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Searching Mt. Hood; Brutal Week for JetBlue; Al Qaeda's Comeback?
Aired February 19, 2007 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Heidi Collins today.
HARRIS: Developments keep coming in to the NEWSROOM on Monday, February 19th.
It is Presidents Day.
Here's what's on the rundown.
NGUYEN: Right now, searching Mt. Hood. Three climbers stuck on a mountain at 8,000 feet. Blinding snow making rescue very difficult. We're going to take you live to Oregon for the unfolding details.
HARRIS: Osama bin Laden, a report say he's rebuilding al Qaeda in Pakistan. That country a major ally in the war on terror. Just what's going on here?
NGUYEN: And listen to this. A funny thing happened on the way from Chinese to English. That's right. The language got mangled. It's confusion of Olympic proportions here in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: At the top this hour, the desperate search on Mt. Hood. Rescue teams battling treacherous weather and the threat of avalanches. But we're told they're getting close to reaching three climbers stranded since Sunday.
Joining us on the phone to talk about the rescue effort is Russell Gubele, a command officer with Mt. Wave Search and Rescue.
Russell, thanks for your time again this morning.
RUSSELL GUBELE, COMMAND OFFICER, MT. WAVE SEARCH AND RESCUE: Good morning, Tony.
HARRIS: Yes. Let me start by asking you, have you assembled your team members? Are you ready to go?
GUBELE: Yes, sir, we're already in the field. We have multiple teams coming from different approaches. And we have spoken to the missing folks this morning. And they complain of being cold again, as has been the case.
But they're doing OK. And we've got teams coming at this from all angles. And we hope to be with them soon.
HARRIS: So, Russell, the rescue effort is under way today, right now?
GUBELE: That's correct, sir. It was under way at first light. So it's been under way now for just over an hour.
HARRIS: All right. What is -- what are the challenges that you face in efforting this rescue today?
GUBELE: The biggest challenge for us up here, Tony, is the weather. As you've been reporting, the weather has been quite bad.
It has been near-blizzard conditions at times, zero visibility. We had 14 inches of snow last night. We're expecting two feet today. Severe avalanche warnings are up -- are in place for areas above 7,000 feet. And that's going to be lowering this afternoon. That's why it's so critical that we get in there now and get these folks out.
HARRIS: Russell, do you know precisely where it is you're going?
GUBELE: We have the location. They had a mountain locator unit and they also had a cellular telephone. And we have coordinates that we've triangulated from the mountain locating devices. So we're going to look in that area, and we also have data from the cell phone.
They are in a canyon, and radio signals will bounce around sometimes in a canyon. So we have a good idea where they are. We think we're pretty close. And we've got teams on the way to that area right now to check it out.
HARRIS: Are these climbers in a position physically to help you with their own rescue once you get close, or are they immobilized?
GUBELE: No, we think they are in a position to help with their own rescue. They are -- they actually walked for a period of time after they fell. And so, a couple of them complained of hitting their heads on the way down, but all are conscious and talking to us.
And we don't think that there's any life-threatening injuries involved. And we're not sure until we get a chance to get somebody on the ground there with them what their injuries are or how we will bring them out. But there's probably a fairly good chance that they can help us with their own rescue.
HARRIS: Russell, best-case scenario, how long might it take? Maybe you had a time frame in mind when you started this morning. Best-case scenario, how long to make this rescue?
GUBELE: Tony, it's really hard to say. I've been on these up here where we were here for a couple of hours. I've been on other where's it takes several hours because a person may be in pain, for example, and you have to go very slow and very carefully. But we have very qualified medical teams in the field. We have re-warming equipment, we have medical equipment.
So, once our teams are on the ground with these people, they'll be getting the very best of care.
HARRIS: And how real is the avalanche risk?
GUBELE: It's real. It's very bad.
HARRIS: OK. Russell, the best to you and to your teams as you attempt to make these rescues today. We know you'll be successful.
Russell Gubele with us.
Russell, thank you.
