Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Body of Missing American Soldier Found in Iraq; Clinton Responds to Calls From Some Democrats to Drop Out of Race

Aired March 31, 2008 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hi, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Heidi today.

HARRIS: And watch events coming to the NEWSROOM live on Monday, March 31st. Here is what's on the rundown.

NGUYEN: Burying the dead in Iraq. Will a ceasefire hold after six days of fighting?

HARRIS: And new this morning, possible tornado strike at Oklahoma. Live to the Severe Weather Center.

NGUYEN: We also launched a weeklong focus on autism, unraveling the mystery. And this hour, the debate over vaccines, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And at the top of this hour, severe weather threatening the Midwest. This morning, a possible tornado touched in Oklahoma City. Take a look at this pictures just in to the CNN NEWSROOM. Several homes damaged as you can see.

Boy, I knew it was rough but didn't know it was quite that rough.

A city neighborhood in Oklahoma City hit by what we suspect may have been a tornado and more may be coming. Storms and flooding continuing across the Plains and Midwest today.

NGUYEN: What a day.

Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the Severe Weather Center tracking all of this, and it doesn't look like they're out of the woods just yet.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, in fact, this is going to be a mighty long day for these people because we're expecting severe weather to be on going through the day and really the worst of it will likely come into play late this afternoon and this evening once again.

Now the best I can tell you right now is that the public was reporting a tornado in Ramona about 20 minutes or so ago and that warning has been dropped. It's expired. But we'll be watching this cell very closely as it continues to head eastward towards Chelsea area. It remains a very intense severe storm. Could produce wind gusts around 60 miles per hour and large hail. These storms have been dumping down hail the size of tennis balls. So that is really extreme. Even if it's a severe thunder warning, not just a tornado warning, for you, you want to stay inside because the hail threat is really very severe.

You can see the Tulsa area. These are the storms that did move through Oklahoma City earlier this morning. Oklahoma City quiet now, but we are starting to see some more redevelopment off to the west. We'll be keeping a close eye on that one. And a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for parts of Kansas and Oklahoma for about the next hour to two hours.

Here's where we're expecting severe weather on going throughout the day. This is going to be spreading all the way up to parts of the Midwest. So Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City again, the greatest threat will be right here through the Arkatex region. And that's where we think the greatest probability of tornadoes will be.

Now, the rain has been incredibly heavy with these storms. Late yesterday afternoon and evening, we had very heavy rain in the eastern Texas and western parts of Louisiana. We did have some high water rescues in San Augustine which is just outside Nacogdoches, right about here, 10 to 14 inches of rain. That's this Doppler Radar is estimating there so there are a lot of roads that have been closed, that have been washed out, and even some bridges washed out.

And with all these heavy rain moving through the Midwest, guys, unfortunately this is really renewing that flood threat so the light green boxes that you see is where we're expecting renewed flooding to be occurring in the next 24 hours.

HARRIS: I'm just saying, this feels like a six-month long pattern here.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

HARRIS: It feels this flooding through the Midwest here.

Jacqui, now, just a moment ago, we were showing pictures of this city, Oklahoma City, and the homes in one neighborhood, boy, heavily damaged.

Let's take a look at those pictures again and I want to -- the pictures were provided to us by our affiliate there, KWTV.

I want you to hear how the scene was described by the helicopter pilot Mason Dunn just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MASON DUNN, KWTV CHOPPER PILOT: Well, of course, we've seen worse tornado damage than this, but this is pretty bad. This coming just about two miles from my house, so I was up in the middle of the night along with everybody else. This is just one of the houses that is damaged. We're going to go to the most heavily damaged home. You can see some fences down as we are making our way over there. There is the house right there that sustained most of the damage.

Now, this neighborhood being 178th and Pennsylvania on the northwest corner, this is the worst house right here. Three quarters of the roof is gone. You can actually see the ceiling fan inside one of the rooms there still turning. That's been from the wind. I would imagine this house has no power.

