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Ariel Sharon in "Critical but Stable" Condition; Upsurge of Violence in Iraq

Aired January 06, 2006 - 10:30   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead and take a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
And we are monitoring the latest developments at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. That is where Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has undergone yet another operation to stop bleeding inside his brain. Doctors say they finished their third surgical procedure on the 77-year-old politician. We will keep you posted on Mr. Sharon's health. We are standing by for that news conference.

At this hour, President Bush is on his way to Chicago, where he plans to talk about the economy today. The president has scheduled a stop at the Chicago Board of Trade before addressing the Chicago Economic Club. We'll bring you that speech live here on CNN, set to begin around 1:00 Eastern.

In Saudi Arabia, no definitive answer yet as to what caused yesterday's deadly collapse of a hotel in Mecca, where millions of Muslims are expected for the annual religious pilgrimage. Rescuers spent the night looking for more possible survivors amidst the rubble of the hotel. At least 53 people died and another 60 were injured.

Carnivale season gets underway in New Orleans today. This year's 150th celebration of Mardi Gras will be definitely different from years past. The region is still grappling with the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina.

And, once again, standing by for this news conference to begin out of Jerusalem on the status of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. We will go there live once it begins. Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: U.S. military officials -- actually, we'll get to that story in just a minute. First, we want you to know that we're standing by for this news conference to begin at a hospital in Jerusalem with the latest on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. We will go to that live as soon as it begins.

Other news today. U.S. military officials now say that 11 American troops died in yesterday's attacks across Iraq. A U.S. soldier and a marine were killed in the suicide bombing in Ramadi. At least 82 people died in the attack on a police recruitment center, more than half the day's death toll.

Let's have a breakdown right now of other American fatalities. Two marines were killed by small arms fire in separate attacks in Fallujah. Two Task Force Baghdad soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb and five other task force soldiers were killed in a separate roadside bombing outside of Baghdad.

Let's get the latest now from our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie Mcintyre.

Jamie, hello.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

I woke up this morning to the releases that you just talked about. Six more American deaths added to the five that we had been told about yesterday -- 11 yesterday. If you take a look at the two days of violence in Iraq, almost 180 people have been killed.

And that level of violence is where I started my interview this morning with General George Casey, the commander of the U.S.-led forces in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. GEORGE CASEY, CMDR., U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ: This level of violence, I think, is, as we've seen, an anomaly. I mean, you see these spikes periodically. But, Jamie, I think what -- we can't let what's happened in the last few days distract us from the progress that's been made over the last year upon that's what the terrorists want.

MCINTYRE: Lieutenant General Rick Sanchez...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We'll get back to Jamie's story in a minute.

First, live to Jerusalem for the latest on Ariel Sharon, prime minister of Israel.

DR. SHLOMO MORE-YOSEF, DIR. GEN., HADASSAH MEDICAL CTR. (through translator): Good evening. Good evening.

The Hadassah Hospital is a hospital that abides by the sacred Sabbath, and we have seen fit on this Friday evening, the eve of the Sabbath, to come here and speak to you because of the importance of the matter.

The prime minister has come out of the operating room. In the process of the operation the pressure, the intracranial pressure, was reduced. Some of the clots were drained from the previous operation. At the conclusion of the operation, there is no active hemorrhaging and the intracranial hemorrhaging has been eliminated and the pressure has gone back to normal.

Following the operation, the prime minister was transferred to the CT Scan unit in order to evaluate the condition of the brain, using the usual imaging techniques. I can say that by comparison with the previous CT scans performed on the prime minister since he arrived here at the hospital, there has been a significant improvement in the manner -- in the appearance of the scan, as interpreted by the neurologists and experts in neurosurgery and imaging.

The prime minister -- at this time the angiogram in the brain, the catheter in the brain, is being relocated. And following this procedure, the prime minister will be transferred to the intensive care -- neurosurgical intensive care unit for observation. Despite the improvement, which we regard as significant, in the CT scan, the condition of the prime minister remains critical, but stable.

Good evening.

KAGAN: A very short news conference there with an update on Ariel Sharon. He had his third brain surgery today. This one lasted four hours, as the doctor there saying that they were successful in reducing pressure on his brain. And some brain clots -- blood clots removed from previous surgeries. But -- and even though there is significant improvement, they say the prime minister still in very critical condition. Not very hopeful words from this news conference today.

Our Wolf Blitzer is standing by in Jerusalem, following the story, as well.

Wolf, hello.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Daryn.

There's no doubt that this is a very, very grave situation for the prime minister. Four hours, maybe even five hours of surgery today, Daryn and despite this relatively hopeful statement by the doctor, the director of the Hadassah Medical Center here in Jerusalem, everyone seems to recognize that this is touch-and-go, very much so, for the Israeli prime minister.

