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Hurricane Felix Downgraded to Category 5 Storm; Joint Chiefs Chairman Talks With U.S. Troops; Arizona Mine Tragedy; Offical Election Season Starts; Sydney APEC Security Step-up
Aired September 03, 2007 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush in Iraq. Another surprise visit with a surprising destination, the former killing fields of Anbar province.
We're going to hear his thoughts about the war, the troops and the surge straight ahead.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And ferocious Hurricane Felix, it's speeding towards Central America with 145-mile-an-hour winds.
We'll hear from a hurricane hunter this hour.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: And this monster storm we call Felix seemed to come out of nowhere.
Chad Myers, what's going on?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, we had an eye wall replacement cycle. And I will get to all that in a second.
What it means is that the storm's no longer a Category 5, it's down to a Category 4. Still very dangerous. Still, the outer bands of the storm, the exact same storm, it's just the little tiny inner part that was affected.
Winds now 145 miles per hour. Still gusting to almost 200 in the middle of that storm.
There it was, a beautiful eye for a while, and that's when it was a Category 5. And now we have since lost the eye.
What happened? Well, an outer eye, so to speak, tried to form around it. There's an inner band about eight miles around, then an outer band about 20 miles in diameter. And that outer band now robbed that inner band, that inner eye of its energy. And it killed it.
And so we don't have those inner winds anymore, those 165, 170- mile-per-hour winds. Those are gone, at least for now. The outer eye, the 20-mile eye, will eventually shrink down, shrink down, shrink down and become a new inner eye. And the storm could easily, easily tonight be back to a Category 5.
And, in fact, Don, that still the forecast, for it to reintensify before it does hit Honduras and Nicaragua there and up toward Roatan. I've been to that little island, a beautiful place there.
There's going to be a lot of damage from this storm one way or the other. We'll talk to the hurricane hunter that was in the storm earlier today. We'll talk to him in just a few minutes.
LEMON: Oh, absolutely. Hurricane hunters, very interesting always, and also I-Reporters, right, Chad?
MYERS: Oh, absolutely. We'll have a lot of that, I'm sure, as we get -- this is going to get very close to Belize, too.
Yes, it's going to skim Honduras, but this is a much more populated area here, too, of Belize, and the mountains of Honduras, the flooding that's going to go on, the mudslides here, I may not even want to show you some of them. That's how bad some of these pictures may be.
So we'll get them. As soon as we get them, we'll get them to you.
LEMON: Absolutely, Chad. Thank you.
Of course, as we just said, I-Reporters -- when weather becomes the news, count on CNN to bring it to you first. And if you see severe weather happening in your area, send us an I-Report. Go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report" or type ireport@cnn.com right into your cell phone and share your photos or video.
PHILLIPS: Well, for months, we have heard about U.S. troops going to the war zone. Now their commander-in-chief says some may finally get to head home.
President Bush is on his third visit to Iraq. And moments ago he spoke to troops in Anbar province. He says if progress keeps up in the war zone, some troops may be able to come home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground, not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from the position of fear and failure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, this month, the White House is due to deliver an Iraq progress report to Congress. Also, the top U.S. commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador are to testify before Congress next week. Off the cuff in the war zone. Just minutes ago we saw Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace like we've seldom seen him before. He's accompanying President Bush in Iraq.
Just before the president spoke to troops in Anbar province, Pace held an impromptu Q&A of his own.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: The question is, what am I going to do when I retire? Yes -- where are you? Put your hand up. Thank you.
The truth is that I am going to -- I have a day job, and I'm going to run through the finish line on 1, October, because you all deserve to have me stay focused on my responsibility. On 2, October, I'll start thinking about what I'm going to do next, and I don't mean that I don't have any ideas about what I might like to do, but I do know that any time I spend right now thinking about what happens next, is time I'm taking away from you, and I'm not going to do that. I'm going to run through the finish line and then I'm going to worry about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre was watching it all. Now, that was a very serious moment, but off the cuff. But he really had the men and women laughing.
Also, Jamie, addressing issues that we really haven't heard any of the commanders address, and that was post-traumatic stress. He just laid it out.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, he was essentially serving as the warm-up act for President Bush, talking with the troops. It was really classic Peter Pace.