So right now, Robin, 178th and Penn on the northwest corner, this addition here, other than this house, there's a lot of homes with roof damage, shingle damage and actually holes in their roofs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Boy, it certainly looks like damage from a tornado, but, you know, it normally takes about a day or so to have that confirmed. That was Mason Dunn, chopper pilot for our affiliate there in Oklahoma City, KWTV, showing us those pictures.

And as always, when the weather becomes the news, as is the case in the Midwest right now, please send us your iReports. It just helps us tell the story a bit better. Go to CNN.com and click on iReports or you can type iReport@CNN.com into your cell phone. But as always, we remind you to be safe.

NGUYEN: Well, the Bush administration is struggling to deal with the nation's housing crisis. And within an hour, a key player in that effort is expected to resign. The "Wall Street Journal" reporting embattled Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson will step down.

Now, Democrats have been increasing pressure on Jackson. He's accused of giving a lucrative contracts to friends. Both the Justice Department and Housing Department inspector general are investigating and we're watching for Jackson's announcement at the end of this hour.

Do want to give you some more background on Alphonso Jackson. He is the nation's 13th HUD secretary, nominated by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in March 2004. He had served as HUD's deputy secretary and chief operating officer since 2001. Jackson has spent more than 25 years in the private and public sectors working in Dallas, St. Louis and Washington.

HARRIS: "Your Wallet," the nation's economy, "ISSUE #1," and there's more mixed news today.

Let's begin overseas where markets, boy, began the week on a bit of a sour note. Japan's Nikkei dropped 2.3 percent overnight. China's benchmark index lost 1.9 percent. U.S. motorist, buckle up. The gas -- the price of gas has hit another milestone. AAA says it is now at almost $3.29 a gallon. That is more than 61 cents above the price we were all paying about a year ago.

And the next hour, huge news on overhauling the nation's financial system. The Bush administration will announce the most ambitious plan since the Great Depression.

Checks and balances, the overhaul would mean big changes from Wall Street to your neighborhood bank. What would it mean for you?

Here to explain, CNN personal financial editor Gerri Willis.

Gerri, good Monday to you.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Good morning, Tony.

HARRIS: There seems to be a lot in here for Wall Street.

WILLIS: Right.

HARRIS: What about main street?

WILLIS: Well, there a lot in here for Wall Street. And you know, this is a streamlining of what is a really complicated regulatory framework for the nation's bank, commercial banks and investment banks. The first thing that this plan would do that's being suggested by the treasury secretary, it would boost federal -- the Federal Reserve's role in regulating the specially investment banks.

You know, they came in, they saved Bear Stearns and now I believe you can see in this plan the idea that if we're going to be on the hook to pay for it, we should have some oversight over these banks as well. Also the plan would consolidate financial oversight agencies bringing together the many federal and state agencies that look over these banks. There are at least five at the federal level that regulate commercial banks.

It would also create a national mortgage commission so that mortgage brokers out there would have a place where they would have to register. There would be requirements for these brokers that they would have to meet. And it would also iron out different lending rules nationwide. There are lots -- there's a huge framework of -- regulations out there.

HARRIS: Yes.

WILLIS: Here's what Dean Baker had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN BAKER, CTR. FOR ECONOMIC & POLICY RESEARCH: This is not going to address that current situation. It's an opening gambit in the debate and my best guess is, we might see some very small reforms put in place this year, but this is something that's going to be dealt with by the next session of Congress and the next president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: So you can see, there are lots of critics already even though the treasury secretary has yet to make his comment. Many critics feel like it doesn't go far enough. Others think, you know, it's not really getting at the issue of what to the 2.2 million people who are in foreclosure right now, what do they do -- Tony?

HARRIS: Yes, I'm curious. Any more reaction out there to this plan, anymore criticism?

WILLIS: Well, I think the main criticism here is that it does seem to be about the regulatory framework for commercial banks and investment banks. And in fact, it actually reigns in some of the regulations that's already in the books. Treasury secretary has been very interested in changing regulations for a long time. It even predates what's gone on in the mortgage meltdown. So this is really an expansion of ideas he's already has on his agenda. And most of it dealt with constraining regulation, not growing it.

HARRIS: So maybe if these regulations were in place at the time of Bear Stearns, there might not have been a Bear Stearns or it certainly would have been detected sooner.

