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Myanmar's Military Rulers Finally Green Light U.N. Flights; Hillary Clinton Takes Her Campaign West; Barack Obama Lobbies Superdelegates
Aired May 08, 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: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hello, everybody, and good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And you will see events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Thursday morning, May 8th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
NGUYEN: Myanmar's military rulers finally green light U.N. flights. Food for hungry cyclone survivors begins to arrive today.
HARRIS: On guard today for dangerous storms in the mid south. Oklahoma already cleaning up from possible tornadoes.
NGUYEN: Hillary Clinton takes her mass challenged campaign west. Barack Obama lobbies superdelegates as the campaign turns, in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Let's begin the hour with breaking weather news. Rob Marciano, as you can see, in the Severe Weather Center. We're talking about a tornado warning, Rob?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, just...
HARRIS: In Mississippi?
MARCIANO: Just issued in northeast Mississippi, actually heading towards Tupelo. So that's why we want to get this on the air for you.
It's in effect until 8:30 local time, 9:30 Eastern. And there you -- this cell, oh man, this cell -- hopefully we'll get back to that. This cell was across the Mississippi and then strengthened. Here we go. We'll zoom in a little bit more to Tupelo. There you see a little bit more of a rotation there. So we've got this tornado warning in effect until 8:30 local for northern League County and Pontotoc County as well, moving northeasterly at 20 miles an hour.
This is radar indicated so no word of this officially being on the ground, but certainly if you live in Tupelo, maybe in the northwest corner of Tupelo, you're going to want to take cover here and get to the center of your home and just baton down the hatches. This is all part of a larger system that could very well produce severe weather not only across Mississippi, but Alabama through parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.
Here it is. This is a threat that we expect to see today. Tornadoes, theoretically should be isolated but we'll probably see more tornado warnings posted as the morning goes along, at the very least, some damaging winds and some large hail.
We'll keep you posted on this cell moving through northeast Mississippi.
HARRIS: OK, Rob.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
Well, there is misery in Myanmar. Staggering numbers, startling developments in the devastated country once known as Burma. Here's what we know right now.
The latest death toll from cyclone is just shocking. The top U.S. diplomat in Myanmar says it could climb to 100,000 or more. A major fear now is disease. Safe food and water are scarce and unsanitary conditions are widespread and they are getting worse. Critical relief supplies, they are stacking up at the border awaiting clearance from Myanmar's military rulers.
The first shipment of international aid just now trickling in and needs, well, they are overwhelming. About a million people are believed to be left homeless. Top U.S. official with United Nations relief effort says nearly 2,000 square miles in Myanmar are still under water.
HARRIS: Myanmar's military rulers have not loosened their grip on the country even in disaster.
CNN has managed to get people into Myanmar. Minutes from now, we will get a rare look inside. We will also get the big picture on the rising health concerns.
CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has that and CNN's Hugh Riminton takes us closer. He is across the border from Myanmar, in Bangkok, Thailand.
And Hugh, if you would, our understanding is that Thailand is essentially the staging location now for relief operations, but it sounds like there was a lot of waiting going on.
HUGH RIMINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Waiting in tense frustration. In fact, the U.S. ambassador here in Bangkok said that this goes beyond frustration. That's -- that was his -- those are his words. They've got so much stuff here that could be helping the people who's over the border in Myanmar.
They have -- the U.S. military has got six C-130 transport planes, just standing by ready to go. That's just the U.S. military. You've got these U.N. agencies, you've got other governments that are offering all this help. They've got them landing not just on airstrips here in Thailand but in Cambodia. They've got them in Bangladesh. They've got them flying from as far away as the Gulf States and even from Italy trying to get clearance.
So far the only confirmed flight that's been sent in there by the U.N. World Food Program was a single flight managed to get in a few hours ago carrying seven tons of biscuits. Seven tons look like a lot of biscuits but it isn't going to go a long way when you've got so many people, hundreds of thousands of up to a million people homeless. So many in desperate medical needs, need for clean water, need for food, need for some form of shelter in this sweltering tropical heat at the moment.
And the head of the U.N. World Food Program expressed some of the frustration and some of the sense of how things get worse with every single delay that is put upon them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BANBURY, U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: This is a real worry for us. The longer we're held back, the more desperate the situation of people becomes. So when the food does start getting to the remote areas, the hardest hit area, there's a real risk that there will be food riots, social disturbances, people attacking the convoys.
So all the more reason why professional relief workers are needed in there now to work with the local communities, organize the distributions in advance, make sure the food goes to the weakest members of society, the most vulnerable, and not to the people who can just attack the trucks.
