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Scooter Libby, Pays His $250,000 Fine Today; Heat Wave in the U.S. Southwest; Interview With Iraq Commander, Major General Benjamin Mixon; Continued Strength in the U.S. Job Market

Aired July 05, 2007 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the critics say it was a slap on the wrist fort he president to commute his sentence. Others say the president didn't go far enough. Either way, he still had to pay $250,000. And he did that today.
As a matter of fact, take a look at the check. This is a cashier's check that he wrote out to the bank, $200,400. Lewis "Scooter" Libby had to pay that. Not only that, the president said he was shamed, and he had a career that went south because of this.

And the president said that was enough punishment and he can no longer practice law. So there you go. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, paying his $250,000 fine today with a cashier's check.

Let's go the White House. They're taking new heat over the president's decision to keep him out of jail.

CNN White House Correspondent Ed Henry just came out of a briefing and he joins us with the latest.

They're still talking about that in the briefing, I would imagine, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN NEWS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Don. The White House still taking a beating over the president's action, commuting the sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Even now, taking heat from Bill and Hillary Clinton out on the campaign trail together. The former president declaring that the current administration considers a law just a, quote, "minor obstacle."

So the White House took off the gloves today. White House Spokesman Tony Snow this morning telling reporters off camera that, if Democrats start investigating the Libby case, they also should investigate the pardons at the end of the Clinton administration. And then Snow added, quote, "I don't know what is Arkansasian for chutzpa, but this is a gigantic case for it."

Then Deputy Spokesman Scott Stanzel went on camera and went a little further.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT STANZEL, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY SPOKESMAN: There's much hypocrisy in Washington, D.C., but it seems to me that the hypocrisy demonstrated by Democratic leaders on this issue is rather startling. When you think about the previous administration and the 11th hour fire-sale pardons and issues that were provided, commutations on the last day in the numbers in the hundreds, in the final time between the post-election period, it's really startling that they have the gall to criticize what we believe is a very considered, a very deliberate approach to a very unique case.

HENRY: Now, Stanzel also got a little personal, mentioning the pardon of former president Clinton's brother.

What this is all about is a White House under fire right now, and one sure way to whip up their conservative base, take on Bill Clinton, Don.

LEMON: All right. Ed Henry at the White House, or at least outside of the White House. Thank you, Ed.

HENRY: Thank you.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Blowing hot from Las Vegas to Phoenix and the L.A. basin. Temperatures are soaring into the triple digits, sapping energy from people and utilities alike. Rain is out there. It's just not where it's need. We've got it all for you in the NEWSROOM.

Let's check out the current triple-digit condition in Phoenix. A whopping 106 degrees and climbing. Last hour it was 102 degrees.

All right, Reynolds, how long is it going to stay this hot?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is something, isn't it? What do you think it is? 103 up in Las Vegas and it's not even over yet. We still have the rest of the afternoon to contend with, with these temperatures, going to jump up a bit more.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WOLF: Back to you.

PHILLIPS: Let's go back to that live picture. We have the mayor of Phoenix on the phone.

You let me know, Reynolds, if you have a question for Phil Gordon on the line with us.

We're looking at a beautiful shot of your city right now, Mayor, but, wow, is it hot. Tell me what you're concerned about and how you're taking action to make sure everything is OK.

PHIL GORDON, MAYOR, PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Thank you very much. Actually, several years ago, the whole community was unprepared for the heat wave that came across the nation, Chicago and Phoenix, and had a significant number of deaths occurred, mainly homeless and those that chronically mentally ill, because we weren't prepared proactively.

Over the last couple years, the city of Phoenix has prepared. We go out and solicit donations and prepare for heat by getting enough water stations for our firefighters, our police officers, and outreach teams, community-based organizations like the Salvation Army.

We also then, as the temperatures start to rise and the evening doesn't cool down, we then put out hydration centers so that people, actually again primarily homeless, can come in that don't want to come in out of the heat, can then stop for a few minutes, get water, get hydrated, get suntan lotion, and, therefore, cut down on the people that are affected by the heat.

But I would also want to emphasize, also people, as you know -- children outside. I myself go jogging at 2:00, 3:00 in the afternoon and do a mile or two a day. Yet, again, you have to drink enough water and not stay out all day.

