Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Saddam Hussein On Trial; Rumsfeld Discusses Iraq; 9/11 Panel Gives Government Low Marks on Security
Aired December 05, 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: We're out of time. Here's Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. You guys have a great day in snowy New York City.
We'll go ahead and get started with taking a look at what's happening right now live on CNN TODAY. We have a lot of things we are watching all at once. First, live from Washington, you can see Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. We'll be hearing from him in a little bit.
Also in Washington today, the 9/11 Commission giving the White House and Capitol Hill failing grades for protecting the nation against a terrorist attack. There is that live story. We're going to dig deeper into what they're saying.
And I just told you about Donald Rumsfeld.
Also ahead, defiance in a Baghdad courtroom. Saddam Hussein, his defense team walks out. A former U.S. attorney general speaks up for the ousted dictator. Those stories and more ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.
But first, let's check out other stories happening "Now in the News." A suicide bomb exploded outside of a mall in the northern Israeli city of Netanya today. At least five people are dead and 35 others are wound. The militant group Islamic jihad has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Palestinian authority has condemned the bombing, calling it sabotage against the peace process. Israeli security officials are meeting to discuss a response.
Iran has announced plans to construct a second nuclear power plant. This comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East over Iran's nuclear aspirations. Israeli prime minister candidate, Benjamin Netanyahu, says that he would support a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear program. Iranian officials say they don't take that threat seriously. Iran says it's nuclear program is designed to produce electricity, not weapons.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck east and central Africa today. The quake's epicenter was in the Lake Tanganyik region on the Kongo Tanzania boarder. Trembling was felt in those two countries, as well as several other African nations. There have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Florida teenager Lionel Tate will face a competency hearing later this month after revealing that he hears voices and has considered suicide. In 2001, Tate became the youngest person ever sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. at the age of 13. That murder conviction was later thrown out, but his life sentence could be reinstated for violation of probation.
And good morning. Thanks for joining me on this, the first Monday in December. I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.
Saddam Hussein is the defendant, but in many ways the Iraqi court itself is on trial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to leave the courtroom if you don't accept this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The court did eventually allow Saddam Hussein's legal team to challenge the legitimacy of the trial. That concession ended the defense's 90-minute walkout led by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark. Joining us, Michael Scharf, a law professor in Ohio who helped train the Iraqi judges and prosecutors in Iraq's special tribunal. First, though, let's set the stage with CNN's Aneesh Raman in Baghdad.
Aneesh, hello.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning.
As you said, the defense lawyers walked out. When they returned, though, riveting testimony began. Testimony that continues in the video feed coming out of that courtroom on a 20-minute delay. It is testimony from the first witness to speak in front of Saddam Hussein and his seven had co-defendant, Ahmed Hassan Mohammed. He is a villager from Dujail and he has been recounting in specificity what happened in July 1982 after Saddam Hussein survived an assassination attempt there, and then allegedly had thousands of villagers thrown in jail, had over 140 of them executed. Mohammed spoke directly at times to Saddam Hussein, to the other defendants. He had remarkable confidence for a man who was just now confronting the dictator and the tyranny that ruled his life for 30 years. Really, in some sense, speaking on behalf of all Iraqis. At the beginning, the defendants themselves interrupted him, Barzan Hassan, Saddam Hussein's half- brother. He asked that they be kept quiet. He addressed Saddam Hussein specifically as well. At other times, though, he nearly broke down. Specifically when he talked about the torture that his brother endured.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMED HASSAN MOHAMMED, WITNESS, (through translator): If I were to mention the names and the methods of torture, I would need more than 10 days. Senya Agu Magit (ph), they broke him. Broke his arm, his leg. This is during the torture and they also, Sali Ali Asad (ph), they also shot at his foot. All of that during interrogation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMAN: Remarkable images, Daryn, considering what this man endured and the man that he was standing in front of.