And this is something we need to do in cooperation with the authorities, but there's a need for international, professional relief workers right now in the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIMINTON: And even already you're finding U.N. officials in the ground there in Yangon. These are the one who have a long-term residency inside Myanmar. They're also saying they have witnessed fistfights over food where it has been delivered. But in the worst hit areas none has been delivered. So despite vision that's getting put out on the Myanmar television showing soldiers going to the rescue, the reality that we're hearing from the ground is that they have seen none of this.
There have been some efforts made by monks. Buddhist monks have a social organization structure within Myanmar that is really only second to the government itself. They've been, so we're being told, the primary source of care from the Myanmar government itself, really some pretty dark looks and black marks at the moment -- Tony.
HARRIS: OK. Hugh Riminton for us in Bangkok, Thailand. Hugh, thank you.
NGUYEN: On Myanmar, Saturday's cyclone delivered the first wave of death. Time and disease, they are delivering the second, and the risk, they are staggering. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is CNN's chief medical correspondent and he joins us now from New York. In fact, we were hoping that you would be in Myanmar at this hour, but obviously there are some problems trying to get into the country.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, you know, some of the same problems that are being faced by the aid organizations, obviously, journalists are facing those as well. You know, just simply trying to get a visa here. This is part of what happens when you're trying to cover these stories.
And you remember, Betty, from tsunami, for example, we were able to get visas very quickly to get into that area of the world. Here, you know, we've been just met with silence. We've had people write letters on our behalf sort of to try and get in so that we can start report on this.
So much of, as what Hugh was just talking about, so much of that is still unknown, how many people have actually died, how many people still are at risk. The reporting of this obviously very important.
Dan Rivers is obviously there. He was there covering the election, has been able to file a lot of reports. But this is difficult. And we know from having covered previous natural disasters, some of what is needed over there, and I think there's a lot of guesswork, but we're -- I'm standing by. I've got all my clothes packed in the bag just waiting to go as soon as we can get those visas to us.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, in the meantime, you've been talking to the various aid organizations including UNICEF that are on the ground there. What are the top issues that they're facing as we continue to watch this unfold?
GUPTA: Well, you know, they are able to report back on some of what is needed in various areas including the south, the Delta region where Dan Rivers has been reporting. Some of it is exactly, I think, what you might guess. You know, there is a real concern about clean water.
Remember a couple of things, Betty. This was an area that was also hit by the tsunamis. So there's hardly any natural protection against the cyclone, certain areas, and as a result a lot of the natural water storage had been contaminated, so clean water is obviously a big concern and the dehydration, diarrhea, dysentery that might come in the next several weeks if they don't get enough water.
Shelter, this is monsoon season there, as you know. It is hot. It is humid during the day, simply providing plastic tarp can provide some relief, although as you might imagine, not enough. All that standing water that we've seen the images of -- can lead to malaria.
And then they talk a lot about the cadavers. And you know, cadavers may not be the public health risk that people often think they are. When a body has died, it is often not a repository of bacteria, but sometimes it could be a bit of concern when that -- they get into the water supply, and obviously emotional concern is overwhelming -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) from the water, which is a major problem. What about food shortages? That has to be an issue.
GUPTA: Yes, and you know, it's one of those things as well. You might have enough food in certain areas but trying to figure out, trying to assess exactly where that food is needed most can be very difficult. So you talk about tons and tons of these biscuits. How do you know exactly where to give them?
And that's where the assessment teams on the ground are so important, and they don't have, so a lot of it is a guess right now in terms of who needs it the most and making sure that people who are weak and who are truly starving can actually get their hands on this food.
NGUYEN: What a problem and what a desperate situation there, as people like you and others wait just to get some aid in aside from trying to tell the story as it's unfolding on the ground.
Sanjay, best of luck to you. Thank you.
GUPTA: Thanks, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, CNN is the only western TV network with a journalist in Myanmar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are reports of fistfights as people scramble to get food there. Remaining stocks of rice are beginning to run out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Dan Rivers has been providing continuous reports and he's going to give us the latest from inside Myanmar at the bottom of the hour.
HARRIS: You know, Betty, we are also concerned about the U.N. effort and the efforts being taken by the U.N. to get more than just one flight into the affected areas and one flight of biscuits. I have to tell you that Fredricka Whitfield has secured an interview with the U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon, and she will talk about all of these issues related to Myanmar and the ongoing effort to get aid and aid organizations on the ground, and certainly to get the U.S. military into the country so that we can bring all of those military assets to the people who so desperately need it right now in Myanmar.
