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CNN Live Today

Rockets Miss U.S. Navy Ships; Seventeen of 21 Gaza Settlements Now Evacuated; Violent Storms Cause Tornadoes In Wisconsin; Raising A Savvy Consumer Tips

Aired August 19, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Toward the fall and the window set is now moving on into CNN history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is moving on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sad to leave but nice to move on to bigger and better places.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is.

MILES O'BRIEN: We'll all be back on Monday.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everybody carry a box on your way out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're like the "Jefferson's." We're moving on up.

VELSHI: There's been no news on this show in the last hour and a half because everybody's just piling things up. It's like we've been hearing news about things happening. It's like, we'll get to it later.

MILES O'BRIEN: All right. Daryn Kagan in the same place, will be in the same place Monday and we'll see you on Monday, Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Has been in the same place for like 25 years. I heard a rumor that at least I'm still here, you know, there's something to be said for that. I've heard a rumor we might be getting pieces of that set down here in Atlanta.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really?

MILES O'BRIEN: They're on their way right now. The FedEx guy is right out there. We're going to be shipping them.

KAGAN: Yes, hand-me-downs. Just a rumor. We'll take it, though. You know, we work with that here.

You guys have a great weekend in New York City. All right. We'll get started. Let's do that by taking a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

A group linked to al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for today's rocket attacks apparently aimed at U.S. warships in the Jordanian Port of Aqaba. One of the rockets landed in the nearby Israeli city of Eilat. The ships were not hit. And one Jordanian soldier was killed and another was badly wounded. Just ahead, we're going to have a live report from Jerusalem plus reaction from the Pentagon.

In Hamburg, Germany, defense lawyers for a Moroccan man say they will appeal his conviction today of belonging to a terrorist group. A seven year sentence cast a year long trial of Mounir el Motassadeq. He was accused of aiding the 9/11 hijackers when they were in Hamburg but was acquitted as being an accessory to murder in those attacks.

The couple who allegedly staged a daring and deadly courthouse escape could be on their way back to Tennessee soon to face murder charges. George and Jennifer Hyatte were due in Columbus, Ohio, in a courtroom there in the last hour for an extradition hearing. They were arrested in Columbus following his escape 10 days ago from a courthouse in Tennessee in which a guard was killed.

And in Wisconsin, a swarm of tornadoes was reported across the state from a powerful storm system that carried debris up to 60 miles. One person was killed and more than a half dozen others were hurt. More than 100 homes were either damaged or destroyed.

It is Friday. I'm Daryn Kagan. We're at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Let's begin this hour in the Middle East. That is where U.S. warships were the apparent target of a rocket attack today. Three rockets were fired from a warehouse near the Port of Aqaba, Jordan. One of those missile landed in the nearby Israeli city of Eilat. CNN's Paula Hancocks is following this story from Jerusalem.

Paula, hello.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

Well, these attacks took place at quarter to 9:00 this morning local time. That's about quarter to 2:00 in the morning Eastern Time. Three rocket attacks hitting two different countries.

Now, the three rockets were launched, according to Jordanian officials, from a warehouse in Aqaba in Jordan. Now this warehouse had been recently rented, we're being told, by four individuals of Egyptian and Iraqi descent. Investigation, obviously, centering around that warehouse now. It's been cordoned off so that forensic can find out any information that they can about the origin of the rockets and where those four individuals are at the moment.

Now the places they hit, they narrowly missed those U.S. warships, which were in the Port of Aqaba at the time. They hit a military hospital. One hit a warehouse, a military warehouse, just nearby those ships. And one Jordanian soldier was killed and one was severely injured in that particular rocket.

And then the third rocket hit the southern Israeli town of Eilat. Now, it just narrowly missed the airport itself. It was just outside the perimeter fence of the airport, about 15 yards away. And very close to the center of Eilat. It's a very busy town. It's a Red Sea resort and thousands of Israelis would be taking their holiday there at the moment.

Now, Aqaba and Eilat are very close geographically. They're only about five miles across the border. They both look out on to the Red Sea. They're very close, indeed.

