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CNN Saturday Morning News

Christmas in Ramadi; Professional Sports in 2005

Aired December 25, 2004 - 07:00   ET

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

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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN Center here in Atlanta. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Merry Christmas.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Merry Christmas.

NGUYEN: Already here.

HARRIS: Yes, yes, every year same time, huh, 25th of December, right?

NGUYEN: Absolutely. It's 7:00 a.m. here in the east, 4:00 a.m. out west, 3:00 a.m. in the city of North Pole, Alaska. Good morning everybody I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: What time is it in Christmas, Florida? All right, we'll find that out later. I'm Tony Harris. Thanks for being with us.

(NEWSBREAK)

NGUYEN: Here's why you need to stay with us this morning first and foremost because it's Christmas Day. Even in a war zone troops pause to remember the season. Next hour we will do what we can to reconnect some of the soldiers with their families back home.

Also ahead, when a child's letter to Santa tugs at the heartstrings and goes to the man the post office affectionately calls the Jewish elf. We'll tell you about that.

And later, a small wonder blooms at the botanical garden in Washington, D.C.

HARRIS: Your holiday might just be getting started but Christmas celebrations around the world are well underway.

The traditional midnight mass in Bethlehem included both Christians and Muslims. For the first time in four years the celebration was attended by a top Palestinian leader. PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is likely to replace Yasser Arafat as Palestinian president. The Israeli Army said 5,000 visitors are in Bethlehem for Christmas.

In China, people crowded into government-approved churches to celebrate Christmas. The holiday is becoming more popular as cultural restrictions ease but the Vatican says millions of Christians in China worship secretly out of fear of persecution. And, in Baghdad, only a few Iraqi Christians went to church today out of fear that Islamic militants could launch attacks and most churches canceled traditional services and instead had brief morning prayers.

NGUYEN: Well, it's not just another day for the U.S. Marines west of Baghdad in the volatile city of Ramadi but it's not like Christmas either.

CNN Correspondent Chris Lawrence is embedded with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in Ramadi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside the relative safety of this base, if only for half an hour, this corporal can almost imagine being back home and forget about what's really on his mind, a new bride half a world away.

CPL ELMER MIGUEL, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The holidays especially get a little harder.

LAWRENCE: Elmer Miguel got married last January but shipped out to Ramadi seven months later.

MIGUEL: I missed a lot of our firsts, everything together this year.

LAWRENCE: Miguel put up a stocking his wife sent from home but he's spending Christmas with men he considers his family.

MIGUEL: Whether that's just sitting around here in camp or out in a firefight they become your brother.

LAWRENCE: The 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment is serving in one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq this Christmas and they only go into Ramadi's neighborhoods with full body armor riding in armored convoys.

(on camera): There's nothing here that says Christmas and a lot of Marines would completely forget if it wasn't for their families reminding them.

CPL EDWIN HILL, U.S. MARINE CORPS: You know, we try to -- try not to pay a lot of attention to it because it's not Christmas out here.

LAWRENCE: Corporal Edwin Hill has a wife back home in Georgia. She's the one who told him about the suicide attack on the mess hall in Mosul but it's not something the men here dwell on.

HILL: Our families are definitely worried about us, which, you know, in turn worries us a little bit and, you know, we're kind of kept in the dark a lot here which helps out quite a bit, you know, as far as the guys not being too too worried.

LAWRENCE: And this Christmas, the Marines may be praying for peace on earth but they'll settle for a small corner of Iraq.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Ramadi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well, U.S. troops are not quite so busy and not quite so threatened over in Afghanistan but it is a long way from home and it is still a war zone. Still troops had a chance to celebrate the holiday with a few carols and Christmas Eve services in Kabul.

Our e-mail project for you this Christmas morning, your wishes for U.S. troops, we'll be reading them on the air throughout the morning. Send us your e-mails at wam@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: Oh, that song.

Well, our Christmas Day special begins an hour from now. Thanks to technology and some cross continental planning, we will reunite families with survivors of Tuesday's attack on U.S. troops near Mosul. That's at 8:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

HARRIS: And now to Security Watch, where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror. For the second time, a prisoner held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has been released and having his status as an enemy combatant dropped.

The unidentified man is suspected of fighting coalition forces. A military review panel cleared him of the charges due to a lack of evidence. He will now be returned to his home country.

What are your biggest concerns? That's the question at the center of the latest CNN/USA Today Gallup poll. When it comes to terrorism, 48 percent of the respondents said they think it is likely there will be a terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next few weeks. Only 36 percent said they think terrorists will strike inside the U.S. in the next year.

The Pentagon needs to put just as much emphasis on winning the peace as it does on winning wars. That's from a new report from an advisory panel to the Pentagon. It says the Pentagon does not put enough resources on stabilization and reconstruction and post war regions.

NGUYEN: Is security as tight as it could be for U.S. troops in Iraq? Are those troops fighting the insurgency in a conventional way and should they be doing that?

Our military analyst is retired Air Force Major General Don Shepperd and he joins us by phone from Tucson, Arizona, good morning General Shepherd.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, USAF (RET.) (by telephone): Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, let's talk about this. It's been a violent week in Iraq for U.S. troops. We have the suicide bombing in Mosul, the mess hall there. Then, yesterday we had a suicide bomber blow up a gas tank, a gas tanker truck in Baghdad, in a neighborhood there. Is the Army fighting this war in the way it should be considering all of these attacks, these suicide attacks that have closer and closer to troops, indeed injuring many more in this week?

SHEPPERD: Well, Betty, they're fighting the war the best way they can right now. Basically, our forces were configured after the Cold War for large force-on-force type encounters, if you will, and that's what we saw as the forces moved up to Baghdad, conventional warfare.

Now, all over the country we're engaged in conventional war and it's a different -- I mean in an insurgency type war and a counter insurgency is a different type of war. You need different types of troops and different skills.

So we transferred from the heavy stuff to tanks, the artillery, that type of thing to a lot of infantry, a lot of civil affairs, a lot of civil engineers and so we're going to have to reconfigure our forces for this new world that we're fighting in right now.

NGUYEN: So, how do you reconfigure those forces? What's your advice?

SHEPPERD: Well, basically what you do again is you do some re- apportionment within the services themselves. Forces, numbers are going to be added, especially to the Army to get more infantry it looks like right now by Congress.

But you go through what they call transformation and basically you do transform from some of the heavier stuff to get rid of your heavier armor and your heavy artillery in some numbers and you up the number of infantry, of civil affairs and you concentrate on counter insurgency forces, just like the British did, for instance, in Malaysia.

And it takes a long time to do that. And, Secretary Rumsfeld has been touting it and it's going to be a real battle within the Pentagon and with Congress and outside as well.

NGUYEN: So, they key to this would you say is getting Iraqi security forces up to par, getting them in the system and ready to secure this country?

SHEPPERD: Look, that's the key. It's the strategy that we're using is to try to spread some security across the country for the elections. Meanwhile, try to train the Iraqi forces so they can take over responsibility for security in the country and I'm talking about their army, their police forces, border protection services, et cetera.

The problem is it takes a long time to do that. That's not something you can do overnight and we're doing it and it's slow and they're not ready yet and so it's going to be a race to see if we can get them ready before the American public demands that we get out of Iraq. NGUYEN: General Shepperd, quickly, we're almost out of time but let's talk about the mess hall bombing in Mosul. It appears that it was a person in an Iraqi uniform who detonated this suicide bombing there. Now, how do you protect, how do U.S. troops protect against people that are supposed to be fighting alongside with them? What's the vetting process and how can you track these Iraqi forces?

SHEPPERD: Well, it's very difficult but you vet them just like we do in the United States. You have them fill out resumes. You check those resumes. You check with people that knew them, this type of thing, but it's very difficult in a foreign society.

You do the best you can. You construct security mechanisms. You make sure that you understand that some of them are probably dirty anyway, even after you do all these checks and basically you be very careful. You vet them when they come on base every day and it's just very difficult.

And once you plug the holes, a clever enemy is going to find another way to do something else. It happened throughout Vietnam. It's happened in every war out there that these types of things happen, very difficult, Betty, in a foreign country to do this.

NGUYEN: A difficult and very dangerous war as we have seen definitely this past week, General Don Shepperd, our military analyst thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you.

SHEPPERD: Same to you, Betty.

