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The Michigan-Florida Quandary; Attack on U.S. Military Convoy in Baghdad; Traces of Medicine Found in Tap Water
Aired March 10, 2008 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning again, everyone. You're with CNN.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
Developments keep coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM on this Monday, March 10th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Politics all over our radar. Democrats digging for delegates in Mississippi, while John McCain is on a different quest.
HARRIS: More than H2O. An investigation uncovers drugs in your drinking water. What you need to know.
COLLINS: And pursuing justice in the killings of two college students. One search ends, the other expands -- in the NEWSROOM.
The road to the White House -- just like the mighty Mississippi, it just keeps on rolling. Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton look ahead to Mississippi for tomorrow's presidential primary. Thirty-three delegates will be up for grabs there.
Obama is looking to rebuild his momentum. Over the weekend he won Wyoming's caucuses, and that gives him another seven delegates. While Clinton picked up at least four, according to CNN estimates, Obama leads the overall delegate count by about 100.
And it could be another couple of months before we will see the final results of the Texas caucuses. Clinton narrowly won the primary there, but the caucuses are leaning towards Obama. Keep in mind, only 41 percent of the precincts are now reporting.
HARRIS: One big question facing the Democrats, whether voters in Michigan and Florida will have a say in choosing the nominee. The national party stripped the states of their convention delegates for holding their primaries too early. But those delegates, more than 350 in all, could be essential in giving one candidate a decisive win.
Joining us on the phone with a closer look, CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley.
Candy, good to talk to you.
You know, there has certainly been a lot of talk about Florida and Michigan, particularly after last week's results. Are we any closer to determining what might happen with those states?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we'll see. It's part of though -- some kind of consensus is forming around a write-in vote, at least in Florida. Sorry -- a mail-in vote in Florida.
Now, Florida's never done that before. It would cost a lot of money, both in Florida and Michigan, to do this. We've had two high- profile Clinton supporters saying, hey, we'll raise half the money that's needed in both Florida and Michigan.
The whole idea of a mail-in obviously comes with complications, particularly for a state that hasn't done it before. So what they have to do is find something that satisfies the state of Florida and the Florida Democrats, the state of Michigan and the Michigan Democrats, and both campaigns and the Democratic National Committee. So I just say at this point stay tuned, but there does seem to be, at least in Florida, this kind of consensus growing around this.
HARRIS: All right. Well, Candy, you're in Jackson, Mississippi, where Barack Obama is holding an event tonight. Talk to us, if you would, about the -- I guess I should mention that Hillary Clinton is not in the state. Talk to us about how Mississippi might shake out for Barack Obama tomorrow.
CROWLEY: Well, it looks like Barack Obama's state. I mean, any poll we've seen from here has him as the overwhelming favorite.
There is about a 50 percent African-American vote in the Democratic primary. That certainly favors him, as African-Americans have heavily voted for Barack Obama.
The Clinton campaign sent in -- Bill Clinton sent in, Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton has been here. So they didn't give it up.
She's in Pennsylvania, which obviously is friendlier territory for her at this point. And that is the sort of mega-delegate place at this month, at any rate -- sorry, next month.
So, the fact of the matter is that we're looking probably for a pretty good night for Obama. And if it isn't, it would be a setback.
HARRIS: Yes.
CNN's senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, on the phone with us this morning.
Candy, appreciate it. Thanks.
COLLINS: Meanwhile, Republican John McCain has a very different mission -- fighting to stay in the national spotlight. McCain clinched the GOP's nomination last week, but that creates new challenges now.
The Democrats have one candidate to target. And over the weekend, National Democratic Party attacked McCain for his support of the Iraq war. And with both Clinton and Obama seemingly deadlocked, the Republicans can't concentrate their fire on a sickle opponent.
Well, if you are a political junkie, CNNPolitics.com is the place for you. Check out our new interactive delegate counter game. Yes, that's the delegate counter game, where you can play real-time "what if" scenarios with delegates and superdelegates.
That and much more at CNNPolitics.com.
(NEWSBREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Out of the Pentagon this morning, CNN Jamie McIntyre standing by with a little bit more information on this attack that we've been telling you about, an attack on a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad.
