to help them cope with the stress and trauma of what they have seen -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon. Thank you so much for that.
We're also getting new numbers out of the State Department yesterday, the number of Americans now presumed dead from the tsunami is going up. It is now at 20. It was at 18 yesterday. It is expected that number will continue to rise. More than 2,100 inquiries were made to the State Department about missing Americans.
SANCHEZ: Yes. And it's interesting, they, they, delineate that. They say that doesn't mean there are 2,100 unaccounted Americans, it only means there are 2,100 inquiries about unaccounted Americans.
KAGAN: Still a lot of people who we don't know what happened to them.
SANCHEZ: It's sad. While many are donating cash, some children are coming up with other creative ways to help.
KAGAN: Still to come, these New York students received encouragement around the world after 9/11. So now they are trying to help new victims. Their stories coming up in a bit.
SANCHEZ: Also, our cameras are there at one Sri Lankan boy returns to his home. What he does to ease the pain.
ERIC PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Eric Phillips, live in Philadelphia, Mississippi with a major development in three murder cases that stretch back more than 40 years. The latest straight ahead in a live report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: It is more than 40 years after three civil rights workers were ambushed and killed on the back roads of Mississippi. A reputed Klansman now faces arraignment today. The murders and the long search for justice inspired by the movie "Mississippi Burning."
Our Eric Phillips is in Philadelphia, Mississippi with more on the story.
Eric, good morning.
PHILLIPS: Daryn, good morning to you. It may feel like a movie to some this morning, because a lot of people never expected that this day would come. We're talking about three murders that happened back in 1964. And just yesterday, just yesterday was someone indicted on state murder charges. That one is 79-year-old Edgar Ray Killen. He was one of those who authorities believe played a part in the murders of the three civil rights workers back in 1964.
Of course, they were 21-year-old James Chaney, 20-year-old Andrew Goodman, and 24-year-old Michael Schwerner. The three men had come here to Philadelphia, Mississippi because they were investigating the burning of a black church. That church was one of the locations where those three men were holding some of the voter registration drives they were doing during that particular summer.
After they left the church, they were on their way to Meridian, Mississippi, when they were pulled over by local authorities. They were taken to jail, released hours later. Only to be set into a deadly trap on a dark road. Members of the Ku Klux Klan pulled them over, shot them, beat them and then buried their bodies in an earthen dam. Never one was ever held accountable for murder charges.
There were 19 people who were indicted on federal charges because of conspiracy. Many of people also got off on those federal charges. Only seven were actually prosecuted and convicted on those federal charges. But this is the first time someone has actually faced state murder charges, and that someone again, is 79-year-old Edward Ray Killen.
He was arrested at his home without incident on Thursday. This morning he is in the Neshoba County jail being held without bond. He will be arraigned here at the courthouse later this morning -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Eric, so it is this amazing development. But the question is why now after all these years?
PHILLIPS: Well, The attorney general of Mississippi Jim hood decided a year ago that he was going to reopen this case. In part because of sustained public outcry, stories that he kept hearing that piqued his interest, and stories that were too consistent to be made up. He decided to look in to it.
He started interviewing many people. And bear in mind that this is something that happened so long ago that many of the witnesses aren't even around any longer. But he put the pieces together as best he could, interviewing people himself. And he believes he has a very strong case. He went after an indictment and he got one. And he believes he will get a conviction. There is no word at this point however, whether there will be further arrests in this case.
KAGAN: Eric Phillips from Philadelphia, Mississippi. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: And it wasn't that long ago. In fact, there are people who still remember this, during this newscast we're going to interview somebody who actually knew was a friend of the people who were slain, and is going to tell us his reaction to this new indictment.
KAGAN: A lot of people never let go. Do not forget.
Also the story of Andrea Yates who was convicted of killing her own children. Now she'll be getting a new trial. Her husband spoke to Larry King last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL YATES, ANDREA YATES' HUSBAND: She did this horrible, you know, thing that just devastated all of us. But I can't lose sight of the fact that this wasn't her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Also the holidays are over and the bills come rolling in.
KAGAN: Oh, yes. There's that.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Swamped in debt from your Christmas shopping are you? Up next Gerri Willis, five tips that will help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we do have some news coming in. U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick is going to be named as the new deputy to incoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Deputy is an important position at the State Department.
You may recall, in fact, it was a high profile person that he's replacing. The barrel-chested, as he's often called, Richard Armitage. Longtime friend of George Bush. President George Bush. So there you have it. Brand-new person as Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, as you see him there on the screen with Condoleezza Rice.
