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CNN Sunday Morning
Ford Viewing at Capitol Rotunda; Video of Saddam Execution
Aired December 31, 2006 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: "Now in the News," New Year's Eve celebrations cancelled in Bangkok, Thailand, after a string of bombings. Police say at least seven bomb blasts ripped through several downtown areas, killing two people and injuring nearly a dozen.
We take a live look here at the Capitol Rotunda as a nation honors its 38th president. Pictures from the U.S. Capitol where former President Gerald Ford lies in state. Hundreds filed past the flag-draped casket last night. The public continues paying their respects this hour. And coming up in 15 minutes we'll talk with a presidential historian about Ford's legacy.
Executed, now buried, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was buried in the middle of the night in the town where he was born just outside of Tikrit. Dozens of relatives and other mourners were there. Some called his execution a crime.
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: A new message from Castro, Cuban state media are releasing a message it attributes to the ailing leader Fidel Castro. In it President Castro thanks the Cuban people for their affection and support. The Cuban leader, as you know, has not been seen in public since intestinal surgery in July.
Ringing in the New Year. The New Year's fireworks display taking place in Sydney, Australia, about an hour ago. Right now it's midnight in Brisbane, Australia, and here in the U.S. -- actually, I should say Guam, that is a U.S. territory in the Pacific as well.
And that leads us to our e-mail question of the morning. Do you happen to have a New Year's resolution? E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com and we will share some of your responses a little later in the newscast.
You know, a lot of people preparing to be outside, of course, in order to ring in the New Year especially in New York. It seems like it's going to be quite mild this year, Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is going to be a close call as far as the rain goes, but mild temperatures for sure. We are looking at snow in some parts of the country, like Omaha, Nebraska, and Minneapolis. A wintry mix in the forecast, but much of the country actually looking good for this New Year's Eve, particularly out West. I'll have a complete look at your holiday forecast coming up.
LONG: Witness to the execution, you are there for Saddam Hussein's final moments. This new video and audio of the former dictator's death by hanging. We have all of the details in just a few minutes.
HOLMES: And from the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is the last day of the year, December 31st, bye-bye 2006 and hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
LONG: Now you can scratch the New Year's resolutions from '06, start the new ones.
HOLMES: Just got some brand new ones.
LONG: Right? Right. I should also remind you I'm Melissa Long, in this morning for Betty.
HOLMES: And thank you for being here with us.
LONG: Yes. Thank you for here being with us. Thank you.
The nation prepares to say farewell to former President Gerald Ford. You're looking at a live picture of the flag-draped casket at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. And the public viewing started just this hour. Hundreds paid their respects after Ford's body arrived in Washington late on Saturday night.
CNN's Gary Nurenberg has more now on the events honoring the late president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a nearly coast-to-coast flight over the country he loved, the plane carrying the 38th president of the United States landed at Andrews Air Force Base Saturday evening. Gerald Ford's family stood on the tarmac, watching as his casket was carried past honorary pallbearers, including Vice President Cheney, to the hearse that would drive by landmarks from his life.
Alexandria, Virginia, where the Ford family lived for 19 years before moving to the White House, a brief pause at the World War II Memorial, acknowledgement of his Naval service in that war, acknowledgement of his generation. A wave from Mrs. Ford.
THERON NEWSOME, U.S. NAVY (RET.): He would appreciate what came -- what happened here tonight. I knew his wife did. She was waving to our latest.
NURENBERG: Eagle Scouts were there. Gerald Ford was one of them. So were women whose lives were changed when he signed legislation opening American military academies to women.
COL. YVONNE CHILLS, U.S. AIR FORCE: This meant a great deal. I applied with the first class of women to the United States Air Force Academy. So it opened up a door for me that I didn't know existed before. NURENBERG: After the pause at the World War II Memorial, the hearse took Mr. Ford to the Capitol, where he began his congressional career in 1949.
