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CNN Live Today

Iraq Bombings; War of Words; War & Politics; Budget Battle; Beat Holiday Traffic; Iowa Escapee Caught

Aired November 18, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A good time. You guys have fun.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Let's get right to Betty Nguyen. He's at the CNN Center.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that could be a wet turkey for Thanksgiving but we're hoping for the best, Miles.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: He won't even be (INAUDIBLE) reporting live for us.

NGUYEN: Yes. All right. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

There are two big stories that we're following over the next two hours. On the left side of your screen, we're going put it up, a deadly blast in Baghdad. Civilians target a hotel in Baghdad and Shiite mosque near the Iranian border. Dozens of people are dead. A live report just seconds away.

And on the right side, live pictures from Southern California. Strong winds fanning the flames of what is becoming a major wildfire. That story tops our look at what's happening right "Now in the News."

A spectacular wildfire is burning this morning in Canyon Area, some 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The fire is burning on oil field facilities and there are no reports of homes being threatened at this hour. Take a listen, though, to KABC helicopter pilot Scott Rife (ph) who was over the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT RIFE, KABC: Yes, we're starting to see the helicopters here as well. I don't see any from L.A. County, but Ventura County has their aircrafts up. They're making water drops on some of the hot spots and they're calling for some water to be dropped for structure protection. I'm not sure exactly where that is yet, but it's probably not far from where we're looking.

Now we come out of the shot just a little bit. That's the hot spot. This is where most of the heavy smoke and flame is at this point in time. And on the left side of your screen, when you start to see some of the homes, that's towards Main and San Juan. So those folks who live in that area, right there on the left side. Look at that. That's got to be frightening, the heavy smoke pouring up over the ridge line coming down towards those homes. And if we're going to have any evacuations any time soon, that's where it will be, at Main and San Juan. That residence you see there. You see the ocean on the top left portion of your screen and that's right where Ventura Harbor is and the pier is. But the fire is being pushed very quickly towards those homes by some heavy winds.

Live from Air 7, I'm Scott Rife. Back to you in the studio.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And warm, windy and dry conditions in the area did create a potential for fires to explode. We're going to keep on top of that.

Plus Chad Myers will have an update on the weather conditions in California, as well as for the rest of the nation a little bit later on.

Meanwhile, President Bush and the leaders of 20 other Pacific rim countries have opened the APEC Summit. Its host, South Korea, has announced it may withdraw a third of its troops from Iraq next year. Thousands of protesters have amassed outside the talks. Look at this. Some threw rocks before police in riot gear used fire hoses to disperse them.

Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito is back on Capitol Hill this morning to meet and greet senators who could decide his fate. Alito is facing questions over a newly-surfaced memo from 1985 in which he boasted of his anti-abortion views. In his letter to the Reagan administration, Alito wrote that, "the constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."

Well, good morning on this Friday. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

We do begin this hour with new violence in Iraq. Insurgents today targeted locations across Iraq, including one in the area of a recent attack and another in a town that's been relatively peaceful. The bombings in that small town had a far greater impact then this one in Central Baghdad. Let's go now to CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson in the Iraqi capital.

Nic, any indication why a mosque was targeted?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, it's not clear. Certainly at the time of day these suicide bombers attacked, the mosque would have been very big. This is the holy day. People were going there for prayers in the middle of the day. The noon day prayers. There were many fathers there taking their sons. This is traditional.

And perhaps another reason that the mosques were chosen in this remote town is that there wouldn't have been a lot of security. And it has been relatively peaceful. And would have been easy for the bombers, perhaps, to get in. These were Shiite mosques. The insurgency generally (ph) a Sunni insurgency targeting the Shiites. More than 70 people killed there were are told. More than 20 believed to be children. More than 70 others injured.

The bombs in Baghdad today targeting a hotel used by western journalists and western workers. Two suicide bombers trying a double act, if you will, to get into the compound of the hotel. The first car bomber drives a white van up to the wall at the security wall outside the hotel, detonates his explosives, trying to create a hole in the security barrier for the second bomber to get through, but he's not able to get close to the hotel. But as you can see from these pictures, apartments in the nearby area were brought down by the force of the two blasts. Six people killed there, two of them children and one woman among the dead there.

Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN: Nic, let's go back to the two suicide bombings outside the Shia mosque there. I'm reading hearing that there were reports of a possible third suicide bomber and a search was underway for that person. What do you know about that?

ROBERTSON: Betty, as the details have been coming in to us this afternoon, the numbers of people killed and injured in that attack have grown. We've heard now that part of one of the mosques was destroyed, that people were having trouble getting bodies out from underneath the rubble. It was down a very narrow street.

And in the early part of the day, there was a report that there was a third suicide bomber on the loose in the town. Now we've heard from the U.S. military who are now on the ground there, the Iraqi police there, the mayor of the town and it seems, at this stage, that the third bomber, if there was one, has now fled the scene.

Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad.

Nic, thank you.

U.S. and Iraqi forces fought back against an insurgent offensive in the city of Ramadi. The U.S. military says 32 suspected insurgents were killed during fierce gun battles yesterday. The multiple attacks by insurgents were apparently meant to coincide simultaneously, but U.S. military officials said coordination among the insurgents broke down. An Iraqi soldier and a U.S. Marine suffered minor injuries in the clash. Coalition forces have been involved with counterinsurgency operations around Ramadi.

Well, the U.S. military death toll in Iraq has risen. Two soldiers died in separate vehicle accidents yesterday. One was killed and four others wounded in an accident in Bayji, which is north of Baghdad. Now the other facility was near Tal Afar. Two soldiers were also hurt in that accident. There have been 2,082 American troop deaths in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN MURTHA, (D) PENNSYLVANIA: It's time to bring them home. They've done everything they can do. The military's done everything they can do. This war has been so mishandled from the very start. Not only was the intelligence bad, the way they disband the troops. There's all kinds of mistakes that have been made. They don't deserve to continue to suffer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Congressman John Murtha calling on the U.S. to withdraw its forces from Iraq. A one-time supporter of the war and a decorated Vietnam veteran. Murtha's statement apparently hit a nerve within the Bush administration and a harsh response came from half a world away. CNN's Dana Bash is traveling with the president at the APEC Summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): No press questions here with Russia's leader. President Bush for now is letting deputies fight the latest skirmish over the Iraq War political debate back home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We simply believe that the congressman is wrong on this issue.

BASH: The gloves off, White House effort is to paint a Democratic congressman calling for troops out of Iraq in six months as out of the mainstream. "Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America," said the White House Press Secretary in a blistering statement. "So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy position of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party." By trying to link John Murtha, a known hawk, to the dovish filmmaker Michael Moore, Bush aides hope to stop independents and Republicans already skittish about Iraq from following the influential Democrats' lead.

SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: I respectfully disagree with John Murtha.

BASH: White House officials note even outspoken war critics in Murtha's own party think an immediate troop withdrawal would be dangerous. But the Bush strategy to dismiss Murtha's biting criticism of the president's Iraq policy by calling him part of the left-wing fringe may be undermined by past statements like this.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of my strongest allies in Congress when I was secretary of defense was Jack Murtha, a Democrat who was chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. We used to be able to do more together on a bipartisan basis than seems possible these days.

BASH: It's that kind of growing comment in the heat of last year's campaign that makes the bronze star, double purple heart recipient's slam at the vice president on Iraq so stunning.

MURTHA: I like guys who have got five deferments and never been there and sent people to war and then don't like to hear suggestions about what need to be done. BASH: The debate over troops in Iraq is not just happening in America. Bush officials appear to be caught off-guard when, while the president is in their country, the South Korean defense ministry put forward a proposal to start withdrawing some of their 3,000-plus troops serving in Iraq.

Dana Bash, CNN, Busan, South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And the filmmaker Michael Moore released this statement after the White House linked Murtha to his views saying, "unfortunately the president doesn't understand that it is mainstream middle America who has turned against him and his immoral war and that it is I and the Democrats who represent the mainstream. It is Mr. Bush who is the extremist."

Well, as you might expect, members of Congress are out in force this morning on both sides of the Murtha debate. Most remained in Washington after pulling a semi all-nighter over the budget. CNN's Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry is keeping up with all of it on Capitol Hill.