And almost no one -- virtually no one -- believes he can reemerge in a political stance even if he were to recover from this surgery. His political career, by almost all accounts, is over. And Ehud Olmert is now the acting prime minister of Israel and will be the prime minister until these scheduled elections for March 28th occur. So it's a very, very tenuous moment in Israel's history right now, Daryn.

KAGAN: And on this political note, Wolf, these interesting polls that these two newspapers printed earlier today -- the Israeli people showing support for Ariel Sharon and the political move he made in starting this party called Kadima.

BLITZER: This new centrist party, Kadima, positioning itself between the left-of-center Labor Party, the traditional home of Shimon Peres, other Labor leaders, and the right-of-center Likud, which was Ariel Sharon's political base for decades, well, going back to 1973, when he was among those who founded the Likud.

The polls showing today, and it could be a result of sympathy for Sharon himself, that the Kadima Party would emerge in this next election as the dominant political party in Israel, 39 seats if Ehud Olmert led it, 42 seats if Shimon Peres led it. Significantly more than Labor or Likud.

So it does emerge that this new political party is going to get off the ground, even if Ariel Sharon himself doesn't.

KAGAN: Wolf Blitzer live from Jerusalem. Wolf, thank you.

And once again, we had to interrupt Jamie McIntyre and his very important piece out of the Pentagon to get to that news conference.

We'll take a break and get back to Jamie after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: So when we went to that very important news conference in Jerusalem on the latest on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon we had to interrupt Jamie McIntyre and his interview with General George Casey, too important to let it go by. So, Jamie, we brought you back to hear more.

MCINTYRE: Well, Daryn, we were noting this has been one of the deadliest periods in Iraq in months, with nearly 180 people killed, 11 U.S. troops just in one day yesterday. And so I sat down to talk about that with General George Casey, the commander of U.S.-led forces in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY: This level of violence, I think is, as we've seen, this is an anomaly. You see these spikes periodically.

But, Jamie, I think we can't let what's happened in the last few days distract us from the progress that's been made over the last year. That's what the terrorists want.

MCINTYRE: Lieutenant General Rick Sanchez, former commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, a three-star general, sending his troops book to Iraq, gave them an ominous warning. He said, he thinks the country is on the brink of civil war. Do you agree?

CASEY: I don't know what Rick said. I don't necessarily agree with that. There clearly are sectarian tensions. And these attacks of the past days I believe have been intended by the foreign fighters, and the Iraqis that are supporting them it, to foment sectarian tension during a vulnerable period of the formation of the government, but I don't think it's on the brink of civil war.

MCINTYRE: One of the criticisms of the news media is that we focus too much on some of the negative things that are happening and not enough on the positive. What do you think is the good news that we're not hearing enough about from Iraq? And what's the most hopeful trend that you see in Iraq today? CASEY: The most hopeful trend that I see in Iraq and have seen over the past year is the inclusion in the political process of all of the different ethnic and religious groups from across Iraq. The Iraqi people have met al their gates, and they are moving forward. It's in a tough environment, and we have lots of hard work to do in 2006, but the Iraqi people are as relentless in their progress and in their desire to build something better than the terrorists are.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: Now the crucial question of when U.S. troops will be coming back in big numbers. General Casey, who will make that recommendation to President Bush says he'll review it in the spring, and he is hopeful that it will be based not just on the level of violence in Iraq, but on the ability of Iraqi troops, and he says that he believes that by the end of the year, 75 percent of the Iraqi battalions that are operating now will be able to operate on their own and take control of the areas that they're patrolling -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jamie McIntyre, live from the Pentagon. Jamie, thank you.

Well, talk about shifting gears right ahead. We are going to do that. Ted Nugent, guitarist extraordinaire, political activist and reality television star now. He is stopping by to tell us about his reality television show. He's trying to encourage survival instincts. He'll be my guest, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. Very sad news from the world of music. Musician/singer Lou Rawls has died, has passed away. Apparently he had been suffering from pneumonia, brain and lung cancer and had been treated in Los Angeles.

Of course, Lou Rawls known not just as a singer and a musician, but a man who has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the United Negro College Fund. And, in fact, his telethon is set to take place tomorrow. And it is -- the show will go on. We're hearing that it will still be on tomorrow. He's been doing this since 197 9. And Lou Rawls and the benefit has raised more than $200 million to supplement the cost of higher education for scholarship recipients and other member institutions to the United Negro College Fund.

Once again, Lou Rawls has passed away from brain and lung cancer in Los Angeles. We'll have more on his life just ahead.

Meanwhile, keep your distance. That is what people along the central Oregon coast are being told to do as huge waves there create dangerous conditions on beaches, jetties and exposed headlands. Officials have issued a high surf advisory, warning residents that swells could go over 20 feet.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TED NUGENT, ROCK GUITARIST: Five contestants brought to my home in the Michigan wilderness. The harder they work, the more they can earn. I'm Ted Nugent, rock star!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: He is more than hair and attitude. Guitarist, outdoorsman, activist Ted Nugent branches out with another season of his reality show. Five city slickers try a week in the wilderness. It's called "Wanted: Ted or Alive."