To backtrack though, earlier in the day, essentially a battle for control of the court between the defense lawyers and the judge. Something we saw in the two previous trial sessions. Today, though, it reached a boiling point. At the start, the judge, with more confidence than we've seen before, tried to immediately bring the first witness. The defense lawyer stood up, said that they did not want that to happen until they could make oral arguments both about the security situation and the legality of the court. They wanted to do that through former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
The judge tried to go ahead without that. The defense then walked out. The judge deliberated for 10 minutes, and when the trial resumed, Ramsey Clark did make a statement. He talked about how this trial could either further divide Iraq or provide some means of reconciliation between the varying groups. And that until security that is suitable is provided for the defense team, this trial cannot go forward. Then we saw, as we're seeing now, the first witness testimony.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Aneesh Raman live in Baghdad. Aneesh, thank you.
And we'll get to Michael Scharf if just a minute. Right now, though, Thomas Kean, the former commissioner of the 9/11 Commission, speaking about how the federal government has implemented idea proposed in the 9/11 Commission report. Let's listen in.
THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 PUBLIC DISCOURSE PROJECT: Pursuant to that law, there is now a director of national intelligence. There is now a national counterterrorism center. Now these are structural changes and by themselves we all know they can't correct problems. But they give us a better opportunity and a structure within which to correct these problems.
Now as a result of these and the other reforms that have now been done, are we safe as Americans? Well, we're safer. We're safer. No question about that. No terrorist attacks have occurred inside the United States since 9/11. But there is no question that we're not as safe as we need to be.
We see some positive changes, but there is so much that needs to be done. Look at this report good. There are far too many c's, d's and f's in this report card that we're going to issue today. And there are many things as I go around the country and talk to the American people, there are many things that people think have been done that simply haven't been done.
Our leadership has been distracted in this country. Some of the failures are shocking. Four years after 9/11, it is a scandal that police and firefighter in large cities still can't talk to each other reliably when they're hit with a major crisis. It's scandalous that airline passengers are still not screened against all names on a terrorist watch list. It is scandalous that we still allocate scarce homeland security dollars on the basis of pork barrel spending and not on risk.
So we're frustrated, all of us. We're frustrated at the lack of urgency in addressing these various problems. Bin Laden and al Qaeda believe it is their duty to kill as many Americans as possible. And as we meet here, we know they also are meeting and plotting to do us harm.
On 9/11 they killed nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens. Now many of the steps that we recommend will help prevent such a disaster from ever happening again. We shouldn't need another wake-up call. We believe that the terrorists will strike again. So does every responsible expert that we have talked to. If they do, and these reforms that might have prevented such an attack have not been implemented, what will our excuses be? While, the terrorists are learning and adapting, our government is still moving at a crawl.
KAGAN: We've been listening to Thomas Kean, the chairman of the former 9/11 Commission. They are issuing a report card on how they think Congress and the White House has implemented suggestions that they made in their report following 9/11. Basically Thomas Kean saying that he does believe America is safer than it was before 9/11, but not as safe as America needs to be.
Our David Ensor is covering that story. We'll have much more on those developments just ahead.
Right now, though, I want to go back to the idea of Saddam Hussein being on trial in Iraq and bring in Michael Scharf, a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University. Also a legal adviser to the Hussein tribunal.
Hello.
MICHAEL SCHARF, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY: Hi, Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, let's talk about the training and the judge and the attorneys have had. Are you satisfied with how this court is running so far?
SCHARF: Not completely, I must say. You know, we did some rehearsals, some moot courts and practiced what would you do, for example, if the defense counsel or the defendants tried to disrupt the proceedings. And the judge is supposed to, and he was selected because he is the calmest, the most sympathetic, the most reasonable- minded judge and he's supposed to portray that image, but sometimes he may go too far the other way. He really does need to keep control of this court.
And what we haven't seen yet in your broadcast, but I was monitoring the trial on my computer, is that he allowed later on in the trial today one of the defendants to cross-examine the witness, which is very unusual because there had been a decision not to allow the defendant to act as their own attorneys and yet that's exactly what's going on. And instead of cross examining the witness, the defendants started talking about his own mistreatment in court. And he went on and on and on and the judge didn't cut him off.
And so this is, I guess, a tightrope act for the judge. He's got to learn his way in the courtroom. And unless he masters this and gains full control, there is the possible that this proceeding could become a train wreck.
KAGAN: And we do want to explain to our viewers what we're watching on television. This is a taped delay, about 20 minutes late, of the latest video coming out of this trial in Iraq.
What do you make of Saddam Hussein's demeanor so far?