He loves to interact directly with the troops. He's very much a person who likes to say exactly what he's thinking, and when he asked the troops, you know, what's on your mind? He heard about a couple of those issues.
One of them a question about how good a handle they had on traumatic brain injury, the signature injury of this war, and the effect it can have multiple shocks that soldiers and marines take from some of the concussions, the effect it can have on them. And basically, he told them, look, you're not bulletproof, so don't think you're immune to these kind of injuries.
Here is a little of what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PACE: It is OK. It is OK to seek help for those kinds of war wounds, and I ask you all to help your buddies understand what you see in them, and I also want to make sure that as part of our welcome home for you, that we're given information to your families so that collectively we can pay attention to this.
I do not know the answer, but I do know that we are much smarter about this now than we were just a little while ago. And if collectively we can watch after our battle buddies on our left and our right, we're going to take care of the people who need to be taken care of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: The other question that some of these troops had, they're in Anbar province, which, as you heard, is a little bit safe. Now, they want to know, when are they going to get those MRAPs they keep hearing about, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles that they've been ramping up production. The Pentagon says they hope by the end of the year to have maybe 1,500, perhaps 3,000 by the beginning of the year, but we're still hearing from a lot of front- line troops that they don't have that top-of-the-line armored protection. So that was one of the things that he had to talk about, too.
Peter Pace, as you said, retiring at the end of the month. He says he's going to race to the finish line and then he'll worry about what he does next.
PHILLIPS: He's had quite a long haul, hasn't he, Jamie?
MCINTYRE: Well, four years as the vice chairman and two years as the chairman. That's six years as a principal adviser to the president and defense secretary.
PHILLIPS: And taking questions from tough journalists like you there in the room, too. It makes it a little (ph) easy at times.
MCINTYRE: He's always been good at it.
PHILLIPS: Jamie McIntyre, thanks.
LEMON: One of Larry Craig's sons says the Idaho senator answered a lot of tough questions from his family about his airport bathroom arrest. Michael Craig says he's satisfied with his father's side of the story, that his arrest and guilty plea to disorderly conduct were part of a misunderstanding. But our congressional correspondent Dana Bash reports Craig's fellow Republicans aren't as forgiving.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was an abrupt end to a week of tabloid drama, a stunning fall from grace for a Republican senator little known nationally until now.
SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), IDAHO: It is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30th.
BASH: Four days after defiantly vowing to fight, Senator Larry Craig bowed to blistering pressure, admitting it was clear he could no longer be effective.
CRAIG: I apologize for what I have caused. I'm deeply sorry.
BASH: Even as he exited the political stage, Craig denied trolling for sex in this public bathroom on June 11th, despite pleading guilty to disorderly conduct two months later. But the spectacle of a sex scandal for Republicans stung by a string of controversy was too much to bear. His GOP colleagues swiftly stripped him of influence in Senate committees, launched an ethics investigation, told him to resign.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't try to judge people, but in this case it's clear that it was disgraceful.
BASH: The son of a modest Idaho cattle ranching family, Craig was elected to the state legislature at age 29 and six years later won a seat in Congress. Ironically, Craig gained national attention soon after his Washington career started during a sex scandal.
In 1982, the freshman congressman issued a statement adamantly denying he had sex with congressional pages, even though no one had publicly accused him.
Here on NBC...
CRAIG: I have people telling me that a whole series of false accusations were made against my character. Frankly, it makes me mad as hell.
BASH: Despite that, Craig served 25 more years, elected to the House then the Senate by huge margins. He stayed popular fighting for gun rights and tax cuts.
The red state Republican who voted against gay rights has been plagued by rumors he is gay for years. After news broke of his bathroom bust, Craig's local paper reported on a six-month investigation into those rumors. He called it a witch hunt.
CRAIG: I am not gay. I never have been gay.
BASH: Craig's Senate salary was his only income, and despite pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and leaving in disgrace, Senate rules allow him to walk away with a $130,000 a year pension, paid for by taxpayers.
(on camera): Craig says he'll focus his time now on trying to overturn a guilty plea he signed admitting to misconduct in an airport men's room. He says he intends to clear his name, but that will be extremely hard to do both legally and politically.