NGUYEN: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: Well, he's Santa's helper but he doesn't quite fit the stereotype, a truly inspiring story of a man who keeps St. Nick's letters in order.

NGUYEN: And later, a look at what professional sports can learn from a good business consultant.

First, though, he is Theodoros "Ted" Gerotimos (ph), a Marine stationed in Iraq and he can't get home for Christmas.

HARRIS: That doesn't mean he can't see his family. A videophone brought him home if only for a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORPORAL THEODOROS GEROTIMOS, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The party doesn't start until I get there anyway so (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Give me a beer. If they need you, they're going to ask you if you want to extend, you know, and most people say yes. Did I say yes? For another six months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mom says no.

GEROTIMOS: Probably not. Six months is a long enough time to be way from, you know, like (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know. I missed his first steps, missed his first birthday. It's definitely hard, you know, on the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you and don't forget it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Merry Christmas to dad. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Christmas Eve. We love you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you.

GEROTIMOS: Love you guys too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bye.

GEROTIMOS: Okay, bye (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Other headlines across the country this Christmas morning.

A female employee at a nursing home in Paris, California is in critical condition from a gunshot to the face. Police arrested an 87- year-old man in the incident. He allegedly shot the nurse after becoming angry over the care a relative was receiving at the facility.

In Hinton, West Virginia, a gold-colored casket for the granddaughter of the country's biggest Power Ball winner. Seventeen- year-old Brandy Braggs' (ph) body was discovered earlier this week on property owned by her boyfriend's father. The cause of death has not been determined. Her grandfather, Jack Whitaker (ph), claims she died from illegal drugs.

Some retail analysts say this year's holiday buying binge should be good but not great. When the receipts are finally counted experts say it will probably be about three to four percent over last year. Earlier projections were for a four to five percent increase in sales.

NGUYEN: Ever wonder where all those letters to Santa end up? Well, if you live in New York, the letters go to one particular post office and a couple of elves act as Santa's helpers and make dreams come true.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's true. Christmastime can be a little over the top, sappy, miracle here, miracle there, "Miracle on 34th Street."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Therefore, the post office department, a branch of the federal government recognizes this man, Kris Kringle, to be the one and only Santa Claus. HINOJOSA: But here's a Christmas story that starts out funny...

(on camera): They call you the Jewish elf?

RICHIE AARON, JEWISH ELF: Yes.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): ...and ends up not sappy but truly miraculously happy.

(on camera): Well, where's the elf hat?

AARON: In my heart.

HINOJOSA: Richie Arron (ph) became the Jewish elf working here at the central post office in New York City where the letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole eventually end up, about half a million of them, boxes and boxes and boxes of letters. The Jewish elf has been managing Operation Santa Claus for 20 years.

(on camera): There might be some people who say Jewish elf?

AARON: I explain to them, you know, it's a form of charity and we have something called (UNINTELLIGIBLE) which means charity and, you know, you have to -- I believe you have to give something back.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): Who sends letters here, everyone, anyone who has a need, a special need for Christmas.

(on camera): This one says...

AARON: "Dear Special Friend: I need glasses but my mom and dad can't afford them." "I would like you to send me a gift for my mother, pants size one, and a blouse small, shoe size 7."

"I like cartoons, movies and I need a DVD, VHS to watch them, Spiderman cards, books, bicycle, some Scooby Doo toys and winter clothes."

HINOJOSA (voice-over): The Jewish elf knows things have gotten harder for some New York children but, hey, New York kids they've got (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

AARON: I can tell you a few years ago a kid just wrote to Mrs. Claus and he or she was worried, disappointed the previous year because they didn't get anything from Santa Claus and they wrote "P.S. Please don't disappoint me, Mrs. Claus, as your husband did."

HINOJOSA (on camera): Oh, my God.

(voice-over): Now there's another elf, Clifford Archer. He's not Jewish and he's far from elfin.

CLIFFORD ARCHER, ELF: The same when we started this program together, Richard had black hair and I had hair.

HINOJOSA: Clifford answers so many letters every year that he has a file with records, letters, a spreadsheet and photos.

(on camera): Bags of groceries.

ARCHER: Every family gets a bag of groceries. Here's a picture of my car from a couple of years ago.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): On this day, Clifford does what he's done for almost two decades. He goes shopping for clothes, for toys, for candy and takes it all to distant neighborhoods and down long, desolate hallways to personally make surprise deliveries.

ARCHER: You know, your letter got answered. You hit the lottery for Christmas.

HINOJOSA: Little Lisa and her mom Elba Noboa (ph) are filled with smiles.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we have presents for Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have a tree but we got the presents.

HINOJOSA: Lisa has never had a board game in her life. Mom couldn't afford the luxury. The lesson here one that Elba will teach her daughter and perhaps the rest of us is about what's truly important.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now it's a -- I'm going through a hard time but as long as she's happy and healthy I'm happy and I know God is always watching us.

HINOJOSA: Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: All that dreaming is paying off for lots of folks around the country. We'll look at who is waking up to a white Christmas and check the forecast for the rest of the country.

NGUYEN: First, though, if you're in the mood for a movie here's what's all new on DVD next Tuesday: "Open Water," a tale of a couple literally lost in the ocean; and some comedy, the first six seasons of "Sex and the City"; and a set of the Three Stooges.

Now over in the movie theaters this Christmas weekend only one new release nationwide, "Meet the Fockers," but plenty of new openings playing in selected cities. Andrew Lloyd Webbers's "Phantom of the Opera," already nominated for three Golden Globes; "Hotel Rwanda" also a three-time Golden Globe nominee; and "The Woodsman" a drama starting Kevin Bacon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: I want to see the faces, the kids, the faces, what is this 7:25 in the morning.

NGUYEN: You know they're up.

HARRIS: They're ripping open presents. Good morning and Merry Christmas Nashville, where later today the Tennessee Titans take on the Denver Broncos, no playoff invitations for Tennessee. They're out of it but Denver, I think, has an outside shot. We'll have the game time forecast and the rest of the nation's weather with Brad Huffines in just about a minute.

NGUYEN: Every year it's the number one New Year's resolution for Americans. I'm going to lose weight. Of course you are. You said that last year too but this year you really mean it and we are going to help you keep that promise.

Tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the diet wars, what really works, the search for the truth with registered dietitian Lisa Drayer (ph) live 7:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."

HARRIS: Well, I guess we figured that since we weren't going to be home necessarily at the magical hour when the kids get up that we would do our own little gift exchange here.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HARRIS: When are we going to do that? Yes, that's your gift.

NGUYEN: We're going to do that at the 9:00 hour but this is my gift from Tony.

HARRIS: That's your gift.

NGUYEN: Look at that.

HARRIS: And did you check it? It's not ticking. It's not ticking.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes, there's no (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or anything.

HARRIS: No, no IEDs or anything in there right.

NGUYEN: Good, good, good.

HARRIS: So, it's in the 9:00 hour we're going to do that?

NGUYEN: Yes and I am excited about that, so get ready Tony. I've got a good one for you.

HARRIS: And, Brad, I think we've got something for you too here doctor.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I don't see any gifts laying around up here.

HARRIS: We're going to put something together for you.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)

HARRIS: We're very creative up here, Brad, and it is Christmas.

HUFFINES: I have a gift for you people in Houston. They'll have a white Christmas in Houston, Texas.

NGUYEN: Rarely.

HARRIS: In Houston?

HUFFINES: Who'd have thunk it, as we say.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: I guess that makes sense, Brad. It's Christmas.

NGUYEN: Yes, it's Christmas.

HARRIS: It's wintertime. It should be a little cold.

HUFFINES: We know obviously they've been nice in Houston.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes.

HUFFINES: There you go.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HARRIS: OK, Brad.

NGUYEN: A white Christmas.

HARRIS: See you next hour.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: It is a set of tracks that's making dreams come true for lots of kids this Christmas. We'll take a look.

NGUYEN: First, Carl Rager (ph) and Sean Hanson (ph) are two of the many Marines stationed in Iraq this Christmas miles away from their families in the U.S.

