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British Troops Home; Little Scavengers; Gerri's Top Tips
Aired April 05, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Heidi Collins today.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
Stay informed in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown for you this morning.
The Britains are home. Fifteen service members held captive by Iran arrived at their military base on the English coast a short time ago.
WHITFIELD: A rear-end crash can be a pain in the neck. New insurance industry tests show which car seats protect you best from whiplash.
HARRIS: Between them, they've got six marriages. Rudy and Judy Giuliani's private lives. American voters get a taste of presidential politics tabloid-style. It is Thursday, April 5th, and you are in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Finally free and back on British soil. Fifteen sailors and marines taken captive by Iran are now back home. Two helicopters carrying the troops landed at the Royal Marine's Base in Devon, England, about a half hour ago. You're looking at a live picture of the base building where they just landed. That's where they are being reunite with family members as well after undergoing medical check-ups and debriefings. The British troops were held by Iran for almost two weeks before the surprise announcement yesterday they were free to leave. Britain says diplomacy, not deal making, led to their release.
The coastal town of Hayle, England, is home to one of those freed British troops. And it has been the scene of celebration for family members jubilant over the release of the sailors and the marines. CNN's Alphonso van Marsh joins us live from Hayle right now.
Alphonso, they are excited, but how long before they're actually reunite with their loved ones?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, that's the big question out here. What we do know is that there are a lot of smiles going on here in Hayle. As evidence here in the local paper, people say they want their hero to come home. Of course, they're referring to, as you mentioned, 21-year-old Nathan Summers. One of those 15 British service members to be held in Iran and now back on British soil.
And in this part of the country, getting that debrief, the people here, particularly Nathan Summers' family, say that they're very much looking forward to seeing their son come home. Here in this town, this is where Nathan grew up. In fact, he worked at a pub just down the street before he joined the Royal Navy. That pub was full last night with his mother, his father, his stepfather, girlfriend, sister, everybody there popping champagne, getting ready to drink and be merry. And they say once the son is back in that pub, they are truly going to celebrate. Probably later on tonight.
Another interesting person that we talked to is Nathan's grandmother, April Rawsthorne. She explained that roller coaster of emotions of seeing her grandson being held against his will in Iran, and then now seeing those pictures of her grandson coming back home. We sat down with her a little bit earlier on today. This is how she told us she was feeling now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
APRIL RAWSTHORNE, NATHAN SUMMERS' GRANDMOTHER: Just excitement and overjoyed that Nathan is on his way home and everything has turned out fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAN MARSH: Again, Fred, people here are just so excited, so relieved, as it were, that those 15 British service members are back on English soil. And I can tell you here in Hayle, the hometown of Nathan Summers, there is going to be one massive party hosted by his friends and, of course, his family.
Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're excited for them. Alphonso van Marsh, thanks so much, in Hayle.
HARRIS: Celebration over the release of the 15 sailors and marines by Iran. Sadness over the death of British troops in Iraq. That was the reaction today from British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Just as we rejoice at the return of 15 service personnel, so today we are also grieving and mourning for the loss of our soldiers in Basra who were killed as a result of a terrorist act. So on the one hand we are glad that our service personnel return safe and unharmed from their captivity, but on the other we return to the sober and ugly reality of what is happening through terrorism in Iraq, terrorism designed specifically to thwart the will of the international community because our forces are there with full United Nations authority and thwart obviously the will of the democratically-elected government of Iraq that wants us there.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HARRIS: For more on the release of the British sailors and marines and reaction from the prime minister, let's go live now to CNN's Robin Oakley outside number 10 Downing Street in London.
And, Robin, as the prime minister just mentioned there just a moment ago, just a day of mixed emotions for the British people.
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly has been a day of mixed emotions. And Tony Blair chose to link the joy and relief over the return of the captives with a somber announcement about more British deaths in Iraq, reminding people of Iran's role in terrorism. I think trying to counter what he sees as a propaganda cue for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in terms of his recuse of the captives, reminding people that there's another side to Iran.
