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More Violence Erupts in Iraq; President Bush Prepares for the Inaugural; America Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Aired January 17, 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 ANCHOR: We have a lot to get to today, including what's happening right now in the news.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In the news, insurgents kill at least 15 people in attacks across Iraq. Seven Iraqi police died and 19 injured when a suicide car bomb exploded on the outskirts of Tikrit. Meanwhile, security preparations are under way for the January 30 elections. We'll have a full report coming up in one minute.

China's state news agency says deposed Chinese Communist Party Chief Zhao Ziyang has died in a hospital in Beijing. Ziyang had been held under house arrest since 1989 for opposing the army crackdown on students in Tiananmen Square. He was 85.

Security is tight as President Bush prepares for his second term inauguration Thursday. There are lavish balls, planned parties in the work, and a grand parade. We will preview the festivities this hour and find out what some folks are saying about it all.

And President Bush will attend the Martin Luther King celebration called "Let Freedom Ring." It will be at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 4:00 Eastern Time this afternoon. And you can join the celebration right here live on CNN.

And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris, in for Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: Good to have you back.

HARRIS: Nice to be here.

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.

To Iraq, Election Day is coming. Violence, though, persists. Iraq's first independent election is nearly -- in nearly a half- century is about 13 days away now. Beginning today, thousands of Iraqi exiles around the world can register to vote.

Back in their homeland, though, Iraqis who have registered have something else on their mine. And that is their own personal safety. That of course, is on going insurgent attacks.

Our Jeff Koinange is in Baghdad with more on the election runoff.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEFF KOINANGE, CNN LAGOS BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A string of attacks and suicide bombings continued Monday across Iraq, less than two weeks before the January 30 elections. In one town of Boortz (ph), 10 kilometers south of Baquba in the Sunni Triangle a fierce gun battle between insurgents and Iraqi National Guardsmen led to the death of seven Guardsmen and four of them injured.

In Bayji, about 40 kilometers north of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, a suicide bomber detonated himself at a police checkpoint, killing seven Iraqi policemen and wounding up to 19. And further south in al Mahal, close to the town of Basra, a school, which was targeted for a polling center, was fire bombed by a rocket-propelled, and machinegun fire causing extensive damage. No one was in the school at that time.

All this on a day when Iraqis outside Iraq were registering to vote. About 1 million of them are expected to register outside the country, in addition to 14 million eligible to vote in Iraq on Election Day. All this as violence continued across the country with just 13 day to go before the crucial January 30 poll.

Jeff Koinange, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Voter registration for Iraq's first independent election is under way around the world. Here in the United States, Iraqi expatriates are registering in Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago and Washington. The January 30 ballot is Iraq's first independent election in nearly 50 years. And there are an estimated two point -- or 1.2 million Iraqis living in 14 countries.

An Iraqi woman living in Australia was the first to sign up. And there are reports that in Britain some voters are confused by the process. Apparently they are asking poll workers who they should vote for.

KAGAN: A new published report is out claiming the U.S. is eying a potential new target in the Middle East. Journalist Seymour Hersh writes in the "New Yorker" that the U.S. has conducted secret missions inside Iran. Hersh weighs the focus is on -- he says the focus is on nuclear, chemical and missile sites that could be destroyed in air strikes.

The controversial journalist talked to CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEYMOUR HERSH, JOURNALIST, "THE NEW YORKER": The fact is that we are operating right now in an out of Iran. We are collecting intelligence. Why are we working so hard on it? Because the last thing the administration wants to do is hit some targets in -- bombs some target in Iran, which will cause an enormous furor, and not be right. We want to make sure we're not going to have another second WMD mistake, as we did in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Dan Bartlett is a top aide to President Bush. He calls Hersh's report "riddled with inaccuracies."

