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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush to Address Nation Tonight

Aired December 18, 2005 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush wants to talk to you live tonight about the war in Iraq. We'll preview the president's address to the nation at a time when support for war theme seems to be sliding. I guess you'd have to say that.
Good morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. 6:00 a.m. in the West. 10:00 p.m. in Hong Kong where the WTO meetings are wrapping up.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And the protest continues.

HARRIS: And the protest continues. Welcome, everyone, to the CNN Center. I'm Tony Harris.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Betty Nguyen this morning. Thanks so much for starting your Sunday with us.

We'll take you straight to Washington, but first a quick look at some of the other stories making news right now. Colin Powell says the U.S. will be in Iraq for a while to come. In a BBC interview, the former secretary of state also accuses Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney of going behind his back. Powell says they sometimes cut him out of the decisions in the run up to the war.

We're also following some developing news out of Iraq this morning. Vice President Dick Cheney is touring the country on a surprise visit. He met with top military commanders and praised last week's parliamentary elections.

Irish eyes are smiling on "Time" magazine's persons of the year. Last hour CNN announced to you that U2 lead singer Bono is on the cover, as well as Bill and Melinda Gates. Bono is being honored for his campaign to raise awareness of AIDS and poverty in Africa, and the Gates for their charity work around the world. Specifically focusing on trying to stamp out malaria. They are the persons of the year for 2005.

Hong Kong is recovering from a night of street battle is between WTO protesters and riot police. About 900 protesters are under arrest. They oppose WTO efforts to open up markets to foreign competition saying it benefits richer nations at the expense of poorer countries.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton visits south Louisiana today. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu will lead a tour of the region devastated by hurricanes and floods. This is Senator Clinton's first visit to the area since Hurricane Katrina struck.

Tony?

HARRIS: And coming up, Australian police beef up their presence to fend off another race riot. And they say based on what they found, their tactics proved necessary this weekend.

Also, this would-be robber, Fred, picked the wrong store and the wrong store clerk. Wait until you see the kung fu stylings of our hidden dragon.

And is it too early to start thinking about your taxes? Not by a long shot. We'll tell you why the last day of 2005 is crucial when it comes to your money.

WHITFIELD: Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell makes some frank statements about the future of the U.S. presence in Iraq and the reason the U.S. invaded that country in the first place. In an interview with the BBC to be broadcast today, Powell said the U.S. will have a military presence in Iraq for years. But he said gradual withdrawal will likely start next year. Powell also talked about the administration's allegations that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

He says, quote, "What we were right about was that Saddam Hussein had the intentions of having such weapons. He had them in the past and there was no reason to believe that he did not have them now or would not wish to have them in the future in greater quantities than we he had thought. What we got wrong was actual existence of stockpiles of chemical weapons or biological weapons."

Those words from Colin Powell. He goes on to say that, quote, "When I started to receive word from the intelligence community that said whoops, this source was not good, but we still have three other sources, and then suddenly the three other sources turned out not to be good, no, I was not happy. I was deeply disappointed in what the intelligence community had presented to me and to the rest of us." Those words from former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

New developments now on Iraq this morning. Vice President Dick Cheney makes a surprise stop there in Baghdad. And as we mentioned, former Secretary of State Colin Powell had some very harsh words for the administration and their plan as a whole. As President Bush will make a prime time address on Iraq, his fifth recently, tonight, Kathleen Koch is live at the White House with details on that. Kathleen?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it first -- it must be pointed out that President Bush has had a very difficult time this week getting his message out. He was expected to spend the last two days touting the successful elections in Iraq. Instead, he's been defending his decision after 9/11 to authorize national Security Agency to eavesdrop on the international communications of people inside the United States.

So tonight at 9:00, the president will take his message directly to the people with an Oval Office address on Iraq. Spokesman Scott McClellan says that it will last 15 to 16 minutes. He says the president will discuss the importance of the mission there and give Americans a sense of the way forward in 2006. This is the first time that Mr. Bush has addressed the subject from the Oval Office since he announced the start of the war there back in March, 2003. A senior administration official tells CNN there is a, quote, "symmetry" to that. That was a key moment, and now three elections later we're at another key moment.

The White House says that this speech caps the four recent speeches that Mr. Bush has given on his strategy in Iraq, though the president does clearly have his work cut out on that one. Recent polls have found 68 percent of Americans don't think that Mr. Bush has a clear plan for victory in Iraq. While roughly 59 percent of those surveyed don't approve of his handling of the situation there. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And then Kathleen, as the president will be talking about Iraq tonight, the vice president is talking about Iraq, too, by actually being there in Baghdad. While it may be a surprise visit to the rest of the world, it surely is not a coincidence that the top leading administration level folks are both in or talking about Iraq.