And basically Tony Blair wanted to do two things. He wanted to spell out a justification for his tactics in the negotiations and he wanted to remind people of the kind of choice that was still there for Iran if it chose to cooperate with the rest of the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLAIR: I think that what is actually happened is that we have managed to secure the release of our personnel, I think more quickly than many people anticipated. And have done so, incidentally, and I want to make this very, very clear, without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatever. We made it clear at the outset we weren't going to do that and we held firm to that position throughout.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OAKLEY: The other thing he set out to counter was the Iranian's argument that you get better results by talking to them directly. Tony Blair, of course, have gone to the U.N. Security Council, to the European Union for support, internationalizing the dispute. Something the Iranians didn't like. But he was trying to justify that approach by saying, you don't get results from Iran unless you have direct talks, plus international pressure.
Tony.
HARRIS: Hey, Robin, I don't know that we know this at this point, but do we have any further indication what was in that letter that was sent by British officials to the Iranian foreign ministry?
OAKLEY: I asked him about that directly when he faced us in Downing Street this morning, and that was one question I didn't really get a direct reply to. What he did say, though, because that letter, according to President Ahmadinejad, promised that Britain wouldn't go in Iranian waters in future. And Tony Blair said, well, look, we've never said we want to go in Iranian waters. We're always happy to give that kind of assurance. But he didn't say specifically what was in that letter.
And he also said there's no linkage to the question of the five Iranians held by the U.S. in Iraq or to the one Iranian diplomat already released. No linkage at all he insists.
Tony.
HARRIS: CNN's Robin Oakley for us.
Robin, appreciate it. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, now let's follow the campaign trail through New Hampshire. A new look at how things are shaping up for Republican contenders in the granite state. A new CNN/WMUR presidential primary poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire shows John McCain and Rudy Giuliani in a dead heat, 29 percent apiece. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney follows with 17 percent and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich coming in with 2 percent. And for the record, Gingrich has yet to even announce he's in the race. New Hampshire is home of the first in the nation primary set for next January.
Presidential candidates showing money and political muscle. Campaign cash. We'll talk with a CNN political analyst about what matters in the race for the White House these days. That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Just when we thought it was safe to sort of roll out the spring and summer gear, put away the winter . . .
WHITFIELD: And mothball all the other stuff.
HARRIS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Forget it.
HARRIS: Here comes old man winter.
WHITFIELD: Back.
HARRIS: Irritated and grumpy.
Rob Marciano in the Weather Center for us this morning.
Good morning, Rob.
WHITFIELD: Rob's not the irritated and grumpy one.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Friendly fire or enemy action? The Army investigates the deaths of two U.S. soldiers. Stay with us here in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: And terror charges filed in the 2005 attack on London's transit system. Details on that straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Here's the thing. It is the crash you don't see coming. Rear-end collisions and car seats that protect you.
WHITFIELD: Well, at least we hope they do, right? HARRIS: Yes. We'll outline it for you in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield. You're in the NEWSROOM.
Something for frequent fliers to think about this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really out of control. There's no reason why we should be responsible for people's lives and we're not getting enough rest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Flight attendants. Are they too tired to look after your safety? That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The rules are, there is no noise allowed on this ride. You guys can't scream, can't make any noise at all. Please cover your mouth tightly like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Those are the rules. I mean, really. Those are the rules. Silence is golden on a high-flying ride. Hey, pipe down, keep quiet, put a sock in it, in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The first charges now set to be filed in the 2005 attack on London's transit system. The bombings killed 52 people. The bombers also died. Three men were arrested in March and they're accused of conspiring with the four suicide bombers who carried out the attack.
HARRIS: A U.S. helicopter downed south of Baghdad. The military says nine passengers and crew were on board. Four were injured. The incident is under investigation. No word of hostile fire.
WHITFIELD: So did the Army get it wrong? Officials are investigating whether two U.S. soldiers were killed by friendly fire. The Army initially told the families of Specialist Alan McPeek and Private Matthew Zeimer, the soldiers were killed in action. It happened in Iraq in February. But further investigation determined the soldiers may have been killed by fellow troops.