HARRIS: And turning now to stories concerning your security. People who work or live in the nation's capital will have to adapt this week. Large portions of the city will be shut down to traffic because of Thursday's inauguration. Some 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies will be watching for possible trouble. And there will be HAZMAT teams, bomb-sniffing dogs, and Coast Guard patrols on the Potomac. And officials are still seeking the public's help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POLLY HANSON, CHIEF, D.C. METRO TRANSIT POLICE: I don't think I'm saying we're going to do it all ourselves. It's our responsibility and you just go ahead and read a book and fall asleep. You've got to be engaged with us. You've got to be paying attention because that's the only way we're going to work together to try to prevent or mitigate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Limousines will be closely watched. A recent federal threat assessment has said al Qaeda has looked at using them as mobile bombs.

KAGAN: President Bush's inaugural address is expected to emphasize the main goals of his second term.

Our Elaine Quijano reports Iraq remains a high priority.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush spent the weekend working on his inaugural address, one aides say will emphasize freedom and the president's vision of spreading democracy worldwide. Part of the focus now, Iraq. But as aides continue in apparent moves to lower expectations, they're painting a picture of uncertainty for that country's January 30 elections.

DAN BARTLETT, COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT: We don't know exactly how that's going to come out when it comes to a security environment two weeks for from today. It is an incredible achievement for the Iraqi people.

QUIJANO: In an interview with "The Washington Post," the president was asked why no one in the administration has been held accountable for perceived missteps on Iraq policy. The president answered, quote, "We had an accountability moment and that's called the 2004 elect. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq. And they looked at the two candidates and chose me." But some Democrats flatly dismiss that. SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), ARMED SERVICES CMTE.: I think the American people obviously re-elected him. That doesn't mean that they agree with all of his policies relative to Iraq, or all of the ways in which the Iraq war has been fought.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush is standing by his actions, expressing no regrets about removing Saddam Hussein from power. And administration officials are emphasizing that they believe these elections are only the first step towards Iraq moving towards democracy -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thank you.

Be sure to stay with CNN day and night for your most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: President Bush's approval rating is on the upswing, as he begins his second term. A new poll from "Time" magazine shows 53 percent of Americans approve of the president's performance. It was 49 percent a month ago.

KAGAN: Martin Luther King Day observances are being held all around the country today. We're going to show you some live pictures now of the annual MLK ecumenical service here in Atlanta. It is held at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King preached. And these are live pictures from the church and downtown Atlanta. The church is also just a few steps away from where Martin Luther King Jr. was born. A march and rally will be held in Atlanta later today.

HARRIS: Nearly nine years ago Congress authorized a Martin Luther King memorial for Washington. But the project remains only an idea.

CNN Lindsey Arent is at the memorial site with the story.

Good morning, Lindsey. And I guess the first question is, why has it taken so long to get the project up and running? Does it come down to money?

LINDSEY ARENT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know it comes down to a lot of different things. And one of them is definitely money. I'm standing at the site that will one day be a four-acre plot of land that's going to be entirely devoted to Dr. King. The problem is that they need $100 million to actually get this thing up and running.

And right now, the organization that's been charged with making this thing happen only has $32.5 million in the bank. So it's going to be a long road ahead to get the rest of that money in place along with raising awareness. Most people don't even know that there is not a memorial here the Mall and there should be one according to this charter from Congress.

HARRIS: Lindsey, is there a time frame to get the money in place? ARENT: Well, Congress says they have until November of 2006 to get enough money to simply break ground. We're talking about $66 million here. Beyond that they should be about 2008 if they get all of the money in place, which at this point we just don't know.

HARRIS: What would be the memorial look like once it's completed?

ARENT: Well, it's going to be a four-acre triangular parcel of land facing the Jefferson Memorial, right across the National Mall's Title Basin and it's going to have walls that are inscribed with Dr. King's words. His sermons, his speeches, his writings, all inscribed chronologically according to his life.

Then you're going to have a symbolic Stone of Hope; they're calling it, in the center of that triangle, facing out across the title basin, looking at the Jefferson Memorial. And in that stone there will be a vision -- an image rather, of Dr. King.

HARRIS: Wow, Lindsey. Sound sounds great. Sounds beautiful if they can get it done. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Lindsey, thank you.

ARENT: Exactly. Well, there's actually a -- oh, sure.