And let's get you to Chad Myers now.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: In Iraq, more bombings, more bloodshed. And another deadly attack on American troops.
The military says two U.S. soldiers were killed during a coordinated attack on a coalition combat outpost north of Baghdad. Eight Iraqi police officers were also killed. Officials say the attack included at least three suicide car bombings and 50 gunmen.
In Baghdad, a new security plan appears to be doing little to stop the violence there. The Iraqi capital the scene of more bombings and a mortar attack today. There's also a deadly explosion in Mahmoudiya. Iraqi police were targeted near Ramadi.
Blocked in the Senate, and now a possible new tactic. Over the weekend, Senate Democrats were unable to force a vote on an Iraq resolution. It would condemn President Bush's Iraq strategy, particularly the troop buildup.
Well, now Democrats are talking about modifying the 2002 measure that authorized the use of force in Iraq. They do that by trying to pass a new resolution, putting additional restrictions on military action in Iraq. And we're told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has tentatively agreed to the move.
More in a live report from CNN's Dana Bash. That is coming up here in the NEWSROOM. Don't miss it.
HARRIS: Downplayed expectations, upbeat talks. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Jerusalem today. The talks billed as an effort to restart the Middle East peace process, but little progress. Rice came away only with a promise to meet again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The president and prime minister agreed that they would meet together again soon. They reiterated their desire for American participation and leadership in facilitating efforts to overcome obstacles, rally regional and international support, and move forward toward peace. In that vein, I expect to return to the region soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Hamas has controlled the Palestinian government for the past year and says it will not recognize Israel.
NGUYEN: Well, the founder of JetBlue says he is humiliated and just mortified by his airline's meltdown, but maybe not as much as frustrated passengers are since they face the flight cancellations all day today.
CNN's Allan Chernoff reports now that it's been a brutal and often miserable week for the airliner and its customers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): JetBlue's reputation as one of the nation's efficient, most comfortable small airlines has come plummeting back to earth five days after a winter storm left its passengers stranded and trapped on runways for up to eight hours. The company says they still needed to cancel almost a quarter of flights on Presidents Day weekend. The cancellations affects flights in and out of 11 cities across the country.
A statement posted on the company's Web site called the cancellations part of an operational recovery program and said, "JetBlue is taking this aggressive, unprecedented action to end rolling delays and cancellations, and to operate a new schedule reliably." Essentially, JetBlue is canceling flights now in order to avoid canceling future flights, which doesn't seem to help irate passengers just looking to either get home or away on vacation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last night our flight was canceled last minute going to D.C. We were put on a 2:00 a.m. flight here to JFK. We arrived, our baggage was missing. We're told it was put on another flight. We had to go home, come back, pick it up. It's been a brutal two days, definitely, with JetBlue.
CHERNOFF: The problems with JetBlue all started on Valentine's Day, when northeast ice storms left planes and hundreds of passengers literally frozen on runways for hours, which then triggered what the company said was a domino effect, causing them to cancel hundreds of flights since Wednesday. JetBlue says passengers can choose either to convert the value of their travel to a JetBlue credit, or a full refund to the original form of payment. And that is clearly not enough for those stranded.
GEORGE MATRONI, STRANDED JETBLUE PASSENGER: If the CEO of JetBlue is watching, I would like to say, either your resignation should be tenured, or you should implement a new dynamic within JetBlue.
(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: Harsh words there, but full of apologies. JetBlue's CEO plans to unveil a customer bill of rights tomorrow. And in it, major compensation for future passengers held too long inside planes.
We're going to get those details just as soon as they're announced.
HARRIS: Well, it definitely wasn't what passengers were expecting. Rough landing in Cleveland. The commuter flight and the snowstorm, coming up in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Also, an airport shuttle ride in the dark of night goes horribly wrong. A deadly head-on collision. We have those details ahead.
And new disturbing warnings about al Qaeda. Is the terror group growing stronger and planning new attacks on the U.S. and the West? We have a live report coming up in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And the man, his game, his magnificent role. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, number 33, his new book about Harlem's role in African-American history. He is here, live in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A big scare and a big skid for a commuter plane landing in Cleveland, Ohio. The plane, carrying more than 70 passengers, ran off the end of a runway, broke through a fence, and finally came to a stop in a pile of snow. Look at that.
