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CNN Saturday Morning News
Leading Al Qaeda Member In Pakistan Captured; Psychologist Says He Can Tell When People Are Lying And How His Work Is Being Used In Homeland Security; Resident Allowed Back In Lower Ninth Ward; Reality TV Show Concerning Nursing Shortage; Epsilon Tracking Online; Face Transplant Raises Questions; Good Economy Hard Sell In Current Political Environment; Man Runs For Charity
Aired December 03, 2005 - 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: A senior al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, has been killed in Pakistan. That information comes from the Information Ministry, which is reporting that Rabia died in an explosion at his home in a northwest tribal area. Now, Pakistani authorities say he apparently was working with explosives when the blast happened. Pakistan says Rabia was in charge of international operations for al Qaeda.
Now to Indonesia. It has recorded its eighth death from bird flu. The 25-year-old woman was infected with the lethal H5N1 strain of avian flu. Meanwhile, that H-5 strain of bird flu was found in chickens and geese in Ukraine. But it's not clear yet if they have the H5N1 strain, which is the deadly strain.
The infected birds were discovered in two villages on the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin holds a town hall meeting today in Atlanta. He wants to talk with former New Orleans residents displaced by the hurricanes. And that meeting will be held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapel on the Morehouse College campus. It begins at 12:00 Eastern. And we will bring that to you live.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, we're back together.
NGUYEN: Yes, finally, you woke up early and joined us?
No, no talking about how you had to stay late, you know? We're just going to let that slide under the rug.
HARRIS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
It's 7:00 a.m. here in the East Coast, 4:00 a.m. in the West.
NGUYEN: Early.
HARRIS: Thank you for waking up with us.
And ahead in this first hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, lying eyes -- more than a big hit from the super group the Eagles. Can a look or a simple shake of the head belie evil intentions? An expert says faces are a valuable tool for unmasking terrorists.
Also, President Bush hails a vibrant economy. But are things that glowing at your house? We'll get an economic reality check.
And Muhammad Ali made headlines wherever he went, but now the fight game doesn't generate that kind of heat, that kind of attention. We'll go "Beyond The Game" to find out why.
NGUYEN: And to our top story right now.
Pakistani officials say a big fish in al Qaeda has been killed in northern Pakistan. He has been identified as Abu Hamza Rabia.
Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao joins us now by phone with those details.
Minister, let me ask you, first of all, give us the details on what you know about exactly how he was killed.
AFTAB AHMED KHAN SHERPAO, PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER: Well, Betty, Abu Hamza Rabia, well, on the 30th of November, an explosion took place in the house of one Saddiq Shah (ph). This is in the village Asuri Taraqi (ph) area. This is the suburbs of Mir Ali. And this is not Waziristan, the tribal area.
Resultantly, five miscreants, including three foreigners, were killed. Two of the killed, two of the other killed were locals. In the explosion, two people got injured, also, and presumably one of them is suspected to be a foreigner.
So now we have confirmed that one of the foreigners who was killed was Abu Hamza Rabia and he was an al Qaeda operational commander, a very high al Qaeda operational commander, and this is what has happened.
NGUYEN: How high is he in the chain of al Qaeda? Is he number three, number four, number five? What do you know?
SHERPAO: Well, I can't give you that, but he was considered to be a very high profile al Qaeda member. And probably there was an incident on the 5th of November, also, in the same area, Mir Ali. And in that he escaped, but he got slightly injured in his leg and now this time he has been killed.
NGUYEN: And when it comes to this house where this explosion happened, have you been able to take any information, crucial information about al Qaeda, its intentions, its plans, from that specific location? SHERPAO: Well, that is being -- we are still looking at that. The whole place is being seen and we are looking into -- we are investigating and finding out any more details. If they come by, we'll relate it to the press.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
We appreciate that.
Also, one last question I want to ask you. He was the international officer for al Qaeda for -- in charge of international operations.
How big of a blow is his death to the organization?
SHERPAO: Well, it is a big blow. If you kill one of their al Qaeda members, a high profile member is killed or is eliminated, is arrested, that gives a blow to the al Qaeda operation. But still, the operations will carry on and it will carry on until we curb terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
NGUYEN: Interior minister, we appreciate your time and your insight this morning.
Thank you so much.
SHERPAO: It's a pleasure.
Thank you.
NGUYEN: Now, a threat from hostage takers in Iraq. The Arab TV network Al-Jazeera has aired a videotape of four Western humanitarian workers being held in Iraq. Two Canadians, an American and a Briton are seen in this video. Al-Jazeera reports that the kidnappers are threatening to kill the hostages unless the Iraqi government frees all prisoners from its jails by December 8th. The hostages are all members of a humanitarian group called Christian Peacemaker Teams.
HARRIS: Is the U.S. falling short when it comes to boosting security? It is according to members of the 9/11 Commission. They say the government is still failing to enact security changes to prevent future terrorist attacks. Commission members say the U.S. hasn't done enough to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons technology or to make sure that emergency first responders are properly equipped.
The 9/11 Public Discourse Project will issue a report on Monday.
Homeland security has put in place any number of measures to spot a terrorist. Now there's a new one -- spot a liar first.
As CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve reports, law enforcers are relying on facial expressions to track the bad guys.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DR. PAUL EKMAN, PSYCHOLOGIST: Fear, anger, contempt and sadness -- if we only had an Olympic event for facial muscle movement, I could send a great team.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): But Paul Ekman does not make faces for sport. He studies them for science, mapping very rapid movements of the eyes, mouth, brows, chin, forehead and cheeks.
EKMAN: The face is a very subtle system. It can show us emotions the person is trying to conceal. It can show us emotions the person isn't even aware of having. It can show us when the emotion is first beginning.
MESERVE: Ekman, who, appropriately enough, collects masks, says studying faces is a valuable tool for unmasking terrorists. He says someone trained to read barely detectable facial expressions, along with gestures and speech, can detect deception 95 percent of the time.
EKMAN: It's hard for me to think of anyone in Homeland Security, other than the bureaucrats, who shouldn't get this, anyone who is doing front-line work.
MESERVE: In fact, Customs and Border Protection has put about 700 agents through three days of specialized training to recognize the unintentional signals people make when they lie.
(on camera): Has this proven its usefulness yet?
JAY AHERN, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION: Yes, it has. Yes, it has. We have actually had several instances that have been sent in by our officers in the field who have actually denied individuals of significant concern.
MESERVE (voice-over): Though Customs and Border Protection is keeping the specifics of its program under wraps, Ekman shows us his training materials used by U.S. Embassy personnel, military and law enforcement, and teaches me how to detect the split second facial movements which can signal a lie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The lip corner does go up.
MESERVE: After an hour of practice, a test. Ekman shows me a videotape of a man expressing an opinion about capital punishment. My job is to figure out if he is telling the truth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you have a cold-blooded killer, the odds are that he's getting ready to kill somebody else, then, yes. I mean, it's just better to end his life before he ends other people's lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EKMAN: OK. Lie or telling the truth?
MESERVE (on camera): I will say he's lying.
EKMAN: Good. He made so many mistakes. I mean, he's one of the worst liars we have ever seen.
