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CNN Saturday Morning News

New Saddam Audiotapes; First Mardi Gras Since Hurricane Katrina Hit New Orleans; Powerball Jackpot Biggest Ever

Aired February 18, 2006 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well it's a ticket to paradise. But getting there could be a huge challenge. Coming up Powerball fever -- millions of people have it as the jackpot boils over.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: $365.

HARRIS: All right. We'll have a live report straight ahead from the CNN Center. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's February 18, 9:00 a.m. here at CNN Headquarters, 7:00 a.m. in Arizona where people are betting on their odds of winning.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: If only we could buy it here in Georgia I tell you I would be there right now standing in line.

Good morning everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for being with us today.

Here are the headlines right now in the news.

We are getting word this morning that three Americans are among nine foreign workers abducted in Nigeria. The group has been working in the region for an oil services firm. Now, militants have been attacking oil and gas pipelines in the western African nation in the recent months.

HARRIS: By air and by sea help is coming to a remote region in the Philippines. About 1,800 people are missing after a massive mudslide buried an entire village. Look at these pictures. The mudslide was triggered by two weeks of steady rains. So far only about 40 bodies have been found.

NGUYEN: Barely tell there's a village there after all that mud.

Well a search and rescue effort is also always under way right now for two U.S. Marine Corps helicopters. They crashed yesterday off the coast of the East African nation of Djibouti. At least two injured crewmembers have been rescued that is the good news, the bad news ten others are missing. There are some newly released photos of this search mission. We are putting them up right now. The Pentagon says there's no indication hostile fire played a role.

HARRIS: CNN reporters are reporting all the recently discovered audiotapes from Iraq on the tapes Saddam Hussein speculates about a terrorist attack on the United States possibly involving weapons of mass destruction. The tapes date from the mid-1990s but were released to us this morning. Our senior editor of Arab affairs Octavia Nasr, she joins us with more in just a moment.

NGUYEN: Back here in the U.S. an arctic blast in the northeast is blamed for three deaths. Two people in New York State, one person in Massachusetts, were hit by falling trees. You can see with these high winds. Wind gusts were nearly 80 miles per hour in some areas.

HARRIS: Betty, let the good times roll. It's Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. Folks in the Big Easy won't be denied. They are determined that no hurricane levy breaches or government fall-out will separate them from tradition. Mardi Gras day is more than two weeks away. The parties, parades and festivals have already kicked off. We'll have a live report from Sean Callebs in the Big Easy straight ahead.

NGUYEN: Looking forward to that.

Now on one hand newly released audiotapes of Saddam Hussein reveal him talking about a possible terrorist attack on the United States. On the other hand intelligent analysts say the tape dating from the mid 1990s offer no new information about Iraqi weapons programs.

The tapes were released to CNN this morning and we have been studying them very closely. CNN's Octavia Nasr our senior editor for Arab affairs joins us now with more on these. Octavia you have had a chance to pore over some of these, a lot of tapes really in this. What have you learned?

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SENIOR EDITOR FOR ARAB AFFAIRS: Twelve hours.

NGUYEN: We could be here all day. What you have seen and what you heard, what have you learned so far?

NASR: Well, very interesting portion of the first tape, that's what I listened to, it really very revealing. Because you hear Saddam Hussein with his council, basically each one of them speaking taking turns speaking to him. Telling him what they think.

They are really talking about trying to get the message across to the west, talking about the western media how it's very much anti-Iraq and talking about their media not being able to reach out to the world and tell the world the perspective of his excellency as they call him on the tape, that is Saddam Hussein. The perspective of Iraq.

They talk about the sanctions and talk about how they fulfilled some requirements by the U.N. and how the U.N. and the U.S. are not really giving them credit for it. They also talk about possibly sending an envoy; they talk about sending the vice president talking about sending him to the Security Council to make the case for Iraq, sending him to Morocco.

They talk about initiatives by the king of Morocco and saying that they should being exploring that approach and sending the vice president to him to discuss further help from him and they talk about friendly countries.

Then they mention Tunisia and Sudan saying they should reach out to these countries in order to make their case. They talk about European countries but don't name them by name. Now the interesting thing about a tape like this, you know, you always say you wish -- I say sometimes I wish I'm a bug on the wall.