HARRIS: OK. And you can watch Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety tonight on CNN's "NEWSNIGHT" with Aaron Brown. We'll have it at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

KAGAN: We, we're going to talk some weather just ahead. You know, there's a snow, might look beautiful, but don't let it fool you. Still to come, a word of warning for anyone trying the slopes in the backcountry.

HARRIS: Plus, We all know that an on a job mishap can lead to a serious headache. But this is pretty unusual here.

KAGAN: He nailed the job.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Plus, one of our guests predicted winners and losers of the Golden Globes. Tom O'Neal of goldderby.com, was he right? I'm thinking he has some pretty good insights. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And let's take you now to Ebenezer Baptist Church for MLK memorial service's being held there tomorrow. And this is Martin Luther King the Third speaking.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, III: I believe the best expression of this new revolution of values is service to humanity. On this holiday, we call you, therefore, to commemorate and emulate the audacious dreamer and the dangerous altruist, who dares to make himself an instrument of God's will and a servant of humanity. As Marion Wright Edelman, a disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. has said, "Service is the rent we pay for being."

HARRIS: That's Ebenezer Baptist Church and that was Martin Luther King Jr. the Third speaking.

KAGAN: And I'll tell you, the folks that are inside the church, excited for two reasons. One: to honor Dr. King.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Two: just to be inside.

HARRIS: Because it's cold.

KAGAN: It's freezing near Atlanta today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Serious side of the weather. A search going on this morning that will resume for victims of in Avalanche Park City, Utah. The body of a snowboarder was found yesterday under four feet of snow. Shane Maxner was the only person reported missing Friday when a wall of snow piled up near a ski resort.

Earlier on "AMERICAN MORNING," officials from Summit County, the sheriff there explained the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID EDMUNDS, SHERIFF, SUMMIT CO., UTAH: The dangers are so real, and I think there's a little bit of complacency that's gone on here, at least here in Utah. We haven't had a year like this in a long time. And because of that, I think a certain degree of complacency has kind of gripped our state when it comes to back country skiers and snowboarders.

And I think this, hopefully, serves as a reminder of just how dangerous the backcountry can be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Authorities believe as many as five people may have been buried by the snow after they wandered into an area marked off limits to skiers. Recovery teams will use ground-penetrating radar to search for the others. Pretty simple. Make some smart choices. Or at least try to.

HARRIS: Yes. And they mark it. They mark it so you know.

Rebuilding after the tsunami. Still to come, why the people of one village are praising the same sea that brought so much death.

KAGAN: And that's a nail...

HARRIS: Ugh! KAGAN: ... not a toothache. How it got there. And how the man finally got it out.

Plus, Gerri Willis looking -- things are looking up for job hunters.

Hey, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Two thousand and five, it's the year of employees. We'll tell you how to find your dream job when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Experts are forecasting an improving job market. But if you're thinking about making a career move, you might want to do a little homework.

And that's why we have our personal finance editor Gerri Willis with some help on today's "Top Five Tips."

Gerri, good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, good morning Daryn. First thing you want to do, like you say, is some research. Arm yourself with information. It's possible you haven't seen thought about a new job over last couple of years because conditions have been really bad. But they're improving.

First things first. Go to the web to get some information. Salary.com can give you information on ballpark salary ranges for your field, as well as what your skills would fetch into in today's markets. Check out career journal.com as well.

And if you want to switch fields, maybe you want a new job in an entirely new line of business check out linkedin.com, friendster.com and spoke.com. These Web sites will allow you to expand your own web of contacts by hooking up with a bunch of people who are in your new field.

KAGAN: You also have to be your own P.R. agency, don't you?

WILLIS: You do. You have to strut your stuff. You have to tell people that you're good at what they do. Make sure they know it. If you don't broadcast it, no one will ever know. Think of a couple of things that will help you out, especially in-house, where they're designing new jobs right now and you don't even know it.

Make sure you're getting your own work done ahead of schedule. Bring in projects on time. And become a utility infielder. If you can do a lot of different people's jobs, you're more that much more valuable.

KAGAN: OK. So after your moment, you need to build your reputation.