Jamie, what do you know?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, U.S. military sources are telling CNN that at least four U.S. soldiers were killed in Baghdad today while on a foot patrol. We have very few details, but this was as a result of an explosion.
It comes as the levels of violence in Baghdad are rising slightly, even though U.S. casualties have been still very low. In fact, up until this point, there's only been two U.S. deaths so far this month. In fact, in Afghanistan, where there have been three U.S. deaths, that was actually running ahead of Iraq until today's incident.
Again, at least four, perhaps five U.S. soldiers killed in an explosion on a foot patrol in Baghdad. And of course U.S. casualties in Iraq are inching toward that 4,000 milestone. There are some 3,975 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the evasion back in 2003.
Today at the Pentagon the Marine general who's in charge of the western part of Iraq said the reduction in violence in his area has been, in his words, stunning, in that he's been able to move around, people have been able to move around in Anbar province. But we've seen that even while Anbar province has settled down, levels of violence have risen elsewhere in Iraq, including attacks that appear to target some of the Sunnis who are working with the U.S. forces. And again, that's one of the more ominous trends, another reason, Heidi, why U.S. commanders are really hesitant about significant drawdowns in U.S. troops until they see how things play out over the next couple of months.
COLLINS: Right. It certainly makes sense.
All right. Jamie McIntyre coming to us live this morning from the Pentagon.
Jamie, thank you.
HARRIS: Drugs on tap. Traces of medicine found in drinking water. Should you be worried?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Going after illegal immigrants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact is, is that illegal aliens do commit crimes. They do have a negative impact on our schools. They do have a negative impact on our hospitals and other social services.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Pulling the welcome mat in a Washington suburb. The story in two minutes.
COLLINS: What is in your drinking water? The Associated Press investigated and turned up traces of powerful medications in everyday tap water.
Earlier, I talked with Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen about this pretty shocking report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: After we go through some of the facts I'll tell you how it gets in there, because it's not such a pretty story. But let's go through first and see what The Associated Press found out.
They looked at various municipal water testings and they found, for example, here in Atlanta traces of antibiotics and of a blood pressure drug. In Cincinnati, it found traces of a cholesterol drug, and also traces of estrogen, which is -- women, of course, use pharmaceutically. And also, New York City, traces of a seizure drug and an anti-anxiety drug.
Now, these are just examples. To get a feeling for the big picture, take a look at this. In Philadelphia, they found traces of 56 different drugs.
COLLINS: Holy cow.
COHEN: I know, holy cow is right. New York City, 16 drugs. And northern New Jersey, 13 drugs.
Now, we do have to answer the question, how in the world do drugs get into drinking water?
COLLINS: Yes. COHEN: The answer is, we all take drugs, and you think your body absorbs it all, but really it doesn't. Some of it goes through your body, ends up in sewage. Sewage is then treated. Some of that ends up -- I know it's awful.
COLLINS: You're right, it's not a pretty story.
COHEN: But, you know, and we thought about just not getting into it, but, you know, you have to explain. You have to explain how it gets there.
COLLINS: Yes.
COHEN: People aren't dumping pills. That's not -- that's not the issue here.
COLLINS: OK.
COHEN: The issue is that we are sort of serving as filters, if you will.
COLLINS: Got it.
COHEN: But again, we're talking traces. And so it's not clear, is it a problem if you drink tiny amounts of an anti-anxiety drug every day? Who knows?
COLLINS: Yes. Yes. Wow. But the EPA regulates water. So what are they having to say about it?
COHEN: Well, it was interesting. They didn't totally discount this. You know, we thought they might say, oh, it's traces, oh, the study was done wrong, or whatever, but that wasn't what they said at all.
What they said was, "We're taking this very seriously. We recognize there's a growing concern about the presence of pharmaceuticals in our water. We're evaluating the potential health effects of contaminants at low levels when they occur and how best to remove them."
But remember, this is the very beginning. All the things that spokesman named...
COLLINS: Right.
COHEN: ... when they occur, how best to remove them, I mean, that's stuff that takes years really to work out.
COLLINS: Yes, no question about it.
So, a lot of people already are drinking bottled water. We've had lots of discussions about do you really even need to be drinking bottled water? Because tap water is safe. Do we go back to the bottled water now?