HARRIS: But with the marvels of modern technology a videophone brought them home if only for a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corporal Carl Rager here in the Gulf 25 at Hurricane Point out of Ramadi. I just want to say hi to all my friends and family back home, wish baby Gage (ph) a happy and merry first Christmas and Happy New Year. Dad, my first sergeant told me to tell you that he wants to tell Coon Dog hi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Lance Corporal Sean Hanson (ph). I'm with Gulf 25 here in Ramadi, Iraq. I'd like to say hello and Merry Christmas to my wife, my family and my friends back home in northern California. We'll be home soon. I love you and I miss you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Oh, good morning, good morning, good morning. Christmas brings both homecomings and heartbreak for U.S. troops and their families. Welcome back, everyone. Merry Christmas. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Merry Christmas, everyone, this morning. We're going to get to that story in just a moment, but first a look at the headlines.

Well, John Paul delivers his traditional Christmas Day message of peace in St. Peter's Square. The 84-year-old pope called for an end to violence and suffering, and he told tens of thousands who turned out in the rain that he is concerned about the situation in Iraq and the Middle East.

Christmas Day mass was also celebrated in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. A Roman Catholic official called on Israelis and Palestinians to put past violence behind them. Larger than usual crowds turned out in Bethlehem for a Christmas Eve celebration.

But all is not peaceful in the West Bank. Israeli bulldozers demolished the house of a local Palestinian militant leader in Jenin today. Palestinian security sources say the militant was killed. He headed a militant offshoot of the Palestinian Fatah movement, a group once headed by Yasser Arafat.

Donald Rumsfeld is back home. He has returned to the U.S. after a surprise visit to Iraq. He went to several cities, including Mosul, where he consoled U.S. troops who were targeted in a deadly attack on Tuesday. Meantime, in his annual Christmas message, Rumsfeld said, there's, quote, "no greater calling than what U.S. troops are doing for their country."

HARRIS: Some military families in Mississippi say it's the best Christmas present ever. On Christmas Eve, they welcomed home 80 troops who spent about a year in Iraq. The Jackson-based Army National Guard unit came back to the outstretched arms of dozens of relatives and friends. Look at that, kisses all around. The unit spent part of its time in Iraq, improving schools and bringing supplies to children.

For military families at Ft. Lewis, Washington, Christmas has become a time of mourning. Soldiers from Ft. Lewis were among the victims of Tuesday's deadly attack on a military mess tent in Mosul, Iraq. Our Miguel Marquez paid a visit to Ft. Lewis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: My only son goes over there, and this happens. And I believe that it could have been avoided. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-three- year-old Robert Johnson was one of the 22 people killed when a suicide bomber set off his explosives in a mess hall in Mosul, Iraq.

Peter Johnson, his father, feels that something more should have been done to protect the soldiers in a place where they should have been able to put their guard down.

JOHNSON: If they say it's safe, then they need to make it safe.

MARQUEZ: Johnson was one of six from Fort Lewis, Washington, who died that day.

Just outside the gates of Fort Lewis, Exit 122, with an overpass called "The Bridge," a rallying point where support for the troops is always evident.

Joe Williams, a veteran of the Korean War, says he was thanked by the family of a fallen soldier.

JOE WILLIAMS, KOREAN WAR VETERAN: And they came out and thanked us for coming out here on the bridge. I tell you, that is worth a million words.

MARQUEZ: And at Galloping Gertie's just across the bridge, the loss of six Fort Lewis soldiers brings home the risks for the Long family. Their son, Army Private Thor Long, may be headed to Iraq soon. His father's feelings?

JOHN LONG, FATHER OF U.S. SOLDIER: To put it bluntly: Raw, naked fear. You know, they're yours. You don't want to see them go, but they're doing what has to be done.

MARQUEZ (on camera): And Christmas night here at the gates of Fort Lewis, a candlelight vigil will be held to remember the dead and pray that the living complete their duty and return home safely.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Ft. Lewis, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Some very special programming in our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Throughout the hour, military family reunions, the injured and the brave who stepped into harm's way to help others. From the Tuesday attack on U.S. troops in Mosul, Iraq. We will reunite them electronically with their loved ones. That's in our 8:00 a.m. Eastern time hour.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) keeping up with the headlines. We are here to help. Time now to rewind and look at the top stories this week.

This week, thanks to an increase in crude oil supply, the combined national price for all grades of gas sank to $1.86. That is a drop of more than 21 cents since October. But Monday, the Energy Department said we're seeing the highest prices on record for this time of the year.

Also Monday, the FDA said researchers have found an increased number of serious heart problems among people who take a drug Naproxen. The drug is sold under the brand name Aleve. Scientists say people who took the drug in a recent study were 50 percent more likely to have heart attacks or strokes.

Tuesday, at least 22 people died and dozens more wounded at an explosion in a crowded mess tent in Mosul, Iraq. U.S. military is looking into whether the blast was from a bomb planted inside, or a missile attack. Thirteen of the dead were U.S. soldiers, and one was a sailor.

And yesterday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld surprised U.S. troops in Iraq with an unannounced visit. He visited troops in four cities, including Mosul. The Pentagon says Rumsfeld's visit was planned before Tuesday's bombing.

Tomorrow, we will fast forward to the week ahead and tell you which stories will grab the spotlight.

HARRIS: Look, forget the talking Elmos and those tasteless video games with all the gore and the violence and the blood and everything. This is a breath of fresh air. Next, an old-fashioned favorite that will delight your kids and the kid in you.

NGUYEN: And good morning, Atlanta. Oh, look at that Christmas tree on top of the building there. This is from our affiliate WGCO, on this cold morning. We'll have your morning forecast straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: That's a face you may not recognize, but some of his music is probably etched in your mind. He's Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones for more than two decades. He performs live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING on CNN, watched by more Americans than any other news channel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Look, imagine waking up on Christmas morning and finding a newborn in your stocking. In Cambridge, Mass., all babies born in December at Mt. Auburn Hospital are sent home in bright red stockings. Parents say the keepsakes get hung up year after year. We'll say it in just a couple of words -- cute, cute, cute!

NGUYEN: Oh, so precious.

Well, a model train around the Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition in many homes. A unique display at Washington's Botanical Gardens is all of that times seven. Hop aboard for the ride on the holiday express.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have one of the greatest train exhibits that you'll ever see.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: They're just this big.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have seven different trains and trollies.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Look, it's going over the bridge now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When children come into this space, you can hear them screech with delight.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's going to come through this tunnel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have over 600 feet of track.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: We'll just follow them, around on the track.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we have over 40 different buildings. And you can see them putting together the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of where the train is going to come out next.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: It's passed already. We need to wait until it comes again. It comes back very soon, because it's very fast.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Very fast.

HARRIS: I don't know where that came from. Just got caught up a little bit.

NGUYEN: Too much sugar on this Christmas.

HARRIS: It's been quite a year for professional sports. And that's putting it nicely, from a damaging steroid scandal in professional baseball, to boxing, and basketball games.

NGUYEN: Up next, our very own sports guru...

HARRIS: Stop looking at yourself. What is he doing?

RICK HORROW, AUTHOR: Merry Christmas.

HARRIS: Merry Christmas, Hollywood Horrow.

NGUYEN: Be nice to him, Tony.

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: ... just for you, so you better be nice, Tony. We have resolutions for professional sports when we go beyond the game, next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: But first, Tom Oester is stationed in Iraq this Christmas, miles away from his family in America.

NGUYEN: But with the marvels of modern technology, a videophone brought him home, if only for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHY OESTER, WIFE: How are you doing?

SGT. TOM OESTER, ARMY RESERVE: I'm all right. How about you?

K. OESTER: I'm fine. Where's your glasses?

T. OESTER: I don't wear them at night.

K. OESTER: I just want to touch you so bad.

T. OESTER: I got a pair of slippers from aunt Kathy (ph).

K. OESTER: Homemade ones, or (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

T. OESTER: Yeah. They're dirt brown.

K. OESTER: You're smiling for her.

T. OESTER: I miss you.

K. OESTER: Miss you. OK, bye-bye.

T. OESTER: Bye-bye. Love you.

K. OESTER: Love you.

Oh, it was great. It's like Christmas, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking our top stories this Christmas morning, there is only one man who certainly doesn't have a day off today. That is Pope John Paul. He's sending out his Christmas message and celebrating mass at the Vatican. The pope prayed for peace and expressed great apprehension over the violence in Iraq. Thousands of worshipers gathered in the rain to celebrate in St. Peter's Square.