The former president was taken to the Capitol using the entrance to the House of Representatives where he became minority leader. Mrs. Ford standing at the top of those 45 steps following the casket to the door of the House chamber where it briefly rested. Mrs. Ford's composure broke before the casket was carried to the Rotunda of the Capitol where it was placed on the catafalque that once bore Abraham Lincoln's remains.
Gerald Ford never realized his dream of becoming speaker of the House but was eulogized by a speaker of the House who praised Ford's leadership of a shaken country in the days following Watergate.
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), HOUSE SPEAKER: In the summer of 1974, America didn't need a philosopher king or a warrior prince, an aloof aristocrat, a populist firebrand. We needed a healer. We needed a rock. We needed honesty and candor and courage. We needed Gerald Ford.
NURENBERG: Vice President Cheney remembered those days.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is a time to every purpose under heaven. In the years of Gerald Rudolph Ford, it was a time to heal. There is also in life a time to part, when those who are dear to us must go their way.
And so for now, Mr. President, farewell.
NURENBERG: The chamber was hushed as Mrs. Ford ended the service kneeling at her husband's casket. Friends, officials and family members filed by before the public was allowed to enter, many waiting in the December night for their chance to pay tribute.
(on camera): Gerald Ford was not that aloof aristocrat or philosopher king that Speaker Hastert had said we didn't need in a post-Nixon America. He was perhaps more than most really perceived as a man of the people, and now some of those people will have the opportunity to pay their final respects as Mr. Ford lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda. His funeral is Tuesday at the National Cathedral.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: A glowing tribute to former President Ford on the ski slopes of Vail, Colorado. Hundreds of skiers carrying torches took part in a candlelight vigil last night. Ford began visiting the ski resort in 1968. He had a summer home nearby.
LONG: A presidential historian says Gerald Ford's legacy is also a lesson to politicians today. That is, base decisions on right and wrong, not right or left. Historian and author Mark Updegrove joins us live in about eight minutes to share some perspective.
HOLMES: Saddam Hussein buried in the dead of night in his hometown near Tikrit. No big fanfare, really, just a few mourners present. Some condemned his execution. Meanwhile, masked gunmen took to the streets of Tikrit this morning shooting into the air and calling for vengeance.
It's now been more than 24 hours since Saddam Hussein's death in Baghdad, and so far images of his final moments have been limited to two pieces of silent video, until now.
Here's CNN's Carol Lin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The last moments of Saddam Hussein's life. Witnesses describe the death chamber as loud, chaotic, filled with chatter and shouting. We now know that is true.
We've seen a new video of the execution, one that's popping up on several Internet sites. You're about to see it, too.
It was recorded by hand, clearly not with a professional camera. Probably a cell phone. We don't know who shot it, who released it, or whether the Iraqi government approves.
You'll see and hear Hussein's executioners taunting him, chanting support for Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and a defiant Hussein, repeating their taunts sarcastically. Our translators provided the subtitles.
SADDAM HUSSEIN, FMR. IRAQI PRESIDENT (through translator): Prayers be upon the Prophet Mohammad and on his family. And glorify the mighty and curse his enemy.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada...
HUSSEIN: Muqtada. Is this how you show your bravery as men?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Straight to hell.
HUSSEIN: Is this the bravery of Arabs?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Long live Mohammad Baqir Sadr.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Straight to hell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please, I am begging you not to. The man is being executed.
HUSSEIN: I bear witness that there is no god but God and that Mohammad is the messenger of God.
And I bear witness that there is no god but God...
LIN: We stopped the video at the precise moment Saddam Hussein drops through a trap door beneath his feet and the rope around his neck tightens. There's a few more seconds of shouting, and chanting, and then a close-up of Saddam Hussein's face.
Carol Lin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And stay with CNN this morning. At 10:00 Eastern, CNN's John Roberts looks back at the conflict of 2006 in a special edition of "THIS YEAR AT WAR." Then from Iraq to Afghanistan to the elections, CNN's "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER" looks at the best of this year. You can catch that at 11:00 Eastern.
Certainly we are going to have something to tell you about here. It was, no doubt, a star-studded event. One last celebration honoring the Godfather of Soul.