Now we do have a claim of responsibility on an Islamist Web site from an al Qaeda-linked group saying they bombed Taba, they bombed Eilat and next they will go for Tel Aviv. Referring to Taba, which is a Red Sea resort very close to Eilat as well, in which an explosion last October killed 34 people.

Daryn.

KAGAN: That's our Paula Hancocks in Jerusalem. Thank you.

Let's learn more now about the mission of those two U.S. Navy ships. And for that we turn to our David Ensor. He's at the Pentagon this morning and has more.

David, hello.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

Well, there's obviously relief here at the Pentagon and throughout the U.S. Navy today that those ships were not hit by the what they believe were rocket mortars that were fired in the direction of the ship. The two ships that were there, the USS Kearsarge and the USS Ashland, are part of a marine expeditionary support unit. They were there on a training mission. The Kearsarge normally carries about 2,000 Marines and roughly 1,000 Sailors. The Ashland, a little smaller, 400 Marines and 400 Sailors.

And as I say, they were in the Port of Aqaba on a joint training exercise with Jordanians when this incident occurred. As precautionary measure, and this is routine, the ships have left port and are out at sea now.

Daryn.

KAGAN: David Ensor, live at the Pentagon.

David, thank you.

To Iraq now. Constitution writers in Iraq now have three days, only three days left, to reach a compromise. And demonstrators made their demand for the document today. At least 1,000 supporters of the radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr marched through Baghdad. They denounced federalism as an attempt to divide Iraq. Hundreds also rallied in Baquba against federalism, a sticking point in the constitution talks. Gunmen killed a city council member in a northern town in a drive-by shooting today. He was en route to Kirkuk. Dozens of government and local officials have been killed in insurgent attacks.

And today marks the second anniversary of the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. The attack killed 22 people and led to a pullout of the U.N. staff in Iraq. A smaller contingent is working there now due to security concerns.

The woman who began a protest because of her son's death in Iraq is now caring for her ailing mother. Cindy Sheehan returned to California last night after hearing that her 74-year-old mother had had a stroke. Sheehan had staged a vigil near President Bush's Texas ranch for nearly two weeks. She plans to return as soon as possible in her quest to meet with the president.

Turning now to Gaza. The evacuation of Jewish settlements is over for today. Seventeen of the 21 settlements have now been cleared. Today's removal of settlers and protesters wasn't as extensive as yesterday but emotions were still high. Our Matthew Chance has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): For Israel's security forces, the toughest orders, to carry out evacuating Jewish settlers from Gaza, evicting their own. For them and this country, a wrenching task. Officers like Rafi Ron, part of a special evacuation unit trained for this, but are torn by it all the same.

RAFI RON, ISRAELI OFFICER: It's hard. It affects you. I won't tell you, you know, go next to you and you don't hear but we try to do what we can. I mean, we try it, you know, step aside in your mind and just focus on what you have to do.

CHANCE: And emotions here are fever-pitched. Jewish settlers venting their fury. The forces they depend on for security any Gaza seeming to turn against them now. You're like Nazis, some shout, just carrying out orders! Others pleading for their young families whose only home has been these settlements to be allowed to stay. Guilt among those charged with removing them is widely felt.

RON: They've been taken out from their toys and little bicycles and stuff like that. I mean, I think of my own son and my own daughter. It's hard.

CHANCE: Hard, but now unstoppable.

These are traumatic scenes for the people of Israel. Israeli against Israeli in pitch battles of wills as this Gaza disengagement plan is enforced. And when this is over, many are concerned about how do the visions that have been opened here will ever be closed.

A wound in Israeli society, many like Rafi, pray it can heal.

RON: I can just hope. It's going to be hard. It's going to be difficult. It's going to take time. But I hope one day they will understand it and then I just did what I had to do and that's it. That's my job.

CHANCE: But for those whose dreams of a Jewish Gaza have been shattered, it may be impossible to forgive.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Shirat Hayam, Gaza. (END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Witnesses say it looked like the sky exploded. Storms and tornadoes ripping through Wisconsin. We have dramatic footage of the damage and your morning forecast.

Plus, how posing for senior photos turned deadly for one high school student.