WILLIS: That's debatable. You know, certainly, my reading of it would seem to indicate it would have prevented Bear Stearns. We had an expert on "AMERICAN MORNING" just this morning say that it would not. So we're still -- you know, we haven't even heard the speech yet.

HARRIS: Exactly.

WILLIS: So I'm really interested in hearing what he has to say live at 10:00, and you'll want to join us for that.

HARRIS: OK, Gerri. You know what? Let me push to that speech right now. We will have live coverage of the financial overhaul plan. It is unveiled next hour. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson scheduled to do the honors, 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific, right here in the NEWSROOM.

And again, keep watching CNN. Our money team has you covered whether it's job, debt housing or savings. Join us for a special report. It is called "ISSUE #1, THE ECONOMY." All this week, noon Eastern, only on CNN.

NGUYEN: Let's take to you Iraq now because Iraq's government says the city of Basra is under control this morning. And we're learning Iran played a key role in brokering a ceasefire.

Our Nic Robertson joins us now from Baghdad.

Explain how this one work, Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Betty. Iran did play a key role in bringing an end to the fighting. The government of Nouri al-Maliki here sent a top level delegation from the United Iraqi Alliance. That is all the Shia parties that he is part of that alliance, sent them to Iran. They sat down and negotiated with Iranian officials. A lot of pressure appears to have been put on Muqtada al-Sadr, the cleric whose militia has been out fighting against the government forces over the past six days.

That pressure getting Muqtada al-Sadr to tell his militia to cooperate with the government. He did, however, demand that the government release a number of prisoners of his militia they'd taken in the past few days. The government says it has done that.

Today, the curfew is over. The stores are open again in Basra. The government says it controls all these areas again. That we don't know for sure, but certainly the militia members -- there are militia members not on the streets as they have been over the past few days -- Betty.

NGUYEN: And Nic, do they expect the ceasefire to stick? I know there has been a bit of an agreement. But do they expect it to stick?

ROBERTSON: You know both sides do seem to have pulled the back from the brink here. Muqtada al-Sadr has a militia but he knows that they're going to get ground down and perhaps lose a lot of members if the fight continues. U.S. air power has been brought in and in support of the Iraqi ground troops. That's had a big impact on Sadr's militia.

The government here also -- Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, criticized for getting involved in a military campaign that he couldn't win. After six days, it eventually had become a stale mate. So it does seem that both sides want to stop the fighting realizing that neither can really win and profit from this situation.

But Iran perhaps, the biggest winner here, because it has shown it can bring together the Iraqi political factions who've been involved in a very new dimension here in the fighting in Iraq and totally a Shia fight. That's something new here.

So Iran's involvement over U.S. bombings has really (INAUDIBLE) got Muqtada al-Sadr to put his guns down. That's significant -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Absolutely, it is. And we'll be watching that very closely.

CNN's Nic Robertson joining us live in Baghdad.

Thank you, Nic.

HARRIS: When the reality of autism hits home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THERESA CEDILLO, MOTHER OF AUTISTIC GIRL: You think you're dealing with something that is going to come and go and then you get your child back and then you don't. You just have a very sick child.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Parents fighting for their disabled child and against the government.

NGUYEN: And out like a lion. Possible tornadoes hit homes in Oklahoma. We're going to show you these pictures and give you the forecast, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live breaking news, unfolding developments, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Boy, what a story this is. A hostage taker in a Florida hospital this morning wounded in a hail of police gunfire. The drama caught on tape.

CNN's Susan Candiotti has the story from Miami shores.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At gun point, the store managers forced outside by a masked man. Cops start yelling at the suspect.

WPLG-TV's Fabrissio Lopez is the loan photographer, zeroed in on the action.

FABRISSIO LOPEZ, WPLG-TV PHOTOGRAPHER: Where the (INAUDIBLE) -- grab it right here and they would have gone in the head.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): And you're thinking?

LOPEZ: And I'm thinking, wow, and in a moment I say, am I rolling?

CANDIOTTI (voice over): He was. The suspect yells at police who have him in their sights.

