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CNN Live Today
California Man's Desperate Search for Family Ends in Tragedy; Aide to Iraq's Prominent Cleric Gun Down; Kevin Spacey Nominated for Golden Globe
Aired January 13, 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a lot going on here.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Happy to be with you.
As a matter of fact, we do have some weather warnings that we're going to be telling you about affecting certain states. We'll tell you where they are. In fact, here's a look at what's happening right now in the news.
KAGAN: Authority says they don't expect to find anyone else in the debris from the mudslide in La Conchita, California. All of the people they thought were missing have been accounted for, but they're continuing to search just in case. We're going to have live updates from the scene in just a few minutes.
A mixed view of the nation's economy this morning. This year's retail sales ended strongly with a higher than expected increase of 1.2 percent in December. This morning's government report on unemployment, however, was less rosy. It shows an unexpected jump last week of 367 new unemployment filings.
Secretary of State Colin Powell -- excuse me, choking up thinking about Secretary of State Colin Powell. He says the U.S. may be able to start bringing home its troops from Iraq this year. He says such a drawn down would depend on whether Iraqi forces assume a greater role in providing security there. The Pentagon has boosted American troop strength to 150,000 ahead of this month's elections.
More violence in the run-up to the Iraqi election. The director of a Baghdad election center was gunned down today. In other attacks, insurgents killed an aide to the leading Shiite cleric Ali al Sistani. Five others were also killed in that attack. Gunmen killed six people outside of a Baghdad hotel. A prominent Turkish businessman was kidnap in that attack.
We are kicking things off on this Wednesday morning. Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
And we continue to focus on the plight of the people in California. Families there trying to come to grips with losses in the aftermath of that massive mudslide.
Let's get you up to date now on the latest developments from that coastal community of La Conchita, California. Fire officials say all reported missing in the area have been accounted for now. Search crews are still trying to pick through the mud and some of the debris on the chance that someone unknown may still be trapped inside one of those air pockets that we've been telling you about.
Also, on a tragic note, body of a mother and three daughters were recovered. Jimmy Wallet had worked side by side with firefighters hoping to find his family alive.
Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN JESSEMAN, VENTURA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE: Normally we don't let the family members and the people in the area get too close to the rescue. But because of the environment at the time when this whole thing came down, the slide came down, the people are were aggressively in there to help us. And so instead of fighting with them, we let them get involved and basically put them to work. And they really helped us out a lot. They worked their butts off. And they were a big help to us.
So but when it came time where we found his family it was tough. He was pretty much looking over my shoulder as we digging through the pile and debris, and cutting and sawing, and getting everything out of there. And it was very difficult because we're trying to extricate his family. But at the same time, we were trying to not to expose them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: As rescue crews continue their work in La Conchita, there are concerns of possibly more mudslides.
CNN's Peter Viles is covering the operation. He's joining us now with an update.
So many questions, Peter, affecting those people in that area. Set the scene for us, would you?
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure are a lot of questions, Rick. It has been more than 24 hours since that family was discovered dead inside that pile of mud; and a significant development overnight, which you alluded to, even as the rescue mission went into the fourth day. Rescue officials meetings and going through the list of the missing came to a conclusion. A belief at this point that there are no more bodies to be recovered inside that pile of mud. That would leave the death toll at 10.
Here is how the fire chief here at Ventura County explained that earlier on CNN. This is the fire chief of Ventura County.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB ROPER, CHIEF, VENTURA COUNTRY, FIRE DEPT.: All of the people we had on the list that were confirmed missing have been accounted for. We have an additional list of about 19 people that we've checked with the post office, Internet searches and so forth, that may have been getting mail or lived in the area. And we have issued that list out to the media, asking people to call in to confirm those names or not, so we can make some final conclusions today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VILES: That said, the rescue mission does continue. And it is a very large effort here. It is larger than the town, if you will; about 600 people working on this rescue mission in two it-hour shifts. At any given time, you might have 250 people, six pieces of heavy equipment up on that hillside.
And there is some danger involved, as you said earlier, Rick. Concerns that the pile of mud and earth that they are working on and digging into, itself is not stable. So we may get to a point when the rescue mission ends and it goes to a recovery mission that they do not take away all of that material. That is something they have already raised as a possibility with us here in La Conchita -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you the question, Peter, that I think a lot of people all over the country may be asking themselves, as they watch this story unfold. Why would anyone want to continue living there next to a hill that has a history of mudslides without an adequate warning system?
VILES: Yes. They had a mudslide here 10 years ago. One of the destroyed houses from that mudslide is still up here behind me, it was never taken away. I guess you can ask the same question of people who live in flood plains, because of big flooding in the southwest.
