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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
New Year's Celebrations Across the World; Fallout From Explosion in Iraq; Historic Level of Security at Times Square
Aired December 31, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, GUEST HOST: Happening now, live pictures from Greece. You are looking at New Year's celebrations at the Acropolis in Athens. Let's listen in. All right, looking fun and festive in Greece.
Also happening now, fallout from a New Year's Eve explosion in Iraq. We'll talk more about that. And happening in New York, a historic level of security in Times Squire. We'll go there live.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
New Year's nerves, extraordinary security in America's cities. We'll go coast to coast, from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Washington and Walt Disney World. New Year's Eve, the world celebrates.
The arrest on tape. The sheriff shows off Michael Jackson in custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: What new recordings reveal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that OK for you, Mr. Jackson?
MICHAEL JACKSON: It's wonderful. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: And American icon: a special interview with Mr. New Year's Eve, Dick Clark.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, December 31, 2003.
COLLINS: Hello. I'm Heidi Collins at the CNN center in Atlanta. Wolf Blitzer is off today.
Celebration and security. You are looking at a live picture of New York's Times Square, where up to three quarters of a million revelers are expected to ring in the New Year. They'll do so, though, under unprecedented security. There's no specific terror threat, but police officers are in combat gear and the military is helping to patrol the skies.
The skies over the Las Vegas strip will be lit by neon and fireworks but will be closed to air traffic. Officials say the city has been mentioned in the chatter picked up by intelligence agencies.
We begin, though, in New York, where authorities are doing all they can to keep everyone safe this New Year's Eve. CNN's Jason Carroll is in the middle of it all. He joins us now live from Times Square. Jason, hello.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And hello to you there, Heidi. Already, thousands of people have started to gather here in Times Square, started gathering early this afternoon. Obviously, security -- security obviously on the minds of many people who are out here today. As you said, there has been no specific threat to New York City, but the New York FBI does have concerns based on recent chatter that they say does have, quote, "higher reliability."
Despite that, though, security is at the highest level that many here have seen. Thousands of officers have been patrolling the area. Manhole covers have been covered, trash cans removed as a precaution, some police carrying radiation detectors throughout the area just in case, officers checking the bags of all the people who are entering this area of Times Square, magnetometers being used to detect for metal.
Despite all the security measures that have put into place, one congressman from Connecticut says he would not come to Times Square, regardless of the security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: I'll tell what you it means to me. You've got to be a fool, frankly, to go New Year's night to Times Square. I mean, I can't understand why people do that. Just one hand grenade thrown in the air, and people panicking. It's just too tempting a target. I mean, maybe you want to say we're going to survive and nobody's going to -- but why put yourself in that position?
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: I think it's a classic case of letting the terrorists win. All of this information lacks specificity. You can't run your life like that. It's -- information is always out there, these threats. I don't know what information he has. It's certainly not more than we have. So you know, I think it's irresponsible for him to say that at this moment in time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: City officials such as Ray Kelly saying everything that can be done has been done in terms of security. Anywhere between half a million to three quarters of a million people are expected to gather here in Times Square to see former POW Shoshana Johnson flip that switch that will drop the ball at midnight -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly an exciting moment, as always. But Jason, let me just ask you -- you know, some people who don't go to these New Year's celebrations there in Times Square sometimes worry, I think, a little bit about panicking and the number of people there and possible stampedes. Are there actually plans for those, to get people safely out if they need to get out?
CARROLL: Well, Heidi, as you know, New York City police are used to dealing with these large-scale events. We have a second camera here. If you can take a look at the crowd, I don't know if you'll be able to see this, but the crowd is actually sectioned off into pens. And once each pen is filled, then they move on and fill another pen and another and another. This is a measure -- a way to control the crowds if there should be some sort of an emergency.
New York City has been doing this for many, many years. They also host other major events, like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and they say that they are prepared for whatever may happen -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jason Carroll. Interesting. Thanks so much. And Happy New Year to you.
All right. Across America, the combination of a terror threat and large holiday crowds has brought extraordinary security, as we've been saying. We want to go live now to our Justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, standing by in Washington. Hi, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well,, the extra security that we heard Jason talk about is not unique to New York City this holiday season. Counterterrorism officials say that threat information has come in regarding a number of U.S. cities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): New York isn't the only city under heavy guard this New Year's. Las Vegas, which hosts an equally glitzy celebration, is also operating under an orange hue. Air space over the strip will be closed to non-commercial aircraft for six hours, and armed helicopters will be on patrol.
GOV. KENNY GUINN (R), NEVADA: We just felt that with about 300,000-plus people in a less than a two-mile stretch in a very narrow area, we thought that was a prudent thing to do.
ARENA: Government officials say Las Vegas is just one of the cities that has been mentioned as a possible terror target. Another is Chicago, where officers are performing random checks of trucks to make sure they're not transporting hazardous material. Flight restrictions are in place over Disney World in Florida, as well.
And on the West Coast, in Pasadena, California, officials say there will be more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel working the Rose Bowl festivities. CHIEF BERNARD MELEKIAN, PASADENA POLICE: I've been in personal contact every day with the FBI, with the Department of Homeland Security in Washington and with the sheriff's department terrorist early warning center.
ARENA: Smaller locales outside possible target cities are also increasing police presence. Officials in Alexandria, Virginia, are painfully aware of the short distance between it and the nation's capital.
AMY BERTSCH, ALEXANDRIA, VA, POLICE: Yes, it comes with the territory. Some of the things that make Alexandria a great place to live can also make it a challenge, being close to the nation's capital, close to the Pentagon. But it's something that we're trained to deal with.
ARENA: Much of the concern has been focused on aviation and restricting airspace, but several dozen cities are equipped with radiological sensors.
PASQUALE D'AMURO, FBI: I think it's safe to say that initial concern about biological and chemical weapons that al Qaeda's capability is beyond what we initially thought, and this is going back just a short time ago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Even if New Year's Eve comes off without a hitch, officials say the U.S. will not be in the clear. They expect the threat level to remain at orange or high through most of January -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Kelli Arena. And to you, as well, happy New Year.
ARENA: To you, too.
COLLINS: Thanks.
Well, while the New Year is still almost seven hours away from the East Coast, it's already 2004 in many countries. Here's a look now at some of the celebrations in a special New Year's edition of "Around the World."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Up above down under. Australia's Sydney harbor, the site of a spectacular New Year's fireworks display. Excited crowds filled the streets, trying to get a good look.
Ringing endorsement. In Japan, millions celebrate the New Year by visiting shrines and temples. Balloons were released in Tokyo, and Buddhist Monks rang a giant iron bell 108 times in the ritual of purification.
Hong Kong Hoopla. The Chinese New Year doesn't begin until January 22, but that didn't stop Hong Kong from staging this colorful celebration. Western holidays are growing increasingly popular in China.
Midnight in Moscow. Russia celebrates the New Year across 11 time zones. Moscow marked the arrival of 2004 with chimes and loud, enthusiastic crowds. New Year's is considered Russia's most popular holiday.
New Year's blessing. Pope John Paul II blessed worshipers during a New Year's Eve service at the Vatican. He prayed for world peace.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And celebrating now. It's just turned midnight in Athens, and the New Year's celebration there is in full swing. These are pictures of fireworks over the Acropolis. 2004, as you know, will be a very special year for Greece. It is the year Athens will host the summer Olympics.
Far from home. We also have some pictures just in from Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are marking the holiday -- a ball dropped from the flagpole at a U.S. military compound in Kabul. For Afghans themselves, the New Year does not begin until March.
Well, here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is, How do you plan to ring in 2004: Go to a party, watch celebrations on TV, or do nothing special at all? You can vote right now at cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results a little bit later on in this broadcast. And while you're there, we'd like to hear directly from you. Send us your comments anytime, and we might read some of them at the end of the program.
Armed with video and audiotape, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department fires back at Michael Jackson.
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ANDERSON: I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Also, the pop star caught whistling at his arrest. Hear it for yourself next. A New Year's Eve bombing rocks Baghdad. We'll take you there live. Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CLARK: You go through the cryogenic treatment every New Year's. You go out, freeze yourself for a few minutes, and you hang in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The world is a year older, but what about Dick Clark? The timeless host gears up to usher in 2004. He talks with Wolf Blitzer. But first, our "News Quiz." Which of the following countries celebrates New Year's by rolling blazing barrels of tar down the streets: Greece, Scotland, China, Portugal? The answer later in the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: And there they are, getting ready to ring in the New Year in just a few hours from now in New York's Times Square. People are kind of mellow right now, but I'm sure things will get fired up later on.
Moving on, though: A California sheriff today strongly denied allegations that Michael Jackson was manhandled during his surrender to authorities last month. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson played video and audiotapes of the arrest and booking process to support his claims that Jackson was treated, in his words, "with the utmost respect and courtesy." CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Santa Barbara now with more. Miguel, hello.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Heidi? It's a bit of a "he said, he said" out here in Santa Barbara. Just days after Michael Jackson did that videotaped interview with "60 Minutes," the sheriff of Santa Barbara came out with some videotape of his own.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Michael Jackson into the hands of detectives on the day of his arrest, the day Jackson claims he was manhandled.