KOCH: On the same page. On the same page. Precisely, Fredricka. Though this one-day stop in Baghdad was not on the vice president's itinerary of countries to visit, countries on the front line of the fight against terrorism. He is due to go to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. But while there, he has visited with U.S. military leaders, gotten a briefing from them, met with U.S. and Iraqi officials. And the Associated Press says that visit was kept so secret that even Iraq's prime minister said that he was surprised to see Mr. Cheney.

WHITFIELD: All right. As are the troops. But I'm sure very glad to see him, indeed. Kathleen Koch at the White House, thanks.

KOCH: You bet.

HARRIS: And let's get a bit closer to the situation in Iraq and the vice president's trip there. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash is on the phone with us. And Dana, sort of we learned about this about an hour or so ago. So talk us through the vice president's day on the ground, a surprise trip to Iraq.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, are you there?

HARRIS: Dana Bash, our White House correspondent, is traveling with Vice President Dick Cheney. And Dana, we found out about an hour ago from your reporting that the vice president had actually made a surprise trip to Iraq. Give us a sense of what the vice president was able to accomplish while on the ground.

Well, that's gone. All right. Our apologies. We thought we had Dana Bash in the system but we just lost her. And our apologies. We'll try to get her back in a couple of minutes. WHITFIELD: All right. Well, once again, you can watch the president's Oval address - Oval Office address tonight here on CNN. Tune in for special edition of LARRY KING LIVE at 9:00 Eastern as well.

HARRIS: Congress is back at work again today anxious to finish up business before the holidays. Yesterday Republicans agreed on $29 billion in additional aid for Katrina victims and others affected by this year's hurricanes. That's far more than the White House had proposed. GOP leaders also neared agreement on legislation to trim deficits by an estimated $40 billion over the next several years. The savings would come from several programs, including Medicaid, Medicare and student loans.

WHITFIELD: Humanitarian efforts carry the day to "Time" magazine's "persons of the year," rock singer and activist Bono along with Bill and Melinda Gates share this year's honor. Bono, lead singer for the rock band U2, is lauded for marshaling relief efforts in Africa. The Gates are honored as co-founders of the world's wealthiest charitable foundation, also doing extensive work in Africa focusing on malaria.

Well, you know who "Time" picked. Now we want to know who you thought should have been the person or persons of the year. Our e- mail question this morning all morning long has been, who would you choose to be the "Time" person of the year? Our address is weekend@cnn.com.

First there is Christmas when you get a whole lot of gifts.

HARRIS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. Then there is tax season when you do a lot of giving to Uncle Sam.

HARRIS: Oh. Yeah. But that doesn't always ...

WHITFIELD: Sometimes you get a little gift.

HARRIS: Well, if you're lucky and you've been smart about it. Right? Doesn't have to be the case where you are just giving to Uncle Sam. We'll give you some tips on keeping some of your earnings in your pocket come April 15th. Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: This is something. A would-be robber picks the wrong store, the wrong store owner to mess with. You have to see what happened next.

WHITFIELD: Or right, depending on how you look at it.

HARRIS: Your point of view, right? Morning, Brad.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. In fact, meanwhile, I'd like to take this rain that's on East Coast and give it a kick and kick it out. But as we are watching temperatures rise above freezing in places like Washington where we're seeing some clouds moving out, let's go ahead and take a look at Washington right now. Live in Washington, temperatures right around 36 degrees. Sunshine is returning. After some morning clouds.

Things looking nice on the East Coast but not so nice on the West Coast. Good morning, San Francisco, as well. You look at White House to talk about your nation's weather coming up in a few minutes on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Private First Class Dan Gregory (ph) in Taji, Iraq wishing all my friends and family back in Alensec's (ph) a happy holidays especially my wife, Rachael (ph) and my daughter Kim (ph). I miss you and I'll see you soon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Sergeant Shaquita Fifi (ph) here in Alastad (ph), Iraq. This is out to Derrick Denim (ph) stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas. I would just like him to know that I love him and miss him and can't wait to see him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant Jock Partneau (ph), FOB Spiker (ph) and I'd like it say Happy Holidays to my father and brothers in Baytown, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: That's good. We should find a way to let the families know. I know it's a project to let the families know exactly when their loved ones are going to be on television so they can receive and record it -- they would love to see that for the holidays. Wouldn't they? That's a project -- CNN project. We don't have enough.

