[Whitfield:] Here's what's happening in the news. Doctors say Ukraine's opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with dioxin. They say the poison's presence in Yushchenko's system explains the dramatic change in his appearance and the decline in his health. President Bush got a clean bill of health today. Doctors at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland pronounced Mr. Bush fit for duty. The president's annual physical exam took about 3 hours. Afterwards Mr. Bush handed out Purple Hearts to wounded U.S. service members there. And President Bush's choice to head the Department of Homeland Security has withdrawn his name from consideration. Bernard Kerik said he decided not to seek the cabinet post after questions about the immigration status of his former housekeeper. With Kerik out of the running, President Bush has a big gap in his new cabinet. He must now turn his attention to finding a new Homeland Security director nominee. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider is in London, but even from across the pond, he has some pretty thought-provoking ideas about the top contenders. But before we get to that part, Bill, before we talk about the contenders, let's talk about what may have precipitated this. It may not be just the immigration status, the unpaid taxes of this former employee?
[William Schneider, Cnn Senior Political Analyst:] There are lots of controversies surrounding Bernard Kerik. I mean this story, I should point out, has been reported and commented on widely overseas where I am now. I heard about it in Paris and in London. The nanny problem certainly made it very difficult for him to face confirmation, because remember, one of the responsibilities of the Homeland Security Secretary is to be in charge of immigration policy. And if he once had a possibly illegal imgrant in his employ, that in itself could be disqualifying. He also had a lot of financial controversies in his record. He was on the board and made a lot of money on stock options with Taser International, a controversial company that makes high-powered stun guns that some like Amnesty International, have charged with unnecessary deaths accidentally because of the use of these guns. And also, the dealings with the government. They've sold these stun guns to police departments and to the Department of Homeland Security. That was a controversy. "Newsweek" has uncovered records of an arrest warrant for Bernard Kerik having to do with some still-pending lawsuits over mismanagement of a condominium he owned in New Jersey. He once paid a fine over misuse of police personnel to research his book. So there are a lot of controversies there.
[Whitfield:] All right. Well, now let's talk about the short list that the White House has to deal with. Originally, part of that list included former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani. But at this point, we know that Guiliani really had been campaigning hard for Kerik. He's no longer going to be put back on the short list, is he? Who are the others?
[Schneider:] I don't think so. I mean, this is a very big embarrassment for Guiliani, because Kerik was always seen as Guiliani's man. He worked for Rudy Guiliani's company. He was close to Guiliani. And the two he was really Guiliani's man. Guiliani made a strong case for him. Who's left on the list? The most prominent, widely known possibility would be Tom Kean, who was a chairman of the 911 commission. That, I think, would be a noncontroversyial appointee and be widely applauded. He's a very liberal Republican11 commission that he'd be easy to confirm. There's some insider candidates, Francis Townsend, who is the White House homeland security adviser, Asa Hutchinson, who is the undersecretary already in the Homeland Security Department. Some people are talking about Massachusetts governor Republican Mitt Romney, also Mike Levitt, who is with the Environmental Protection Administration, recently appointed. And Joe Albaugh, who used to be the federal emergency management agency director. Those are all names that are on the list, but it could be someone else, we don't know.
[Whitfield:] All right. Senior political analyst Bill Schneider to us from London. Thanks so much. Embarrassing not just for Rudy Guiliani, but certainly an embarrassment also for the White House. Well, in the Philippines now hundreds of people are dead. Victims of flooding and landslides from a recent spate of brutal storms that ravaged islands. But many survivors have little time to mourn as they're now facing an unfolding humanitarian disaster. CNN's Aneesh Raman explains.
[Aneesh Raman, Cnn Correspondent:] These are the lucky ones, survivors emerging nearly 2 weeks after deadly storms blasted the eastern Philippines. Rescue operations are all but over. It is now a matter of relief. Getting clean water and food to the desperate half million people stranded without either. This weekend, a critical boost to the effort, some 600 members of the U.S.'s 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade are now in country. 1
[St Lt. Jeremy Advise, U.s. Marine Corps:] This is a big deal for us. It really means a lot to us. Naturally, on a daily basis, this is not what we do.
[Raman:] But weather is, once again, an enormous obstacle. With roads still flooded and key bridges destroyed, the only way into the devastated area is by helicopter. The problem is that when the rain starts, the visibility ends and the supplies don't arrive. On this day, the Marines just stand by. [on camera]: As they wait for relief to get here, residents can now only dig their way out. Everywhere is covered with mud, and weeks beyond the storm's passing, all they can do is try to rebuild. [voice-over]: It is a gargantuan task. Each day its own struggle. Emotions are quick to surface here. Why does god hate us? Asked this man. He lost everything but the water buffalo he clings to. Logistically for the country, relocating and rebuilding will take months. The cost, estimated at around $55 million, is nowhere near what the Philippine government can afford. And the work is more than they can handle.