And as soon as Frederick wraps up that interview, we will, of course, bring you a portion of that right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Let's turn to weather now.
NGUYEN: Yes, another problem on our hands. HARRIS: Absolutely. We have put together an entire weather team. And of course, Rob Marciano is leading that for us this morning to track the storms throughout the morning including the latest tornado warning, northern Mississippi, Rob?
MARCIANO: Yes, northeast Mississippi, right near Tupelo. And I have an update on that particular warning. Earlier in the program we said it was tornado indicated on the radar scope, meaning it was not yet touching the ground heading through Tupelo, heading -- through Lee County.
And now we're having a report from a law enforcement officer that a tornado is on the ground. It's near Chester Road, that's located near Tupelo, moving northeasterly about 25 miles an hour, heading toward Guntown of all places. So if you live in this part of Lee County, you're going to definitely want to take cover from this storm. There is a tornado on the ground right now near Tupelo, Mississippi.
So head to the nearest -- most center part of your home, take some blankets, take some beddings, take some pillows and just take cover. This is all within a watch box that's in effect until 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock this afternoon. Now just issued by the storm's prediction center. So there it is, boom, that watch box. That does include northwest parts of Alabama which is a hot spot this time of year and earlier in the year for thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. And this is all the energy that is being ejected.
We did have seven reports of tornadoes yesterday, most of which were in Texas and Oklahoma. We have a threat today across parts of western Kansas. But I think most of the juice in the atmosphere is going to be Mississippi eastward today. The threat for seeing damaging winds, some large hail and some isolated tornadoes. And we're already seeing that in Lee County near Tupelo.
And again, a law enforcement officer reporting it on Chester road moving northeasterly at 25 miles an hour. Tornado on the ground.
Guy, we'll keep you posted.
NGUYEN: All right, Rob.
HARRIS: OK.
NGUYEN: Rob, thank you.
MARCIANO: You got it.
HARRIS: Stormy weather, already, boy, causing all kinds of problems up in the Oklahoma area. Here is a look at a funnel cloud photographed by storm chasers near Tulsa last night. No official report of a tornado, but certainly an ominous picture. Accidents reported on roads around Oklahoma City. Thunderstorms, hail, rain and strong winds pounded the area.
Several trees were uprooted and buildings damaged. At one point, more than 11,000 utility customers lost power. NGUYEN: Now to some presidential politics and the Democratic race that just won't end. Barack Obama courting superdelegates in D.C. today. Hillary Clinton campaigns in West Virginia next hour.
And Dan Lothian live from Charleston.
Hillary Clinton is under growing pressure, Dan, as we've all heard, to get out of the race. So what's the reaction there?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Really there has been a lot of pressure ever since she lost in North Carolina and then just had a two-point win in Indiana. But nonetheless, she is campaigning here in West Virginia, will be holding a rally behind me here at the state capital.
Twenty-eight delegates up for grabs in the state. She currently leads Senator Barack Obama in the polls here. And for now she shows no sign of backing down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's a new day, it's a new state, it's a new election.
LOTHIAN (voice over): Hillary Clinton stays defiant on the stump in West Virginia despite a growing number of calls from within her own party to concede the Democratic nomination for president.
BOB SHRUM, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: There's no metric that's left, popular vote, pledged delegates, number of states won. There's no metric that's left by which she can win this nomination.
LOTHIAN: But the embattled senator from New York disagrees, hitting the campaign trail extra early Wednesday morning after her stinging defeat in North Carolina and her narrow win in Indiana.
Now, it's on to West Virginia.
CLINTON: West Virginia is one of those so-called swing states. Democrats need to win it in the fall. I want to start by winning it in the spring.
LOTHIAN: But while she was pushing ahead, her camp suffered another defection. Former presidential nominee and long-time friend of the Clintons' George McGovern says he changed his mind. For the sake of party unity, he's backing Obama.
GEORGE MCGOVERN, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: I hope as soon as it's reasonably possible and as soon as Hillary feels the time has come for us all to get by it -- get behind our nominee and win that election next November.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Because, obviously, the concern among many Democrats is that the longer that this fight goes on, it will only hurt the Democratic Party. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn't think that. She says as long as Senator Clinton wants to compete then these races should go on -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Let me ask you this. Michigan Democrats, they have a plan to get their delegates seated. Talk to us about how that's going to play out.
LOTHIAN: That is right. And this is the plan that they voted on yesterday. And under this plan it would be split this way. Senator Clinton would get 69 delegates. Senator Barack Obama would get 59 delegates. And you might remember that Clinton did win Michigan back on January 15th. But hers was the only name on the ballot at the time.