MESERVE (voice-over): His words gave one big clue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I personally couldn't partake in that decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EKMAN: But you shouldn't be saying that if you are arguing in favor of capital punishment. So he's giving himself away in the words themselves right at the start.
MESERVE: Repeated shrugs, unusually long hesitations, a soft voice, were among the other tip-offs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has to be done. I mean...it...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EKMAN: "It has to be done" and he shakes his head no. So he's using a gesture to contradict what he says verbally.
MESERVE: Politicians are among those Ekman has studied.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EKMAN: Oh, I knew he was lying with that because he used distancing language. When you say something like "that woman" rather than Monica Lewinsky, you are distancing yourself.
MESERVE: If Clinton was a bad liar, Ekman says other presidents were good.
(on camera): Who has been our best liar as president?
EKMAN: John F. Kennedy. A spectacularly good liar.
MESERVE (voice-over): But Ekman's work is not just for parlor games.
Since 9/11, the U.S. has made an extraordinary investment in cameras, sensors and other technologies to protect borders, airports, critical infrastructure. But Ekman says until there is a machine that can read minds, reading faces may be the most effective security tool of all. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Oakland, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Really interesting stuff there.
Well, former President Bill Clinton is speaking out about the war in Iraq. One hot button issue that's ignited a controversy in Washington is Democratic Congressman John Murtha's call to withdraw troops.
Now, Clinton weighed in when he sat down one-on-one with our Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that we will have to draw down our troops. They have said they want us to draw down our troops. And I think his idea that we need greater strike force capacity, he said right outside the country. I would favor, I think, locating them in the Kurdish areas or someplace in the country where they'd be safe.
But I think that we shouldn't set a deadline before these parliamentary elections. We should do it after they constitute a parliament and in consultation with the Iraqis based on their capacity. I think that obviously they have to learn to defend themselves.
But we don't want to do anything right now, it seems to me, that discourages people from participating in the elections and encourages the continuing insurgency. I think what we want is everybody to go vote. We want a truly representative parliament.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: President Bush has said we are at the beginning of a long war on terror. And tonight, "CNN PRESENTS" asks this question -- just what will it take to win that war?
Our David Ensor talked with veteran terror fighters from Jerusalem to Belfast to get some insights. Tune in to "CNN PRESENTS." That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
HARRIS: And here a look at stories making news across the country this morning.
Supporters of former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams will rally in a Los Angeles park today. Williams, founder of the notorious Crips gang, was sentenced to death for killing four people in 1979.
During today's rally, the Save Tookie Committee will urge California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop Williams' execution, scheduled for later this month. Williams has written a number of anti-gang children's books in prison and been nominated for the Nobel Prize. An Oregon judge has refused to clear the record of Shane Stant. Remember him? He's the guy who whacked Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan on the knee in 1994. We'll never forget that.
NGUYEN: We forget that, yes.
HARRIS: Stant's lawyer filed papers asking for his conviction to be expunged so Stant could achieve his dream of joining the Navy SEALs. The unit does not accept candidates with criminal records. Stant's request was denied.
'Tis the season for giving. Thousands of New Yorkers are dropping by the Operation Santa Claus office at the New York General Post Office. Now, every December for the last 81 years, Betty, good Samaritans sift through letters that kids have written to Santa Claus. People choose the letters usually from kids of poor families and then send those kids nice gifts.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes. 'tis the season.
HARRIS: Yes, it's good.
NGUYEN: OK. So how many gifts are you able to afford this holiday season?
HARRIS: One.
NGUYEN: That would be for me, right?
HARRIS: That's it.
NGUYEN: That's what I thought.
I don't think your wife is going to like that.
We will tell you one way to measure the economy, your own economy, and how to keep your pocketbook from sinking into recession.
HARRIS: And have you heard the big news yet? Brad Pitt wants to become a father, but not in the traditional way.
NGUYEN: What?
HARRIS: Yes, a pretty big scoop. Big news on the Q.T. Very hush, hush.
Good morning, Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Over spending on holiday gifts? We all tend to do it. I know I have. And we all end up paying for it later. That's right. But here's a tip -- just say no, or at least spend smart. Easier said than done, you say? Well, we're going to give you some tips on avoiding a financial hangover. That's live in our 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And if you are just waking up with us, good morning to you.
Our top story today is the killing of a senior al Qaeda leader in Pakistan. That's according to Pakistani officials that Betty just talked to a few months ago. They say Abu Hamza Rabia had died recently in an explosion in his house in a tribal region of northern Pakistan.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is in Atlanta today to meet with New Orleans residents displaced by hurricane Katrina. A town hall meeting is set for 12:00 p.m. Eastern at Morehouse College. And CNN will bring you live coverage.
And at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, an anti-death penalty rally gets underway in Los Angeles. Demonstrators will urge clemency for Crips founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams, who is scheduled to die 10 days from now for killing four people in 1979. He's spent the last decade denouncing gangs.
And here is our e-mail question of the morning. Betty, we're going to get this going.
NGUYEN: Oh, this is going to light it up.
HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes. Has Tookie Williams done enough as an anti-gang activist, in your mind, to warrant his clemency?
E-mail us what you think, your thoughts, at weekends@cnn.com.
We will be reading your replies throughout the program.
NGUYEN: All right, we're going to shift to a little entertainment news now.
I guess it's safe to say Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are officially a couple. Big surprise. Word comes, though, from Pitt's publicist that Brad is seeking to adopt Jolie's children. In a written statement, Pitt has filed a legal petition seeking to change the name of Jolie's two adopted children to Jolie Pitt.
Pitt's divorce from Jennifer Aniston, and you recall, became final more than a month ago and Pitt has always denied that Jolie was the reason for the split.
HARRIS: And I rooted and rooted for that marriage with...
NGUYEN: I know.
HARRIS: Yes, it just is... NGUYEN: I was actually upset when it didn't work out.
HARRIS: ... I guess it's not -- yes.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Me, too.
HARRIS: Yes! Yes!
NGUYEN: Is that silly? Is that just the silliest thing?
HARRIS: No. No. No.
SCHNEIDER: It's for the best.
HARRIS: You root for marriages to work out, right?
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely.
HARRIS: Good morning, Bonnie Schneider.
Good to see you.
SCHNEIDER: Good to see you both, as well.
HARRIS: And we were talking earlier, we may have some snow moving into the Northeast.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
SCHNEIDER: That's right, some snow. And not just once, but twice this week. So get ready for some snow.
The first one not too bad, but then we could be looking at a bigger storm toward Monday and Tuesday.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Bonnie, thank you.
SCHNEIDER: You're welcome.
HARRIS: Up next, there was a time, everyone, when the country would crave the next great boxing match of the day. What happened to those days? You know, who could pass up the opportunity to see Muhammad Ali or Rocky Marciano or a fight...
NGUYEN: It's just not like that anymore.
HARRIS: But it's not like that. The times have changed.
Is boxing a dead sport? We'll find out what CNN business correspondent...
NGUYEN: Uh-oh, he's got his duke up.
Where's your other one? Where's your backup mike? There it is. All right.
HARRIS: Rick Horrow after the break.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Yes.