HARRIS: On the front likes in Iraq. Word more American and British troops have been killed. The military says five U.S. soldiers died around Baghdad in two separate roadside bombings. And there was also an insurgent attack involving small arms fire. We were told four British troops and a civilian translator died in an ambush. A British military spokesman says the troops were returning from a mission west of Basra this morning when they were blasted with a roadside bomb, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The military says the soldiers fired back killing one or more of the attackers.
And we will take you live to the Pentagon today at 1:45 Eastern. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace meet with reporters on Iraq and other topics. That news briefing live right here in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Lost childhood. Some of Baghdad's kids struggle to bring pennies home. Their workplace, the garbage dump. CNN's Frederick Pleitgen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERICK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Early mornings are busy in Baghdad's largest garbage dump. New loads straight from the truck just in. Among the scavengers, hundreds of children. A soda can from a garbage bag, disgusting to most, a valuable commodity to the diggers.
Eleven-year-old Athra (ph) comes here almost every day.
"I quit school. My father feared for my life because of the explosions and the violence," she says.
With her bare hands, she sifts through mountains of waste, looking for metal, plastic, or nylon. Dangerous work. Not just rashes and diseases are common here, often the scavengers come across ammunition and unexploded bombs.
A U.N. report say 5 percent of Iraqis live in utter poverty. That means they subsist on less than $1 a day. And many of the poorest in this country are children.
Sometimes the kids find broken toys. It's only then they play like normal children. Scavenging is a business here at the dump and kids don't get special treatment. This is Abu Jamar (ph). He weighs the bag and pays Athra 500 Iraqi dinars, about 50 cents for a day's work. "
These's kids' future is garbage. No schools. Nothing." Abu Jamar says.
At the end of the day, Athra goes home. Her day's earnings at the garbage dump will pay for barely a pound of tomatoes. He father is unemployed, so tomorrow she will return to the dump. She will not be alone.
Frederick Pleitgen, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come in the NEWSROOM, they are a hit at home, but what happens when this Broadway show goes on the road? Meet the Giulianis, in the NEWSROOM.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And gearing up for a new car? We'll give you the lowdown on buying versus leasing a car. That's coming up next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: We thought you might appreciate looking at the numbers today. The Dow is down four points. S&P down 0.16. But, hey, things are looking up. The Nasdaq is at least looking up two points. We'll keep you posted throughout the day.
HARRIS: You just can't stop fantasizing about it. A sleek, shiny new car parked in your driveway with the new car smell. Admit it. You've got the fever. New car fever. Now the question, buy or lease. Personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here to help you decide in today's "Top Tips."
Gerri, great to see you.
Hey, you've got that fancy auto show going up there in New York, don't you?
WILLIS: That's right. Beautiful cars.
HARRIS: Well, I've got to tell you, I am so down on this idea of leasing. You have to tell me why it is even remotely attractive.
WILLIS: Well, a lot of people love to lease because, guess what, you get the new car smell all the time. You get a new car every few years. Your down payment is lower than if you buy. On average, leasing down payments are about $950. And your monthly payments will be lower, plus there won't be as many maintenance costs since most lease cars are under warranty for three years, the entire time you have them.
So if you tend to get rid of your car after three or four years, leasing is a decent option. Keep in mind, also, that if you own your own business and use the car for work purposes, hey, you've got a big writeoff. You can write off a big chunk of that lease amount. So for some folks who love to trade in, trade in, trade in, have the most current car on the block, hey, leasing make sense.
HARRIS: Yes, just is not me. I'm trying to get those things paid off as quickly as I possibly can. But I'm going to stay with you here. I'm going to stay with you here, Gerri.
WILLIS: OK.
HARRIS: But I know one of the things that you need to do is you need to, in considering all of this, is take a step back, breathe and be smart here.
WILLIS: That's right. Because there are drawbacks. As you're kind of pointing out here, cost is a big drawback to leasing. In the long run, leasing a car is more expensive than buying. Remember, you're not building any equity in your loan, in your car. When you get to the end of the lease term, you either have to begin leasing again or buying the car. There's never any period when you're driving around in the car and paying nothing.