Had it been split just based on those results, then Senator Clinton would have gotten 73 delegates and then Barack Obama would have gotten 55 delegates. Where it goes from here is that the state party then sends this plan off to the national Democratic Party, which they hope will approve it when they meet on this issue later this month -- Betty?
NGUYEN: OK. Dan Lothian, joining us live. We'll see how that will shake out. Thank you.
Senator Barack Obama sits down with our Wolf Blitzer today. And you can see the interview in "THE SITUATION ROOM," that is at 4:00 Eastern only on CNN.
HARRIS: A volatile mix. Three suspects and a group of angry Philadelphia police officers. Results not pretty.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Betty Nguyen.
All right. Free gas, sounds Devine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First Baptist Snellville is offering you the chance to win one of two $500 gas cards.
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NGUYEN: A church's clever plan to fill seats. Would you want a pew to win?
ANNOUNCER: CNN NEWSROOM brought to you by...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: It's my turn? All right, guys. Watching this tornado warning that's in Lee County. Check it out here on the scope again. Within this watch that was just issued by these (INAUDIBLE) center, associated with this low and the things that (INAUDIBLE) here in the northeast part of Mississippi, we have a report of a tornado on the ground near Tupelo, either by Chester Road or -- Chester Ville Road, I'm being told, and unofficial reports of near the airport.
We're hearing -- that's an unofficial report of potential tornado on the ground. But law enforcement has reported a tornado on the ground near Tupelo, Mississippi. So we're talking about, you know, a fairly populated area with homes and subdivisions and likely there's going to be some damage with this. How big it is, what kind of strength it has, that is yet to be seen.
But it is associated with this cell which has improved in intensity and vigor over the last 20 to 30 minutes. So watching this very carefully in Lee County. This is all moving rapidly northeasterly at about 25 miles an hour. It will be heading into the extreme northwest corner of Alabama.
So be aware of that. If you live in Tupelo, Lee County, and any points to the north and east, you certainly want to get into the center of your home. Close the windows, close the doors, take the kids, take the pets, and just cover up and baton down the hatches.
We'll watch this tornado warning still in effect, guys, for the next 10 minutes, Lee County, will likely be extended for counties north and east of there after 9:30, and we'll tell you about it as the morning rolls along.
HARRIS: Thanks, Rob. Appreciate it.
You know, we might be talking about flight delays, but we're not, at least not yet.
We're talking about Delta. Reacting to sky-high oil prices with another fare increase.
Ali Velshi is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Ali, good to see you. You know, part of the rationale for the merger with Northwest was that it would be better, that the combined airlines would better be able to manage fuel costs.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Right.
HARRIS: Translation, higher ticket prices for you and me.
VELSHI: You see, and I recall you asking me about this when it happened, saying how exactly does that work? How...
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: And they don't get cheaper fuel as a result. You know, so, Delta is now instituting or trying to institute a $20 per round trip fare fuel surcharge increase. Now what has to happen is they try and do this, and they have to see if anybody matches it. It is the 15th attempt by the major airlines since January -- 15th attempt to increase air fares. Ten of those attempts have been successful.
But we are on track at this pace for 40 increase attempts this year versus 23 last year. And that's a direct pass-along charge, which means in many cases the charges including fuel charges on a ticket are higher than the base air fare if you add up everything that is added to the ticket.
HARRIS: Wow.
VELSHI: So that's the air fare side.
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: Now let's talk about airports. The U.S. government comes out with a report every month and every quarter about, you know, which airports are the best and worst for delays. So let's look at the awards.
For January to March, first quarter of this year, Chicago O'Hare had the -- won the award for the most late departures. And Newark Liberty in New Jersey won it for just the month of March.
Now they also measure late arrivals for the traveler. They're both bad, because...
HARRIS: Right.
VELSHI: ...it means you get there. But later rivals from January through March, again, Chicago O'Hare wins that award. LaGuardia wins it for March alone. So if you're traveling between Chicago and New York, things are not fantastic for you. They say it's the worst quarter since they've ever started measuring this.
HARRIS: If you are going to charge me these higher prices for a ticket, you better get me there on time, you better my bags there.
VELSHI: With my bags.
HARRIS: With my bags.
VELSHI: Exactly, what I think.
HARRIS: Hey, just another quick question. What makes a fare increase successful? And I heard something in your comments just a moment ago that might be a clue here. Matching, this idea of other airlines?
VELSHI: Right. Matching.