COHEN: Well, no, not really, because bottled water is often just repackaged tap water.
COLLINS: Yes.
COHEN: So you're getting the same stuff. And filters weren't really designed to filter out pharmaceuticals. They're designed to filter out metals and other kinds of things.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: You can get more details online about drugs in your drinking water. Log on to our Web site at CNN.com/health.
HARRIS: Pulling the welcome mat. A Washington suburb is targeting illegal immigrants.
CNN's Kate Bolduan reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Manassas, Virginia, is a long way from any border, but the Washington suburb is now on the front lines of the immigration debate. Prince William County lawmakers taking on illegal immigration by giving police the authority to check an individual's legal status for minor offenses.
In many parts of the country a federal crime must be committed for local police to report an illegal immigrant to federal officials. Communities in Oklahoma and Arizona have passed similar ordinances.
COREY STEWART, BOARD SUPERVISOR, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA: It's incumbent upon us as public officials, those who have been elected, to enforce all the laws -- U.S. law, state law, and local law -- in order to protect the community, and that's exactly what we're doing.
BOLDUAN: Supporters want to discourage illegals from living in the county, saying they're a drain on public resources.
STEWART: The fact is, is that illegal aliens do commit crimes, they do have an negative impact on our schools, they do have a negative impact on our hospitals and other social services.
BOLDUAN: Immigrant advocates say that's not the case and warn this policy could lead to racial profiling.
NANCY LYALL, IMMIGRANT ADVOCATE: We believe that this is a way -- a political move to target the immigrant community and make them feel unwelcome here in Prince William County. And basically force them and drive them out of the county.
BOLDUAN (on camera): Some residents say this is more than an immigration issue. It's an economic issue as well. The owner of this Latino market says business is down at least 60 percent since word has spread about this policy.
MARCO BLACUTT, LATINO BUSINESS OWNER: I remember people that used to come in every week, shopping carts full. Now those people don't even come anymore.
BOLDUAN (voice over): Marco Blacutt says dangerous criminals should be prosecuted, but he worries the policy is driving away customers. One of those, an undocumented worker, agrees. "I have a lot of family and friends who have moved to Maryland out of fear," he says.
Blacutt now fears the new rule will soon drive him out of business.
BLACUTT: I clean. I set up the produce. I stock the shelves. And I'm the owner. I mean, if it continues like this, there's nowhere else I can take pay cuts. I mean, I can't fire myself.
BOLDUAN: Kate Bolduan, CNN, Manassas, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And we want to update a story from just moments ago. Our Jamie McIntyre, our senior Pentagon correspondent, telling us, as you'll recall at the time, that four U.S. service personnel have been killed while on foot patrol by a suicide attack in western Baghdad.
We have new information now. The number is now five. Five U.S. service personnel killed by a bomb blast while on foot patrol in western Baghdad. Three others wounded, a fourth injured as well. An Iraqi interpreter also injured in that bomb blast.
The attack took place on what the officials are describing and telling our Jamie McIntyre was a busy road in Mansour. Again, this is in western Baghdad. Again, five U.S. service personnel killed by a bomb blast while they were on foot patrol.
More on this story as we get it here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Still to come, surviving a trip to the Wal-Mart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just amazing that they were that brazen. That's scary. They didn't care.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: A bold abduction attempt stopped in its tracks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Quickly want to get you back to the story that we've been telling you about in Baghdad, where there has been an attack on some U.S. military patrol there. Jamie McIntyre is joining us once again directly from the Pentagon.
Because, Jamie, we have just now learned this count has changed. We are now up to five soldiers that have been killed. MCINTYRE: That's right. Four U.S. soldiers were killed in the initial attack, and then another died of wounds afterwards. In addition, four U.S. soldiers were wounded, and an Iraqi interpreter was wounded as well. And this was, we are told by U.S. officials in Iraq, another attack by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest.
And Heidi, this has been the trend in recent weeks. Suicide bombers, often women -- and we don't know if it was a woman in this case -- wearing these suicide vests because it's been so difficult because of the increased security for al Qaeda and the insurgents to carry off the sort of roadside bombs and truck bombs that had been their signature in the past.