You know, the government came up here yesterday and he stuck up for these people. Governor Schwarzenegger said that the state would do its best to make the area safe, even though none of us know if it's possible to make it safe. And he also said he hoped they wouldn't be forced to leave. So it does go against logic, as you say. But there are people who choose to live in places like this.
SANCHEZ: But wait a minute. There are sensors on that hill right?
VILES: Yes.
SANCHEZ: They didn't work?
VILES: They were not capable of detecting this mudslide. And there's no guarantee that when you know a big piece of earth falls off the side of a hill that some sort of warning system -- there's a warning system now. People are literally watching the hill. If anything were to fall he would look at it see, and blow some horns. And the workers would run away from it. But these things are not perfect.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Tough story. Peter Viles following that for us out of La Conchita. We thank you, Peter, for bringing us up to date. We'll talk to you again -- Daryn. (WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Days of heavy rains have also taken a toll south of the border. Take a look at these pictures, mudslides destroying two houses in Tijuana, Mexico. At least three people were killed. More than 2,500 people have been evacuated. The ground is saturated after 10 inches of rain fell in past three weeks. On average, this area receives eight inches of rain for the entire rainy season.
Let's move north where residents of a small Alaskan village are finally getting heat and power. An Alaskan National Guard helicopter arrived yesterday with equipment and technicians. A blizzard with near-hurricane force winds knocked out power to the town on Sunday. Temperatures have been hovering around 20 degrees below zero.
SANCHEZ: Hmm!
KAGAN: Kaktovik is about 200 miles above the Arctic Circle.
And if you missed it last night, we are going to replay "Extreme Weather A SPECIAL EDITION OF NEWSNIGHT" with Aaron Brown. You can watch it today at 1 p.m. Eastern.
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, residents evacuated after a toxic gas leak from a train wreck in South Carolina, began returning home this morning about half of the 5,500 evacuees are going back in the first wave of the returnees as it's being explained to us. Nine people died when a chlorine gas cloud engulfed Graniteville, South Carolina. This is a week ago. The gas spewed from a ruptured freight car. The latest air samples found absolutely no traces of chlorine.
KAGAN: We move on to Iraq. Insurgents are keeping up their violent campaign, trying to disrupt this months elections.
For the latest, let's go right to Baghdad and CNN's Chris Lawrence -- Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the violence continues to escalate here in Iraq just 17 days before the election. And it doesn't seem to be confined to any one area. Representative for one of Iraq's most important election supporters has now been assassinated.
The Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani had a representative in an area east of Baghdad called Salman Pak. Now, last night as he was leaving a mosque, that assistant, his son and four bodyguards were all gunned down, as they were leaving the mosque to go home.
Now, that's very important politically because the Ayatollah al Sistani is the most prominent Shiite Muslim cleric in Iraq. And he has been urging Shiite Muslims that it is their duty to vote in the upcoming election. And he's also asked them not to respond to violent attacks by some Sunni Muslim insurgents.
Of course, the violence not confine, as I said, to any one area. Right here in the heart of Baghdad earlier this morning, six Iraqis were gunned down at a Baghdad hotel. Iraqi police tell us that a mini bus pulled up to the hotel to pick up a Turkish businessman. As soon as it did, it was surrounded by about 10 men. They opened fire on the bus, killing all six Iraqis inside and then kidnapped that Turkish businessman.
And as the violence seems to not stop, as we get closer and closer to the election, the Bush administration now seems to be lowering some of the expectations saying some Iraqis in certain areas will not be able to vote, because of the violence there that's that still goes on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And we're going to hear more from the president in a little bit here on CNN LIVE TODAY.
Chris Lawrence in Baghdad. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: here's another story we've been following for you. The alleged ringleader in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal could testify in his own defense today. We're talking about U.S. Army Specialist Charles Graner. He's the first soldier to face the military trial for mistreatment of detainees. If convicted, the 36-year-old Reservist could face more than 17 years in a military prison.
KAGAN: Speaking of President Bush, as we were just a minute ago, we move on to our "Security Watch." The president is at the Pentagon this hour. He's getting a briefing on the war on terror.
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has more on that.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. That's right. President Bush is meeting with his top generals as well as Secretary Rumsfeld, not only to get a briefing on the war on terror, but also the latest when it comes to the tsunami relief effort. The military relief effort.
This comes at a critical time for the Bush administration because many believe President Bush's credibility is on the line. Why? Because of the intersection of two events yesterday the administration admitting it found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It has stopped searching. That was of course, the president's main justification for the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the first place.