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: That's exactly right. So Delta, well, say, on city pairs, they're increasing by $20 round ticket. So now the other airlines that travel the city pairs, will they try and do that? Fare Compare is a company that tracks this, and then they tell us this information. Over the next 12, 24, 36 hours, we'll know whether they were matched or not. But you can see two-thirds of all the attempts this year have succeeded.
HARRIS: Get me there on time and with my bags. VELSHI: With my bags.
HARRIS: Ali Velshi, "Minding Your Business" this morning. Ali, great to see you.
VELSHI: You bet.
HARRIS: 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." We love this show. You do, too. All this week noon Eastern only on CNN.
NGUYEN: Well, oil prices, they are such a headache. Right? So can OPEC be prodded to do something about them?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Emotions are running high in Philadelphia after an officer was gunned down. But the police commissioner says it's no excuse for officers to beat suspects.
CNN's Jason Carroll is in Philadelphia.
And Jason, critics of the police have some pretty shocking video to point to, don't they?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very shocking, extremely damaging, Betty. But despite what you see there on the tape, both the city's police commissioner and the mayor say that does not reflect the way these police officers were trained.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice over): The video captured by a Philadelphia news helicopter has stunned the city and embarrassed its police department.
It shows what happened late Monday night after police stopped three men suspected in a shooting. At least a dozen officers repeatedly kicked and beat the men after pulling them from their car.
MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, PHILADELPHIA: I don't like what I saw on the tape. I think we need to be very clear about that. Again, the officers are trained professional law enforcement people. We have very high standards in Philadelphia and what you saw on the tape is behavior that is unacceptable.
CARROLL: City officials say the officers have been under stress, ever since this weekend when one of their own Officer Stephen Liczbinski was shot and killed responding to a bank robbery.
COMMISSIONER CHARLES RAMSEY, PHILADEPHIA POLICE: Police officers operate under stress all the time. But there are periods of time when quite frankly there's more stress than there -- than you'll have during other periods of time.
CARROLL: The beating lasts for more than a minute. A mother of one of the men, Lionel Dyches, who was kicked by the officers, says there's no excuse.
LEOMIA DYCHES, SON BEATEN BY POLICE: I don't believe it's stress.
CARROLL (on camera): What do you think it is?
DYCHES: You see 14 white police officers beating three black males and a dog. In the area where I live at I see it constantly.
CARROLL (voice over): The three men beaten by police are in custody facing charges ranging from attempted murder to aggravated assault in connection with Monday's shooting.
The attorney representing the three men say it's the officers who should be facing criminal charges.
SCOTT PERRINE, CLIENT BEATEN BY POLICE: They should be dismissed from the police force and they should be charged as criminals because that was criminal behavior. That was not police work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: As for those officers involved in the beatings, six of them have been placed on administrative leave. More are expected to be placed on leave once the internal investigation is concluded -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Obviously much more to come. Jason Carroll joining us live in Philadelphia.
Thank you, Jason.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Good morning, everyone.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: And now let's take you to Capitol Hill. Elizabeth Edwards and Lance Armstrong are among those testifying at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on cancer. The focus this morning, on challenges and opportunities. We want to listen in to Elizabeth Edwards? Why don't we do that right now.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF FMR. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: ... systems and the policies, insurance that's available through those. And filling the gaps in eligibility and in screenings and other coverage which currently exists in those systems. We know how to lengthen and improve the lives of people with cancer. But we've chosen as a nation to turn our backs on some of us who have the disease. I urge to reform health care responsibly, and morally and aggressively, and save millions of us, save that woman in Cleveland who whispered in my ear. Thank you.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Very good. Thank you very much.
Mr. Armstrong?
LANCE ARMSTRONG, CYCLIST: Thank you all. Thank you for having all of us here.
HARRIS: Just wanted to give you the flavor of the hearing this morning. Six time, seven time Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong there testifying as well along with Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Senator John Edward. We will monitor this hearing for you right here in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Well, here's something else that we're watching, help for desperate cyclone survivors. Myanmar's rulers finally letting U.N. aid into the country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, you may want to grit your teeth open your wallet. Yes, gas and oil prices have surged yet again. AAA reporting the average price of a gallon of regular at more than $3.64 this morning. That is up almost three cents in just one day. And a new record high. Also for the first time, the average price of premium is now more than $4 a gallon. Diesel is at $4.25.
And look at what is happening to oil, now trading at more than $123 a barrel. Those records set despite a report showing increases in U.S. crude and gasoline supplies.
HARRIS: Pressuring OPEC about high gas price, the idea surfaces in the presidential campaign. But does the U.S. have the leverage?