LOPEZ: (INAUDIBLE) for him. But you see, this -- the guy's crazy. He got a weapon.

CANDIOTTI: The manager won't give in.

LT. ROBERT WILLIAMS, MIAMI-DADE POLICE: Pushed then the subject's pushing. There's a little tousle going on.

LOPEZ: The guy started screaming help, help, help.

WILLIAMS: I guess when, you know, when your adrenalin's flowing in the way it was flowing, you have somebody that's there that's armed, this manager did not want to go, you know, with that subject like that.

CANDIOTTI: Incredibly the shaken hostage escapes barely injured and within seconds, bullets start flying. WPLG-TV estimates at least 18 shots are fired. The suspect takes off in the same car. About three hours later he's caught, shot more than once, and survives.

Back at the drug store, police count bullet casings, interview store employees, and confiscate every police gun fired. As for the store manager's heroic escape, cops say fighting back was risky, but give him credit for guts.

WILLIAMS: He didn't know what mindset this guy was in. And he just wanted to get away and he did. And I'm very happy that he's safe and sound.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Lucky man?

WILLIAMS: I would probably say God is looking out for him, yes.

CANDIOTTI: The robber? He got away without any loot. The store manager got away with his life.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami shores.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: A number of parents blame vaccines for their children's autism and some of those parents are going to court.

Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta now helping unravel the mystery of autism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Watching old videos, Theresa Cedillo sees the child her daughter Michelle could have been. Happy. Engaged. Playful.

Michelle's childhood has turned out very different. She's autistic. Now 13, she can't walk without help. She gets her nourishment from a feeding tube and she needs constant monitoring procedures.

CEDILLO: And you think you're dealing with something that is going to come and go and then you get your child back. And then you don't. You just have a very sick child.

GUPTA: Theresa and Mike Cedillo blame vaccines for causing their daughter's autism and they've sued the federal government through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

The Cedillo's case is one of 4,900 claiming a vaccine autism link. They're being considered together in a so-called vaccine court, part of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Last year, Michelle Cedillo's claim was chosen as the first of nine test cases to determine whether the vaccines could possibly trigger autism. More testimony is scheduled this year.

CEDILLO: She was a normal and happy developing child.

GUPTA: The Cedillo say their daughter was sickened by a combination of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR vaccine, and the mercury containing preservative, thimerosal, which was in childhood vaccines at the time.

As a precaution, the thimerosal has since been removed from all childhood vaccines and only remains in some flu shots. While the court considers the vaccine autism case, the medical establishment has already passed judgment. More than a dozen large studies finding no vaccine/autism link. DR. PAUL OFFIT, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: It's been asked and answered. Vaccines don't cause autism. I mean about 20 percent of children with autism will regress between often the first and second birthday. So statistically it has to happen where some children will get a vaccine, they will have been fine, they get the vaccine, then they're not fine anymore.

GUPTA: Theresa and Mike Cedillo hope the vaccine court will decide vaccines can cause autism and award them enough money so Michelle can be well taken care of when they're gone.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Also want to make sure that you know to tune into CNN on World Autism Day, Wednesday, April 2nd. We're going to go in depth on the myths, the facts, the reasons for hope, "UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY," a CNN worldwide investigation. It is all day Wednesday.

But you know what? You don't even have to wait until then. You can check out our special section at CNN.com where can you learn more about autism and how you can "Impact Your World."

HARRIS: When the housing crisis hits home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. DEREK STEVERSON, GWINNETT CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: STEVERSON: We hit from trailers to, I mean, million dollar homes. I mean we was out at the country club on the south putting people out. They got elevators in their houses and they get evicted also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Wow, when they arrive on your door step, you're out on the street.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live breaking news, unfolding developments, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: We want you to take a look at this new video coming to us out of Oklahoma City. You see it right there. No, that's not a lake, that is flooding. You know, many times, Tony, people will tell you, especially meteorologists, this is what you don't want to do.

HARRIS: Exactly.