We've heard White House officials, President Bush as well, saying, of course they believe it was worth it to overthrow Saddam Hussein because they believe this will allow democracy to flourish Iraq, as well as the Middle East.
That brings us to the second event, and that is the upcoming Iraqi elections. President Bush, top White House officials saying that will happen January 30. But what is happening is Bush administration strategy. We have seen it before. That is lowering expectations of the outcome of those elections. They acknowledge they believe that the Sunni minority may not participate. They're threatening to boycott. They also acknowledge that it may be too dangerous in some areas for some of those Iraqis to participate.
So, of course they are looking forward to those elections. And what they are saying is the measure of success for those elections is simply the existence itself, not voter turnout. But the fact that this is the first time it's happened. They also say this is just the first step, the first of three steps when it comes to promoting democracy.
The elections so, of course, this month looking forward to writing a constitution, and then finally, the National Assembly coming together in December. And they also say that perhaps there are other ways that the Sunni minority can participate.
So Daryn, we're looking at a public relations campaign, if you will. The Bush administration saying look, we believe it's going to work. But they are saying it's perhaps just the best possible scenario when it comes to promoting democracy.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thank you.
And we encourage you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
SANCHEZ: Well, we first told you about her last Thursday. She's a single mom, talented artist and she's bringing in more than just peanuts.
KAGAN: Still ahead, Rasha. Her hard work for tsunami victims in her homeland paid off. We will tell you how much coming up.
SANCHEZ: Also, Prince Harry is in one massive royal scandal. This one is so far over the top that Jewish groups and lawmakers and the Brits, well, they're not buying it, and they're angry about it. We'll tell you what it is.
KAGAN: And while Jennifer Garner is flourishing in her life as a spy on television, one real life spy is giving up the fast lane. Later, she reveals some of the tricks of the trade, and tells why she's moving on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Turning the tide from the devastation of south Asia's tsunamis. Indonesia's government has issued the demand that all foreign troops aiding in relief effort should plan to leave the country by March 31.
CNN's Mike Chinoy, who is in Banda Aceh, says it is not clear at this point that the demand is simply an attempt to streamline efforts or whether the military's trying to crackdown on rebel operations there.
Meanwhile, the United Nations says its feeding more than 1 million people across the areas hardest hit by this disaster. Most of those supplies have poured into Sri Lanka. And more aid about to arrive in Indonesia as well.
Meanwhile, pop star Ricky Martin, the latest to lend his fame and face to the relief efforts. He visited Thailand, to see how his charitable foundation can help orphans and families there as well.
KAGAN: Last week we told you about a talented elephant doing her part to raise her money for tsunami victims. Rasha was born in Thailand; she is though now a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, the zoo there. And she's well known for her paintings. One of her works auctioned on eBay with the proceeds going to the Red Cross.
Barry Carpenter with our affiliate, KDIF, reports on the final bid.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARRY CARPENTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Last Wednesday, the Asian elephant broke out the paint and canvas for a good cause to raise money for the American Red Cross International Response Fund. Her painting went up on eBay last Wednesday. The minimum bid was $500. Two hours later, the bid went to $610.
LINDSEY NANTZ, FORT WORTH ZOO: Let's go hit the refresh button.
CARPENTER: Lindsey Nantz and others at the Fort Worth Zoo watched the bids roll in.
NANTZ: Two minutes.
CARPENTER: More than 50 bids were made, but as the clock ticked down, Kenon Jones, sales manager at North Hills Lincoln Mercury, shelled out a sum that's not peanuts. She didn't do it for publicity, but rather for employees and customers who wanted to help.
KENON JONES, WINNING BIDDER: Maybe they didn't have an opportunity or money at the time to be involved with what happened. And so we wanted to do it on their behalf.
NANTZ: Seven thousand dollars and we could not be more thrilled. That's a great size check that we're going to be able to write to the American Red Cross.
CARPENTER: The Red Cross has targeted $400 million to help tsunami victims; a little more than $150 million has been raised. Now the goal is a little closer.
ANITA FOSTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS: We were absolutely ecstatic. We watched the bidding all week long at the eBay Web site. And when that painting sole for $7,000, we all cheered here at the American Red Cross. It's such an outstanding gift.
CARPENTER: The money will buy emergency kits full of pots, pans, water, food and a tent for 117 tsunami-ravaged families.
Meanwhile, back at the zoo, Rasha's paintings have also had an impact. The zoo usually sells about 12 a year. This week it sold 15. Rasha is one busy artist.
NANTZ: Our single, working mother is working overtime the past couple of days just to trying to keep up.