In Ukraine, election officials say tomorrow's presidential runoff vote will go on. That is despite a court ruling this morning that some recently adopted election reforms are unconstitutional.

And he calls himself Spider-Man. A French daredevil Alain Robert has climbed the world's tallest building, a 101-story skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. Check it out, he's all in red. He made it in four hours, in wind and rain. HARRIS: Roll out a Christmas present from the NBA. On this holiest of days, we get two grudge matches on national TV. First, a rematch of the teams involved in arguably the worst brawl in basketball history last month in Detroit. This time, the Pistons traveled to Indiana for a 12:30 Eastern tip-off. Then, the showdown out West -- the Miami Heat's Shaquille O'Neal faces his old teammate Kobe -- I'm sorry, Shaquille O'Neal faces Kobe Bryant and his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The fireworks tip off 3:30 Eastern. It's expected to be perhaps the highest rated non-playoff basketball game in history. Let there be peace on Earth! As "The Washington Post" put it, today's NBA matchups could be called "Christmas with the Cranks." More on that as we take you beyond the game with the author of "When the Game Is on the Line." He's also been asked to serve as extra security in Indiana. Our very own Rick Horrow joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Good morning, Rick.

HORROW: Merry Christmas, my good friend. Listen, my family has admonished me to kind of leave you alone intellectually, because...

(CROSSTALK)

HORROW: So I'm going to be nice to you, be very slow, so we can take it easy.

HARRIS: It is so not necessary. It is so not -- you just bring your A game.

Hey, Rick, why don't we start with the NHL? Can we have some peace on earth and a labor agreement and can we get some hockey on the ice again here anytime soon?

HORROW: Well, five New Year's resolutions, and the fifth one is that the NHL has to get their act together. You know, the owners want labor peace and stability. The players want some free agency. But the fans want hockey. Only 23 percent of Americans now see hockey as a sport they like. By the way, that's 10th out of 11 sports, and unless the NHL gets their act together soon, they're going to be frozen out of the American consciousness.

HARRIS: Let's continue with the alphabet soup of sports here. How about the NFL?

HORROW: Well, NFL is number four on the wish, and the wish is that the NFL continues to be the gold standard of all professional sports, and that's not hard to accomplish. They just did a deal with FOX and CBS for a 30 percent increase or so off their $17 billion NFL TV deal. Now they're negotiating with Disney and ABC and ESPN for Sunday night, Monday night, and by the way, Thursday night football. Now, then they have to deal with peace with the players, which I'm sure they will. We're looking forward to a blockbuster Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, on February 6th, with the $300 million of economic impact that generates. Let's hope other sports copy what the NFL has to offer.

HARRIS: Yes, sounds good. That was a great game yesterday with the Minnesota and Green Bay. What's your number three wish here? Has to do with Major League Baseball?

HORROW: Yes, number three is Major League Baseball and steroids. You know, last year it was the Cubs and their excitement, and this year was the Red Sox, first since 1918. Now, we're talking about who's on steroids and who's not. And so far, Barry Bonds has been left alone by MasterCard and Jason Giambi left alone by Pepsi, but that may change soon. You know, 86 percent of the people polled say we've got to solve the baseball steroid issue sooner than later, or Congress will come in. So baseball has got some issues to deal with in the next couple of months.

HARRIS: So does college football and this BCS ranking computer system. What do you want done with that?

HORROW: Well, that's number two. And number two is that colleges need to keep their eye on the ball in other contexts. But we'll talk about the BCS as I go on my tour, and you'll talk about that...

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: OK.

HORROW: That's a big deal that is going to be exciting. But after that, we have BCS championship. My point today is that the colleges need to keep their eye on the ball. You know, with the $5 billion business, it's interesting to note that only 54 percent of those in the ball games are graduating, which is well below the national football average, and only 47 percent of the African-American football players graduate, as opposed to 63 percent of the Caucasians.

The bottom line is, college football has some work to do. They need to keep their eye on the graduation ball.

HARRIS: All right, we've got to pause here. We've got production values on this show. Drum roll, please. And your number one wish resolution for the new year, Rick Horrow?

(CROSSTALK)

HORROW: No, number one is the NBA and their image. You teased about it earlier. We now have $2 million of American Express sponsorships for the Laker-Heat game you talked about earlier, but the bottom line, by the way, is that it's the hottest ticket. TicketsinAmerica.com say the tickets are going at eight times face. Let's just hope that Kobe and Shaq have peace on earth. Neutella and McDonald's dropped Kobe. The NBA needs to worry about the image for the sake of the kids and fans who watch.

Look, it's a $375 billion business in sports. We need sports to worry also about morals, teaching, charitable donations, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the educator of kids, and most important, the educator and entertainer of society, and let's just hope '05 is better than '04 in that regard. HARRIS: Merry Christmas to you.

HORROW: Thank you, man.

HARRIS: Hey, I got a whole list of stuff I got to do here. Housekeeping, with your name all over it, so I'm going to give you the bum's rush here, all right? Because I got to keep going.

HORROW: I'm opening my presents, my sick dog is coming back from the vet, we've got an exciting holiday coming up.

HARRIS: All right, Rick.

Well, Rick mentioned just a moment ago college football ball games. Take a look at this. He's going to broadcast live from seven ball games in six days here on CNN. He kicks it all of in Charlotte at the Continental Tire Bowl on December 30th. The next day, Rick hits two cities on New Year's Eve. First, Nashville, Tennessee, for the Gaylord Hotel's Music City Bowl. That's at noon. That night, it's off to Atlanta, for the Peach Bowl for the 7:30 kickoff. Then it's off to Florida for four ball games, three of them on New Year's Day. Rick starts at Tampa at the Outback Bowl. It's an early game, with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff. He heads from there to Tampa through Orlando, for the 1:00 p.m. kickoff at the Capital One Bowl. I think I'm keeping this straight. Then the next stop is Jacksonville for the Toyota Gator Bowl, which will be already under way. That game starts at 12:30 Eastern. And then Rick has a few days' rest. He'll need it. For his last stop, he's headed to the game that is expected to decide the national championship -- the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami on January 4th.

NGUYEN: He's going to be one tired man after all those ball games.

HARRIS: Tired just reading it.

NGUYEN: I know. We'll be touching on that later.

Well, as you sit this morning surrounded by crumpled ribbon and torn wrapping paper...

HARRIS: We are going to show you some Christmas cheer that gives new meaning to home for the holidays. Merry Christmas. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning and welcome back. Our wows of the week have a Christmas theme, of course, and we begin in Charleston, South Carolina, where there are constant reminders of Christmas in one residence. Check it out. Santa Claus dwells in every room of the three-room apartment. At last count, there were some 4,500 Santas in the collection. My goodness.

Now, here is a Christmas gift a bit too big to wrap. It's a $115,000 home in St. Petersburg, Florida. NFL star Ward Dunn (ph) gave the home to Tanya Pickle (ph) and her family. He gives these houses to needy families through the charity he created in 1997. It's called Homes for the Holiday.

And a little town of Anthon, Iowa is getting a gift of free electricity this month. A wealthy farmer got the bright idea to pick up the December tab for all 650 people in the town. Now, the final bill, Tony, has not been calculated, but it is expected to be less than $30,000, so I guess those folks should have cranked up the heat a little bit.

HARRIS: Just a little bit. Just a little bit. I wonder...

NGUYEN: Had they known.

HARRIS: ... what Brad's bill is going to be to us for sitting in on Christmas Day.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: OK, Brad, thank you. See you next hour.

We want to get to our e-mails. Boy, you've sent some wonderful thoughts for our troops. Your wishes for the troops -- that's the e- mail question. Let me give you the address again, wam@cnn.com. Here's the first one, and it comes from Paul. He's in Tokyo. "Keep your heads low and get yourselves home."

NGUYEN: Donna, yeah, from South Dakota, as a wish, she says, "I'd like to say merry Christmas to all the troops overseas who are doing what it takes to keep us safe here at home. Hope they are soon here with us to celebrate and be back with their families.

HARRIS: And how about this one from John? "Merry Christmas to all the troops. Thank you very much for your sacrifices and service to the United States of America. May God bless you. Stay safe and come home soon."

NGUYEN: And keep sending in your Christmas wishes to the troops today. All you have to do is e-mail us at wam@cnn.com.