HARRIS: Yes. Yes. And if I'm thinking about leasing, well, not me, but I hit my head, I fall, I bump my head and I'm thinking about leasing the next vehicle, is there a way for me to figure out and balance out how much I'm actually paying here?
WILLIS: Well, you've got to do the math. Do some calculations. First, figure out what the cost to own that car would be over say a five-year period. And you can do this by going to edmunds.com and clicking on the "true cost to own" tab. The calculation will take into account depreciation, estimated maintains cost, fuel cost and insurance premiums. If you want to find out what your lease payment will be, use a lease payment calculator on the website as well. There's lots of costs involved here, not just the purchase price of the car.
HARRIS: Well, that gets us to the next bit of advice. What about fees?
WILLIS: If you decide to lease, there are some fees you have to know about. There's an initial acquisition fee for each vehicle you lease. A flat fee. It runs about $600, Tony. Now if you decide not to buy the car at the end of the lease, you're going to have to pay another fee, called a disposition fee. This is $400. They get you coming and going here. Remember, every time you lease a car, you're going to have to pay both of those fees.
Ton.
HARRIS: It's like I'm back at the ATM machine again with all these fees. Fees, fees, fees.
WILLIS: Only big.
HARRIS: Yes.
WILLIS: More than $1.50. You know what I mean?
HARRIS: That's right. And, Gerri, tell us about the big "Open House" show coming up this weekend.
WILLIS: The big "Open House" show, 9:30 a.m. Eastern on CNN. We'll tell you more about leasing and financing a new car, what you want to do, given who you are. We'll tell you about facing an adjustable rate reset on your mortgage and how to prepare and protect your home from dangerous storms. That's all Saturday morning 9:30 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN. "Open House."
HARRIS: There she is, CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis with us.
Have a great day, Gerri.
WILLIS: Thank you, Ton.
WHITFIELD: And so, Tony, you get the new car.
HARRIS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You get the new car smell.
HARRIS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All that good stuff and then you get hit in the rear. But it's your neck that takes the blow, in addition to your fender. Cars rated for whiplash protection. You want to know which ones have it, in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Republican candidates take the numbers test in New Hampshire. A new poll shows them a dead heat. Find out who's hot and who's not, coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Are you still 12?
HARRIS: I'm 12. I feel like I'm 12.
WHITFIELD: A kid at heart. I love that.
HARRIS: I love you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
WHITFIELD: With a child.
HARRIS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Man child.
HARRIS: Yes, there you go.
Our top story this half hour, home at last. Fifteen British marine and sailors returned to London today. They arrived at Heathrow Airport carrying gifts from the Iranian regime that held them for almost two weeks. Parting gifts, huh? British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed his troops. He said it was diplomacy and nothing more that won their freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What has actually happened is that we have managed to secure the release of our personnel, I think more quickly than many people anticipated. And have done so, incidentally, and I want to make this very, very clear, without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatever. We made it clear at the outset we weren't going to do that and we held firm to that position throughout.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The troops are now at the Royal Marines base in southwestern England. They will undergo a debriefing before reuniting with their families.
WHITFIELD: Following the campaign trail now through New Hampshire. A new look at how things are shaping up for Republican contenders in the Granite State. A new CNN WMUR presidential primary poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire shows John McCain and Rudy Giuliani in a dead heat, 29 percent apiece. Massachusetts Governor Romney Follows with 17 percent. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich coming in with 2 percent, even though he has yet to announce that he's even in the race. New Hampshire is home to the first-in-the-nation primary set for next January.
Well, they are tabloid targets at home, but will Rudy and Judi Giuliani take the same hits on the came pain trail?
CNN's John Roberts reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS (voice-over): For New Yorkers the ballad of Rudy and Judi Giuliani is so familiar it's become essentially background music. But now the rest of America is getting a first listen.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Honestly, it's no different than campaigning in New York.
