January 12, 2005 This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be dated. Transcript HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Thank you for joining us for this Wednesday, January 12th broadcast of CNN Student News! I'm Holly Firfer at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
First Up: Homeland Security Nominee HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: First up, he's worked in the justice department and at the Supreme Court, and now 51-year-old Michael Chertoff, may become the next person to bear the title of secretary of homeland security. Now Chertoff has to be confirmed by the senate before he can start the job. But it looks like he's a sure thing: the announcement of his nomination drew immediate applause on Capitol Hill. Lindsey Arent considers why. (begin video) LINDSEY ARENT, CNN REPORTER: President Bush named his second nominee to replace outgoing homeland security secretary Tom Ridge Tuesday; U.S. appeals court judge Michael Chertoff. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: When Mike is confirmed by the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security will be lead by a practical organizer, a skilled manager and a brilliant thinker. ARENT: Chertoff is perhaps best known for his role in the investigation of al Qaeda as head of the justice department's criminal division from 2001 to 2003.  |  Judge Michael Chertoff |
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY NOMINEE: If confirmed I pledge to devote all of my energy to promoting our homeland security and as important, to preserving our fundamental liberties ARENT: Chertoff has a long history in government. He served as an assistant attorney general, a u-s district attorney, a Supreme Court law clerk and republican counsel in the whitewater investigation. The president tapped Chertoff after his first choice, former New York city police commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his name when troubles surfaced during his background check. As secretary, Chertoff would lead an enormous operation spanning 22 agencies and 180,000 employees. Ridge said Chertoff is up to the task. TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: He comes well equipped by experiment, by experience and temperament and background to be a very effective and capable secretary. ARENT: The road to confirmation may not be as rocky for Chertoff since he has been confirmed by the senate three times before. In Washington, I'm Lindsey Arent. (end video)
Shoutout CARL AZUZ, CNN REPORTER: Time for the Shoutout! Which of the following does not fall under the Department of Homeland Security? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Coast Guard B) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives C) Citizenship and Immigration Services D) Secret Service You've got three seconds -- GO! The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives actually falls under the Justice Department, not the Department of Homeland Security. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
Homeland Security: Job Description HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Now not everyone thinks that Chertoff has all of the experience it takes, to head up homeland security. A member of the commission that investigated the September-11th attacks said that while Chertoff has a great work ethic, he hasn't had much management experience. But as you'll see in this interview conducted by miles O'Brien, many of the skills needed for the job, are actually learned on the job. (begin video) MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Chertoff is a noted lawyer... prosecutor.. judge...and legal scholar. For more on the man, and the mission that lies ahead, presuming confirmation,-we are joined by Richard Falkenrath. He is a former Deputy Homeland Security Adviser to the President. Richard, good to have you with us. This is not the most popular job in town, is it? FALKENRATH: It's a thankless job. It's a job where if there are no terrorist attacks, people wonder why you're there. And if there are, you're often to blame for it and may take the fall. So, it's an incredibly hard job for anybody to take. OBRIEN: Would you take it? FALKENRATH: Anyone would serve at the pleasure of the president, but it wasn't offered to me and I'm not seeking it, and I'm glad the president found someone like Mike Chertoff to take it. OBRIEN: Give us a sense of the kinds of challenges a person at the top of this agency faces. FALKENRATH: The challenges are enormous and there's no person on earth qualified to do them all right away. There's going to be some on the job training no matter who took the job. The person has to communicate with the American people in times of crisis. That's a very important requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Sec. The secretary also has to manage the politics of homeland sec. with congress, governors, mayors around the country. He has to set policy on a very wide range of issues. Everything from border policy, trans security, bio safety, bio security, emergency response, science tech...an enormous canvas in which he