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused. His treatment by this department can only be described as professional. I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
MARQUEZ: So shocked and troubled, the sheriff released video and audiotapes taken by his department the day Jackson was arrested.
ANDERSON: On two separate occasions during the transport to the jail, the arresting officer asked Mr. Jackson how he was doing. On the first occasion, Mr. Jackson responded by saying that he was fine. When he was asked the second time, he responded by saying he was wonderful. He was also whistling and singing to himself during transport.
MARQUEZ: The sheriff says he considers Jackson's claims to be a formal citizen's complaint and has asked the California attorney general's office to investigate. He also says if the claims are proved false, Jackson will have another problem.
ANDERSON: I will request that criminal charges of false report of peace officer misconduct be pursued against him.
MARQUEZ: Sheriff Anderson says Jackson seriously hurt his credibility, but Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, in a statement says it's the sheriff who has a credibility problem, and, quote, "will ask that the entire case from its inception be investigated by the attorney general's office." One legal analyst says, credibility can play a big part in the case.
CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: If he has found a false allegation, then certainly, that undermines his credibility. And Jurors are not likely to forget those false charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Now, California's attorney general, Bill Lockyer, has said an that investigation is, in fact, under way. He also says that it'll look into whether or not Mr. Jackson's rights were violated. Didn't know how soon it would be completed, but said as soon as it is, he'll make the results public -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Miguel Marquez. Thanks so much.
Well, a short while after the Santa Barbara County sheriff said he's asked the state attorney general to investigate Michael Jackson's allegation of mistreatment, the singer's spiritual advisers issued a similar call at a news conference in Los Angeles. CNN's Charles Feldman is there. He has the very latest. Hi, Charles.
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. And actually, they were beaten to the punch. They got together, they were intending to call for an investigation by at least the sheriff. The sheriff beat them to it, saying that he wanted the attorney general to investigate. And as you just heard my colleague Miguel say, not too long ago, the California attorney general said that he will investigate allegations of police abuse against Michael Jackson.
But the three people who held the news conference, including one who's sort of a self-proclaimed spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson, say that, yes, they played some videotapes. You see the videotapes, for example, of Michael Jackson arriving in Santa Barbara and getting off the airplane that took him to California from Las Vegas, and that's where he was arrested in the hangar. And yes, they said the sheriff talked about how Michael Jackson complained in the police car about the handcuffs hurting his wrists, but he says they didn't play the tape, and that, he says, is just not good enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIRPO CARR, JACKSON SPIRITUAL ADVISER: Why did the sheriff not play the tape when Michael said, These cuffs are too tight? Interestingly enough, he did not play the tape of that. He just mentioned it. We find that curious, once again. And of course, as was mentioned, anything that was done out of the ordinary or done illegally, allegedly, would have had to have happened off camera. I noticed that the officers were very friendly. Mr. Jackson, would you like the air-conditioning on? Mr. Jackson, would you like this and that? They knew.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FELDMAN: Now, I asked the group holding the news conference, what about one inconsistency? Michael Jackson claims that his shoulder was dislocated as a result of his being arrested, yet this videotape that we all have been looking at for weeks now, that was taken after Michael Jackson left the police facility -- after the booking, that is -- and you could see him waving with both his left and right arms at his fans. When asked about that, his adviser and his friend said, Well, you know, Michael Jackson was doing what all trained entertainers do. He was smiling and waving at the crowd.
And I'm going to beat you to it. Happy New Year, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Charles Feldman. Thanks so much for following all this for us. Appreciate it.
A night of celebration interrupted by violence. Details on a car bombing in Baghdad. And rundown in South Carolina. A cop caught in the headlights. Hear how he survived. And leaders in Las Vegas are placing their bets on a safe celebration tonight. We'll check out Sin City's security checks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The New Year has arrived in Iraq, but one aspect from 2003 remains the same: insurgents carrying out deadly attacks. An explosion ripped through a Baghdad restaurant, killing at least five people. CNN's Satinder Bindra is joining us now live from Baghdad with the very latest -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, you're absolutely correct. New Year festivities here dampened. It was about 9:30 PM local time when a bomb ripped through a restaurant. This bomb had been placed in a car which had been parked outside this popular eatery. Now, the force of this blast was so powerful that the building housing this restaurant collapsed. Two other buildings surrounding this restaurant also suffered serious damages.
Now, within 15 minutes of this blast, rescue personnel arrived on the scene. They had a very dangerous job to do because they were entering a structurally unsafe building. Still, they managed to pull out survivors. Ultimately, five people killed, more than fifteen people injured.
Now, a half hour after the blast, U.S. forces came. They arrived in the area. They secured the area, and then they started searching for some unexploded ordnance. They did not find any.
Now, as far as the neighbors are concerned, people very angry with these latest insurgent tactics. They've been exploding devices in crowded residential areas, and many people angry because over the past three to four days, many innocent Iraqis have been killed. Among them, at least three children. Back to you now.
COLLINS: Satinder, quickly, just wanted to ask about the possibility, because of explosions like this, a curfew being put in place once again, as we've seen before. BINDRA: No. As far as things stand now, I've been driving out in the streets, I did not see any curfew. And just about an hour-and- a-half ago, as the clock struck 12:00, many Iraqis still poured out of their homes. And in traditional Iraqi style they were firing their AK-47s in the air -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Satinder Bindra. Thanks so much. Live from Baghdad.
Well, in Iran now, the death toll from last week's earthquake continues to climb. It now tops 30,000, and officials say it could rise to 50,000. The quake devastated the southeastern city of Bam, where many residents are packing up what's left of their possessions and moving away. CNN's Ryan Chilcote is in Bam with the story of one family's ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The entire Mahmoud Zai (ph) family gathers to help with the move. By Bam standards, they were well off, owners of a hardware store and a home built of concrete. Most of the homes here were made of mud bricks. Only 5 out of 100 of my friends are still alive, and most of my relatives are dead. If you stop to think about that, he says, you could go insane. Praying is what saved them, this mother tells me. Mahmidi (ph) was reading the Quran when the earth began to shake. That, she says, saved the 36 people inside. But they've lost their livelihood, so they're leaving.
(on camera): Anyone who wants to leave Bam has to be counted and registered at centers like this one. With so many people missing here, Iranian officials are scrambling to count the living.
(voice-over): People are leaving so quickly, Bam may soon be a ghost town. To stop looting, authorities are requiring people to get new ID cards and account for what they're taking with them. Mahmidi's family is too afraid to stay in the house, something that has already made their home a target. This is where the looters broke in, she tells me, when they stole our beds.
However thorough the move is, they can't take it all with them. Mahmidi's son, who lives down the street, lost all his children and grandchildren. The Mahmoud Zais are moving to a date farm outside of town. For now, no one sees how they can ever move back. Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Bam, Iran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Celebrating New Year's with new fears. We'll go across the nation to see how cities are preparing for a night of fun and uncertainty. And America's favorite party host. Wolf's interview with Dick Clark on this New Year's Eve later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back to CNN, everyone. America on alert this New Year's Eve. Security is now at extraordinary levels across the nation. I'll talk live with the mayor of Los Angeles and one of Washington D.C.'s top leaders about the challenges they're facing.
But first, I want to get to the headlines.
Just a few hours before the clock struck midnight in Iraq, a car bomb filled with explosives ripped through a crowded and affluent restaurant in central Baghdad. Authorities say at least five Iraqis were killed, more than a dozen others wounded.
Police denial and a warning for Michael Jackson. Santa Barbara County sheriff Jim Anderson angrily denies the singers allegations of police abuse during his arrest. But Anderson says there will be an investigation, and if Jackson's allegations are proven groundless, then the pop star may be charged with making a false report.
A great tradition, music on Wall Street. It may have been a quiet end for stocks on the last day of 2003, but it was a very busy year. The market had its first annual gain since 1999. The Dow Jones is up 25 percent for the year, closing at 10,453. And the tech-laden NASDAQ has climbed almost 50 percent, ending at 2003 for the year 2003.
Back to our top story now. You're seeing a live picture of New York's Times Square. It is the scene of the world's best known New Year's celebration and the scene of some of the most stringent anti- terrorism efforts in U.S. history. Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to gather. From the streets to the rooftops to the skies, security forces are acting to keep them safe.
The landmarks may be different, but the security scene is much the same in other cities across America. We begin our New Year's snapshot in Las Vegas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LORRAINE BLANCO, KVVU-TV: Well, we're expecting at least 300,000 partiers on the strip tonight, and that's why we're getting a lot of extra help. Take a look at this. It's our local paper, and it says right across the front page, "Military gunships to patrol strip." Our local law enforcement won't be taking any chances out here because of all the recent terror concerns. They've already restricted the air space around the valley, banning private planes and helicopters from flying from 9:00 PM until 3:00 AM tomorrow morning.
Those military gunships will be highly visible to all, ready to take down any type of air threat. Our sheriff says he's considered just for a moment to cancel the fireworks show, but the pyrotechnics really don't pose any kind of threat, so the show will go on here. Las Vegas, like every other city in the country, on high alert tonight, but our authorities here are quick to point out that there's still no direct threat. In Las Vegas, I'm Lorraine Blanco.