NGUYEN: Yes.

NASR: To hear what is happening in a meeting. So this gives you that impression that you are there, it is a secret meeting. No one is listening. But these guys were taping themselves. Even hear the microphone move from one person to another.

NGUYEN: Which leaves me to suspect is why? Why were they taping themselves? Maybe it would get out? Maybe this would provide some clues to somebody? Or are they setting people up?

NASR: Look at this picture. This is a meeting there of the Iraqi cabinet. See microphones there. It is not unusual. It is not unheard of that you wonder are they using the microphones for everybody to hear or are they using the microphones for them to tape these meetings?

When you hear an audio like this then these pictures make more sense now that there were microphones in the room. Maybe they were taping. Maybe they taped all the meetings just to keep track. You don't know. This is not something we'll be able to answer.

Of course the Iraqis and those close to Saddam Hussein those who are present at those meetings will be able to answer. But it is very interesting how they want to make sure that whatever they say is heard. The audio on the tapes is not really great, obviously.

And you look at the old fashioned microphones there. This is quality audio that you get, very poor. It's not clear all the time. But it's definitely clear, you hear Saddam Hussein and you hear his son-in-law, you hear them. You hear those conversations.

NGUYEN: But to be very clear, it does not show in any definitive form that Iraq did have, did acquire, weapons of mass destruction.

NASR: No. As a matter of fact those portions about the weapons of mass destruction is very interesting because they hint to the fact that they acquired some thing that could lead to weapons of mass destruction. You know, the experts who are doubting the -- not the authenticity of the tape but basically that these tapes were made secretly.

Those are those who think that Saddam Hussein did make those tapes to send them out and give the wrong impression and give the world the impression that he indeed has weapons of mass destruction to scare the world, basically. They could be a set-up.

There are people saying that. When you listen to the conversations, they are really making an effort, they are making a point to make it clear that we do have something but we're not going to say what. They are in locations but we're not going to say where.

NGUYEN: Very, very interesting, 12 hours. You got a lot of work to do Octavia.

NASR: Tell me about it.

NGUYEN: Thanks for telling us about what little you have been able to listen to so far this morning since we just got it this morning. Thank you, Octavia.

NASR: Sure thing.

HARRIS: Well, move over Katrina, Mardi Gras is taking over. There are no fewer than five parades in New Orleans today to kick off the Mardi Gras season. And post-Katrina everybody is watching as New Orleans pulls this is big party together. CNN's Sean Callebs joins us from the route of one of the parades. Sean, good morning to you.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning indeed, Tony. We're standing on St. Charles it's going to be closed in a little while, about three or four hours. That's when the first of the five floats from today's parade will begin rolling down this area.

It's kind of the unknown at this point. Just how is Mardi Gras going to be embraced in this city? Without question the people have been toiling for months trying to clean up the area, rebuild. They are looking for some kind of break. They want to celebrate, they want to smile, they want to hear music, and they want some semblance of normalcy.

Well we can show you some pictures from last night. One of the first parades kicking off, this is the Excalibur crew rolling through. They were actually supposed to be two parades last night, one unfortunately canceled. The people we talked to said the turnout there wasn't nearly what it has been in years past. They say don't read into much of that. That's the community outside of New Orleans. A lot of people out there, people who live in the area, many haven't returned.

New Orleans is really what these people are focusing on. Usually about 38,000 hotel rooms. We know about 10,000 of those still occupied by emergency workers. I talked to some tourist people this week and they say a lot of those workers are actually bringing their families in this week. They want to celebrate, as well.

The first parade as I mentioned kicks off here in three hours. CNN I want to point out, Tony, was well represented last night and in the Excalibur float. I want to bring in one of our fine audio technicians editor. Kevin, this is how he was dressed last night on the float. Tossing the beads. There you go. How about that.

HARRIS: There has to be work to be done.

CALLEBS: I say get a freeze frame of this. Later on today, call up the flying monkey in the "Wizard of Oz." See if there's any similarity. HARRIS: They are not in the same room.

All right. Sean appreciate it. Thank you, sir.