PHILLIPS: What about the elderly, Mayor? That's always a huge concern when weather like this hits.

GORDON: Definitely, we all have a public service campaign. (AUDIO PROBLEM) done that about twice over the last two (AUDIO PROBLEM) to make sure.

PHILLIPS: Mayor Phil Gordon.

(AUDIO PROBLEM)

GORDON: No, I do. (AUDIO PROBLEM).

Again, thank you for helping us publicly. You've got to drink a lot of water. But it's a great city, so we look forward to your coming out here.

PHILLIPS: And great golf courses. Thank you, Mayor.

GORDON: And great golf courses, great resorts too.

PHILLIPS: OK, be careful on your run.

GORDON: And it's a dry heat.

PHILLIPS: There you go. All right, thanks, Mayor.

LEMON: Speaking of dry heat, great resorts, it's gambling here though. Sin City, man, it is sizzling today, more so than usual. The mercury is climbing every hour, heading to 116 degrees, or there abouts. Dangerously hot anyway you look at it.

In Las Vegas, our own Chris Lawrence trying to stay cool there.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you knew this was going to be an extremely dangerous day when, at 7:00 in the morning, our thermometers were already reading 91 degrees.

The all-time high in Las Vegas is 117 degrees. The forecast today, 116.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE (voice-over: Nevada is sizzling under an extreme heat warning. And temperatures are still soaring.

JOHN MILLER, LAS VEGAS RESIDENT: This heat is oppressive. It will kill you. I mean, there are people that die all the time in the heat.

LAWRENCE: Each year, about 175 people nationwide die from heat- related causes.

(on camera): As hot as it is outside, it's that much worse inside of a car, which is about the worse place you can leave kids or pets in this kind of heat. As we start our experiment, it's already about 114 degrees inside. I've only been in the car about ten minutes, and it's already at 125 degrees. I'm sweating and it's definitely a lot harder to breathe.

OK. It's been 15 minutes, and it's soaring past 135 degrees in here. I'm sweating from literally every pore in my body. And it's unthinkable to think of a little child or a pet in a car for that long.

(voice-over): In this weather, heat exhaustion can quickly become heat stroke.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once you start getting over 105, you can really start to feel it.

LAWRENCE: Doctors are urging people to stay inside, but that's not an option for a 16-year-old training for a college scholarship.

ASIA MUHAMMAD, TENNIS PLAYER: It's like a bunch of hot air just going in your face, so it makes you breathe harder.

LAWRENCE: Not everyone is exerting themselves. The Palms Casino Resorts used to being one of the hottest spots in Las Vegas, just not quite so literally. Hundreds of people guzzled water, slapped on the sunscreen, and packed the pool and bungalows to cool off anyway they could.

Carly Mullins compared this heat to her hometown in Charlotte.

CARLY MULLINS, LAS VEGAS TOURIST: It's definitely a lot hotter. You can't step on the concrete. It's very, very hot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: And it's only getting hotter every hour. That's why doctors are urging people to wear hats and long-sleeved light-colored clothing, and to most especially to avoid alcohol.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Good advice. A tough thing to do in Vegas.

If you're out in the middle of this heat wave, let us know how you're managing to stay cool. Just send your I-report to us at cnn.com/ireport.

PHILLIPS: A car bomb in Baghdad, 12 people killed. Twelve 12 U.S. soldiers killed in a roadside bomb. Police ambushed by gunmen north of the capital, clashing with the Shiite militia south. All of this, and then some, on a relatively quiet day in Iraq.

Outside of Baghdad, one of the most volatile and unstable regions is Diyala Province and the city of Bakubah.

CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre spoke at length today with the U.S. general in charge of troops out there.

Hey, Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hey, Kyra. Well, that's right. Just in the past hour, I talked to Major General Benjamin Mixon in an exclusive interview on cnn.com live. And he expressed the opinion that the strategy in his area, Bakubah, is working. The new strategy called Clear, Hold and Retain.

But, and this is important, he said that he could not maintain that success if he couldn't hold onto the additional troops that he was given as part of the surge. Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BENJAMIN MIXON, MAJOR GENERAL, COMMANDER, MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION-NORTH: We'll place certain barriers along certain roads to prevent access into the areas. We'll attempt to protect the marketplaces, which is a common target for al Qaeda, but all this has been made possible with the additional forces that have been given to me as a result of the surge.