MIKE DEFOREST, WKMG-TV: Orlando, Florida, is the nation's second most popular New Year's Eve destination, and as you can see below, Walt Disney World is absolutely packed. Several of the theme parks have been forced to close their turnstyles early because they've reached capacity. Disney has put additional security guards in the parks. They've also hired numerous off-duty sheriff's deputies to patrol the perimeter. All of the visitors entering the parks must have their bags inspected. The Department of Defense is not commenting on whether fighter jets will be deployed here tonight, but with several military bases nearby, fighter pilots are always ready. Reporting in the skies above Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, I'm Mike Deforest.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Chicago, about 80,000 celebrators, city officials say, are expected to pack through here. This is Navy pier, the location of the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. Now, the B-52s are planning to play a live concert. And of course, given orange alert and the New Year, security is very much on the minds of law enforcement personnel. There will be a stepped-up police presence, both visible law enforcement, as well as undercover personnel. In addition, there are emergency response teams prepared to react in the event of any possible terrorist activity. And lastly, officials say they're doing an advanced look at all large gatherings, to make sure the proper security measures are in place. Now, all of this, of course, with officials emphasizing there is no specific credible threat to the Chicago area. Kris Osborn, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Well, for more on all of this unprecedented security as Americans usher in the New Year, let's check out what some major cities like LA and D.C. are doing to keep party-goers safe. We are joined by Los Angeles mayor James Hahn and Washington's deputy mayor for public safety and justice Magret Kellems. Thank you both for being here. Certainly do appreciate your time today on this holiday.
Let's begin with you, Mr. Mayor. Tell us if there have been any credible or specific threats to your city.
JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES MAYOR: There have been no credible or specific threats towards Los Angeles, but every mayor in America, once the Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level to orange, has been taking additional precautions. We've done the same thing here in Los Angeles.
COLLINS: All right. And Deputy Mayor Kellems, what about your city?
MAGRET KELLEMS, WASHINGTON, D.C., DEPUTY MAYOR: The same is true for us. Washington, we know, is always one of the target-rich cities. We don't have any specific or credible information right now, but as Mayor Hahn said, we're taking additional precautions, as well.
COLLINS: Now, that being said, I would imagine it might be a little bit of a challenge for the both of you to keep people aware, alert, vigilant and all those things that we hear so very often. What have you able to do, Mayor Hahn, in your city, in order to keep people on guard, if you will? HAHN: What we've done is a number of things that are obviously, you know, very obvious to people. At the airport, we have stopped allowing curbside drop-off and pick-up. Only private vehicles are allowed to go into the parking structure. Commercial vehicles will be the only ones allowed to do curbside drop-off. We've had some visible differences at the port of Los Angeles, which is the nation's busiest seaport, a lot more harbor patrols out there.
But I think the key thing is we want people to be vigilant, but we also want people to enjoy the freedoms this country has given us. We want people to have a good time, a safe time tonight, and have a happy New Year. But we want to do the worrying for them. So we've got additional police officers out. Our neighboring city, Pasadena, obviously, has a lot of big plans for the Rose parade and Rose Bowl tomorrow. So we're doing a lot of extra precautions, but we want people to stay vigilant but also have a good time.
COLLINS: Yes, it's kind of a Catch-22. There certainly are some people who say, you know, that they definitely don't want to give in to terrorists by becoming afraid. Deputy Mayor Kellems, have you ever thought in your city, or has anyone spoken about the possibility of, oh, public service campaigns or some other types of advertisements to just remind people, maybe in a subtle way, that, Hey, this is out there, go ahead and have fun, but do remember to keep your eyes open?
KELLEMS: We actually do. We've done a couple of things here throughout the last couple of years, particularly since September 11. We've had a big community education campaign. We've produced a guide that we encourage everyone who comes to Washington to review. It talks about how you prepare yourself, how you prepare your family just for any kind of emergency, not just terrorist threats, but for your average snowstorm or hurricane or flood or any of the other natural disasters that we have here, as well. And particularly during states of heightened alert, we do a little more public outreach. We use our variable message signs, the signs you see on side of the roadways, to remind people to pay special attention, and if they see something, to call authorities if they're concerned about suspicious behavior or activities or anything else.
COLLINS: Do you get any feedback from those types of reminders? Do people like to see those types of things in their city?
KELLEMS: I think people here in Washington are actually very comfortable with it. We don't get complaints about people feeling frightened. I think the folks -- the number of folks you see, particularly the tourists out in the street, are showing that people really are being bold and they're being vigilant. They're calling in when they're concerned about something. But the rest of the time, they're out there enjoying themselves and not letting this get the best of them.
COLLINS: And Mayor Hahn, let me ask you once again about LA, a very big city. A lot of parties will be going on there tonight, I'm sure of that. How do you keep people, you know, in the middle, as you say, so that they have the fun, and yet, as we said, are aware? Does it get old? HAHN: We don't want it to get old, and so I think that's one of the reasons the Department of Homeland Security also is very cautious about raising the threat level. But on the other hand, we want people to stay vigilant. We've established a special hotline for the police department's anti-terrorism division, 1-877-8-THREAT. We want people to call that number if they see anything suspicious. We want people to be on their guard. If something, you know, kind of doesn't look right to them, we want people to let us know. And we constantly get tips that we're following up on because we want to remain vigilant.
At the same time, I think everybody in America, again, wants to let the terrorists know that we're not going to let them take away our freedoms in this country. We're going to be vigilant. We're going to take the precautions necessary. But we're also going to enjoy the freedoms America gives us. And as long as the public authorities keep reminding the public to be involved, I think the public is. We're continually getting tips that we are following up, and I think the public is on their guard all across America. But we also want them to have a good time this New Year.
COLLINS: All right. Some very good words of advice, indeed. Before we let you go, Deputy Mayor Kellems, I'll just go ahead and ask you this last question. There was a public figure today who made a comment, saying that never would he go to Times Square on a day like this. I'm sure you've heard about that. Your thoughts there?
KELLEMS: Well, I think that's unfortunate. We have, particularly in Washington, great concern about people feeling comfortable coming to major tourist destinations. Certainly, Times Square is a major tourist destination on New Year's Eve, and I think it's unfortunate. People -- all public officials, all officials need to be very cautious, very thoughtful before they make statements like that because it can have a tremendous impact psychologically, economically and on the business communities there. If there is no specific information, we need to go on and get about -- go on about our lives. And Mayor Hahn said it very well. You know, we can't let this run us out of our own towns and keep us from living our normal lives.
COLLINS: And Mayor Hahn, quickly, your thoughts on a public figure saying this type of verbiage.
HAHN: Not helpful. And I believe that Mayor Bloomberg has really worked very well with federal, state authorities there. He knows he wants to have a great party in New York City, and I think that people are going to enjoy that. They're going to have a safe time. And again, if somebody has something specific and a credible threat, we're share it with the public, if we know about it. But when we only have some general information, then we need to pass that on, as well. And I think that the information we've given should make us take extra precautions, but it's not enough for us to stop enjoying a normal life. And we want to have everybody have a happy New Year tonight.
COLLINS: Mayor James Hahn in Los Angeles, thanks so much to you for being with us. And Washington's deputy mayor, Magret Kellems, thanks again. And Happy New Year to the both of you. Appreciate your time tonight.
KELLEMS: Thank you. Happy New Year.
HAHN: Happy New Year.
COLLINS: Thank you.
A close call for a South Carolina cop, and it's all caught on tape. The dramatic pictures when we return. Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARK: We came up with this thing called "New Year's Rockin' Eve." And as it's turned out, it's a mishmash of all kinds of contemporary American music. And it turns out that it's a hit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: A hit, indeed. And he's been rockin' every New Year's Eve since. Later this hour, Wolf's interview with everybody's favorite, Dick Clark.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Authorities are investigating a troubling discovery last night at New York's JFK Airport. A dead man was found hidden in the wheelwell of a British Airways plane. Nigerian currency was found on the body. The aircraft had been in Nigeria on Christmas Eve, and authorities believe that is when the man stowed away. It's the second such case in less than a week. On Christmas Day, another body was found in a wheelwell of a plane arriving at JFK from Jamaica.
With unprecedented security measures in effect and some new steps on the way, how safe are our skies? Joining me now from Washington is Peter Goelz. He's a former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Thanks so much for being with us, Peter. We appreciate your time today. As you know, we are in a code orange terror alert. And on Christmas, there was a threat that we later learned could have involved commercial aircraft coming in from other countries. Give us a sense of the level of compliance and how safe our skies are internationally.
PETER GOELZ, FORMER NTSB DIRECTOR: Well, I think the truth is that, internationally, that security is somewhat uneven. As we saw with the individual who was found in the nosegear of the plane, the person being -- same thing happening from Jamaica, that the security at various airfields across the world is very uneven. Now, I think security here in the U.S. is vastly improved since 9/11 and is getting better. I think the U.S. is the 900-pound gorilla in civil aviation. When we say, If you want to fly into the United States, certain flights are going to have to be guarded more closely, airlines and countries are going to respond favorably.
COLLINS: Well, let's talk about the reinforced cockpit doors, cargo, federal marshals on airplanes. How are the other countries in the world lining up for those regulations?