ROBERTS: Especially with the Gotham tabloids, once again in hot pursuit. To be fair, the recent headlines are all about Judi, not Rudy. "The New York Post," Judi's secret hubby. Mrs. Giuliani reveals the former mayor is actually her third husband. She, of course, is his third wife. Not to be outdone, "The Daily News" Judith's first hubby speaks out. For the record, he proclaims her "a terrific lady."
ANDREW KIRTZMAN, CORRESPONDENT, WCBS-TV: Rudy Giuliani has a messy private life, and Republicans don't like a mess.
ROBERTS: Over the past month, Giuliani aides have tried to get all that messy stuff out in the open, hoping it will be old hat by the time voters start paying attention. The disclosure of Mrs. Giuliani's first marriage, a strategic decision, as she becomes more visible on the campaign trail. Still, the Judi Giuliani rollout hasn't been out hiccups.
JUDI GIULIANI: I wanted to tell you all a little bit about how we Rudi and I came to be our team together.
ROBERTS: Her first big speech didn't make a big impression. And some people were put off by her husband's answer to this question last week from ABC's Barbara Walters.
BARBARA WALTERS, ABC HOST: If and when you were president, would Mrs. Giuliani sit in on cabinet meetings?
R. GIULIANI: If she wanted to. If it were relevant to something that that she was interested in, that would be something that I would be very, very comfortable with.
ROBERTS: Later Giuliani said his wife probably won't attend most cabinet meetings. Then the New York tabs were at it again. "Judi's Dog Days." Reports that in an old sales job Mrs. Giuliani demonstrated medical equipment on live dogs that were later euthanized.
KIRTZMAN: In fairness to Judith Giuliani, the tabloids in New York City are now feeling free to go after her, and they're digging up whatever they can about her, and it's -- I guess it's a hallowed New York tradition. It's not pretty to watch, and it's not necessarily fair. But they're doing what they do.
ROBERTS: Late Monday Rudy Giuliani fired back.
R. GIULIANI: Attack me all you want. Attack me about it, please do it. You know, maybe show a little decency.
ROBERTS: A familiar tune for New Yorkers, a new one for the rest of America. John Roberts, CNN, New York.
John Roberts, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Here's something everyone can identify with, can your car's seat save your neck when someone rear ends you?
CNN's Greg Hunter checks the result of new safety tests.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a painful wreck you never see coming and it costs insurance companies and ultimately consumers more than $8 billion a year for treatment of neck injuries. That's why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests seats.
ADRIAN LUND, INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY: The best way to get automakers to improve their seats is to tell the public that their seats aren't protecting them now. And that's why we're getting better seats.
HUNTER: Ford make a big improvement to its seat design for its new Ford 500. The new one is on the bottom half of your screen. Compare that to its predecessor, the Ford Taurus. Watch the dummy's head in the bottom frame. It's head is cradled in the seat rest and its neck and torso stay aligned. Compare that to the old Taurus seat on top. The dummy's head go over the headrest and the neck and torso are out of alignment. According to the IIHS, if your head and torso don't move together and stay in alignment, you're more likely to have a whiplash injury. LUND: It's not just that you have to buy an expensive car to get god protection. In fact, there are expensive cars that don't offer good protection.
HUNTER: For example, the Honda Accord, one of Honda's high-line models, rated poor. Compared that with the economical Honda Civic, which rated good, the highest rating. Other high-line models such as the BMW 5 Series, the Acura TSX and the Toyota Avalon, all rated poor. The lowest rating when it came to their seats.
But economy cars, like the Chevrolet Cobalt, the Nissan Sentra and the Kia Optima all rated good. Again, the highest rating. Honda says "the next Accord will have the Ace body structure." In other words, they'll have good-rated seats in its new models this fall. Regarding its Acura TSX model, Honda told us, "we have applied active head restraints on new models. We would definitely look at that result."
Toyota told us, "its important to measure the whole car and not just the seats. Our tests show the Avalon received good ratings and should protect passengers from whiplash." And BMW did not comment.
So when buying a car, remember, a high price tag won't necessarily afford you a high level of seat safety.