The plane, a Delta connector carrier, was trying to land during a snowstorm. No one was injured. The incident is under investigation.
Airport smashup. Two shuttle buses collide in Florida, two passengers are dead, eight others injured, some critical. The collision happened on a road that circles the Ft. Lauderdale airport. This morning, rescue teams still trying to get the crash site cleared.
NGUYEN: Well, five and a half years after 9/11, there are new warnings about al Qaeda, concerns the global terrorist group is making a comeback. Let's take you live now to CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.
We've got a lot of questions for you today, Barbara. One about the resurgence of al Qaeda in Pakistan.
Is that indeed the case? And if so, what is sparking this?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you, Betty.
U.S. intelligence officials do believe that there has been some resurgence of al Qaeda. Perhaps, they say, it never went it way to the extent some people believed it did after the 9/11 attacks. There was a big article in "The New York Times" this morning, but CNN has already reported much of this in recent weeks. Very specifically, U.S. intelligence officials say that there are training camps now, smaller than they've seen in the past, but a number of training camps that have opened up in that region, that mountainous region of Pakistan along the Afghan border. And one official says those training camps are full.
Why is all of this taking place? Well, several months ago, the Pakistani government basically reached an agreement with the tribes that run much of that rugged region, saying that it would take a hands-off attitude to some extent, and that has led to al Qaeda moving back in, if they ever left at all. But really digging in and basically becoming part of that area of Pakistan, a real safe haven -- Betty.
NGUYEN: So, do you think Osama bin Laden may be playing a role in this resurgence?
STARR: Well, U.S. intelligence officials believe for some time now that he has been hiding in that region. Is he playing a direct role? Well, that would only be speculation, officials say.
Nobody really has heard or seen from him in many, many months. And the real issue, as far as bin Laden goes, is he may not have to communicate anymore. You know, he can stay out of sight. He can stay hidden and still exert his influence. That may be the real threat.
NGUYEN: And if al Qaeda is growing stronger, what kind of threat does this have for the rest of the world?
STARR: It's growing stronger, many officials believe, in a different way. It operates off the Internet now -- in cyberspace, in the virtual world, if you will.
Bin Laden doesn't have to communicate. He can have messages posted in his name on the Internet. And he has this global jihad movement that he always wanted.
That is part of the threat. We have seen, of course, attacks now, smaller attacks than the 9/11 attacks, from London, to Madrid, to Saudi Arabia. Many intelligence analysts believe that will be the future al Qaeda -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Very interesting.
CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us.
Barbara, as always, we appreciate your information.
STARR: Thank you.
HARRIS: Two famous preachers, well-known voices, but do the Reverend Al Sharpton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson speak for all of black America? The answer's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Untold stories. CNN is kicking off a year-long series of reports looking at stories and issues affecting minority groups -- race and its impact on our lives. It is called "Uncovering America."
Today we focus on two ministers, the Reverend Al Sharpton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. When it comes to African-Americans, the two men seem to stand out as leaders. But why them?
CNN's Soledad O'Brien of "AMERICAN MORNING" reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A high-profile police shooting, it's Reverend Al Sharpton leading the protest march down 5th Avenue.
REV. AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: No justice...
CROWD: No peace.
SHARPTON: No justice...
CROWD: No peace.
O'BRIEN: A rally for Darfur in Washington, there's Reverend Jesse Jackson.
The "Godfather of Soul" dies, it's both Sharpton and Jackson preaching to the crowd.
It seems like they're everywhere.
(on camera): There would be people who might think watching TV that you and Jesse Jackson are the only black leaders in this country, practically. Every time there's an event, a shooting, something to be said, something to respond to in the black community, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are there in front of the microphone.
