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American Morning
Bus Plunges Off Bridge in Texas; Man Arrested for Obama Assassination Attempt; Mayor's Dog Killed by Police; Blogger Fires Back at Jon Voight for Criticizing Obama; Credit Card Numbers Floating in Wi-Fi; Obama Answers Questions About the Clintons
Aired August 08, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't touch. Don't touch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These people are on approved list to be inside.
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ELAINE QUIJANO, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Now, ultimately, they were allowed to cover the event. But the moment was really a sign of the intense pressure as China tries to put its best foot forward ahead of the games.
Now, President Bush and Mrs. Bush are at this hour meeting with the U.S. Olympic team ahead of the opening ceremony. Now, just about an hour or so away -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, we certainly hope it's smooth sailing for both you and the president.
Elaine Quijano live for us in Beijing. Thanks, Elaine.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: It is now 7:00 here on the East Coast. Some of the top stories this morning. We have breaking news out of Texas.
A deadly bus crash overnight. This happened 60 miles north of Dallas. You're looking at live pictures right now of the accident scene coming to us from WFAA. At least 12 people were killed when the bus plunged off a bridge and rolled down a hill. The bus was carrying 55 people. Police suspect a blown tire may have caused that accident.
We're going to get a better look at the problems with mortgage giant Fannie Mae today. Investors expecting the company to post a huge loss. This will be the first report since Congress stepped in to prop up Fannie Mae and its sister company Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac lost $821 million in the second quarter.
And former President Bill Clinton will get a speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention according to party officials. He's expected to speak Wednesday night, August 27th, before the vice presidential nominee, whoever he or she may be. Hillary Clinton will be speaking the night before. And, again, breaking this morning, at least 13 people now confirmed dead after a bus went off of a bridge and rolled down a hill in Texas. Fifty-five people were on board when this bus crashed. Area hospitals say they're treating more than 20 people. Some of them in surgery right now. Their lives still in danger.
Joining me is Chief Jeff Jones. He's with the Sherman Fire Department. Thanks so much for being with us this morning, chief.
ON THE PHONE: CHIEF JEFF JONES, SHERMAN FIRE DEPARTMENT: Thank you. Good morning.
CHETRY: As I understand it, you got to the scene of this really horrific crash. About 10 minutes later, you said that you've never seen anything this bad in the 23 years you've been responding to emergencies. Tell us what you saw.
JONES: Well, this is a difficult situation. The bus is on a very narrow part of the highway that runs through Sherman. Access to the scene was difficult. Obviously there was a lot of extrications to be done.
There were people still in the bus who (INAUDIBLE). There may have been a fire on board, so crews worked quickly to get the people out of the bus and to do triage and begin sending them to local hospitals.
CHETRY: Also, apparently complicating this is -- was this a Vietnamese tour group? That's what we were hearing from some of the other authorities at the scene. And they were unable to -- to give a lot of information because of the language barrier.
JONES: That's correct. We were fortunate we were able to contact some of the local -- who were able to assist us with some translation. But the first 15 or 20 minutes were very difficult on the EMS providers.
CHETRY: All right. And as I understand, there was also a situation where more than a dozen people had to be flown to area hospitals. How about the conditions of some who were initially pulled from that wreckage?
JONES: I understand that in addition to the initial 12 fatalities, there may have been two additional fatalities. One had been flown to the Dallas area and one that had been transported to a local hospital.
We're, as you said, about 60 miles north of Dallas. So trauma patients were specifically flown to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In all, we had 14 helicopters respond to the scene. Eleven patients were transported by air to the Dallas area.
CHETRY: All right. And as we're taking a look at the scene right now, can you give us a picture of where this is, where this happened? As we understand it happened in the very early hours just before 1:00 in the morning there?
JONES: That's correct. The initial call came in about 12:45 reporting that a bus had gone off the road. It was just on the edge of a creek. And a bridge, two-lane part of interstate -- excuse me. Of Highway 75. This is almost to the downtown area of Sherman.