Greg Hunter, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD:: And one car company that is the exception, that's Volvo. All three models that were tested did well; none of them tested poorly.
On the trail of a killer, scientist seek clues to pet food deaths. That story coming up right here in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD:: Round and round it goes, yes, you try riding this things without letting out an old-fashioned, blood-curdling scream.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rules are, there's no noise allowed on this ride. You guys can't scream, can't make any noise at all. Please cover your mouth tightly like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh, no, I am screaming. Shut up and ride, that's what they tell people?
HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes.
WHITFIELD: It's called the silent fear. At least that's what we're calling it, in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Zip it. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: We're glad to be able to show you this new video. On the ground now, that vantage point, of those 15 Marines and Sailors who just got off the helicopters. They're in Devin at the Royal Marine Air Base there. And then soon you're going to get a chance to see what it was like for these 15 Marines and Sailors to meet up with, for the first time after many, many days, maybe even months really because they were at sea for so long in the Persian Gulf. Meeting up with their comrades there at the base.
HARRIS: So we can do that. We can set up a little drama here. You're about to see this moment coming up shortly, where the Sailors and Marines, as you mentioned, who have been gone for nearly two weeks, get to meet ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, at least right now it seems as though it's routine for them. Okay. We're getting off the chopper. Heading now to the base. And all's well. And there in the windows family members, loved ones, friends who cannot wait to touch and hug and kiss these 15 Marines and Sailors who are just now arriving. They are so excited.
HARRIS: And you know it must be said that in every step along the way here, even when we were looking at the, oh there you go. There's a great moment. Is there any sound to this or is it just? No sound attached to this?
WHITFIELD: One of those hugs among comrades, wow, we really are here now. Now we can celebrate and kind of exhale. Enjoy the moment.
HARRIS: I think that's it, Fred. I was wondering, and maybe you just struck it. This is perhaps one of the first moments. Certainly when you get back on British soil, there's a moment there when you can exhale and sort of breathe deeply. But maybe this is the real moment, the first real moment when these Sailors and Marines can sort of let the guard down just a bit.
WHITFIELD: It really is over. There's a nice shot. Well, for a moment, you see some of the family members emerging from that building. Oh, a little baby.
HARRIS: And it must be said, that even when these Sailors and Marines were being paraded around in these propaganda videos of these, you know, quote, unquote, confessions. At every step along the way here they have always looked to be in good spirits.
And no one is intimating that they were harmed in any way, ill treated in any way, but at every step along the way they have looked to be in really good health and perhaps this is the culminating moment obviously when they get to see their family members again and meet their comrades again after nearly two weeks away. But they look good. They have looked good throughout this whole ordeal. We know they were being detained. They weren't free. But they have looked to be hale and hearty throughout. WHITFIELD: That's right. And we know these British armed services members, just like American armed service members that is part of your training, too. What happens when you are captured, what is your behavior, what do you say, what's your body language, all of that. And so perhaps that also speaks to the behavior that we saw of these Marines and Sailors in the videotape that the Iranian television showed. And shared with the rest of the world. They did seem like they had it together. They were in control.
HARRIS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: And now it seems as though we're also seeing, you know, the other side of them which says, okay, there's some relief now. You know, it sunk in. We're really at home now.
HARRIS: You know, but to be clear about it, they still have a bit of a process to go through here. We certainly know that a bit of the debriefing process has taken place on the journey from Heathrow International Airport to where they are now in Devin.
But we also know, Fred, that there is more debriefing to come, physical exams to come, and you mentioned earlier, probably a psychological exam as well, just to find, to get an assessment on their state of mind. If you can judge anything by these pictures, they're reacting the way you would expect them to react.
WHITFIELD: They are happy. So nice.
HARRIS: Look at that. Big hugs all around.
WHITFIELD: Very, very happy. And, this is the smaller contingent of loved ones who were able to make it to the Royal Naval Base here in Devin. Just think about when they actually go home to their homes, to their neighborhoods.