Yes, sir.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): There was a time when boxing was one of the biggest sports in America. When great champions like Jack Dempsey, Joe Lewis, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard stepped into the ring, the world appeared to stop spinning.
But today, when a boxing great like Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins prepares for his last championship fight, the headlines just aren't there. Is boxing a dying sport?
One of the questions this morning as we take you "Beyond The Game."
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: And also this morning, a look at the new faces of the NFL. Some of them you just might be surprised by.
But we start with one face we have become accustomed to, the author of -- well, it's a habit -- the author of "When the Game Is On the Line," CNN sports business analyst Rick Horrow.
He joins us from West Palm Beach, Florida -- Rick, good morning.
Good to see you, brother.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Hey, I missed you the last few weeks. Did you ask off our jousting session because you couldn't handle it or if...
HARRIS: Because I couldn't handle the heat. You're so witty, so smart.
HORROW: Oh, boy.
All right, let's go.
We don't have too much time, OK?
HARRIS: We sure don't.
HORROW: Will you just ask the questions and back off, please.
HARRIS: Good to see you.
HORROW: It's good to see you. HARRIS: Hey, you know, we're going to start with Bernard Hopkins.
We've got some full screeners prepared so folks can maybe get a better idea of who he is, because we know a lot of folks don't know who he is. He started boxing in prison when he spent four years there, four years eight months. An all time record 20 title defenses. And later the 40-year-old former champion says he'll try one more time to win a title. That's this weekend in Vegas, a rematch with the new middleweight champion, the 2000 Olympic medalist.
Is it Jermaine -- Jermaine Taylor?
Which is it, Rick?
HORROW: Close enough, OK?
HARRIS: Close enough?
OK.
HORROW: Yes.
HARRIS: All right, here's the deal, though. Here's the deal. I mean the fact that we don't really know these guys -- I mean Hopkins is a fabulous fighter.
But why isn't this fight one of the super fights we remember from back in the day that used to get -- that used to stop the world?
HORROW: Well, because the industry is in trouble. You remember when we were growing up, at least when I was growing up, when it's Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
HARRIS: Yes!
HORROW: But now people think of George Foreman as the guy who invented that grill and made $100 million.
You know, Pay-Per-View is a different situation. If you win today, you don't just win one sanction, you're going to win four -- IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO. It's alphabet soup, if it's not corrupt. It appears to be corrupt and there's really no recognizable heavyweight on the horizon, which is another problem.
HARRIS: Right.
HORROW: You know, the issue -- corporate America, by the way, they spend $2 billion advertising for the NFL and $5 million in boxing. And it's not surprising a recent poll said 37 percent of the people like boxing today, the sports fans. That's the lowest in 20 years.
HARRIS: That's -- I think you're absolutely right. This not having a big name, recognizable heavyweight really hurts the whole sport. Let's turn to football right now, if we can, real quickly here.
You're going to take a rather different, unusual look at the popularity of some new faces in football.
Who's your -- who do you want to start with, number five here?
HORROW: Yes, that's me, different and unusual, right?
HARRIS: Sure.
HORROW: So post-Thanksgiving, here are the five new faces.
First of all, former Auburn running back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His name is Carnell Williams. His nickname is Cadillac. So guess who he lined up a corporate sponsorship with? That's a no-brainer.
Number four, Willie Parker, running back Pittsburgh Steelers, out of North Carolina. Came from nowhere. He's leading that team in endorsements. His jersey goes for $200 on eBay now.
Number three, a Nigerian from Liberty College. He didn't play football until high school. His name is Samkon Gado. He's leader the Packers, albeit to a two and nine record.
Number two is kind of interesting, and here's one that's fun. It's the Indianapolis Female Colt Fans. A company in India is marketing low cut, sequined halter top Colt uniforms with some bling- bling on it for $79.
HARRIS: Oh, my.
Yes.
HORROW: They're buying it up. That's why Indianapolis is a great NFL market.
And finally, Fathead, number one, an Ohio-based company...
HARRIS: What's the Fathead thing here?
HORROW: An Ohio-based company, a license with 33 NFL players. That's the new face in the NFL because they have life-sized stickers of all of these superstars, including a 6'5" likeness of Bangles receiver Chad Johnson if you want to put it in your living room.
Hey, it's a great country or what, huh?
HARRIS: It is.
All right, Rick Horrow, good to see you.
See you again next week, sir.
HORROW: All right, man, see you next week.
HARRIS: OK.
Take care -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Life-sized. It's a good thing we don't have those of you guys, because that would be pretty funny.
All right, thank you.
Residents of the Ninth Ward in New Orleans are allowed to return home, but what are they coming back to?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNETTE TRASK, NINTH WARD RESIDENT: This is the living room.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: We'll try to get that sound for u.
We're going to visit with one woman picking up the pieces of her pre-Katrina life.
And some statistics say the economy is doing much better. But what's the truth behind the numbers? We'll do an economic reality check coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Now in the news, in the last 90 minutes, CNN learned a senior al Qaeda commander has been killed in a remote area of Pakistan. Abu Hamza Rabia was believed to have been in charge of international operations for al Qaeda. Pakistan's information minister says Rabia was apparently working with explosives when a blast killed him and others.
The World Health Organization confirms a 25-year-old Indonesian woman who died earlier this week was carrying the lethal H5N1 strain of avian flu. She is now the country's eighth confirmed bird flu death. Who reports 134 people have been sickened by the lethal strain of the bird flu in Indonesia, China, Thailand and Cambodia. Sixty- nine have died.
Here's a look at the most popular story at cnn.com. Brad Pitt wants to adopt Angelina Jolie's children. The actor's publicist announced Friday Pitt has filed a legal petition to change the names of the children to Jolie Pitt. Rumor has it that while married to actress Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt always wanted children.
Want more details? Of course you do. Sure. I do.
NGUYEN: Log on.
HARRIS: Cnn.com/mostpopular.
NGUYEN: There's yet another delay in New Orleans, as people try to recover from hurricane Katrina. The mayor's office says scheduled elections in February cannot be held since most of the polling places are still damaged. Mayor Ray Nagin and the city council are up for reelection.
And what happened in the first few days following Katrina?
Well, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco sent thousands of documents to Congress yesterday as several committees investigate the government response to that storm. She says the papers show that dedicated employees worked effectively to save thousands of lives.
For the first time in three months, residents from the Lower Ninth Ward are getting to see their devastated homes, but only during daylight hours.
CNN's Daniel Sieberg went along with one woman as she sifted through the debris and salvaged what could be saved.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNETTE TRASK, 9TH WARD RESIDENT: It's shock, it's confusion, it's hurt, it's anger, it's everything. This just hurts so bad.
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jeannette Trask anxiously waited three months for a journey home, a trip to uncertainty. Jeannette and her neighbors in the flooded out Lower Ninth Ward had been kept away.
TRASK: I just had to see it. And as soon as they let me in, I see I'm gone.
SIEBERG: Unlike many others in New Orleans, the residents in this devastated neighborhood have not been allowed back home because of safety concerns. Jeannette didn't know what she'd find.
Her day started early, at a military checkpoint where residents had to sign in. We drove with her to the home she lived in from the time he was 6 years old. Three generations have lived here, starting with her grandmother.