(LAUGHTER) WILLIS: That's right. You don't want to just build your reputation in-house, right? You want to build it with other companies as well. That makes a ton of sense. Do things that are typically hard for your boss to get done, those kinds of niche specialty areas that can be hard to find somebody to do, like turning around a business that is ailing. Or maybe identifying talent, new talent, to bring into the company. That will get you known outside your company's front doors.

KAGAN: And maybe you don't have to go anywhere. You just have to go in to your current boss and ask him for more money.

WILLIS: Now is the time, I'm telling you. Corporate profits are up. It's time to start thinking about your share of the pie. Go to your boss; ask for more money, and certainly beyond the cost of living increases that they're typically handing out of 3 and 4 percent.

The trick here, Daryn, don't ask for a certain amount right away. Let them come up with the first offer. And then you counter, ask for more if you think you're worst it. Of course, you're going to have to prove it. Your work experience is going to have to show that you're capable of handling more responsibilities.

KAGAN: OK. Ger, this is all great if you're in an industry where things are expanding. But what if you're not that lucky and your industry is actually contracting?

WILLIS: And we do see that. We see a lot of contractions today in technology. You're going to have to do an entirely different set of things. You're going to have to think about making sure that you're doing all of the work that you're assigned, on time. Pick up any slack that anybody is leaving. Be accessible at any time. Make sure you're dressing right for the part. And also, think about asking for more responsibilities. Picking up jobs that maybe nobody else within to pick up -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Ger. You're not going anywhere. We're having you sit tight.

WILLIS: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you, Daryn.

HARRIS: Love yourself up.

KAGAN: Yes.

HARRIS: You have seen the devastating pictures from the California mudslide. And perhaps you've asked yourself, why would anyone live there? Still to come, residents who are staying put shed some light on the million-dollar question -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And talk about a headache. Look at how one man ended up with a four-inch nail stuck up his head, didn't even know it.

KAGAN: How do you not? All right. We'll talk about that ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're getting kind of close to the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Here's what happening now in the news.

Americans today are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. An ecumenical service is under way right now. These are live pictures from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Now, later today, President Bush will take part in an MLK event at the Kennedy Center. CNN will carry the president's remarks live at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Iraqi exiles who wish to vote in the country's historic elections can register beginning today. More than a million eligible Iraqi can vote in 14 countries including the United States, Britain, France and Australia. The registration period ends Sunday. Voting will go on between January 28 and 30.

But many expatriates are confused about the process and unsure who to vote for. There are also complaints about not having enough polling centers?

For voters in Iraq one concern is security. There were separate insurgent attacks today at checkpoints near Baquba and north of Tikrit. At least 14 Iraqi forces and a civilian were killed. The top U.S. commander in Iraq says there's likely to be violence when Iraqis go to the polls and for some time afterwards.

An Amber Alert is out for two North Carolina children. Police say 2-year-old Paul Chambers and 11-month-old Brianna Chambers were kidnapped from their foster home. The children's are believed to be with their parents. Police say the father, James Canter, was caring gun when the couple took the children.

KAGAN: Turning now to the latest development in the tsunami tragedy in south Asia. Indonesia is now reporting fewer deaths in the disaster. Sources tell CNN the ever-changing total number of dead now stands at just over 131,000. That is fewer than previously reported.

Indonesia's Aceh Province is suffering devastating hits to its health system and the loss of many medical personnel. An expert says most of the Aceh public health system has been destroyed and that four out of five public health workers now still badly needed are missing.

Indonesian now says there is no deadline for foreign troops, including Americans, to leave. And the March 26 date that was announced last week is only a benchmark for their own troops to take over relief efforts.

Officials are still counting the money raised from Saturday's tsunami telethon. There's Norah Jones. Including entertainer Norah Jones, Ellen John, Usher and Madonna. They performed and answered phones. The money that is collected will go to the Red Cross. Some residents of La Conchita, California are being allowed back into their home. But a sign warns them the area is still a geologic hazard. Nearly 400,000 tons of mud slammed into the area on January 11, destroying 13 houses, killing 10 people. And authorities say the hillside is still sliding.