HARRIS: And maybe back to the port of call, which is Hayle (ph) in south England, southeast England that coastal city, the port of call for the HMS Cornwall, the ship they were on. Think about that moment when they get back to work. You would imagine they would get some time to sort of decompress from all of this. But that town, as we understand, can't wait to embrace them.
WHITFIELD: Understandably.
HARRIS: When they get back to work.
WHITFIELD: These are remarkable pictures that we're just now able to bring to you because we're just now getting them in, as we all see them for the first time on the air. And it will be interesting to note whether, we know there have been some of the debriefing, some of the minor physical and mental checks have already taken place.
After this reuniting with family members, friends, how much longer, you know, it will take before they are really in the free and clear before they're able to go home after meeting up with the higher ups. HARRIS: So, great moments. We wanted to share those with you of the reunion that is going on right now. Cell phones.
HARRIS: I really am here, yes, that was me you saw, uh-huh.
WHITFIELD: That's good on television. I'm home now.
HARRIS: All right. We are going to continue to get more pictures in. These are the first images we were able to bring you from the ground level of these 15 British Marines and Sailors now back home, at least on English soil. And, of course, when we get more pictures in, we'll be able to bring them to you.
WHITFIELD: I love you, I love you, too. I missed you so much. Great scenes. Great shots.
HARRIS: That's great.
Let's talk business news now. Think of the worst, the absolute worst possible place for a security breach. Here's a hint. It is very busy every year around the 15th of April. Yes, you're with me. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with details. Susan, explain, please.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, N.Y. STOCK EXCHANGE: You know it's tough to follow those beautiful pictures.
HARRIS: How about that? Wasn't that something?
LISOVICZ: With the harsh reality of this story. Yes, it's the IRS, folks, which has the data on all of us. It's reporting that a bunch of laptops are missing between 2003 and 2006, nearly 500 laptops were lost or stolen from the IRS, which could put thousands of taxpayers at risk of identity theft or other fraud. And here's what may be even more startling. A new report from the inspector general of the IRS says the agency was warned about security problems back in 2003 but didn't act until three years later.
Senator Chuck Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, says there will be a hearing next week and he plans to ask the IRS what it's doing about identity theft and fraudulent tax returns. You know, the assistant inspector general of the IRS says if taxpayers don't feel that their personal information is protected, they will possibly be less likely to voluntarily file their taxes. And that would be a very bad situation as well.
Tony?
HARRIS: Why can't these retailers, I've got a couple thoughts here. It's outrageous. Why can't these retailers, these agencies, why can't they just protect our information, okay, that's my rant. But here's my question.
LISOVICZ: It's a good one.
HARRIS: Well, what's going on here, Susan? LISOVICZ: Well, you know, I mean, you know, this actually isn't that bad. Think about it, Tony. There's 52,000 laptops that the IRS has. This is 500. It could possibly involve 2,000 individuals. That pales in comparison to what we've been reporting about T.J. Maxx, for instance, when we're talking about 45 million people or more, being at risk. I mean, you know, basically, what's happening is whether it's the government or corporate America they're playing catch up to technology. The hackers are usually one, two, three steps ahead. Unfortunately.
The good news here though, is that the IRS, Tony, says there are no reports of ID theft that can be linked to the missing laptops. It's certainly still a concern. The report says the laptops lacked adequate password controls and encryption software. The IRS says it has moved aggressively since last summer to fix security flaws. Employees have been trained in computer security and most laptops have that software. Those 500 are still missing and we will be follow that story. We are also following Wall Street today. We had a five- session win streak for the Dow and the NASDAQ. Right now stocks really doing very little of anything. Investors cautious ahead of tomorrow's jobs report. They won't get a chance to react until Monday because tomorrow is Good Friday. And the stock market is closed. Right now, ahead of that, the major averages, well, they're mixed. The Dow is down four points. The NASDAQ is up three points. And that's the latest from Wall Street. Tony and Fred, I understand your rant, Tony. Believe me, I understand it.
HARRIS: Come on, we want to convenience, but you know what, whenever we use the conveniences of technology, there's this other side of it that we have to be mindful of. I'm ranting, I know. I'm just outraged this morning.