GOELZ: Well, clearly, cockpit doors -- that's been a success. Most of the cockpit doors across the aviation field are secure. It's going to be awful difficult to get through them. Cargo is an ongoing problem. The U.S. is making strides, great strides, towards checking what's on the planes, but worldwide, that's still an issue. And I think that's going to be one of the major focuses during 2004, is how do you tighten up security on the various cargo operations around the earth?
COLLINS: And federal marshals on flights. There are certainly some airliners from other countries -- New Zealand, Finland, Thailand, to be specific -- who are saying, No, not anytime soon will we have federal marshals on our airplanes. They don't like the idea of the guns. What about that?
GOELZ: Well, there are some countries that do not feel comfortable having weapons on the flight deck or in the cabin of airplanes. I think, when confronted with an "either you put armed guards on your plane or they don't come to the U.S.," a decision's going to be made that they're going to want to fly to the U.S. because of the power of the U.S. market. I think the debate about weapons inside the secure areas, inside the aircraft itself, is going to continue. And some pilots are comfortable with guns in the cockpit. Others, like the pilots association from the UK, are absolutely opposed. That debate is going to continue, but when the U.S. government says, We want guards, we want extra security, the airlines are going to have to respond.
COLLINS: I want to get to one other issue before we let you go today. As you know, starting on Monday, every traveler who needs a visa to get into the U.S. is going to be undergoing this new biometric computer check. But there are 28 countries who are exempt from that. What's to keep a terrorist from just going through one or many of those countries that don't have this regulation and getting into the U.S.?
GOELZ: Well, it's not quite as easy as that, but there is a gap. I mean, the new biometric -- and it's a fingerprint scan coupled with a digital photograph -- really is going to make a difference because it's going to require people to come in and speak to an actual U.S. consular official as they get their visas. Now, can they bypass the system? It's possible. But I think the step that's taking place at the first of the year is a major improvement.
COLLINS: Former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, Peter Goelz. Thanks so much for your time today on the holiday. Appreciate it.
GOELZ: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: A South Carolina police officer survived a potentially deadly attack near Charleston this week. This dramatic videotape was taken from a police car. Authorities say a teenager pulled over in a stolen car, crashed the car into a police cruiser, then ran over the police officer. The officer somehow escaped with minor injuries. The teen faces charges of assault and battery with intent to kill.
America's oldest living teenager is ready to ring in the New Year. Dick Clark puts the finishing touches on another "Rockin' New Year's Eve" celebration. He's our guest next. Plus: Who will drop the ball on 2004?
WOLF BLITZER REPORTS returns after a short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Earlier we asked, Which of the following countries celebrates by New Year's by rolling blazing barrels of tar down the streets? The answer, Scotland. During the celebration of the Scottish New Year, this ritual symbolizes the old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter.
Despite security concerns, New Yorkers continue to pour into Times Square. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be on hand to watch a glittering ball descend at the stroke of midnight, marking the arrival of the New Year. Let's go back to CNN's Jason Carroll for an update on the festivities. Hi, Jason.
CARROLL: Hello to you again, Heidi. New York City has hosted a number of large-scale events over the past years, but security at this particular event tonight is like nothing ever seen before. Thousands of officers are here in the area, patrolling the area. They've removed the manhole covers as a precaution. Some of the officers are carrying radiation detectors as precaution, as well, searching also each and every person that comes into this particular area of Times Square. And when you imagine how many people are expected, anywhere between a half million to three quarters of a million, that is definitely a feat that is taking time.
Former POW Shoshana Johnson is going to be out here, along with New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg later on. The two of them will be flipping the switch that will drop the ball at midnight. That is why everyone is coming out here to see that, also to enjoy the big party.
Just a little earlier this evening, Shoshana Johnson talked about how nervous she is, in terms of delivering her message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHOSHANA JOHNSON, FORMER POW: This is an unbelievable honor. I do have butterflies. You know, there's going to be a lot of people watching. Hopefully, I won't mess it up. And all I can say is, I hope the New Year brings prosperity and safety for all of us. And I want to say, continue to pray for those soldiers, marines, airmen, everyone that's out there protecting our country. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Pop diva Cyndi Lauper will be out here, as well. The thousands that are coming here hoping that they'll be able to have a party and enjoy it safely -- Heidi. COLLINS: Hope so. All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much. Live from New York.
While, many Americans will be attending New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square and across the country, a lot of us will be staying home, watching Dick Clark on television. After 32 years of New Year's Eve TV shows, Clark has become as much of a tradition for Baby Boomers as Guy Lombardo was for their parents.
A few days ago, Wolf Blitzer sat down with Dick Clark for a conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Dick Clark, New Year's Eve, what a combination! Is it the same year after year, or does it get any different?
CLARK: How can it be the same every year, Wolf? I've got 750,000 to a million of my closest friends gathered in Times Square, going crazy. It's always exciting.
BLITZER: In the post-9/11 era, has it changed, though?
CLARK: Well, it's a little more secure these days. They got a few more barricades up. And the NYPD does one whale of a job of crowd control.
BLITZER: The electricity is always incredible, the excitement, the faces, the people. It never gets boring for you, does it.
CLARK: You know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) initials stand for, BID -- Business Improvement District, I suppose, has sort of gathered this party under its wing, and they shoot off tons and tons of confetti. They've got lasers and balloons. It's really turned into quite a magnificent occasion. I mean, the whole world looks to Times Square for New Year's Eve, and I've been lucky enough to have been there for 32 years now.
BLITZER: For 32 years? So you've seen a lot of change in the entertainment that goes on, as well, different kinds of entertainment. Walk us through your memories a little bit.
CLARK: Well, we started off with Three Dog Night at the Queen Mary, I think, in -- someplace here in California. Then we progressed to the Beach Boys and Neil Sedaka and a lot of other guests. What it always is, our "New Year's Rockin' Eve" celebration was built to contemporize the Guy Lombardo, Waldorf Astoria gathering of people in funny-looking hats dancing cheek to jowl. And we came up with this thing called "New Year's Rockin' Eve.' And as it's turned out, it's a mishmash of all kinds of contemporary American music. And it turns out that it's a hit.
BLITZER: Well, is there any kind of music you, Dick Clark, like more than other contemporary music? CLARK: The real truth of it, if you came to my house and listened to my juke boxes -- I have thousands of selections on it -- you'd find a lot of Brazilian music. But we don't play any Brazilian music on New Year's Eve.
BLITZER: What is the secret to Dick Clark? How -- I mean, I was a kid watching "American Bandstand." And I go way back with Dick Clark. You never get any older. You're always vibrant...
CLARK: Oh, yes.
BLITZER: ... and exciting. You look fabulous. Our viewers want to learn from your experience.
CLARK: Wolf, the one secret is you go through the cryogenic treatment every New Year's. You go out and freeze yourself for a few minutes and you hang in there. The real truth is, I found something I wanted to do when I was 13 years old. I've been at it ever since. And somehow or other, they pay me. Doesn't get any better than that.
BLITZER: It doesn't get better than that when you're having fun and they pay you to do it. Can you imagine -- did you ever in your wildest imagination think it would happen but then continue for decades?
CLARK: I knew when I was 13 I wanted to be in what was then the radio business, which evolved into television. I never thought I'd be doing it for 50-some-odd years, Wolf, but I'm so, so lucky. The one New Year's resolution I made -- I never used to make resolutions because, like everybody else, I broke them. But about four years ago, I made a serious resolution, and I've been pretty good about keeping it. I try not to let a day go by that I don't thank the Lord for being so good to me, for making my life so extraordinarily pleasant. I am blessed, and I really appreciate it.
BLITZER: How have the generations of young people that you've influenced changed? In other words, the young kids in the '50s and the '60s, they were different, I assume, than the young kids of today. But maybe, then, they're not.
CLARK: Basically, they're the same, but we were so innocent when you and I first got to know one another, compared to the kids today. Kids are old. We have inundated them with the headlines of the day, movies that are very adult, reading material that would make your head spin if you'd read it in the '50s or '60s. So they've had to get hardened. They've had to get older. It's something we can't do anything about, but it's kind of sad.
BLITZER: Dick Clark is a legend and he's an institution. And we're thankful that he's celebrating New Year's Eve with our viewers, as well. Happy New Year.
CLARK: Wolf, let me wish you a happy New Year, and we'll see you a little bit later on.
BLITZER: All right. Dick Clark. Thanks again. CLARK: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I don't think he really told us the secret.
Anyway, we'll have the results of our Web question coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: All right, we are going to read to you the results of our "Web Question of the Day." If you remember, we were just kind of asking everybody what you were going to do tonight. Again, remember, this is not a scientific poll. Twenty-six percent of people who wrote in to us will be going to a party tonight. Twenty-three percent will be watching celebrations on TV. And fifty-one percent, believe it or not, will be doing nothing special. I think I'm going to be one of those.
I'm Heidi Collins, sitting in for Wolf Blitzer. A reminder. You can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 Eastern. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" is next. But as we say good night for the final time in 2003, we'd like to wish you a happy New Year with a look at some of the people who make this broadcast and other CNN shows possible. Have a great one, everybody.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Explosion in Iraq; Historic Level of Security at Times Square>
Aired December 31, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, GUEST HOST: Happening now, live pictures from Greece. You are looking at New Year's celebrations at the Acropolis in Athens. Let's listen in. All right, looking fun and festive in Greece.