CARPENTER: In Fort Worth, Barry Carpenter for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Well, nobody is saying this one is a wardrobe malfunction. Most are saying it's really just an example of real bad taste. This is Prince Harry. He's sending the royal family into a frenzy with his latest choice of clothing. This one is political. We're going to show you the outfit that's creating a whole lot of talk.
KAGAN: But first, he's nominated for a Golden Globe award. Kevin Spacey talks to us about his latest project, "Beyond the Sea."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: The top of the newscast, we told you about tornado warnings in the southeast, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Taking a look at this. It's Kelvin Reynolds of our affiliate WBRC. He's filed this report in the thick of the storm, just happened a few minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELVIN REYNOLDS, WBRC CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It looks to anyone who is watching on their television sets now, if you saw what was blowing through downtown Tuscaloosa within the last minutes, you saw a large, gray cloud of rain just envelop downtown Tuscaloosa. Picking up all kinds of leaves and debris, blowing them clear over the downtown and south building, which is well over 10 stories tall.
The wind has picked up a lot, as you can see. It's blowing extremely, extremely hard for a little while. We can see the sirens, the tornado sirens here on top of the roof. They were shaking. Antennas on top of the roof of this build building were shaking as well. My photographer, Jay Donahue, he's still shaking.
It's a lot of wind going on here now. We've seen a lot of smaller debris picked up and be carried off from leaves, small branches, paper, that sort of thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Perfect hair for that story. Does not need to worry about it.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Well said.
KAGAN: Kelvin Reynolds, good job for hanging out there with your photographer in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That's our affiliate WBRC. SANCHEZ: Yes. They're getting weather warnings out there.
Yes. Now let's talk about the annual Hollywood award season shifting into high gear Sunday when the Golden Globe awards are announced. The stars are expected to turn out for what has become something of an Oscar preview really.
Among the movies vying for the gold, "Aviator," heard a lot about that. "Finding Neverland," "Sideways," incredible flick, slow but interesting. And "The Incredibles" -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Among the actors nominated for a Golden Globe, Kevin Spacey receives a nod for his portrayal of entertainer Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea."
CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Why are you so connected to Bobby Darin?
KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR: I love the challenge of trying to do as many things in you've life as you can. Bobby wanted more and he didn't want to settle for what either what came easy, or for him didn't get him out of bed in the morning. And I'm very much that kind of person.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): I want it all. I want the major leagues; I want nightclubs, Vegas, movie, TV.
SPACEY: And for a long time it was my dream. And then, as each person came on to join the project, I feel like everybody made my dream their dream.
VARGAS (voice-over): A dream that began to take shape more than five years ago at the world-famous Capital Records building in Hollywood.
SPACEY: We started work on music in about '99. And then we came into this studio, where Bobby record as well as Sinatra, and all of the greats have been in this room.
JOHN GOODMAN, ACTOR (as Steve Blauner): Didn't I tell you, playing the Copa?
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): You're freaking kidding me.
GOODMAN: I got the call this morning, big shot.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): No! No! No!
VARGAS (on camera): You've got the best seal of approving. I mean you've got Darin's son. Initially though, I hear he was like over my dead body. SPACEY: That was Steve Blauner and I think shared -- Steve Blauner was Bobby's manager for a long time. And is a character that John Goodman plays in the film. He said I don't think you should act it. I don't think you should sing it. You shouldn't direct it. And you're too old to play it.
And I said well, sit down, Steve. We'll get over that.
GOODMAN (as Blauner): Perfect.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): We can do it better.
VARGAS (voice-over): As persuasive as he is talented, Spacey not only headlines and directs "Beyond the Sea," he also does his own singing. Spacey role on screen has even inspired a real life 10-city concert tour, in which the star pays homage to Darin.
(on camera): You threw yourself completely into this. And what strikes me were you intimidated at all?
SPACEY: Huge. Hugely. This voice is just extraordinarily strong. His range is great. And I was definitely, you know, I went through many sleepless nights thinking, have I bitten off more than I can chew? Am I ever going to get close? And now that it's done, I think well, you know, it's a version of Bobby Darin. It's my version. And I'm delighted that we've gotten close enough to honor. But the truth is, nobody will ever get that close. I mean this was a man who was in a league all his own.
Sibila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Understatement of the day.
SANCHEZ: Concert tours now, huh? He's out there singing.
KAGAN: Oh, no. I've moved on to Prince Harry and his bad choice for what he decided to wear to a party.
SANCHEZ: If you haven't seen it, what she's talking about will -- well, it will make you think.
KAGAN: Just watch. Stick around.
SANCHEZ: Exactly.
KAGAN: We'll show you.