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: Isn't that a beautiful tree?

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired December 25, 2004 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN Center here in Atlanta. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Merry Christmas.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Merry Christmas.

NGUYEN: Already here.

HARRIS: Yes, yes, every year same time, huh, 25th of December, right?

NGUYEN: Absolutely. It's 7:00 a.m. here in the east, 4:00 a.m. out west, 3:00 a.m. in the city of North Pole, Alaska. Good morning everybody I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: What time is it in Christmas, Florida? All right, we'll find that out later. I'm Tony Harris. Thanks for being with us.

(NEWSBREAK)

NGUYEN: Here's why you need to stay with us this morning first and foremost because it's Christmas Day. Even in a war zone troops pause to remember the season. Next hour we will do what we can to reconnect some of the soldiers with their families back home.

Also ahead, when a child's letter to Santa tugs at the heartstrings and goes to the man the post office affectionately calls the Jewish elf. We'll tell you about that.

And later, a small wonder blooms at the botanical garden in Washington, D.C.

HARRIS: Your holiday might just be getting started but Christmas celebrations around the world are well underway.

The traditional midnight mass in Bethlehem included both Christians and Muslims. For the first time in four years the celebration was attended by a top Palestinian leader. PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is likely to replace Yasser Arafat as Palestinian president. The Israeli Army said 5,000 visitors are in Bethlehem for Christmas.

In China, people crowded into government-approved churches to celebrate Christmas. The holiday is becoming more popular as cultural restrictions ease but the Vatican says millions of Christians in China worship secretly out of fear of persecution. And, in Baghdad, only a few Iraqi Christians went to church today out of fear that Islamic militants could launch attacks and most churches canceled traditional services and instead had brief morning prayers.

NGUYEN: Well, it's not just another day for the U.S. Marines west of Baghdad in the volatile city of Ramadi but it's not like Christmas either.

CNN Correspondent Chris Lawrence is embedded with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in Ramadi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside the relative safety of this base, if only for half an hour, this corporal can almost imagine being back home and forget about what's really on his mind, a new bride half a world away.

CPL ELMER MIGUEL, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The holidays especially get a little harder.

LAWRENCE: Elmer Miguel got married last January but shipped out to Ramadi seven months later.

MIGUEL: I missed a lot of our firsts, everything together this year.

LAWRENCE: Miguel put up a stocking his wife sent from home but he's spending Christmas with men he considers his family.

MIGUEL: Whether that's just sitting around here in camp or out in a firefight they become your brother.

LAWRENCE: The 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment is serving in one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq this Christmas and they only go into Ramadi's neighborhoods with full body armor riding in armored convoys.

(on camera): There's nothing here that says Christmas and a lot of Marines would completely forget if it wasn't for their families reminding them.

CPL EDWIN HILL, U.S. MARINE CORPS: You know, we try to -- try not to pay a lot of attention to it because it's not Christmas out here.

LAWRENCE: Corporal Edwin Hill has a wife back home in Georgia. She's the one who told him about the suicide attack on the mess hall in Mosul but it's not something the men here dwell on.

HILL: Our families are definitely worried about us, which, you know, in turn worries us a little bit and, you know, we're kind of kept in the dark a lot here which helps out quite a bit, you know, as far as the guys not being too too worried.

LAWRENCE: And this Christmas, the Marines may be praying for peace on earth but they'll settle for a small corner of Iraq.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Ramadi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well, U.S. troops are not quite so busy and not quite so threatened over in Afghanistan but it is a long way from home and it is still a war zone. Still troops had a chance to celebrate the holiday with a few carols and Christmas Eve services in Kabul.

Our e-mail project for you this Christmas morning, your wishes for U.S. troops, we'll be reading them on the air throughout the morning. Send us your e-mails at wam@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: Oh, that song.

Well, our Christmas Day special begins an hour from now. Thanks to technology and some cross continental planning, we will reunite families with survivors of Tuesday's attack on U.S. troops near Mosul. That's at 8:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

HARRIS: And now to Security Watch, where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror. For the second time, a prisoner held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has been released and having his status as an enemy combatant dropped.

The unidentified man is suspected of fighting coalition forces. A military review panel cleared him of the charges due to a lack of evidence. He will now be returned to his home country.

What are your biggest concerns? That's the question at the center of the latest CNN/USA Today Gallup poll. When it comes to terrorism, 48 percent of the respondents said they think it is likely there will be a terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next few weeks. Only 36 percent said they think terrorists will strike inside the U.S. in the next year.

The Pentagon needs to put just as much emphasis on winning the peace as it does on winning wars. That's from a new report from an advisory panel to the Pentagon. It says the Pentagon does not put enough resources on stabilization and reconstruction and post war regions.

NGUYEN: Is security as tight as it could be for U.S. troops in Iraq? Are those troops fighting the insurgency in a conventional way and should they be doing that?

Our military analyst is retired Air Force Major General Don Shepperd and he joins us by phone from Tucson, Arizona, good morning General Shepherd.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, USAF (RET.) (by telephone): Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, let's talk about this. It's been a violent week in Iraq for U.S. troops. We have the suicide bombing in Mosul, the mess hall there. Then, yesterday we had a suicide bomber blow up a gas tank, a gas tanker truck in Baghdad, in a neighborhood there. Is the Army fighting this war in the way it should be considering all of these attacks, these suicide attacks that have closer and closer to troops, indeed injuring many more in this week?

SHEPPERD: Well, Betty, they're fighting the war the best way they can right now. Basically, our forces were configured after the Cold War for large force-on-force type encounters, if you will, and that's what we saw as the forces moved up to Baghdad, conventional warfare.

Now, all over the country we're engaged in conventional war and it's a different -- I mean in an insurgency type war and a counter insurgency is a different type of war. You need different types of troops and different skills.

So we transferred from the heavy stuff to tanks, the artillery, that type of thing to a lot of infantry, a lot of civil affairs, a lot of civil engineers and so we're going to have to reconfigure our forces for this new world that we're fighting in right now.

NGUYEN: So, how do you reconfigure those forces? What's your advice?

SHEPPERD: Well, basically what you do again is you do some re- apportionment within the services themselves. Forces, numbers are going to be added, especially to the Army to get more infantry it looks like right now by Congress.

But you go through what they call transformation and basically you do transform from some of the heavier stuff to get rid of your heavier armor and your heavy artillery in some numbers and you up the number of infantry, of civil affairs and you concentrate on counter insurgency forces, just like the British did, for instance, in Malaysia.

And it takes a long time to do that. And, Secretary Rumsfeld has been touting it and it's going to be a real battle within the Pentagon and with Congress and outside as well.

NGUYEN: So, they key to this would you say is getting Iraqi security forces up to par, getting them in the system and ready to secure this country?

SHEPPERD: Look, that's the key. It's the strategy that we're using is to try to spread some security across the country for the elections. Meanwhile, try to train the Iraqi forces so they can take over responsibility for security in the country and I'm talking about their army, their police forces, border protection services, et cetera.

The problem is it takes a long time to do that. That's not something you can do overnight and we're doing it and it's slow and they're not ready yet and so it's going to be a race to see if we can get them ready before the American public demands that we get out of Iraq. NGUYEN: General Shepperd, quickly, we're almost out of time but let's talk about the mess hall bombing in Mosul. It appears that it was a person in an Iraqi uniform who detonated this suicide bombing there. Now, how do you protect, how do U.S. troops protect against people that are supposed to be fighting alongside with them? What's the vetting process and how can you track these Iraqi forces?

SHEPPERD: Well, it's very difficult but you vet them just like we do in the United States. You have them fill out resumes. You check those resumes. You check with people that knew them, this type of thing, but it's very difficult in a foreign society.

You do the best you can. You construct security mechanisms. You make sure that you understand that some of them are probably dirty anyway, even after you do all these checks and basically you be very careful. You vet them when they come on base every day and it's just very difficult.

And once you plug the holes, a clever enemy is going to find another way to do something else. It happened throughout Vietnam. It's happened in every war out there that these types of things happen, very difficult, Betty, in a foreign country to do this.

NGUYEN: A difficult and very dangerous war as we have seen definitely this past week, General Don Shepperd, our military analyst thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you.

SHEPPERD: Same to you, Betty.

