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CNN Live Today

New Nuclear Pact With India; Katrina Warnings; Oklahoma Fires; Killer Nurse; Buying A Used Car Tips

Aired March 02, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Take a look at these live pictures out of the nation's capital. There is a major traffic tie up there right now. And authorities are saying that one person was killed and several others injured in an accident. Look at that. Police say a tractor trailer carrying lumber overturned on a fly-over spilling its cargo onto the highway below. Police say it could take some time to clean up that debris. And in case you're wondering where that is right now, there is a map. It's right outside of -- right close to Montgomery County on I-270 and I-495, which is the beltway around the capital.
In the meantime, we're covering the story of a serial killer. His name is Charles Cullen. And he is considered New Jersey's most deadliest killer. He didn't carry a gun, but he carried a syringe. He's a former nurse who is being sentenced today for murdering 22 patients. Some of the victims' relatives are confronting Cullen for the first time. We are going to hear from them live in a report shortly.

Now investigators continue to gather evidence in Britain's biggest cash robbery. Today, three suspects were charged in the case. Eleven others have been arrested. Authorities say more than $92 million was taken in last week's heist at a cash depot.

And at least 25 people have been killed today in scattered violence across Iraq. You're looking at the aftermath of a market bombing in a mostly Shiite section of Baghdad. Four people were killed there. Other deadly incidents including fighting in Ramadi and a checkpoint attack north of Baghdad.

Good morning. I'm Carol Lin, in for Daryn Kagan, at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

Now this hour, President Bush is in South Asia amid a tattered weave of diplomacy and terrorism and the specter of Katrina. First, the diplomacy. Mr. Bush says this morning's new nuclear pact with India is both historic and necessary. But critics say it's an invitation for India to spread nuclear weapons.

A suicide car bomber kills an American diplomat in Pakistan just before Mr. Bush's visit to that country.

And a new video shows the president and FEMA on the eve of Hurricane Katrina. Does this prove the president knew about the dangers but did not do enough? Right now we're going to begin with the international controversy brewing over this morning's nuclear pact with India. CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the president and joins us now from New Delhi.

Suzanne, give us the background behind this deal and why it is such a big deal.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, sure, Carol. Absolutely. And we are talking about eight months of negotiations and really a flurry of last minute discussions, diplomacy overnight. It was not until early this morning here in India when two leaders, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh, announced they had an agreement. This is a big win for the president, but there is no deal yet.

This is a nuclear energy agreement between the two countries that could potentially crack open India's nuclear program. And what that means is billions of dollars for new U.S. businesses.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We concluded an historic agreement today on nuclear power. It's not an easy job for the prime minister to achieve this agreement. I understand it's not easy for the American president to achieve this agreement. But it's a necessary agreement. It's one that will help both our peoples.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Carol, here's what it says basically, is that the U.S. will share nuclear know-how and nuclear fuel with India. In exchange, India will separate its civilian and military nuclear programs and then subject its civilian program to international inspections. Of course, this is very significant considering U.S. policy. Really a turn around. It had basically isolated India over the last 30 years or so for not signing the nuclear non-proliferation act for essentially testing a nuclear weapon in 1998.

But they say that India is the world's largest democracy. That there is great economic opportunity. That it's a peaceful country. Deserves this deal.

But I have to tell you, not everybody in Congress agrees. This is something that's going to have to be approved in Congress. The law is actually going to have to change in order to make this happen. So this is far from a done deal, but both sides feeling very optimistic tonight.

LIN: Suzanne, the president heading for Pakistan. There was a suicide bomb attack in Karachi. It killed four people, including a foreign service officer. How does this affect the president's trip to that country?

MALVEAUX: Well, Carol, I asked the president that early this morning in a press conference and he said that he had been briefed about this. They're investigating whether or not that U.S. diplomat was actually targeted in this particular attack. But the president was very clear saying this would not affect his travel itinerary. That he would still go to Pakistan, he would spend time there, and that it was even more important to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Musharraf and say we support you in this fight in the war on terror. U.S. officials also acknowledging, too, Carol, they say, look, Pakistan is an ally when it comes to the war on terror, but it's also a battleground for terrorists as well.

Carol.

LIN: All right, Suzanne, thank you very much.

We have a fresh look this morning into exactly what President Bush knew 24 hours before Hurricane Katrina hit. Now some old videotapes are making new waves in Washington. CNN's Tom Foreman reports on the tapes and the contradictions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): From roaring winds, to failed levees, to stranded survivors. The Bush administration was clearly warned about it all before the hurricane hit. That case has been building for months and this latest version of events from the Associated Press is fanning the frustration by showing the president once again in the calm before the storm saying the situation is in hand.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to assure the folks at the state level that we are fully prepared to not only help you during the storm, but we will move in whatever resources and assets we have at our disposal after the storm to help you deal with the loss of property and we pray for no loss of life, of course.

FOREMAN: What's new in this report is a bit more information about exactly who knew what when. Not surprising to hear hurricane expert Max Mayfield tell the administration the levees very well could fail.