Moving on the holiday decorations are getting packed away. A new calendar is on the wall and that means the credit card bills, as we mentioned a little while ago on the way, as well. If better money management is one of your new year's resolutions you need to listen up to this.
CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis has her "Top Five Tips" on breaking your bad financial habits, and she begins with just coming clean.
Right? GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Absolutely. Admit the problem, Rick. That's job No. 1. You can't fix the problem if you don't know what it is. Think about your personality. Is that what's contributing to your bad financial habits? Are you compulsive? You can't stop spending money? Or maybe you're really conservative, and you don't want to put your money in high-risk stocks.
Think about what the problem is and then you've got to think about how much money it's costing you, Rick. American families across this country are paying some $1400 on average in interest and fees, every year on their credit cards. That's money right out the window that they could be saving.
SANCHEZ: I'm all choked up just thinking about all the money I spent during the holidays. So you recognize the problem. You come clean. Now what do you do about it?
WILLIS: A lot of people want to go cold turkey, right? They think well, I'm going to put the credit card away; I'll never use it again. That's just not realistic. You've got to think about what you can do. What is attainable? Small successes will breed big successes in the long run. So think about how you can get started. And don't set overwhelming goals that you aren't likely to make.
SANCHEZ: Yes, because if you start spending again you could have another relapse and end up where you were in January.
WILLIS: That's right. And that happens a lot. People relapse all the time and think oh well, I'll try it again next year. But you're much better off sticking to your guns even if you relapse, come back, try over again until you get it right.
SANCHEZ: What about the more, I suppose the sophisticated stuff, like the actual investment involving things like 401ks?
WILLIS: Well, I think you should go out and build a support system. If there's stuff that's more complicated, you're uncomfortable with it, go get some help. If you're afraid to set up your 401k, maybe you're intimidated by the number of mutual funds available to you. Think about going and getting a financial adviser who works on an hourly basis to help you pick them out. That makes life simple. Maybe hiring an accountant who can do your taxes for you if you're constantly procrastinating about taxes.
There's always somebody out there who can help you if you really can't do some of these tasks yourself.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Most of those people often are worth their money in gold. And if you get to the point where you think you're all set against, as some would say are you golden? Are you set to go? Or do you always need is this an ongoing process?
WILLIS: Ongoing process, definitely. You've got to keep evaluating. Thinking about what you're doing and what can you do next. Because let's face it, Rick, if you solve one problem -- let's say you get the credit card debt under control. Well, then maybe you can move on to new ones. Maybe you start saving for your kids' college education. Maybe you can put that house fund together.
There are lots of other things you can get onto, because once you start getting those little successes, you're going to start thinking about yourself differently and you'll be prepared to go after the really big problems.
SANCHEZ: Gerri Willis, as usual helping us out with some real good information. Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: Thank you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Appreciated it.
KAGAN: They received letters of inspiration after 9/11. Now it's their turn to help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we like bring in any spare change that we find around the house, then we should bring it in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Still to come, bright young minds, sixth graders brainstorm creative ways to pitch in the tsunami relief effort.
SANCHEZ: Also several dead, hundreds sick, thousands now evacuated. A look at how a terrible train wreck can have an influence on the way lives might be saved in the future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're coming up right on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right now in the news.
Jerusalem police briefly detaining a Palestinian presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouti today. Police are saying Barghouti broke a deal where candidates were not allowed to campaign near a site holy to both Jews and Muslims. Barghouti was released after several hours of detainment.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 7, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We got to run, too. Here's Daryn and Rick now at the CNN Center on a Friday. Good morning to you guys.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning to the both of you. Good going there, guys, by the way.
And we do have an opportunity to break some of that new video that's been coming in down for our viewers, all in an effort to get a better handle or perspective on what's going on in the tsunami affected areas.
KAGAN: Yes. And we're going to get to that in a minute. Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
We begin with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has wrapped up his tour of three south Asian countries devastated by the tsunamis. In Sri Lanka, Powell's last stop, relief missions ratcheted up today with U.S. Marine Corps helicopters, ferrying supplies across the region. Powell says he'll share his findings with President Bush on Monday.
Jury selection gets under way today in the military trial of U.S. Army Specialist Charles Graner. He, the alleged ringleader of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Iraq. Some charges have been dropped but Graner still faces charges of assault and conspiracy. His attorney is expected to claim he was only following orders.