And rambling statements from Dennis Rader. What's next for the BTK killer as he heads to prison.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: One witness said, as you look at these pictures, it looked like the sky exploded. We're talking about severe storms, including a tornado, striking central and southern Wisconsin Thursday. One person was killed. At least eight others were hospitalized. Dozens of homes were damaged. The tornado was so powerful it carried debris some 60 miles away.

Reporter Justin Williams of our affiliate WMTV joins us from Madison, Wisconsin, to tell us how residents are coping there.

Justin, good morning.

JUSTIN WILLIAMS: Good morning to you, Daryn.

You mentioned some of the debris flying 60 miles away. That's true. It has been confirmed. Debris from this area flying as far as near Milwaukee. In the Waukesha County area have been located pictures and other remnants. We're actually trying to locate some of the residents to whom these photos and other items belong.

Right now I'm standing at the corner of East Main Street and Fifth Street in downtown Stoughton. This is the Stoughton Opera House which also serves as city hall. Residents are in line to try to pick up wrist bands. They're in search of green wrist bands that will allow residents to at least try to get back into the areas where their homes are, or were as it was, depending on their specific circumstance. They're also issuing red volunteer wrist bands and white wrist bands for contractors such as folks involved with insurance companies. Here you see the line. It continues to grow around the corner here on Fifth Street.

Thursday's devastating tornadoes pushed through here about 6:30 in the evening yesterday. We do have one confirmed fatality, as you mentioned. Meanwhile, hundreds of homes are being reported as having suffered extensive damage. The storm completely ravished one subdivision in the neighboring town of Pleasant Springs, which is just northwest of Stoughton at this point.

Here at Stoughton City Hall, as I said, more than 300 residents have gathered. The mood seems to be fairly jovial and understanding as far as the disaster is concerned. As far as the media coverage, which is extensive at this point, a lot of these residents are actually sharing a chuckle at seeing how much attention their little city and small community are receiving at this point in time.

I am happy to report that the Red Cross is on the scene. They are assisting. They've already helped more than 50 people. They expect that number to grow throughout the day. And we'll have more as it becomes available to us from here in Stoughton.

In the meantime, like I said, a fairly jovial mood, all things considered, with most people here. Though you will find some red eyes from the tears that no doubt have been shed throughout the course of the evening and night and then this morning as well as people surveyed the damage, some of them for the first time.

KAGAN: Understandable. Justin, how common are tornadoes in that area there? And was there a good advance warning system to get people out of danger's way?

WILLIAMS: They have a pretty good advance warning system. From what I understand from discussing with our weather presenter the situation out here earlier today, we are located in Dane County on the northern portion of what's considered tornado alley. The country's tornado alley. So they are not terribly common but they do push through here from time to time. And we have had a couple already this year spotted and some touchdowns in the area.

But from law enforcement and actually Dane County sheriff, Gary Hamblin, who has been in the business for a couple of decades, more than a couple of decades, word is that this is the most extensive tornado damage the area's had in several decades, dating back to the tornadoes which ravaged a nearby community named Barnavelt (ph) many, many decades ago. But in recent memory, nobody is able it put this on a comparison level with anything else they've seen.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Justin Williams with our affiliate WMTV. Thank you.

Let's see what the weather looks like in the Midwest today, as well as across the country. Rob Marciano is here with us.

Hi, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Right now we're going to take a look at other stories making news coast-to-coast.

The family of Coretta Scott King is expecting her to make a full recovery. The widow of the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., suffered a stroke and a heart attack on Tuesday. Doctors say the 78-year-old woman faces intensive rehabilitation.

Four people have died in a Utah cave. The bodies of two men and two women were found in a narrow, underwater passageway. The passage led to a chamber in the spring-fed cave. Authorities believe the four had been trying to swim out. And students at a Kansas high school are mourning the mauling death of one of their own. Seventeen-year-old Haley Hilderbrand was posing for pictures at an animal sanctuary when a tiger attacked her. Officers and the handler killed the tiger. Students from the school have had yearbook pictures taken before with the tigers at the sanctuary. That practice is likely to end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS WILSON, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: I hadn't thought at this moment about what position the school should take. I think parents should be very aware and think very carefully and critically about having a picture taken with a wild animal. And knowing the owner of the sanctuary, I think he will self-police and this is probably the last time we will see pictures taken with tigers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Sheriffs say the tiger that killed the teenager had often been around people and was no stranger to human contact.