SHARPTON: Well, I think there are those that don't understand that 99 percent of the time they see me if it's a police shooting, or if it's corporate discrimination or whatever it is, we are called to come. So you get tagged as an ambulance chaser. In many ways, we're the ambulance. People know we'll come when the ambulance won't come.
O'BRIEN (voice over): Sometimes Sharpton and Jackson are the ones being chased. Disgraced comedian Michael Richards sought out Jesse Jackson to apologize. When presidential candidate Joe Biden called fellow senator Barack Obama "articulate" and "clean," guess who he called next?
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I spoke to Barack today.
JON STEWART, "THE DAILY SHOW": I bet you did.
(LAUGHTER)
BIDEN: I also spoke to Jesse and Al Sharpton.
O'BRIEN: But do Al and Jesse speak for all African-Americans? One lawmaker says if it seems that way, blame the media.
REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: The media has identified who black leadership is. They go to the same people over and over again. They're saying to the American public, this is the person who speaks for the black community.
BRUCE GORDON, PRESIDENT & CEO, NAACP: I think the media's lazy. I think that Al and Jesse are bright, articulate, compelling personalities. They've both run for president, so they've created a presence for themselves. And the media gets lazy and simply picks them because they always have. And they don't choose to cast a wider net.
O'BRIEN: NAACP president Bruce Gordon says there are plenty of leaders in the black community, but we don't always see them or hear from them.
GORDON: There are black folks in key leadership positions that influence policy, that influence how the community is ultimately treated or affected, but nobody knows about them.
O'BRIEN: Jesse Jackson, a former presidential candidate, says he wants to talk about all kinds of issues but he's often pigeonholed.
REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: Well, no one speaks for everyone. No one would ever refer to a senator as "A white senator from X state says..." or "A white president says..."
So, why call me a black leader when my blackness is self-evident? Give me the freedom, let my voice soar, and don't limit my interests. That's reasonable and fair.
O'BRIEN: The criticism doesn't bother Al Sharpton, who says he's going to keep marching whether the cameras are there or not.
(on camera): A number of people have said, Al Sharpton, you know what? I'm black, he does not represent my views. He doesn't represent a lot of black America. But if I get shot, I'm going to call him.
SHARPTON: You're fighting people. You're confronting people. That makes people uncomfortable.
And you understand that going in. You're not going to win the popularity contest. And you're not even going to get your due until probably after you're gone. But if you don't do it, you're not going to open the doors that need to be opened.
O'BRIEN (voice over): Soledad O'Brien, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: And tomorrow we will continue our two-part series on leadership in black America. We will look at the new generation of leaders, from a maverick mayor in one of America's most troubled cities, to the man who wants to become the nation's first black president.
Tune in tomorrow.
NGUYEN: Coming up, they've been sent packing. The Iraqi government forcing families to move, all in the name of security. One family's struggle in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: The man, his game, his magnificent role. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his new book about Harlem's role in African-American history. He is here, he is live, coming up next in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Also, it's just about that time. Are you hungry?
HARRIS: Sure.
NGUYEN: Well, let's see what's on the menu.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. I think a serving of the husband and wife lung slide, stab the body platter. Ah, yes, the hexangular (ph) germ fries, the cowboy bone. And that's good?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yes, that sounds delicious.
HARRIS: Yum, yum.
NGUYEN: Ready to dig in? Our John Vause is in Beijing for a Chinglish lesson. That's what they're calling it. And it's in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
NGUYEN: The search for security, a tough order for Iraqi civilians. Many still trying to find their own safe haven.
CNN's Arwa Damon has one family's story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sometimes Hakima Aiyal confesses she thinks about adding poison to the food. At age 46, mother to seven children, Hakima has lost her will to live.
Like too many other families, the Aiyal, Shias, fled sectarian violence in Diyala five months ago, swapping homes with a Sunni family in Baghdad.
"It was a simple life in Diyala. For me, a Diyala palm tree is worth more than all of Baghdad." All they have now are snapshots of happier times, of laughter, of a time when they had hope, when the girls aspired to finish their university educations, when the family did not have to plead for money.