NGUYEN: Domestic terrorist that's what U.S. marshals are calling two men they arrested, check them out authorities say they also found illegal firearms and several hundred pounds of explosives in their home. Our affiliate station in Albuquerque reports the men have made comments expressing their hatred for the government.

A teenager on an amusement park ride in Arizona is nursing some scrapes and bruises this morning. He reached for something while on a log ride and fell off. For a little while he was pinned under water. But he did he manage to get free.

A 3-year-old Iraqi girl is recovering from surgery at a southern California hospital. That surgery repaired a stomach injury she got when a U.S. artillery shell accidentally hit her home in Iraq. She was brought overseas by the group "No More Victims" which funds medical treatment for children injury in war.

HARRIS: Some won't be going to work next week, will it be you? A couple of CNN SATURDAY MORNING the odds are one in 146 million.

NGUYEN: Yikes!

HARRIS: Your odds are better of getting struck by lightning.

NGUYEN: Twice. Some one said your odds are better of dating a super model than winning this lottery.

HARRIS: Three hundred sixty five million reason why to play hooky. Should you win? Good morning Brad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Take a look at this, fierce winds and bitter cold in the nation's northeast. Thousands remain without power after a winter storm brought high winds, close to 80 miles per hour. Falling trees killed three people in New York and Massachusetts.

It's much the same in western Washington. Power is out south of Seattle. Hundreds of trees are down. Temperatures are bitter cold and expected to get even colder. Brad Huffines joins us now. Brad no you are not old man winter, but old man winter has sure sped in, it's February. Aren't things supposed to be warming up a little bit?

Well usually we take you know the old saying it's always darkest before the dawn. This is the dark part here.

NGUYEN: I hear you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Run for your lives there.

OK. Brad, thank you.

A quick look now at the morning's top stories. Three Americans are among the group of nine foreign workers taken hostage in Nigeria. The group has been working for an oil services firm in the region. Militants have been attacking oil and gas pipelines in the western African nation in the recent months.

As many as 1,800 people are feared dead from a mud slide that buried a Philippines farming community. Rescue workers say they have little hope of finding more survivors, 18 people were rescued Friday.

CNN is reviewing recently discovered audiotape from Iraq. They reveal Saddam Hussein speculating about a terrorist attack on the U.S. possibly involving weapons of mass destruction. The tapes date from the mid 1990s but were released to us this morning. CIA officials and the director of intelligence say information on the tapes don't change post war analysis on Iraqi weapons programs.

NGUYEN: Tony, it's the stuff dreams are made of. A record lottery jackpot up for grabs and the grand prize could be yours. We're going to have the details straight ahead.

Next hour case closed. The sheriff's office will not file charges in Dick Cheney shooting accident. Is that that simple? Did Dick Cheney get off easy? We'll debate the issue at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. Stay tuned for that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: We are $365 million at stake standing in line for a few hours might not sound like a bad idea if you're after a power ball ticket today. Stand in line you will. Lots of people out there today. A little Yoda, that was pretty weak.

Lots of people out there today hoping to get lucky in this country's biggest lottery jackpot ever. CNN's Gary Nurenberg is in Washington. Just one of the many places overtaken by this Powerball frenzy. Gary, good morning.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, you know what I just learned. If you spend $100, I saw a guy hand over a $100 bill. If you spend a hundred dollars on Powerball tickets it takes two minutes to print them out. There is a long line here in Washington, largely because the adjacent states of Maryland and Virginia do not sell Powerball tickets.

They are sold in 28 states across the nation. This started in 1987 under a different name. Became Powerball in 1992. Now there are 28 states along with D.C. and the Virgin Islands that sell them. A number of people in this long line that you just saw have been here since this opened at 7:00 this morning.

Hamilton Bent is one of the people that came in this morning to buy these lottery tickets. Mr. Bent I'm told your chances are greater of being hit by lightning twice than they are of winning the Powerball. Why are you spending the money today?

HAMILTON BENT: Because I have to be in it in order to win it.

NURENBERG: I guess the advertising campaign for these folks. It seemed to work with you. How much money are you spending and tell me what kind of luck you have had in lotteries in the past?