Also happening now, fallout from a New Year's Eve explosion in Iraq. We'll talk more about that. And happening in New York, a historic level of security in Times Squire. We'll go there live.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
New Year's nerves, extraordinary security in America's cities. We'll go coast to coast, from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Washington and Walt Disney World. New Year's Eve, the world celebrates.
The arrest on tape. The sheriff shows off Michael Jackson in custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: What new recordings reveal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that OK for you, Mr. Jackson?
MICHAEL JACKSON: It's wonderful. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: And American icon: a special interview with Mr. New Year's Eve, Dick Clark.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, December 31, 2003.
COLLINS: Hello. I'm Heidi Collins at the CNN center in Atlanta. Wolf Blitzer is off today.
Celebration and security. You are looking at a live picture of New York's Times Square, where up to three quarters of a million revelers are expected to ring in the New Year. They'll do so, though, under unprecedented security. There's no specific terror threat, but police officers are in combat gear and the military is helping to patrol the skies.
The skies over the Las Vegas strip will be lit by neon and fireworks but will be closed to air traffic. Officials say the city has been mentioned in the chatter picked up by intelligence agencies.
We begin, though, in New York, where authorities are doing all they can to keep everyone safe this New Year's Eve. CNN's Jason Carroll is in the middle of it all. He joins us now live from Times Square. Jason, hello.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And hello to you there, Heidi. Already, thousands of people have started to gather here in Times Square, started gathering early this afternoon. Obviously, security -- security obviously on the minds of many people who are out here today. As you said, there has been no specific threat to New York City, but the New York FBI does have concerns based on recent chatter that they say does have, quote, "higher reliability."
Despite that, though, security is at the highest level that many here have seen. Thousands of officers have been patrolling the area. Manhole covers have been covered, trash cans removed as a precaution, some police carrying radiation detectors throughout the area just in case, officers checking the bags of all the people who are entering this area of Times Square, magnetometers being used to detect for metal.
Despite all the security measures that have put into place, one congressman from Connecticut says he would not come to Times Square, regardless of the security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: I'll tell what you it means to me. You've got to be a fool, frankly, to go New Year's night to Times Square. I mean, I can't understand why people do that. Just one hand grenade thrown in the air, and people panicking. It's just too tempting a target. I mean, maybe you want to say we're going to survive and nobody's going to -- but why put yourself in that position?
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: I think it's a classic case of letting the terrorists win. All of this information lacks specificity. You can't run your life like that. It's -- information is always out there, these threats. I don't know what information he has. It's certainly not more than we have. So you know, I think it's irresponsible for him to say that at this moment in time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: City officials such as Ray Kelly saying everything that can be done has been done in terms of security. Anywhere between half a million to three quarters of a million people are expected to gather here in Times Square to see former POW Shoshana Johnson flip that switch that will drop the ball at midnight -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly an exciting moment, as always. But Jason, let me just ask you -- you know, some people who don't go to these New Year's celebrations there in Times Square sometimes worry, I think, a little bit about panicking and the number of people there and possible stampedes. Are there actually plans for those, to get people safely out if they need to get out?
CARROLL: Well, Heidi, as you know, New York City police are used to dealing with these large-scale events. We have a second camera here. If you can take a look at the crowd, I don't know if you'll be able to see this, but the crowd is actually sectioned off into pens. And once each pen is filled, then they move on and fill another pen and another and another. This is a measure -- a way to control the crowds if there should be some sort of an emergency.
New York City has been doing this for many, many years. They also host other major events, like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and they say that they are prepared for whatever may happen -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Jason Carroll. Interesting. Thanks so much. And Happy New Year to you.
All right. Across America, the combination of a terror threat and large holiday crowds has brought extraordinary security, as we've been saying. We want to go live now to our Justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, standing by in Washington. Hi, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well,, the extra security that we heard Jason talk about is not unique to New York City this holiday season. Counterterrorism officials say that threat information has come in regarding a number of U.S. cities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): New York isn't the only city under heavy guard this New Year's. Las Vegas, which hosts an equally glitzy celebration, is also operating under an orange hue. Air space over the strip will be closed to non-commercial aircraft for six hours, and armed helicopters will be on patrol.
GOV. KENNY GUINN (R), NEVADA: We just felt that with about 300,000-plus people in a less than a two-mile stretch in a very narrow area, we thought that was a prudent thing to do.
ARENA: Government officials say Las Vegas is just one of the cities that has been mentioned as a possible terror target. Another is Chicago, where officers are performing random checks of trucks to make sure they're not transporting hazardous material. Flight restrictions are in place over Disney World in Florida, as well.
And on the West Coast, in Pasadena, California, officials say there will be more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel working the Rose Bowl festivities. CHIEF BERNARD MELEKIAN, PASADENA POLICE: I've been in personal contact every day with the FBI, with the Department of Homeland Security in Washington and with the sheriff's department terrorist early warning center.
ARENA: Smaller locales outside possible target cities are also increasing police presence. Officials in Alexandria, Virginia, are painfully aware of the short distance between it and the nation's capital.
AMY BERTSCH, ALEXANDRIA, VA, POLICE: Yes, it comes with the territory. Some of the things that make Alexandria a great place to live can also make it a challenge, being close to the nation's capital, close to the Pentagon. But it's something that we're trained to deal with.
ARENA: Much of the concern has been focused on aviation and restricting airspace, but several dozen cities are equipped with radiological sensors.
PASQUALE D'AMURO, FBI: I think it's safe to say that initial concern about biological and chemical weapons that al Qaeda's capability is beyond what we initially thought, and this is going back just a short time ago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Even if New Year's Eve comes off without a hitch, officials say the U.S. will not be in the clear. They expect the threat level to remain at orange or high through most of January -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Kelli Arena. And to you, as well, happy New Year.
ARENA: To you, too.
COLLINS: Thanks.
Well, while the New Year is still almost seven hours away from the East Coast, it's already 2004 in many countries. Here's a look now at some of the celebrations in a special New Year's edition of "Around the World."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Up above down under. Australia's Sydney harbor, the site of a spectacular New Year's fireworks display. Excited crowds filled the streets, trying to get a good look.
Ringing endorsement. In Japan, millions celebrate the New Year by visiting shrines and temples. Balloons were released in Tokyo, and Buddhist Monks rang a giant iron bell 108 times in the ritual of purification.
Hong Kong Hoopla. The Chinese New Year doesn't begin until January 22, but that didn't stop Hong Kong from staging this colorful celebration. Western holidays are growing increasingly popular in China.
Midnight in Moscow. Russia celebrates the New Year across 11 time zones. Moscow marked the arrival of 2004 with chimes and loud, enthusiastic crowds. New Year's is considered Russia's most popular holiday.
New Year's blessing. Pope John Paul II blessed worshipers during a New Year's Eve service at the Vatican. He prayed for world peace.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And celebrating now. It's just turned midnight in Athens, and the New Year's celebration there is in full swing. These are pictures of fireworks over the Acropolis. 2004, as you know, will be a very special year for Greece. It is the year Athens will host the summer Olympics.
Far from home. We also have some pictures just in from Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are marking the holiday -- a ball dropped from the flagpole at a U.S. military compound in Kabul. For Afghans themselves, the New Year does not begin until March.
Well, here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our "Web Question of the Day" is, How do you plan to ring in 2004: Go to a party, watch celebrations on TV, or do nothing special at all? You can vote right now at cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results a little bit later on in this broadcast. And while you're there, we'd like to hear directly from you. Send us your comments anytime, and we might read some of them at the end of the program.
Armed with video and audiotape, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department fires back at Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Also, the pop star caught whistling at his arrest. Hear it for yourself next. A New Year's Eve bombing rocks Baghdad. We'll take you there live. Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CLARK: You go through the cryogenic treatment every New Year's. You go out, freeze yourself for a few minutes, and you hang in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The world is a year older, but what about Dick Clark? The timeless host gears up to usher in 2004. He talks with Wolf Blitzer. But first, our "News Quiz." Which of the following countries celebrates New Year's by rolling blazing barrels of tar down the streets: Greece, Scotland, China, Portugal? The answer later in the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: And there they are, getting ready to ring in the New Year in just a few hours from now in New York's Times Square. People are kind of mellow right now, but I'm sure things will get fired up later on.
Moving on, though: A California sheriff today strongly denied allegations that Michael Jackson was manhandled during his surrender to authorities last month. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson played video and audiotapes of the arrest and booking process to support his claims that Jackson was treated, in his words, "with the utmost respect and courtesy." CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Santa Barbara now with more. Miguel, hello.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Heidi? It's a bit of a "he said, he said" out here in Santa Barbara. Just days after Michael Jackson did that videotaped interview with "60 Minutes," the sheriff of Santa Barbara came out with some videotape of his own.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Michael Jackson into the hands of detectives on the day of his arrest, the day Jackson claims he was manhandled.
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He was in no way manhandled or abused. His treatment by this department can only be described as professional. I'm shocked and troubled by his allegations.