MCINTYRE: General, how long can you maintain that, given the fact that there's a lot of pressure back here in Washington to begin some kind of significant drawdown of U.S. forces, if not at the end of this year, certainly by early next year?

MIXON: Well, we obviously cannot maintain that if the forces are withdrawn, and that would be a very, very bad idea to do a significant withdrawal immediately. I believe that we've got great potential to have more success throughout the remainder of this year. Of course, decisions will have to be made concerning the amount of force that is left in here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: So that's what commanders in the field are telling their commander, General David Petraeus, that they need the troops to keep the so-called surge going.

So what do you think General Petraeus is going to say when he has to issue that report to Congress in September? Well, you can bet it's going to be something along the same lines.

Again, Kyra you can see that entire interview with General Benjamin Mixon on cnn.com live. Just click on cnn.com over on the little video box -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, our Jamie McIntyre. Thanks, Jamie.

LEMON: Standoff in Pakistan as a secular government battles religious hardliners. Wait until you hear how one cleric tried to make a get away.

PHILLIPS: Scooter Libby got a break from the president. Why not others sentenced for obstruction of justice? Let the appeals begin.

LEMON: And the crustacean invasion freaks out a Florida town. Whatever you do, don't open the door.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. This just into the CNN "NEWSROOM." We have an amber alert from Tacoma, Washington. Let's get a picture of the little girl up. Her name is Zina Linnik. She was last seen at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday night. Here is what police say, she was last seen walking in an alley behind her family's house in the 2500 block of South J Street.

According to reports, this is according to the Associated Press, a witness heard a girl scream Wednesday night about 9:45. He looked into the alley and saw an Asian male get into an older gray van and drive away.

This little girl, Zina Linnik, is described as a white girl, 4'10", 80 pounds, blond hair. Last seen wearing a pink T-shirt, pink, orange, yellow capri pants, red flip-flop sandals, and her hair was pulled back in a pony tail.

Police are asking you to watch for this vehicle, a gray older van with a license plate that contains these numbers, 1677. Again, a gray older van that contains these numbers, 1677. According to -- we see 1667 on the screen, but according to the information I have here, it is 1677. Again, 1677. This is from Tacoma, Washington.

And now, again, CNN has confirmed that there's an amber alert for this little girl, Zina Linnik in Tacoma, Washington. And I've given you a description of here. Again, issues, she was last seen in an alley. Witness heard a scream. It's very important -- 4'10", she's a little white girl, 80 pounds, blond hair. Last seen wearing a pink T- shirt, pink, orange, yellow capri pants, red flip-flops and sandals. So again, very important. Please look for her and that van. Help her family get her back there.

It is 17 past the hour. Three of the stories we're working on for you in the CNN "NEWSROOM," besides the amber alert, a dangerous heat wave is gripping the west. Temperatures are climbing above 100 as far north at Washington state and Idaho. California is opening cooling centers in 13 counties.

Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby has paid a $250,000 fine, stemming from his conviction for lying to investigators during the CIA leak probe.

At least 14 people are hurt, four seriously, after a construction accident in suburban Denver. The 13th floor of a condominium tower collapsed onto the 12th floor.

PHILLIPS: Intrigue surrounds a standoff in Pakistan's capital city. Basically, what happened is the army has knocked down the front wall of the red mosque in central Islamabad. Hundreds of people still inside and we're still getting reports of gunfire and explosions.

The government accuses a small group of holding the rest as human shields, but leaders inside the mosque deny it. The Hamas top leader was caught yesterday trying to slip out disguised as a woman in a burqa. He said the government's action was unprovoked.

MAULANA ABDUL AZIA, CLERIC (through translator): When the government decided to take action against us, some of our friends brought weapons for our safety in case of an operation. We did not misuse our weapons.

PHILLIPS: We're joined by Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson.

Nic has firsthand experience with the red mosque as well as the personalities that are leading what's taking place right now.

Nic, why don't you give us a little background about this particular mosque and what exactly is taking place.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this mosque is a madrassa complex, a school complex. It's the biggest female madrassa, religious school, in the world. Several thousand girls study there. There are several thousand boys who study as well. It's one of the biggest madrassas for boys in Pakistan as well.