Winter storms that tormented the Midwest for most of the week have moved to the northeast. But most troubles linger behind. In Ohio, tens of thousands of people are without power after ice snapped free limbs and power lines. Central and southern Ohio is dealing with flooding across the country messy roads are blamed for 17 traffic deaths.
A new jobs report came out about 90 minutes ago, showing that the total number of jobs created in 2004 was the best showing in five years. The Labor Department says 2.2 million jobs were created last year. The White House says nearly as many new jobs will be created this coming year.
A good Friday morning to all of you out there. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
The latest on the tsunami involves more aid, more inspections and sadly more bodies. Here we go.
We begin in Indonesia where authorities in the Aceh Province have pulled 4,000 more bodies from the rubble. Touring that area, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the devastation the worst he has ever seen. There are security concerns for aid workers in Indonesia. U.S. relief groups are pulling banners from trucks to try to keep a low profile in the predominantly Muslim nation.
And a brighter note, tourists in Thailand are now saying that they are amazed at how fast the resorts are getting back to normal. Cleanup is nearly done in some areas, with hotels eager to try and attract visitors once again.
And then we had mentioned at the very beginning of this newscast, we do have some new video to show you now. Well, it shows the power of the tsunami. Take a look at these pictures, these waves. This is video shot by a 16-year-old boy. He and his family were visiting a rock memorial about 500 yards at the very tip of India. They were waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this ferry to arrive. But it wouldn't get there.
Eight hundred people, mostly tourists, ended up taking shelter, as they were hit by the big waves. The ferries were shut down. The boat at sea stranded. Finally, this helicopter showed up and tried to do sorties to stop the visitors and take them off the ferries and part of the island, as well. Boats were finally sent out and rescued some of the remaining tourists.
KAGAN: Now to Secretary of State Colin Powell. He has wrapped up his tour of the tsunami swept nations today. In an exclusive interview with our John King, the secretary of state talked about what he saw on this trip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Sri Lanka is the third and final stop of Secretary Powell's tour of the countries most devastated by the tsunami. And while here, he took a helicopter ride to the coastal city of Galle, some 4,000 people died there of the 30,000 people who died in Sri Lanka. Mr. Powell, at one point, walking through a relief center. Food and medical supplies stacked as he walked by.
Also seeing here, more extensively than anywhere else on this trip, survivors of the tsunami. Mr. Powell, at one point, kneeling down to say hello to a young child sitting on his mother's lap while waiting for medical care.
He also received a briefing from the top U.S. aid official here in Sri Lanka, who told him so far so good from his perspective in terms of getting food and medicine. The most urgent need here, Secretary Powell was told, is for temporary use housing. Many still living under plastic sheeting or in schools that are being used as temporary shelter.
The secretary announced the United States would give another $10 million for Sri Lanka, to bring to $24 million the total aid committed to this country so far. That latest $10 million to be used for temporary housing.
Secretary Powell, after his tour here in Sri Lanka, gave CNN an exclusive interview in which he talked of his visit to all three countries. Visiting in Thailand where the bodies washed ashore on the beaches. Sumatra in Indonesia, where the island half disappeared. Houses crumbled to rubble. And here, where he drove along the coast, and saw boats tossed along the shoreline.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Think of what it must have been like when that wave hit, and the horror that must have been in the hearts and minds of these people knowing they're facing sudden death. And you now see cleanup activity under way.
You see buildings knocked down. But what you don't see any longer are the people who were here. Thousands upon thousands of people who simply lost their lives in a matter of moments. So every building that I saw that was knocked down or the debris that I saw, that represented human beings that lost their lives here in one terrible, horrible devastating moment on December 26.
KING: Secretary Powell said he expects to speak to the president sometime Friday, then will brief him back at the White House on Monday. As he has throughout this trip, Secretary Powell saying he does not believe money is an issue right now. He does not believe food is an issue right now.
The most important issue, he says, is to coordinate all the food, all the medicine, all the supplies, and all the aid workers flooding into these agencies. The secretary says he is somewhat optimistic. But he says if more American help is needed, for example more Marines on the way to Sri Lanka, Secretary Powell says that aid will come.
John King, CNN, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Well, you heard in that report by John King with Secretary Powell was saying. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan took his own tour of the tsunami destruction today. Had a similar reaction. All things considered, Annan's helicopter flight took him over Indonesia's Aceh Province. Annan was joined by his wife and the World Bank president.