SCHARF: Oh, Saddam Hussein, this is very interesting. I've been reading Gerald Post (ph), who's a criminal psychologist profiler's examination of Saddam Hussein. For example, you notice that Saddam Hussein's hair is now dark. He is wearing these designer suits and these well-pressed shirts and he looks an awful lot, I think, like George Clooney in this new movie coming out, "Syriana."
Now what I think is happening is that Saddam Hussein is trying to send signals to his people back home. He's not wearing a suit and a tie and he hasn't gone back to the single mustache because with the beard and with this more casual look, they can identify him since they're out in the field doing the insurgency, he's looking like he's part of that. And, on the other hand, he's being combative in the courtroom, showing them that the president has not yet given up on his power.
KAGAN: And getting back to this idea of just how organized or disorganized his court is. Ramsey Clark, the former U.S. attorney general there, joining Saddam's defense team, saying you've got a big problem here, folks, because these defense attorneys and their families are not safe. And no matter what you think about Saddam Hussein and the people on trial, if you don't protect the entire judicial system, this is just not going to fly here in Iraq.
SCHARF: Well, they have $100 million allotted to this trial and 80 percent of that is supposed to go to security. And a lot of that has gone to the security of the judges and of the prosecutors. Well, more of that has to now go to the security of the defense counsel. And I'm sure that there will be major developments to ensure that these people have an arm of secure guards, that their families are moved into the green zone because their safety is just as important as any other trial participant's.
KAGAN: Michael Scharf from Case Western. Thank you for your insight. We'll be watching.
Iraq is also the topic of the hour today in Washington. That's where Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is speaking at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, as we look at a live picture from that event. The Bush administration has launched a campaign like defense of the war which has seen public support plunge. Let's get the latest from our CNN Senior Correspondent Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, we've been watching the speech over here and it's interesting because Donald Rumsfeld has been portraying the pessimistic view of what's going on in Iraq as one held by what he called the so-called elite in American society. The news media, he called the foreign affairs establishment and academics and think tanks. But he says the Iraqi people, the U.S. military and the American public, to a large extent, are optimistic. And he made the argument that the U.S. cannot abandon Iraq because he says, if it did, it would turn into what Afghanistan was before September 11th, namely a haven for terrorists and a launching pad for attacks against the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: In my view, quitting is not a strategy. Quitting is an invitation to more attacks and more terrorist violence here at home. This is not just a hypothesis. The U.S. withdrawal from Somalia, embolden Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. We know this. He said so.
The message that retreat in Iraq would send to the free people of Iraq and to moderate Muslim reformers throughout the region and the world would be that they cannot count on America. The message it would send to our enemies would be that America will not defend itself against terrorists in Iraq and it will not defend itself against terrorists anywhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld is continuing to take questions from the audience there in Washington. But he added his prepared remarks with a challenge to the news media. He said that the U.S. military has been introspective in reassessing its progress and policy in Iraq. But he said, at the same time, he thought the news media ought to do the same. And he complained that many of the stories about what's going on in Iraq lacked the proper context and detail.
He complained about a couple of recent stories, including the report that the U.S. military, through a private contractor, had paid for the placement of stories to be -- favorable stories to be put in the Iraqi media. He said that that story gained a lot of currency even though he said that the U.S. military is still trying to figure out the facts in that story. He also complained about the story a while back about the report that a Koran had been flushed down the toilet at Guantanamo. A story that was never substantiated and turned out to be not true.
So he challenged the news media to do a better job in providing context and he made the case, he said, that overall he believes that the U.S. and the world will be better of for staying the course in Iraq.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. We'll leave you to listen in to what Donald Rumsfeld has to say and you can bring us any newsworthy nuggets as they become available.
Also out of Iraq, another U.S. soldier is reported dead there, killed by a roadside bomb. The U.S. military says the soldiers patrol was struck yesterday in eastern Baghdad. In all, three U.S. soldiers were killed Sunday, raising the death toll in Iraq to 2,130 troops.