In the recent months, the gentleman you just saw and his brother have been encouraging their students to take some pretty violent action on the streets of Islamabad. They always held very radical views, but they felt, in the last few months, that the government of Pakistan is not performing its duties in the city of Islamabad. So they have gone out, women dressed in burqas, wielding sticks, and tried to close down what they claim are brothels.

The girls, in fact, arrested, as they put it -- a madam from a brothel and took her back to the madrassa. The men there have been out and intimidated local video stores, burned huge piles of videos.

And this has been a direct challenge to president Musharraf's government. It been building over many, many months. I talked to the prime minister last year because the madrassa teaches such radical views as the students should go to Afghanistan and kill American soldiers. The government took no action but it's escalated and escalated to this point. And right now, it seems, they're in a very, very tense standoff situation -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Nic, some are calling this a revolution. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind for me was the Iranian revolution, the younger generation fighting against the government. There's a lot of anti-Musharraf sentiment.

Can you even compare the two? Is this what you're seeing now is this younger generation fighting a government that they say isn't working?

ROBERTSON: It doesn't appear to be the case at the moment. It's a very political situation as well. These religious schools around Pakistan, there are thousands of them around the country. There are hundreds of thousands of young students who go into these religious schools. Perhaps 10 to 15 percent of them get taught some of the radical views that get taught in this particular madrassa.

Why are they able to exist? Because the government of Pakistan is in partnership with some of the religious partners and it's these religious parties that run many of the madrassas.

But it appears, at the moment, as if the religious leaders are not coming out and supporting this particular madrassa in the center of Islamabad.

What's been incredible is this is the heart of Islamabad. This is not some poor suburb of the city or poor slum in the country. This is in the heart of one of the most affluent parts, in fact, the most affluent part of the capital and of the whole country. That's what's made this surprising. And the government hasn't done anything about it.

Now, at the moment, we're not seeing other madrassas come out in support, but a lot of them hold the same views as those views held by the leaders.

The man who is still holding out in there, the brother of the gentleman we saw that's already been arrested, he, through is father, with his brother, met Osama bin Laden. He told me he shares the same basic ideology as Osama bin Laden.

This is a very hard-core group of people. At the moment, we're not seeing a rising up of support in other parts of the country.

The government thinks it shows a good political time to crack down -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll follow up with you, Nic, and what's happening at the mosque. Appreciate it.

LEMON: There are thousands of them living all over Europe, U.S. troops and their families. But are they a new target for terrorists? And how vulnerable are they? The story when CNN "NEWSROOM" continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Wouldn't you know it? Just when I bought a house, the housing market is taking a hit. The economy is just inching along, but there is one area of surprising strength.

Stephanie Elam is that area of surprising strength. No, she's at the New York Stock Exchange with some good news on the job Market.

Hi, Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don. I never know what you're going to say when you toss to me.

LEMON: I know. That's the fun of it, right?

ELAM: I know. It keeps me on my toes. That's for sure. Well, it looks like employers will be adding new workers to their payrolls over the next three months. That's among some of the finding of a survey done by "USA Today" and careerbuilder.com.

Of the 2,400 hiring managers and HR professionals who are participating in the survey, about one-third said they expected to hire new workers. A majority of companies, about 52 percent, said there would be no change in the payroll during the quarter, but 5 percent said they plan to actually cut jobs -- Don.

LEMON: So at least I know if I say the wrong thing to you, at least they're working for workers out there, right?

ELAM: Exactly. Thanks. Or at least that goes for you, more for you, right.

LEMON: So it's good news then, right?

ELAM: Yes. This is good news because economists are saying the survey pointed to continued strength in the job market. And that's despite the fact that we're having a downturn in the housing industry and the slow pace of the overall economy as far as growth is concerned.

So at the same time, employers indicated that they were concerned about actually holding onto their most talented workers. That's good news too. More than half of hiring managers said they handed out pay raises in the second quarter, and nearly half said they expect to give out raises before the end of the summer.

But most workers won't get big increases. Got to bring in a little bit -- bring it back a little bit. Average-based pay is expected to rise by less than 4 percent next year.

We'll actually get a good picture of the labor market tomorrow because the government will release its employment report for June, and that will come out before the opening bell.