Now, viewing the ravished homes and the flattened coastlines, Annan said, this is a direct quote, "You wonder where are the people. What happened to them," he said. But like Powell, Annan also saw signs of survivors starting to rebuild their lives in many cases.
Humanitarian operations picked up dramatically today at the airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. U.S. Marine helicopters began ferrying supplies to the decimated district of Ampara. That's on the country's east coast, as we've shown you in the last couple of days. Now, the Colombo Airport is the hub of Sri Lanka's relief effort. More than 130 relief flights have arrived from around the world. Crews unload 350 tons of goods daily there. The supplies are then taken to a warehouse. It's about the size of two football fields. From there, trucks take the supplies over rough roads to hit some of the areas that have been, well, affected the most. One U.S. Marine sergeant spoke of this cooperative effort.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDE PILE, STAFF SERGEANT, U.S. MARINES: We all fight for the same cause. We want to do the same thing. And that's just help the people here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Sergeant Pile goes on to say that this is one of the most important missions that he's ever been on.
KAGAN: It is a long time from Colombo's airport to the hard-hit coastal areas. But local aid groups and volunteers in one southern town aren't just waiting on international help.
CNN's Paula Hancocks looks at how people are helping one another in the village of Bentota.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A week and a half ago, this would have been a typical site at Bentota's Wunderbar; a 24-hour bar in southern Sri Lanka packed with tourists and frowned upon by some of the locals. But music has been replaced by cooking. The boys, who love to party all night, now slave over a hot stove until the early hours and deliver the food to the neighboring refugee camps.
Locally organized, internationally funded, the Wunderbar boys have joined the private fund-raising group rebuilding Sri Lanka to help the tsunami victims.
CHANCE: GUANATUKTA, OWNER, WUNDERBAR (through translator): Some people come here and help people. Today we distribute 1500-five packets. I help every percent. Whatever it is, Sri Lankan or Tamil Muslim, no matter.
HANCOCKS: A local refugee camp calls the group asking for mattresses for the babies to sleep on. Twenty minutes later, mattresses from a local hotel are being collected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever you do. Whatever we have.
HANCOCKS: The owner says he desperately wants to help. All he and others need is someone to tell them how. Just hours after their request for mattresses come in they arrive at the refugee camp.
I'm told there is enough food and water in this camp. But the scramble for the food this van has to offer tells a different story. Rebuilding Sri Lanka wants to take the relief process to the next level, albeit still a basic level of care and comfort.
This camp has just two working toilets between hundreds of people. The group wants to help the refugees to help themselves. Rebuilding their houses, restoring their independence. For that they need money. More money than a local initiative has. Many are asking where the international aid organizations are?
PARIYANTHA GUNARWARDENA, REBUILDING SRI LANKA: But I think they are actually too slow. They had to planned really well and we have to help right now. Because they are talking and I think maybe they will help. But it's getting too late now.
HANCOCKS (on camera): The power of local knowledge is immense when it comes to helping the victims rebuild their homes and their lives. Just one phone call means that the babies in that particular camp will now have something to sleep on tonight.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Bentota, Sri Lanka.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: If you want to donate to tsunami relief. You may still have time to get a 2004 tax break. Congress has approved a bill allowing Americans to deduct tsunami donations from their 2004 taxes. Donations would have to be made this month to a U.S. aid group. And President Bush still must sign the bill in to law.
Here's an easy way to find an aid group. Go to our Web site, cnn.com. On our home page you'll see a list of tsunami coverage. Click on the word "Donate" and that will take you to a page that links you to more than 70 relief organizations.
A big part of the story of how the United States has come to the world's help in this story has been the military.
Barbara Starr joins us now from the Pentagon about what the next step might be in terms of resources.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn. We've just had a telephone briefing from Utapao, Thailand, top military officials bringing the Pentagon press corps up to date on the situation. At this point, there are 17 U.S. military ships in the region. Ninety military aircraft delivering supplies and relief across the stricken areas.
What commanders are now saying is over the next 96 hours, they will begin to try and determine the long-term, long-range requirements for U.S. military, humanitarian and relief support in Sri Lanka, in Thailand, in Indonesia. Of course besides food and water, there is a great deal of concern about providing required medical care to the region. What officials are saying is the feeling now is that trauma care in the region is slowly but surely coming back online in regional hospitals. That the military, the U.S. military may not have to immediately deploy some mobile military hospitals that they were considering sending. But indeed, they are still sending the hospital ship Mercy to the region. That will take about 30 days to get there.