So what is the latest of this war of words, Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you heard from the White House there, kind of a pat on the back and then a slap on the back basically to John Murtha, saying he's a respected voice on defense issues, but he's like Michael Moore on the left fringe of the Democratic Party. We also heard from Speaker Dennis Hastert, the Republican speaker, saying basically that he believes John Murtha is, "waving the white flag of surrender to the terrorists all around the world."

And basically you're hearing that kind of push back from the Republicans. We've heard it all week, even before Murtha made his dramatic comments yesterday. But the question is whether it will really stick with John Murtha. As you pointed out, as Dana Bash pointed out, two purple hearts. Somebody who served and was wounded in the Vietnam War. A long time former Marine. Also someone very powerful on defense issues in Congress.

This is not a peace activist. This is somebody who voted, in fact, for the war in Iraq and was choking back tears at his press conference yesterday at a very heartfelt change of heart perhaps, saying that he believes, from sitting down with wounded veterans coming back, from traveling to Iraq himself, that the troops have done their job. They have served admirably. But John Murtha believes they now have a bull's-eye on their back and it needs to be taken off their back.

It's not surprising that the Republicans would be hitting back hard. They're nervous. They're looking at the polls. They see support for the war, support for the president slipping. Perhaps what's more interesting is the fact that John Murtha is not really getting very much support from his Democratic colleagues. They have warm words for him. They, of course, say that he is a respected voice. But they're, for now saying, he's speaking for himself. So he's a strong voice, but a lonely voice.

In fact, yesterday House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi had suggested to her colleagues and others that, in fact, she was going to be endorsing Mr. Murtha's plan for this immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq. That she would do that yesterday afternoon. She ended up not doing it. And I think that's because Democrats are looking at the polls as well, just as the Republicans are. And while support is slipping for the war, Democrats don't quite know what the answer is. What's the recipe? How do you turn it around? And it might look too extreme to go for an immediate troop withdrawal.

So I think what ultimately may happen is that there may be a push in Congress on both sides for some sort of a third way. Not the Murtha immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. Maybe not the president's stay the course. Maybe there's going to be a bipartisan center that says, maybe there's a third way to get out here and make sure that we win.

Betty.

NGUYEN: Ed, let's shift quickly to the all-nighter or the almost all-night on Capitol Hill, dealing with the budget. What did lawmakers come up with?

HENRY: Senate Republicans passed a $60 billion tax package. Not everything they wanted, but they extended several of the Bush tax cuts that were about to expire. They also raised taxes on oil companies, something that's drawn a presidential veto threat.

Now over in the House it was a stickier situation. They, first of all, the House Republican leadership lost a vote yesterday on the spending bill that covers all the health and education programs for the nation. A stunning defeat. The first time such a bill has gone down in 10 years. Raising a lot of questions about whether in the post Tom DeLay world, this Republican leadership is having trouble getting their agenda through.

And, in fact, they spent all night trying to get the rest of their budget through, $50 billion in spending cuts. After a lot of arm twisting, they finally got it about 1:45 in the morning. The won by just one vote. Democrats are slamming those cuts, saying they go after the vulnerable, Medicaid, food stamps and others. But the bottom line is, the Republicans eked out a win.

Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Ed Henry, thank you.

I want to show you some new video that we are just getting in. This is Samuel Alito. He's back on Capitol Hill this morning to meet and greet senators. He just met with Republican Rick Santorum and he's going to be meeting a little bit later with Republican Johnny Isaacson of Georgia, also David Viter of Louisiana. But, of course, he is making the rounds in his bid to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Of course, he is facing some questions over that newly-surfaced memo from 1985 when he boasted of his anti-abortion views. So no doubt that will be a topic of discussion as he meets with the different lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

All right. Stopping bird flu before it gets to the U.S. Lines of defense set up this morning at airports nationwide. Will the effort make a difference? We'll have a live report. That's next.

Hillsides in flames. Californian's waking up to a new batch of large and dangerous wildfires. We're going to survey the damage already inflicted.