MARQUEZ: So shocked and troubled, the sheriff released video and audiotapes taken by his department the day Jackson was arrested.
ANDERSON: On two separate occasions during the transport to the jail, the arresting officer asked Mr. Jackson how he was doing. On the first occasion, Mr. Jackson responded by saying that he was fine. When he was asked the second time, he responded by saying he was wonderful. He was also whistling and singing to himself during transport.
MARQUEZ: The sheriff says he considers Jackson's claims to be a formal citizen's complaint and has asked the California attorney general's office to investigate. He also says if the claims are proved false, Jackson will have another problem.
ANDERSON: I will request that criminal charges of false report of peace officer misconduct be pursued against him.
MARQUEZ: Sheriff Anderson says Jackson seriously hurt his credibility, but Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, in a statement says it's the sheriff who has a credibility problem, and, quote, "will ask that the entire case from its inception be investigated by the attorney general's office." One legal analyst says, credibility can play a big part in the case.
CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: If he has found a false allegation, then certainly, that undermines his credibility. And Jurors are not likely to forget those false charges.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Now, California's attorney general, Bill Lockyer, has said an that investigation is, in fact, under way. He also says that it'll look into whether or not Mr. Jackson's rights were violated. Didn't know how soon it would be completed, but said as soon as it is, he'll make the results public -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Miguel Marquez. Thanks so much.
Well, a short while after the Santa Barbara County sheriff said he's asked the state attorney general to investigate Michael Jackson's allegation of mistreatment, the singer's spiritual advisers issued a similar call at a news conference in Los Angeles. CNN's Charles Feldman is there. He has the very latest. Hi, Charles.
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. And actually, they were beaten to the punch. They got together, they were intending to call for an investigation by at least the sheriff. The sheriff beat them to it, saying that he wanted the attorney general to investigate. And as you just heard my colleague Miguel say, not too long ago, the California attorney general said that he will investigate allegations of police abuse against Michael Jackson.
But the three people who held the news conference, including one who's sort of a self-proclaimed spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson, say that, yes, they played some videotapes. You see the videotapes, for example, of Michael Jackson arriving in Santa Barbara and getting off the airplane that took him to California from Las Vegas, and that's where he was arrested in the hangar. And yes, they said the sheriff talked about how Michael Jackson complained in the police car about the handcuffs hurting his wrists, but he says they didn't play the tape, and that, he says, is just not good enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIRPO CARR, JACKSON SPIRITUAL ADVISER: Why did the sheriff not play the tape when Michael said, These cuffs are too tight? Interestingly enough, he did not play the tape of that. He just mentioned it. We find that curious, once again. And of course, as was mentioned, anything that was done out of the ordinary or done illegally, allegedly, would have had to have happened off camera. I noticed that the officers were very friendly. Mr. Jackson, would you like the air-conditioning on? Mr. Jackson, would you like this and that? They knew.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FELDMAN: Now, I asked the group holding the news conference, what about one inconsistency? Michael Jackson claims that his shoulder was dislocated as a result of his being arrested, yet this videotape that we all have been looking at for weeks now, that was taken after Michael Jackson left the police facility -- after the booking, that is -- and you could see him waving with both his left and right arms at his fans. When asked about that, his adviser and his friend said, Well, you know, Michael Jackson was doing what all trained entertainers do. He was smiling and waving at the crowd.
And I'm going to beat you to it. Happy New Year, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Charles Feldman. Thanks so much for following all this for us. Appreciate it.
A night of celebration interrupted by violence. Details on a car bombing in Baghdad. And rundown in South Carolina. A cop caught in the headlights. Hear how he survived. And leaders in Las Vegas are placing their bets on a safe celebration tonight. We'll check out Sin City's security checks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The New Year has arrived in Iraq, but one aspect from 2003 remains the same: insurgents carrying out deadly attacks. An explosion ripped through a Baghdad restaurant, killing at least five people. CNN's Satinder Bindra is joining us now live from Baghdad with the very latest -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, you're absolutely correct. New Year festivities here dampened. It was about 9:30 PM local time when a bomb ripped through a restaurant. This bomb had been placed in a car which had been parked outside this popular eatery. Now, the force of this blast was so powerful that the building housing this restaurant collapsed. Two other buildings surrounding this restaurant also suffered serious damages.
Now, within 15 minutes of this blast, rescue personnel arrived on the scene. They had a very dangerous job to do because they were entering a structurally unsafe building. Still, they managed to pull out survivors. Ultimately, five people killed, more than fifteen people injured.
Now, a half hour after the blast, U.S. forces came. They arrived in the area. They secured the area, and then they started searching for some unexploded ordnance. They did not find any.
Now, as far as the neighbors are concerned, people very angry with these latest insurgent tactics. They've been exploding devices in crowded residential areas, and many people angry because over the past three to four days, many innocent Iraqis have been killed. Among them, at least three children. Back to you now.
COLLINS: Satinder, quickly, just wanted to ask about the possibility, because of explosions like this, a curfew being put in place once again, as we've seen before. BINDRA: No. As far as things stand now, I've been driving out in the streets, I did not see any curfew. And just about an hour-and- a-half ago, as the clock struck 12:00, many Iraqis still poured out of their homes. And in traditional Iraqi style they were firing their AK-47s in the air -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Satinder Bindra. Thanks so much. Live from Baghdad.
Well, in Iran now, the death toll from last week's earthquake continues to climb. It now tops 30,000, and officials say it could rise to 50,000. The quake devastated the southeastern city of Bam, where many residents are packing up what's left of their possessions and moving away. CNN's Ryan Chilcote is in Bam with the story of one family's ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The entire Mahmoud Zai (ph) family gathers to help with the move. By Bam standards, they were well off, owners of a hardware store and a home built of concrete. Most of the homes here were made of mud bricks. Only 5 out of 100 of my friends are still alive, and most of my relatives are dead. If you stop to think about that, he says, you could go insane. Praying is what saved them, this mother tells me. Mahmidi (ph) was reading the Quran when the earth began to shake. That, she says, saved the 36 people inside. But they've lost their livelihood, so they're leaving.
(on camera): Anyone who wants to leave Bam has to be counted and registered at centers like this one. With so many people missing here, Iranian officials are scrambling to count the living.
(voice-over): People are leaving so quickly, Bam may soon be a ghost town. To stop looting, authorities are requiring people to get new ID cards and account for what they're taking with them. Mahmidi's family is too afraid to stay in the house, something that has already made their home a target. This is where the looters broke in, she tells me, when they stole our beds.
However thorough the move is, they can't take it all with them. Mahmidi's son, who lives down the street, lost all his children and grandchildren. The Mahmoud Zais are moving to a date farm outside of town. For now, no one sees how they can ever move back. Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Bam, Iran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Celebrating New Year's with new fears. We'll go across the nation to see how cities are preparing for a night of fun and uncertainty. And America's favorite party host. Wolf's interview with Dick Clark on this New Year's Eve later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back to CNN, everyone. America on alert this New Year's Eve. Security is now at extraordinary levels across the nation. I'll talk live with the mayor of Los Angeles and one of Washington D.C.'s top leaders about the challenges they're facing.
But first, I want to get to the headlines.
Just a few hours before the clock struck midnight in Iraq, a car bomb filled with explosives ripped through a crowded and affluent restaurant in central Baghdad. Authorities say at least five Iraqis were killed, more than a dozen others wounded.
Police denial and a warning for Michael Jackson. Santa Barbara County sheriff Jim Anderson angrily denies the singers allegations of police abuse during his arrest. But Anderson says there will be an investigation, and if Jackson's allegations are proven groundless, then the pop star may be charged with making a false report.
A great tradition, music on Wall Street. It may have been a quiet end for stocks on the last day of 2003, but it was a very busy year. The market had its first annual gain since 1999. The Dow Jones is up 25 percent for the year, closing at 10,453. And the tech-laden NASDAQ has climbed almost 50 percent, ending at 2003 for the year 2003.
Back to our top story now. You're seeing a live picture of New York's Times Square. It is the scene of the world's best known New Year's celebration and the scene of some of the most stringent anti- terrorism efforts in U.S. history. Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to gather. From the streets to the rooftops to the skies, security forces are acting to keep them safe.
The landmarks may be different, but the security scene is much the same in other cities across America. We begin our New Year's snapshot in Las Vegas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LORRAINE BLANCO, KVVU-TV: Well, we're expecting at least 300,000 partiers on the strip tonight, and that's why we're getting a lot of extra help. Take a look at this. It's our local paper, and it says right across the front page, "Military gunships to patrol strip." Our local law enforcement won't be taking any chances out here because of all the recent terror concerns. They've already restricted the air space around the valley, banning private planes and helicopters from flying from 9:00 PM until 3:00 AM tomorrow morning.
Those military gunships will be highly visible to all, ready to take down any type of air threat. Our sheriff says he's considered just for a moment to cancel the fireworks show, but the pyrotechnics really don't pose any kind of threat, so the show will go on here. Las Vegas, like every other city in the country, on high alert tonight, but our authorities here are quick to point out that there's still no direct threat. In Las Vegas, I'm Lorraine Blanco.