WHITFIELD: Another reason why you should just always keep it here. That's my -- just might catch a loved one.

HARRIS: And that was Chuck Berry with the Christmas ...

WHITFIELD: Yeah, I like that.

HARRIS: Yeah. Good stuff. Good stuff.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, it gets me going.

HARRIS: If you're just joining us this morning, good morning. Giving you a look at some of our top stories. "Time" magazine's choice for person of the year is actually persons of the year. Max Mayfield, I see, didn't make it. Max was the man in '05, director of the National Hurricane Center. WHITFIELD: He was noticed.

HARRIS: He was.

WHITFIELD: He is vital. Isn't he?

HARRIS: And a couple folks in our email suggested he should have been the man, the person of the year. About an hour ago "Time" announced rock singer and activist Bono. No problems with Bono. No problem with the Gates.

WHITFIELD: Or the Gates.

HARRIS: Yeah.

WHITFIELD: There is just a lot of deserving folks out there. And they've really -- many people have made a mark this year.

HARRIS: So Bono and the Gates.

WHITFIELD: These are the standouts, according to the editors.

HARRIS: They're being honored for their efforts to fight HIV. So I can see the theme there. HIV, hunger and debt worldwide.

Moving on, President Bush is giving a rare prime time speech from the Oval Office tonight about Iraq. CNN will carry the speech live with a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE starting at 9:00 Eastern.

And despite hours of contract talks yesterday, the threat of a transit strike still looms in New York City. The workers union has set an overall strike deadline for just after midnight Tuesday. It's planning a selective strike against two bus lines on Monday.

Renowned journalist Jack Anderson has died. He suffered from Parkinson's disease. Anderson's "Washington Merry-Go-Round" column was a must-read for millions and his muckraking struck fear in the hearts of politicians. CNN's Ed Henry was fortunate to know Jack Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNARD SHAW, FORMER CNN ANCHOR: Joining us on the international hour now, syndicated columnist Jack Anderson.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jack Anderson was a tenacious investigative reporter, exposing malfeasance in the nation's capital for over five decades. The last of the old-fashioned muckrakers, Anderson won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for revealing that the Nixon administration was secretly tilting toward Pakistan in its war with India.

MARK FELDSTEIN, GWU: He truly believed that he had a mission from God that the constitution was divinely inspired and he was put here on this earth to go after government wrongdoing, corporate wrongdoing. HENRY: A devout Mormon, Anderson never shied from a fight with a corrupt politician. The more powerful, the better. Crusading against communist-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy, rifling through the home trash cans of J. Edgar Hoover after learning that was a tactic the FBI director himself used to intimidate people. Anderson's sensational scoops during the Watergate years landed him on Nixon's enemies list. With G. Gordon Liddy and other operatives going so far a is to plot the columnist's murder to silence him.

FELDSTEIN: This is the only case where I know of where the president's White House top aides are talking about a mob style hit on a reporter.

HENRY: But Anderson was never quieted by his critics. His column syndicated in over 1,000 newspapers. He finally retired in 2004 because of Parkinson's disease. He made light of his illness, joking that the trembling was really caused by spending more than 50 years in Washington.

(on camera): Part of Jack Anderson's legacy was spawning future generations of journalists who learned at his elbow, like Brit Hume, Howard Kurtz and this reporter, too. Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jack Anderson was 83.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's check in with Brad Huffines in the weather center. How are things looking out there? We know it's cold in some parts. But it's supposed to be.

HUFFINES: Very cold in some parts of the country. Of course, winter begins Wednesday. 1:35 Eastern. What's happening outside right now across especially the east, notice DC right now 36 degrees. Sunshine breaking out, scattered rain showers south of Washington, 43 degrees in Salisbury now. 21 up in Altoona, Pennsylvania. And it is chilly up there.

But as you head south, you see more and more rain showers especially from Elizabeth City down toward Myrtle Beach and Wilmington. Scattered rain showers also today near Raleigh.

The other weather story across the nation - actually two more weather stories. One of which is the light snow right now occurring from Kansas City right there. Kansas City is here. Of course, St. Louis is right here. Kansas City overnight about 2 1/2 inches of snow. Just to the west of Kansas City, six to eight inches near Russell, Kansas. And if you live in places like Indianapolis, Evansville, Indiana, Ft. Wayne, you're going to see some of this light snow continue. The snowfall totals across parts of Indiana should be anywhere from a trace to about one inch of snow.