SANCHEZ: We'll be back.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in London. As you say, Prince Harry dresses up and gets a right, royal dressing down. We'll have the details in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 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 13, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a lot going on here.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Happy to be with you.
As a matter of fact, we do have some weather warnings that we're going to be telling you about affecting certain states. We'll tell you where they are. In fact, here's a look at what's happening right now in the news.
KAGAN: Authority says they don't expect to find anyone else in the debris from the mudslide in La Conchita, California. All of the people they thought were missing have been accounted for, but they're continuing to search just in case. We're going to have live updates from the scene in just a few minutes.
A mixed view of the nation's economy this morning. This year's retail sales ended strongly with a higher than expected increase of 1.2 percent in December. This morning's government report on unemployment, however, was less rosy. It shows an unexpected jump last week of 367 new unemployment filings.
Secretary of State Colin Powell -- excuse me, choking up thinking about Secretary of State Colin Powell. He says the U.S. may be able to start bringing home its troops from Iraq this year. He says such a drawn down would depend on whether Iraqi forces assume a greater role in providing security there. The Pentagon has boosted American troop strength to 150,000 ahead of this month's elections.
More violence in the run-up to the Iraqi election. The director of a Baghdad election center was gunned down today. In other attacks, insurgents killed an aide to the leading Shiite cleric Ali al Sistani. Five others were also killed in that attack. Gunmen killed six people outside of a Baghdad hotel. A prominent Turkish businessman was kidnap in that attack.
We are kicking things off on this Wednesday morning. Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
And we continue to focus on the plight of the people in California. Families there trying to come to grips with losses in the aftermath of that massive mudslide.
Let's get you up to date now on the latest developments from that coastal community of La Conchita, California. Fire officials say all reported missing in the area have been accounted for now. Search crews are still trying to pick through the mud and some of the debris on the chance that someone unknown may still be trapped inside one of those air pockets that we've been telling you about.
Also, on a tragic note, body of a mother and three daughters were recovered. Jimmy Wallet had worked side by side with firefighters hoping to find his family alive.
Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN JESSEMAN, VENTURA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE: Normally we don't let the family members and the people in the area get too close to the rescue. But because of the environment at the time when this whole thing came down, the slide came down, the people are were aggressively in there to help us. And so instead of fighting with them, we let them get involved and basically put them to work. And they really helped us out a lot. They worked their butts off. And they were a big help to us.
So but when it came time where we found his family it was tough. He was pretty much looking over my shoulder as we digging through the pile and debris, and cutting and sawing, and getting everything out of there. And it was very difficult because we're trying to extricate his family. But at the same time, we were trying to not to expose them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: As rescue crews continue their work in La Conchita, there are concerns of possibly more mudslides.
CNN's Peter Viles is covering the operation. He's joining us now with an update.
So many questions, Peter, affecting those people in that area. Set the scene for us, would you?
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure are a lot of questions, Rick. It has been more than 24 hours since that family was discovered dead inside that pile of mud; and a significant development overnight, which you alluded to, even as the rescue mission went into the fourth day. Rescue officials meetings and going through the list of the missing came to a conclusion. A belief at this point that there are no more bodies to be recovered inside that pile of mud. That would leave the death toll at 10.
Here is how the fire chief here at Ventura County explained that earlier on CNN. This is the fire chief of Ventura County.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB ROPER, CHIEF, VENTURA COUNTRY, FIRE DEPT.: All of the people we had on the list that were confirmed missing have been accounted for. We have an additional list of about 19 people that we've checked with the post office, Internet searches and so forth, that may have been getting mail or lived in the area. And we have issued that list out to the media, asking people to call in to confirm those names or not, so we can make some final conclusions today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VILES: That said, the rescue mission does continue. And it is a very large effort here. It is larger than the town, if you will; about 600 people working on this rescue mission in two it-hour shifts. At any given time, you might have 250 people, six pieces of heavy equipment up on that hillside.
And there is some danger involved, as you said earlier, Rick. Concerns that the pile of mud and earth that they are working on and digging into, itself is not stable. So we may get to a point when the rescue mission ends and it goes to a recovery mission that they do not take away all of that material. That is something they have already raised as a possibility with us here in La Conchita -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you the question, Peter, that I think a lot of people all over the country may be asking themselves, as they watch this story unfold. Why would anyone want to continue living there next to a hill that has a history of mudslides without an adequate warning system?
VILES: Yes. They had a mudslide here 10 years ago. One of the destroyed houses from that mudslide is still up here behind me, it was never taken away. I guess you can ask the same question of people who live in flood plains, because of big flooding in the southwest.
