♪ hello, there. it's not quite 2012 yet. we still have some news to get to before the new year. i'm hala garani in washington. kyra phillips has the day off and we begin with the latest out of the united states in terms of politics this morning. let's get you straight to iowa and expecting any minute now, by the way, the new jersey governor chris christie will join mitt romney in iowa. christie is a rising star and many republicans wanted in this presidential race. he endorsed romney back in october and this will be their first joint appearance since then. just four days before the iowa caucuses. and mitt romney is going into this confident, according to the polls, still leading four days as we said before these iowa caucuses. cnn political reporter jim acosta is awaiting the event. he's in west des moines this morning. hi, there, jim. what can we expect today and how much might this appearance bice chris christie help mitt romney? >> well, it will help him a lot. chris christie, as you know, a very popular figure inside the republican party when these two get out on the campaign trail together it gets all kinds of talk going about whether or not this might be a potential ticket for the republican party heading into 2012. you know, mitt romney, people are talking about mittmentum in iowa right now. a brand-new poll which shows what our cnn/"time"/orc poll showed earlier this week. pull under to a lead in this state and a pretty stunning turn of events and he's only on his eighth trip to iowa during this campaign. contrast that with some of the other contenders in this field. rick santorum and michele bachmann have been to every county in iowa and they're no where near mitt romney in terms of where he stands in the polls right now. this is a big day for mitt romney and consider, hala, just for a minute the campaign schedule that is coming up in the next coming days. we understand my colleague just tweeted out a few minutes ago that ron paul, who was in second place, statistically tied with mitt romney in the state will be spending the weekend in texas with his wife getting ready for new year's eve, which is really sort of amazing because that is going to give mitt romney a big opening here, give him lots of air time to sort of put that closing argument out there to the people of iowa heading into the caucuses. mitt romney is going to new hampshire later today but he will be back in iowa for a big swing through the state, basically for the final days before the caucuses start and then he will be des moines on caucus night to watch those returns come in and he is going all in hoping that the big mo is swinging in his direction and from all appearances at this point, that's exactly what's happening, hala. >> what is ron paul's campaign saying about why he's going back to texas? just a few days before the caucus. what is the strategy? >> we're not hearing a whole lot in terms of what their strategy or thinking is about this. as you know, ron paul is a maverick inside the republican party. he's drawing libertarian support. the likes of which, i don't think the republican party was really prepared to see. and there are some of the gop who say, wait a minute, this is just an iowa situation. if he wins the iowa caucuses, that doesn't necessarily translate into a nomination. that is probably true. but he does do fairly well in new hampshire. there are a lot of libertarians there. so, ron paul is a force to be reckon with right now. he is certainly on a roll and it is certainly to watch. he has the ground forces in place to win these iowa caucuses. mitt romney is debatable whether or not he has the ground forces to translate those poll numbers into a caucus victory. a lot of drama here and we'll watch it over the coming days and no doubt about it. mittmenton is for real right now. >> not an indicator of future performance, but an important one, nonetheless. we are expecting any moment now, mitt romney and governor chris christie of new jersey to make an appearance, a joint appearance. a rainy day there. you're seeing in the foreground an open umbrella. romney for president rally is what is happening in west des moines and we'll go there live as soon as the event starts for you. here's a quick look at where the republican presidential candidates will be today, by the way. beyond mitt romney. michele bachmann gets some help from congressman steve king on the campaign trail in early iowa. rick santorum, who surged in the polls, tripled his support, he will be in ames to host the first of two college football watch parties. starts with the pinstripe bowl at 4:00 and heads to johnston and newt gingrich in des moines and phone calls only for that one. rick perry will visit waterloo and ron paul will be in le mars for part of the day. we heard there with jim accoost that mitt romney will be and host romney spaghetti dinner fund-raiser. jon huntsman campaigns in plymouth. this weekend is your chance to see the gop presidential candidates offer their closing arguments, so to speak, uninterrupted and in their own words. this saturday and sunday afternoon at 2:00 eastern right here on cnn. all right, let's turn our attention to international news. there is really a lot going on here on the last sort of home stretch before 2012. just months after nato forces began pushing moammar gadhafi from power, there are some reports that al qaeda now has at least 200 fighters in libya. one source says they're ready to strike and their targets may be well beyond libya's borders. what is this about? cnn's nic robertson is following these latest developments and he joins us from london by phone. so, the reports are that al qaeda sent a pointman to libya back in may and he was charged with putting together this al qaeda fighting force in libya, right, nick? >> exactly. it's long been a concern as instability increased in libya, gadhafi was forced out as the ncc was unable to consolidate a government that al qaeda included were trying to gain a foothold on what has happened here is that the head of al qaeda has sent two fop litop lieutenants to libya to set up camps there. one of them was captured as he was passing through europe and the other one made it. the man who has made it, who has made it to libya who has established this camp has a track record of being a radical islamist who is known to have, even in al qaeda circles, to have very radical views. he was in training camps in afghanistan in the 1990s. he