And in Afghanistan, the military there reports three U.S. soldiers were wounded Sunday when a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy southwest of Deh Chopan. The soldiers are said to be in stable condition. Also in Afghanistan, five American soldiers were treated for injuries after two helicopters were hit by enemy fire and forced to make emergency landings.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way to Europe this hour. She'll confront accusations that Washington has shuttled terror suspects around the world to secret prisons where they're tortured. Report have further fueled international criticism of the Bush administration's handling of its war on terror. This is what Rice had to say before boarding her flight.
We'll have those comments for you in a minute. Secretary Rice is visiting four different countries. She will emphasize the need for a unified front in the war on terror. And she plans to call upon U.S. allies to help rally their public support for the anti-terror campaign.
Back here in the U.S., folks in the northeast about to get a dose of snow to go with those cold temperatures. It's already falling in Virginia this morning. Take a look at that. How much could come down before it's all over? The white mess on the right side, that's Roanoke, Virginia, for those of you trying to figure out where in Virginia we're looking at. Chad Myers has the forecast for the nation coming up.
Also live right now in Washington, D.C., members of the 9/11 Commission handing out grades on how well its recommendations were followed. We've got to tell you, the report card's not looking good.
Also, we're learning more about the communication or lack thereof between the White House and Louisiana's governor in the days before and after Hurricane Katrina struck. What really went on? We'll sort it out for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A couple of developing stories to tell you about. First to Maryland, I believe. Prince George County's crews working to rescue a man. This is actually Andrews Air Force Base. Kind of a serious situation working here. We hear from fire and rescue folks that the man was working on this water tower about 200 feet above ground when he had some sort of medical emergency. He's not completely conscious and he can't get down on his own. So they're working on getting to him and getting him to a safer place.
Also, let's look at live pictures from Roanoke, Virginia. Yes, there is a city behind all that snow. Virginia getting the first statewide taste of winter today. The storm expected to dump about a half foot in the mountains, several inch in a lot of the western counties. It's a mixture, I understand, of snow, sleet and rain in central Virginia and around Richmond. So they got a mess in Virginia.
Thank goodness we have Chad Myers to look through all those snowflakes for us today and give us an idea exactly about what's happening.
Hey, Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: We are talking gift cards. They are very popular out there. An easy gift but there are some things you need to know before you buy. Our Gerri Willis has the 411.
Hi, Ger.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Daryn.
Purchase fees, late fees. Think I'm talking about credit cards? No, we're talking gift cards. What you need to know about America's favorite gift when "Five Tips" continues right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We go live back to Prince Georges County, Maryland. They're bringing in the county's high angle rescue team to help. A man who was working on this water tower 200 feet above the ground had some kind of medical emergency. We're told he's not completely conscious and can't get down from the water tower on his own. So they're trying to get to him and help him get down.
We're also watching the markets today. They've been open just about an hour. Not the happiest Monday. You can see the Dow is down 53 points. The Nasdaq also in negative territory. It is down 17.
So, let's talk shopping. As if you didn't do enough of that over the weekend. If you're thinking about buying a gift card for a holiday present, there are important things you and your gift receiver need to know. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with today's "Top Five Tips."
Hey, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you.
If you're shopping and you want some short cuts, you may be going for that gift card. But an important thing to know here, if you're getting one from the major credit card companies, you may be paying as much as $10.59 for just purchasing the card in the first place. Now if you're receiving one of them, you should know than there are dormancy fees out there. If you don't use it, you'll lose it. As much as $5 a month after 18 month of non-use. So you need to know about these fees, Daryn.
KAGAN: And what -- I didn't realize this because I've (INAUDIBLE) gift cards. They expire.
WILLIS: They can expire. After six month, some of them go bye- bye, which is not what you want to have happen to a member of your family if you give one. Good news here, a handful of states have passed laws which make it illegal for them to expire. Among them, California, Massachusetts, Washington and New Hampshire. But you should know that this is not good news if you're giving cards. And if you've received them, you've got to know you've got to use them right away.
KAGAN: Right. Now the idea of giving them, is you're giving somebody something they can really use. But what if somebody really bombs out and gives you a gift card to a store you don't shop at?
WILLIS: Well, I just want to warn people about websites out there which say you can sell your card on this site or you can buy somebody else's card because you don't know what kinds of contingencies are on those cards, if they're facing fees of any sort. So, the better thing to do, go buy something at the store, then maybe give it to charity because at least you'll get a tax deduction out of it.