And, again, access was limited just because of the bridge over the small creek. There is a narrow service road that the rescuers were able to use. And the bridge still remain -- excuse me -- the bus still remains on its side really on the edge of this creek. And as we're attempting to clear the scene now, obviously there's some concern about contamination into that creek area. And so, we'll be out here for some time.
CHETRY: Yes. The roadway 75, Highway 75, going to be closed down as you continue to work that scene. And, again, just quickly, they're thinking that perhaps this was a blown tire that caused this crash?
JONES: Yes. And I have no information regarding the cause of the accident. As I said, our focus at least from our standpoint is the patients, the hazardous material around the incident and making sure the scene remains safe.
CHETRY: All right. Well, thanks for joining us this morning to talk about this. Chief Jeff Jones, the chief of the Sherman Fire Department responding to that scene.
JONES: Thank you, ma'm.
MARCIANO: Well, this morning a man in Florida is being held without bond, accused of threatening to assassinate Barack Obama. Secret Service agents say Raymond Hunter Geisel made the threat last month. They say he had weapons, he had ammo, he had body armor in his hotel and his SUV.
Susan Candiotti has the latest live from Miami. Susan, what else can you tell us about this threat?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rob, at the time, Raymond Geisel was enrolled in a bail bondsman course with 48 other people. And the Secret Service says that he made this alleged threat to one of the other students. And here's what they said.
He said, "If he gets elected I'll assassinate him myself." And then in an interview the Secret Service says Geisel told them, "If he wanted to kill Senator Obama he would simply shoot him with a sniper rifle."
And according to authorities, Geisel also made a threat to shoot President Bush in the head. At the time, by the way, Obama was in Florida making campaign appearances.
Now, Secret Service says that Geisel first denied that he made the threat then said he was joking. And then later said, well, he couldn't really remember because he was suffering from a post- traumatic stress disorder.
MARCIANO: Susan, what else do you know about this guy's past? Do we know anything else? CANDIOTTI: We do a little bit. He moved too Miami from Maine back in January. He was living on a sailboat with his girlfriend.
And police up in a small town in Maine tell us that last fall he was arrested for threatening his brother and his brother's fiancee with a knife. He spent a couple of days in jail for that. And police said at the time they remember him because he talked a lot about guns and eventually wanting to become a cop. Well, his next court appearance will be on August 18th here in federal court in Miami -- Rob.
MARCIANO: Live from Miami, Susan Candiotti. Thanks, Susan.
CHETRY: Police raided a man's home. They tied up his family and shot their dog. It turns out the man was the town's mayor.
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TRINITY TOMSIC, MAYOR CALVO'S WIFE: A little girl came to our house after this happened the next day. I didn't know who she was. She didn't know us. But she saw us walking the dogs every day and waving at her.
And she came in. She gave me a big hug. And she said to me, she said, if the police shot your dogs dead and did this to you, how can I trust them?
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CHETRY: Well, our own Don Lemon explains how this whole disturbing and bizarre incident happened.
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DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His home has been patched up. But the mayor of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, tells CNN the damage done to his family may be irreparable.
MAYOR CHEYE CALVO, BERWYN HEIGHTS, MARYLAND: We lost our family dogs. We did it at the hands of, you know, sheriff deputies bursting through our front door, you know, rifles blazing.
LEMON: It all started when Mayor Cheye Calvo says he took a package addressed through his wife in from his doorstep last Tuesday. He placed it on the kitchen table and went upstairs. Then all hell broke loose.
CALVO: Suddenly there was an explosion. The door just flew open. I heard gunfire shoot off. I was in my boxer shorts literally when I was brought downstairs at gunpoint bound and forced to kneel on the floor.
LEMON: It turns out that package was 32 pounds of marijuana that a police dog had sniffed out at a shipping facility. Officers posing as delivery men dropped the package at Calvo's front door while the SWAT team waited. After they burst in, Calvo says his mother-in-law was roughed up and the family dogs executed. LEMON (on camera): Didn't you tell them, hey, I'm the mayor?