You know, the government came up here yesterday and he stuck up for these people. Governor Schwarzenegger said that the state would do its best to make the area safe, even though none of us know if it's possible to make it safe. And he also said he hoped they wouldn't be forced to leave. So it does go against logic, as you say. But there are people who choose to live in places like this.
SANCHEZ: But wait a minute. There are sensors on that hill right?
VILES: Yes.
SANCHEZ: They didn't work?
VILES: They were not capable of detecting this mudslide. And there's no guarantee that when you know a big piece of earth falls off the side of a hill that some sort of warning system -- there's a warning system now. People are literally watching the hill. If anything were to fall he would look at it see, and blow some horns. And the workers would run away from it. But these things are not perfect.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Tough story. Peter Viles following that for us out of La Conchita. We thank you, Peter, for bringing us up to date. We'll talk to you again -- Daryn. (WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Days of heavy rains have also taken a toll south of the border. Take a look at these pictures, mudslides destroying two houses in Tijuana, Mexico. At least three people were killed. More than 2,500 people have been evacuated. The ground is saturated after 10 inches of rain fell in past three weeks. On average, this area receives eight inches of rain for the entire rainy season.
Let's move north where residents of a small Alaskan village are finally getting heat and power. An Alaskan National Guard helicopter arrived yesterday with equipment and technicians. A blizzard with near-hurricane force winds knocked out power to the town on Sunday. Temperatures have been hovering around 20 degrees below zero.
SANCHEZ: Hmm!
KAGAN: Kaktovik is about 200 miles above the Arctic Circle.
And if you missed it last night, we are going to replay "Extreme Weather A SPECIAL EDITION OF NEWSNIGHT" with Aaron Brown. You can watch it today at 1 p.m. Eastern.
SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, residents evacuated after a toxic gas leak from a train wreck in South Carolina, began returning home this morning about half of the 5,500 evacuees are going back in the first wave of the returnees as it's being explained to us. Nine people died when a chlorine gas cloud engulfed Graniteville, South Carolina. This is a week ago. The gas spewed from a ruptured freight car. The latest air samples found absolutely no traces of chlorine.
KAGAN: We move on to Iraq. Insurgents are keeping up their violent campaign, trying to disrupt this months elections.
For the latest, let's go right to Baghdad and CNN's Chris Lawrence -- Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the violence continues to escalate here in Iraq just 17 days before the election. And it doesn't seem to be confined to any one area. Representative for one of Iraq's most important election supporters has now been assassinated.
The Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani had a representative in an area east of Baghdad called Salman Pak. Now, last night as he was leaving a mosque, that assistant, his son and four bodyguards were all gunned down, as they were leaving the mosque to go home.
Now, that's very important politically because the Ayatollah al Sistani is the most prominent Shiite Muslim cleric in Iraq. And he has been urging Shiite Muslims that it is their duty to vote in the upcoming election. And he's also asked them not to respond to violent attacks by some Sunni Muslim insurgents.
Of course, the violence not confine, as I said, to any one area. Right here in the heart of Baghdad earlier this morning, six Iraqis were gunned down at a Baghdad hotel. Iraqi police tell us that a mini bus pulled up to the hotel to pick up a Turkish businessman. As soon as it did, it was surrounded by about 10 men. They opened fire on the bus, killing all six Iraqis inside and then kidnapped that Turkish businessman.
And as the violence seems to not stop, as we get closer and closer to the election, the Bush administration now seems to be lowering some of the expectations saying some Iraqis in certain areas will not be able to vote, because of the violence there that's that still goes on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And we're going to hear more from the president in a little bit here on CNN LIVE TODAY.
Chris Lawrence in Baghdad. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: here's another story we've been following for you. The alleged ringleader in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal could testify in his own defense today. We're talking about U.S. Army Specialist Charles Graner. He's the first soldier to face the military trial for mistreatment of detainees. If convicted, the 36-year-old Reservist could face more than 17 years in a military prison.
KAGAN: Speaking of President Bush, as we were just a minute ago, we move on to our "Security Watch." The president is at the Pentagon this hour. He's getting a briefing on the war on terror.
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has more on that.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. That's right. President Bush is meeting with his top generals as well as Secretary Rumsfeld, not only to get a briefing on the war on terror, but also the latest when it comes to the tsunami relief effort. The military relief effort.
This comes at a critical time for the Bush administration because many believe President Bush's credibility is on the line. Why? Because of the intersection of two events yesterday the administration admitting it found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It has stopped searching. That was of course, the president's main justification for the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the first place.
We've heard White House officials, President Bush as well, saying, of course they believe it was worth it to overthrow Saddam Hussein because they believe this will allow democracy to flourish Iraq, as well as the Middle East.