Dana Bash, CNN, Boise, Idaho.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: An Arizona girl clings to life. Her sister is dead after a fall down an unmarked mine shaft. Reporter Veronica Sanchez of CNN affiliate KPNX has the story of the girls' ordeal and the efforts to save them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERONICA SANCHEZ, REPORTER, KPNX (voice over): The scene in Chloride, Arizona, two girls riding an ATV fall into this abandoned mining shaft. It looks like a big gaping hole.
CAPT. GREG SMITH, MOHAVE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: They did go off the road and into the shaft.
SANCHEZ: Twelve hours later, crews rappel into the shaft recovering the body of 13-year-old Rikki Howard and rescuing her sister Casie Hicks. The 10-year-old was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.
SMITH: They were talking to her, yes. They did not interview her at length about what happened, but they were talking to her.
SANCHEZ: Another case now under investigation by the state's mining inspector. We spoke to him by phone.
JOE HART, ARIZONA MINING INSPECTOR: We want to send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of those victims. It's just a travesty that we have allowed this to go on as long as it has.
SANCHEZ: Joe Hart dealing with a scary reality. More than 100,000 abandoned mines in Arizona. Less than one percent of them have warning signs or a fence around them. That was the case in Chloride.
This year, 13 abandoned mines were filled in or closed up by the state. But sadly, Arizona does not have the funding to take care of the problem fully.
DOUGLAS MARTIN, ARIZONA MINING INSPECTOR: They're really becoming, as the days going on, more and more dangerous.
SANCHEZ: A hundred years ago, prospectors dug up the mines hoping to hit pay dirt. When it didn't happen, they were abandoned. And now another tragedy for an Arizona family and the entire state.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: State officials say that the mine that the girls fell into has been abandoned for some time. They're trying to determine who it might belong to.
LEMON: Was it a prank or was it a threat? It split a Louisiana town along racial lines and things have only gotten worse.
PHILLIPS: Plus, this -- most of America is taking the day off, but no rest on the campaign trail. Bill Schneider is tracking Labor Day politics.
LEMON: And historically, things have not gone too well for women sent to the Tower of London. Until now. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
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PHILLIPS: Just real quickly, John Yang (ph) caught up with the president after he spoke with the marines. And listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: They had determination that the al Qaeda vision is something they didn't want to live under. They do want to live in freedom, and therefore, they and their people turned against al Qaeda, which has helped to change the landscape here in Anbar province.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us a little bit about that meeting. What was that like to meet people who had been opponents of the United States that have now turned around.
BUSH: Well, some of these -- some of these guys are kind of grizzled vets. And first of all, they were pleased that the president of the United States came. They view us as an ally.
Secondly, they were very gracious about thanking America and the troops for helping them liberate their own people.
And third, they want to make sure that the central government people that were there understood that now that Anbar is getting better, they expect there to be response from the central government.
I told -- I told them that the government has distributed $107 million to Anbar province, which then caused them to look at their governor. But you know, it just reminded me how the political systems work.
But it was really an interesting visit. And I'm glad I came to see these men.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These sheikhs obviously had a short-term goal in common, wanting to get rid of the violence and get rid of al Qaeda, who were causing the violence. Are you confident they share the same long-term vision for Iraq?
BUSH: Well, all I can tell you is that the man said that, one, that he believes in democracy. And two, they expect this government to adhere to the principles of the constitution that was passed.
And I do. I feel very comfortable that they understand that -- you know, that a united Iraq is in their interest.
One of the things they kept talking about was Iran. And they know full well that Iraqi nationalism trumps the Iranian influence, but they also know that a united Iran -- Iraq is necessary to deal with Iran. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened today? Your experienced today, what you heard, what you saw, going to fit into your September 15th report -- the preparation for that?
BUSH: Well, the main ingredients in that report for me to report to the country will be what General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker report. And I had a little glimpse of what they talked about.
They believe that the security situation is changing quite dramatically, and they recognize as well there's more political reconciliation work to be done. And so -- and they'll come and report, and I will take their recommendations and put it into a -- you know, a speech to the country and explain the way forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good. Mr. President, thank you very much.
BUSH: Thanks for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to see you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Pool reporter John Yang (ph) caught up with the president there just after he spoke to marines in Al Anbar province.