CALVO: I did. And they didn't actually believe me. They told a detective that I was crazy until he told a local police.
LEMON (voice-over): Calvo says Prince George's County police never told local Berwyn Heights police that they were investigating a drug delivery scheme. Traffickers deliver drugs to unsuspecting homeowners hoping to intercept the package before the homeowner discovers it.
CALVO: My mother-in-law was bound laying in the kitchen and then I noticed my two dead dogs.
LEMON: Prince George's County police say deputies did the right thing.
VOICE OF SHARON TAYLOR, PRINCE GEORGE'S CO. SPOKESMAN: The community is damaged by the continuous drug trafficking. We don't want any of our operations to result in the injury or loss of anybody, and certainly not animals.
LEMON: Calvo was asking for a federal civil rights investigation and is still waiting for police to clear him and his family of any wrongdoing.
Don Lemon, CNN, Atlanta.
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CHETRY: And we just told you that he was calling for the opening of an investigation. New word this morning that the FBI has now opened a civil investigation into how police handled this situation.
Coming up at 7:50 Eastern time, just about 40 minutes from now, we're going to speak with Mayor Calvo live about this story.
MARCIANO: It's now 10 minutes after the hour. Here is what we're working on for you this morning.
A Hollywood star criticizes Barack Obama and sets off a firestorm on the Internet. We'll tell you what some bloggers think should happen to Jon Voight.
CHETRY: Also, hacking and driving. Cruising outside of stores and strip malls, stealing your personal information. We tried it and found several hundreds of security holes in just minutes. See how thieves were able to steal 41 million credit card numbers.
MARCIANO: And he seems always as cool even in the delivery room. Matthew McConaughey talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the first time he saw his first child and about the tough choice the star and his girlfriend had to make.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHETRY: Many Hollywood celebrities have made their voices heard in this presidential election. But as our Kareen Wynter explains, none has received as much criticism as Jon Voight -- Kareen.
KAREEN WYNTER, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Rob, Kiran, he's a rare Republican voice in Hollywood. But actor Jon Voight is feeling the backlash after his recent political statements.
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JON VOIGHT, ACTOR: That's our first priority. That's our only priority.
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WYNTER (voice-over): It's Jon Voight's comments off screen that have ignited a firestorm.
VOIGHT: The things I said in that article I stand by. And if anybody wants to question me on them, hey, I'm right here.
WYNTER: The Hollywood blogosphere exploded after the outspoken conservative wrote a scathing op-ed in the "Washington Times" blasting Democrats and presidential candidate Barack Obama. Voight accused left wingers of "creating a God-like figure in a man who falls short in every way."
The former liberal even denounced his own peace protests during Vietnam saying he was caught up in the hysteria. Statements that spurred chatter on numerous blog sites, but this one in particular, touched nerves.
JEFFREY WELLS, BLOGGER, HOLLYWOOD-ELSEWHERE.COM: Jon Voight propagated a lie.
WYNTER: Jeffrey Wells, an Obama supporter and long time entertainment writer who recently began dabbling in politics struck back on his blog, labeling Voight a diseased wingnut. And what some including Voight interpreted as a call for liberal Hollywood to blacklist the actor writing, "If I were a producer and I had to make a casting decision about hiring Voight or some older actor who hadn't pissed me off with an idiotic "Washington Times" op-ed piece, I might very well say to myself, 'Voight? Let him eat cake.'"
VOIGHT: The little nudge toward blacklisting, there are people who take that seriously, who feel that their jobs might be at risk if they step out. Now, that's a terrible thing to say.
WELLS: I might tell him to go [bleep] himself if he wants to be in one of my films. But it's just a momentary thing, which is what blog is.
WYNTER: Wells says he got caught up in the emotions of blogging and nothing else, but his inferences of Hollywood blacklisting the actor generated a lot of buzz. Andrew Breitbart plans to launch a new Hollywood conservative blog.