Here's CNN's Barbara Starr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With gas prices edging toward $4 a gallon, OPEC is suddenly in Senator Hillary Clinton's line of fire on the campaign trail.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's time we go after OPEC. They are a monopoly cartel. That has nothing to do with a free market.
STARR: But can the U.S. really do anything to break the oil cartel? Most experts say good luck. Here's why: The U.S. would have to increase its own production and cut consumption to have any meaningful influence on OPEC's grip on the market.
ROBBIE DIAMOND, SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY: And that means that instead of talking about ways of breaking up a cartel that we're not really able to break up, it would be like the Red Sox wanting to break up the Yankees. It just can't happen.
STARR: Former Congressman Lee Hamilton says the U.S. really can't do much to influence OPEC to lower prices.
LEE HAMILTON, FMR. HOUSE FOREIGN RELATIONS CHMN.: Our bargaining leverage here is just not all that great because of our need for their product.
STARR: Ironically the U.S. military is spending billions protecting and keeping open OPEC shipping links in the Persian Gulf.
HAMILTON: I think if we got too demanding of OPEC, they could very well say get your bases out of here. And that would mean we would have more difficult time, maybe an impossible time, of keeping these supply lines secure.
STARR: Keeping access to airfields and ports in OPEC countries like Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates is paramount to the United States military, now made more important given growing concerns in the Gulf about Iran's nuclear ambitions and its ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Barbara Starr joins us now live from the Pentagon. Barbara, you're hear because there is a military component to this talk of going after OPEC. How important is it to the U.S. military to keep its bases and access to the Persian Gulf?
STARR: Well, you know, Tony, there's that old saying, you go to the dance with the one who brung you. And for both sides the U.S. military, the United States, and on the other side the Persian Gulf, OPEC-producing nations, it is a marriage that has existed for years, and there's very little sign it is going to break up any time soon. A top U.S. military priority is to keep access to all of those countries in the Persian Gulf, especially because no one really knows what Iran's future intentions are going to be, and a top priority for the U.S. military for almost 40 years, 50 years perhaps, has been to keep those shipping lanes open in the Persian Gulf.
Four-dollar-a-gallon gas doesn't really change that. Any effort to break the cartel is a question of economic leverage, and that's something the U.S. doesn't have right now, as long as consumption remains so high. So, the relationship keeps going.
HARRIS: And define, go after OPEC. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Barbara, Thank you.
STARR: Sure.
NGUYEN: Well, the big birthday for Israel,celebrating 60 years as a nation. We're going to take you there live.
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HARRIS: Weather absolutely dominating our first hour of coverage here in the CNN NEWSROOM. There he is, Rob Marciano.
Rob, sorry, you should have just come up cold because you've got a new tornado warning.
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ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I know, Tony, that you're going to be chatting with the sheriff of Lee County. Do we have him on the line?
HARRIS: Yes, we do. Chief Deputy John Hall is on the line with us from Lee County in Mississippi.
Chief, if you would, we're flying just a bit blind here. We haven't been able to get pictures of some of the damage that might have befallen your county. But if you would, give us an assessment. Your big city there, obviously, is tupelo. Give us a sense of what kind of reports are coming into your call centers.
CHIEF DEP. JOHN HALL, LEE CO., MISSISSIPPI, SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Yes, sir. Just a little earlier this morning we began to get reports of damage starting from the west side of Tupelo, and it moved across to the north, and in the Barnes Crossing mall area we had trees, power lines, some structural damage, and as well as an 18-wheeler that is turned, was overturned on U.S. Highway 45 there by the mall.
HARRIS: Now you know that area significantly better than I do. But I'm wondering, in the path you have just described, is that a heavily populated residential area? It sounds like you've got a mix there of residential and business.
HALL: Yes, sir. The reports initially started where the tornado was spotted would have been west of the heavily populated area of the city. And then it moved across a mixture of residential and business on the north side of the city. Tupelo is about 36,000 people.
HARRIS: OK, 36,000 people. Any reports at this point of any injuries?
HALL: No, sir, not at this time. We've still got units in the county that we've got reports of trees down and we're going to check on possible accidents involving those downed trees across county roads.
HARRIS: Well, our weather team here at CNN has been terrific at sort of sounding the alarm and reporting the warnings in your area. I'm wondering, locally, do you feel like you were given enough indication that you had a line of severe weather heading your way packing strong winds and possible tornadoes?
HALL: Yes, sir. Just a week ago one of our neighboring counties had a lot of damage involving tornadoes. And about like that time, we probably had 10 or 15 minutes notice, so I think we were doing pretty good.
