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CNN Live Sunday

Pentagon Says 13 Iraqis Dead for Every U.S. Casualty

Aired October 30, 2005 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, CNN LIVE SUNDAY: Coming up this hour, the enormous human toll of the insurgency in Iraq. Deep inside a Pentagon report is the government's guess at how many Iraqi civilians have died. Also ahead, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano takes us to the flattened sugar cane fields of south central Florida and the bitter harvest left by hurricane Wilma.
And later, America prepares to pay its respects to the rich tapestry of the civil rights movement begun 50-years ago by a seamstress named Rosa Parks. Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All of that and more after this check of the headlines.

The Pentagon says that for every U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, at least 13 Iraqi civilians also have lost their lives. The Pentagon's estimate is contained in a recent report to Congress. It says that on average, more than of 50 Iraqi civilians are killed or wounded in insurgency attacks each day. The full story on the human toll in Iraq is just ahead in a live report from Baghdad.

In India, the death toll from a series of explosions in New Delhi is now 59 with more than 200 people hurt. Security has been increased as the nation prepares for its biggest religious holiday. A report from CNN's Satinder Bindra straight ahead.

And in central America, Beta has been downgraded to a tropical storm after crashing ashore in Nicaragua earlier today as a category two hurricane. This video shows people fleeing last night ahead of the storm. Officials report the town of Sandy Bay is largely destroyed.

Much has been made in recent days of U.S. military deaths surpassing the 2,000 mark in Iraq. That figure is eclipsed by a Pentagon estimate of 26,000 Iraqi civilians being killed by insurgents since January of 2004. It's a staggering toll exacted one vicious car bomb at a time. CNN's Aneesh Raman has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid charred debris, they stand in disbelief. A small farming community crippled Saturday by a car bomb that killed nearly 30, that destroyed the central marketplace, that stunned generations. Grieving women huddled on the roadside as children stood next to the wheels of a blown out vehicle, witness to a sequence played out often in many Iraqi cities. A vehicle drove near to the mosque but there was nobody there. So it turned back to the market where many people were around and it exploded.

It is virtually impossible to know the true civilian toll of these sustained insurgent attacks. But tucked away in a report to Congress last month, the Pentagon for the first time publicly estimated that 26,000 Iraqis have been killed or wounded by insurgents since the start of 2004, with an average of 64 civilian casualties daily by early September this year. The numbers can be numbing, but each time for each community, these attacks stopped time and fuel sectarian divisions.

TRANSLATOR: Why do they kill our children? (INAUDIBLE) Revenge them in this life and after life. God, send them to hell.

RAMAN: At the local hospital, the scenes are familiar as well. The wounded like 9-year-old Ali Nasser desperately tried to stay alive. His father turned away in anguish. Hours hater, Ali died, one of four children killed in the attack. And so as has happened before and as will happen again in Iraq, in the village of Wider (ph), the coffins were lined up, hasty burials carried out. The rising number of civilian deaths is the tragic drum beat of Iraq's insurgency. And while it will never be known how many have died in the past two and a half years, such a number would undoubtedly do no justice to the loss suffered by families throughout this country. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: In Afghanistan, allegations have surfaced of U.S. soldiers hitting captives. The U.S. military today says two soldiers at a base in southern Afghanistan are under investigation for allegedly punching two detainees. Possible charges against the soldiers include conspiracy, assault and dereliction of duty. The alleged blows apparently did not require medical attention.

The growing U.S. death toll in Iraq. The failed Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers and now a five count indictment against a senior White House official - it's a safe bet, the Bush White House is in crisis mode. If presidential history is any guide, experts say a shakeup in the administration could be in the works. For some insight, let's turn to CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash. Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka, well, you know, as it became very clear that Harriet Miers' nomination was in big, big trouble, talking to Bush advisors outside the White House some former senior officials who are still very close to people here, they were becoming more and more vocal with their idea that perhaps the big problem was that some of the people here have just been serving too long. You've had five years of people going at full tilt, maybe even longer, those who were working on the president's campaign back in 1999 and they're tired and even insular and simply have not reached out the way they should have and their decision making process essentially has been slipping. Andy Card, for example, the chief of staff is the longest serving chief of staff in history. Some who have met with him recently say that he looks tired, beleaguered. Bush allies who were saying that privately now Fredricka are becoming more public. They say it's time for a White House staff shakeup. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R) MISSISSIPPI: Duty to bring in you know, new people. I have a new chief of staff. Not that my previous chief of staff wasn't excellent but he has right now a more important role. So I don't know. The president may consider that, but that's his decision. That's a personnel decision that it would be hard for me to make a judgment on. I'm not there every day. But I do think that new blood quite often helps change the dynamics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, one Bush advisor said that the president is disappointed in some of his top staff. All of the frankly debacles that have gone on, particularly at the end of last week with Harriet Miers actually pulling her nomination and of course the indictment of the vice president's chief of staff. But talking to a couple of senior officials, they say that if there are going to be -- and there are likely going to be some staff changes, it will likely not happen until at least the end of this year, beginning of next year, that the president is certainly going to take stock.