And here is the reason. Even though there is trauma care in the region, 30 days from now is a great deal of concern about epidemic and disease breaking out. And the feeling is that hospital ship will be on site and able to provide some care. One statistic the U.S. military subpoenas currently medically evacuating about 60 people a day out of the rural areas of Indonesia in the Sumatra region, bringing them back to hospitals, which can provide that trauma care.
There again, like we have heard so much in recent days, more anecdotes, small areas in which help is being offered, but yet so meaningful. What they have told us is a group of mechanics, military mechanics off the carrier Abraham Lincoln went and helped a hospital in Banda Aceh restart a broken generator. Basically, they manufactured a broken part, provided a new part and got that generator back online.
And finally, what they have told us here is, yes, the U.S. military is now going to provide mental health counseling and assistance for U.S. military members in the region, to help them cope with the stress and trauma of what they have seen -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon. Thank you so much for that.
We're also getting new numbers out of the State Department yesterday, the number of Americans now presumed dead from the tsunami is going up. It is now at 20. It was at 18 yesterday. It is expected that number will continue to rise. More than 2,100 inquiries were made to the State Department about missing Americans.
SANCHEZ: Yes. And it's interesting, they, they, delineate that. They say that doesn't mean there are 2,100 unaccounted Americans, it only means there are 2,100 inquiries about unaccounted Americans.
KAGAN: Still a lot of people who we don't know what happened to them.
SANCHEZ: It's sad. While many are donating cash, some children are coming up with other creative ways to help.
KAGAN: Still to come, these New York students received encouragement around the world after 9/11. So now they are trying to help new victims. Their stories coming up in a bit.
SANCHEZ: Also, our cameras are there at one Sri Lankan boy returns to his home. What he does to ease the pain.
ERIC PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Eric Phillips, live in Philadelphia, Mississippi with a major development in three murder cases that stretch back more than 40 years. The latest straight ahead in a live report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: It is more than 40 years after three civil rights workers were ambushed and killed on the back roads of Mississippi. A reputed Klansman now faces arraignment today. The murders and the long search for justice inspired by the movie "Mississippi Burning."
Our Eric Phillips is in Philadelphia, Mississippi with more on the story.
Eric, good morning.
PHILLIPS: Daryn, good morning to you. It may feel like a movie to some this morning, because a lot of people never expected that this day would come. We're talking about three murders that happened back in 1964. And just yesterday, just yesterday was someone indicted on state murder charges. That one is 79-year-old Edgar Ray Killen. He was one of those who authorities believe played a part in the murders of the three civil rights workers back in 1964.
Of course, they were 21-year-old James Chaney, 20-year-old Andrew Goodman, and 24-year-old Michael Schwerner. The three men had come here to Philadelphia, Mississippi because they were investigating the burning of a black church. That church was one of the locations where those three men were holding some of the voter registration drives they were doing during that particular summer.
After they left the church, they were on their way to Meridian, Mississippi, when they were pulled over by local authorities. They were taken to jail, released hours later. Only to be set into a deadly trap on a dark road. Members of the Ku Klux Klan pulled them over, shot them, beat them and then buried their bodies in an earthen dam. Never one was ever held accountable for murder charges.
There were 19 people who were indicted on federal charges because of conspiracy. Many of people also got off on those federal charges. Only seven were actually prosecuted and convicted on those federal charges. But this is the first time someone has actually faced state murder charges, and that someone again, is 79-year-old Edward Ray Killen.
He was arrested at his home without incident on Thursday. This morning he is in the Neshoba County jail being held without bond. He will be arraigned here at the courthouse later this morning -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Eric, so it is this amazing development. But the question is why now after all these years?
PHILLIPS: Well, The attorney general of Mississippi Jim hood decided a year ago that he was going to reopen this case. In part because of sustained public outcry, stories that he kept hearing that piqued his interest, and stories that were too consistent to be made up. He decided to look in to it.
He started interviewing many people. And bear in mind that this is something that happened so long ago that many of the witnesses aren't even around any longer. But he put the pieces together as best he could, interviewing people himself. And he believes he has a very strong case. He went after an indictment and he got one. And he believes he will get a conviction. There is no word at this point however, whether there will be further arrests in this case.
KAGAN: Eric Phillips from Philadelphia, Mississippi. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: And it wasn't that long ago. In fact, there are people who still remember this, during this newscast we're going to interview somebody who actually knew was a friend of the people who were slain, and is going to tell us his reaction to this new indictment.