NGUYEN: You don't want to drive in water when you don't know how truly deep it is. Apparently these folks are making it just fine, but if you look at this other video that we have for you, some of the storm damage, those folks did not do so well. And what is being said at this point, a possible tornado that blew through Oklahoma. We do want to get the latest on that and for that, we'll turn to Jacqui Jeras a little bit later this morning so that we can give you an update...

HARRIS: Oh look at that.

NGUYEN: ...not only on what the damage the storms did but where those storms are headed.

HARRIS: The housing crisis, it can be a dizzying blur of numbers until it lands on your doorstep.

CNN's Rusty Dornin has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): If the deputies Allen Mathias and Derek Steverson come to your door, your house no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the bank. For nearly 20 years, they've worked evictions in Gwinnett County, Georgia. No need for them to read the headlines to know foreclosures are sky rocketing.

CPL. ALLEN MATHIAS, GWINNETT CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: When I first came to Gwinnett County in '85, I was lucky if I did an eviction once a week. Now I get them every day.

DORNIN: Most people move out before it happens.

MATHIAS: Somebody's home.

DORNIN: But a growing number don't.

(On camera): Deputies found the original eviction notice inside. It's nearly a month old. So the family knew it was going to happen, but they'd never know the date.

(Voice over): When that final knock will come.

At this house, deputies suspect someone is home, but no one will answer the door.

MATHIAS: Now we got to try to get them come to the door.

DORNIN: They travel with a professional eviction team who bust the locks. Animal control has been called for the dogs inside and the movers begin hauling out every single thing in the house. All dumped on the front lawn.

STEVERSON: We don't know what to encounter inside. A lot of people know that this is coming. A lot of times, you know, when you've lived in a house for 18, 20 years of your life, you know, to lose everything in one swift moment, you know, people don't want to leave.

DORNIN: And when some realize they have to leave, it can be devastating. One time a man wouldn't unlock the door and then the deputies saw he had a gun.

MATHIAS: The next thing we knew, about 30 minutes later, we hear one gunshot and he had committed suicide.

DORNIN: That happened twice last year. So the first thing they do when they enter is look for people.

(On camera): Nobody's home?

MATHIAS: No. That's what we had to do, we had to make sure the house is clear.

DORNIN (voice over): Then the search begins for weapons or drugs. Behind the couch, Steverson pulls out what first appears to be a rifle.

STEVERSON: Somebody point that at somebody.

DORNIN: But it turns out to be a toy. A job where the deputies can see for themselves just how far the mortgage crisis stretches.

STEVERSON: We hit from trailers to, I mean, million dollar homes. I mean we was out at the country club on the south putting people out. They got elevators in their houses and they get evicted also.

DORNIN: Sometimes people trash the house before they leave. But others can tug at the heart strings.

MATHIAS: It gets to you, but you don't think about it really until you get home and you're sitting there having a cold glass of tea or whatever. And then you say, I wonder how that people's doing today since they put them out of the house. They don't have no place to go.

DORNIN: That fact hit neighbor Don Pilling.

DON PILLING, NEIGHBOR: I guess I feel the pain a little bit, too. You know, this is devastating to our community, to my neighbors. I've never seen this before and it's sad.

DORNIN: Sad for sure when financial disaster comes knocking.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Wow. "ISSUE #1," keep watching CNN, our money team has you covered whether it's jobs, debt, housing or savings. Join us for a special report. It's called "ISSUE #1, THE ECONOMY" all this week at noon, Eastern, only on CNN.

NGUYEN: Ambushed in Iraq. Four years later, a soldier's remains are found. Mourning Sergeant Maupin, in the newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Just past the half hour. Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Hi, everybody, on this Monday. I'm Betty Nguyen in for Heidi. Well, you know, the severe weather. It does continue today across the plains and the Midwest. Let's take you straight now Jacqui Jeras in the severe weather center. It's not called that for, you know, (INAUDIBLE).

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: A heart sinking news really. The body of a missing American soldier has been found in Iraq. It has been four years since Sergeant Matt Maupin was captured by Iraqi insurgents. Our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony. The Ohio family of Staff Sergeant Keith Matthew Maupin now getting that very sad final word this weekend from the U.S. Army that their son, Staff Sergeant Keith Maupin died in captivity in Baghdad.