And it's finally here. Yes, fans -- true diehard fans apparently packed theaters just after midnight to see the latest "Harry Potter" film. But is it worth all the hype? Find out when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We have this just in to CNN. We have learned from an affiliate in Iowa, KGAN, that the second escapee in that prison break, Robert Joseph Legendre, has been caught. As you'll remember, Moon was caught yesterday. Legendre was caught today in Missouri. We don't have a whole lot of information surrounding that capture, but we do know that he had been on the run for a couple of days. Moon, as we mentioned, was caught yesterday.

No word if Moon had anything to do with leading police to the capture of Legendre. But, of course, we were under the understanding that with that capture, of course, police were going to be questioning him to determine if he could lead them to the whereabouts of Legendre. (INAUDIBLE) has been found today. We understand, according to an affiliate in Iowa, KGAN, that the second escapee there, Robert Legendre, has been captured. We're, obviously, going to have much more on this as we get it into CNN and we will bring that to you when it occurs.

All right. We want to take you to California now and some live pictures. Look at this. This is from KTLA. Firefighters are trying to get control of a wildfire burning through some 500 acres along the School (ph) Canyon Area, 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. That blaze broke out overnight and authorities are waiting until dawn to launch water helicopters over the area. But listen to this. This is what the helicopter pilot of KTTV had to say over the flames.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got the offshore -- you never have a better beach day in Southern California than you do when you have Santa Anna winds. That's right. And we've had this situation in place actually all week long. We've been talking about the red flag warning.

The National Weather Service and coordination with the fire crews. They put these red flag warnings out just for this reason. They know the humidity is going to be so low, they know the winds are going to be blowing, the Santa Anna winds, they know the air is going to be dry.

When you have this offshore component, you have air that's originating from a very dry area over Nevada and Utah and it's dried out and warmed up as it descends the mountain. (INAUDIBLE) National Forest, the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains. You end up with humidities down to 5, 10 percent and you have a situation that is explosive and you have the red flag warning, which means explosive fire growth in place and that's what we're seeing here just to the east of the 33, the Ojai (ph) Freeway. Again, the fire's burning seven miles to the south of Ojai and only about a mile and a half to two miles from the coast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: That's something that you don't ever want to hear, explosive fires. But officials are concerned about that. And so far, though, we have been told that no homes are in danger at this point.

So let's get a check on the weather over these fires. Chad Myers is in the Weather Center to talk about it.

Obviously, they could use a little rain, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, over the river and through the woods, Gerri Willis has what you need to know about holiday travel.

Gerri, we're listening.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm telling you, traffic jams, expensive gas, screaming kids. We've got the solutions for your holiday travel stress. "Five Tips" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right, this just in. Take a look at your screen. Robert Joseph Legendre, the second of the two escapees, has been captured. As you'll recall, Martin Moon there on the right hand side was captured yesterday in Illinois. These prisoners broke out of a prison in Iowa. But Legendre was found today in Missouri at a truck stop there, according to Iowa affiliate KGAN. Of course, our Keith Oppenheim is following the story. We're going to get him up just as soon as possible to get us the latest on exactly how this capture occurred.

But both escapees are back now in custody. Martin Moon captured yesterday. The news today that Robert Joseph Legendre was captured at a truck stop in Missouri. We're going to get you that latest as soon as it becomes available to us.

We're also following a developing story dealing with these fires. This is a live picture, another look from KTLA. It's burning about 500 acres and we're told that it's also threatening oil fields. That's a big problem because it could cause these fires to become explosive. At this point, though, there have been no evacuations and no homes are in the direct path as of yet. But, of course, as you know, wildfires continue to burn and we're going to follow it and give you the latest.

Well, Thanksgiving is less than a week away and with it the arrival of the holidays. Are you excited? I am. This year, 83 percent of Americans will travel by car and in today's "Top Five Tips," CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis tells us how we can steer clear of the traffic nightmare which is just around the corner.

I don't know how you can do it, but go ahead. Give us your best shot of how we can stay away from those jams.

WILLIS: Well, we're got lots of great ideas. But first, the good news, Betty. Gas prices are going lower.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes.