BENT: So far I spend only $10 each week on the Powerball, another $5 on the hot lotto tickets.

NURENBERG: Have you had any luck?

BENT: Oh, minimal.

NURENBERG: You do this every week whether it's $300 million or $5 million, right?

BENT: Indeed.

NURENBERG: Is this your retirement plan?

BENT: Not really. Just for the sake of doing it. It helps some of the local causes, I've been told.

NURENBERG: If you win, what happens to the money?

BENT: Oh, well, then I would invest it for my children and grandchildren.

NURENBERG: Mr. Bent, thanks very much for helping us. If you win I want you to buy lunch.

BENT: You're welcome.

NURENBERG: Tony, so far this has been a good deal for me. I get lunch if he wins. I get lunch if you win, no losers here.

HARRIS: Well you better check with Betty. Betty is a little tight with her cash.

NGUYEN: I'm still waiting on my ticket Gary. I'm still waiting. Got the numbers yet?

HARRIS: Numbers coming.

NURENBERG: Tell me the numbers you want, we will get them for you.

NGUYEN: I can't say them out loud then someone else will get my numbers.

HARRIS: Just hit the little button. There you go.

Thank you Gary. So what would you do? They say money can't buy happiness. What would you do if you won? I put together my wish list. NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: OK, after taxes and charities and showering my co- workers with cash.

NGUYEN: I like the sound of that.

HARRIS: Yes, OK. I would buy a house on an island, travel everywhere.

NGUYEN: Everywhere.

HARRIS: Unlimited travel. Hire a personal trainer because I'm paunching out a little bit.

NGUYEN: Got to get fit. You got a lot of money to spend.

HARRIS: Rent out Carnegie Hall for all of my favorite musicians.

NGUYEN: Who would be the headline?

HARRIS: I love Bonnie Raitt.

NGUYEN: Dare to dream, Tony. I'm buying the entire island. Forget just a house. I want the whole island. I'll have a Gulf Stream jet to get there and a personal chef. I've got to eat very well with that kind of money. A Bentley and a chauffeur to drive me around the island since there's nobody else there. Of course, Tony, that's after paying my taxes and giving millions upon millions to charity.

HARRIS: Feel like you have to have a disclaimer. Going to do good work with the money.

NGUYEN: I think anyone who comes into a lot of money; they definitely want to do something good with it, right? Do want to do something good with it right? Got to have some fun.

HARRIS: Enough high jinxes?

NGUYEN: I think we're done.

"Open House" is straight ahead. If you have ever had dreams of owning your own vacation beach home. You may want to buy that with the money. You might want to stick around for this because coming up next the debate over beachfront development and flood insurance.

HARRIS: And next hour Gina Davis is a leader of the free world on the hit series "Commander in Chief." Which woman is ready to be president in real life? Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, "Parade Magazine" is announcing its top eight women candidates in 2008. At 10:00 a.m. we'll break down the contenders.

NGUYEN: But first do you feel like you're living life in the fast lane. Vacation may be just what you need to help slow you down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Tired of traffic jams? Those electronic leashes called Blackberries and cell phones, work, bills.

STEPHANIE OSWALD, EDITOR-IN CHIEF, "TRAVELGIRL" MAGAZINE: The more busy and crazy our lives get the more we need to press the pause button and say, whoa, I need to breathe. I need to relax and I need to gain perspective.

ANNOUNCER: Consider taking a spiritual vacation to help you unwind from the daily stresses of life.

OSWALD: Spiritual vacations can take many different forms. People think spiritual that must mean religion. But that's not the case. It can be about religion but it doesn't have to be. It's really about finding yourself and living in the presence and also stepping into simpler times.

ANNOUNCER: For some people it's about contemplating major life changes.

OSWALD: A lot of people go on the trips because they are going through a transformation. They have had a death in the family; they have had a new born. They just had a divorce.

ANNOUNCER: Whether your spiritual journey takes you to a scenic location, an inn or monastery the one common denominator is taking time to rest, reflect and renew the spirit.

OSWALD: People don't have a lot of time. A lot of times these are just a weekend away or an afternoon, a Sunday afternoon up in the mountains.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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