So not a lot of snow across parts of Indiana and into southern Illinois. The other big weather stop as well as the heavy snows across parts of northeastern Kansas overnight, is out west where we have seen some very heavy rains and some strong winds from San Francisco up north. Notice that we are seeing gusty winds, 15 to 25 miles an hour winds with Sierra Nevada, snows, two to four-inch per hour snowfall totals today near Reno, from Modesto to San Francisco, pretty good showers moving in today with gusting winds continuing.

A quick look at the weather maps across the nation today shows this. As we continue to look outside and see cold weather across the northern plains, let me show you, it is cold, cold, cold. Highs today from Bismarck to Minneapolis, likely below 15 degrees. Tomorrow not quite as cold. We'll be in the low to mid 20s across the northern plains. Break out the car wash kits and the car wax. It's going to be warmer as heavy lake effect snows across the northern Great Lakes, guys.

HARRIS: Yeah, you've got to jog or something. Get in a little exercise outside. Get some fresh air in the lungs. OK, Brad, thank you.

Tax day, April 15th! Wow! 2006. Seems like it's right around the corner. But in a way it is also December 31st, 2005, two weeks from right now. What gives. Donna Levalley of J.K. Lasser Tax Guides (ph) is here to explain why the last day of the year is so important when it comes to you and your money. Donna, thanks for getting up this morning and thanks for joining us.

DONNA LEVALLEY, TAX ATTORNEY: Thank you for having me.

HARRIS: You know what, Donna? I want to think about someone other than myself for a change. OK. At least starting off here. I want to think about the Katrina victims. Do they get any extra time to file this year or are there any forms that they should fill out to buy a little extra time before filing this year?

LEVALLEY: Well, actually this year the IRS is going to be a help to some people.

HARRIS: Well, great.

LEVALLEY: And that's people who have experienced the problems. The filing extensions will apply to people who were hit by Katrina, Rita or Wilma. They'll have until February 28th to makes payments, file returns, anything that was coming due as of August 25th and after.

Now, if it was already overdue, you are still on the hook and you still have to square it up. But if it was going to come due, you don't even actually have to let them know. But when you file the 28th, write in red ink, Katrina, Wilma or Rita, whatever hurricane you were involved in.

HARRIS: OK, Donna. Back to me now. I want to take a little bit of the sting out of the tax bite this year, so we're coming up on end of the year. I'm thinking charitable contributions. What's my time line here? LEVALLEY: That's a terrific time of year to do it. And since we are coming to the end, maybe you might want to think about using your credit card to do it. The check has to deposit and clear before end of the year, but it is a terrific way to give a gift as well.

HARRIS: OK.

LEVALLEY: And what's going to happen is even more of your donations are going to be deductible. Three is the ceiling on how much you can deduct. You may be able to deduct more than half of what you take home this year. And that's more than normal. So you know what? Go out, make some more gifts and maybe look at the Katrina people as well even more so.

HARRIS: Yeah, merry Christmas, happy holidays and spread joy at Christmastime. All right. All right. Keogh plans. I'm self- employed. I know there is a deadline for this as well. Explain that to me.

LEVALLEY: Well, it's very important. If a self-employed person, if they would like to set up a Keogh plan, they have to set it set in place by December 31st. Now, the great thing is they don't have to fund it until the due date of their returns including extensions, so potentially up to October 15th for 2005 they can still put money in but it has to be set up by December 31st.

And it's important to make these last-minute moves because as of the 31st you have no more options except basically traditional IRAs. So remember, if you're going to sell stock, do it by the 30th because the 31st is a Saturday. So it's really going to limit how many more days you have left.

HARRIS: So what do I do with that extra chunk of change that I have in my pocket here this year? I don't want to give it to Uncle Sam, I don't want to give at least a significant portion of it. I don't want penalties either. So what do I do with that?

LEVALLEY: If you have some kind of bonus, or windfall income over the year and that's where that extra money that's warming your pocket has come from, if you're an employer get down to the human resources office. They can increase your withholdings from the last one or two paychecks. And that is going to help the most. Anything withholdings something counted as paid over the entire year. It's very good. Because if you're self-employed, you're counted quarterly. So you could have a quarterly problem, not just a yearly issue. If you have a W-2 situation you can use that to smooth over any rough edges.