That brings us to the second event, and that is the upcoming Iraqi elections. President Bush, top White House officials saying that will happen January 30. But what is happening is Bush administration strategy. We have seen it before. That is lowering expectations of the outcome of those elections. They acknowledge they believe that the Sunni minority may not participate. They're threatening to boycott. They also acknowledge that it may be too dangerous in some areas for some of those Iraqis to participate.
So, of course they are looking forward to those elections. And what they are saying is the measure of success for those elections is simply the existence itself, not voter turnout. But the fact that this is the first time it's happened. They also say this is just the first step, the first of three steps when it comes to promoting democracy.
The elections so, of course, this month looking forward to writing a constitution, and then finally, the National Assembly coming together in December. And they also say that perhaps there are other ways that the Sunni minority can participate.
So Daryn, we're looking at a public relations campaign, if you will. The Bush administration saying look, we believe it's going to work. But they are saying it's perhaps just the best possible scenario when it comes to promoting democracy.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thank you.
And we encourage you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
SANCHEZ: Well, we first told you about her last Thursday. She's a single mom, talented artist and she's bringing in more than just peanuts.
KAGAN: Still ahead, Rasha. Her hard work for tsunami victims in her homeland paid off. We will tell you how much coming up.
SANCHEZ: Also, Prince Harry is in one massive royal scandal. This one is so far over the top that Jewish groups and lawmakers and the Brits, well, they're not buying it, and they're angry about it. We'll tell you what it is.
KAGAN: And while Jennifer Garner is flourishing in her life as a spy on television, one real life spy is giving up the fast lane. Later, she reveals some of the tricks of the trade, and tells why she's moving on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Turning the tide from the devastation of south Asia's tsunamis. Indonesia's government has issued the demand that all foreign troops aiding in relief effort should plan to leave the country by March 31.
CNN's Mike Chinoy, who is in Banda Aceh, says it is not clear at this point that the demand is simply an attempt to streamline efforts or whether the military's trying to crackdown on rebel operations there.
Meanwhile, the United Nations says its feeding more than 1 million people across the areas hardest hit by this disaster. Most of those supplies have poured into Sri Lanka. And more aid about to arrive in Indonesia as well.
Meanwhile, pop star Ricky Martin, the latest to lend his fame and face to the relief efforts. He visited Thailand, to see how his charitable foundation can help orphans and families there as well.
KAGAN: Last week we told you about a talented elephant doing her part to raise her money for tsunami victims. Rasha was born in Thailand; she is though now a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, the zoo there. And she's well known for her paintings. One of her works auctioned on eBay with the proceeds going to the Red Cross.
Barry Carpenter with our affiliate, KDIF, reports on the final bid.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARRY CARPENTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Last Wednesday, the Asian elephant broke out the paint and canvas for a good cause to raise money for the American Red Cross International Response Fund. Her painting went up on eBay last Wednesday. The minimum bid was $500. Two hours later, the bid went to $610.
LINDSEY NANTZ, FORT WORTH ZOO: Let's go hit the refresh button.
CARPENTER: Lindsey Nantz and others at the Fort Worth Zoo watched the bids roll in.
NANTZ: Two minutes.
CARPENTER: More than 50 bids were made, but as the clock ticked down, Kenon Jones, sales manager at North Hills Lincoln Mercury, shelled out a sum that's not peanuts. She didn't do it for publicity, but rather for employees and customers who wanted to help.
KENON JONES, WINNING BIDDER: Maybe they didn't have an opportunity or money at the time to be involved with what happened. And so we wanted to do it on their behalf.
NANTZ: Seven thousand dollars and we could not be more thrilled. That's a great size check that we're going to be able to write to the American Red Cross.
CARPENTER: The Red Cross has targeted $400 million to help tsunami victims; a little more than $150 million has been raised. Now the goal is a little closer.
ANITA FOSTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS: We were absolutely ecstatic. We watched the bidding all week long at the eBay Web site. And when that painting sole for $7,000, we all cheered here at the American Red Cross. It's such an outstanding gift.
CARPENTER: The money will buy emergency kits full of pots, pans, water, food and a tent for 117 tsunami-ravaged families.
Meanwhile, back at the zoo, Rasha's paintings have also had an impact. The zoo usually sells about 12 a year. This week it sold 15. Rasha is one busy artist.
NANTZ: Our single, working mother is working overtime the past couple of days just to trying to keep up.
CARPENTER: In Fort Worth, Barry Carpenter for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Well, nobody is saying this one is a wardrobe malfunction. Most are saying it's really just an example of real bad taste. This is Prince Harry. He's sending the royal family into a frenzy with his latest choice of clothing. This one is political. We're going to show you the outfit that's creating a whole lot of talk.