WILLIS: Guess what? Over the last month, prices are down about 50 cents a gallon, which is great news for people who are traveling over the next week. And they could go down another 10 cents a gallon by the end of this month. So over the rest of the year, the range of gas price is somewhere between 210 and 220 on average. Of course, it varies across the country as you know, Betty. But they're going down, which is great.

NGUYEN: Yes, you know, we're excited about $2 per gallon gasoline. But, you know, I don't know, half a year ago, a year ago, that was expensive. I guess we're just getting used to it.

WILLIS: It's all relative.

NGUYEN: Yes, it sure is.

OK. When it comes to directions, you know a lot of dads out there who are taking to the roadways don't want to stop for those directions. So there's an answer.

WILLIS: There is an answer. And it's a fun answer. Get the kids to go on the web to plot your route to your destination for Thanksgiving. If you use a Web site called usmap.24.com, they'll tell you not only the best way to get there, but also the malls to stop at along the way, which is not a bad idea if you want to take a gift or get a gift even. Even the post offices along the way if you have to mail something out. And, of course, you can also go to Google Maps where you can get those fabulous satellite imagery of where you're going to, which is always just fun to see.

NGUYEN: Yes, it is fun. OK. But here is the big question, Gerri. All right. You ready?

WILLIS: Yes, I am.

NGUYEN: How do you avoid, avoid those traffic jams? Is it possible?

WILLIS: You know, wouldn't it be nice if someone would invent some Web sites that you could go to that would tell you exactly where those traffic crashes, crunches, you know, jams are?

NGUYEN: Yes.

WILLIS: Well, guess what, they have.

NGUYEN: Oh, good.

WILLIS: Traffic.com tells you all about traffic jams in 29 cities across the country. So you go there, you log in, you tell them where you live. They help you. You can also go to the Federal Highway Administration's Web site, fhwa.gov, for even more information. They hook you up to even more Web sites if you don't live in one of those 29 cities.

NGUYEN: Yes, I was going to ask, 29 cities, obviously, probably the biggest cities. But there is another option. Boy, that's good to know. I'm writing that Web site now. Good advice.

All right. So here's another one. When is the best time to hit the road, because some folks don't know if it's the day before, two days before Thanksgiving. When's the best time?

WILLIS: Well, you know, Wednesday between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. you don't want to be on the road then. That's absolutely the worst time to get on the road because everybody else is there, too. You're better off doing it before, doing it after. The very best time to travel, if you can do this, if you're not going to far, is Thanksgiving morning.

NGUYEN: Oh, OK, cutting it close. Hopefully you don't stall or have a flat.

WILLIS: Cutting it close. Tell grandma to make the meal a little bit later.

NGUYEN: Right. Good advice.

We've got a breaking news story that we want to get to, Gerri, so we're not going to have your last tip, but we appreciate your time today.

Speaking of that breaking news story, it's out of the Midwest. We've been telling you a report of the capture of the second of two escaped Iowa inmates. KGAN TV reports Robert Joseph Legendre has been captured in Missouri and our Keith Oppenheim is on the phone with the latest information surrounding this capture.

What do you know so far, Keith?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Robert Legendre is one of the two escapees from the Iowa State Penitentiary here in Fort Madison where I am, who was still on the lose. Yesterday Martin Shane Moon was picked up, oddly enough near a prison in Illinois.

Now the news is that Legendre has also been caught. If you can just imagine the state of Missouri and you go into the lower right- hand corner, that little section that sort of sticks down into Arkansas, that is Tenis (ph) Scott County, and it's that section of Missouri where police found Legendre.

Apparently, he stole a couple of vehicles, and they found him at a truck stop near I-55, Interstate 55, according to what our affiliate KGAN in Cedar Rapids has learned from the Tenis Scott county sheriff. There were a couple of cars stolen. One possibly in St. Louis, and there is where Legendre was found.

Not too much more than that at this point, but in the big picture, what you have is one guy was out for two-and-a-half days. The other, Legendre, was out for three-and-a-half days, and it appears that both of them are back in custody -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Keith, I know the information is still coming in, but do you know why he was at that particular truck stop, and who tipped police off to this capture?