Sergeant Maupin captured, of course, in April of 2004 when his convoy came under attack south of Baghdad. There had been a short video statement after that showing Maupin in the hands of insurgents. He spoke briefly. And then there had been a heart breaking video coming out later in 2004 that showed someone being shot.

It had never been fully identified that that was Maupin. But that is certainly what people were led to believe. Staff Sergeant Maupin's family now holding a candlelight vigil at their home in Ohio and finally after all this time, his parents finally able to speak out about the fate of their son and what comes next for their family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROLYN MAUPIN, SGT. KEITH MATTHEW MAUPIN'S MOTHER: It hurts. It hurts after you go through four years, almost four years of hope and then this is what happens, it's like a letdown to me. So I'm trying to get through that right now. KEITH MAUPIN, SGT. KEITH MATTHEW MAUPIN'S FATHER: As parents we are deeply saddened and still letting it sink in. As Americans, we are proud of the continued efforts made by our military and particularly the Army to return Matt home to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Keith's remains were found in Iraq last week. They were brought back to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for positive identification. There are very few details at this point that the army is making public. But what is source is telling us, it was uniform fragments, fragments of cloth, that they found with these remains that raised immediate suspicions it was Keith Maupin, because these fragments of cloth, Tony, were of a uniform that the army was wearing back in 2004 when he was captured.

But they changed uniforms several months after that. So it was this old cloth, if you will, that they found that gave them the first clue these remains could have been Keith Matthew Maupin.

Tony?

HARRIS: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Barbara, appreciate it. Thank you.

NGUYEN: President Bush is on his way to York (ph) this morning. And on the agenda, important meetings with NATO insiders and one influential outsider. CNN's Robin Oakley reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guess who will be having dinner with NATO in Romania this week? President Vladimir Putin's had an open invitation for years. Normally he declines, this year he's coming. And it will be to utter endearments.

Russia's president reckons his well lubricated predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, gave away the shot. Does the Soviet Union broke up in the 1990s and its Warsaw Pact military alliance collapsed. Now leading an energy rich country with clout, Mr. Putin has resented NATO's eastward march.

Look at this map of the 26 NATO countries. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia were all in the Soviet Union. Poland, Czechoslovakia, now split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the now merged East Germany, were part of the Warsaw Pact.

Even worse in Mr. Putin's eyes is that Poland and the Czech Republic are now planning to host radar installations and missile batteries as part of a missile defense shield for the U.S. The U.S. is pushing, too, for two Georgia and Ukraine. Two more countries in Mr. Putin's near abroad to stop the NATO membership process. And he's talking of targeting Russian missiles on those who dismiss him.

Experts say the missiles offense plan doesn't just irritate Russia, it could destabilize NATO.

JANE SHARP, KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON: Somebody in the UK ministry has said to me we are being dragged along on this missile defense thing to the tune of American (INAUDIBLE). You know, that's the sort of sense it's at. It's a nuisance for Europeans. And I think they're irritated with the Pols and Czechs for trying to do deals with the Americans.

OAKLEY: Many in Europe don't buy the U.S. argument that missile defense is needed to protect against an imminent threat from Iran or North Korea. They acknowledge Russian fears the missile shield could turn into an offensive operation. And with Europe dependent on Russia for at least 40 percent of its energy, they don't want to upset the Kremlin further.

SHARP: If there's any strong push from the United States to have Georgia and Ukraine become NATO members very quickly, I think that will also be divisive. Not only with Russia, but with other NATO allies. OAKLEY: The stage is set for a tough talking summit, which Mr. Putin won't do anything to soothe.

Robin Oakley, CNN, Bucharest, Romania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: On the campaign trail, Democrats here. A former president called to chill out and the Republican nominee to be reintroduces himself this week.

NGUYEN: But first, it can help you qualify for a loan and then lower you interest rate. Ali Velshi has tips to help you boost that all important credit score.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Falling home prices means more opportunities for buyers. But with lending standards tightening, improving your credit score is more important than ever.