KAGAN: A lot of people never let go. Do not forget.
Also the story of Andrea Yates who was convicted of killing her own children. Now she'll be getting a new trial. Her husband spoke to Larry King last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL YATES, ANDREA YATES' HUSBAND: She did this horrible, you know, thing that just devastated all of us. But I can't lose sight of the fact that this wasn't her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Also the holidays are over and the bills come rolling in.
KAGAN: Oh, yes. There's that.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Swamped in debt from your Christmas shopping are you? Up next Gerri Willis, five tips that will help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we do have some news coming in. U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick is going to be named as the new deputy to incoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Deputy is an important position at the State Department.
You may recall, in fact, it was a high profile person that he's replacing. The barrel-chested, as he's often called, Richard Armitage. Longtime friend of George Bush. President George Bush. So there you have it. Brand-new person as Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, as you see him there on the screen with Condoleezza Rice.
Moving on the holiday decorations are getting packed away. A new calendar is on the wall and that means the credit card bills, as we mentioned a little while ago on the way, as well. If better money management is one of your new year's resolutions you need to listen up to this.
CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis has her "Top Five Tips" on breaking your bad financial habits, and she begins with just coming clean.
Right? GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Absolutely. Admit the problem, Rick. That's job No. 1. You can't fix the problem if you don't know what it is. Think about your personality. Is that what's contributing to your bad financial habits? Are you compulsive? You can't stop spending money? Or maybe you're really conservative, and you don't want to put your money in high-risk stocks.
Think about what the problem is and then you've got to think about how much money it's costing you, Rick. American families across this country are paying some $1400 on average in interest and fees, every year on their credit cards. That's money right out the window that they could be saving.
SANCHEZ: I'm all choked up just thinking about all the money I spent during the holidays. So you recognize the problem. You come clean. Now what do you do about it?
WILLIS: A lot of people want to go cold turkey, right? They think well, I'm going to put the credit card away; I'll never use it again. That's just not realistic. You've got to think about what you can do. What is attainable? Small successes will breed big successes in the long run. So think about how you can get started. And don't set overwhelming goals that you aren't likely to make.
SANCHEZ: Yes, because if you start spending again you could have another relapse and end up where you were in January.
WILLIS: That's right. And that happens a lot. People relapse all the time and think oh well, I'll try it again next year. But you're much better off sticking to your guns even if you relapse, come back, try over again until you get it right.
SANCHEZ: What about the more, I suppose the sophisticated stuff, like the actual investment involving things like 401ks?
WILLIS: Well, I think you should go out and build a support system. If there's stuff that's more complicated, you're uncomfortable with it, go get some help. If you're afraid to set up your 401k, maybe you're intimidated by the number of mutual funds available to you. Think about going and getting a financial adviser who works on an hourly basis to help you pick them out. That makes life simple. Maybe hiring an accountant who can do your taxes for you if you're constantly procrastinating about taxes.
There's always somebody out there who can help you if you really can't do some of these tasks yourself.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Most of those people often are worth their money in gold. And if you get to the point where you think you're all set against, as some would say are you golden? Are you set to go? Or do you always need is this an ongoing process?
WILLIS: Ongoing process, definitely. You've got to keep evaluating. Thinking about what you're doing and what can you do next. Because let's face it, Rick, if you solve one problem -- let's say you get the credit card debt under control. Well, then maybe you can move on to new ones. Maybe you start saving for your kids' college education. Maybe you can put that house fund together.
There are lots of other things you can get onto, because once you start getting those little successes, you're going to start thinking about yourself differently and you'll be prepared to go after the really big problems.
SANCHEZ: Gerri Willis, as usual helping us out with some real good information. Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: Thank you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Appreciated it.
KAGAN: They received letters of inspiration after 9/11. Now it's their turn to help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we like bring in any spare change that we find around the house, then we should bring it in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Still to come, bright young minds, sixth graders brainstorm creative ways to pitch in the tsunami relief effort.
SANCHEZ: Also several dead, hundreds sick, thousands now evacuated. A look at how a terrible train wreck can have an influence on the way lives might be saved in the future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're coming up right on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right now in the news.
Jerusalem police briefly detaining a Palestinian presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouti today. Police are saying Barghouti broke a deal where candidates were not allowed to campaign near a site holy to both Jews and Muslims. Barghouti was released after several hours of detainment.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