has been a close ally of al and you have also leaders saying at the same time to libyans, now you need to choose your destiny and your destiny is to build an islamist base. so what we are seeing here is al qaeda now concretely. we have evidence for it. they are establishing themselves, a base where there is a lack of government right now. this does come after all that money and efforts and by nato and to put a stable government into libya. >> all right, well, we've seen it in other countries. in yemen, for instance. we'll see if there is pickup and an organized fighting force that will be able to mount attacks. nic robertson is reporting from london on this. now, so much for hopes of a softer relationship between north and south korea after kim jong-il's death. a statement says, "south korean puppets and foolish politicians around the world should not expect any change in policy." beyond that, the north says it's insulted that more south koreans didn't attend this week's funeral ceremonies. let's take you to syria now. a significant day. huge anti-government protests are erupting across the country along with more reports of violence. at least eight protesters reportedly killed today. we have no way of confirming that independently. outside journalists are still banned from syria. you're seeing there some images from homs today. people are feeling emboldened, we're hearing. they're going out on hundreds of thousands. because international journalists are barred from syria, it makes this next piece of video all the more fascinating. cnn has obtained exclusive video of the battle in homs between government security forces and troops who have defected. our reporter there needs to remain anonymous. take a look. >> the neighborhood of homs. fighters took me into a house where their men were engaged with a shootout with snipers from the syrian military. these men say they're allfectors and they call themselves the free syrian army. one of the men managed to take rifle with a position scope with him when he defected. but most of the fighters from the free syrian army are ill equipped and short on gun and ammunition and with no heavy weapons. still, they have managed to kick outside forces outside and hold that area. it's possibly the first place in syria beyond government control. checkpoints like this mark the frontline. "assad's troops are 25 to 30 meters away from us with soldiers and tanks." we are here to prevent them from killing young and old. >> reporter: the men introduced me to one of their leaders. one of the few willing to be identified. he was a lieutenant in the army before defected. his uncle is a former syrian defense minister. "we got orders in army that went against my oath as a soldier. when i saw what the government forces were doing to the people, i defected on june 2nd." >> reporter: people like him are heroes for the people. he was cheered at an anti-government demonstration. but he is surrounded by the syrian military and constantly shelled by tanks and artillery. in a meeting in a safe house, he insists that even though assad has not used his air force against the uprising only a no-fly zone imposed by the international community could help the rebels win. "we are in contact with soldiers in the army and a no-fly zone is in effect." >> reporter: for now, the men of the free syrian army are fighting a gurillian war against an overpowering foe. evading government checkpoints. at night, they search everyone entering and leaving the area to stop government death squads from getting in. >> translator: they are known to kidnap our women and children. we try to prevent this. when strangers come here, we stop and search them. >> reporter: people of this part of homs are not afraid to take to the streets. there are regular rallies, but after months of casualties, they have long lost their faith in nonviolent protests. many believe that real change in syria will only come from the barrel of a gun. >> remarkable, exclusive video from inside syria, the epicenter of the revolt against assad. we've counted your votes and now we're just about 15 minutes away from revealing your top stories of 2011. times square is getting ready to kick 2011 to the curb. the final preparations for the big new year's celebration in new york city are under way. a live report, next. just hold t. we need a portable x-ray, please! 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[ male announcer ] get the venture card at capitalone.com and earn double miles on every purchase every day. what's in your wallet? cover for me. i have an audition. nyquil tylenol: we are?ylenol. you know we're kinda like twins. nyquil (stuffy): yeah, we both relieve coughs, sneezing, aches, fevers. tylenol: and i relieve nasal congestion. nyquil (stuffy): overachiever. anncr vo: tylenol cold multi-symptom nighttime relieves nasal congestion... nyquil cold & flu doesn't. live images from west des moines, iowa. we are awaiting that romney/christie event. governor chris christie of new jersey endorsed mitt romney. this is their first joint appearance since then and we're four days away from the iowa caucuses. this is something that is seen as being something politically possible for mitt romney. possibly increasing his support in iowa. only times will tell in terms of the polls whether that will translate into actual support. just about time for that ball to drop, everyone. 2011 to go away. new york is getting times square ready for the new year's eve party where you and about a million of your closest friends can welcome 2012. workers are putting the final touches on the ball and making sure the lights and confetti machines are ready to go. that's the ball. cnn's susan candiotti joins us from times square. tell us more about the, hello. that's a 2012 -- >> hello. >> happy new year. i have a feeling we will say happy new year to each other several times over the next few hours. susan, tell us about these preparations. can you see through these glasses? >> you know, i can. it's a light green tint. my favorite color. they come in a variety of shades, but i got mine early. yeah, i can see through them, hala. not only give you a taste of this, but a little bit of confetti. there it goes. anyway, they'll drop a ton of that on new year's eve from all these buildings surrounding us and the streets empty now in this area of times square and 24 hours from now, forget about it. as you know, expecting about a million people here