LONG: And later, Hillary and Rudy among the big names eyeing the White House. Who will run? Who will win? The Amazing Kreskin will join us with his fearless predictions for 2007.
HOLMES: Plus an unexpected discovery in the bedroom of one woman's home. We'll tell you about this slithery surprise. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Honoring a president who helped heal the nation, Americans are paying their respects to former President Gerald Ford this hour. A live look at the flag-draped casket and the public filing through to pay their respects. Hundreds really have filed past the casket as it arrived in the U.S. Capitol last night. And Mark Updegrove is author of "Second Acts: Presidential Lives & Legacies After the White House." He joins us now from Charleston, South Carolina, to talk about Gerald Ford's legacy.
Mr. Updegrove, thank you for spending some time with us this morning. Tell me, we've been talking about it, it seems like every conversation, but when historians rate or grade Gerald Ford's presidency, do they always have to start with the pardon of Richard Nixon? Will that forever be the starting point and how important of a factor is that in rating this president and his legacy?
MARK UPDEGROVE, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, yes. I absolutely think it's the right place to start with President Ford, because that decision, more than anything, helped us to move on from Watergate and address more urgent issues in our nation.
HOLMES: And you got to speak with him, got to interview him extensively, was it two years ago, I believe it was. Was his legacy on his mind?
UPDEGROVE: Very much. I asked him how he wished to be remembered, T.J., and he said, that's easy, Mark. I want to be remembered as a healer and a builder. And if I am remembered that way, I would be most grateful. And I think he's getting his wish. HOLMES: How did he -- and he also gave you some insights and some thoughts about the current administration and the presidency. I know it's come out that he didn't necessarily agree with the idea of going into Iraq. Did he talk to you about that?
UPDEGROVE: Yes, he did. I asked him which of his successors called on him most to seek his counsel and he said it was Bush 41. I asked then if Bush 41 often called to seek his advice and he said, no, he doesn't call very often, but I wished he had called me over Iraq, because if he had I would have advised him to not go in and take out Saddam Hussein over the issue of weapons of mass destruction.
And he said -- he went on to say Saddam Hussein was a bum, and those are his words. There were plenty of reasons to take out Saddam Hussein, but getting rid of weapons of mass destruction was not one of them.
HOLMES: What would you say Gerald Ford is not given enough credit for and what has he, maybe, given too much credit for in his presidency?
UPDEGROVE: Well, I don't know that he's been given too much credit. I think he's probably been our most underrated president. I think we forget now how divided our country was over the issues of Watergate and Vietnam and the selfless decisions that he made in order to allow us to move forward. A pardon of Richard Nixon was -- aroused thunderous controversy at the time and probably cost him the election of 1976 to Jimmy Carter.
But he did it, again, T.J., in order for us to move forward. He felt that had he not pardoned Nixon, the fate of Richard Nixon would be hanging over the United States and we wouldn't have been able to move on to address more important issues like a foundering economy which were holding us back.
HOLMES: And that issue right there, doing what he thought was right, not what he thought was popular, does that make him certainly a throwback to the days when politicians, again, could fight like dogs during the day, go have a beer together at night? Is that -- is he one of the last that we've seen like that?
UPDEGROVE: Well, I think you're absolutely right. He expressed great concern to me about the poisonous atmosphere in Washington and didn't like how partisan politics had become. He loathed how each party vilified the other and challenged their integrity. And I don't know that he was the last one to feel that way. I certainly think that there are politicians on Capitol Hill who still behave in the way that Gerald Ford would advocate. But I do think that it is -- that what was common in those days has become far less common these days, and he would agree with that.
HOLMES: And a lot would agree that that's unfortunate we don't see more behaving that way. Mark Updegrove, again, author of "Second Acts: Presidential Lives & Legacies After the White House," appreciate you spending some time with us this morning.
UPDEGROVE: Thank you, T.J.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, I need to tell you that CNN's Wolf Blitzer will have more on the death of former President Ford today on "LATE EDITION" at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The guests will be senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
LONG: Teach your children right from wrong. Big task, right? Especially if you're a mom and a dad.