And if you are getting that bonus now or you see that bonus coming in the last few weeks, you still have time to make an estimated tax payment for 2005 by January 16th, 2006. So you won't be hit with as many penalties in interest if you pay it by then.

HARRIS: That's great information! Great energy. Great information with the energy. And check back with us from time to time as we get closer to the 15th. All right? LEVALLEY: Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

HARRIS: Yeah, yeah, that was fun. Donna, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Tony, we still have to figure out in the next couple of days what to do with that extra cash. I can help you out on that. It's on me!

HARRIS: Absolutely. You got it.

WHITFIELD: OK. Well, the ballots have been cast. Now President Bush goes prime time tonight to further discuss his plans for Iraq. Will troops be heading home any time soon?

Plus, no suntan lotion or flip flops on this sand. Instead, hundreds of police. Some on horseback. Are lining up on Australian beaches. We'll tell you why.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw the knife. Long like that. He said opened the drawer, give me your money. Whoa!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: From whoa to hi-ya! A store owner protects his goods and also causes this would-be robber to lose his pants!

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back. You're looking at new pictures just now coming in. We told you earlier that the vice president made a little surprise visit. We all knew that this week he was going to make some diplomatic visits to places like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan. Well, look, we're seeing him right now deplaning Air Force One, there, making that surprise visit to Iraq...

HARRIS: Now, I feel like I have to say this -- new video in to CNN, but we know that the vice president has moved on. Don't know exactly where he has moved on, but this is video from a short time ago that we're just receiving. But we learned from Dana Bash that the actual trip, the vice president and the entourage and the Press Corps were on the ground actually in Iraq a few hours ago, OK, is when the actual surprise trip actually commenced. But this is the first video of that visit.

And while in country, the vice president, we understand, met with a lot of folks in the government as we transition now with a new parliament being elected and now there's still a lot of work to come on that as we try to sort out who is going to be the president, prime minister, so on so forth. And once again, this is just new video in to us at CNN from a trip from the vice president's surprise visit to Iraq. His very first, I understand. WHITFIELD: Right. And, you know, I said Air Force One. That's always reserved for the president. It's really more like Air Force Two, but it is an Air Force jet, nonetheless, for the vice president as he makes his visit. And then from here, you know, and Dana Bash reported this earlier, while there may have been some rumblings within the Press Corps this is something that just might happen, of course publicly it wasn't released prior to his trip for security reasons. But we know that he is on his way from here on to those other places like Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia.

HARRIS: And worth noting, particularly, because this is the vice president's very first trip in country. The president has been to Iraq a couple of times and we know that the secretary of state, Powell, in the past and Condoleezza Rice have been in country, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld has been in country as well on a couple of occasions, but first visit for the vice president.

WHITFIELD: Now President Bush will be talking Iraq once again this evening in a prime-time address, you can see it right here on CNN. Aides say the president will highlight the accomplishments in Iraq war such as this week's historic elections. What's gone wrong in Iraq has had a detrimental affect on the president's performance ratings. But in the last two weeks his approval ratings have inched upwards, corresponding to his recent speeches, perhaps. So what does the president envision for Iraq's next chapter in history and what sort of timetable, if any, is there for reducing American troops in country?

Joining us for our discussion this morning, Congressman Jim Saxton and Jim Marshall. Good to see both of you. Mr. Saxton a New Jersey republican chairs the House Terrorism Sub-committee; and Representative Marshall is a Georgia democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Both men despite coming from opposite sides of the political aisle share similar views when it comes to the Iraq war. Good morning to both of you gentlemen.

REP. JIM SAXTON (R), NEW JERSEY: Thank you, Fredricka.

REP. JIM MARSHALL (D), GEORGIA: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: Well, so much has transpired this week and even this weekend. Today, in fact, we're hearing from former secretary of state Colin Powell in a BBC interview that will be airing later on saying that "we must stay in Iraq a bit longer. Leaving too soon would be a big mistake" at the same time he talks about his disappointment in the administration for being left out of key meetings leading up to Iraq, as well as his great disappointment in the faulty intelligence.

How important will it be, gentlemen, for the president this evening, to do a lot more explaining when it comes to the progress or the mistakes in the U.S. war in Iraq? And might we have too high expectations to hear anything different from the president than what we've heard in the past four speeches of his "victory for Iraq" speeches? Mr. Saxton, you first.