Wall Street is actually looking for a gain of about 125,000 jobs while the unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.5 percent. As for stocks, well, they're just drifting lower. The Dow industrials at this time are on the downside by 26 points, at 13,550. Most of that is due to more than a 3 percent drop in shares of General Motors after the company posted a big drop in June sales. Ford and Daimler Chrysler are also under pressure.

Taking a look at the NASDAQ, on the upside by 4.5 points at this time.

Coming up, you heard about the cool new mobile phone that does all these cool tricks? What if I told you it's not the iPhone? That's in the next hour of CNN "NEWSROOM." Until then, Don, back to you.

LEMON: I was very excited about that iPhone until I found out how much it cost.

ELAM: You just bought a house. You can afford it.

LEMON: Not so excited anymore. Stephanie, we'll see you about 30 minutes.

ELAM: Sounds good.

LEMON: All right.

PHILLIPS: Overseas and under threat?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; It's things like this, this vehicle that is a van that could be carrying anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Thousands of U.S. troops and their families are posted around the world, and some feel like sitting ducks for terrorists. We'll explain that story straight ahead.

LEMON: Scooter Libby's sentence was reduced. Does that open a door for others with similar convictions? We'll ask an attorney whose client stands to benefit. He joins us later in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.

A controversial decision could have profound legal consequences.

PHILLIPS: If Scooter Libby's sentence was commuted, what about others charged with similar crimes?

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM. First up, a missing young girl in Tacoma, Washington, and police need your help. This is what we know right now. The Tacoma police have issued an amber alert for this young girl, Zina Linnick (ph). She was last seen last night about 10:00 Tacoma time. She's 12-years- old, and she was last seen walking in the alley behind her family's home. According to reports, a witness heard her scream, looked into the alley, and saw an Asian male get into an older gray van and drive away.

Zina Linnick is described as a Caucasian, 4'10, 80 pounds, blond hair. She was last seen wearing a pink T-shirt, pink/orange/yellow capri pants, red flip-flops, her hair in a ponytail. Police are asking people to watch for the vehicle, a gray older van with a license plate that contains the numbers 1677. If you know anything, see anything, you're asked to call the Tacoma police.

LEMON: Also, a developing story we've been following here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Just about an hour ago, Lewis "Scooter" Libby paid $250,400 in fines and court costs, but he's not going to jail thanks to President Bush. By commuting Libby's sentence, the White House has opened a potential Pandora's box of motions and appeals. Defense lawyers will cite the break for Libby to -- in attempts to win mercy for their clients as well.

A case out of Chicago is expected to provide the first test of the Libby defense. In February, Mohammed Salah (ph) and a co- defendant were convicted of obstruction of justice in connection with a scheme for funding the militant group Hamas. Now, Salah is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

And we're joined by William Moffitt, attorney for Sala's co- defendant, Abdullah Him Ashqar (ph).

Your client is scheduled to be sentenced, I believe you said, September, early September, right?

WILLIAM MOFFITT, DEFENSE ATTY. FOR ASHQAR: Currently we are awaiting a date from the court, yes.

LEMON: Thank you very much for joining us. Do you think that this sets a legal precedent, especially for your client?

MOFFITT: I don't know if I could make the claim that it sets a legal precedent. It certainly allows us to argue the factors that the president thought were important in Mr. Libby's case in terms of the harshness of the sentence. The past life of the individual, what the individual has done, the other kinds of things that defense lawyers have been saying all along have been very important in sentencing that the sentencing guidelines typically ignore.

LEMON: OK, there -- in just a legal professor who specializes in sentencing issues says this. His name is Douglas Berman of the Ohio State University -- of Ohio State University. He said this. He said, "There is much good fodder in the president's statement. I think any very good defense attorney could and should look for ways to use the statement aggressively." But he cautions that the judge -- judges were still obligated to follow existing precedents. Do you agree with that?

MOFFITT: I absolutely agree with that. I think that a lot is going to depend on the judge, and some of the sentencing law is now clear that the judge has discretion in these matters. And the exercise of discretion should be based on many of the things that the president has said. Many of the things the president has said were things that defense lawyers have been saying for years and have been ignored because of the existence of the sentencing guidelines.

LEMON: And didn't the Supreme Court just recently have some concern about sentencing guidelines as well, sir?

MOFFITT: Yes, there was a recent case out of the Supreme Court but it dealt with the standard that the guidelines were presumptively reasonable on an appellate standard, not on the -- it still resides in the sentencing judge to exercise his or her discretion with regard to what the appropriate sentence is.