HOLMES: Sounds simple enough though, but yes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As parents, you know, we're taught to look after our kids and what Ms. Lopez did was a selfish act. She put her kids in harm and -- you know, and, you know, we just can't tolerate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LONG: What was this selfish act? Well, police say a mom taught her kids some lessons about larceny. We're going to have the details coming up for you.
HOLMES: And happy New Year! Celebrations are already under way in certain parts of the world. Countries ringing in the New Year. Coming up, we're live from Times Square on the Big Apple's countdown. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LONG: Good morning. Here's a look at some of the other stories making news "Around America" this morning. Kind of a peculiar picture, huh? I think you could tell what happened. There's a bit of a problem on the runway. This is at the airport in Van Nuys, California. Just like you, investigators are now trying to figure out exactly how the plane ended up in that peculiar predicament.
HOLMES: We're all trying to figure that out. We'll get back to you. And zero visibility, that's what's greeting many motorists traveling across the plains from New Mexico through to the Dakotas, Colorado's Interstate 25. Oh, poor guy. It closed between Pueblo and New Mexico state line. At day light, the Colorado National Guard hopes to resume searching for stranded motorists.
LONG: And this video is from the "land of enchantment," New Mexico. The police there have been telling people to stay off the roads because of the poor weather conditions. The latest storm forced the cancellation of numerous airline flights in Albuquerque. The airport is reporting a record 10.5 inches of snow. It is a wet and soggy and white New Year there, isn't it?
HOLMES: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT) HOLMES: Nostradamus, bah! The Amazing Kreskin has this year's predictions. That's coming up in 25 minutes. We are actually going to find out. We have got the answers here that you want. We're going to find out if Hillary Clinton can take the White House, also going to find out if Fidel Castro will remain in power.
LONG: But first Nicole Lapin joins us now from the dot-com desk.
Good morning, happy New Year.
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, happy New Year to you. Now a present for a roommate sounds kind of lovely, right?
LONG: That's kind, yes.
LAPIN: Yes, kind of kind. But not so kind when the present 16 feet long. I'm tell you about that and some of the most popular stories online right after a break.
HOLMES: "Now in the News," explosions in Bangkok, Thailand, hours ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations. Police say at least seven bomb blasts ripped through several downtown areas, killing two people and injuring nearly a dozen. Public New Year's celebrations there now called off.
More live pictures here from the U.S. Capitol where former President Gerald Ford lies in state. Hundreds filed past the flag- draped casket last night. Americans resumed paying their respects this hour. The former president will be buried Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, following a service Tuesday at Washington's National Cathedral.
Buried in the dead of night, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is laid to rest in his hometown near Tikrit. Dozens of relatives and other mourners were present. Saddam was buried near his sons who were killed in a gun battle with American forces back in 2003.
LONG: In Indonesia, rescue boats picked up scores of exhausted survivors from a ferry that capsized Friday in the Java Sea. And they are also recovering dozens of bodies. About 400 people remain missing.
A new message from Castro, Cuban state media releasing a message that it attributes to ailing leader Fidel Castro. In it, President Castro thanks the Cuban people for their affection and support. The Cuban leader has not been seen in public since July, after intestinal surgery.
And did you know Tiger Woods going to be a daddy? The Woods announced yesterday his wife is expecting their first child. The baby's coming in the summer. Woods made the announcement on his 31st birthday. Congratulations. Going to be a beautiful baby!
HOLMES: 2007 kicks off with a bang in Sydney, Australia. The huge fireworks show highlights the celebration there, but of course, the granddaddy of all of the New Year's parties, we all know, takes place in Times Square.
Take a look at some of these numbers. More than a million people expected to crowd into Times Square tonight at midnight, get ready for the confetti. More than three tons of it is going to be coming down on all those revelers, but a warning, if you are headed out there that you need to go before you go because there are no port-a-potties in Times Square.