We just saw another attack today in Diyala province where a local Sunni sheikh who had been cooperating with the United States was killed by, again, a female suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest who came to the house complaining that her husband had been kidnapped. She was ushered inside.
She managed to kill the sheikh, along with a 5-year-old niece. And some security guards, I believe, were also there.
Before that, there had been at least four separate attacks in which women wearing suicide vests had attacked either Iraqi forces or civilians. So, again, this is the dangerous new trend we're seeing in Iraq.
Just to recap, in today's incident, five U.S. soldiers on foot patrol were killed, apparently by someone wearing a suicide vest in an explosion today in Baghdad. In addition, three soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter wounded. So, again, a deadly, dangerous new trend in Iraq.
COLLINS: Yes. And I remember the first time that it happened, when there was a female suicide bomber. And everybody really shocked and surprised that this was going to be a tactic that we would likely see more of.
MCINTYRE: And it appears that that's the case.
Again, up until this point, it looked like U.S. casualties in Iraq this month was going to be pretty low. There were only two U.S. deaths up to this point. But if you add these five, now we're up to seven for the month of March.
COLLINS: Yes. I hate having to count it that direction, certainly.
CNN's Jamie McIntyre from the Pentagon this morning.
Thank you, Jamie.
HARRIS: Well, the cost of the Iraq war, you may not believe a new estimate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: Could it happen in your community?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think this the people who perpetrated this are absolutely monstrous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Thousands of people at risk and there could be more. Health scare in Las Vegas, coming up.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Welcome, everyone, I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: Good morning. I'm Tony Harris. New developments this hour in Iraq. Five U.S. soldiers have been killed in Baghdad. Military officials tell CNN four of the troops were killed in a suicide bombing while on foot patrol. A fifth soldier also hid in the blast died later of wounds. Three others, along with an Iraqi interpreter were wounded. We will continue to follow this story for more developments.
And then there's this. Women on the attack in Iraq. Police say a female suicide bomber killed three people this morning in the volatile Diyalah Province north of Baghdad. Police say the woman blew herself up outside the home of a tribal sheikh, who had turned around against al Qaeda. The sheikh, his 5-year-old niece and a guard all died.
The attack reflects a growing trend in the war that, Heidi and Jamie McIntyre just discussed, female attackers, and attacks that target ex-Sunni insurgents, those former insurgents are backed by the United States.
It looks like a cost of paying for the war is steadily rising. A new analysis shows this year the conflict will cost about $12 billion a month. That's triple the cost in the earlier years. That assessment from a Nobel prize winning economist in a book he co- authored called The $3 trillion War.
COLLINS: Politics now. One big question facing the Democrats, whether voters in Michigan and Florida will have a say in choosing the nominee. The national parties stripped the states of their convention delegates for holding their primaries too early. But those delegates, more than 350 in all, could be essential in giving one candidate a decisive win.
One consensus may have actually emerged over the weekend. Democratic National Committee Chairman, Howard Dean says voters in those states could cast their ballots by mail. Some lawmakers are supporting the idea. But also unsolved, who would pay for the new primary?
Remember Hillary Clinton's controversial campaign ad? Well, it shows as sleeping child and then asks, who do you want answering the White House crisis phone at 3:00 a.m. The commercial questions Barack Obama's experience, and some say it helped Clinton win the Texas primary.
Today though there's a twist, the child actress is now 17 and is a very active Obama supporter. She appeared on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CASEY KNOWLES, IN CLINTON AD BUT SUPPORTS OBAMA: Like I said, it makes me feel a little disloyal, and it kind of -- it hurts that footage of me would contribute to a candidate that I'm not necessarily supporting. Hopefully Mr. Obama would forgive me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Whoops. Casey Knowles says she actually shot that video nine years ago for a railroad company ad, and then the Clinton campaign bought it as generic stock footage.
Stay with us for unmatched political coverage throughout the day. We have much more on the candidates and what happens next. Join us for the CNN BALLOT BOWL today at noon eastern.
HARRIS: A simple trip to the grocery store on an Oklahoma woman, becoming a fight possibly for her life. Amanda Guerra of our affiliate KOCO has the story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SONDRA FLEMING, FOUGHT OFF ABDUCTOR: It was so fast. I mean, of course you knew instantly something was wrong.