[Advise:] It's going to take them quite awhile, because they don't have the technology we have. They don't have the heavy equipment that we have.
[Raman:] But for the affected residents, that is a matter for the future. Today is simply about staying alive. Aneesh Raman CNN, Real, Eastern Philippines.
[Whitfield:] News around the world now. A setback for independence in Taiwan: The country's opposition party has retained control of parliament in elections today. This comes as a major upset for the president's pro-indendence coalition which wants more freedom from China. Pakistan makes an arrest in connection with a kidnapping of 2 U.N. aide workers. The workers were captured in Afghanistan in November and freed almost a month later. Pakistani authorities say the suspect is the leader of a Taliban splinter group. And an aide worker believed to have been captured and killed in Iraq was remembered in London today. More than 2,000 mourners gathered to say good-bye to Margaret Hassan. The director of the aid agency CARE International was kidnapped in Baghdad back in October. A video believed to show her killing surfaced last month, but her body still has not been found. A Russian model with a Cinderella rise to fame is devoting her energies to the welfare of Russian children. Her concern has sparked was rather sparked by the brutal massacre of Russian children in Beslan, Russia. Now she's teaming up with the New York fashion world to provide safe and secure play areas for the children of Beslan and other Russian cities. Natalia Vodianova has created the Naked Heart Foundation to help with her efforts. And she joins us now from New York. Good to see you Netalia.
[Natalia Vodianova, Model:] Thank you, Fredericka.
[Whitfield:] All right. So how does it work? You all want to put together prefabricated playgrounds in many places throughout Russia?
[Vodianova:] Yes, that's right. I created the Naked Heart Foundation in order to bring safe, colorful environment for Russian children which they're unfortunately lacking.
[Whitfield:] And you're starting with Beslan. Is that mostly, in part, because of the tragedy that took place there, and you felt that was a good place to start?
[Vodianova:] Well, those children really deserve it the most. This is what encouraged me in the first place to really start and coordinate and make the Naked hheart Foundation together.
[Whitfield:] Why is it called the Naked Heart Foundation?
[Vodianova:] Well, I wanted to do something tangible for Russian people. And there is this beautiful story called Danka about a general who takes his heart out of his chest and leads a Russian army through a dark forest with his open heart.
[Whitfield:] And while this may have been an idea that you had, you've been able to make this happen, because of the effort of so many people around you. Who are some of the folks who have contributed, whether it be in, you know, sweat or in dollars?
[Vodianova:] We have an event on the 15th of December, that's sponsored by Song and L'Oreal. And there's a lot of other everyone who donated to the auction that we're doing actually we're doing an auction on eBay, which is very exciting. And anyone could go on www.ebay.comnatalia and bid on these amazing prizes. Like Vera Wang is doing a wedding dress, and Jay Jaggar doing a wedding bands. Bruce Weber is doing a family portrait, and there are tickets to Vanity Fair party. There is a lot of really wonderful items. Please come.
[Whitfield:] Wow! So besides you taking to the airwaves, how are you getting the word out so people can take part in this auction on the web?
[Vodianova:] Yes, absolutely.
[Whitfield:] What are some of the other, you know, ways in which you're getting the word out?
[Vodianova:] Well, of course, it's the benefit, which is going to be a lot of people there. And it's all about just really coming and talking to everyone I know and spread the word out one by one person. That's how it works. It's a chain.
[Whitfield:] Have you had a chance to talk with any of the children or anyone that you're close to? Have they had a chance to talk to any of the kids, particularly in Beslan, about how needed, how much they're looking forward to having these kind of fabricated playgrounds?
[Vodianova:] Well, the thing is I grew up in Russia myself. And it was my life. And I still go back there a lot. And even with my son I come to my hometown, Nizhni Novgorod, and I have 6 kids, and there is not even anywhere to take them for ice cream when it's minus 25 freezing cold. And of course, you can't go to the parks. And there is no sort of places like that to go. So that's how the idea came around, really.
[Whitifeld:] Natalia Vodianova, the organization is called Naked Hearts Foundation. Taking a little time from your contracts with Calvin Klein and L'Oreal to do some great deeds for these young kids in Russia. Thanks so much for joining us.
[Vodianova:] Thank you, Fredericka.
[Whitfield:] Well, doctors and nurses at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, are dealing with an unexpected yet welcome side effect of the war: A baby boom. That story coming up. And Dr. Lloyd is once again serving up some advice. You'll want to hear what he has to say before you search your next bowl of cereal and pouring that milk. A look at what's for breakfast when we come right back.