A million people, no port-a-potties. Surely, nobody would -- no. No. No, they wouldn't. Well, again, nowhere to go to the bathroom out there. We do have our reporter there on the scene, CNN's Ines Ferre. I should as you -- well, no, I'm not going to ask you, but how are things shaping up out there?
INES FERRE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, T.J., well I'll tell you, I'm at the center of where the action is going to be at tonight and everything is set to go. People are excited. Now, security is going to be tight. Police will be patrolling the streets, the subways, the rooftops; also you're going to have some helicopter surveillance in the air and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Now, at 3:30 p.m. they'll be closing off vehicle traffic here in Times Square. People can start coming in through security checkpoints and, of course, the pinnacle of the evening being that crystal ball coming down at 11:59 p.m. and also you're going have 7,000 pounds, 7,000 pounds of confetti dumped on to the crowd throughout the evening, on to people like Megan representing Long Beach, California.
MEGAN, LONG BEACH, CA: Cheers to the New Year. Cheers!
FERRE: Now Megan, you were told to be here at 5:00.
MEGAN: We were told to get here early at 5:00. No one specified a.m. or p.m. Yeah!
FERRE: So, you guys were here since this morning and what are you doing to keep yourselves entertained? We took a few naps. We got some Starbucks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We played big booty.
FERRE: All right, I can see you're excited to be here.
MEGAN: We're excited. Cheers to 2007!
FERRE: All right, T.J., these have to be the first revelers that I've seen here in Times Square.
HOLMES: OK, I thought the drinking started later. They're out there playing big booty? What is that?
FERRE: Yeah, big booty which is -- we don't know. Let's leave that for later.
HOLMES: We should probably let that one go. That's a good idea. Thank you so much, Ines. LONG: We know what that group of young ladies will be doing this year. What about you? Will you be staying up to ring in the New Year? We conducted a poll in mid-December, let's share the results with you: 68 percent say you'll be up, 30 percent say you're going to turn in while it's still 2006. So where will you be: 36 percent will spend New Year's Eve with family, 19 percent prefer a small gathering, just about nine percent of those polled say they'll be at a large bash and sadly, when 2006 turns to 2007, two percent of you will be at work, 30 percent will number bed. And as far as kissing, interesting question. Half say, yes, they will be kissing someone at midnight. Well, let me put my math hat on. I guess that means the other half won't?
HOLMES: They'll be playing big booty.
LONG: Whatever that may be.
HOLMES: We got to figure out what that is because it might be something bad and I don't want to say it right now.
LONG: Fun to say.
HOLMES: Yeah, it is fun to say, though. We do have a New Year's theme e-mail question this morning. Want you to share your New Year's resolutions with us. Or maybe you have an idea of what somebody else could use as a resolution. Is it world peace? A wish for George W. Bush, even? Or just a resolution to lose some weight. We'd like to hear your thoughts. E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com. We'll head your responses coming up later in the newscast.
LONG: And midnight in Times Square, circa 2006, our Anderson Cooper will be somewhere down in that sea of humanity welcoming in the New Year with everybody else. You can join Anderson along with special guests the Goo Goo Dolls and the B-52s. ANDERSON COOPER'S NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECIAL begins tonight 11:00 p.m. Eastern.
So, as we wrap up the year, what are CNN.com readers logging on to learn about this morning? Nicole Lapin is here from the dot com desk to tell us what's happened.
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN.COM DESK: No big booty stories, but if there were people would be clicking on them.
LONG: What is that?
LAPIN: I don't know, we'll find out. OK, but here are some of the stories that you're clicking on this morning. A brand new record for the oldest woman to give birth at this ornate hospital in Barcelona. The record was set this weekend, 67 years old, Melissa. Older and older. Now, the woman gave birth to twins yesterday. The previous record was held by a 66-year-old woman.
All right, let's take you take stateside to pig races in Texas. Not necessarily something new, but the fact that they're happening outside a mosque is a little unique. Pork, of course, prohibited in a Muslim diet. Well, a man apparently was unhappy with the mosque going up next door because he thought it would make him move, so he staged these pig races in order to protest. Well, mosque officials ended up saying they didn't want him to go in the first place, but he's continuing these antics anyway, including selling sausages during prayer time.