NGUYEN: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

HARRIS: Well, he's Santa's helper but he doesn't quite fit the stereotype, a truly inspiring story of a man who keeps St. Nick's letters in order.

NGUYEN: And later, a look at what professional sports can learn from a good business consultant.

First, though, he is Theodoros "Ted" Gerotimos (ph), a Marine stationed in Iraq and he can't get home for Christmas.

HARRIS: That doesn't mean he can't see his family. A videophone brought him home if only for a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORPORAL THEODOROS GEROTIMOS, U.S. MARINE CORPS: The party doesn't start until I get there anyway so (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Give me a beer. If they need you, they're going to ask you if you want to extend, you know, and most people say yes. Did I say yes? For another six months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mom says no.

GEROTIMOS: Probably not. Six months is a long enough time to be way from, you know, like (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know. I missed his first steps, missed his first birthday. It's definitely hard, you know, on the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you and don't forget it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Merry Christmas to dad. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Christmas Eve. We love you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you.

GEROTIMOS: Love you guys too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bye.

GEROTIMOS: Okay, bye (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Other headlines across the country this Christmas morning.

A female employee at a nursing home in Paris, California is in critical condition from a gunshot to the face. Police arrested an 87- year-old man in the incident. He allegedly shot the nurse after becoming angry over the care a relative was receiving at the facility.

In Hinton, West Virginia, a gold-colored casket for the granddaughter of the country's biggest Power Ball winner. Seventeen- year-old Brandy Braggs' (ph) body was discovered earlier this week on property owned by her boyfriend's father. The cause of death has not been determined. Her grandfather, Jack Whitaker (ph), claims she died from illegal drugs.

Some retail analysts say this year's holiday buying binge should be good but not great. When the receipts are finally counted experts say it will probably be about three to four percent over last year. Earlier projections were for a four to five percent increase in sales.

NGUYEN: Ever wonder where all those letters to Santa end up? Well, if you live in New York, the letters go to one particular post office and a couple of elves act as Santa's helpers and make dreams come true.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's true. Christmastime can be a little over the top, sappy, miracle here, miracle there, "Miracle on 34th Street."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Therefore, the post office department, a branch of the federal government recognizes this man, Kris Kringle, to be the one and only Santa Claus. HINOJOSA: But here's a Christmas story that starts out funny...

(on camera): They call you the Jewish elf?

RICHIE AARON, JEWISH ELF: Yes.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): ...and ends up not sappy but truly miraculously happy.

(on camera): Well, where's the elf hat?

AARON: In my heart.

HINOJOSA: Richie Arron (ph) became the Jewish elf working here at the central post office in New York City where the letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole eventually end up, about half a million of them, boxes and boxes and boxes of letters. The Jewish elf has been managing Operation Santa Claus for 20 years.

(on camera): There might be some people who say Jewish elf?

AARON: I explain to them, you know, it's a form of charity and we have something called (UNINTELLIGIBLE) which means charity and, you know, you have to -- I believe you have to give something back.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): Who sends letters here, everyone, anyone who has a need, a special need for Christmas.

(on camera): This one says...

AARON: "Dear Special Friend: I need glasses but my mom and dad can't afford them." "I would like you to send me a gift for my mother, pants size one, and a blouse small, shoe size 7."

"I like cartoons, movies and I need a DVD, VHS to watch them, Spiderman cards, books, bicycle, some Scooby Doo toys and winter clothes."

HINOJOSA (voice-over): The Jewish elf knows things have gotten harder for some New York children but, hey, New York kids they've got (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

AARON: I can tell you a few years ago a kid just wrote to Mrs. Claus and he or she was worried, disappointed the previous year because they didn't get anything from Santa Claus and they wrote "P.S. Please don't disappoint me, Mrs. Claus, as your husband did."

HINOJOSA (on camera): Oh, my God.

(voice-over): Now there's another elf, Clifford Archer. He's not Jewish and he's far from elfin.

CLIFFORD ARCHER, ELF: The same when we started this program together, Richard had black hair and I had hair.

HINOJOSA: Clifford answers so many letters every year that he has a file with records, letters, a spreadsheet and photos.

(on camera): Bags of groceries.

ARCHER: Every family gets a bag of groceries. Here's a picture of my car from a couple of years ago.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): On this day, Clifford does what he's done for almost two decades. He goes shopping for clothes, for toys, for candy and takes it all to distant neighborhoods and down long, desolate hallways to personally make surprise deliveries.

ARCHER: You know, your letter got answered. You hit the lottery for Christmas.

HINOJOSA: Little Lisa and her mom Elba Noboa (ph) are filled with smiles.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we have presents for Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have a tree but we got the presents.

HINOJOSA: Lisa has never had a board game in her life. Mom couldn't afford the luxury. The lesson here one that Elba will teach her daughter and perhaps the rest of us is about what's truly important.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now it's a -- I'm going through a hard time but as long as she's happy and healthy I'm happy and I know God is always watching us.

HINOJOSA: Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: All that dreaming is paying off for lots of folks around the country. We'll look at who is waking up to a white Christmas and check the forecast for the rest of the country.

NGUYEN: First, though, if you're in the mood for a movie here's what's all new on DVD next Tuesday: "Open Water," a tale of a couple literally lost in the ocean; and some comedy, the first six seasons of "Sex and the City"; and a set of the Three Stooges.

Now over in the movie theaters this Christmas weekend only one new release nationwide, "Meet the Fockers," but plenty of new openings playing in selected cities. Andrew Lloyd Webbers's "Phantom of the Opera," already nominated for three Golden Globes; "Hotel Rwanda" also a three-time Golden Globe nominee; and "The Woodsman" a drama starting Kevin Bacon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: I want to see the faces, the kids, the faces, what is this 7:25 in the morning.

NGUYEN: You know they're up.

HARRIS: They're ripping open presents. Good morning and Merry Christmas Nashville, where later today the Tennessee Titans take on the Denver Broncos, no playoff invitations for Tennessee. They're out of it but Denver, I think, has an outside shot. We'll have the game time forecast and the rest of the nation's weather with Brad Huffines in just about a minute.

NGUYEN: Every year it's the number one New Year's resolution for Americans. I'm going to lose weight. Of course you are. You said that last year too but this year you really mean it and we are going to help you keep that promise.

Tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the diet wars, what really works, the search for the truth with registered dietitian Lisa Drayer (ph) live 7:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."

HARRIS: Well, I guess we figured that since we weren't going to be home necessarily at the magical hour when the kids get up that we would do our own little gift exchange here.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HARRIS: When are we going to do that? Yes, that's your gift.

NGUYEN: We're going to do that at the 9:00 hour but this is my gift from Tony.

HARRIS: That's your gift.

NGUYEN: Look at that.

HARRIS: And did you check it? It's not ticking. It's not ticking.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes, there's no (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or anything.

HARRIS: No, no IEDs or anything in there right.

NGUYEN: Good, good, good.

HARRIS: So, it's in the 9:00 hour we're going to do that?

NGUYEN: Yes and I am excited about that, so get ready Tony. I've got a good one for you.

HARRIS: And, Brad, I think we've got something for you too here doctor.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I don't see any gifts laying around up here.

HARRIS: We're going to put something together for you.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)

HARRIS: We're very creative up here, Brad, and it is Christmas.

HUFFINES: I have a gift for you people in Houston. They'll have a white Christmas in Houston, Texas.

NGUYEN: Rarely.

HARRIS: In Houston?

HUFFINES: Who'd have thunk it, as we say.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: I guess that makes sense, Brad. It's Christmas.

NGUYEN: Yes, it's Christmas.

HARRIS: It's wintertime. It should be a little cold.

HUFFINES: We know obviously they've been nice in Houston.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes.

HUFFINES: There you go.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HARRIS: OK, Brad.

NGUYEN: A white Christmas.

HARRIS: See you next hour.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: It is a set of tracks that's making dreams come true for lots of kids this Christmas. We'll take a look.

NGUYEN: First, Carl Rager (ph) and Sean Hanson (ph) are two of the many Marines stationed in Iraq this Christmas miles away from their families in the U.S.