AL ABBAS AWAIED, HUSBAND (through translator): I was with the former army, and my pension is only $140. This money is not even enough for cooking gas. Now I'm borrowing money from relatives and other friends.
DAMON: As if life wasn't bad enough, now as part of the plan to secure Baghdad, the Iraqi government is ordering them to leave by the end of the month, unless they can provide a rental agreement signed by both families.
"This is oppression, not justice. I escaped from the terrorists to live here. Now they're considering me a terrorist if I don't leave the house. This is not fair."
DAMON: CNN contacted the prime minister's office with the details of this family's concerns. The response was that they should return to Diyala, even if it's not safe for them, because the government's security plan would impose law and order all over Iraq.
"This is the youngest displaced person in the family."
Threats from insurgents drove them from their home. Now the family fears the government's new policy will drive them to their death in this new sectarian Iraq.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The rescue effort in full effect on Mt. Hood. Crews headed out at daybreak, trying to reach three climbers stranded on the southern side of the mountain. Now those climbers have been huddling for warmth with a dog, and they've been keeping in touch with rescuers via cell phone. Those rescue crews may be moving a little bit closer. But the weather, that is still a big concern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL GUBELE, RESCUE COMMAND OFFICER: The biggest challenge for us up here, Tony, is the weather. As you've been reporting, the weather has been quite bad. It has been near-blizzard conditions at times. Zero visibility. We had 14 inches of snow last night. We're expecting two feet today. Severe avalanche warnings are in place for areas above 7,000 feet, and that's going to be lowering this afternoon. That's why it's so critical that we get in there now and get these folks out.
A couple of them complained of hitting their heads on the way down, but all are conscious and talking to us, and we don't think there's any life-threatening injuries involved. And we're not sure until we get a chance to get somebody on the ground there with them. What their injuries are or how we will bring them out. There's probably a fairly good chance they can help us with their own rescue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: It is a critical operation. And here in the NEWSROOM, we are watching that rescue effort unfold. We're going to update you with any new developments just as they happen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Let's spend a few minutes with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Betty.
NGUYEN: I would love to.
HARRIS: One of the brightest starts of all the all-stars, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at this past weekend's NBA All-Star Game. Well, he has hasn't played professionally since 1989, but no player has scored more points or blocked more shots.
There he is in action.
Now Abdul-Jabbar's talking about growing up in Harlem and Harlem's role in African-American history. His new book "On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance." And he is joining us this morning from Los Angeles.
Kareem, great to talk to you again. Great to have you back in the NEWSROOM. Thanks for getting up first thing in the morning out in Los Angeles.
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, FMR. NBA PLAYER: No problem. Nice to be here. Thank you.
HARRIS: Talk to us about your book to the extent it was a labor. It sounds like it was a labor of love. Talk to us about this journey.
ABDUL-JABBAR: Oh, it most certainly was a labor of love. So many people have asked me why I am who I am, you know, how I got to be who I am. And I figured that the best way to do it would be to put it down on paper and go from there.
So I started putting my thoughts down on paper, and the result is the book that you have.
HARRIS: Yes, but you framed it against the backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance. That's an interesting choice. Why did you make that choice?
ABDUL-JABBAR: So many of the aspects of the Harlem Renaissance affected my life directly, and especially by way of my father, who was a jazz musician. He grew up listening to the music of Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington and Fats Waller, and loved them, and that was something that I heard in my home all the time growing up. And because of that, the whole influence of the Harlem Renaissance really resonated in my household and made me more or less learn about the things I had to learn about. The first book of Langston Hughes poetry that I ever read belonged to my father.
HARRIS: So who were some of the heroes of that period for you?
ABDUL-JABBAR: Well, there were several. I mentioned Duke Ellington. Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller. For example, Paul Robeson, a giant of the Harlem Renaissance, as an actor, an orator, political activist, W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey. They are known for their political thoughts and agitation. There was a whole lot of different aspects of it that really affected American life.