LEMON: I think I know the answer to this question, but do you think the fact that you're client was allegedly involved with Hamas and is not a friend of the president or close confidant, that will ultimately make the difference in this case?

MOFFITT: Well, I think you have to be clear that my client, the underlying charge regarding Hamas, the Rico (ph) charge, my client was acquitted of. So, he stands in a better position I would suggest than Mr. Libby, who was never charged with the underlying crime.

LEMON: Yes. How -- are you optimistic? What do you think?

MOFFITT: I --as I -- I'm hopeful. You know, it's hard to be optimistic with all of the things going on in the world, but I am very hopeful that I have a very fair judge, a judge that I like very much. I think that she will consider all the things that we've talked about and the fact that Dr. Ashqar was acquitted of the underlying charge and I think we will get a fair sentence.

LEMON: OK, got to ask you real quickly, and if you can answer real quickly. Do you think -- at the beginning, we said this will open a legal Pandora's box across the country. Do you think this commutation of Scooter Libby will do that?

MOFFITT: I think defense lawyers will be aggressive in using what was done for Mr. Libby to their advantage if they can, and I think it opens the door for us to have a more fair sentencing system than we currently have.

LEMON: William Moffitt, attorney. Thank you so much for joining us.

MOFFITT: You're quite welcome.

PHILLIPS: The threat level may be lower, but the terror investigation in Britain is still going full throttle. Here is what we know right now. Police in Scotland are going through a rented house near the Glasgow Airport. They believe at least two suspects from the London and Glasgow car bomb incidents lived there, and possibly made bombs there.

The nationalities of the eight suspects in custody is also of high interest. Investigators are trying to link two suspects from India and six from the Middle East. And try to figure out how they came into contact with one another.

Now yesterday, British authorities downgraded the terror threat level one step to severe. They no longer feel that attacks are imminent but high security measures remain in place throughout the U.K.

London and Glasgow are a long way from America, but don't forget tens of thousands of Americans live and work overseas, often very close to known terrorist activity. U.S. troops, for example, and their families are stationed all over Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. So how safe are they? That depends on where and whom you ask.

CNN's Paula Newton reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the kind of incident that brings terror to your doorstep. The Glasgow Airport blast, a reminder for people like Melanie Buckley, an American wife and mother living with her husband who is posted with the U.S. military in Germany. She says she's not paranoid about living in Europe, but ...

MELANIE BUCKLEY, WIFE OF MILITARY OFFICER: It's things like this, this vehicle that is a van that could be carrying anything is ...

NEWTON: Even before Britain's latest terror plot, Buckley gave CNN a guided tour of what she says are security soft spots at U.S. military facilities in Germany. For security reasons, we won't show you all of it, but her point is chillingly candid. She's afraid American families are sitting ducks here.

BUCKLEY: The extremists or the terrorists that would like to make a statement against Americans would, of course, like to get ahold of American's children and American families.

NEWTON: Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Wulff is the garrison commander in Viswadan (ph) in charge of security. His wife and five children all live here.

(on camera): What do you say to families who feel that the security just quite isn't what it should be?

LT. COL. TIMOTHY WULFF, GARRISON COMMANDER: We're going to tell them the truth. From my perspective, it'd be something where there was a credible specific threat directed against the U.S. military and its families.

NEWTON: And we're not at that point yet?

WULFF: No, no.

NEWTON (voice over): In fact, most of the U.S. installations here are heavily guarded, not just the main bases, but barracks, too. But there are still a few highly visible and very accessible U.S. facilities.

Earlier this year the German media reported five suspects were questioned after allegedly casing U.S. living quarters in Germany. They were not charged.

WULFF: We trust the Germans are taking care of us. But it is a concern, so when we do talk to our soldiers and family members, we just ask them to practice some common sense stuff.

NEWTON: But keeping them safe is becoming more complicated. In recent weeks, the German government has admitted that the terror threat is as high as it's ever been.

WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE, GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): The threat is real. We are part of a threatened region. The threat is serious, and it must be taken seriously.

NEWTON: German officials describe it as similar to the lead-up to 9/11. Three of those hijackers planned their attacks from Germany. The so-called Hamburg cell.