JOHN ULZHEIMER, CREDIT.COM: If you want to guarantee yourself the best rates and the best terms that any lender has to offer, you really need to be boosting a 750 across the board. Now, of course you can still get approved with a score lower than 750. You could even get credit in the mid 600s. But you should not expect the best rates and the best terms in the mid 600s.

VELSHI: The easiest way to give your credit score a boost is to pay off high credit card balances and avoid opening new lines of credit.

ULZHEIMER: If you're in credit score improvement mode, you really need to kind of take a step back, no need jerk reactions, and tackle the things that are costing you the most. Pay off the collections or settle them. Pay down the credit card debt as much as possible, and by all means do not exit the credit environment as a means for improving your credit score.

VELSHI: And be aware, closing credit cards just because you rarely use them will not help your credit score. Hold on to older credit cards. The longer you've managed credit, the better your score will be. And that's this weeks "Right on Your Money."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Hitting the campaign trail now, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both in Pennsylvania ahead of the state's primary in three weeks. Obama speaking out at a town hall meeting at Lancaster next hour.

Now Clinton hosting a round table discussion in Harrisburg this afternoon. And she's answering calls from some Democrats to drop out of the race. And so is her husband as well as Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are some folks saying well, we ought to stop these elections.

CROWD: No!

CLINTON: I didn't think we believed that in America. I thought we of all people knew how important it was to give everyone a chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are strength in the Democratic Party. Chill out. We're going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants. Your name's on the ballot. And she is a fierce and formidable competitor. And she obviously believes that she would make the best nominee and the best president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, Senator John McCain in Mississippi. He's kicking off a week long cross-country tour. He'll speak at Mississippi State University later this hour talking about his family's long history of military service.

Yesterday, McCain attended an air show in Meridian at an air field named after his grandfather and we will hear a lot more on the campaign trail. In fact, we have our Dana Bash on the phone with us right now.

And Meridian, Mississippi. I think that's where she is, because that is where McCain is speaking and he will momentarily.

Dana, what do you know?

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Betty. That's right. I'm not only in Meridian, Mississippi, but I'm in the room where we expect Senator McCain to start momentarily.

You mentioned briefly what Senator McCain or the reason why Senator McCain is starting what his campaign is calling his "Service to America" tour here in Meridian, Mississippi. It is the place that where, at least at the Meridian Air Station where Senator McCain came as a flight instructor shortly before he went off to Vietnam. He says he came here to learn how to be a better pilot. But it's also because Mississippi and this particular town has a connection to his family. It's the McCain Air Field is at Meridian Air Station and that's named after his grandfather. And that is the kind of thing that Senator McCain is going to be talking about when he starts momentarily.

What his campaign is trying to do in almost a way just like marketing basically, political marketing, is to use this time that they have while Democrats are fighting each other to try to define him as he tries to talk about his story, to try to set out a narrative of his own life and of his family's life. In particular, his family's service in the military.

About his father and grandfather, for example, both four star admirals in the navy. And he's going to talk a lot about that and how he says that they were inspirations to him and the reason why he is -- has the love of country that he has right now.

So those are the kinds of stories that we're going to hear from Senator McCain today. Big picture of what is he trying to do -- what the campaign trying to do? They're obviously trying to use what they think is his biggest asset and something that the other candidates, the Democrat, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, neither of them, I should say, has the kind of background that Senator McCain has.

So you can hear a lot about patriotism. But you're also going to hear a lot about family in the speech here today, Betty. It's really interesting, though, as you might remember, other presidential candidate have tried to use their military experience and their sort of sense of patriotism because of that. It hasn't really worked.

Bob Dole, for example, tried it in 1996. Much more recently, John Kerry, who also was a decorated Vietnam veteran. He tried and it didn't really take hold. So it is going to be interesting to see how Senator McCain and his campaigns try to do it in a different way. They say it's because they're going to use it as kind of the backbone of the character that they're trying to create. That is John McCain to show how he would serve as the president. And how, from their perspective, he is going to insist that he will be the kind of person who can deal with things like the war even though it is something that is incredibly unpopular. And his views on the war are quite different from the vast majority of the American people.

Betty?