AMANDA GUERRA, REPORTER, KOCO: It was just a matter of seconds for Sondra. One minute she was loading groceries. The next --
FLEMING: This guy comes around and grabs me here and here from behind me, and spins me around. And when he does, he jerks me and I fall, and then he drags me to the car and I'm yelling help, help. Then he has me part way in the car and this little lady comes and helps me.
GUERRA: Together, the two cause sod much commotion the man had no choice but to drive away. But not before taking Sondra's purse and leaving her with some serious injuries.
FLEMING: Both shoulders are badly bruised. This arm is really badly bruised and hand, and my wrist is fractured.
GUERRA: Her wounds will heal, but something she can't get over is how it happened, while grocery shopping in the middle of a busy parking lot.
FLEMING: It's just amazing that they were that brazen. That's what's scary. They didn't care.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Sondra Fleming told police there were two other men in the car. Police now trying to identify and find those men.
COLLINS: Cheap beer and tacos? Mmmm, what college student wouldn't love it? Some University of Pittsburgh students are boycotting a bar because of this sign. It advertises a special deal called wet back Wednesdays. Some are outraged by the racial slur. Others say they are not offended, and the bar's owner is telling everyone, get over it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a lot more things going on in the streets in Oakland like robberies and stuff like that that people should be concerned about as opposed to a bar running a drink special and $0.75 tacos.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Still though, employees put up a second sign it says for the easily offended, now offering Mexican-American Wednesdays.
HARRIS: The CDC calls it the largest medical alert in U.S. history. Thousands at risk for deadly infections. All because a clinic reused syringes. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A Nevada health scare that put 40,000 people at risk of hepatitis and HIV, may have caused even more infections than first believed. Some people treated at this outpatient surgery center were left off the first alert, and health inspectors have now turned up violations in other clinics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In some places we're seeing reuse of medication vials, in some cases issues with how syringes are used.
LAWRENCE: Investigators promised to inspect all 50 of the state centers. Five nurses have volunteered to give up their licenses and the doctors could be next.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He ruined a lot of lives, and mine are one of them.
LAWRENCE: We're concealing this patient's identity to protect her family's privacy. Pam is a married mother of five who says she went in for hernia treatment and came out infected with hepatitis C.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I can't believe that -- me, me, how could it happen to me?
LAWRENCE: Pam recently got one of the 40,000 letters sent to patients at risk. Is there any way you could have had hepatitis C before you went to this clinic?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never. There's no way.
LAWRENCE: Hepatitis C is typically transmitted through blood or semen. It attacks the liver and kills as many as 10,000 Americans every year.
SUSAN GERHARDT, NEVADA STATE ASSEMBLY: I think that the people who perpetrated this are absolutely monstrous.
LAWRENCE: At least six cases of hepatitis have been traced to this clinic, and five of those patients were treated on the same day. The owner has agreed to stop practicing medicine until the investigation is complete. But he says the problems have been corrected, and the chances of contracting an infection are extremely low. There's no proof Pam was infected here, but she seems sure of it.
LAWRENCE: What's your biggest worry, your biggest fear?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Leaving my babies alone without a Mom, and it could have been prevented. It could have been.
LAWRENCE:It's too late for patients like Pam, but this week the CDC is spending several experts to Nevada, and it calls the crisis the tip of the iceberg of a potential national problem. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Los Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: So, to get your daily dose and health news online just logon to our website. There you will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address, ready? CNN.com/health.
COLLINS: Subprime fallout. Were crimes committed? Sources telling CNN the FBI is on the case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Boy, you're already feeling it, higher prices at the pump. Gasoline up more than nine cents in just the past two weeks. Can you believe it? According to the Lundberg Survey, the national average is now about $3.20 a gallon for self serve regular. Drivers in San Francisco are paying the most at $3.58. In Cheyenne, Wyoming -- how about this -- a bargain at $2.99 a gallon. Trudy Lundberg warns prices are likely to go up again and fast. Some states could see $4 a gallon within the next few months.
COLLINS: As if a melt down of its share price were not enough, Countrywide Financial now contending with an FBI probe. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York stock exchange now with details on this.