OPPENHEIM: No. The details of how he was spotted I don't have yet, Betty, but I think it's fair to say that the general combination of law enforcement looking hard and the public getting regular updates and broadcasts on that these guys have been loose put a great deal of pressure on the fugitives when they're on the run. If you remember, a week and a half ago, we had the story in Houston of Charles Victor Thompson, who was found outside in front of a liquor store two-and-a- half days after his escape from a jail in Houston.

Now this week, we've got two convicted -- two convicts who have been on the run, and they didn't last that long, you know, less than four days in terms of getting them back in custody.

NGUYEN: But the big news today is both are captured. Robert Joseph Legendre back in custody.

Keith Oppenheim, thanks for staying on top of it. We'll be checking in with you.

We're also awaiting a news conference on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan group of senators, lead by Democrat Dick Durbin, threatens to block reauthorization of the Patriot Act. We're going to get the details when we bring you that event live. That's just ahead.

Also this hour, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is already setting box office records, but is it worth your time and your money? -- Mr. Moviefone rates it. That's ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We're following a number of stories this hour. One including the capture of an escapee in Missouri. That person, Robert Joseph Legendre, was found today in Missouri at a truck stop there, according to KGAN, an affiliate out of Iowa. Another person who escaped with him, Martin Moon was captured yesterday. So both behind bars today. That's one of the stories that we're following.

There's a picture of Moon right there, who was captured yesterday, and then we want to show you Robert Joseph Legendre who was captured today at a truck stop. We're getting more information as to what led to his capture, and we'll bring that to you.

We're also following the fires out of California. Winds are fanning a 500-acre wildfire that broke out before dawn in a rugged canyon area of Ventura County. The fire is burning in a hilly, rocky area, as you can see, but it also is near an area that contains numerous oil pumps. That can be a big problem and cause explosive fires in that area. So obviously, officials are watching that. But at this point, no homes are being threatened and the fire is burning away from residential areas. So we're going to keep you on top of that.

A lot of things developing today, and we're staying posted. And to the right-hand side of your screen, we are listening to a press conference -- can you tell me, Tom, what this is? This is John Sununu speaking right now, and I believe this is dealing with -- is this the Patriot act situation? Yes, dealing with the patriot act. We're going listen to it for just a moment, because obviously there are lawmakers who are not in favor of this new agreement to renew portions of the Patriot Act. So let's take a listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... clear about our concerns. I'm sure a number of the members here want to talk about them in greater detail, but I certainly hope we can go back and make modifications to the conference report. We all know we're going to be here in a couple of weeks to do final passage on a number of items that are in conference. That would be a great opportunity to get this done, get it done in a reasonable rational way and move on.

SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D), WISCONSIN: Turn this over now to the two senators who brought us together in this, the main authors of the SAFE Act, Senator Craig and Senator Durbin. And I just want to thank them for their incredible leadership on this issue.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Thank you very much, Senator Feingold.

I can recall when we had our first press conference on this issue. Senator Craig and I introduced the SAFE Act, and senators Sununu, and Feingold and others were there.

Senator Sununu observed that Senator Craig and Senator Durbin introducing the same bill obviously one of them hasn't read it.

The fact is we had both read it. We had both worked on it. We had both prepared it together. And what you in evidence today is such a broad spectrum of political thought in Congress, I think it should give pause to the leadership as to whether or not they should go forward with this proposed change in the Patriot Act.

What we achieved in the Senate Judiciary Committee with the good work of so many who are here on this podium this evening -- or this morning, was a unanimous bipartisan vote in favor of Patriot Act revisions. We honestly believe that what came out of the Senate would not only keep America safe, it would protect our basic freedoms, and that is what it's all about. It's rare that we have a chance as members of the House or Senate to speak to the most fundamental rights of Americans. This is the bill that does it. This is not just another bill. This is the bill which gives the government the authority and power to deal with terrorism, but does it in the context of protecting our basic American freedoms, and that's why we're concerned with some of the suggestions, and rumors and things that are coming out about the end product that has resulted from this conference.

We hope that the leaders on both sides of the Rotunda will come to realize that they have a strong bipartisan coalition for meaningful Patriot Act reform. If they do not, and there are test votes, I believe we can demonstrate on the floor of the United States Senate that a substantial bipartisan majority opposes this Patriot Act as it's been currently proposed.