SAXTON: Well, let me just say that I don't know what the president is going to say tonight, but seems to me that he has the opportunity to do two things. One, to explain what our policy is there, what it has been, and what it will be going forward. And second, to talk about some of the encouraging news that has occurred over the past month or so. Obviously the election was a success that goes without saying. Obviously we have been successful in putting in place an Iraqi security service which is in the process of being trained. I understand there are now in the neighborhood of 225,000 Iraqis in their security force made up of both a police force and a army-type security force, National Guard, if you will. These folks are being trained and successfully so. They are carrying out operations particularly in the western part of Iraq along the Syrian border which is a very important mission and have been credited with some great success, there. So I'm certain that the president will delve into these elements of the effort there and talk about the successes that we've had at least in those two regards.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, Congressman Marshall, what's your expectation?

MARSHALL: It's somewhat similar to what Jim was just talking about. I would expect the president will talk about successes that Iraqis have had. You know, frankly, by now all Americans recognize that the key to success lies with Iraqis. We've got to help them. We cannot withdraw precipitously. Secretary Powell is exactly right, that would be a huge mistake for us to do that. But I would expect that the president would talk about successes that Iraqis are having with regard to securing their own country. The recent election, of course he'll talk about that, that's a big success. You know, the sooner Iraqis get their act together and are able to secure their own country, the quicker we'll withdraw our soldiers, the fewer funerals I'll be attending and Jim will be attending. It'll be good news all around for everyone.

WHITFIELD: And Congressman, while we're being told that the primary focus will be Iraq, might we also have to hear from the president to respond a little bit more, elaborate some more, on his statements during his live address yesterday, what usually is a recorded radio address, instead he delivered it live -- he did address the issue of the NSA and that he gave the NSA consent, at least 30 times, to conduct wiretapping, eavesdropping, spying on Americans, and that congressional leaders knew about it. Congressman Marshall, were you among those who knew about it?

MARSHALL: No, I did not know about these particular incidents. I'm somebody -- and I think most members of Congress feel exactly the same way -- who believes in having an independent judiciary review things like this before they're actually engaged in it, and I hope that we head in that direction. We've got checks and balances in our government for a reason. One of the reasons is that it protects our civil liberties and so I hope that with regard to this particular issue, I don't think the president is necessarily going to talk about this this evening, but when he talks about it, I think maybe he should head in the direction of having an independent judicial review before decisions like this are made.

WHITFIELD: And Congressman Saxton, there are critics who are saying by hearing the president say this, the administration is acting as though it is above the law.

SAXTON: Here's what I would say if I were the president. I would simply ask the American people this question -- would you rather have me explain these things as we go along? Or would you rather have me explain why we didn't know after the next attack occurs?

WHITFIELD: But is there a contradiction in terms of the NSA is invading the privacy of Americans, is that pushing the envelope too far, that without getting any kind of court consent on any such searches or warrants?

SAXTON: I don't know what the president based his decision on to go down this road. However, it is the president's responsibility to take whatever action he deems necessary within the law to protect the American people against future attacks and I believe that's what he's trying to do.

WHITFIELD: Congressman Jim Saxton, Congressman Jim Marshall, thanks to both of you gentlemen for being with us.

MARSHALL: Happy to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Once again you can watch President Bush's Oval Office address right here on CNN. And there is more at 7:00 Eastern tonight. "Time's" Person of the Year special. At 8:00 Eastern watch the "Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer for a preview of president, then stay tuned for a special edition of "Larry King Live" at 9:00 Easter for the coverage of the president's speech itself.

HARRIS: Social unrest, down under again. In a country that prides itself on tolerance, a number of Australian beach communities are seeing race riots. From Australia's Channel 7 News, here Robert Ovadia with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT OVADIA, CHANNEL 7 NEWS, AUSTRALIA (voice-over): Police promise numbers and they delivered enough officers to strangle Sydney's beachside suburbs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you sought to restore fear in this community, it was not going to be on.

OVADIA: In the morning it was quiet. Hundreds of police were briefed and prepared for the worst. They patrolled on horseback, on foot, from the water, from the air, everywhere.

(on camera): Today's police operation has been unprecedented, not even the Sydney Olympics can match its scale; 2,000 officers spread right across the city and beyond ready to prevent violence or react swiftly when it happens.

(voice-over): It wasn't long before first arrest, a man allegedly causing a disturbance at North Cronulla Beach. Last week his wrist bands might have been called fashion accessories, today they were considered offensive weapons. Nothing ambiguous about these weapons, they were confiscated from drivers last night. Four cars were also seized under new police powers. At road blocks around the city today, drivers of any ethnicity were pulled over and questioned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As long as they're keeping the beaches safe, then everything is good.