LONG: Oh.
LAPIN: Yeah, not so nice.
And a woman in Florida found a big or should we say, long, surprise in her closet. This long: 16 feet long, an albino python. Apparently (INAUDIBLE) was renting a room, left this guy behind. Hello. Yeah, kind of a big thing to leave behind. Usually you leave treats and at the holiday time, but this woman left a python. You can read more about that story, Melissa, if you're interested.
LONG: I would prefer a cashmere sweater.
LAPIN: Cashmere sweater would be lovely.
LONG: You know you're moving in. You know, food. Breakfast cereal. Nicole thanks, happy New Year.
LAPIN: You, too.
LONG: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right, well Shoplifting 101 wasn't offered at the University of Arkansas where I went to school, but it is being offered somewhere and a woman in Florida, she was offering that course to her own young children. Don Germiase with CNN affiliate WFTS has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON GERMIASE, WFTS REPORTER (voice-over): Plant City police say they were stunned to learn that the shoplifting ring they broke up at the local Wal-Mart was really a family circle. They say Maria Lopez was teaching her six children to shoplift.
CAPT RUSSELL WILSON, PLANT CITY, FLORIDA POLICE: We discovered that the mother included her children ages two through 10 and upon helping her steal much from the store without paying.
GERMIASE: According to the police report Lopez, "...instructed and had all six children assist her in hiding and stealing the property." Using children as young as two, three and four years old to steal two shopping carts full of merchandise from Wal-Mart, $500 worth.
RUSSELL: As parents, you know, we're taught to look after our kids and what miss upon Lopez did was a selfish act. She put her kids in harm and we just can't tolerate it.
SAMANTHA COLLINS, SUSPECT'S FRIEND: That's not Maria, whatsoever. GERMIASE: Samantha Collins is one of the suspect's best friends. She can't believe Maria Lopez would do anything like that.
COLLINS: She is not that type of person. She loves her kids. She would never teach anybody, much less her kids, to shoplift.
GERMIASE (on camera): Nobody answered our knock at the door when we came to the Lopez's home although there's plenty of evidence in the yard there are children around. We talked to DCF and the Hill Grove County Child Protection team, neither would confirm whether or not whether they have now begun an investigation in this case.
In Plant City, Don Germiase, ABC Action News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: Good music and memories of the man who sang and danced a permanent mark on history.
Saying goodbye to the Godfather of Soul. A recap of the celebration coming up in about five minutes.
HOLMES: And who's going to be moving into the White House after President Bush? We'll talk to someone who may have the answer, the Amazing Kreskin with his predictions for 2007. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a palpable fear, the Iraqi people don't know if that man wearing the Iraq army uniform is there to protect them, kidnap them, or kill them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very few people know exactly where Iran stands.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Taliban are in control in many of these remote areas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It may be up to whatever North Korea does and how provocative they get.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the Palestinian territories they think civil war is a possibility.
LONG (voice-over): A look back THIS YEAR AT WAR and a look forward to 2007 from Iraq to Afghanistan, Iran to North Korea and the Israel-Lebanon war. We will provide analysis on the conflicts of the year. That's coming up in just a few minutes at 10 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: Ever since I was a small child, no more than like six years old, my mother would wake me no matter what time it was, I was sleeping, no matter what I was doing to watch the television to see the master at work, and when I saw him move I was mesmerized. I've never seen a performer perform like James Brown and right then and there I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of James Brown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The King of Pop talking about the Godfather of Soul. Michael Jackson, rarely seen in the U.S. these days, but he and other celebrities from around the world were in Augusta, Georgia, to honor the man, the legend, James Brown and moments now from the farewell celebration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE: The whole world changed they beat because of James Brown. Rap started from James Brown, Hip- hop started from James Brown, funk started from James Brown.
(SINGING)
JACKSON: When I saw him move I was mesmerized. I've never seen a performer perform like James Brown and right then and there I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of James Brown.