LISOVICZ: We're with you. We're all angry.
HARRIS: Susan, great to see you. See you next hour.
WHITFIELD: Well, how about this? A murder suspect in China, refused to give up, so, who do you call? The fire department. Hose him, Danno. Freefall straight ahead, about to ensue.
HARRIS: No, no.
WHITFIELD: Just about ... now.
HARRIS: Wait for it, wait for it.
WHITFIELD: All that, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rules are there is no noise allowed on this ride. You guys can't scream, can't make any noise at all. Please, cover your mouth tightly like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Silence is golden on a high-flying ride. Zip it. Details in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Silence is golden on a high-flying ride. Zip it. Details in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Tony, Tony, this is what we call in the business, the money shot.
HARRIS: The money shot.
WHITFIELD: That's right. You've got 15 British marines and sailors who, after 13 days in captivity in Iran, are now being reunited with their family members. This is the videotape we are just now starting to get in. Huge relief. Lots of laughs and lots of tears of joy. As people are reuniting with their brothers, their sisters, their spouses, and we even saw a lot of little kids in there, too. We continue to get new video in of the reunions taking place there in England. This at the marine -- Royal Marine Base in Devon, England. When we get more pictures we'll be able to bring those to you.
HARRIS: How about this? If you're a screamer, you may want to sit this next one out. Mums the word on this amusement park ride. While the call for quiet?
Gina Villarreal of CNN affiliate KXTV has that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just close my eyes and it felt like I was flying, like free. It was so fun.
GINA VILLARREAL, KXTV REPORTER (voice-over): High in the sky, Sacramento Scandia Screamer is making spring break a blast.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The thrill (ph) was so wonderful.
VILLARREAL: It may be a thrill but there's no screaming going on here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we hear any noise we're going stop the ride and escort you off.
VILLARREAL: A new rule to please some not-so-happy neighbors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been a nightmare because you can't go to bed and they're so loud.
VILLARREAL: Folks living in this quiet neighborhood say screams at all hours rattle their homes and their patience.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Screaming day and night, I would have to turn the volume up on my TV. I could hear the screams above the television. It was awful.
VILLARREAL: Neighbors admit the shrieks have calmed a bit. But is it really realistic to enforce silence on The Screamer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rules are there is no noise allowed on this ride. You guys can't scream, can't make any noise at all. Please cover your mouth tightly like this.
VILLARREAL: I listen to their instructions but at 65 miles per hour flying high over I-80, it was easier said than done. Oh, my goodness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So the rider will essentially --
VILLARREAL: Owners of Scandia Family Fun Center say they have followed every rule and received all the correct permits and are enforcing silence as a courtesy. And so far, it's working.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't just kick in late at night. We have this policy throughout the entire day. There's no screaming, no profanity, there's no noise on this ride.
VILLARREAL: But that's not always the case. Adrianne Borella (ph) found out the hard way. Her ride suddenly came to a stop.
ADRIANNE BORELLA: No, not because of screaming but he said he heard a cuss word, though.
VILLARREAL: What does she think about the new rule?
BORELLA: It sucks. It takes all the fun out of it.
VILLARREAL: But others like Charlie DeMarr (ph) look at it as a challenge.
CHARLIE DEMARR: Oh, shoot, yes!
VILLARREAL: Taking on the Scandia Screamer while doing his absolute best to keep calm and quiet.
In Sacramento, Gina Villarreal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Man.
WHITFIELD: Well, talk about scared of heights way up, how about this man, a wanted man, holed up high, at least holed up for a while, until, ow, that. Call in the fire department in China. More of this in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Wow. Look at this. OK. Here we are, top of the hour. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM, everyone. Tony Harris with Fred. Out of Iran and this morning, look at these pictures, Fred, back on British soil, 15 sailors and marines taken captive by Iran are back home.
WHITFIELD: They are some happy folks. Understandably. The emotions are just pouring out. It's nice to see all this hugging and kissing. We're seeing little kids in the picture, too.
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