Hi there, Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
Well it has been a nightmare year for mortgage lender Countrywide Financial. It's been at the center of the mortgage mess. Its CEO Angelo Mozilo was called before Congress last week to defend his huge pay and now there are allegations of fraud.
A government official tells CNN that Countrywide is the subject of an FBI probe. Another source says the investigation is in its early stages. The "Wall Street Journal" says the probe will examine the company's practices and whether it misrepresented its losses connected to the subprime mess -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Susan. We have -- just want to let you know in case we have to cut you off here which is likely to happen because we have been waiting for some comment to come in from the White House where the president is meeting with the Polish prime minister. So forgive me if that happens.
But -- wondering if anything is going to jeopardize Bank of America's agreement to actually buy Countrywide.
LISOVICZ: Well that's a really good question because things just keep getting worse. So far we don't know anything to the contrary, Heidi. "Bloomberg" says Bank of America's plans are still on track.
The bank made a $4 billion bid in January; what was considered a rescue for Countrywide. Since then, the mortgage woes have gotten worse and Countrywide stock is getting hit- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. I bet it is.
All right, we're going to go on over to the president now and listen to those comments we were telling you about with the Polish prime minister.
Let's listen in for just a moment.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
QUESTION: ... Vice President Cheney (INAUDIBLE). What is his specific role?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The vice president will be on an extensive itinerary, as you know. His goal is to reassure people that the United States is committed to a vision of peace in the Middle East, that we expect relevant parties to obligate themselves, to uphold their obligations on the road map, that we fully see the threats facing the Middle East, one such threat is Iran. And that we will continue to bolster our security agreements and relationships with our friends and allies.
The vice president will be taking a very hopeful message to the Middle East that progress in Iraq is necessary for peace in the Middle East. And so it's -- I'm looking forward to his trip and I'm really appreciative of the fact that he's going.
Do you want to call on somebody from the Polish press?
DONALD TUSK, POLISH PRIME MINISTER: Yes. QUESTION: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
BUSH: Well I think there's a commitment to a system that respects Polish sovereignty, will -- that will ensure that the people of Poland will not be subjected to any undue security risks, that the system is necessary to deal with the realities of the threats.
Obviously there's a lot of work to do because many times, you know, a strategy on paper is a little different from the details. And so experts are working through the system to make sure that -- the people of Poland are comfortable with the idea.
This is the kind of issue that -- all kinds of rumors and worries can grow out of. And we just want to assure people that it's necessary and at the same time there will be this modernization effort that takes place.
QUESTION: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
TUSK: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
COLLINS: All right. Obviously we don't know Polish. So I just want to give you a little bit of insight as to what we believe they are talking about there as the Polish prime minister addresses the Polish press.
In some of the topics that we understand they have been talking about in this meeting, regard the missile defense interceptors that the U.S. wants to put on Polish soil. Of course, Poland, in return, wants to be able to upgrade its military in exchange for the U.S. using their land.
So, we understand that some of the negotiators have been talking a lot more about the specifics of that and exactly what the U.S. is offering in updating and upgrading the Polish military. Also, we are understanding that they will be discussing more on the Middle East. You heard the president talking about the Middle East off the top there; the fact that the vice president is headed to the Middle East to meet with leaders there and also OPEC officials.
So, one other thing we understand may be addressed right here.
So let's go ahead and listen to, what I believe will be, the president's response to this other issue. Let's listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
QUESTION: What if any threat or complication you see to your administration's peace efforts?
BUSH: We expect both parties to -- involved in the Middle Eastern peace process to adhere to their obligations on the road map. And those obligations are clear. And to this end, the secretary of state is dispatching the general that we named to be the coordinator of road map activities to the Middle East, for him to conduct meetings with the relevant parties. They key question is whether or not a vision can prevail that will enable people, who reject violence and extremists, enable them to see a better tomorrow. That's what we're working toward. And this is a part of the world where people have heard promises before and they've been vague promises. Now they've got a president and an administration willing to work for two states, two democracies, side by side in peace.
There are three major forces that are -- we're now witnessing in the Middle East. Two of those forces adhere to peace, Israel and the forces of President Abbas. And then there's one force in the Middle East, and some suspect that they're funded from outside governments and outside movements, all aiming to destabilize democracy, all aiming to prevent the vision where people can live side by side in peace, all wanting to destroy Israel.