NGUYEN: And Dana, some people watching will say this tour, well, its called "Service to America." A lot of people really consider it as a reintroduction to America by Senator McCain as he's trying to get people to really get to know him as a candidate.

All right, Dana Bash joining us live. And of course we are waiting for McCain to speak there in Meridian, Mississippi as he is on this "Service to America" tour. And we will watch very closely for that and bring you the latest. HARRIS: Let's take you to Africa right now. Zimbabwe may be close to having its first new president in a generation. But the election threatens to fracture the country. CNN has been told by some observers there that the ruling party is close to losing the parliamentary election.

CNN and other news organizations aren't allowed in the country. Slow returns are sparking allegations of both fraud. There is also the threat of violence. Security chiefs have pledge allegiance to President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe rose to the presidency in 1980 at the end of a long civil war.

NGUYEN: Autism robs him of his speech as a child and now as a director and author. Well, he's speaking out about the disorder.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, you can say good-bye to Aloha. Yes, the airline done in by rising fuel costs and competition. Aloha Airlines has cancelled all flights to its six mainland destinations and will finish up island to island flights today. Aloha is working with other companies to try to get passengers rebooked on other airlines. They'll also be offered refunds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's kind of shocking to hear what's happening. I never dream that this would happen. It's sad.

KANANI KAOPUA, ALOHA AIRLINE EMPLOYEE: Everyone is in a state of shock and all we can do is just stand by one another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The 62-year-old airline filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Now, Aloha's cargo flights are not part of this shutdown.

HARRIS: We are bringing you stories this week on "Autism, Unraveling the Mystery." It is tied to the U.N. designated World Autism Awareness Day on Wednesday. CNN's Diana Magnay looks at a German camp for Asperger Syndrome.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 9-year-old, Jonas (ph), has a new dream. He wants to become a cameraman. Like many children with a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome, Jonas master's new skills fast and has a tremendous eye for details.

Both of these boys usually find mixing with other children extremely stressful. But not here.

(on camera): For many of the children here this week, this is the first time that they have been able to pursue their own interests and play with other children without ever being made to feel that they're different. (voice-over): This is a week long camp near Castle (ph) in the heart of Germany, especially designed for children with Attention Deficit Disorder or Jonas, Asperger Syndrome.

The camera is a good example says Jona's mother. He'll now go back to school and always in the back of his mind, he'll know in situations where he's not so capable that he can use a camera. He can do things, too. Not content with just being behind the camera, Jonas, decides to set up an interview. In the hot sit, film maker and author, Axel Brauns, who has come to speak at the camp. Brauns was so severely autistic as a child, he couldn't talk.

AXEL BRAUNS, FILMMAKER AND AUTHOR (through translator): The good thing about this kind of environment, he says, is that these young autistic people realize they don't have to hide themselves. They're normal in the autistic sphere. And my story is like hundreds of stories, even if other autistic people can't express theirs as well as I can.

Brauns explains to me the cover of his book. As an autistic 18- year-old, he says he felt like a parrot in a winter landscape. He was the exotic warm hearted living character in a multitude of cold, unloving people who couldn't understand.

In a supportive environment, these children begin to come out of their shells. And parents learn often much to their surprise how much they can do in the home environment to help their children cope. Parents hope this newfound confidence will roll over into life beyond the camp. And help their children fulfill their dreams.

Diana Magnay, CNN, Waldkappel, Germany.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And be sure to tune in to CNN on World Autism Day, Wednesday, April 2nd. We go in-depth on the myths, facts and reasons for hope "Unraveling the Mystery." A CNN Worldwide Investigation, all day this Wednesday. But you don't have to wait. Check out our special section on cnn.com where you can learn more about autism and how you can impact your world.

Also, overhauling the oversight of the nation's financial infrastructure. A big announcement today in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. Heidi is off today.

HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown. Possible tornadoes hit homes in Oklahoma this morning. And more may be on the way. We are following extreme weather all day.

NGUYEN: Money makeover. The government rolls out new rules for the nation's financial system. We have live coverage in just minutes. HARRIS: And autism times three for one family.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxantshop.com