MAX MAYFIELD, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR: I don't think anybody can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levee will be topped or not. But that's, obviously, a very, very grave concern.

FOREMAN: But then after the storm, the president said, "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." A theme echoed by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. Indeed Chertoff insisted time and again much of what Katrina brought was a surprise, even though his own head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, quite specifically warned him about many coming problems.

MICHAEL BROWN, FORMER FEMA DIRECTOR: Well, I also heard there was no mandatory evacuations or not taking patients out of hospital, taking prisoners out of prison and they're leaving hotels open in downtown New Orleans. So I'm very concerned about that. FOREMAN: Still, most of this is stuff we've heard before. So why is it news now? Well maybe because it's the six-month anniversary of the storm. And maybe because opponents of the administration are jumping all over it. And maybe because the White House is acting like it is news they don't want to hear.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has seen the tape. We are going to tell you what he had to say about it in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY.

And later this hour, we are going to go live to New Orleans where the grim task of recovering bodies resumes today in the devastated ninth ward. CNN's Keith Oppenheim will bring us that report in about 30 minutes.

In the meantime, boy, a major summer disaster along the Gulf Coast. Two wildfires now racing across the southern plains. Heat and wind are pushing several fires across Oklahoma. Dozens of homes have been burned and hundreds of people have been evacuated and at least seven firefighters have been injured. And today the day is still young out there. CNN's Christopher King in Duncan about 80 miles from Oklahoma City.

What are firefighters expecting today, Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol.

Fire officials tell us that the fires are largely under control right now. This is the hot spot where we were a few hours ago when it was dark out. There were flames behind us. Now there's a smoldering ground. Firefighters were out here dousing those flames.

Now, this is one of many hot spots and dozens of homes have been destroyed or badly damaged. We talked with a Duncan town spokesman earlier. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM DARST, CITY OF DUNCAN PIO: We had a perfect storm situation yesterday. We had winds out of the south at 40 miles per hour, 17 percent humidity, no rainfall to speak of over the last three to four months. You combine those things together, you get an ignition source and something's going to give. And during the process of fighting this fire, the wind changed directions on top of that two times. Switched to the west and then switched to the north during this fire. So you have a c. And if you could drive the country side here, you would see that this fire has actually turned direction and come from three different directions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now more than 500 people had to be evacuated. About two firefighters were hurt. One was medevaced and he's in serious and guarded condition in the hospital. Now police believe the Duncan town folks believe, the Duncan officials believe that arson may be at work here. One person is in custody and police are looking for another person.

Carol.

LIN: Christopher, let's go to the CNN Weather Center right now. Jacqui Jeras tracking those dry conditions out there in Oklahoma City.

Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: All right. Well everybody's heard about the Mississippi coast and New Orleans and even the ninth ward. But one town just miles away from the French Quarter appears forgotten, even by those charged with helping with the recovery.

Also, a former president now in the middle of the controversial deal to sell operations at U.S. ports to a Dubai-based company. What role did he play?

But first, entrusted in his care, a former nurse sentenced for killing almost two dozen of his patients. Right now, family members of the victims are facing him in a courtroom. We are going to go there live after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Don't know if you knew this, but nurses actually take an oath. They pledge their devotion to the patient's welfare. Well, Charles Cullen broke his promise in a big way. He has confessed to killing nearly 30 people. This morning, the relatives of some of those victims are confronting Cullen for the very first time. They want an explanation. CNN's Allan Chernoff is covering the sentencing hearing in Somerville, New Jersey.

Allan, have they had a chance to hear from Cullen yet?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, they haven't and they may not hear from him at all. His defense attorney has said he's recommending to Cullen that he not address the family members of the victims. But as you saw in that video right there, in the courtroom, right behind me, the sadness in there is almost unspeakable. Court officers actually have tears in their eyes right now as they listen to family member after family member of these victims. Twenty-two in all in the state of New Jersey. Another seven in the state of Pennsylvania.

Cullen today is being sentenced to life in prison. He has confessed to murdering these people. Using, in most cases, lethal doses of medication in order to accelerate heartbeat, slow down heartbeats. Cullen basically used the heart hallways, the room of the patients as his operating room to essentially kill people and he really just did this without any mercy whatsoever, even though he had claimed that he was acting as an angel of mercy, an angel of God.

Let's have a listen now to just a few of the comments that have been made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DELORES STASIENKO, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: With absolute horror, we must profess that nothing can ever make our family whole or satisfied. The monster who played God can justify his action. Sometimes he probably believed he was an angel of mercy. Let us correct him. He was a demon from the lowest depths of hell.

EMILY STOEKER, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: Mr. Cullen robbed my child of her grandmother's unconditional love and kindness. My child has grown up hearing about the cruel way in which her Grandma Poe (ph) was killed. Her family has become bitterly splintered. Our friends and associated suddenly didn't know how to relate to us since we had been victimized by a serial killer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: Some of the family members have said that death would simply be too easy for Charles Cullen. Several of them saying that they want Cullen to spend the rest of his life in prison thinking about the crimes that he has committed.

Carol.