HARRIS: But with the marvels of modern technology a videophone brought them home if only for a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corporal Carl Rager here in the Gulf 25 at Hurricane Point out of Ramadi. I just want to say hi to all my friends and family back home, wish baby Gage (ph) a happy and merry first Christmas and Happy New Year. Dad, my first sergeant told me to tell you that he wants to tell Coon Dog hi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Lance Corporal Sean Hanson (ph). I'm with Gulf 25 here in Ramadi, Iraq. I'd like to say hello and Merry Christmas to my wife, my family and my friends back home in northern California. We'll be home soon. I love you and I miss you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Oh, good morning, good morning, good morning. Christmas brings both homecomings and heartbreak for U.S. troops and their families. Welcome back, everyone. Merry Christmas. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Merry Christmas, everyone, this morning. We're going to get to that story in just a moment, but first a look at the headlines.

Well, John Paul delivers his traditional Christmas Day message of peace in St. Peter's Square. The 84-year-old pope called for an end to violence and suffering, and he told tens of thousands who turned out in the rain that he is concerned about the situation in Iraq and the Middle East.

Christmas Day mass was also celebrated in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. A Roman Catholic official called on Israelis and Palestinians to put past violence behind them. Larger than usual crowds turned out in Bethlehem for a Christmas Eve celebration.

But all is not peaceful in the West Bank. Israeli bulldozers demolished the house of a local Palestinian militant leader in Jenin today. Palestinian security sources say the militant was killed. He headed a militant offshoot of the Palestinian Fatah movement, a group once headed by Yasser Arafat.

Donald Rumsfeld is back home. He has returned to the U.S. after a surprise visit to Iraq. He went to several cities, including Mosul, where he consoled U.S. troops who were targeted in a deadly attack on Tuesday. Meantime, in his annual Christmas message, Rumsfeld said, there's, quote, "no greater calling than what U.S. troops are doing for their country."

HARRIS: Some military families in Mississippi say it's the best Christmas present ever. On Christmas Eve, they welcomed home 80 troops who spent about a year in Iraq. The Jackson-based Army National Guard unit came back to the outstretched arms of dozens of relatives and friends. Look at that, kisses all around. The unit spent part of its time in Iraq, improving schools and bringing supplies to children.

For military families at Ft. Lewis, Washington, Christmas has become a time of mourning. Soldiers from Ft. Lewis were among the victims of Tuesday's deadly attack on a military mess tent in Mosul, Iraq. Our Miguel Marquez paid a visit to Ft. Lewis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER JOHNSON, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: My only son goes over there, and this happens. And I believe that it could have been avoided. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-three- year-old Robert Johnson was one of the 22 people killed when a suicide bomber set off his explosives in a mess hall in Mosul, Iraq.

Peter Johnson, his father, feels that something more should have been done to protect the soldiers in a place where they should have been able to put their guard down.

JOHNSON: If they say it's safe, then they need to make it safe.

MARQUEZ: Johnson was one of six from Fort Lewis, Washington, who died that day.

Just outside the gates of Fort Lewis, Exit 122, with an overpass called "The Bridge," a rallying point where support for the troops is always evident.

Joe Williams, a veteran of the Korean War, says he was thanked by the family of a fallen soldier.

JOE WILLIAMS, KOREAN WAR VETERAN: And they came out and thanked us for coming out here on the bridge. I tell you, that is worth a million words.

MARQUEZ: And at Galloping Gertie's just across the bridge, the loss of six Fort Lewis soldiers brings home the risks for the Long family. Their son, Army Private Thor Long, may be headed to Iraq soon. His father's feelings?

JOHN LONG, FATHER OF U.S. SOLDIER: To put it bluntly: Raw, naked fear. You know, they're yours. You don't want to see them go, but they're doing what has to be done.

MARQUEZ (on camera): And Christmas night here at the gates of Fort Lewis, a candlelight vigil will be held to remember the dead and pray that the living complete their duty and return home safely.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Ft. Lewis, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Some very special programming in our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Throughout the hour, military family reunions, the injured and the brave who stepped into harm's way to help others. From the Tuesday attack on U.S. troops in Mosul, Iraq. We will reunite them electronically with their loved ones. That's in our 8:00 a.m. Eastern time hour.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) keeping up with the headlines. We are here to help. Time now to rewind and look at the top stories this week.

This week, thanks to an increase in crude oil supply, the combined national price for all grades of gas sank to $1.86. That is a drop of more than 21 cents since October. But Monday, the Energy Department said we're seeing the highest prices on record for this time of the year.

Also Monday, the FDA said researchers have found an increased number of serious heart problems among people who take a drug Naproxen. The drug is sold under the brand name Aleve. Scientists say people who took the drug in a recent study were 50 percent more likely to have heart attacks or strokes.

Tuesday, at least 22 people died and dozens more wounded at an explosion in a crowded mess tent in Mosul, Iraq. U.S. military is looking into whether the blast was from a bomb planted inside, or a missile attack. Thirteen of the dead were U.S. soldiers, and one was a sailor.

And yesterday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld surprised U.S. troops in Iraq with an unannounced visit. He visited troops in four cities, including Mosul. The Pentagon says Rumsfeld's visit was planned before Tuesday's bombing.

Tomorrow, we will fast forward to the week ahead and tell you which stories will grab the spotlight.

HARRIS: Look, forget the talking Elmos and those tasteless video games with all the gore and the violence and the blood and everything. This is a breath of fresh air. Next, an old-fashioned favorite that will delight your kids and the kid in you.

NGUYEN: And good morning, Atlanta. Oh, look at that Christmas tree on top of the building there. This is from our affiliate WGCO, on this cold morning. We'll have your morning forecast straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: That's a face you may not recognize, but some of his music is probably etched in your mind. He's Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones for more than two decades. He performs live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING on CNN, watched by more Americans than any other news channel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Look, imagine waking up on Christmas morning and finding a newborn in your stocking. In Cambridge, Mass., all babies born in December at Mt. Auburn Hospital are sent home in bright red stockings. Parents say the keepsakes get hung up year after year. We'll say it in just a couple of words -- cute, cute, cute!

NGUYEN: Oh, so precious.

Well, a model train around the Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition in many homes. A unique display at Washington's Botanical Gardens is all of that times seven. Hop aboard for the ride on the holiday express.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have one of the greatest train exhibits that you'll ever see.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: They're just this big.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have seven different trains and trollies.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Look, it's going over the bridge now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When children come into this space, you can hear them screech with delight.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's going to come through this tunnel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have over 600 feet of track.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: We'll just follow them, around on the track.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we have over 40 different buildings. And you can see them putting together the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of where the train is going to come out next.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: It's passed already. We need to wait until it comes again. It comes back very soon, because it's very fast.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Very fast.

HARRIS: I don't know where that came from. Just got caught up a little bit.

NGUYEN: Too much sugar on this Christmas.

HARRIS: It's been quite a year for professional sports. And that's putting it nicely, from a damaging steroid scandal in professional baseball, to boxing, and basketball games.

NGUYEN: Up next, our very own sports guru...

HARRIS: Stop looking at yourself. What is he doing?

RICK HORROW, AUTHOR: Merry Christmas.

HARRIS: Merry Christmas, Hollywood Horrow.

NGUYEN: Be nice to him, Tony.

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: ... just for you, so you better be nice, Tony. We have resolutions for professional sports when we go beyond the game, next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: But first, Tom Oester is stationed in Iraq this Christmas, miles away from his family in America.

NGUYEN: But with the marvels of modern technology, a videophone brought him home, if only for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHY OESTER, WIFE: How are you doing?

SGT. TOM OESTER, ARMY RESERVE: I'm all right. How about you?

K. OESTER: I'm fine. Where's your glasses?

T. OESTER: I don't wear them at night.

K. OESTER: I just want to touch you so bad.

T. OESTER: I got a pair of slippers from aunt Kathy (ph).

K. OESTER: Homemade ones, or (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

T. OESTER: Yeah. They're dirt brown.

K. OESTER: You're smiling for her.

T. OESTER: I miss you.

K. OESTER: Miss you. OK, bye-bye.

T. OESTER: Bye-bye. Love you.

K. OESTER: Love you.

Oh, it was great. It's like Christmas, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking our top stories this Christmas morning, there is only one man who certainly doesn't have a day off today. That is Pope John Paul. He's sending out his Christmas message and celebrating mass at the Vatican. The pope prayed for peace and expressed great apprehension over the violence in Iraq. Thousands of worshipers gathered in the rain to celebrate in St. Peter's Square.