TRASK: Everybody knows 2323 Caston (ph) Avenue. This is where everybody liked to come.
SIEBERG: At 61, Jeannette is now a grandmother herself. She has been living in Texas waiting for three months, living out of a suitcase.
TRASK: Oh, this is the living room.
SIEBERG (on camera): Do you remember some of the moments you had in this living room?
TRASK : Oh, yes, good moments.
SIEBERG: There must have had a lot of times. TRASK: Good moments. Fun times.
SIEBERG (voice-over): Decades of memories ruined.
(on camera): Does it help to come back here today, though? Does this help?
TRASK: Yes.
SIEBERG: Yes?
TRASK: Yes. I needed this. Because it's been on my mind and I just wanted to see for myself.
(voice-over): Then in the darkness and the muck, she finds a few of her favorite things.
TRASK: Oh, this is my grandmother's picture.
SIEBERG (on camera): Wow!
TRASK: Oh, this is her pitcher she had.
SIEBERG: What would she have used that for?
TRASK: Lemonade.
SIEBERG: Lemonade.
(voice-over): Sentimental treasures unearthed from the mire.
But no time to linger. Residents here must look and leave and only during daylight hours. If the city eventually allows her to live here again, Jeannette wants to rebuild.
TRASK: Things are going to be better.
SIEBERG (on camera): As hard as it is right now?
TRASK: As hard as it is right now, I have the faith that things are going to be better. God didn't bring me this far to drop me off here.
SIEBERG (voice-over): Daniel Sieberg, CNN, New Orleans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And thousands of New Orleans hurricane evacuees are temporarily living in Atlanta. They're going to hear from their mayor in just a few hours from now.
Mayor Ray Nagin is holding a town hall meeting at Atlanta's Morehouse College. That happens at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. It's estimated some 40,000 Louisiana evacuees are now living in Atlanta.
We're going to bring you some of Mayor Ray Nagin's comments live right here on CNN when they happen.
HARRIS: And, Betty, while the White House was quick to jump on favorable economic reports this week, there are lots of ways to measure the economy. To most people, it's the money in their wallets that matters the most.
CNN's Ali Velshi wonders if that just might be an illusion.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To spend money you have to have money. And to most people that means having a job. Just a few months ago, things looked pretty rough. Hurricane Katrina put more than half a million people out of work. But 215,000 jobs were created in America in November alone.
ANDREW BUSCH, FINANCIAL STRATEGIST: What 215,000 jobs means is that 215,000 more people are employed in America. And that's a good thing.
VELSHI: But the economy is not flying all that high. This year has seen some big names declare bankruptcy: two major airlines and the country's largest auto parts maker. And tens of thousands of layoffs have been announced this year, 30,000 at General Motors alone; 25,000 at Kodak,
Even if you didn't get laid off, just the fear of losing your job could slow down your spending. Making money off of your big investments, your home, for instance, makes you feel good, but that could be changing.
BUSCH: We're starting to see that sector cool off a little bit. So that's a major area of concern.
VELSHI: Mixed messages. So can President Bush really claim that things are going well?
BUSCH: He'll certainly do it when it's a good economy. Overall, the great thing about the United States, and I can't underscore this enough, is the ability for us to create jobs and destroy jobs.
VELSHI: The bottom line? Feeling good about your job, you'll probably keep spending, businesses will keep hiring and even more people will get jobs. So if you think the economy is doing well, you may have no one to thank but yourself.
Ali Velshi, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: Well, there's some give and take on the economic front. Citing job growth, solid retail sales, factory orders and home sales. President Bush calls the economic horizon bright. But Alan Greenspan warns of a coming storm fueled by the growing budget deficit. The Federal Reserve chairman says U.S. deficits are set to soar with the pending retirement of 78 million baby boomers. Greenspan suggests that Congress consider trimming Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Overspending on holiday gifts? Hmmm. We all tend to do it and we all end up paying for it later, Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, we do.
HARRIS: Here's a tip. Just say so.
NGUYEN: So?
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: So what?
HARRIS: You're overspending. You're -- that's it. So what?
NGUYEN: So what?
OK.
HARRIS: No, no.
NGUYEN: I'll pay for it later, so I'll take a third job.
HARRIS: No, just say no, or at least spend smarter.
NGUYEN: Give IOUs, how about that?
HARRIS: There you go.
That's sort of easier said than done.
We'll give you some tips on avoiding a financial hangover live in our 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: I know, I'm already feeling it and it's not even here yet.
All right, it's a profession that desperately needs help. So, can a reality show bring more nurses to American hospitals? That's a unique idea. We're going to look into that next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
HARRIS: And good morning, Boston.
The weather for you this weekend and for the rest of the nation with Bonnie Schneider coming up a little bit later, well, just after the break.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, nurses are essential to the medical field. But as you've probably heard, there is a crucial shortage. Doctors and hospitals are looking for a few good men and women.
And CNN's Chris Lawrence takes us on a look at how a new campaign is being used to recruit nurses.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
AMY MORRISON, REGISTERED NURSE: I'm just going to check on her.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For 12 hours a day, nurse Amy Morrison is in her scrubs on her feet.
MORRISON: Want me to clean her up? Come here, sweetie.
LAWRENCE: But this is what she comes home to -- a $10 million mansion Morrison shares with five other traveling nurses right on the ocean in Orange County, California.
It's all set up as part of a reality show on Nursetv.com. It follows the cast in the hospitals and out of airplanes to show potential recruits that nursing is an exciting, important career.
MORRISON: Nurses don't walk down a red carpet once a year and get an award, you know, for the best labor nurse of the year.
LAWRENCE: Morrison has an idea what's going to happen if the shortage doesn't shop.
MORRISON: You're not going to get the care you deserve. You're not going to get the care you need.
LAWRENCE: California pays the highest wages in the country but the state still has one of the lowest number of nurses compared to its population.
(on camera): Do you see that ratio getting better or getting worse?
ALAN BRAYNIN, ACCESS NURSES: It's getting worse. As the baby boomers age, more nurses are needed.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Problem is, the average age is nearly 50 years old. That means nurses will be retiring right along with the baby boomers who need them most.
BRAYNIN: A simple example is you go into the E.R. with a broken leg and you have to wait longer and longer and longer.
MORRISON: Mom's ready to see you again.
LAWRENCE: Morrison says she could have been working even sooner.
MORRISON: I remember when I was actually going through nursing school, I had to wait two years to get into a program.
LAWRENCE: And that's the other problem. Not enough nurses leads to not enough nurses like this, who have the qualifications to teach, and not enough nursing schools where students can get the training.
(on camera): A lot of schools shut down their programs about 10 years ago when there was a nursing surplus. Now they're restarting them, like UCLA next fall. It will help, but this is a bigger, national problem that's probably going to be with us for some time.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: Now let's get you caught up on a few of the top stories we're covering this morning.
A senior al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, has been killed in a tribal area of Pakistan. That information coming to us from Pakistan's information minister.
In Atlanta, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin will meet with displaced Katrina evacuees in a few hours. That meeting takes place at Morehouse College at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. We will have some of his comments live here on CNN.