OVADIA: Cars were searched, most of the time there was no problem. But at Brighton-le Sands Police found more weapons, including knives in an army belt, chemical boots, gas masks, and petrol bombs. Several men were arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's exactly why today we put 3,000 police...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: As we are looking and listening to that piece on what's taking place in Australia you're also looking at the U.S. ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, meeting with the vice president, dick Cheney, there, and a top U.S. military leader. Remember, we've been reporting to you all morning that the vice president made a surprise visit to Iraq. We all knew that he'd be making some diplomat visits to places like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etcetera and Afghanistan -- Afghanistan after its parliamentary elections. Well now we know just after the parliamentary elections throughout Iraq, now the vice president is meeting with the top leaders. Let's listen in right now.

RICHARD B. CHENEY, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Well, we're delighted to be in Baghdad. Have an opportunity to meet with our team that's been responsible for, I think, the great many successes, so far, in this effort. And John Abizaid and George Casey and Zalmay Khalilzad have done a great job. And I'm delighted to have the opportunity to spend some time today looking at situation in Iraq and finding out on the ground how it feels especially after the tremendous elections that happened earlier this year. We're glad to have you all with us, despite of the fact we couldn't tell you earlier where we were going.

WHITFIELD: Its a pivotal meeting with the vice president meeting with coalition leaders as well as Iraqi leaders because it is coming just days after a significant historic election in Iraq for its new parliamentary. And now the vice president has made it very clear while he's delighted to be there -- to be there in Iraq, he couldn't make the public know it for security reasons, but in addition to meeting with coalition and Iraqi leaders, it's presumed that he'll also get a chance to meet with U.S. troops there before he goes on to his diplomat visits to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia among others. We're going to take a short break and we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Again, new pictures this morning of Vice President Dick Cheney during a surprise visit to Baghdad this morning. He is visiting with a top Iraqi, as well as U.S. military, leaders there, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, there on the left side of your screen, also meeting with U.S. military leaders, there. This taking place just days after historic parliamentary elections, there in Iraq, and this taking place just hours before President Bush is to take to the airwaves tonight, here in this country, talking about the U.S. plan in Iraq and of course, CNN will be covering that live for you this evening. A special edition of Wolf Blitzer, the "Situation Room," at 8:00 preceding the presidential address during a special "Larry King Live" at 9:00 Eastern tonight, so be watching.

HARRIS: Well Fred, a California convenience store owner refuses to let a would-be robber get the best of him. And his Kung Fu stylings were all caught on tape. Reporter Cornell Barnard from CNN affiliate KX-TV brings us this never-say-die story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CORNELL BARNARD, KX-TV REPORTER: When this 24-year-old Corey Allen Funk walked into this Modesto quick-stop hoping to rob it, he never expected a manager like Edward Petrossi.

EDWARD PETROSSI, QUICK STOP MANGER: I didn't wanted to hurt him, but he made me.

BARNARD: It was like the suspect waited for all the customers to leave, then snuck up on Edward from behind.

PETROSSI: As soon as I approached here, I say, my god, he's coming right behind me, suddenly I had to turn. I say what are -- what are doing? Suddenly he -- I saw the knife, rigid knife, long like that. He goes, "opened the drawer, give me your money." Whoa.

BARNARD: What the suspect didn't know is that Edward has a black belt in six martial arts. On surveillance video, Edward goes into fighting stance ready for action.

PETROSSI: I said, no (INAUDIBLE), I had to jump backwards and stand like -- you know, get ready position, grab something, I said, "hey, you want my money? Come on. Get it." Right there I chased him. He just was shocked.

Reporter: The surprise suspect runs for the door but the manager is right behind and with a few high kicks, sends the robber tumbling right into the parking lot.

PETROSSI: That's the best place to jump through the air. I just do this -- right behind his back and he went all the way to the ground.

BARNARD: The young suspect almost loses I had pants in the scuffle and flees to his car, but that's not the end of the story. At that moment Edward members his cell phone camera.

PETROSSI: I said, my god, let me take a picture from this man. I think my cell phone has the technology. I zoomed in, gently, nice, got it.

BARNARD: He sure did, a clear shot of the suspect's license plate number which later led to his arrest.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: I mean, presence of mind.

WHITFIELD: I don't even know how to word -- do I even have a camera on my phone? I guess I'd know. but I'm terrible with that stuff. He had incredible presence of mind.