We're at 20 minutes past the hour. The airline industry getting kind of creative as it tries to cope with the high price of fuel. So the next time you board a plane, it could be sitting on half full. Details straight ahead.

Plus, they don't want to work. They don't have to work or pay bills. So how do you raise economically savvy kids? We have a few tips coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check out the latest numbers on Wall Street. Look at this for a Friday. Looking pretty strong. The Dow is up 56 points. Nasdaq also in positive territory. It is up 4 points.

Advertisers must consider children to be easy marks because they bombard the average kid with, get this, 40,000 commercial as year. You might not be able to stop that barrage, but you can teach your children to be intelligent consumers who understand the value of a dollar. "Money" magazine writer Cybele Weisser is here once again to explain to us how to do that in today's "Top Five Tips."

Cybele, good to have you back.

CYBELE WEISSER, "MONEY" MAGAZINE: Thank you.

KAGAN: Let's get right to making these smart kids. First of all, there are teachable moments each and every day about money.

WEISSER: Exactly. You know the challenge for parents is, how do you keep your kid from turning into one big advertising logo. Well, we suggest, you know, first tip is make it a little easier on yourself by using the everyday opportunities in a restaurant, in a store, to just tell them why you've decided to buy some things and not others, that way it doesn't have to be a big lesson. And when they ask for something, don't just say no. Rather explain the thinking behind it. You know, this is why I don't want to let you have this at this time. And that way it's not a power struggle, it's a lesson.

KAGAN: Now, with all the ads that are coming towards kids, how do you filter and help them make sense of what they're seeing?

WEISSER: It's unbelievable. Forty thousand a year, can you even believe that? You know, one great thing to do is watch some TV with your kids and encourage them to be kind of skeptical about the advertisements. You know, just small comments like, does the doll really look like that in real life? You know, is that hamburger as yummy as it seems on screen? You know that really helps them sort through what the truth is versus what's coming to them on the screen.

KAGAN: When do you start talking to your kids about money?

WEISSER: Early. You know, kids really get it much earlier than you might think. By age three, they're already understanding a connection between money and spending. So you can start then with very small lessons. You know, here's what a quarter buys. Here's what a dollar buys. By kindergarten, kids get it enough that they can handle a small allowance, 50 cents or a dollar a week, and it's a great thing to do.

KAGAN: It's all about making choices, whether you're a little kid or a big kid.

WEISSER: It sure is. I mean, most of us can not have everything we want in life, unless we're Paris Hilton. Maybe she can't either. So, you know, teaching them to make smart choices is really one of the most important things you can do to help them become a savvy consumer.

You know, again, kids get it much earlier than you think. By age two they should be able to choose small things. You know, between a red coat and a blue coat. By age four they should be able to choose between five or six options. The most important thing is that you follow through. Make them understand the consequences of a decision. If they change their minds later, don't back down. Be sympathetic, but stick to it.

KAGAN: And finally, they are watching you.

WEISSER: They are sure watching you. Be ware of those mixed messages. You know, if your kids see you lusting after designer fashions or coveting high-tech toys, they're going to want those same things.

KAGAN: Do as I do and as I say.

WEISSER: Yes, exactly. Exactly.

KAGAN: Cybele Weisser from "Money" magazine. Thanks for stopping by again.

WEISSER: You're welcome. KAGAN: Speaking of money, have you seen the price of gasoline? Fill'er up. But how about only half way? Still to come, a look at how airlines are making big cuts to get around the high cost of fuel.

And coming up at the half hour, a sentencing hearing where the confessed killer offers eerie thank yous. Day one for BTK in prison.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

An al Qaeda-linked group is claiming responsibility for today's Red Sea rocket attacks. The rockets apparently targeted two U.S. Navy ships in port that were in Aqaba, Jordan. The rockets missed the ships but one hit a warehouse and another landed in a nearby Israeli town. One Jordanian soldier was killed, a second badly hurt.

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