And supporters of former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams will rally in Los Angeles today. Williams, founder of the notorious Crips gang, is scheduled to die in 10 days for killing four people in 1979. During today's rally, the Save Tookie Committee will urge California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop Williams' execution.
And our e-mail question this morning -- boy, we've started something here.
It's all your fault, Betty.
Has Tookie Williams done enough as an anti-gang activist to warrant his clemency? That's the question. E-mail us your thoughts, your opinions, at cnn.com. We will be reading your replies throughout the program this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, even though the hurricane season ended officially Tuesday of this week...
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, November 30th, it was over.
HARRIS: November 30th. Good deal.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes.
HARRIS: Epsilon still spinning in the Atlantic.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes.
HARRIS: Are you kidding me?
DE LA CRUZ: No. It's like hurricane season ended and...
HARRIS: You've got a look for us?
DE LA CRUZ: ... nobody told Epsilon, apparently.
HARRIS: Veronica De La Cruz is here from the Dot-Com Desk to give us a look at Epsilon online.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, listen, Tony...
HARRIS: Yes?
DE LA CRUZ: There's no doubt that the 2005 hurricane season is has spawned...
HARRIS: Record setting.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes.
It's spawned some of the worst storms in U.S. history, from Katrina to Rita to Wilma.
For a look back, you can log onto cnn.com.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DE LA CRUZ (voice-over): It's been a record setting season, with 26 named storms and 13 hurricanes, compared to the average season, which sees 10 named storms and six hurricanes.
Three of those hurricanes -- Katrina, Rita and Wilma -- reached category five status, something weather experts have never seen in a single season. This season also set some low pressure level records, an indication of how intense a storm is.
How did this year fare in comparison to the past 50 years?
This chart compares the number and strength of hurricanes over a half century.
You can also read about the 10 deadliest, costliest and most intense hurricanes to hit the United States.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: And, of course, you can find it all online at cnn.com/hurricane. And lots of good information there you guys.
HARRIS: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: Great resources, some images.
HARRIS: That's right. That's right.
DE LA CRUZ: You know, it's always good to take a look back.
HARRIS: The history and -- yes, you go on that site, you get a lot of information, Betty.
You know, you really do.
NGUYEN: As always.
DE LA CRUZ: But Epsilon, I can't believe it's still out there.
HARRIS: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: Unbelievable.
HARRIS: OK, Veronica...
NGUYEN: Epsilon.
HARRIS: Thank you.
Very good to see you.
NGUYEN: All right, yes.
DE LA CRUZ: Good to see you guys.
NGUYEN: Well, some call it a miracle in Sacramento. Look at this. A statue of Virgin Mary is crying tears of blood. We have a look at that coming up in our "Wows of the Week."
That's next.
HARRIS: And the next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, he's made it from Los Angeles to San Antonio so far, but there's plenty of pavement still to pound. We'll check in with Jonathon Prince on his progress of raising money for Katrina victims.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You had to see this. Did you see the video out of Denver this week? Yes, one of the "Wows of the Week." Yes, you had to see this.
NGUYEN: Oh, my!
HARRIS: Yes, gusting winds turned this scaffold into a high rise battering ram. Man! Two window washers held on for dear life and finally were rescued by firefighters.
NGUYEN: Oh my goodness.
HARRIS: The sound of it, right?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: What happened, they had just finished cleaning all of those windows. No serious injuries were reported. I just want to hang on the video a little longer and see it again.
NGUYEN: That's worse than a ride at an amusement park.
HARRIS: Yes. One more time just for good measure.
NGUYEN: Listen to it.
HARRIS: Ready?
NGUYEN: Oh wow!
HARRIS: All right, I guess we can move on.
The statue of the Virgin Mary in Sacramento, California is attracting quite a following. It appears to be crying tears of blood. A priest at the Vietnamese church recently noticed the phenomenon and wiped the red stain away. The tears have since returned and now it's become something of a shrine.
And Emily, the globe trotting cat, is finally back home in Wisconsin. Somehow, she had hitched a ride to Chicago in a truck, then a ship to Belgium, and finally a cargo plane to France.
Do we believe this? Do we -- this is pretty far-fetched.
NGUYEN: It's far-fetched, but apparently it happened.
HARRIS: Yes, far-fetched, fetch the cat. Back in September, that's when all that happened. Continental Airlines flew Emily home this week in business class.
NGUYEN: So she's back in Chicago.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: I don't know if Emily really wants to be back in Chicago -- Bonnie.
HARRIS: These days...
NGUYEN: It's kind of cold there these days, yes.
HARRIS: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: It sure is cold there. But at least it's not snowing at the moment.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SCHNEIDER: In other parts of the world, other parts of the country, we're looking at some nice enough conditions to go sailing.
Chad Myers has a look at the big picture for the sailing race.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Around the world in seven months. It's the Volvo Ocean Race, where last month, seven teams began sailing the globe.
In the first leg of the race, teams started off the coast of Spain and sailed south toward Capetown, South Africa. With eight more legs before finishing the race, teams will soon sail toward Melbourne, Australia.
You can track their progress with an interactive program called Virtual Spectator. You can find it at Volvooceanrace.org. It plots each team's position, sail speed, wind speed, as well as distance from the next destination.
After 31,000 nautical miles, five continents and four oceans, the race will come to an end in Gothenberg, Sweden some time in mid-June, 2006.
And that's the big picture from the Volvo Ocean Race.
Chad Myers, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
NGUYEN: Very interesting.
HARRIS: That's was a...
NGUYEN: Now you can watch, keep track online.
HARRIS: Good.
Are you ready to get to our...
NGUYEN: All right.
HARRIS: It's really your fault.
NGUYEN: Brace yourself.
HARRIS: You suggested this question today.
NGUYEN: We told you this was going to light up the e-mails.
HARRIS: Well, it's a good one.
Yes, you're right.
And here's the question -- has Stanley Tookie Williams done enough as an anti-gang activist to warrant his clemency?
And here's the first response. There it is: "Fry his rear backside (EXPLETIVE DELETED)."
NGUYEN: Yes, you can fill in the blanks there.
HARRIS: You can fill in the expletive there. Yes.
NGUYEN: All right, Jackie from North Carolina says: "I'm happy he has tried to turn his life around in prison. However, ask the families of the Maryland victims how they feel. I'm sure the books he has written is of no comfort to them."
HARRIS: And this from Bob: "The good work he's done since being convicted is commendable, but it isn't enough to make up for ruining the four victims' families lives and the damage done to hundreds of others by the gang he founded. In the end, I guess I'd tell Arnold to terminate him."
All right, thank you for your e-mail responses. The box is hot this morning. Here's the question once again, if you want to get in on this. Has Stanley "Tookie" Williams done enough as an anti-gang activist to warrant his clemency?
There's the e-mail address -- weekends@cnn.com. And we'll read more of your responses in the next half hour or so.
NGUYEN: And speaking of that next hour, it's happening right now.
HARRIS: And now in the news, we have late word coming in to CNN this morning that a top al Qaeda leader has been killed in Pakistan. And it was apparently by an accidental explosion.