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Aired January 17, 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 ANCHOR: We have a lot to get to today, including what's happening right now in the news.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In the news, insurgents kill at least 15 people in attacks across Iraq. Seven Iraqi police died and 19 injured when a suicide car bomb exploded on the outskirts of Tikrit. Meanwhile, security preparations are under way for the January 30 elections. We'll have a full report coming up in one minute.

China's state news agency says deposed Chinese Communist Party Chief Zhao Ziyang has died in a hospital in Beijing. Ziyang had been held under house arrest since 1989 for opposing the army crackdown on students in Tiananmen Square. He was 85.

Security is tight as President Bush prepares for his second term inauguration Thursday. There are lavish balls, planned parties in the work, and a grand parade. We will preview the festivities this hour and find out what some folks are saying about it all.

And President Bush will attend the Martin Luther King celebration called "Let Freedom Ring." It will be at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 4:00 Eastern Time this afternoon. And you can join the celebration right here live on CNN.

And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris, in for Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: Good to have you back.

HARRIS: Nice to be here.

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.

To Iraq, Election Day is coming. Violence, though, persists. Iraq's first independent election is nearly -- in nearly a half- century is about 13 days away now. Beginning today, thousands of Iraqi exiles around the world can register to vote.

Back in their homeland, though, Iraqis who have registered have something else on their mine. And that is their own personal safety. That of course, is on going insurgent attacks.

Our Jeff Koinange is in Baghdad with more on the election runoff.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEFF KOINANGE, CNN LAGOS BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A string of attacks and suicide bombings continued Monday across Iraq, less than two weeks before the January 30 elections. In one town of Boortz (ph), 10 kilometers south of Baquba in the Sunni Triangle a fierce gun battle between insurgents and Iraqi National Guardsmen led to the death of seven Guardsmen and four of them injured.

In Bayji, about 40 kilometers north of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, a suicide bomber detonated himself at a police checkpoint, killing seven Iraqi policemen and wounding up to 19. And further south in al Mahal, close to the town of Basra, a school, which was targeted for a polling center, was fire bombed by a rocket-propelled, and machinegun fire causing extensive damage. No one was in the school at that time.

All this on a day when Iraqis outside Iraq were registering to vote. About 1 million of them are expected to register outside the country, in addition to 14 million eligible to vote in Iraq on Election Day. All this as violence continued across the country with just 13 day to go before the crucial January 30 poll.

Jeff Koinange, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Voter registration for Iraq's first independent election is under way around the world. Here in the United States, Iraqi expatriates are registering in Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago and Washington. The January 30 ballot is Iraq's first independent election in nearly 50 years. And there are an estimated two point -- or 1.2 million Iraqis living in 14 countries.

An Iraqi woman living in Australia was the first to sign up. And there are reports that in Britain some voters are confused by the process. Apparently they are asking poll workers who they should vote for.

KAGAN: A new published report is out claiming the U.S. is eying a potential new target in the Middle East. Journalist Seymour Hersh writes in the "New Yorker" that the U.S. has conducted secret missions inside Iran. Hersh weighs the focus is on -- he says the focus is on nuclear, chemical and missile sites that could be destroyed in air strikes.

The controversial journalist talked to CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEYMOUR HERSH, JOURNALIST, "THE NEW YORKER": The fact is that we are operating right now in an out of Iran. We are collecting intelligence. Why are we working so hard on it? Because the last thing the administration wants to do is hit some targets in -- bombs some target in Iran, which will cause an enormous furor, and not be right. We want to make sure we're not going to have another second WMD mistake, as we did in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Dan Bartlett is a top aide to President Bush. He calls Hersh's report "riddled with inaccuracies."