Let us go back to the version that left the United States Senate. Let's return to what we consider to be a very fundamental way to protect America without sacrificing our freedoms.

Senator Craig.

NGUYEN: So you've been listening to Senators Dick Durbin, also John Sununu. And also in the room, Senator Larry Craig. Dealing with the Patriot Act and the revisions that many lawmakers are calling for. And, of course, we're going to stay on top of this and tell you how they decide on this agreement, whether to go forward with these revisions or not.

Also coming up, we're going to talk a little bit about the bird flu. The nation's airports are taking some action against it. We're going to show you exactly what they're doing, coming up. Stay tuned to more LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: From scientific laboratories to the political labyrinth of Washington, concern is spreading over bird flu and the potential for a pandemic. Some of the first lines of defense are being established at U.S. airports.

And CNN's Sumi Das is in Virginia at Dulles International, one of 18 U.S. airports setting up quarantine centers. Sumi, how would these measures work?

SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what they are is quarantine stations, essentially, and they are outposts for the CDC. Now, scientists worry that the avian flu virus could mutate into a form that's passable between humans. The possibility could affect the airline industry because as quickly as a 747 shuttles passengers to the United States from abroad, it could also carry disease.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAS (voice-over): In the event of a bird flu outbreak, airplanes could speed the spread of the virus. The 2003 SARS epidemic forced airlines to make costly last minute cancellations of flights to affected destinations. Since then, airlines have made every effort to be informed.

JOHN MEENAN, AIRLINE TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: We're concerned about any possibly contagious diseases and we stay in very close contact with the Centers for Disease Control to monitor developments around the world on literally a daily basis.

DAS: Washington-Dulles International Airport is one of the 18 U.S. airports with quarantine stations set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At these stations, the CDC works in conjunction with local health and emergency officials, ready to respond to potential infectious disease threats. These centers include a private room where medical officers can screen potentially ill passengers for symptoms.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are not treatment facilities. They're coordinated centers. They're outposts of CDC staff that coordinate responses at the ports of entry.

DAS: Thursday, CDC officials at Dulles Airport ran an exercise, discussing how to handle various situations, if they needed to get a patient off a plane or hold passengers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those responses, the protocols and the plans, can then be adapted for a disease such as SARS or avian influenza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAS: One area the airline industry says it's trying to streamline is its tracking systems for passengers, in case a person is determined to be ill after everyone has disembarked from the plane -- Betty.

NGUYEN: New measures. Sumi Das, thank you.

Why the holiday shopping season may be good for you, but bad for retailers. That is just ahead.

Plus, he is charitable, but Bill Gates has been replaced as the most generous philanthropist. Who's who in the list -- that's coming up -- of those who give the most.

We're going to be back in just a short couple of minutes. Stay with us.

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NGUYEN: Look at this. We are following a number of issues today and developments. Captured, the second inmate who escaped out of an Iowa penitentiary. Was captured this morning. We'll get you the latest on that coming up. Also, the right hand of your screen, you can see the smoke there and lots of it. Wildfires continue to burn. Five hundred acres already on fire. So far, though, no homes are being threatened, but it is near an oil pump, numerous oil pumps. So that is obviously an urge for caution and some concern. We'll keep you on top of that.

Plus at the bottom portion of your screen, you can see a news conference is underway dealing with the Patriot Act. Senator Ken Salazar speaking right now. The big deal here is lawmakers are trying to find a compromise as many measures of the Patriot Act are set to expire next month. So that's what all of the talk is about today.

We're going to keep you posted on all of these, so you'll want to stay tuned to more LIVE TODAY.

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NGUYEN: So, could this year's holiday shopping prove good for consumers, but bad for retailers? That is what one retailing expert is predicting. Richard Feinberg of the Purdue Research Institute believes there will be a bonanza of bargains out there that will continue into next year, and he says Internet sales will hit $26 billion. That is a 22 percent increase over last year.