He is assessing, but in this current climate, he does not want to do anything in the words of one senior official brash or something that will look like a PR effort. So at this point, likely not to see any immediate changes. Of course, something could happen and that could change but no immediate changes. What they are focusing on right now in terms of hitting the reset button Fredricka is the new Supreme Court pick and that we expect as soon as tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: And Dana, last hour I spoke with a "Time" magazine reporter. And in their report, they're using the words loss of confidence is what the president has in certain people from Dick Cheney to Karl Rove to even Andy Card. But your sources are using a different kind of language, saying that there is disappointment.

BASH: Uh-huh.

WHITFIELD: What is it with the war of words and what are the discerning differences here?

BASH: Well, I guess it all depends on who you walk to and the relationship with the White House and the way they described it. And frankly the relationship with the president how he might be describing how he feels about his top staff. Look, there is no question about the fact that from the president on down, they get this is a terrible, terrible time for the president, the worst of his political lifetime. And certainly some say that the president himself is to blame, that perhaps he should take that into consideration for some of the problems. But also, you have to look at staff, and part of the issue will be whether or not staff has to go. And likely at this point, it might happen, but probably not immediately because they don't want to look like they're reacting to something.

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll all be watching. Dana Bash at the White House, thank you.

Police in India say they are investigating a claim of responsibility in yesterday's bombings at a crowded marketplace, but they say no one has been detained. Government officials meanwhile blamed the New Delhi bombings on terrorists. They have not however singled out any specific group. CNN's Satinder Bindra has more on the blasts and the victims.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bank executive Satish Ochani (ph) was at work when he received word several of his family members had been injured in one of the blasts. By the time he reached this hospital, his 26-year-old sister-in-law was dead. Five other members of his family are still being treated for burns and other injuries.

My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, wife and two girls are at this hospital he says. Three members of my family are still critical. More than 55 people were killed and almost 200 people were injured in Saturday's blasts. Police are still investigating what they describe as a terrorist attack. For 24 hours after the explosions, they still haven't revealed any details. In fact, they've just announced a $2,200 reward for any information leading to the bombers.

Two of the explosions were in crowded marketplaces where thousands were shopping for the Indian festival of Divali (ph). Among the shoppers, software engineer (INAUDIBLE) parents. His mother escaped unhurt. But even after visiting the morgue and all the city's hospitals, (INAUDIBLE) has still not been able to find his father.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) He's nowhere to be found.

BINDRA: More than 30 people were killed in the south Delhi market. But the day after, several store owners including 42-year-old Arjun Kumar are busy cleaning up.

ARJUN KUMAR, STORE OWNER: If I cry, it's not going to help he says. I need strength to rebuild my life.

BINDRA: Strength and resilience is also what Satish Ochani will need in the coming days and weeks. As he's comforted by his friends, Ochani says he remains disoriented and confused. I don't want to say anything to the people who did this, he says. I just hope my government takes notice and wakes up. After these attacks, the government has increased security nationwide. It may be too late for these families who until just yesterday were planning week-long festivities. Now they're cremating their dead. Satinder Bindra, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Also in India, the death toll in yesterday's train derailment has climbed to at least 111; 92 others were injured when seven passenger cars plunged into a river. Officials say flood waters resulting from torrential rains washed away part of the tracks. Rescuers had to swim to the train to reach some of the survivors. Army troops were lowered from helicopters as well to assist in the rescue efforts.

Ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, a California neighborhood in shock. What caused a 19-year-old to go on a shooting rampage, killing two of his neighbors? We're live in Los Angeles with the latest.