MIKE DEFOREST, WKMG-TV: Orlando, Florida, is the nation's second most popular New Year's Eve destination, and as you can see below, Walt Disney World is absolutely packed. Several of the theme parks have been forced to close their turnstyles early because they've reached capacity. Disney has put additional security guards in the parks. They've also hired numerous off-duty sheriff's deputies to patrol the perimeter. All of the visitors entering the parks must have their bags inspected. The Department of Defense is not commenting on whether fighter jets will be deployed here tonight, but with several military bases nearby, fighter pilots are always ready. Reporting in the skies above Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, I'm Mike Deforest.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Chicago, about 80,000 celebrators, city officials say, are expected to pack through here. This is Navy pier, the location of the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. Now, the B-52s are planning to play a live concert. And of course, given orange alert and the New Year, security is very much on the minds of law enforcement personnel. There will be a stepped-up police presence, both visible law enforcement, as well as undercover personnel. In addition, there are emergency response teams prepared to react in the event of any possible terrorist activity. And lastly, officials say they're doing an advanced look at all large gatherings, to make sure the proper security measures are in place. Now, all of this, of course, with officials emphasizing there is no specific credible threat to the Chicago area. Kris Osborn, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Well, for more on all of this unprecedented security as Americans usher in the New Year, let's check out what some major cities like LA and D.C. are doing to keep party-goers safe. We are joined by Los Angeles mayor James Hahn and Washington's deputy mayor for public safety and justice Magret Kellems. Thank you both for being here. Certainly do appreciate your time today on this holiday.
Let's begin with you, Mr. Mayor. Tell us if there have been any credible or specific threats to your city.
JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES MAYOR: There have been no credible or specific threats towards Los Angeles, but every mayor in America, once the Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level to orange, has been taking additional precautions. We've done the same thing here in Los Angeles.
COLLINS: All right. And Deputy Mayor Kellems, what about your city?
MAGRET KELLEMS, WASHINGTON, D.C., DEPUTY MAYOR: The same is true for us. Washington, we know, is always one of the target-rich cities. We don't have any specific or credible information right now, but as Mayor Hahn said, we're taking additional precautions, as well.
COLLINS: Now, that being said, I would imagine it might be a little bit of a challenge for the both of you to keep people aware, alert, vigilant and all those things that we hear so very often. What have you able to do, Mayor Hahn, in your city, in order to keep people on guard, if you will? HAHN: What we've done is a number of things that are obviously, you know, very obvious to people. At the airport, we have stopped allowing curbside drop-off and pick-up. Only private vehicles are allowed to go into the parking structure. Commercial vehicles will be the only ones allowed to do curbside drop-off. We've had some visible differences at the port of Los Angeles, which is the nation's busiest seaport, a lot more harbor patrols out there.
But I think the key thing is we want people to be vigilant, but we also want people to enjoy the freedoms this country has given us. We want people to have a good time, a safe time tonight, and have a happy New Year. But we want to do the worrying for them. So we've got additional police officers out. Our neighboring city, Pasadena, obviously, has a lot of big plans for the Rose parade and Rose Bowl tomorrow. So we're doing a lot of extra precautions, but we want people to stay vigilant but also have a good time.
COLLINS: Yes, it's kind of a Catch-22. There certainly are some people who say, you know, that they definitely don't want to give in to terrorists by becoming afraid. Deputy Mayor Kellems, have you ever thought in your city, or has anyone spoken about the possibility of, oh, public service campaigns or some other types of advertisements to just remind people, maybe in a subtle way, that, Hey, this is out there, go ahead and have fun, but do remember to keep your eyes open?
KELLEMS: We actually do. We've done a couple of things here throughout the last couple of years, particularly since September 11. We've had a big community education campaign. We've produced a guide that we encourage everyone who comes to Washington to review. It talks about how you prepare yourself, how you prepare your family just for any kind of emergency, not just terrorist threats, but for your average snowstorm or hurricane or flood or any of the other natural disasters that we have here, as well. And particularly during states of heightened alert, we do a little more public outreach. We use our variable message signs, the signs you see on side of the roadways, to remind people to pay special attention, and if they see something, to call authorities if they're concerned about suspicious behavior or activities or anything else.
COLLINS: Do you get any feedback from those types of reminders? Do people like to see those types of things in their city?
KELLEMS: I think people here in Washington are actually very comfortable with it. We don't get complaints about people feeling frightened. I think the folks -- the number of folks you see, particularly the tourists out in the street, are showing that people really are being bold and they're being vigilant. They're calling in when they're concerned about something. But the rest of the time, they're out there enjoying themselves and not letting this get the best of them.
COLLINS: And Mayor Hahn, let me ask you once again about LA, a very big city. A lot of parties will be going on there tonight, I'm sure of that. How do you keep people, you know, in the middle, as you say, so that they have the fun, and yet, as we said, are aware? Does it get old? HAHN: We don't want it to get old, and so I think that's one of the reasons the Department of Homeland Security also is very cautious about raising the threat level. But on the other hand, we want people to stay vigilant. We've established a special hotline for the police department's anti-terrorism division, 1-877-8-THREAT. We want people to call that number if they see anything suspicious. We want people to be on their guard. If something, you know, kind of doesn't look right to them, we want people to let us know. And we constantly get tips that we're following up on because we want to remain vigilant.
At the same time, I think everybody in America, again, wants to let the terrorists know that we're not going to let them take away our freedoms in this country. We're going to be vigilant. We're going to take the precautions necessary. But we're also going to enjoy the freedoms America gives us. And as long as the public authorities keep reminding the public to be involved, I think the public is. We're continually getting tips that we are following up, and I think the public is on their guard all across America. But we also want them to have a good time this New Year.
COLLINS: All right. Some very good words of advice, indeed. Before we let you go, Deputy Mayor Kellems, I'll just go ahead and ask you this last question. There was a public figure today who made a comment, saying that never would he go to Times Square on a day like this. I'm sure you've heard about that. Your thoughts there?
KELLEMS: Well, I think that's unfortunate. We have, particularly in Washington, great concern about people feeling comfortable coming to major tourist destinations. Certainly, Times Square is a major tourist destination on New Year's Eve, and I think it's unfortunate. People -- all public officials, all officials need to be very cautious, very thoughtful before they make statements like that because it can have a tremendous impact psychologically, economically and on the business communities there. If there is no specific information, we need to go on and get about -- go on about our lives. And Mayor Hahn said it very well. You know, we can't let this run us out of our own towns and keep us from living our normal lives.
COLLINS: And Mayor Hahn, quickly, your thoughts on a public figure saying this type of verbiage.
HAHN: Not helpful. And I believe that Mayor Bloomberg has really worked very well with federal, state authorities there. He knows he wants to have a great party in New York City, and I think that people are going to enjoy that. They're going to have a safe time. And again, if somebody has something specific and a credible threat, we're share it with the public, if we know about it. But when we only have some general information, then we need to pass that on, as well. And I think that the information we've given should make us take extra precautions, but it's not enough for us to stop enjoying a normal life. And we want to have everybody have a happy New Year tonight.
COLLINS: Mayor James Hahn in Los Angeles, thanks so much to you for being with us. And Washington's deputy mayor, Magret Kellems, thanks again. And Happy New Year to the both of you. Appreciate your time tonight.
KELLEMS: Thank you. Happy New Year.
HAHN: Happy New Year.
COLLINS: Thank you.
A close call for a South Carolina cop, and it's all caught on tape. The dramatic pictures when we return. Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARK: We came up with this thing called "New Year's Rockin' Eve." And as it's turned out, it's a mishmash of all kinds of contemporary American music. And it turns out that it's a hit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: A hit, indeed. And he's been rockin' every New Year's Eve since. Later this hour, Wolf's interview with everybody's favorite, Dick Clark.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Authorities are investigating a troubling discovery last night at New York's JFK Airport. A dead man was found hidden in the wheelwell of a British Airways plane. Nigerian currency was found on the body. The aircraft had been in Nigeria on Christmas Eve, and authorities believe that is when the man stowed away. It's the second such case in less than a week. On Christmas Day, another body was found in a wheelwell of a plane arriving at JFK from Jamaica.
With unprecedented security measures in effect and some new steps on the way, how safe are our skies? Joining me now from Washington is Peter Goelz. He's a former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Thanks so much for being with us, Peter. We appreciate your time today. As you know, we are in a code orange terror alert. And on Christmas, there was a threat that we later learned could have involved commercial aircraft coming in from other countries. Give us a sense of the level of compliance and how safe our skies are internationally.
PETER GOELZ, FORMER NTSB DIRECTOR: Well, I think the truth is that, internationally, that security is somewhat uneven. As we saw with the individual who was found in the nosegear of the plane, the person being -- same thing happening from Jamaica, that the security at various airfields across the world is very uneven. Now, I think security here in the U.S. is vastly improved since 9/11 and is getting better. I think the U.S. is the 900-pound gorilla in civil aviation. When we say, If you want to fly into the United States, certain flights are going to have to be guarded more closely, airlines and countries are going to respond favorably.
COLLINS: Well, let's talk about the reinforced cockpit doors, cargo, federal marshals on airplanes. How are the other countries in the world lining up for those regulations?