(SINGING)
CHARLES BOBBIT, JAMES BROWN MANAGER: My wife, god bless her soul, talked to going to a James Brown shore, we walked in, sat down, Mr. Brown walked onstage and the bells went off. I say, "I'm going to get me a job with him and I'm going to be the manager."
(SINGING)
REV JESSE JACKSON, PUSH COALITION: Beyond the service today, his memory be carefully carved out and the legacy built upon his manifest talents. There's enough substance and legacy for all of you to share.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got on the good foot because of James Brown.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're just getting word now, OF renewed fighting today in Somalia. CNN has been able to confirm, news agency reports, of fighting today near the outskirts of the town of Jilib. Now, that's where Islamic forces dug in after retreating from the capital of Mogadishu. Ethiopian troops in tanks have been headed toward the showdown with the Islamism forces. We're keeping an eye on the situation there.
LONG: Now time for a fun twist on some serious topics in the news. Tomorrow, as you know, marks the New Year, so we brought in the Amazing Kreskin to help predict what 2007 holds. He joins us now from New York.
Good morning, thanks for your time.
THE AMAZING KRESKIN, MENTALIST: Melissa, do you realize this is 14 years now I've done this, I sat here. Of course I should have foreseen that, shouldn't I?
LONG: Yes, you should have. Well, let's talk about what you foresee for 2007 actually looking into 2008 as well, because we're going to talk politics now.
KRESKIN: Yeah, that's...
LONG: You have a packed field of potentials, who's a shoe in?
KRESKIN: Well, I'll tell you, I'm going to stand by what I said the day that Mayor Giuliani stepped down and on the front page of the "New York Times" there was a story that mentioned in the press conference, one of the reporters said "Mr. Giuliani, Kreskin says that you'll some day run for president." I think he's going to as we now more clearly suspect, in 2008.
I also said when Hilary Clinton left the White House with her husband that she would run for Senate, but probably run for president in 2008. I think she's going to in 2008. She's a very charismatic person, I've been with her, she's magnetic. I don't believe that she will win and as far as exactly who will win, I can't get further involved in politics. I got enough problems as it is, Melissa.
LONG: OK, what about thoughts on Barack Obama?
KRESKIN: Well, I of course he's a fascinating person and remarkable. I think he's touched a sensitive point and of course, his book, you have to understand was not written by him, and I would wonder a year from now, if he will sustain himself as far as the idea of running for president, but I think he has a tremendous future in the area of politics. He may be something that we need in this country, a statesman.
LONG: Let's talk about politics in Cuba. You have insight on the future?
KRESKIN: Yes. This is true -- this really doesn't require any degree of ability -- I'm a thought reader, of course, I'm really not necessarily a fortune teller, but I travel the world. Very rarely has a dictatorship survived when the leader of the dictatorship passes or disappears. I think when Castro joins Saddam Hussein, his son will not succeed in maintaining that government by any means, not even slightly.
LONG: Mr. Amazing Kreskin, lots to cover here in just a short amount of time. You said you're a thought reader and you're talking about secret codes in rap music (INAUDIBLE) what is that?
KRESKIN: Yeah, you know what? By the way, anyone interested, this is in the stores now and it deals with my work in television. Eight and a half years of disk and DVDs. Yes. I think you're going to find in the rap music, of course, let's face it, there's been some seedy backgrounds, there's been questions of underworld characters and what have you, but that's part of the glamour. I think you're going to suddenly find uncovering that some kind of codes are be transmitted to a limited group through some of the rap artists. This is a fascinating -- and I'd like to be the first to break those codes.
LONG: OK, well let me ask you something. You're a thought reader, I wonder if you know the thought I'm going to have right now and the thought I'll share with you. Has anybody told you that you look eerily familiar to another gentleman -- name?
KRESKIN: You're not talking anybody -- in the past it use to be the gentleman...
LONG: Mr. King?
KRESKIN: Pardon me?
LONG: Mr. King?