Ted Nugent, joining me this morning to give us a preview. Ted...

NUGENT: Happy New Year from Manhattan. How are you?

KAGAN: You're in the big city today.

NUGENT: Yes, I'm testing myself. This is a challenge for me and I'm excelling.

KAGAN: You're somehow surviving in New York City.

NUGENT: I love it.

KAGAN: I have to ask -- I don't know if you heard the news, but we shared just a couple minutes ago -- Lou Rawls has passed away.

NUGENT: Oh, that's terrible. He's a great hero.

KAGAN: Did you have in your chance in your musical travels to ever cross paths with him?

NUGENT: No. Not specifically with Lou, but God rest his soul and God bless his family. We pray for him. But his black, rhythm and blues, gospel and human touch, that emotion of that music, has inspired my entire life, and my quality of life any comes from that kind of stuff.

KAGAN: Well, thank you for those comments. And as well as the great work that he has done raising all that money for United Negro College Fund, as well.

NUGENT: Great stuff.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the show. You want to encourage some very unlikely contestants and their instinct to survive.

NUGENT: Well, you know, I'm a hunter, a fisherman and trapper. I have a great spiritual connection to the Good Mother Earth. There's a respect for these renewable resources that bring me great protein and great sustenance in all levels, from food, clothing and shelter. And I think mankind has to get back to that accountable consumerism and more honest reverence to the good Mother Earth.

And even though it sounds awfully serious, it's a lot of fun. It's very stimulating. And to bring a city slicker out of the dependent, service-oriented environment and learn about how this hands-on conservation can bring great joy and responsibility is really fun to watch. And they adapt immediately. They actually adapt -- improvise, adapt and overcome almost like a U.S. marine, real quick. And it's very fascinating.

KAGAN: And this is in your home -- this is your property, right, in Michigan, where you filmed it?

NUGENT: Yes. A sacred swamp, we have a fen, a wetlands forest, woods, agriculture ground. A great biodiversity. Heck, it's healthy and thriving. And I'm just a guitar player, which proves that anybody can do it.

KAGAN: Now, I want to go over some of these games that these contestants play. Tell me about the naked offer.

NUGENT: Well, you know, there's a primal scream. You know, we talked about the passing of Lou Rawls. Chuck Berry and Bo Diddily and the Funk Brothers and all these great rhythm and blues artists, their music touches all of us because of a primality, a brutality, a ferocious honesty. And that is very much a part of not only my musical influence, but my alive -- being alive, gift of God life alive. And I'd like to think that we should all start naked.

KAGAN: Well, we kind of do, don't do?

NUGENT: Certainly, we have to in life -- we have to in life. But at some point, we should all stop and take a deep breath and maybe start over again. And I thought that they should discard their city attire and get into some buffalo and elk roles. I thought that was more natural. Plus, they're such handsome individuals that it would be eye candy and oh-so-entertaining for the unsuspecting Americans, you know?

KAGAN: That sounds like fun. So let me ask you...

NUGENT: It is fun.

KAGAN: You got your music, you got your TV reality show. You're outspoken on a number of political issues. If you had to pick just one, Ted, what would it be?

NUGENT: I wouldn't. I've already picked exactly what I want and I'm going to rock my brains out and I'm going to be a participating "we, the people" activist for those basic American dream elements that I so believe in while I hunt and fish and trap. And stop and think of those activities. Those are very politically incorrect...

KAGAN: Yes...

NUGENT: ... but they're pure, they're honest and they're the right thing to do and I'm going to promote that every day.

KAGAN: And to people who are offended by that and don't like your guns and don't like you pushing hunting, what would you say?

NUGENT: They're weird. I'm going to fix them.

KAGAN: Well, you got a big task ahead of you, let me tell you. Also a big show. Once again, it is called "Wanted: Ted or Alive." It premieres Sunday, right? This season, Sunday?

NUGENT: Yes. It's number one right now on the Outdoor Life Network and our "Spirit of the Wild" show is number one on the Outdoor Channel. So we're pretty happy about that.

KAGAN: And I'm sure they're happy to have you. Ted Nugent, thanks for stopping by.

NUGENT: My pleasure.

KAGAN: Good luck surviving New York City today.

And there is a big announcement expected later today. Google adding even more to its kingdom. We'll talk about the company's rise and how the new venture may change our lives. The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins after the quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Here's a look what's happening right "Now in the News."

Doctors say they have been able to stop the bleeding in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's brain. The prime minister underwent a third round of surgery today. Sharon suffered a major stroke on Wednesday. Doctors say the latest brain scan shows significant improvement, but his condition remains critical.

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