In addition to that, there were also people in sports, the New York renaissance big five, affectionately known as the Harlem Rens basketball team, they were a major factor of the Harlem Renaissance, and most people don't know about them.
HARRIS: You are so correct. I'm glad you brought that up, because I've got tell you, and I'm thinking back and I'm reading some information about this, I was not familiar with the Harlem Rens. When did they play? How good were they? And what is their relationship with the team that came out of Harlem that I guess we're all familiar with, the Harlem Globetrotters?
ABDUL-JABBAR: Well, OK, Tony, here's the funny part about this -- the Harlem Globetrotters are from Chicago.
HARRIS: See!
ABDUL-JABBAR: The Harlem Rens, which was Harlem's team, started playing in the early '20s, approximately 1922. And they played up to World War II. And they were the best professional basketball team of the '20s and '30s. But at that time, basketball was segregated, and they couldn't play in the leagues that allowed all-white teams to play. So they had to only -- they were only allowed to play barnstorming games. But they beat everybody. They were absolutely the best team. Their most well-known for their competition head-to- head against the original Celtics who featured Joe Lapchick. He was their star player. And because of that rivalry the Rens got to be known across the United States as a very tough team.
And In 1939, a Chicago newspaper held a tournament that for the first time was not segregated. The Rens played the Globetrotters in the semifinals and beat them, and went on to beat Oshkosh in the finals, and became the very first professional championship team that. I mean...
HARRIS: That is tremendous. That is tremendous history. Did not know that.
I have to ask you, did the Rens, in any way, influence your decision to play basketball you? You grew up a baseball fan, didn't you?
ABDUL-JABBAR: Oh, absolutely. I wanted to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. But interestingly, again, the Harlem Globetrotters movie "Go, Man, Go," really influenced me. I'd never seen basketball played like that, until I saw that movie. And from that point on, I wanted to be Marcus Haynes. I didn't have those skills. I never developed them. But it inspired me to play the game and made me love the game.
HARRIS: One final question as we watch you in action here -- what was it like to return to the site, the Thomas & Mack Center, where you broke the scoring record, and be to honored the way you were honored this week?
ABDUL-JABBAR: Well, it's always wonderful to connect with the fans. They're wonderful, and it brings back memories. It's getting to be a long time ago that I played. But any time that you can go back on memory lane and have the fans acknowledge you, it's a wonderful experience.
HARRIS: Kareem, great to see you again. The documentary, based on your new book, is coming out in June, is that what you mentioned to me just a moment ago?
ABDUL-JABBAR: Yes, in June. If you want to check it on the Web site, it's www.osgmovie.com.
HARRIS: Kareem, great to see you again. Thanks for your time this morning.
ABDUL-JABBAR: My pleasure. Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, vinyl lunch bags, you probably have one in your closet somewhere at home. But Can they endanger your child's health? Conflicting test results, that's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" coming up at the top of the hour in about -- help me with the math here, Betty -- 14 minutes. Jim Clancy standing by with a preview for us.
Jim, good morning.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Tony, and to Betty there. You know, it's been 5 1/2 years since September 11th. The question being asked today, is al Qaeda regaining some of its strength? We're going to hear live from the pentagon. We'll be hearing from one of the only journalists that ever sat down and met Osama bin Laden face-to-face. What's going on with al Qaeda?
Also, for the first time in almost as many years, the U.S. bringing together the head of the Palestinian Authority and the head of the Israeli government, all sitting down for talks. But what was really achieved?
Zain Verjee will joins us live from Jerusalem. Plus, a British royal appears to be getting his request for combat duty in Iraq. What risk does that pose for Prince Harry? And the troops who stand next to him? That and a whole lot more coming up. The news with an international perspective at the top of the hour.
Betty and Tony, back to you.
HARRIS: All right, Jim, appreciate it. Thanks.
Hungry?
NGUYEN: May not be after this, though.
HARRIS: Let's check out what's on the menu.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, I think a serving of the husband and wife lung slice. Ah, yes, the hexangular germ fries, the cowboy bones.