In Ukraine, election officials say tomorrow's presidential runoff vote will go on. That is despite a court ruling this morning that some recently adopted election reforms are unconstitutional.

And he calls himself Spider-Man. A French daredevil Alain Robert has climbed the world's tallest building, a 101-story skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. Check it out, he's all in red. He made it in four hours, in wind and rain. HARRIS: Roll out a Christmas present from the NBA. On this holiest of days, we get two grudge matches on national TV. First, a rematch of the teams involved in arguably the worst brawl in basketball history last month in Detroit. This time, the Pistons traveled to Indiana for a 12:30 Eastern tip-off. Then, the showdown out West -- the Miami Heat's Shaquille O'Neal faces his old teammate Kobe -- I'm sorry, Shaquille O'Neal faces Kobe Bryant and his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The fireworks tip off 3:30 Eastern. It's expected to be perhaps the highest rated non-playoff basketball game in history. Let there be peace on Earth! As "The Washington Post" put it, today's NBA matchups could be called "Christmas with the Cranks." More on that as we take you beyond the game with the author of "When the Game Is on the Line." He's also been asked to serve as extra security in Indiana. Our very own Rick Horrow joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Good morning, Rick.

HORROW: Merry Christmas, my good friend. Listen, my family has admonished me to kind of leave you alone intellectually, because...

(CROSSTALK)

HORROW: So I'm going to be nice to you, be very slow, so we can take it easy.

HARRIS: It is so not necessary. It is so not -- you just bring your A game.

Hey, Rick, why don't we start with the NHL? Can we have some peace on earth and a labor agreement and can we get some hockey on the ice again here anytime soon?

HORROW: Well, five New Year's resolutions, and the fifth one is that the NHL has to get their act together. You know, the owners want labor peace and stability. The players want some free agency. But the fans want hockey. Only 23 percent of Americans now see hockey as a sport they like. By the way, that's 10th out of 11 sports, and unless the NHL gets their act together soon, they're going to be frozen out of the American consciousness.

HARRIS: Let's continue with the alphabet soup of sports here. How about the NFL?

HORROW: Well, NFL is number four on the wish, and the wish is that the NFL continues to be the gold standard of all professional sports, and that's not hard to accomplish. They just did a deal with FOX and CBS for a 30 percent increase or so off their $17 billion NFL TV deal. Now they're negotiating with Disney and ABC and ESPN for Sunday night, Monday night, and by the way, Thursday night football. Now, then they have to deal with peace with the players, which I'm sure they will. We're looking forward to a blockbuster Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, on February 6th, with the $300 million of economic impact that generates. Let's hope other sports copy what the NFL has to offer.

HARRIS: Yes, sounds good. That was a great game yesterday with the Minnesota and Green Bay. What's your number three wish here? Has to do with Major League Baseball?

HORROW: Yes, number three is Major League Baseball and steroids. You know, last year it was the Cubs and their excitement, and this year was the Red Sox, first since 1918. Now, we're talking about who's on steroids and who's not. And so far, Barry Bonds has been left alone by MasterCard and Jason Giambi left alone by Pepsi, but that may change soon. You know, 86 percent of the people polled say we've got to solve the baseball steroid issue sooner than later, or Congress will come in. So baseball has got some issues to deal with in the next couple of months.

HARRIS: So does college football and this BCS ranking computer system. What do you want done with that?

HORROW: Well, that's number two. And number two is that colleges need to keep their eye on the ball in other contexts. But we'll talk about the BCS as I go on my tour, and you'll talk about that...

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: OK.

HORROW: That's a big deal that is going to be exciting. But after that, we have BCS championship. My point today is that the colleges need to keep their eye on the ball. You know, with the $5 billion business, it's interesting to note that only 54 percent of those in the ball games are graduating, which is well below the national football average, and only 47 percent of the African-American football players graduate, as opposed to 63 percent of the Caucasians.

The bottom line is, college football has some work to do. They need to keep their eye on the graduation ball.

HARRIS: All right, we've got to pause here. We've got production values on this show. Drum roll, please. And your number one wish resolution for the new year, Rick Horrow?

(CROSSTALK)

HORROW: No, number one is the NBA and their image. You teased about it earlier. We now have $2 million of American Express sponsorships for the Laker-Heat game you talked about earlier, but the bottom line, by the way, is that it's the hottest ticket. TicketsinAmerica.com say the tickets are going at eight times face. Let's just hope that Kobe and Shaq have peace on earth. Neutella and McDonald's dropped Kobe. The NBA needs to worry about the image for the sake of the kids and fans who watch.

Look, it's a $375 billion business in sports. We need sports to worry also about morals, teaching, charitable donations, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the educator of kids, and most important, the educator and entertainer of society, and let's just hope '05 is better than '04 in that regard. HARRIS: Merry Christmas to you.

HORROW: Thank you, man.

HARRIS: Hey, I got a whole list of stuff I got to do here. Housekeeping, with your name all over it, so I'm going to give you the bum's rush here, all right? Because I got to keep going.

HORROW: I'm opening my presents, my sick dog is coming back from the vet, we've got an exciting holiday coming up.

HARRIS: All right, Rick.

Well, Rick mentioned just a moment ago college football ball games. Take a look at this. He's going to broadcast live from seven ball games in six days here on CNN. He kicks it all of in Charlotte at the Continental Tire Bowl on December 30th. The next day, Rick hits two cities on New Year's Eve. First, Nashville, Tennessee, for the Gaylord Hotel's Music City Bowl. That's at noon. That night, it's off to Atlanta, for the Peach Bowl for the 7:30 kickoff. Then it's off to Florida for four ball games, three of them on New Year's Day. Rick starts at Tampa at the Outback Bowl. It's an early game, with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff. He heads from there to Tampa through Orlando, for the 1:00 p.m. kickoff at the Capital One Bowl. I think I'm keeping this straight. Then the next stop is Jacksonville for the Toyota Gator Bowl, which will be already under way. That game starts at 12:30 Eastern. And then Rick has a few days' rest. He'll need it. For his last stop, he's headed to the game that is expected to decide the national championship -- the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami on January 4th.

NGUYEN: He's going to be one tired man after all those ball games.

HARRIS: Tired just reading it.

NGUYEN: I know. We'll be touching on that later.

Well, as you sit this morning surrounded by crumpled ribbon and torn wrapping paper...

HARRIS: We are going to show you some Christmas cheer that gives new meaning to home for the holidays. Merry Christmas. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning and welcome back. Our wows of the week have a Christmas theme, of course, and we begin in Charleston, South Carolina, where there are constant reminders of Christmas in one residence. Check it out. Santa Claus dwells in every room of the three-room apartment. At last count, there were some 4,500 Santas in the collection. My goodness.

Now, here is a Christmas gift a bit too big to wrap. It's a $115,000 home in St. Petersburg, Florida. NFL star Ward Dunn (ph) gave the home to Tanya Pickle (ph) and her family. He gives these houses to needy families through the charity he created in 1997. It's called Homes for the Holiday.

And a little town of Anthon, Iowa is getting a gift of free electricity this month. A wealthy farmer got the bright idea to pick up the December tab for all 650 people in the town. Now, the final bill, Tony, has not been calculated, but it is expected to be less than $30,000, so I guess those folks should have cranked up the heat a little bit.

HARRIS: Just a little bit. Just a little bit. I wonder...

NGUYEN: Had they known.

HARRIS: ... what Brad's bill is going to be to us for sitting in on Christmas Day.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: OK, Brad, thank you. See you next hour.

We want to get to our e-mails. Boy, you've sent some wonderful thoughts for our troops. Your wishes for the troops -- that's the e- mail question. Let me give you the address again, wam@cnn.com. Here's the first one, and it comes from Paul. He's in Tokyo. "Keep your heads low and get yourselves home."

NGUYEN: Donna, yeah, from South Dakota, as a wish, she says, "I'd like to say merry Christmas to all the troops overseas who are doing what it takes to keep us safe here at home. Hope they are soon here with us to celebrate and be back with their families.

HARRIS: And how about this one from John? "Merry Christmas to all the troops. Thank you very much for your sacrifices and service to the United States of America. May God bless you. Stay safe and come home soon."

NGUYEN: And keep sending in your Christmas wishes to the troops today. All you have to do is e-mail us at wam@cnn.com.

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: Isn't that a beautiful tree?

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