HARRIS: Just a footnote, police arrested 24-year-old Cory Allen Funk for attempted robbery. Funk is...

WHITFIELD: In a funk.

HARRIS: In a funk. Yeah. Five -- wow, look at this, five robbery attempts in Modesto. Four of them successful and he is being held on $250,000 bail.

WHITFIELD: Funk now in a funk.

HARRIS: In a funk.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Well, how about this question? The selection of the "Time: Person of the Year."

HARRIS: How do you feel about it?

WHITFIELD: Did you know this was coming?

HARRIS: No! Didn't see this one. I told you, Max Mayfield.

WHITFIELD: Perhaps you had some other ideas out there, people? Well, we still want to hear from you. You know, what your thoughts are as to whether you believe Bono and Melinda and Bill Gates are deserving of the "Persons of the Year," or if you had someone else in mind.

HARRIS: So we're going to read some of your e-mails when we come back from the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SERGEANT 1ST CLASS TOMMY JONES, U.S. ARMY: My name is Sergeant 1st Class Tommy Jones. I want to say happy holidays to the love of my life, my son Jacob, in Austin, Texas.

LINDA KELLY 16TH SIGNAL BATTALION, U.S. ARMY: Hi this is staff sergeant Linda Kelly with Charlie Company 16th Signal Battalion. We're FOB Courage in Mosul Iraq. I want to say happy holidays to Kenny Rogers, thank you so much, sir, for serving us and we appreciate all that you're doing for us. Thank you and god bless. SYLVESTER (UNINTELLIGIBLE) , U.S. ARMY: Hi, my name is Sylvester (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and I'm stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. I'd just like to say happy holidays to my friends and family in Austin, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: So instead of a brouhaha, how about a brew-ho-ho? Well, a Nebraska jewelry store has hit on a way to bring in male Christmas shoppers. Load 'em up with pizza and beer! Well, it works all the time. Retailers continue to find ways to cater to the reluctant men shoppers who, according to experts, are a growing force to be reckoned with. Well, it's nice to be considered a force of nature. Somebody better buy more beer. Hello.

WHITFIELD: They don't know my husband. He is a great shopper. He's a good shopper.

OK. Well now it's time to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN's "Reliable Sources." Hello to you, Howard.

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Hi, Fredricka. Coming up, that "New York Times" story on domestic spying by Bush administration. Should the newspaper have held the story for one year at the urging of the White House? We'll talk about that. President Bush's harsh words for the leakers of the story and his television blitz this week.

Plus the self-appointed king of all media, Howard Stern, jumps to satellite radio. And the columnist who took cash from an indicted lobbies.

That's all ahead, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, on "Reliable Sources".

WHITFIELD: All right, can't wait for that. Thanks so much, Howard.

HARRIS: So, our e-mail question, who do you believe should have been "Time" magazine's Person of the Year? A lot of great responses. This from Michele who writes, "Although this might not and physical person, my choice for person of the year would be Mother Nature. Nothing can compare to the havoc and tragedy left behind this past year in her footsteps." Thank you Michele.

WHITFIELD: All right, and then Robyn in Boynton Beach says, "I would say the "Time" Person of the Year should be the king of ALL media, Howard Stern.

HARRIS: He's moving to that satellite word, right?

WHITFIELD: Howard is going to talk more about that, Howard Kurtz.

HARRIS: Yeah, and this from Fateen who writes, "I would choose former President William Jefferson Clinton. His work in AIDS, the tsunami, and Katrina, coupled with his friendly flirtations with the Bush family has allowed him to be the real "uniter and not a divider." WHITFIELD: And look at that, one of our own.

HARRIS: Hey! Person of the year.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, yeah, yeah. An anonymous writer or reader says, "My vote would be Anderson Cooper."

HARRIS: And how about this? "I think the person of the year should be General Russell Honore!"

WHITFIELD: And then Cheryl says, "I think Oprah should get the person of the year. She is a remarkable person."

HARRIS: Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for burning up the inbox this morning with all your e-mails, and your suggestions, and your thoughts. We appreciate it. Thank you very much.

And be sure to tune in tonight for CNN's special on the "Time: Persons of the Year" that's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Then at 8:00, a live preview of the president's speech on Iraq, our Wolf Blitzer will be in the "Situation Room."

WHITFIELD: And then, of course the speech itself at 9:00 with a special edition of "Larry King Live." "Reliable Sources" with Howard Kurtz is up next.

HARRIS: Have a great day.

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