KAGAN: These gift cards don't all cover everything at every single store.
WILLIS: No, they do not. The devil is in the details. And here's the real trick, Daryn. If you're buying one of these things in a store, typically, you've got to read the flipside, the back, to find out what you can't use it for, what the fees are. It can be difficult because of the packaging. So, you know, buyer beware here. You've got to know that there are some downsides.
KAGAN: A place that people might not think about gift cards: airline gift cards.
WILLIS: I think this is a great idea. Because, you know, what do you want to give, togetherness? Maybe you want to get your family together for the holidays by giving a gift card for one of the major airlines. American and Southwest, both offering airline gift cards this year. I think that's a pretty decent idea. I'd like to get the family together and this is one way to do it.
KAGAN: That or a gift card so they can buy ticks to the go away.
WILLIS: Oh, yes. That, too.
KAGAN: Different kind of gift.
WILLIS: Exactly.
KAGAN: Gerri, thank you.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: Good to see you. Looking at international news. Israel says that a suicide bomber blew himself up when suspicious police pulled him from a line for a security screening at a shopping mall.
At least five people were killed and 35 wounded in the northern Israeli city of Natania. The Islamic militant group Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for that attack.
The first witness has taken the stand in the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The man described rapes and tortures in Dujail and -- where Hussein and his co-defendants are accused of deadly retaliation for an assassination attempt. Hussein's defense team had earlier walked out of the court after the tribunal refused to hear arguments over the legitimacy of the court.
An Arkansas man is expected in court this morning. He's accused of scaling the White House fence. A secret service spokesman says agents granted the unarmed man yesterday on the lawn. He'll be charged with unlawful entry. The secret service says it doesn't know yet man tried to get on to White House grounds.
President Bush is on the road today. He's highlighting an economy that he says is charging ahead. Mr. Bush will highlight last week's reports on job creation and economic output by visiting a North Carolina plant that has been adding jobs.
CNN will have live coverage of the president's speech on the economy and tax cuts. It is scheduled at 1:15 Eastern, 10:15 Pacific.
More than four years after September 11th, how prepared is America for another terrorist attack? The 9/11 Commission says the government hasn't done nearly enough. We have the details next, on CNN LIVE TODAY.
And once again, live pictures from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Crews there working very hard in trying to rescue a man who was working on this water tower about 200 feet above the ground when he had some kind of medical emergency of his own. He apparently is not completely conscious and they're trying to get to him and get him down and get him the kind of help he needs. More on this story as it develops.
We're back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A couple of stories we're following all kind of close to Washington, D.C.
This is from Andrews Air Force Base. Working on rescuing a man off of this water tower at Andrews Air Force Base. And they're trying to lift him up on a gurney. Apparently, this man was working up there 200 feet above the ground, had some kind of medical emergency and is not completely conscious so they're trying to get to him so they can get him some help. Also at the White House this morning, a lot of children, third and fourth graders from Maryland and Virginia public schools, and about 60 kids from military bases in the area. They're being treated to a holiday reception with Mr. and Mrs. Bush. And right now we're watching some scenes from the "Nutcracker." And the president and Mrs. Bush right there among the kids as well.
In our CNN "Security Watch" this morning, new questions about whether the government is doing all that it can to protect the country against another terrorist attack. Earlier this hour, the former 9/11 Commission released a report on the government's follow-up to its recommendations.
Our national security correspondent David Ensor joins me live now from Washington with details on the findings. And they are not very good, David. Good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: They are not, Daryn. As you say, the commission -- you see there Republican Fred Fielding speaking live -- the commission is giving grades, mostly C's, D's and F's to U.S. government in its follow-up since 9/11 to try make the country safe.
It talks -- the commission chairman, former New Jersey governor Tom Kean, told us what's wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS KEAN, 9/11 PUBLIC DISCOURSE PROJECT: Four years after 9/11, it is a scandal that police and firefighters in large cities still can't talk to each other reliably when now hit with a major crisis. It's scandalous that airline passengers are still not screened against all names on a terrorist watch list. It is scandalous that we still allocate scarce Homeland Security dollars on the basis of pork barrel spending and not on risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: For example, the governor said that one city spent its homeland security money on buying air-conditioned garbage trucks. He said that the change at the FBI has been too slow, that the FBI needs to turn itself more quickly into an intelligence-gathering operation domestically to stop terrorism.