"Grizzled vets," that's an interesting definition for tribal sheikhs, but that's what the president called them when John Yang (ph) asked him about meeting with those tribal sheikhs who used to fight against U.S. troops. Well, U.S. troops have won them over in Al Anbar province. Now they are fighting al Qaeda together and it's working.
And that's an area that General Petraeus and the president, all military commanders, have continued to brag about because it's worked with regard to security and tribal sheikhs taking over their areas, something the president hopes will happen throughout the entire area in Iraq.
We're going to take a quick break. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
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PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone.
I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.
You may find it hard to believe that today is considered the official kickoff to the '08 presidential election.
PHILLIPS: Though, this year's crop has been busy for months, Labor Day is still a big day on the campaign trail.
Bill Schneider explains why.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: It is the bottom of the hour.
And first up, check this out.
Just into the CNN NEWSROOM, mangled metal there. You see what it says at the bottom of your screen, a warehouse explosion. This coming to us from Ohio, within Ohio, to be exact.
It is the Griswold Manufacturing warehouse. This happened just a short time ago. Here's the good news about this -- because it's Labor Day, no one was at work and it is believed at this point, according to initial reports, that no one was injured or hurt in this.
Officials say about 100 people work at the plant. No employees were at the warehouse at the time of the explosion. Again, because of the holiday, several residents who live in the area said they were awakened before 7:00 a.m. when their homes shook from this explosion. One neighbor says he looked out of his window and saw pieces of steel and insulation flying into the air.
This is a video, of course. Look at that. It's coming to us courtesy of our affiliate there in Ohio, WKYC.
We'll stay on top of this, of course. Initial reports saying no injuries, but we're going to stay on top of this developing story for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: For months, we've heard about U.S. troops going to the war zone. Now the commander-in-chief says some may finally get to come home.
President Bush is on his third visit to Iraq right now and moments ago he spoke to troops in Anbar Province.
He says if progress keeps up in the war zone, some troops may be able to head back home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground, not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: This month the White House is due to deliver an Iraq progress report to Congress. Also, the top U.S. commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador are to testify before Congress next week. From a war zone to a place that might end up looking like one. President Bush heads from Iraq to Sydney, Australia, where he will join other leaders for a major economic summit.
John Vause reports the city is already on guard and locked down.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Australia has never seen security like this -- a week-long lockdown in its biggest city. Many parts of Sydney are now off limits including the famous opera house, surrounded by a nine-feet high, three-mile long ring of concrete and steel. Jet skis and speedboats patrol the harbor. On land, more than 5,000 police and troops are being deployed, supported by military helicopters. Fighter jets will enforce a 45-mile no-fly zone, all to protect the 21 world leaders attending the APEC Forum -- but far from welcomed by many who live here and face major disruption.
DAISY MORRISROE, SYDNEY RESIDENT: I think it's crazy. It's just -- I've never seen anything like it. I think it's really over the top.
VAUSE: Jim Propencher, a local teacher, found out just how tight security is.
JIM PROPENCHER, SYDNEY RESIDENT: I think you should treat people with respect.
VAUSE: Quickly surrounded by police after photographing the security fence.
PROPENCHER: I think they should get some manners. And they said -- they threatened me. They said we are going to -- we could take your camera if we want to.
VAUSE: The Australian government says deal with it.
JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: There will be some inconvenience. The only way you'll avoid any inconvenience is not have any of these events, and that's saying to the world it's too hard for Australia. Well, damn that.
VAUSE: But memories here are still fresh of a February visit by the U.S. vice president. His motorcade caused traffic gridlock crossing the Harbor Bridge, all so Mr. Cheney could enjoy a beer with Prime Minister John Howard.
The fear is APEC could be 20 times worse, especially because of widespread, possibly, violent protests. Police will be ready with a new water canon, purpose built jails on wheels and temporary new powers to search and detain.
(on camera): Another cause for complaint -- the cost of security, around $150 million U.S. dollars. But it's not all bad news for city residents. They've been given a public holiday this Friday.
John Vause, CNN, Sydney. (END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: To anyone who has followed the news, viewed the debates or gotten fundraising letters, you'll be surprised to learn that the race for the White House begins today. That's right, Labor Day is the unofficial starting line for the 2008 presidential race.