Pakistan's information minister tells CNN Abu Hamza Rabia was working with explosives at a house Wednesday. The blast killed him and four others.
U.S. and Iraqi troops are engaged in raids in the western Iraqi town of Ramadi. The raids are part of a new offensive called Operation Shank. It's designed to disrupt the insurgency and create a stable environment for this month's elections. It's the fifth operation targeting Ramadi in the last three weeks.
It's confirmed. The World Health Organization says tests show a 25-year-old Indonesian woman who died earlier this week had bird flu. She becomes the eighth person in Indonesia to die of the bird flu strain officials fear it could lead to a human pandemic.
Meanwhile, the H5 strain of bird flu has been found in chickens and geese in two districts of the Ukraine. Tests are under way to determine whether the birds also have the strain that's dangerous to people.
From CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is December 3rd -- shopping days until Christmas.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Apparently not enough. Have you even begun?
HARRIS: No. Are you kidding me?
NGUYEN: I'm almost done. I'm so proud of myself.
HARRIS: Are you really?
NGUYEN: Although I don't want to get the bill.
HARRIS: You're so good.
NGUYEN: Yes, I just went crazy.
HARRIS: Well, that's coming. Can't avoid it.
NGUYEN: Thank you for joining us, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
We want to begin this morning in France, where pictures are surfacing on the Internet this morning of a woman who received a facial transplant, it's a partial facial transplant. Now, we are not showing those photos because the patient has expressed wishes to remain anonymous, but we are hearing from the doctors who performed this daring surgery and what ultimately led to their decision to attempt the procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JEAN-MICHEL DUBERNARD, SURGEON (through translator): When you saw this person's face, how severely disfigured, you will understand why we have to take on this challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That challenge, an unprecedented 15-hour operation transplanting the nose, lips, and chin from a brain-dead donor to a woman who'd been mauled by her own dog. She's a 38-year-old divorced mother of two who's chosen to remain anonymous.
The attack, which happened in May, not only disfigured her, but made it difficult for her to speak and eat. At a news conference, her doctors said they determined conventional plastic surgery wouldn't do enough for the patient, physically or aesthetically, but they say they knew the alternative would be controversial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. BERNARD DEVAUCHELLE, SURGEON (through translator): There were some ethical issues, and there was a point where we had to make a decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: They're now convinced the transplant was the right decision. They say Sunday's operation went smoothly, and they're especially pleased that the texture and color of the donor's skin matched the patient's almost perfectly. The final result, they say, will be a new face, not exactly like her old one, but not exactly that of the donor's either.
Psychologists have been working closely with the patient, who will have to take antirejection drugs for the rest of her life. She's also said to be pleased with the results of her surgery. The doctors say her first words were, "Thank you."
And plenty of people are talking about this, no doubt. CNN's Anderson Cooper asked an expert from the Cleveland Clinic about what it's like psychologically to adjust to a new face.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MARIA SIEMIONOW, CLEVELAND CLINIC: That's the reason we are going for very, you know, thorough criteria of psychotic, psychological evaluation and ethical discussions with the patient. However, the patients usually do not look like themselves anymore after 30 or 40 or more procedures than in the past. So over the period of the constructive procedures, which they have in the past, they were getting used to a different look.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yes, they say they don't look like their old self, but they don't look like the donor either. We're going to be talking about this in 11:00 Eastern hour with a bioethicist. But do want you let you know that French doctors say they do expect feeling will be completely restored...
HARRIS: Wow.
NGUYEN: ... in the patient's face. It's really quite remarkable.
HARRIS: Yes, that's something there. All right.
Now we turn to New Orleans, where efforts to get life back to normal are being challenged once again. Because of damage issues, Governor Kathleen Blanco has agreed to postpone the city's February elections for up to eight months. She says polling places have not been rebuilt, and hundreds of thousands of voters are scattered across the country.
Louisiana's secretary of state is blaming FEMA. He says the agency has not provided any of the $2 million he's requested to repair voting machines and to upgrade New Orleans' absentee voting system. FEMA has not yet commented.
NGUYEN: Thousands of New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina will hear from their mayor in just a few hours. Mayor Ray Nagin is holding a town hall meeting at Atlanta's Morehouse College at noon Eastern. He's going to talk about how rebuilding efforts are going in New Orleans. And we're going to bring you some of the mayor's comments live right here on CNN.
HARRIS: And this young man, who is running across America to raise money for Katrina victims, has made good progress. He started off in Los Angeles and is now in San Antonio, Texas, Betty. We'll check in with him in just a couple of minutes to see how he's holding up on this trip. And he was to end up here in Atlanta, and how much money he has actually raised. NGUYEN: Across America now, police in Ohio may have found the bodies of two children who have been missing for more than two years. The children's father confessed to killing his son and daughter and burying them off the Ohio Turnpike. Now, the children's mother talks about the difficult time that lies ahead for her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRI KNIGHT, MOTHER: I'm not going down the road yet that this is definitely it, because it just sets yourself up for disappointment. So I'm just going to wait and take it one step at a time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: In other news, a dog out for a walk with its owner started digging near a small woodpile and found the remains in a plastic -- in plastic in a wooded area. Tests are being determined to find out if the bodies are those young victims.
And also, random police searches of bags and backpacks, that's going to continue on New York City's subway system. Recently, the issue went before a court to decide if the searches were constitutional. Now, a federal judge ruled the searches are not a violation of the Constitution, and are effective. Under the new search program, commuters can refuse the inspections, but will have to leave the station.
Supporters of former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams will rally in a Los Angeles park at noon local time today. Williams founded the notorious Crips gang and was sentenced to death for killing four people in 1979. The Save the Tookie campaign -- or Tookie Committee is urging California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop Williams's execution later this month. Tookie has written children's books denouncing gangs during his time on death row.
And that brings us to our e-mail question of the day.
HARRIS: Hot one.
NGUYEN: It's a hot one, yes. Has Tookie Williams done enough as a anti-gang activist to warrant his clemency? Send us your thoughts to weekends at CNN.com.
HARRIS: Well, President Bush is hoping his free fall in the polls will be held in check by a bit of good news on the economy. The president is pronouncing the most recent economic news, quote, as "bright as it's been in a long time."
CNN's White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is at the White House for us this morning. Good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.
And analysts say that there are signs the economy is, in fact, strong, considering especially that Hurricane Katrina struck only three months ago. But they also say that in this current political environment, getting that positive economic news to resonate with the American people is proving to be a challenge for President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO (voice-over): Citing good, old-fashioned American hard work, President Bush touted the latest economic news.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our economy added 215,000 jobs for the month of November. The unemployment rate is 5 percent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: As his overall approval ratings continue to sag below 40 percent, Mr. Bush sought to claim credit for the recent economic developments and said Americans have reason to be optimistic.
BUSH: Lower gasoline prices, a strong housing market, increases in consumer confidence and business investment, our economic horizon is as bright as it's been in a long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is sort of like a quarterback on a football team. If the team is doing really well, he gets more credit than is warranted. If the team is doing poorly, it's the reverse. Right now, you've got to say President Bush does deserve some credit for a very strong economy.