HARRIS: And turning now to stories concerning your security. People who work or live in the nation's capital will have to adapt this week. Large portions of the city will be shut down to traffic because of Thursday's inauguration. Some 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies will be watching for possible trouble. And there will be HAZMAT teams, bomb-sniffing dogs, and Coast Guard patrols on the Potomac. And officials are still seeking the public's help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POLLY HANSON, CHIEF, D.C. METRO TRANSIT POLICE: I don't think I'm saying we're going to do it all ourselves. It's our responsibility and you just go ahead and read a book and fall asleep. You've got to be engaged with us. You've got to be paying attention because that's the only way we're going to work together to try to prevent or mitigate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Limousines will be closely watched. A recent federal threat assessment has said al Qaeda has looked at using them as mobile bombs.

KAGAN: President Bush's inaugural address is expected to emphasize the main goals of his second term.

Our Elaine Quijano reports Iraq remains a high priority.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush spent the weekend working on his inaugural address, one aides say will emphasize freedom and the president's vision of spreading democracy worldwide. Part of the focus now, Iraq. But as aides continue in apparent moves to lower expectations, they're painting a picture of uncertainty for that country's January 30 elections.

DAN BARTLETT, COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT: We don't know exactly how that's going to come out when it comes to a security environment two weeks for from today. It is an incredible achievement for the Iraqi people.

QUIJANO: In an interview with "The Washington Post," the president was asked why no one in the administration has been held accountable for perceived missteps on Iraq policy. The president answered, quote, "We had an accountability moment and that's called the 2004 elect. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq. And they looked at the two candidates and chose me." But some Democrats flatly dismiss that. SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), ARMED SERVICES CMTE.: I think the American people obviously re-elected him. That doesn't mean that they agree with all of his policies relative to Iraq, or all of the ways in which the Iraq war has been fought.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush is standing by his actions, expressing no regrets about removing Saddam Hussein from power. And administration officials are emphasizing that they believe these elections are only the first step towards Iraq moving towards democracy -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thank you.

Be sure to stay with CNN day and night for your most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: President Bush's approval rating is on the upswing, as he begins his second term. A new poll from "Time" magazine shows 53 percent of Americans approve of the president's performance. It was 49 percent a month ago.

KAGAN: Martin Luther King Day observances are being held all around the country today. We're going to show you some live pictures now of the annual MLK ecumenical service here in Atlanta. It is held at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King preached. And these are live pictures from the church and downtown Atlanta. The church is also just a few steps away from where Martin Luther King Jr. was born. A march and rally will be held in Atlanta later today.

HARRIS: Nearly nine years ago Congress authorized a Martin Luther King memorial for Washington. But the project remains only an idea.

CNN Lindsey Arent is at the memorial site with the story.

Good morning, Lindsey. And I guess the first question is, why has it taken so long to get the project up and running? Does it come down to money?

LINDSEY ARENT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know it comes down to a lot of different things. And one of them is definitely money. I'm standing at the site that will one day be a four-acre plot of land that's going to be entirely devoted to Dr. King. The problem is that they need $100 million to actually get this thing up and running.

And right now, the organization that's been charged with making this thing happen only has $32.5 million in the bank. So it's going to be a long road ahead to get the rest of that money in place along with raising awareness. Most people don't even know that there is not a memorial here the Mall and there should be one according to this charter from Congress.

HARRIS: Lindsey, is there a time frame to get the money in place? ARENT: Well, Congress says they have until November of 2006 to get enough money to simply break ground. We're talking about $66 million here. Beyond that they should be about 2008 if they get all of the money in place, which at this point we just don't know.

HARRIS: What would be the memorial look like once it's completed?

ARENT: Well, it's going to be a four-acre triangular parcel of land facing the Jefferson Memorial, right across the National Mall's Title Basin and it's going to have walls that are inscribed with Dr. King's words. His sermons, his speeches, his writings, all inscribed chronologically according to his life.

Then you're going to have a symbolic Stone of Hope; they're calling it, in the center of that triangle, facing out across the title basin, looking at the Jefferson Memorial. And in that stone there will be a vision -- an image rather, of Dr. King.

HARRIS: Wow, Lindsey. Sound sounds great. Sounds beautiful if they can get it done. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Lindsey, thank you.

ARENT: Exactly. Well, there's actually a -- oh, sure.