ANDREW BREITBART, BLOGGER: There are a bunch of conservatives here in Hollywood. And I hope that they have the freedom to speak openly and not fear reprisal from the industry which leans so hard to the left.
WYNTER (on camera): Are you going to let your critics silence you. You're going to be a little bit more cautious in what you say, in what you write?
VOIGHT: They can't do that.
WYNTER: Not backing down?
VOIGHT: Well, of course not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: Voight says this sort of intimidation has only united Hollywood's conservatives, many of whom have kept under the radar but will be coming out and making a huge political splash, he says, in the next few weeks -- Rob, Kiran.
CHETRY: Kareen Wynter for us, thanks.
Among the McCain supporters in Hollywood, by the way, Director Jerry Bruckheimer. Also, Lorne Michaels of "Saturday Night Live" fame, and as we've seen throughout this past week with the Paris Hilton campaign videos, her parents, Kathy and Rick, have made contributions to McCain as well.
MARCIANO: Straight talk.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Forces would have to be diverted from Iraq to Afghanistan. That's well above my level.
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MARCIANO: A top commander on how we can win in Afghanistan. Barbara Starr has the exclusive interview. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
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CHETRY: Well, your account information could be out there. Credit card numbers, even debit card pins, and all hackers have to do is drive up to a store, snoop around cyberspace and they can get their hands on them.
CNN's Brooke Baldwin found out how.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rob, Kiran, good morning. This is a computer subculture where apparently hacking is hip. All you need is a car, a computer with wireless Internet access and a total disregard for the law. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN (voice-over): It's called war driving. The goal, find an unsecure wireless connection, crack the computer's code and capture confidential information. One expert says it's easier than you think.
JONATHON GIFFIN, GEORGIA TECH: Too often systems and data are not protected in the way they should be.
BALDWIN: Jonathon Giffin teaches computer science at Georgia Tech. Today he's our war driver.
GIFFIN: We're looking to see if there are open wireless access points that would allow us to gain entry into someone else's network.
BALDWIN: Along with Giffin's assistant armed with a laptop, we hit the road to see just how secure cyber security really is.
GIFFIN: We've been out now war driving for about four or five minutes and we've already picked up several hundred open access points.
BALDWIN: Several minutes later we found more than a thousand different access points. Some were highly encrypted where no hacker could attack. Others were not secured by passwords where we could peek into someone's computer and find private information.
We didn't do that, but that doesn't stop hackers. All they need is a laptop, wireless connection and some simple software call a sniffer program.
And then, boom, you could capture credit card information.
GIFFIN: If the credit card information is being transmitted unencrypted across a wireless connection, yes, you could.
BALDWIN: The Feds say that's how a group of hackers made off with 41 million credit card numbers in the biggest identity theft case ever prosecuted in American history. They hit major retail chains including Sports Authority, DSW and T.J. Maxx, whose parent company lost $197 million.
Our war driver parked in front of several stores and in a matter of minutes Giffin could point, click and crack into a system. We're not sure which store, but that doesn't matter to hackers.
GIFFIN: What we're seeing is somewhat concerning. It's using an insecure form of encryption that an attacker could break within just a couple minutes.
BALDWIN: And steal your credit card number.
It's frightening.
GIFFIN: It's cause for concern particularly because there are better ways of running wireless networks. There are stronger forms of encryption that will prevent an attacker from breaking in. (END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: So what can you do to protect yourself? Well, according to the Consumer Federation of America, there's not a lot you can do. It's really up to the store to stop the hackers.
A couple simple suggestions, they say you should monitor your credit card statements online fairly often. And when you can, pay with cash. Also, for folks at home who have a wireless Internet connection there, your best bet, just make sure your connection is password protected -- Rob, Kiran.
MARCIANO: All right. Brooke, thank you.
Well, now that Bill Clinton has a speaking slot at the Democratic Convention, will that help erase some of the tension between the Clintons and Barack Obama?
First, we'll hear from Barack Obama himself on the Clintons then we'll talk with a former Clinton pollster.