And while he says sales at malls and other retailers could go up two to four percent, this year's higher heating bills could force retailers to make deep discounts to attract budget-strapped consumers. So time to go shopping.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

NGUYEN: From goblet to rings, it is a fiery weekend at the box office. Mr. Moviefone is up next when CNN's LIVE TODAY returns.

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NGUYEN: Harry Potter, back on the big screen in his latest movie, is poised to be the first blockbuster of the holiday season. It was muggle madness as theaters across the country held midnight screenings for those passionate Potter fans. But will "The Goblet of Fire" also fire up moviegoers.

Our hot film critic Russ Leatherman is here with the answer No doubt Harry Potter is really going to rake in the money this weekend, but here's a question for you. This one's a little scary, right? It got a different rating than the other ones did.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIFONE: It is scarier. It's darker. As they said, it's rated PG-13, which means you don't want to take the tiny kids to this movie, they'll be sleeping with the lights on for the next two weeks.

It's the fourth in the series. I don't have to tell you the plot because everybody knows. This time there's a tri-wizard championship and -- there's the goblet of fire alright there -- and he's entered in this competition. Now, I have to say that this movie -- am I the only Potter pooper?

NGUYEN: You may be.

LEATHERMAN: Let me tell you why I wasn't too into this move.

NGUYEN: Okay.

LEATHERMAN: If you strip away all of the hype, and god knows there's enough of it, you really end up with a very long, mediocre cast in what I think is a mediocre movie. Everybody's going go see this movie and we don't have to worry about it because Harry Potter fans are definitely going show up to see it. But if you strip away all of the other stuff, I do believe you just have a very expensive, average move.

NGUYEN: So are you saying the worst of the series so far?

LEATHERMAN: It's the best of the series, maybe, that's fair to say, but that's sort of like saying it's the best turkey.

NGUYEN: Let's move over to a move they maybe you like. I know a lot of critics like it. "Walk the Line," how does that one rank according to you.

LEATHERMAN: This is no turkey.

You've heard all the hype about this movie.

Oscar buzz and it deserves it. This is a terrific movie. It's the story of Johnny Cash and June Carter's life and their romance. Joaquin Phoenix, everybody's heard about his performance, he's fantastic. Reese Witherspoon, she, too, is wonderful in this movie.

The thing I really like about this movie is not only is it good performances and in a very quality movie, but before Johnny Cash died he sort of waved his wand of approval, not his Harry Potter wand, but his wand of approval over the movie, over the cast, over Joaquin Phoenix.

NGUYEN: Got his blessing, yes

LEATHERMAN: He really did. I feel like it's a quality movie during a time of year when adults are looking for something other than Harry Potter to do.

NGUYEN: And Reese and Joaquin sing in it, not too bad.

LEATHERMAN: They're not too bad at all. They're perfectly mediocre -- by the way, it fits the characters perfectly. I think they did a wonderful job.

NGUYEN: That's one to watch.

LEATHERMAN: You'll hear about them at Oscar time, no doubt.

NGUYEN: Russ Leatherman, we thank you. LEATHERMAN: Don't be a Potter pooper.

NGUYEN: You're the Potter pooper.

In the spirit of today's big opening we thought we'd look up a few fun facts about Harry Potter. So here's what we found.

Harry Potter, if you believe the timeline generated by legions of fans, was born on July 31, 1980. That would make him 25 this year. It may not seem like the books are set in a specific time period, but each focuses on a year in Harry's life. "The Goblet of Fire" takes place during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, which would be 1994 to '95 in the series timeline

. Of course, author J.K. Rowling didn't even dream the character of Harry Potter up until 1991. The first book was published six years later. Harry Potter books have now been translated into at least 62 languages, including Latin, believe it or not, and worldwide sales are now estimated at more than 30 million copies. J.K. Rowling has promised one more book in the series, though she hasn't revealed when it will take place in Harry's life, what it will be called or even when we can expect to see it.

"White Phosphorous," a new Italian documentary claims the U.S. military used the substance on civilians in Fallujah. A claim the U.S. military denies. We're going to tell you both sides and talk to the film's producer live.

Plus, did Hurricane Katrina make Americans lose faith in their government? A new study is out today and we'll tell you what it says.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

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