HARRIS: So give me a sense of what your teams are doing now? My guess would be that you have patrol cars headed out to some of the impacted areas. Maybe you can tell us, Rob had a note a short time ago of a Department of Transportation building near Tupelo that had been damaged. Can you confirm that?
HALL: Yes, sir. It was Mississippi Department of Transportation. It's one of their main northern district offices. It is in the city limits of Tupelo, just south of the mall, and they did have some damage there. I had one of my units that actually...
HARRIS: I think we just lost you. Chief deputy, are you still there? OK, we were speaking with chief deputy John Hall, Lee County, Mississippi. The big city there, obviously, is tupelo. And some damage there as that storm, Betty, moved from west to east, moving from a pretty rural area into more heavily populated areas. No reports of any injuries at this point.
But clearly, as is the signature of these storms, you get lots of power lines down, trees uprooted, and at least one building, the Department of Transportation building near Tupelo, damaged as well.
NGUYEN: And that's just one of the many we might hear today as this storm is still on the ground.
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NGUYEN: All right, well, we do want to go to the folks on the ground, because as you first mentioned, Rob, a little bit earlier, that when this thing hit the ground it was near the Tupelo Airport. So we want to speak with Mark Waddle of Budget Car Rental, who is located at the airport.
Mark, are you on the phone with us?
MARK WADDLE, BUDGET CAR RENTAL TUPELO AIRPORT: Yes, ma'am.
NGUYEN: All right. Were you able to see any of this storm as it blew through: And what kind of damage have you been able to ascertain?
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am. Me and a gentleman named Larry Alby (ph) was standing outside, and we seen it form over on the west side, over by Coley (ph) Road. And it come down. And Larry had seen a tree that was caught up in it.
NGUYEN: So did you actually see the tornado, or was this just a...
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am. I actually seen it form coming down. And it looked like it hit some kind of transformer, because the whole sky kind of lit up blue. And then it kind of blew through Tupelo Airport, and the trees, it was blowing so hard the trees were touching the ground, the top of the trees was. And it blew on through, then it headed kind of northeast toward the mall. And we've heard rumors that the mall was on fire now, but I don't know that for sure.
NGUYEN: Can you see any smoke in the sky? I mean, is the mall close enough for you to be able to tell?
WADDLE: No, ma'am, no, ma'am. It's real dark on that side of town, though.
NGUYEN: OK. And as you saw this come through, describe this. Was this a large tornado, or what were you able to see?
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am. We were seeing it form. It was real small at first. All the clouds were just twirling around, and then when it come down it was like a real thin pale to it. And then we all run inside in the airport, and we run into the bathrooms. And then all the lights come out and they come back on, and then we walked back outside, and we see it heading toward the mall that a way.
NGUYEN: Did you have any warning? Were sirens going off as the storm was forming and starting to touch down?
WADDLE: Not as soon as it touched down, we didn't, no, ma'am. But we have heard sirens since?
NGUYEN: What about damage at the airport? Are planes damaged? Any structural damage at the airport?
WADDLE: Not that we can physically see. There's like stuff in the trees and stuff like insulation, looks like it might have blown a house or something and insulation stuck to the fences and inside the trees. It blowed the trash cans over. All of the people and all the vehicles and everything are fine up here at the airport.
NGUYEN: That's good to know. What about the electricity, is that still on?
WADDLE: It did come back on, yes ma'am.
NGUYEN: OK. And as far you know, you;re not sure what kind of damage is at the mall. But you heard that the mall may be on fire?
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am. That is rumor. I can't confirm it. But I have heard that.
NGUYEN: Have you talked to some other folks in different areas there around Tupelo just to check on them and see how they are doing, and what kind of damage assessment were you able to get from that?
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am. That's where I heard about the mall from my boss. She was off today, and I called her first thing so she can get her and her grandmother to safety, and she told me that she heard about the mall being on fire.
NGUYEN: OK, that is something obviously that we're going to check on. And you did see this tornado as it touched down. Mark Waddle with Budget Car Rental there at Tupelo Airport. We do appreciate your time and your description today. Thank you.
WADDLE: Yes, ma'am.
HARRIS: Betty, David Dillard is on the line with us. He has worked in our business for a number of years, over 20, 25 years, probably more years than he would care for me to be announcing on the air. And David is joining us now from Tupelo. David, good to talk to you.
If you would, as someone who has experienced all kinds of weather conditions, certainly the ones we are describing today, can you give us an assessment of what you have seen so far and maybe describe the signatures of this storm? It sounds like the usual signatures of strong winds, followed by trees being uprooted and power lines down.