With that as a marker, our senior political guru, Bill Schneider, joins us live from Washington to tell us how things are shaping up.
Now, Hillary and Bill Clinton are out on the campaign trail -- Bill.
She's always touted her experience.
Has he adjusted her message?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, now she's talking about being the candidate not just of experience, but also of change, because the change message is very powerful this year. Barack Obama, who is running second in the national polls and in the crucial early states, is using that to challenge her.
So she's saying with me you get both -- change and experience. She was in Iowa today, New Hampshire yesterday. Those are states where the second and third place candidates are hoping to score an upset. And she brought her husband, the former president, out with her. He's very popular with Democrats. She's not taking any chances.
LEMON: And, also, you know, New Hampshire is a critical, critical primary state. Barack Obama is in New Hampshire today.
How is he doing there?
SCHNEIDER: Well, he's running second in New Hampshire, as he is nationally. But he's running neck and neck with Hillary Clinton among Independents, who can vote in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. So he's hoping New Hampshire Independents may come in unexpectedly large numbers to vote for him in that state's crucial early primary and maybe enable him to score an upset.
LEMON: OK. It is Labor Day, Bill.
You know, John Edwards picked up some major union endorsements today.
How much is that going to help him?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the unions could be crucial in Iowa, where it's a caucus and organization matters. And unions are very well organized. So he went to Iowa yesterday. He went to Pittsburgh today to get an important endorsement from mine workers and steel workers, and then rushed right back to Iowa, hoping that those endorsements could provide him with some crucial organizational strength, because he's depending on Iowa to score an upset against Hillary Clinton.
LEMON: OK, Bill, on the Republican side, Mitt Romney is in New Hampshire today.
How important is New Hampshire and, also, how important is Iowa to Romney?
SCHNEIDER: He's running first in those two states, even though he's running third or fourth nationally. Romney is hoping to score victories in both of those early states to propel him to become suddenly the frontrunner in the Republican race.
LEMON: Oh.
Well, OK.
Rudy Giuliani, let's talk about him. He is not campaigning. But he's number one in the national polls and every Republican candidate dating back to Eisenhower who was number one in September, they won the nomination.
Can Giuliani keep that streak alive, do you think?
SCHNEIDER: Well, in the past, the Republicans have nominated the heir apparent. That would be Dick Cheney, the vice president, who is supposed to run to succeed the president. But he's not running, unlike past years.
So the result is the Republican race is wide open. There is no heir apparent. I wouldn't say that Giuliani is Bush's heir apparent.
LEMON: OK.
Let's talk about Fred Thompson. Fred Thompson -- you know, everyone is saying is he going to run, is he not going to run?
He's getting a lot of hype. He's announcing this week, formally announcing this week. The big question, though, you can miss your moment.
Has he missed his moment?
Is he too late?
SCHNEIDER: Well, almost, I would say. There was a lot of enthusiasm for him back in June and July. People were hoping he'd get into the race. They've just about run out of patience. I would say the window is just about to close and he's getting in at the last possible moment, because there is still, among conservatives, a desire -- a demand really -- for a candidate who is electable and also conservative. And they really aren't too happy with any of the other three frontrunners -- Giuliani, Mitt Romney or John McCain. So they're hoping that Fred Thompson can fill that role. But they've been waiting for months now.
LEMON: Bill Schneider working on Labor Day.
SCHNEIDER: OK.
LEMON: I asked you a lot of questions and you answered them all.
Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day, sir.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
LEMON: Thank you.
And you can see all the day's political news any time of day or night at CNN.com/ticker.
We're constantly updating it for you with the latest from the campaign trail -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Centuries of tradition shattered in Britain as a woman lands a job that's long been men only. Breaking through the beef ceiling, straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
And as we go to break, a news quiz for you.
How did the Beefeaters at the Tower of London get their name?
The answer in that live report straight ahead.
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PHILLIPS: Well, before the break, we asked you how did the Beefeaters at the Tower of London get their name.
The answer -- that the elite guards always got their rations of beef at a time in London's history when meat was a luxury.
Now, officially, they're called yeoman warders. But they are much better known as the Beefeaters. For centuries, their job was to guard the crown jewels and prisoners in the Tower of London. Today, the famous guard unit is more ceremonial and for the first time in more than 500 years, a woman Beefeater is in the ranks.