and if you take a look now, you can see that they're getting ready to set up barricades. these people that you see over to this side are here not as early as party goers but in line to buy broadway tickets. but up at the top of the times square building, you can see the poll where that beautiful waterford crystal ball will be dropping. when it is midnight tomorrow night. of course, they will have big-name entertainment here including the likes of lady gaga and justin bieber. the stage is set for our own anderson cooper. they're all set for a lot of action here, hala. >> security. i imagine with times square, it's always a big concern and i see barricades behind you. how are authorities in new york managing the security situation? for this big new year's celebration? >> of course, security is the number one priority every year for new york city police, as well as getting an assist from the fbi and a ton of federal agencies. they will be out in force tomorrow night in the huge area surrounding here. they've got 16 checkpoints leading into times square. every one who comes in here will have to pass through a metal detector and wear backpacks, but, of course, always a terror threat. the possibility of that out there. although there are no current threats, but ray kelly says he is ready to take on any comers, they are ready. >> susan candiotti in new york. let's take you to west des moines, iowa. the event romney for president rally is under way. mitt romney is addressing his supporters there and chris christie is standing, as well, on the podium. let's listen in. >> looking for the highest office in the land. i believe this race is not just about replacing president obama, important as that is, it's also a race about saving the soul of america. this is a time to decide what america is going to be over the coming years over this century and no one that has fought that battle more consistently and effectively than the governor of new jersey. so, i want to welcome the great governor of new jersey chris christie. >> thank you, mitt. >> thank you for coming with me to welcome the next president of the united states of america, governor mitt romney. listen, america is watching iowa. as we always do every four years, we're watching iowa and iowa is going to be the folks to help to start this process to get us going and to make sure that the republican party nominates the very best person to take on president obama in november. now, when you look at that debate, you have to come to the conclusion i have come to. there is no person better qualified by his experience and his character to take on barack obama and to lead the united states of america than governor mitt romney. and this election is about our kids. it's about our kids and their future and that's what governor romney has talked about all across this country. he and ann and their family have benefitted greatly from all the opportunities that america has offered to them. they want the same thing for their grandchildren. and they want the same thing for your children and the fight to take back the white house starts on tuesday night and it starts here in iowa and we are counting on you to get out there. take nothing for granted. elections are decided by the people who show up, by the people who vote, by the people who care about their country enough to be out here on a friday morning in iowa in the rain and the cold because you love your country and because you believe this man can help lead this country back to greatness. now, listen, this is a fight just starts on tuesday and it's going to continue right through november. and the president of the united states, he's going to be out here and he's going to be trying to tell you a story. a story that somehow america is doing better after his three years of leadership in the white house. we know that's not true. we know that's not true. and the president is going to try to convince you somehow that he deserves to be rehired. well, let's be real clear. let's be real clear. president obama came out to iowa three years ago and he talked to you about hope and change. well, let me tell you, after three years of obama, we are hopeless and changeless and we need mitt romney to bring us back. to bring america back. so, i want to thank you all for being here this morning. i am trihrilled to be in iowa. new jersey is watching you, too. we're watching you really closely. we want to tell you something really clearly. i'm in a good mood this morning. i'm feeling happy and upbeat. i love being with mitt and ann, but let me tell you, you people disappoint me on tuesday, you don't do what you're supposed to do on tuesday for mitt romney, i will be back, jersey style, people. i will be back. but i'm much, i'd much rather come back to iowa this fall. i'd much rather come back this fall to campaign for mitt romney and to help you help him lead this country. all you need to know is this, i'll be there every minute that i could possibly be to help him because i believe in our country just as much as you do. so, everybody, thanks for coming out this morning. i appreciate it very much and, it is my extraordinary honor to introduce to you the next president of the united states of america, governor mitt romney. >> what a guy that guy is. isn't he amazing? so lucky to have him in our party and fighting the battles to take back america. this morning i have, well, someone i met in high school with me. i went to a party at stu white's house. i'd seen the girl in elementary school, but she was in the -- when she turned 16 i thought she was pretty interesting. she had come with someone else and i went up to him and i said, look, i live closer to ann than you do. why don't i give her a ride home for you. and he said, okay. we've been going steady ever since. my sweetheart, ann romney. >> i got one. thank you. >> mitt romney there endorsed by chris christie back in october. the governor of new jersey making an appearance in west des moines, iowa. saying that no one is better equipped to take on barack obama than mitt romney. also, urging the romney supporters to actually show up four days from now for the iowa caucuses. turnout critical for romney to maintain this lead. he is now in a statistical tie in the latest polling and aimed his criticism at barack obama, as well. we'll take a short break here on cnn. we'll continue to follow the campaigning out of iowa from other candidates, as well, in the gop field. after