The 13th hurricane of the season proves an unlucky number for parts of Nicaragua. An update on Beta is straight ahead, plus Florida's agriculture industry is still reeling a week after hurricane Wilma. We'll have a live report on the impact of certain produce deliveries to your grocery store.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Investigators are looking for a motive in this weekend's fatal shootings in southern California. Right now investigators say two people were fatally shot by an Orange County teen who apparently chose them at random. CNN's Kareen Wynter is following the story from Los Angeles. Kareen.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that's right. Investigators say this is quite a bizarre case here and that they haven't determined what led 19-year-old William Freund on a murder spree. Officials say Freund left his house Saturday morning wearing a black cape and helmet and drove to a neighbor's house. The teen allegedly used a shotgun to kill 22-year-old woman and her father. There was another family member who was in the house at the time. He escaped the through the backdoor. Detectives say Freund also fired into a home across the street and tried shooting at another neighbor but the shotgun misfired. That's when Freund went home and shot himself to death. Officials say there's no connection between Freund and his victims other than the fact they were quote, neighborhood acquaintances.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM AMORMINO, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT: No prior contact with the suspect. We have no prior calls to the location. I will say though that his behavior is definitely strange and bizarre. Anyone that leaves his home with a shotgun dressed in a dark cape with some type of a helmet on is definitely does exhibit strange behavior. I'm not sure exactly what the problem was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WYNTER: Orange County officials spent the weekend interviewing some of the victim's family members, namely the brother who was home during the shooting and escaped. Fredricka, another big question here is where this teen may have gotten the shotgun. Police say they interviewed the suspect's parents. The parents apparently said that they had no idea that their son was in possession of the shotgun. So perhaps this weapon was obtained illegally.

WHITFIELD: So sad. All right. Thank you so much Kareen.

Should California create a special police force to patrol the border? The controversy over that question drew hundreds of protestors from each side to the state's capitol. If the supporters get enough signatures, the issue could go on the ballot in next year's elections.

About 30,000 people are taking it easy this evening and sporting new t-shirts after running in today's Marine Corps marathon in Arlington, Virginia. Today was the marathon's 30th anniversary.

And in the heart of Kansas, who else would you expect to see but former Soviet Union President Mikel (ph) Gorbachev. Gorbachev paid a small visit to the small town of Linsberg (ph), Kansas, to promote chess for peace. The initiative was dreamed up by a Russian immigrant who started a little international chess school in Linsberg. The school has actually attracted a number of prestigious tournaments and matches to the town which only has a population of a few thousand.

The United States is pushing hard for a UN Security Council resolution that threatens UN sanctions against Syria, if Syria refuses to cooperate with an investigation into the death of Lebanon's former prime minister. A vote on the measure is expected tomorrow. CNN's United Nations producer Liz Neisloss joins us now on the telephone with the very latest and what are the chances and the prospects of this measure?

LIZ NEISLOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a little bit like a chess game, a diplomatic chess game at the United Nations. In a few hours, the permanent five members of the security council, that is the U.S., the British, French, Russians and the Chinese will be sitting down to dinner. Now, at that time, they expect to put the finishing touches on this resolution. The U.S. (AUDIO GAP) and the diplomatic lead on the resolution really think they have the votes they need, a majority of 15 members, the 15 members of the security council. They believe they have those votes, but the Russians, the Chinese and the Algerians all linked with the Syrians do not want this to go through.

WHITFIELD: Of course, because among the items in this resolution, it's asking that Syria detain individuals that are suspected in the involvement of this February 14th assassination of Rafic (ph) Hariri. And it sounds as though this resolution is also asking for Syria to actually cooperate and go after these suspects as well as detaining them. Why does the UN feel confident they could entrust the Syrian government to do that?

NEISLOSS: It's interesting Fredricka because the Syrians actually announced this weekend that they do plan to conduct an investigation. You would wonder when a lot of fingers are pointing at top Syrian officials. I think the investigator for the United Nations who is a German prosecutor (INAUDIBLE) also felt that the Syrians could help. I think perhaps they feel that they will be able to draw out some information, things that will help fill in the investigative gap somehow. Surely there will be Lebanese investigators. There will be continued international presence. But the U.S. is really hoping that all this will really box the Syrians in diplomatically, force perhaps more cooperation on broader issues, things like removing support for Palestinian militias and from the terrorists which have been entering Iraq through Syria's borders. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Liz Neisloss, thank you so much for that report over the phone about UN resolution involving Syria.