LIN: Allan, we're looking at a live picture of Cullen right now. Has he expressed any emotion? Has his -- you know, any -- can you read the signs on his face. He's just looking down and nothing. How can he do that listening to all the victims of this crime?

CHERNOFF: Well, I don't think there is any explaining what's inside of the mind of this cold blooded serial killer. In fact, the most prolific serial killer in the history of New Jersey. Perhaps the final cudegras (ph) for him is not to meet the eyes of the family members of the victims but at lest they are getting an opportunity to send messages to him so that he can think about this for years and years to come.

Carol.

LIN: Allan, thank you.

All right. Well, it seems to be one step forward and two steps back for American car makers. "Consumer Reports" rates the best for 2006. You're going to have to look pretty hard to find a GM or a Ford product.

And Gerri Willis is going to be talking cars today. She has some advice if you're car shopping.

Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol, good to see you. Buying a new car is fun, but there's a better way to get a good deal. "Five Tips" is next with buying your new ride.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: The market's been trading for a little more than 50 minutes. Taking a look at the Dow Jones Industrial average, down about 46 points at 11,007. And for you Nasdaq investors, the last check, Nasdaq down seven points.

All right. But when it comes to Japanese automakers, things are looking up. For the first time ever, not a single American vehicle made "Consumer Reports" list of top 10 picks. Instead, Honda leads the pack with its all new Civic. The redesigned vehicle is named best small sedan. And for the fourth year in a row, the Accord holds title to the best family sedan. Driving uptown, Honda's Acura TL snags the upscale title, while Nissan's Infinity M35 is crowned top luxury model.

For those who ride high, Subaru's Forester pulls in at "Consumer Report's" best small SUV. To Toyota hybrids, the Highlander SUV and the Prius have others green with envy. This is the third time Prius has been named green car of the year. Honda scores again with its Odyssey mini van and the company's debut pickup truck, the Ridgeline, places seventh in its first time out. Finally, miss congeniality. The Subaru Impreza sports car is voted most fun to drive.

All right, let's talk about buying a car. If you can't afford a new car, how about a used one. And times have changed. You don't have to settle for a clunker from that corner lot. CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with today's "Top Five Tips."

Because you know that new car, you drive it off the lot and, Gerri, how much does that depreciate at that moment?

WILLIS: Twenty to 40 percent, Carol. That's a lot of money that you lose right away.

LIN: Wow.

WILLIS: I've got to tell you, that "Consumer Reports" list, I went to their test facility last week and actually tested five of those cars that are on their list and they were a ton of fun to drive, but like you said, as soon as you drive those off the lot, hey, they lose a lot of the value. You're better off thinking about buying what they call a pre-owned car. Yes, this is a used car, a second-hand car. But you can get great deals out there.

Carol.

LIN: So how do you avoid buying a lemon? Because if you look in the newspaper ads, how do you know how well they took care of their car?

WILLIS: Well, there are many ways you can buy second-hand cars these days. You can buy them from the manufacturer, from the dealership or from maybe the guy next door. The best way to go is certified. That's from the manufacturer themselves. They have a mechanic who actually looks at the whole car, tests everything for you. You know it's not a lemon. It actually works. It's a great way to go.

LIN: And what about the brand itself? Because look how well Toyota did, for example, in the Japanese car line-up.

WILLIS: Well, the best way to figure out if you're buying a model that's actually going to have reliability, is to figure out, as a new car, do they have great reliability? "Consumer Reports" rates these cars on reliability each and every year, so it's easy enough to find a rating from them. Go to their Web site. But let me tell you, you want to pick out a car that's going to be there year after year after year and you don't have to worry about it.

LIN: Yes, and be fun to drive. So if you pick a model and you get in, what should you be looking for?

WILLIS: Well, you've got to take it on the road. You know, let me tell you, you're buying a second-hand car. You don't know what it's been through. And your salesman will try to take you through some kind of residential neighborhood where you're doing 20 to 25 miles per hour. He's going to talk the whole time. Get him to tone it down and then drive it like you would drive the car. If you typically are on a highway driving 60, 65 miles per hour, you really want to do this with this car. And take it over some potholes. You've got to put it through its laps just as you would any car.

LIN: And if you just love the car, what do you do?

WILLIS: Don't communicate that. Keep your poker face when you're negotiating. You've got to make sure that you don't give away the fact that you've found something that you really, really love. And when you're buying second-hand, the thing to keep in mind is, you're going to have some flexibility. If in your mind what you really want is the red 2004 with a tan camel colored interior, you might want to rethink that, be a little bit more flexible, because then you'll have more power when it comes to negotiating.

Carol.

LIN: You bet. All right. Thanks very much, Gerri. Great advice.

WILLIS: Thank you.

LIN: In the meantime, our Gulf Coast coverage continues. Six months after Katrina, five months after the water receded in New Orleans' ninth ward, steps toward progress are beginning this morning. Thanks to Keith Oppenheim who's standing by there, we're going to him in a minute.

And also, we're going to visit a town not far from the ninth ward. You haven't heard much about it because, well, nothing has changed there. Untouched and apparently forgotten. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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