And then last year, security cameras identified two suspects easily planting suitcase bombs on trains. Luckily, they didn't work, but it was a very close call. They are now on trial.

Despite these threats, some of the American living quarters in Germany are still open to the public. Anyone, just as CNN did, can just drive onto the post where soldiers and their families live and go to school.

(on camera): And some Americans just aren't comfortable with that. Fearing security is too inconsistent, especially given the very different type of terror threat here in Europe.

BUCKLEY: I just think it leaves us vulnerable to any type of extremist that may have a grudge against America.

CHILDREN SINGING: Strong and courageous ...

NEWTON (voice over): Security is a sensitive topic here. Many soldiers and their families say they don't want to live in an armed camp in the heart of Europe.

One officer who has been in Germany for more than three years is more relaxed.

MAJ. ROBERT HOWE, WIESBADEN GARRISON: Even with some of the increased threat levels that will ebb and flow in this area, honestly I feel very safe here.

NEWTON: Under increasing threat though, there seems no simple answer to keeping such a highly visible group of Americans safe overseas.

Paula Newton, CNN, Germany.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Al Gore's only son busted, booked and out on bail. He's facing felony drug charges. What does his dad have to say?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, he was busted, booked, bailed out, and is already back in rehab. It's been a busy 24 hours for Al Gore III. Police say they stopped the former vice president's's son, who is 24 driving 100 miles an hour on the San Diego freeway. They also say, they found pot and several prescription drugs in Gore's car.

Now, here is a mug shot, and it's not Gore's first. Three years ago, he entered a drug treatment program as part of a plea agreement. That followed an arrest in 2003 for possession of marijuana. California police say they found that and more yesterday inside the 24-year-old's car. Here is CNN's Betty Nguyen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM AMORMINO, ORANGE CO., CALIF. SHERRIF'S OFFICE: Once they approached that vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. They searched that vehicle. They found additional marijuana, Valium, Xanax, Vicodin, Soma and Adderall. Adderall is an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit disorder.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Twenty-four-year-old Gore was taken to jail in Santa Ana and later released on $20,000 bail. His older sister, Sara, came to get him. Their father was in Europe promoting this weekend's Live Earth concerts.

The younger Gore faces four drug charges and speeding violations. Police say none of the pills in the car was prescribed to him. Officials say he wasn't charged with DUI because it was determined he wasn't impaired.

This is not Al Gore III's first run-in with the law. In 2003 he was arrested for marijuana possession and later sentenced to a drug abuse program. In 2002 he was ticketed for drunk driving. He was not, however, taken into custody. And in 2000 he was charged with reckless driving, which was later dropped, but he was fined for speeding.

Betty Nguyen, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Al Gore's father says he's glad his son is safe and getting treatment. He was on NBC this morning promoting this weekend's Live Earth concert. He had this response when asked about his son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AL GORE, FMR. U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: We're dealing with it as a private family matter, Meredith. And we love him very much, and we're glad that he's safe and that he's getting treatment. And we're going to leave it as a private matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We could learn more tonight from young Gore's father. Former Vice President Al Gore is Larry King's guest. That is 9:00 eastern, 6:00 pacific, right here on CNN.

LEMON: It looks like science fiction, but it's horrifying fact for some Floridians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounds like little claws on your house. You have to make sure you don't leave your doors open because they'll get inside.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And then what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then you have to chase them to get them out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Oh, my goodness.

PHILLIPS: Or run them over.

LEMON: Yes, when crabs invade, next, in the CNN NEWSROOM. Follow that, Brooke Anderson!

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Brooke Anderson in New York.

You just heard about how Al Gore is having a bad week. Well, I'm going tell you how a judge in Rio has handed him a brand new headache. That's up next, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time now for entertainment and Entertainment Correspondent Brooke Anderson, is here from New York. She joins us from New York today and she's ready to give us the entertainment update. Brooke, what else can go wrong for Al Gore?

ANDERSON: You know, Don, I didn't hear what you said prior to the break. But now I'm going to try to top that crab story with this.

You know, it hasn't been a good stretch for the former vice president. By now, everybody knows that Al Gore's son was arrested for drug possession. But on top of that, he has had a major headache with his Saturday Live Earth concerts, particularly the ones scheduled for Rio de Janeiro.