HARRIS: OK. And you can watch Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety tonight on CNN's "NEWSNIGHT" with Aaron Brown. We'll have it at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

KAGAN: We, we're going to talk some weather just ahead. You know, there's a snow, might look beautiful, but don't let it fool you. Still to come, a word of warning for anyone trying the slopes in the backcountry.

HARRIS: Plus, We all know that an on a job mishap can lead to a serious headache. But this is pretty unusual here.

KAGAN: He nailed the job.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Plus, one of our guests predicted winners and losers of the Golden Globes. Tom O'Neal of goldderby.com, was he right? I'm thinking he has some pretty good insights. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And let's take you now to Ebenezer Baptist Church for MLK memorial service's being held there tomorrow. And this is Martin Luther King the Third speaking.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, III: I believe the best expression of this new revolution of values is service to humanity. On this holiday, we call you, therefore, to commemorate and emulate the audacious dreamer and the dangerous altruist, who dares to make himself an instrument of God's will and a servant of humanity. As Marion Wright Edelman, a disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. has said, "Service is the rent we pay for being."

HARRIS: That's Ebenezer Baptist Church and that was Martin Luther King Jr. the Third speaking.

KAGAN: And I'll tell you, the folks that are inside the church, excited for two reasons. One: to honor Dr. King.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: Two: just to be inside.

HARRIS: Because it's cold.

KAGAN: It's freezing near Atlanta today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Serious side of the weather. A search going on this morning that will resume for victims of in Avalanche Park City, Utah. The body of a snowboarder was found yesterday under four feet of snow. Shane Maxner was the only person reported missing Friday when a wall of snow piled up near a ski resort.

Earlier on "AMERICAN MORNING," officials from Summit County, the sheriff there explained the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID EDMUNDS, SHERIFF, SUMMIT CO., UTAH: The dangers are so real, and I think there's a little bit of complacency that's gone on here, at least here in Utah. We haven't had a year like this in a long time. And because of that, I think a certain degree of complacency has kind of gripped our state when it comes to back country skiers and snowboarders.

And I think this, hopefully, serves as a reminder of just how dangerous the backcountry can be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Authorities believe as many as five people may have been buried by the snow after they wandered into an area marked off limits to skiers. Recovery teams will use ground-penetrating radar to search for the others. Pretty simple. Make some smart choices. Or at least try to.

HARRIS: Yes. And they mark it. They mark it so you know.

Rebuilding after the tsunami. Still to come, why the people of one village are praising the same sea that brought so much death.

KAGAN: And that's a nail...

HARRIS: Ugh! KAGAN: ... not a toothache. How it got there. And how the man finally got it out.

Plus, Gerri Willis looking -- things are looking up for job hunters.

Hey, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Two thousand and five, it's the year of employees. We'll tell you how to find your dream job when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Experts are forecasting an improving job market. But if you're thinking about making a career move, you might want to do a little homework.

And that's why we have our personal finance editor Gerri Willis with some help on today's "Top Five Tips."

Gerri, good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, good morning Daryn. First thing you want to do, like you say, is some research. Arm yourself with information. It's possible you haven't seen thought about a new job over last couple of years because conditions have been really bad. But they're improving.

First things first. Go to the web to get some information. Salary.com can give you information on ballpark salary ranges for your field, as well as what your skills would fetch into in today's markets. Check out career journal.com as well.

And if you want to switch fields, maybe you want a new job in an entirely new line of business check out linkedin.com, friendster.com and spoke.com. These Web sites will allow you to expand your own web of contacts by hooking up with a bunch of people who are in your new field.

KAGAN: You also have to be your own P.R. agency, don't you?

WILLIS: You do. You have to strut your stuff. You have to tell people that you're good at what they do. Make sure they know it. If you don't broadcast it, no one will ever know. Think of a couple of things that will help you out, especially in-house, where they're designing new jobs right now and you don't even know it.

Make sure you're getting your own work done ahead of schedule. Bring in projects on time. And become a utility infielder. If you can do a lot of different people's jobs, you're more that much more valuable.

KAGAN: OK. So after your moment, you need to build your reputation.