QUIJANO: Yet a CNN-"USA Today" Gallup poll last month showed 61 percent of Americans disapproved of how President Bush was handling the economy, a disconnect, some say, is due in part to another issue weighing heavily on the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even as the economy gets stronger and the stock market does better, you've got to say that for President Bush, his job ratings really hinge on Iraq.
QUIJANO: Even as the president spoke of a sunny economic forecast, outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned of a coming storm fueled by a growing budget deficit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: And White House economic advisers, though, say that President Bush is on track to cut the deficit in half by the year 2009. Now, the economy will also be on President Bush's agenda when he travels to North Carolina on Monday to give a speech there.
But, of course, a main focus for this administration, especially right now, continues to be Iraq. Ahead of Iraq's elections, less than two weeks away, President Bush next week will be giving a speech on the war on terror here in Washington, another in a series of speeches that are designed to lay out what the administration sees as progress in Iraq, Tony. HARRIS: Elaine Quijano, on top of all of the news from the White House for us. Elaine, thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, the Arab TV network Al-Jazeera has broadcast a videotape of four Western hostages being held in Iraq. Two Canadians, an American, and a Briton are seen on the tape. Al-Jazeera reports the kidnappers threatened to kill those hostages unless the Iraqi government frees all prisoners from the jails by December 8.
HARRIS: Former president Bill Clinton weighs in on calls to draw down American troops in Iraq. It comes on the heels of the fervor ignited when Democratic hawk Representative John Murtha called on troops to withdraw. In a one-on-one interview with our Anderson Cooper, Clinton said not now, but later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: I think that we will have to draw down our troops. They have said they want us to draw down our troops. And I think his idea that we need a greater strike force capacity, he said right outside the country. I would favor, I think, locating them in the Kurdish areas or someplace in the country where they'd be safe.
But I think that we shouldn't set a deadline before these parliamentary elections. We should do it after they constitute a parliament, and in consultation with the Iraqis, based on their capacity. I think that, obviously, they have to learn to defend themselves.
But we don't want to do anything right now. It seems to me that discourages people from participating in the elections and encourages the continuing insurgency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Clinton says there should be a drawdown of American troops in Iraq next year. He says both U.S. and Iraqi officials should decide the best way to accomplish that.
President Bush has said we're at the beginning of a long war on terror. Tonight, "CNN PRESENTS" asks this question. Just what will it take to win that war? David Ensor talked with veteran terror fighters from Jerusalem to Belfast to get some insights. Tune in to "CNN PRESENTS." That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: Be watching for that.
In the meantime, running for relief. Coming up, one man's efforts to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. We are going to show you how far he has come.
HARRIS: And Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, closer than ever. Details on a legal arrangement.
NGUYEN: A legal arrangement, yes?
HARRIS: Yes, yes. That's straight ahead.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: How about this? A beautiful shot of Boston.
NGUYEN: Beautiful. Look at the sun coming up, but you know it's cold.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Don't let that shot fool you. It is cold in Boston today.
HARRIS: Yes. Thanks to our affiliate there, W ...
NGUYEN: WCVR (ph).
HARRIS: I can't read that, CV ...
NGUYEN: Oh, CVB. I can't even read it, Tony.
HARRIS: So tiny there.
Good morning, Boston. Bonnie Schneider coming up in just a couple of minutes with your weekend weather forecast, as well as the forecast for the rest of the nation.
If you are just joining us, here's a look at a few of our top stories this morning.
There's word that a senior al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, has been killed in a northern tribal area of Pakistan. Top Pakistani authorities say Rabia was reportedly working with explosives as a house when they detonated, killing him and several others.
Al-Jazeera reports Iraqi insurgents are threatening to kill four Western hostages unless the government frees all prisoners from its jail by December 8, next Thursday. The latest captives, two Canadians, an American, and a British citizen, are all members of a Christian humanitarian group.
And finally, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin will address displaced hurricane (INAUDIBLE) evacuees today here in Atlanta. Nagin is following a -- holding a town hall meeting at Atlanta's Morehouse College at noon Eastern. He'll talk about how rebuilding efforts are going so far in New Orleans.
NGUYEN: Tony, you remember this. Back in October, we first told you, at least introduced you, to a young man helping Katrina victims in a very unusual way. Take a look. Jonathon Prince decided to run, and he's still running, raising money for relief. His starting point was L.A., his destination, Atlanta.
Now, this morning we found him in San Antonio, Texas, with quite a bit of progress to report.
Good morning to you, Jonathon.
JONATHON PRINCE, RUN 4 RELIEF: How are you doing, Betty?
NGUYEN: Doing great.
Now, OK, back in October when you first started to run, boy, it's been awhile, huh?
PRINCE: It's been about a month and a half ...
NGUYEN: How are you holding up?
PRINCE: I'm doing all right. I got my little Forrest Gump growing in right now. The elements are getting a lot colder...
NGUYEN: Yes.
PRINCE: ... but I'm able to maintain.
NGUYEN: Now, you've been through, what, four pairs of tennis shoes?
PRINCE: Four pair of tennis shoes already.
NGUYEN: How many miles have you logged?
PRINCE: Oh, my goodness. We're looking at 17 -- 1,700.
NGUYEN: I was going to say, it's more than just 17.
PRINCE: No, no, 17 -- 1,700 miles.
NGUYEN: My goodness. Now, just refresh the memories of viewers. Tell us why you decided to run as your way of raising money.
PRINCE: Well, I decided to organize Run 4 Relief because I just felt inclined to do something. I just wanted to do my part in the relief efforts. I'm not a big corporation or a celebrity of any sort, but I just still felt that with the power of one, somebody could still make a difference.
So I decided to run across the country with hopes to inspire hurricane survivors for a brighter tomorrow. You know, I know a lot of survivors are, you know, in a situation they'd prefer not to be in, but hopefully my story will inspire individuals, and also raise money to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity, just trying to ...
NGUYEN: Which is a great cause. Now, we're looking at some pictures. You have your sleeping bag there. You're running with this cart in hand. How much money have you raised so far, do you know? Have you counted it up just yet?
PRINCE: So far I'm in the $1,300 range...
NGUYEN: OK.
PRINCE: ... somewhere around there.
NGUYEN: Looking to raise that, no doubt.
PRINCE: Looking to raise that, definitely.
NGUYEN: How many homes do you want to help build with Habitat for Humanity?
PRINCE: As many as possible. I would like to build as many homes as possible. Looking at possibly donating homes to families that are putting forth that effort, who aren't just seeking a handout, per se, but, you know, for families that have already hit the ground, already working...
NGUYEN: Right.
PRINCE: ... who really deserve a home, you know, who can maintain it and...
NGUYEN: So many people...
PRINCE: ... wherever it may be.
NGUYEN: ... out there that deserve and need these homes. But I got to ask you, 1,700 miles, that's a lot of time on your feet.
PRINCE: Right.
NGUYEN: I imagine you've come across some really interesting situations and stories. This obviously has to have changed your life in a tremendous way. Give us some examples of what you've experienced, and the changes that you've gone through because of it.
PRINCE: OK, cool. Well, after CNN did their first follow-up on me in Phoenix, it was around Halloween. So Phoenix coined me as the official Black Forrest Gump. So that was kind of cool as I ran through the city. In Tucson, I got a late start, and I found myself running late at night with the rats and the snakes-...