He said that the highest priority -- and the commission said -- that the highest priority for the United States right now, in terms of national security, should be spending whatever it takes, doing whatever it takes, to make secure nuclear materials and other weapons that are not safe, not held safely within the former Soviet Union.
And, the commission said, Congress needs to reform itself, needs to provide much more effective oversight on intelligence, on homeland security and a host of other issues. There are too many committees. They need to simplify and strengthen their structure. So bad grades from the commission. KAGAN: David, this commission has the power of the spotlight right now and shining the light on what they think are failings, but they have no authority anymore, right?
ENSOR: That's right.
KAGAN: Because their time and their authorization came to a close.
ENSOR: Actually, the government isn't -- some people in the government aren't happy they're still out there talking. Their job as commission ended when they filed their report some time back. They decided to stay alive as a public discourse project to try and shine a spotlight on what the government is and isn't doing and they're not happy. They're not happy at all.
KAGAN: Very clear. David Ensor, thank you. From Washington, D.C.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
We're learning more this morning about the communication, or lack thereof, between the White House and Louisiana's governor in the days before and after Hurricane Katrina struck. What really went on? We'll sort it all out for you when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We continue to follow the story out of Prince George's County. This is Andrews Air Force Base, and the county's high-angle rescue team is on the scene there, trying to get to a man who was working on this water tower on the base and had some sort of medical issue.
Keep in mind, the man 200 feet above the ground when those problems set in. We understand he's not completely conscious, and they continue rescue efforts trying to get to him and get him the medical attention he definitely needs.
Now news of a hurricane-relief program for homeowners. The government will make up to a year's mortgage payments for some people whose homes were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma. Up to 20,000 people could benefit. The homeowners would ultimately have to repay the government, but the payments would be interest-free and not due until the original mortgage was paid off. People must commit to staying in the homes and be able to rebuild them within a year.
Meanwhile, we're learning more about the communications breakdown before, and ultimately and actually immediately after Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco's office has released tens of thousands of documents sent to Congress.
CNN's Gary Nurenberg reports the documents tell a tale of lost opportunities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The day-by-day account posted on the governor's Web site quotes Blanco on Saturday August 27th, predicting a severe storm, and writing the president, that, quote, "federal assistance will be necessary." By Monday the 29th, after Katrina struck, Blanco was telling the president in a phone call, "We need your help. We need everything you've got."
After a helicopter tour on Tuesday, the 30th, Blanco complains about federal response. The narrative says, "When the expected and promised federal resources have still not arrived on Wednesday, Blanco places an urgent morning call to the White House, but can't reach President Bush or his chief of staff." Later that day, she does talk to the president and stresses, "The situation is extremely grave."
By Friday, the frustration level rises. She writes the president that, quote, Even if these initial requests had been fully honored, these assets would not be sufficient." She asks for firefighting support, military vehicles, generators, medical supplies and personnel and more.
Five days after one request to the White House for a shopping list of federal help, Blanco's staff gets a memo from a presidential aide saying the president never got the letter, quote, "We found it on the governor's Web site, but we need an original for our staff secretary to formally process the request."
Sunday evening, Blanco's aides told CNN that the governor personally handed the letter to the president. The White House said it hasn't read all of the documents, and is not in a position to toned.
Blanco said in one memo, "I believe my biggest mistake was believing FEMA officials who told me that the necessary federal resources would be available in a timely fashion.
(on camera): There is some politics here. One of the gubernatorial aides who told CNN Sunday evening that the governor personally handed that missing letter to the president also wrote in a memo after Katrina that the Bush administration is, quote, "working to make us the scapegoats," end quote.
Months after the hurricane, avoiding the blame is for all sides, still very much a priority.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And another story for you in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Red Cross reportedly is reaching out to recruit minorities as volunteers. "The Washington Post" says the move follows criticism that evacuees were treated poorly during their relief effort. Groups representing minorities have complained the Red Cross didn't have enough translators. The agency was also blamed for ignoring cultural differences. The Red Cross said the problems were due to perception and not cultural insensitivity or racism.
In the U.S., gas prices have been sliding lately, but is the trend too good to be true? Find out next on CNN LIVE TODAY.