The plan for Live Earth was there would be a major concert on every continent to kickoff a worldwide effort to combat global warming, but the South American show was in jeopardy. But we are just hearing now that after a judge had canceled the concert after prosecutors expressed concern about crowd control, saying police wouldn't be able to handle the concert, that the judge, the Brazilian judge revoked on Thursday her own injunction blocking that Rio de Janeiro leg of the Live Earth global series. So, the show will go on.

An estimated 700,000 people are expected to attend. Like this Rolling Stones concert that you're watching right here that happened last year in the same location. But that cancellation came after another concert -- Live Earth concert in Istanbul, Turkey was nixed for lack of interest and a Johannesburg South Africa Live Earth has had to change locations.

And also, ticket sales at some of the concert sites have been slow, as well. You can still buy tickets for the show in New Jersey that features The Police and Bon Jovi. But, Don, the show will go on in Rio de Janero. And I want to mention, by the way, that is the only free Live Earth concert that is happening this weekend. The others are charging.

LEMON: OK. So not really the best Fourth of July for Al Gore, and we certainly wish his family well. Because when you have problems with kids like that, it's tough on anyone.

ANDERSON: Absolutely.

LEMON: But he's going to be on Larry King tonight. Maybe we'll hear more about that and the concerts as you mentioned, as well.

But it's pretty good news for Mike Obey and his film the "Transformers." You know, I heard people this morning, I was getting breakfast in the cafeteria, talking about "Transformers." They said it's great.

ANDERSON: Really? It must have been more than meets the eye, Don.

Yes, the action film had a fantastic opening day. The "Transformers" set a box office record on Tuesday, taking in $27.4 million, and that's a record for that day of the week. Shattering the old record of $15.7 million set last year. That was by "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

"Transformers" is expected to take in, get this, more than $100 million by the end of the weekend. One-hundred million. That's great news, of course, for Dreamworks and Hasbro. Hasbro makes the action figures that the movie is based on.

And in a summer of sequels, the "Transformers" is an original film, but, Don, I think it could potentially become a very profitable movie franchise. We are seeing more and more of that.

LEMON: We shall see, as the summer goes on. Tell us what you have coming up tonight, Brooke.

ANDERSON: Coming up tonight, on "Showbiz Tonight," we have a full hour with Isaiah Washington. It's an explosive interview with Isaiah, and he's going to tell us why this will be the last time he will ever talk about the gay slur controversy that got him fired.

It is the interview you will see only on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, "Showbiz Tonight," 11:00 eastern and pacific, we hope you join us then.

LEMON: It's very interesting you never know what he's going to say. We will see you then, Brooke.

ANDERSON: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, the water-logged plains just can't catch a break. More downpours, more flooding, details straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

And from respectable doctor to radical jihad. A former extremist says he saw the transformation of an alleged U.K. terrorist. His story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, south Florida is being invaded. Land crabs, lots of them. They're scampering about by the thousands for the first time in years. So what are residents to do? Jana Eschbach reports from our West Palm affiliate, WPEC.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANA ESCHBACH, CNN AFFILIATE WPEC (voice over): After the 2004 hurricanes, they were nowhere to be found. Well, in 2007 ...

JOANNE PANTANO, HOMEOWNER: It's just a part of living on Hutchinson Island.

ESCHBACH: They're back.

PANTANO: Hundreds and hundreds. Especially when the sun goes down.

ESCHBACH: After sundown the giant land crabs make their way out of the shade, across the street and right to Joanne Pantano's home.

PANTANO: The dog goes crazy all night long, they are climbing on the house, they are walking through the yard. The dog tries to get out to get them.

ESCHBACH: Too bad little Priscilla here is no match for the thousands, yes thousands of crabs. St. Lucie's county natural resource agent knows they are in town.

KEN GIOELI, ST. LUCIE CO., FLA. NATURAL RESOURCES: People when they call me want to be able to squirt some sort of repellent or something on the lawn and there are no repellents out there for land crab control. Basically what they are stuck doing is living with the problem or finding some way of trapping them and removing them.

ESCHBACH: But state law now prohibits you from catching and eating the crabs during breeding season. And by the way, it is breeding season.

PANTANO: It sounds like little claws on your house. You got to make sure you don't leave your doors open. Because they'll get inside.

ESCHBACH: And then what?

PANTANO: And then you got to chase them to get them out.

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