NGUYEN: Uh-uh.
PRINCE: ... on the highway, yes, against oncoming traffic, so...
NGUYEN: That could be dangerous.
PRINCE: Oh, by far, by far, that was the most scariest night of my life.
NGUYEN: Oh, my.
PRINCE: And there was a 45-year-old woman by the name of Carrie (ph), I believe, who ran two miles with me...
NGUYEN: Oh, how nice.
PRINCE: ... in Wilcox, Arizona.
The bugs, the bugs in New Mexico are just gargantuan. It's -- it was super-scary. But I probably ran across, I don't know, probably 20,000 bugs on the highway. I don't know.
Oh, El Paso, El Paso, I got stopped by Border Patrol. They thought I was an illegal immigrant trying to run across the border.
NGUYEN: No, they did not
PRINCE: Yes. So, you know, I had my jogger, and I'm running across, I'm running, you know, I'm running across the team (ph) in El Paso, and I got stopped. And, you know, after I explained my cause, and showed my identification...
NGUYEN: Right.
PRINCE: ... and a border man saw me on CNN, so he vouched for me. And the El Paso mayor then called me later that day and wanted to meet me. So that was cool.
NGUYEN: And gave you...
PRINCE: But...
NGUYEN: ... gave you a little reward, right, a...
PRINCE: Yes, he ...
NGUYEN: ... little reward?
PRINCE: Yes, he gave me a little humanitarian relief award medal. So it was pretty cool.
NGUYEN: It all pays off in the end.
Boy, you have a lot of stories to tell. Going to write a book?
PRINCE: I would love to write a book. I mean, you know, a lot of people have called and e-mailed me about what is it like to run the country, and, you know, how are you doing, and how are you, you know, the elements alone just, you know...
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
PRINCE: ... like, Thanksgiving, I would sleep outside on a park bench of an abandoned building. It was absolutely humbling.
NGUYEN: Right.
PRINCE: But at the same time, the scenery has been majestic, and, you know, I'm just preparing myself for the last...
NGUYEN: And all for such... PRINCE: ... leg.
NGUYEN: ... a good cause. Quickly, we're out of time, but when do you plan on making it to the finish line in Atlanta?
PRINCE: I look at finishing in Atlanta, Georgia, by around February 11, around that time.
HARRIS: Come on in.
PRINCE: You know, I'm encouraged...
NGUYEN: Yes, you need to come in and visit us.
PRINCE: You know, I want you guys...
NGUYEN: You deserve.
PRINCE: ... to come run with me. You guys ought to come run with me the last leg, honestly.
NGUYEN: Oh, that's a good idea.
PRINCE: Don't...
HARRIS: Now, don't be crazy.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: But Tony may not be up for it. And I can't run all that much because I'm kind of a wimp, but I might walk very fast with you.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Maybe that will work.
OK, we're going to talk to you in January. I think you're going to be in New Orleans at that time.
PRINCE: I'll be in New Orleans.
NGUYEN: So, of course...
PRINCE: I'll be in New Orleans.
NGUYEN: ... we're going to following you every step of the way. And we appreciate not only you speaking with us, but what you're doing. It's a great cause. Thank you so much.
PRINCE: And I would love for people to logon to my Web site and continue to help me raise money for hurricane victims, at run4relief.org.
NGUYEN: And there it is again, www.run4relief.org. My executive producer wants to know if you have a girlfriend.
HARRIS: Yes, because you're getting e-mails.
NGUYEN: How is she taking all this?
HARRIS: Well, he's getting e-mails.
NGUYEN: Because the women are loving you.
HARRIS: They're logging on, and they're sending those to us. They want to marry -- This is insane.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: He's a good man for a good cause. So what...
PRINCE: I'm America's sweetheart, yes?
HARRIS: Yes, yes.
NGUYEN: So what's the answer? You going give it up? Yes or no?
HARRIS: Are you -- you got a girlfriend?
PRINCE: No, I'm not.
NGUYEN: Are you taken? Oh, not yet.
PRINCE: No, I -- not yet, no.
NGUYEN: OK, ladies, there, you heard it right here.
We'll be talking with him in January when he's in New Orleans, and maybe get another chance...
HARRIS: Yes, he's blushing.
NGUYEN: We're trying to hook you up here.
PRINCE: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: OK. Look at him. All right, Jonathon, we'll talk with you soon. Take care, and be safe out there.
PRINCE: Man, I will. You guys keep me in your prayers, OK?
NGUYEN: Absolutely, you too.
PRINCE: Thank you.
NGUYEN: All right.
All right, we're shifting gears now. Speaking of relationships, Brad Pitt takes a big step forward in his relationship with Angelina Jolie. We are going give you those details ahead.
HARRIS: And coming up at 9:00 Eastern, tips for your credit. With so many holiday deals and so many gifts to give, to buy, shoppers beware, your credit score could be in jeopardy.
The story next hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
We're back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here it is. Want to know what you think. This is a hot-button issue. All morning long, we've been asking you, Has Tookie Williams done enough as an anti-gang activist to warrant his clemency? Send us your thoughts, weekends@cnn.com. We're going to be reading them shortly.
HARRIS: Well, we don't have time this half-hour for the e-mails, because Betty was asking so many questions about Jonathon's relationship status...
HARRIS: And you chimed in too.
HARRIS: ... and that whole thing, so we don't have time now for...
NGUYEN: I was trying to get the man married.
HARRIS: ... your responses.
We've got time for this, though. Is it a new sign that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are gearing up to tie the knot?
Pitt has filed legal papers in Los Angeles to adopt Jolie's two children. Pitt's publicist says that the children will go by the hyphenated last name of Jolie-Pitt. "Life and Style" magazine and "In Touch" magazine report that Jolie and Pitt are expected to marry soon and are working on a prenup.
NGUYEN: The all...
HARRIS: Something that you need to have.
NGUYEN: ... important prenup.
HARRIS: Yes, primarily to benefit the children. Jolie adopted the kids from Cambodia and Ethiopia.
NGUYEN: So there you have it. May be wedding bells in the future.
Bonnie Schneider, are you just all upset about Brad's off the market here.
HARRIS: Oh, my.
SCHNEIDER: OK, I'll live, you know.
NGUYEN: You'll live? OK.
HARRIS: I will survive.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHNEIDER: Well, you know what, we're looking at some chilly conditions this morning in a lot of locations.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SCHNEIDER: So we're watching for some tricky travel in this part of the country right now.
I'll have more coming up on what else we can expect in weather in just a bit.
HARRIS: Good.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: ... moving around, Bonnie...
HARRIS: Good.
NGUYEN: ... shaking and moving. All right. Thank you.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
NGUYEN: Still to come on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, shoppers beware. The holiday debt hangover is nearing. Coming up in our 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour, tips on how to help your credit score. So if you shopped till you dropped last weekend. You don't want to miss this.
HARRIS: And Thanksgiving is over, but the holiday season has just started. Feeling stressed-out yet?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: Next on "HOUSE CALL," yes, many are, we'll try to take the stress out of the season, right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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