And how far will you go to make your kids like school? You won't believe what one mother came up with. That story still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Welcome back. I'm Daryn Kagan. I've stepped into B Control here at CNN world headquarters. We're following a couple of developing stories for you. Turn around and take a look at the monitors way up there.
We are watching a live rescue taking place. This is Andrews Air Force Base, Prince George's County. A worker 200 feet in the air started having some kind of medical issue. Not completely conscious. And we are depending on the live pictures of our affiliate WTTG there. Anyhow, their worker having problems. They've been trying to get to him for some time to get him up and get him the medical help that he needs.
Also behind me, we're watching President Bush at the White House. He's with a number of third and fourth graders from the D.C. Maryland area, also Virginia. Also some kids from some local military bases. They're being treated to a holiday party with Mr. and Mrs. Bush and they are watching scenes from "The Nutcracker" right now.
I want to go back to the story that's unfolding at Andrews Air Force Base. Mark Brady from Prince George's County joins me on the phone right now to tell me exactly about the rescue efforts and what the problem, as far as they know is, with the man they're trying to rescue.
Mark, hello.
MARK BRADY, PRINCE GEORGE'S CO. FIRE AND RESCUE: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: What can you tell us about what's taking place there?
BRADY: Well, it was about 9:30 this morning when the co-workers of this gentleman, who is in his early 20s -- he's a water utility company employee doing some electrical work, just some preventive maintenance work, on the catwalk area of this water tower. He experienced a medical emergency that rendered him unconscious.
His co-workers notified 911 and our firefighters and paramedics responded. Now, we were able to quickly access him. That was no problem. And paramedics started treating him with advanced life support, which, at this point in time, his condition has improved. However, he has not improved enough where we can lower him down in a vertical position down the ladder.
So we've had to send a spokes basket, which is a rigid plastic stretcher that the patient can be securely fastened using a set of ropes and harness. And that spokes basket will be lowered down to paramedics on the ground and that should occur shortly. We're working as safely and expeditiously as possible due to the patient's conditions. Temperatures are extremely cold in this area and we are working as fast and safely as we can.
KAGAN: Now, Mark, I don't know if you can see CNN right now and see the live picture that we're looking at, but we are -- we have been focused pretty much on the catwalk that's midway through that Air Force water tower there. Is the man there on that catwalk or is he in a lower place?
BRADY: No. He is on that catwalk and that catwalk is about 200 feet from the ground.
KAGAN: OK. And you say he's in his 20s. He had a medical emergency. Are we talking about some kind of accident or electrocution that took place?
BRADY: No. He has a pre-existing medical condition that paramedics have learned since they've been up and working with him. His condition has improved enough where he's able to talk to them at times and he's able to explain what's going on. But because I'm restricted by hippo rules, I can't talk specifically about that medical condition.
KAGAN: You can't say exactly what's wrong with him. But the important news is that rescuers have gotten to him. He is receiving medical attention. Right now, the challenge is, how are you going to get him down from the basket from way up there, 200 feet in the air, down in a horizontal position down to the ground?
BRADY: That's correct. And our technical rescue team, which has a specialty in high angle rescues, they're working with the firefighters and paramedics in Andrews Air Force Base. They have a -- several military officials on the team and they're assisting us. So I would say that this patient is in extremely good hands at this time and receiving the best possible care he ever could.
KAGAN: Well, we appreciate that update and we wish your rescuers there in Prince George's County and the man well in completing that rescue and his recovery. Mark Brady from Prince George's County, thank you very much.
Let's go ahead and take a look at the markets on Wall Street. They were having -- yes, they still to continue to struggle a little bit. You can see the Dow is down 59 points and the Nasdaq is down 22 points right now, as well.
We'll continue to watch the markets. A lot more news ahead. We're back on CNN LIVE TODAY after this. -
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Take a look at this. It's a light show that brightened the night sky over Australia. The blazing meteor could be seen for hundreds of miles over the southwestern part of Australia. A thundering noise was also reported. It was created with the meteor entered the earth's atmosphere. Astronomers estimate that the meteor could have been as small as a basketball or as large as half of a small car. Whatever the size, it put on one heck of a good show in Australia.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