And the fundamental question is will there be enough will and determination to reject those forces of extremism and to stand up and support those who long for peace. Our mission is exactly along those lines. And I'm optimistic that we'll be able to achieve a vision that shows a way forward. And I'm optimistic leaders will step forward and do the hard things necessary so people don't have to live in deprivation and fear. And so that's our focus and that's our mission.
COLLINS: The president holding a press conference there alongside the Polish prime minister, talking specifically there about the Middle East and some of the discussions that will be had when he sends Vice President Dick Cheney to the Middle East. That will happen next week. We, of course, will follow that for you as well, right here on CNN.
HARRIS: A tempting find in a box of discarded clothes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A few 50s, but it was mostly $100 bills.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Could she resist the urge to keep it? Could you?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Fierce winds and pounding rain. This morning England is getting hammered by a nasty storm.
Our Phil Black is on the southern coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wind gusts of between 70 and 80 miles per hour have battered much of the south western corner of England through the night and into the early morning. It has swept up the seas, churning them into spectacular waves, crashing down along much of the south coast. Along Brighton there were very spectacular wave formations where police have warned people to stay away from the coast because they believe it is too dangerous.
Some of those winds, some of those powerful waves, have caused damage to structures, homes and businesses. Along the coast of Brighton, around the Cornish Coast as well, and up to Devon. Because of all this inconvenience there's a deep low pressure system moving over the Atlantic from the United States. And it has caused severe weather warnings across much of the United Kingdom, but in particular, the south western corner where there is a severe flood warning as well.
The effect of this weather has been felt strongest on transportation. It is not easy to get around Britain at the moment. Roads have been closed because of floods, fallen trees and power lines. Trains are running slower than normal because of the powerful wind gusts and flights out of all the major airports have either been delayed or even canceled because of this severe weather.
Ferry services also out of Dover are not running. That port there is closed. And the forecast is for much of this rough weather, to stick around. Rains, powerful winds, even snow, across Britain for the next few days.
Phil Black, CNN, Ilfracombe, England.
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COLLINS: A thrift store worker finds a nice chunk of change in a box of discarded clothes. Finders keepers, right? Well her story might have you wondering what you would do.
Jennifer Sabih with our California affiliate, KCAL, checked it out.
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JENNIFER SABIH, KCAL CORRESPONDENT: The Veteran's Thrift Store is built on the premise that one man's trash is another man's treasure. But one employee, Barbarita Nunez (ph), found Tuesday while sorting through donations was treasure disguised as trash.
SUSAN GAMEZ, THIRFT STORE MANAGER (through translator): She opened the box and then it was small boxes. She opened them and it had an envelope. It was in an yellow envelope. When she slipped the envelope there were several envelopes inside, like small, white envelopse.
SABIH: Nunez nearly threw them all away. After all, what passes through here from the yellow sneakers to the gold coin belt are items owners no longer want. But something told her to open the envelopes, and in them was --
GAMEZ (through translator): A few 50s but mostly $100 bills that totaled $30,000 when we stacked them and bundled them -- $5,000 each.
SABIH: Nunez quickly showed her supervisors and they tracked down the envelope's owner. Turns out the box with $30,000 was donated by the family of an 80-year-old woman who'd recently died. Her relatives had no idea she'd stashed so much cash away.
IRMA ROMERO, THRIFT STORE MANAGER: I believe the lady just did, like, baby-sitting jobs, cleaning houses. She saved it. She saved, I guess, all her life.
SABIH: Nunez returned the money, received a reward and the admiration of her co-workers.
ROMERO: It's good to know that there's still people like her around and, of course, it feels special even that she works for us.
SABIH: At the Veterans Thrift Store you can find striped shirt -- $2.98, yellow sneakers -- $9.98, employee Barbarita Nunez, priceless.
In Pomona, Jennifer Sabih, KCAL 9-News
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COLLINS: CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now.
Big stories developing today, too.
HARRIS: Yes, that's for sure. "BALLOT BOWL" is next.
I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins. We'll see you tomorrow, everybody.
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