And that's good?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What is that? Before you dig in, our John Vause is in Beijing for a "Chinglish" lesson. That's what they're calling it. It's In the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
NGUYEN: Well, joining us is a man who's always well dressed.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Wouldn't that be nice to lay out on the beach today.
NGUYEN: Are you trying to give that model a run for her money?
LEMON: No, I'm just joking around about the model. A little water, a little cocktail on the desk.
NGUYEN: It's only water, I promise.
LEMON: Did you have a good weekend?
NGUYEN: I worked.
LEMON: Yes, same here.
NGUYEN: Exactly.
LEMON: But it's good to have a job.
NGUYEN: This is true, I won't argue that. (CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Come on, I was just joking about the guys laying out on the beach.
It's good to see both of you. A lot coming up today in the NEWSROOM at 1:00.
One false step could be your last -- fierce, frigid wins, plus potential avalanche conditions today on Mt. Hood, but rescuers are back on the task, putting their own lives on the line to try to save three strand climbers and their dogs. We'll take you there live for the very latest.
And Basra or bust for England's Prince Harry. The military school grad is determined to join his men in Iraq. But there is a royal ruckus over security fears. One tabloid is even calling him a "bullet magnet." What do you think about the prince determined to serve? We'll be taking your e-mails on this one. All that and much, much more coming up today in the NEWSROOM starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. It's a very interesting question.
NGUYEN: Absolutely is. We're going to get a lot of good responses on that.
Thank you. I'll see you at 1:00.
LEMON: Yes, see you then.
NGUYEN: Lot to do today.
LEMON: Hardest working woman in showbiz.
NGUYEN: Just as long as the boss knows that.
Thank you, Don.
Well, we'll move on to this story. It's quite interesting, especially around lunchtime. China's rush to the Olympics may leave a quaint custom, shall we say, in the dust, or maybe it will get lost in translation? Are you confused? We kind of are. But wait until you see this menu.
CNN's John Vause explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Sometimes when English and Chinese collide, the result can be downright terrifying. And if you think "Keep off the grass" would be fairly simple, in China that translates to "Tiny grass has a life. Sincere concern shows under your feet." But with the Olympics fast approaching, Beijing is trying to correct what's commonly referred to as Chinglish, often humorous, sometimes mysterious translations.
DAVID TOOL, ENGLISH TEACHER: The Chinese are very, very anxious that everything go very, very well and that they look very sophisticated and things come off very smoothly.
VAUSE (on camera): For the Olympics.
TOOL: For the Olympics, right.
VAUSE (voice over): David Tool is a teacher and one of dozens of volunteers trying to demuddle Beijing's English. His biggest success so far, he says, taking the "anus" out of the Anus Hospital.
TOOL: I'm really amazed at how quickly they've put it up. This has been less than a month.
VAUSE: Restaurant menus, though, are another matter.
TOOL: (INAUDIBLE) soup. It's just a typo.
VAUSE (on camera): What does crap taste like?
TOOL: Actually, fortunately, I've never eaten crap, but the carp is very good.
VAUSE (voice over): Typos are one thing, but sometimes it's not even worth trying to guess.
(on camera): OK. I think a serve of the husband and wife lung slice, the stab the body platter.
Ah, yes, the hexangular (ph) germ fries, the cowboy bone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
VAUSE: And that's good?
So this is what the order looks like. The husband and wife lung slices are, in fact, heart and stomach. The stab the body platter is sashimi, which doesn't look too bad. And the hexangular (ph) germs, well, they're mushrooms and beef ribs.
(voice over): Across Beijing, the rush is on for better English from one of the volunteers...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm speaking English.
VAUSE: ... to taxi drivers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our taxi driver, they will come for foreign people to Beijing.
VAUSE: But along the way, some fear a little something is being lost, the old world charm, that special Chinglish.
John Vause, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: I mean, who hasn't a little husband and wife lung slice, whatever that is, right? You're having that for lunch, right?
HARRIS: You want to try the foods in the country you're visiting, but...
NGUYEN: You want to know what it is.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now.
HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home.
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