Our Alphonso van Marsh is in London with her story.
She seems like quite a character.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, she most certainly is, not just on TV, not just in person, but even in the papers here.
If you take a look at this picture of these Beefeaters, you'll notice that one of them is different from the others.
As you mentioned, of course, I'm referring to this picture here. This would be the first woman Beefeater, a tradition of 522 years.
Well, after that long time of it being an all male club, today things have changed, possibly for good.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here, please, Moira.
VAN MARSH (voice over): Her first day on the job in the Beefeater uniform, Moira Cameron, the first female yeoman warder ever, wasn't letting the media attention go to her head.
MOIRA CAMERON, FIRST FEMALE YEOMAN WARDER: I wake up every morning and I still feel very, very happy to be here and very privileged to be working here.
VAN MARSH: Here is the historic Tower of London, where the yeomen warders have been an elite guard unit made up of men only for 522 years.
Cameron isn't the first woman to apply for the position, but she is the first to be admitted into the unit -- her bosses say, on merit.
(on camera): Today, Cameron is using her keys to open some of the towers here. It is just one of some 21 different responsibilities she's been trained for, though presumably later on she'll do it with a lot less media attention.
(voice over): Responsibilities that include guarding the queen's crown jewels and answering tourists' questions.
Like other Beefeaters, Cameron served the minimum 22 years of decorated military service. Her boss says his male Beefeaters are learning to adapt to the change.
JOHN KEOHANE, CHIEF YEOMAN WARDER: Yes, there has been the odd one or two that have voiced their own personal opinions. What they've all elected to do, quite happily, is to give her a chance and see how she gets on with the job.
VAN MARSH: Tourists were quick to add Cameron to their must-have photo checklist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's brilliant. They should have done that about 100 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's wonderful. I've never seen it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You haven't done 22 years in the army, have you?
CAMERON: I have, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you seen (INAUDIBLE)?
(LAUGHTER)
VAN MARSH: So after 522 years, British and tourists alike are getting used to the new face of the old guard. No beard, just a smile.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
VAN MARSH: And that smile we've seen all day. You've got to give Cameron credit for being so pleasant, so willing to work with the media, considering the immense amount of pressure she's been under ever since her position was announced. She says, like the other Beefeaters, that she's looking forward to not being the only female in that unit and on the team.
Back to you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Now, Alphonso, her background. You either have to be a warrant officer in the military, right?
What exactly did she do for a number of years before she was able to get this position?
VAN MARSH: Well, that's the important thing to keep in mind. It's not just like she walked off the street to apply for this job. More than 22 years -- that's the minimum requirement of medaled service in the armed forces. She was actually trained to be a military accountant and served as a clerk for a number of years before applying and eventually getting this truly historic position -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: A great story.
And we're actually going to talk to her live tomorrow right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Alphonso Van Marsh, thanks.
LEMON: misunderstood satire or blatant ignorance?
(VIDEO CLIP OF "READ A BOOK," COURTESY BET)
LEMON: That is the question surrounding a new animated video on Black Entertainment Television. Parents are shocked. But the creators say they just don't get the joke.
(VIDEO CLIP OF "READ A BOOK," COURTESY BET)
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(VIDEO CLIP OF "READ A BOOK," COURTESY BET)
LEMON: Maybe we should give you a little caveat, a little warning here. Some of the images in the next story you're going to see are a little bit graphic. "Read A Book" is the message.
How is it being delivered?
Well, that's the issue.
We're talking about the so-called satirical cartoon running on Black Entertainment Television.
Our Tony Harris has more.
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TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Remember this?
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HARRIS: How about this?
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HARRIS: TV shows like "Electric
Company," "Sesame Street," "Schoolhouse Rock" sang children into their ABCs and 123s.
Fast forward some 30 years later.
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HARRIS: Viacom-owned Black Entertainment Television created this so-called satirical public service announcement.
But who's laughing?
PROF. CHARLES E. JONES, AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: I wasn't and I don't think many of the black parents would be laughing.
HARRIS: BET's head of animation says the video was not part of any literacy campaign or "Schoolhouse Rock's" alternative, but was intended for BET's demographic of 18- to 34-year-olds. But listen to this. They said in the past that their "diversity and appeal attracts viewers as young as 12."