has wide latitude to act. And, he also has to manage a huge new department. This is a really tough job. OBRIEN: Well, lets take that middle point...that list of chores. These are the chores that nobody wants on their honey-do list. This is a tough job. These are the "don't want them" jobs. And as a result, it requires an extraordinary person, doesn't it? FALKENRATH: It does. The chores that the secretary has to do are some of the hardest in government. Immigration, by itself is one of the single toughest things any federal government has to manage. entirely under authority of secretary of homeland security, so he will have to deal with that. Transportation policy : another thankless job. The secretary is in charge of our airports and the type of screening there. No one likes the long lines, but its his job to prevent an attack and to balance the different pressures at play there. Pretty hard. OBRIEN: Richard Falkenwrath, who is a former deputy homeland security adviser to the president Bush, thanks for your time. Appreciate it. FALKENRATH: Thank you Miles. (end video)
Word to the Wise CARL AZUZ, CNN REPORTER: A Word to the Wise... erosion: (n) the process of wearing away by the action of water, wind or glacial ice Source: www.m-w.com |  Rescuers continue to search Tuesday through mud and debris for people trapped under the landslide. |
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: As torrential rains continue to spur flooding in California, rescuers are doing some of their best work. While they were trying to save an 8-week old baby, the raft tipped over and everyone aboard fell in the water. But two firefighters found a place shallow enough to wade in, and managed to carry the child to safety. Meanwhile, this is the scene from a California town partially buried by a mudslide. Severe erosion triggered the tragedy, which has killed at least four people.
Survivor Story HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: There's little hope left of finding any survivors adrift in the Indian Ocean, after last month's tsunamis. That's why the rescue in our next story was so dramatic. The victim had been working on a beach house when the waves hit, washing him inland before dragging him out to sea. Andrew brown picks it up from there. (begin video) ANDREW BROWN, CNN REPORTER: Many ships had passed him by during his ordeal. Finally, this one, the al Yamamah, spotted him, turned around and delivered him to safety. 21-year-old Ari Afrizal walked off the Liberian-registered vessel al Yamamah onto Malaysian soil after spending at least two weeks adrift in the Indian Ocean. On December 26, Afrizal was swept out to sea off Indonesia's Aceh Province after trying to out-run the lethal waves that crashed ashore that morning ARI AFRIZAL, SURVIVOR: The first day I clung to a piece of wood, the second day I made it to a small fishing vessel. I was in a small fishing boat for four days before I managed to get on a raft.  U.S. Navy sailors load bags of rice onto a helicopter in Banda Aceh. | |
BROWN: Afrizal drifted on the raft for more than a week. Although he found water and clothes on board, his spirits began to fade because ship after ship failed to spot him floating helplessly. Finally the Al Yammah came to the rescue. AFRIZAL: Then waved at them as I knew I was safe BROWN: Safe.....but very very hungry. AFRIZAL: I managed to survive on the flesh of coconuts for 12 days. For 3 days I didn't get to eat anything. BROWN: An ambulance was standing by when Afrizal arrived at Malaysia's Port Klang. He sustained leg injuries but that may be the least of his worries. He doesn't know the fate of his own family. He has yet to find out whether they are safe, or lost in the ruins of Aceh. Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong. (end video)
CNNstudentnews.com HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: They're the fortunate ones: children who clung to mango trees, mattresses or higher ground, as the tsunamis engulfed their towns. The next CNN Special Classroom Edition details what they've been through and where they're going. Find show times at CNNStudentNews.com.
Before We Go HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Continuing now with the Thailand rescue theme, before we go, this green turtle spent 15 days ashore where he didn't belong before he was returned to his natural habitat. The endangered animal had a wound on his scales, which marine biologists treated, before filling him up with vitamins. They then affixed a tracking device to his back and sent him on his way. At least 23 others like him have been rescued from their unfortunate landfall. And on an island flattened by the waves...an effort to save thousands of stranded cats that had managed to scramble up palm trees and buildings when the tsunamis hit. The island was abandoned after the disaster, so rescuers arrived to transport these kitties to a shelter.
Goodbye HOLLY FIRFER, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Saving the day on CNN Student News! I'm Holly Firfer. Headline News is coming your way with more, after this.
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