KRESKIN: Yes. Yes. I've been told this many times. And can I tell you something about my future? I'm very excited about this, beginning, and I believe this is one of the stations to carry it, the day or two after New Year's there'll be a commercial dealing with a brand new book I've written dealing with mental power being for real. And may I say as far as world affairs are concerned. No, I do not believe the United States will be attacked in 2007. I think a major attack will not take place. That's the good news. The bad news is that it may lull us into a false sense of security. That concerns me.
LONG: Well, we appreciate your insight. A little shameless publicity never hurt anybody.
KRESKIN: You don't mind that, do you?
LONG: No, that's OK.
KRESKIN: And be the good lord willing -- the good lord willing, I foresee I'm going to see you next year.
LONG: OK, for the 15th year and by the way, you look dapper in your red today.
KRESKIN: Thank you very much.
LONG: Happy New Year.
KRESKIN: Happy New Year, now.
LONG: Thank you, you too!
HOLMES: He's foreseeing book sales, possibly is what he's predicting.
LONG: Well, midnight in Times Square, circa 2006, Anderson Cooper will be down in that sea of humanity, will you? He'll be welcoming the New Year with everybody in Times Square. You can join Anderson along with special guests, the Goo Goo Dolls, the B-52s ANDERSON COOPER'S NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECIAL begins 11:00 p.m. Eastern, tonight.
HOLMES: Anderson is pretty important to us around here. I hope he gets his own port-a-potty, because you know, a millions of people, no port-a-potties. I hope they hook Anderson up out there.
LONG: Well, let's not tell anybody that he actually many have one because there'll be a long line.
HOLMES: At his port-a-potty.
LONG: He needs his port-a-potty.
HOLMES: All right, well all morning along we've been asking for your thoughts on our e-mail question: Do you have New Year's resolutions? And this is what you've come up with.
LONG: Nancy Reid, I like this, it's pretty creative, "Every year," she says, "I bravely resolve to lose weight with abysmal success. So this year my New Year's resolution is to get taller. I figure I have about as much chance of success with this." Nancy, good idea. Happy New Year.
HOLMES: Let us know how that goes, Nancy. This is a sweet one from Jenny, it says, "I'd love to become an inspiration to all people large and small, for I am only a 12-year-old girl and my voice is small. I hope to overcome all my fears and prove that size or age does not matter as long as you have a dream, a voice and a heart." And Jenny, 12-year-old, that's a nice resolution to have.
LONG: Very eloquent young lady.
HOLMES: Yes.
LONG: And from Brad in San Francisco, "Every year I make New Year's resolutions and every year," he says, "I fail to keep them. This year I resolve not to make any more resolutions." Brad, happy New Year.
HOLMES: Brad, I don't think that's the spirit, but OK.
We want to go live now to Seoul, South Korea. They're getting ready, as well, to ring in the New Year. Actually, Bonnie Schneider, we want to talk to her.
Bonnie, I'm sorry, I'm going right to the celebrations. I don't even want to talk about weather right now.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, that's OK.
HOLMES: We see the pictures of Seoul, South Korea. Nothing too exciting just yet, so by all means, Bonnie, forgive me.
SCHNEIDER: Not at all.
HOLMES: Tell us about the New Year's forecast for a lot of us.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SCHNEIDER: I hope even has a happy and healthy 2007.
LONG: You, too, Bonnie. Thank you.
HOLMES: Thank you Bonnie. And before I so impatiently and rudely jumped over Bonnie and went right to Seoul. We're going back to Seoul, South Korea, now. They're getting ready to ring in the New Year.
LONG: In fact, the city ceremonial bell will ring 33 times. Why? Well, 33 rings because the number 33,000 is synonymous with good fortune. The New Year's ringing of the bell has been going on now for 60 years.
HOLMES: So, they're just a couple of minutes away. And right here, we're just a couple of minutes away from THIS YEAR AT WAR. That's coming up next, that's followed by LATE EDITION with Wolf Blitzer. Don't go anywhere.
LONG: Plus we'll have all of the day's top stories right after a short break. Happy New Year.
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