(LAUGHTER) WILLIS: That's right. You don't want to just build your reputation in-house, right? You want to build it with other companies as well. That makes a ton of sense. Do things that are typically hard for your boss to get done, those kinds of niche specialty areas that can be hard to find somebody to do, like turning around a business that is ailing. Or maybe identifying talent, new talent, to bring into the company. That will get you known outside your company's front doors.

KAGAN: And maybe you don't have to go anywhere. You just have to go in to your current boss and ask him for more money.

WILLIS: Now is the time, I'm telling you. Corporate profits are up. It's time to start thinking about your share of the pie. Go to your boss; ask for more money, and certainly beyond the cost of living increases that they're typically handing out of 3 and 4 percent.

The trick here, Daryn, don't ask for a certain amount right away. Let them come up with the first offer. And then you counter, ask for more if you think you're worst it. Of course, you're going to have to prove it. Your work experience is going to have to show that you're capable of handling more responsibilities.

KAGAN: OK. Ger, this is all great if you're in an industry where things are expanding. But what if you're not that lucky and your industry is actually contracting?

WILLIS: And we do see that. We see a lot of contractions today in technology. You're going to have to do an entirely different set of things. You're going to have to think about making sure that you're doing all of the work that you're assigned, on time. Pick up any slack that anybody is leaving. Be accessible at any time. Make sure you're dressing right for the part. And also, think about asking for more responsibilities. Picking up jobs that maybe nobody else within to pick up -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Ger. You're not going anywhere. We're having you sit tight.

WILLIS: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you, Daryn.

HARRIS: Love yourself up.

KAGAN: Yes.

HARRIS: You have seen the devastating pictures from the California mudslide. And perhaps you've asked yourself, why would anyone live there? Still to come, residents who are staying put shed some light on the million-dollar question -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And talk about a headache. Look at how one man ended up with a four-inch nail stuck up his head, didn't even know it.

KAGAN: How do you not? All right. We'll talk about that ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're getting kind of close to the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Here's what happening now in the news.

Americans today are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. An ecumenical service is under way right now. These are live pictures from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Now, later today, President Bush will take part in an MLK event at the Kennedy Center. CNN will carry the president's remarks live at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Iraqi exiles who wish to vote in the country's historic elections can register beginning today. More than a million eligible Iraqi can vote in 14 countries including the United States, Britain, France and Australia. The registration period ends Sunday. Voting will go on between January 28 and 30.

But many expatriates are confused about the process and unsure who to vote for. There are also complaints about not having enough polling centers?

For voters in Iraq one concern is security. There were separate insurgent attacks today at checkpoints near Baquba and north of Tikrit. At least 14 Iraqi forces and a civilian were killed. The top U.S. commander in Iraq says there's likely to be violence when Iraqis go to the polls and for some time afterwards.

An Amber Alert is out for two North Carolina children. Police say 2-year-old Paul Chambers and 11-month-old Brianna Chambers were kidnapped from their foster home. The children's are believed to be with their parents. Police say the father, James Canter, was caring gun when the couple took the children.

KAGAN: Turning now to the latest development in the tsunami tragedy in south Asia. Indonesia is now reporting fewer deaths in the disaster. Sources tell CNN the ever-changing total number of dead now stands at just over 131,000. That is fewer than previously reported.

Indonesia's Aceh Province is suffering devastating hits to its health system and the loss of many medical personnel. An expert says most of the Aceh public health system has been destroyed and that four out of five public health workers now still badly needed are missing.

Indonesian now says there is no deadline for foreign troops, including Americans, to leave. And the March 26 date that was announced last week is only a benchmark for their own troops to take over relief efforts.

Officials are still counting the money raised from Saturday's tsunami telethon. There's Norah Jones. Including entertainer Norah Jones, Ellen John, Usher and Madonna. They performed and answered phones. The money that is collected will go to the Red Cross. Some residents of La Conchita, California are being allowed back into their home. But a sign warns them the area is still a geologic hazard. Nearly 400,000 tons of mud slammed into the area on January 11, destroying 13 houses, killing 10 people. And authorities say the hillside is still sliding.

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