Coming up on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, remnants of hurricane Beta continue giving Nicaragua a lashing. We'll have details coming up. Plus, a woman complains to a judge that she doesn't feel safe. Now she's in the hospital with massive burns. Find out what happened and what some say the judge should do now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: What was hurricane Beta is now a tropical depression. It's dumping 10 to15 inches of rain across Nicaragua today, raising concerns about potential floods and mud slides. Many coastal residents were moved inland as the storm approached. Officials report most of the town of Sandy Bay is destroyed. Beta came ashore this morning with sustained winds of about 105 miles per hour. The storm was also felt on the tiny Colombian island of San Andreas where high winds and heavy surf pounded the coastline. Beta is the 26th named storm of this record setting Atlantic hurricane season. Well CNN is your hurricane headquarters. For more on Beta and where it's headed, let's join meteorologist Bonnie Schneider in the weather center. Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNIEDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, it's hard when you look at that number, we were here for all these storms. Let's hope this is the last one. Beta has been a powerful hurricane. It came in with maximum winds at 105 miles per hour right around 7:00 a.m. near the town of La Parra (ph) in Nicaragua. You can see that satellite loop right here coming in early this morning. So really as it came in, just as we were expecting that tremendous amount of rain 15 inches reported on the ground, the problem is, even though Beta is dissipating, we're still getting that rain across much of Nicaragua and El Salvador. Eight to 10 inches of rain still expected before the storm completely dissipates and it will according to the National Hurricane Center.

As we look further, you can see the track kind of stops right in the middle of Nicaragua because the storm will break apart. It's not expected to come out into the Pacific and reform as a different storm or anything like that. So Beta will be history in about 24 hours. The problem for this region it's still causing mud slides and a lot of problems.

Switching here to the U.S. mainland, we're in a great weather pattern, especially for tomorrow and of course being Halloween, you want to have good weather for trick or treaters. It will be cool in the nation's midsection, not too bad, but the coldest air will stay to the north. So that's a good thing. These arrows that you see represent the northern and southern branch of the jet stream. And as you can see, we're keeping that cooler air right to the center, but the milder air will stay in place in the southeast and even right up to the Atlantic coastline is really looking good. Washington, D.C.'s tomorrow's high, 72. Fredricka, that's about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, so some good weather for tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: That is nice. All right, thanks so much Bonnie.

Well, farmers in south Florida are trying to figure out what, if anything, can be saved from this year's crops. Hurricane Wilma blew through the region last weekend and the state's agriculture commissioner says the damage is the worst he's ever seen. CNN's JJ Ramberg is standing by in Homestead, Florida, with more. JJ

JJ RAMBURG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. Let me just show right here this pole bean farm and you can see pretty much nothing is salvageable. Everything has been downed, blown over by Wilma's winds which tore through here last Monday and the farmers have so much work ahead of them. If you just look here, this is one of the pole beans. And what farmers have to do is they have to lift this up, manual pull these beans down off of each one of these sticks and then replant the beans and put these sticks back in and think of this for hundreds and hundred of acres. These are pole beans. I talked to a lot of farmers today, people around here are growing squash, tomatoes, beans, avocados and they said this is the worst destruction they've seen from any hurricanes in their lifetime.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC PORRESE: The problem with the storm was the timing of it. We had already got our crops going and we were in full swing when it came. We've had other storms, probably worst storms, but they came early in the season before we started harvesting or after we had finished.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAMBURG: So these farmers really sustained a lot of damage to their crop and they're working overtime as you can imagine to try and get it going again. The farmer who's in charge of this farm said to us, unfortunately, there are not going to be any pole beans for Thanksgiving this year but he says there will be some for Christmas. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: That's so sad. Unfortunately, hurricane season doesn't end for still another four weeks or so. All right, thanks so much, JJ. Sorry about that, go ahead.

RAMBURG: I was just saying that's something that they talk a lot about here. There was so much destruction and to think, not only this year, but next year this could happen again or it probably will happen again.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, JJ. Still ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, a cry for help, a clerical error and a family wanting justice. A gripping story about Yvette Cave (ph). And then is race a factor when it comes to health care in this country? Stay with us for that answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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