JONES: It's not just how whites or other people look at this video and then think about black people.
It's about what are the messages black people are receiving?
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HARRIS: Cory Condrey is the founder of a nationally syndicated radio show, "Spirit of Hip Hop."
CORY CONDREY, FOUNDER, "THE SPIRIT OF HIP HOP": Really, just take the cuss words out and don't even have a video and just play it -- play it just like that. And then, the truth of the matter is, we do need to drink water. The truth of the matter is we do need to stop spending on rent and we need to buy land. I think that there's a message in it. I do believe that there is a way that they could actually deliver the message in a better way.
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HARRIS: Part of BET's mission statement: "to broadcast the culture, genius, beauty and talent of the black race."
Is this that?
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HARRIS: The answer may be buried deep in a widening cultural and generational gap.
Tony Harris, CNN, Atlanta.
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LEMON: Is this something parents want their children watching?
Well, we asked and here's what some had to say about it.
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STACY POPE, PARENT: If we don't take a stand as parents, if we don't -- if we don't say no, this is not satire, it's not funny, it's not educating anyone, we are not going to allow this to be played, especially during these times, then this will be our children's after school special.
ADRIENNE HARRIS, PARENT: It's hard enough as it is that, you know, my son, I have to watch everything he watches, you know, just to make sure that there's no negative messages. And now you're putting this stuff in cartoons and saying you're marketing it for an adult, you know, an older crowd.
But at the same time, who watches cartoons?
Kids.
KEMBO TOM, PARENT: First and foremost, our children are sacred. And I feel like there is no dividing line on programming specific to BET that shows that children are sacred.
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LEMON: Well, our Tony Harris talked to the creators of the video and they say it's meant to hit home.
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TYREE DILLIHAY, HIPHOPOLIS.COM: It sends a message. It's a reflection of hip hop culture today. Like he's saying, there's grown human beings doing this and all it is, is just parodying that.
BOMANI ARMAH, NOTARAPPER.COM: You're comparing this to "Sesame Street." You should compare this to "A Bay Bay" and you should compare this to Pliers (ph) or somebody like that. Like you're getting the wrong -- and I was really - I wanted to watch this.
HARRIS: Am I going to see those pieces that you just named...
ARMAH: If you're watching it...
HARRIS: ...am I going to see those on TV at...
ARMAH: ...at about 3:00...
HARRIS: ...4:00, 5:00 in the afternoon when my kids are coming from school?
ARMAH: Yes. Yes.
HARRIS: Really?
Oh. OK. All right.
ARMAH: (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: Now, where would I find these pieces? Are these online?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On BET.
HARRIS: Oh. On BET again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They literally...
HARRIS: OK.
ARMAH: Tony, they literally...
HARRIS: OK.
ARMAH: ...they literally played "A Bay Bay" before they played that song.
HARRIS: Yes.
ARMAH: So, I mean -- and then I would have loved to have -- what you showed with the parents talking to each other about how television and music is affecting their children...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
ARMAH: ...that's, I loved that. That was great. I'm jealous that I wasn't there.
HARRIS: So you did this. You did this purposely to get under people's skin, to start this. You are a provocateur. That's what you set out to do...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't...
HARRIS: And, Tyree, that's what you set out to do, because as a director, you control the imaging here. You set out to be purposely provocative so that we would be sitting on -- see, we have given you exactly what you wanted.
DILLIHAY: Well, see, the thing is I didn't think that the idea of reading and hygiene and all these things were controversial. My idea was to pick the most simplest ideas that... HARRIS: Wrapped in this packaging, this imagery?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. Definitely.
HARRIS: With the big booty...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: With the big booty female black woman cartoon bouncing up and down?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tony is hilarious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you watch BET?
HARRIS: Yes, I watch BET.
ARMAH: Yes. OK. So you -- so you would understand the context that we're working with. If your 11-year-old is watching "Rap City," the fact that your 11- year-old is watching "Rap City" is a bigger problem than them seeing them this video.
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LEMON: That was CNN's Tony Harris reporting in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, a battle over same-sex marriage in Iowa. It was only legal for four hours, but two men took advantage of the opportunity and took the plunge.
Now with the law on hold, are they really still married?
You'll hear from them coming up next.
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