DAVID DILLARD, TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI: It did. It was a serious black cloud from where I was in downtown Tupelo. You could see a good bit of lightning with it. I couldn't see the rotation, obviously, because a lot of trees and buildings where we were. When I dropped my daughter off at school, which is probably about a mile, mile and a half from where the damage was, they just issued the warning actually as she was getting out of my vehicle, and it looked like night by that time. Everyone's headlights were on, and it was an extremely dark cloud. But...
HARRIS: So, David, you're clearly talking about a storm that was moving from west of you and closing in on you, correct?
DILLARD: It was moving west to east. But it really moved north of downtown Tupelo. It moved through the city limits, but it did move north of the actual downtown area.
HARRIS: So, David, we're going to be getting -- we're hustling up, and I know -- and I want to apologize to the folks at home, we have this radar shot, but we are desperately trying to hustle up some pictures of some the damage here so that we can show you the impact of the storm on the ground in the Tupelo area.
But I have to ask, you, the areas that would have been impacted based on your knowledge of the area, give us your sense of it.
DILLARD: The areas that would have been impacted were mainly the mall at Barnes Crossing area. That's pretty much a regional shopping center here. Lots of development out there. We do have confirmation of cars in trees and cars turned over out in that area.
HARRIS: Cars in trees?
DILLARD: Cars in trees, that's the confirmation from a coworker of mine here. There was damage also to the Sam's Club building out that way. There appears to be a good bit of damage out there.
I have not heard any confirmation about what the previous caller said about the mall actually being on fire. I know fire was dispatched, but I don't believe it was actual. There could be, but I'm not out in that area.
HARRIS: Are you anticipating once the pictures start to roll in seeing scenes of some pretty heavy damage?
DILLARD: It appears to be. I've had confirmation of a roof off of a house in western part of Tupelo, which would be just west of where the airport is, of a roof off the house actually in the road there. And the Tupelo Furniture Market is also out right near the airport. It's a large complex, it has some roof damage there as well.
HARRIS: As I mentioned at the top, you covered a lot of these storms. I'm just curious, how would you -- what is your sense of how the area was warned? Did it feel adequate?
DILLARD: It was quick. But I would say I was dropping my daughter off about 7:45, 7:50. Local media did an accident job. Of course, I was in my vehicle, so radio was doing a great job warning everyone.
As far as sirens, it was raining, so I didn't roll my window down, so I really couldn't tell you if the tornado sirens went off or not. But I'm sure they did; they're very good about that here.
HARRIS: And we were talking just a couple moments ago with Chief Deputy John Hall, your chief deputy there in Lee County. And he was describing the situation. There was another line of storms, and you got to forgive me here, it just seems that we've been covering the storms in the lower south for the last couple of months now, he was describing just last week there bass another line of severe weather that rolled through that area as well. Is that correct?
DILLARD: It actually did. It moved -- that would be a little more north and west us. It moved through the New Albany area, which is in Union County.
HARRIS: OK.
DILLARD: That storm actually moved within probably two-tenths of a mile of my parents' house on Friday evening. There are trees down in their neighborhood and around their area, and it did damage about seven or eight miles west of them, damaged several businesses that way.
HARRIS: And, David, have you heard any word of any injuries connected to today?
DILLARD: I have not. I spoke with the news director of the NBC affiliate just before I got on the phone with y'all, and he confirmed that there were no injuries or fatalities at the time that I talked to him.
HARRIS: OK, David, appreciate it.
DILLARD: David Dillard, longtime television correspondent, I believe he's a correspondent, a reporter, certainly worked in our business for a lot of years, talking to us from Tupelo, Mississippi as we continue to take a look at that radar shot. Pretty ominous. A line of tornadoes, at least one on the ground, possibly others, doing some damage to the Tupelo area, moving now to northwest Alabama. We'll continue to follow it for you in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Here's what's on the rundown. We are tracking dangerous storms in the south right now and throughout the day. Tornado watches and warnings live in the CNN severe weather center.
NGUYEN: After days of delay, United Nations planes, they began ferrying food and supplies to storm survivors in South Asia.
HARRIS: Record gas prices driving the cost of electrical power up to day, Thursday, May 8th. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: And our top story this morning is the severe weather outside today, especially Mississippi and Alabama, those borders. Rob Marciano has been watching it, and we are talking about a tornado, possibly more just one.
MARCIANO: Yes, well, right now one confirmed, obviously, on the ground with the reports of damage. And we saw this tornado warning that's in effect for counties north and east of Tupelo. Actually, Lee County should be getting out of this tornado warning here shortly.
The pink polygon you see there in the center of your screen. That is the warning area where folks should just take cover.