KAGAN: But first, he's nominated for a Golden Globe award. Kevin Spacey talks to us about his latest project, "Beyond the Sea."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: The top of the newscast, we told you about tornado warnings in the southeast, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Taking a look at this. It's Kelvin Reynolds of our affiliate WBRC. He's filed this report in the thick of the storm, just happened a few minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELVIN REYNOLDS, WBRC CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It looks to anyone who is watching on their television sets now, if you saw what was blowing through downtown Tuscaloosa within the last minutes, you saw a large, gray cloud of rain just envelop downtown Tuscaloosa. Picking up all kinds of leaves and debris, blowing them clear over the downtown and south building, which is well over 10 stories tall.
The wind has picked up a lot, as you can see. It's blowing extremely, extremely hard for a little while. We can see the sirens, the tornado sirens here on top of the roof. They were shaking. Antennas on top of the roof of this build building were shaking as well. My photographer, Jay Donahue, he's still shaking.
It's a lot of wind going on here now. We've seen a lot of smaller debris picked up and be carried off from leaves, small branches, paper, that sort of thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Perfect hair for that story. Does not need to worry about it.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Well said.
KAGAN: Kelvin Reynolds, good job for hanging out there with your photographer in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That's our affiliate WBRC. SANCHEZ: Yes. They're getting weather warnings out there.
Yes. Now let's talk about the annual Hollywood award season shifting into high gear Sunday when the Golden Globe awards are announced. The stars are expected to turn out for what has become something of an Oscar preview really.
Among the movies vying for the gold, "Aviator," heard a lot about that. "Finding Neverland," "Sideways," incredible flick, slow but interesting. And "The Incredibles" -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Among the actors nominated for a Golden Globe, Kevin Spacey receives a nod for his portrayal of entertainer Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea."
CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Why are you so connected to Bobby Darin?
KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR: I love the challenge of trying to do as many things in you've life as you can. Bobby wanted more and he didn't want to settle for what either what came easy, or for him didn't get him out of bed in the morning. And I'm very much that kind of person.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): I want it all. I want the major leagues; I want nightclubs, Vegas, movie, TV.
SPACEY: And for a long time it was my dream. And then, as each person came on to join the project, I feel like everybody made my dream their dream.
VARGAS (voice-over): A dream that began to take shape more than five years ago at the world-famous Capital Records building in Hollywood.
SPACEY: We started work on music in about '99. And then we came into this studio, where Bobby record as well as Sinatra, and all of the greats have been in this room.
JOHN GOODMAN, ACTOR (as Steve Blauner): Didn't I tell you, playing the Copa?
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): You're freaking kidding me.
GOODMAN: I got the call this morning, big shot.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): No! No! No!
VARGAS (on camera): You've got the best seal of approving. I mean you've got Darin's son. Initially though, I hear he was like over my dead body. SPACEY: That was Steve Blauner and I think shared -- Steve Blauner was Bobby's manager for a long time. And is a character that John Goodman plays in the film. He said I don't think you should act it. I don't think you should sing it. You shouldn't direct it. And you're too old to play it.
And I said well, sit down, Steve. We'll get over that.
GOODMAN (as Blauner): Perfect.
SPACEY (as Bobby Darin): We can do it better.
VARGAS (voice-over): As persuasive as he is talented, Spacey not only headlines and directs "Beyond the Sea," he also does his own singing. Spacey role on screen has even inspired a real life 10-city concert tour, in which the star pays homage to Darin.
(on camera): You threw yourself completely into this. And what strikes me were you intimidated at all?
SPACEY: Huge. Hugely. This voice is just extraordinarily strong. His range is great. And I was definitely, you know, I went through many sleepless nights thinking, have I bitten off more than I can chew? Am I ever going to get close? And now that it's done, I think well, you know, it's a version of Bobby Darin. It's my version. And I'm delighted that we've gotten close enough to honor. But the truth is, nobody will ever get that close. I mean this was a man who was in a league all his own.
Sibila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Understatement of the day.
SANCHEZ: Concert tours now, huh? He's out there singing.
KAGAN: Oh, no. I've moved on to Prince Harry and his bad choice for what he decided to wear to a party.
SANCHEZ: If you haven't seen it, what she's talking about will -- well, it will make you think.
KAGAN: Just watch. Stick around.
SANCHEZ: Exactly.
KAGAN: We'll show you.
SANCHEZ: We'll be back.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in London. As you say, Prince Harry dresses up and gets a right, royal dressing down. We'll have the details in just a few moments.
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