GOELZ: Well, clearly, cockpit doors -- that's been a success. Most of the cockpit doors across the aviation field are secure. It's going to be awful difficult to get through them. Cargo is an ongoing problem. The U.S. is making strides, great strides, towards checking what's on the planes, but worldwide, that's still an issue. And I think that's going to be one of the major focuses during 2004, is how do you tighten up security on the various cargo operations around the earth?
COLLINS: And federal marshals on flights. There are certainly some airliners from other countries -- New Zealand, Finland, Thailand, to be specific -- who are saying, No, not anytime soon will we have federal marshals on our airplanes. They don't like the idea of the guns. What about that?
GOELZ: Well, there are some countries that do not feel comfortable having weapons on the flight deck or in the cabin of airplanes. I think, when confronted with an "either you put armed guards on your plane or they don't come to the U.S.," a decision's going to be made that they're going to want to fly to the U.S. because of the power of the U.S. market. I think the debate about weapons inside the secure areas, inside the aircraft itself, is going to continue. And some pilots are comfortable with guns in the cockpit. Others, like the pilots association from the UK, are absolutely opposed. That debate is going to continue, but when the U.S. government says, We want guards, we want extra security, the airlines are going to have to respond.
COLLINS: I want to get to one other issue before we let you go today. As you know, starting on Monday, every traveler who needs a visa to get into the U.S. is going to be undergoing this new biometric computer check. But there are 28 countries who are exempt from that. What's to keep a terrorist from just going through one or many of those countries that don't have this regulation and getting into the U.S.?
GOELZ: Well, it's not quite as easy as that, but there is a gap. I mean, the new biometric -- and it's a fingerprint scan coupled with a digital photograph -- really is going to make a difference because it's going to require people to come in and speak to an actual U.S. consular official as they get their visas. Now, can they bypass the system? It's possible. But I think the step that's taking place at the first of the year is a major improvement.
COLLINS: Former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, Peter Goelz. Thanks so much for your time today on the holiday. Appreciate it.
GOELZ: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: A South Carolina police officer survived a potentially deadly attack near Charleston this week. This dramatic videotape was taken from a police car. Authorities say a teenager pulled over in a stolen car, crashed the car into a police cruiser, then ran over the police officer. The officer somehow escaped with minor injuries. The teen faces charges of assault and battery with intent to kill.
America's oldest living teenager is ready to ring in the New Year. Dick Clark puts the finishing touches on another "Rockin' New Year's Eve" celebration. He's our guest next. Plus: Who will drop the ball on 2004?
WOLF BLITZER REPORTS returns after a short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Earlier we asked, Which of the following countries celebrates by New Year's by rolling blazing barrels of tar down the streets? The answer, Scotland. During the celebration of the Scottish New Year, this ritual symbolizes the old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter.
Despite security concerns, New Yorkers continue to pour into Times Square. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be on hand to watch a glittering ball descend at the stroke of midnight, marking the arrival of the New Year. Let's go back to CNN's Jason Carroll for an update on the festivities. Hi, Jason.
CARROLL: Hello to you again, Heidi. New York City has hosted a number of large-scale events over the past years, but security at this particular event tonight is like nothing ever seen before. Thousands of officers are here in the area, patrolling the area. They've removed the manhole covers as a precaution. Some of the officers are carrying radiation detectors as precaution, as well, searching also each and every person that comes into this particular area of Times Square. And when you imagine how many people are expected, anywhere between a half million to three quarters of a million, that is definitely a feat that is taking time.
Former POW Shoshana Johnson is going to be out here, along with New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg later on. The two of them will be flipping the switch that will drop the ball at midnight. That is why everyone is coming out here to see that, also to enjoy the big party.
Just a little earlier this evening, Shoshana Johnson talked about how nervous she is, in terms of delivering her message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHOSHANA JOHNSON, FORMER POW: This is an unbelievable honor. I do have butterflies. You know, there's going to be a lot of people watching. Hopefully, I won't mess it up. And all I can say is, I hope the New Year brings prosperity and safety for all of us. And I want to say, continue to pray for those soldiers, marines, airmen, everyone that's out there protecting our country. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Pop diva Cyndi Lauper will be out here, as well. The thousands that are coming here hoping that they'll be able to have a party and enjoy it safely -- Heidi. COLLINS: Hope so. All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much. Live from New York.
While, many Americans will be attending New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square and across the country, a lot of us will be staying home, watching Dick Clark on television. After 32 years of New Year's Eve TV shows, Clark has become as much of a tradition for Baby Boomers as Guy Lombardo was for their parents.
A few days ago, Wolf Blitzer sat down with Dick Clark for a conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Dick Clark, New Year's Eve, what a combination! Is it the same year after year, or does it get any different?
CLARK: How can it be the same every year, Wolf? I've got 750,000 to a million of my closest friends gathered in Times Square, going crazy. It's always exciting.
BLITZER: In the post-9/11 era, has it changed, though?
CLARK: Well, it's a little more secure these days. They got a few more barricades up. And the NYPD does one whale of a job of crowd control.
BLITZER: The electricity is always incredible, the excitement, the faces, the people. It never gets boring for you, does it.
CLARK: You know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) initials stand for, BID -- Business Improvement District, I suppose, has sort of gathered this party under its wing, and they shoot off tons and tons of confetti. They've got lasers and balloons. It's really turned into quite a magnificent occasion. I mean, the whole world looks to Times Square for New Year's Eve, and I've been lucky enough to have been there for 32 years now.
BLITZER: For 32 years? So you've seen a lot of change in the entertainment that goes on, as well, different kinds of entertainment. Walk us through your memories a little bit.
CLARK: Well, we started off with Three Dog Night at the Queen Mary, I think, in -- someplace here in California. Then we progressed to the Beach Boys and Neil Sedaka and a lot of other guests. What it always is, our "New Year's Rockin' Eve" celebration was built to contemporize the Guy Lombardo, Waldorf Astoria gathering of people in funny-looking hats dancing cheek to jowl. And we came up with this thing called "New Year's Rockin' Eve.' And as it's turned out, it's a mishmash of all kinds of contemporary American music. And it turns out that it's a hit.
BLITZER: Well, is there any kind of music you, Dick Clark, like more than other contemporary music? CLARK: The real truth of it, if you came to my house and listened to my juke boxes -- I have thousands of selections on it -- you'd find a lot of Brazilian music. But we don't play any Brazilian music on New Year's Eve.
BLITZER: What is the secret to Dick Clark? How -- I mean, I was a kid watching "American Bandstand." And I go way back with Dick Clark. You never get any older. You're always vibrant...
CLARK: Oh, yes.
BLITZER: ... and exciting. You look fabulous. Our viewers want to learn from your experience.
CLARK: Wolf, the one secret is you go through the cryogenic treatment every New Year's. You go out and freeze yourself for a few minutes and you hang in there. The real truth is, I found something I wanted to do when I was 13 years old. I've been at it ever since. And somehow or other, they pay me. Doesn't get any better than that.
BLITZER: It doesn't get better than that when you're having fun and they pay you to do it. Can you imagine -- did you ever in your wildest imagination think it would happen but then continue for decades?
CLARK: I knew when I was 13 I wanted to be in what was then the radio business, which evolved into television. I never thought I'd be doing it for 50-some-odd years, Wolf, but I'm so, so lucky. The one New Year's resolution I made -- I never used to make resolutions because, like everybody else, I broke them. But about four years ago, I made a serious resolution, and I've been pretty good about keeping it. I try not to let a day go by that I don't thank the Lord for being so good to me, for making my life so extraordinarily pleasant. I am blessed, and I really appreciate it.
BLITZER: How have the generations of young people that you've influenced changed? In other words, the young kids in the '50s and the '60s, they were different, I assume, than the young kids of today. But maybe, then, they're not.
CLARK: Basically, they're the same, but we were so innocent when you and I first got to know one another, compared to the kids today. Kids are old. We have inundated them with the headlines of the day, movies that are very adult, reading material that would make your head spin if you'd read it in the '50s or '60s. So they've had to get hardened. They've had to get older. It's something we can't do anything about, but it's kind of sad.
BLITZER: Dick Clark is a legend and he's an institution. And we're thankful that he's celebrating New Year's Eve with our viewers, as well. Happy New Year.
CLARK: Wolf, let me wish you a happy New Year, and we'll see you a little bit later on.
BLITZER: All right. Dick Clark. Thanks again. CLARK: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I don't think he really told us the secret.
Anyway, we'll have the results of our Web question coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: All right, we are going to read to you the results of our "Web Question of the Day." If you remember, we were just kind of asking everybody what you were going to do tonight. Again, remember, this is not a scientific poll. Twenty-six percent of people who wrote in to us will be going to a party tonight. Twenty-three percent will be watching celebrations on TV. And fifty-one percent, believe it or not, will be doing nothing special. I think I'm going to be one of those.
I'm Heidi Collins, sitting in for Wolf Blitzer. A reminder. You can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 Eastern. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" is next. But as we say good night for the final time in 2003, we'd like to wish you a happy New Year with a look at some of the people who make this broadcast and other CNN shows possible. Have a great one, everybody.
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Explosion in Iraq; Historic Level of Security at Times Square>