And a drug money fuel terror-driven insurgency in Afghanistan. Today CNN has exclusive details about what it could take to stop it and how many more troops could be going to war.
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MARCIANO: Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." You know, CNN wants to help you make a more informed choice for president in November. So we're playing long chunks of the presidential candidates in their own words.
Here's Barack Obama answering questions from reporters aboard his plane starting with a question about Bill Clinton.
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SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I spoke to President Clinton this week. He's been very supportive. I thought he showed extraordinary restraint in a fairly provocative interview while he was on his trip. I couldn't ask for him to be any more gracious than he's been and supportive since the campaign ended.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Regarding the convention, do you think that it would be cathartic to have Senator Clinton's name entered in nomination and that would contribute to unity and --
OBAMA: You know, I'm letting our respective teams work out the details. I don't think we're looking for catharsis. I think what we're looking for is energy and excitement about the prospects of changing this country. And I think that people who supported a whole range of different candidates during the primary are going to come out of that convention feeling absolutely determined that we've got to take the White House back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why hasn't it been settled yet? I mean, there's so much controversy. Why hasn't it been settled?
OBAMA: There hasn't been controversy other than what you guys are projecting right now. All I can tell you is we're not talking to those people. We're talking directly to the Clinton campaign people and the folks who are on her staff. And it has gone seamlessly. It just hasn't been a problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you would not object to having her?
OBAMA: I didn't say that. I said that they're working it out, guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How hard can it be? Yes or no? Get her name in or not?
OBAMA: I don't understand. What do you mean? Just because I'm not answering your question doesn't mean that it's hard. It's getting worked out by our staffs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: And coming up in our next half hour, we'll hear from John McCain on the need for offshore oil drilling.
CHETRY: And Bill Clinton getting a key, a prime speaking spot at the Democratic Convention. Does that officially bury the hatchet? And how far will Clinton go to help Obama get elected?
We're going to be talking with a Democratic strategist coming up in the "Most News in the Morning."
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MARCIANO: Well, after much speculation over Hillary Clinton's role at the Democratic Convention, word of an olive branch to Bill Clinton. A speaking role for him the same night as the still unnamed VP nominee. So will it help calm the Clinton/Obama drama?
I'm joined now by Democratic strategist Bernard Whitman. He's also a former pollster for Bill Clinton.
Bernard, great to see you.
BERNARD WHITMAN, FMR. CLINTON POLLSTER: Thanks so much for having me.
MARCIANO: Great you're here. Listen, this is a prime time primo spot for Bill Clinton to speak. Why are they doing this? I mean, are they trying to quell this bad blood between the Obamas and the Clintons.
WHITMAN: Well, absolutely. And I think what's so exciting and so extraordinary is not that he's speaking at the convention because obviously, he was going to have a prominent role. But the fact that he is speaking on Wednesday, a day after his wife who came in a close second, and two days after when he spoke in 2000, don't forget, as a sitting president in 2000, he spoke on Monday, which is the first day.
And these conventions have a tendency to build -- to build to the drama and the excitement. The fact he gets a spot Wednesday night, the day that the vice presidential nominee addresses the convention and just a day before Obama accepts the nomination is truly extraordinary.
MARCIANO: Well, he hasn't exactly come out with the pompoms, you know, cheering the Obama camp. You know, when ABC asked him is Obama qualified to be president, he pretty much, you know, dodged, dodged the question. Is this an opportunity to throw his support behind them? What do you think he's going to say the night he speaks?
WHITMAN: I think it's an opportunity to publicly embrace Obama. I mean, look, it's no secret. There's no love lost between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. And I think that there is a lot of hurt feelings left. But Bill Clinton has his legacy to play for. And he has every reason to want the democrats united and come out of the convention powerfully united behind Barack Obama. And I honestly believe and I thought this from even days before Hillary dropped out that the Clintons would do everything in their power to ensure an Obama victory in November.
MARCIANO: Well, Hillary has dropped out. But at the same time she's not saying, don't throw my name in a nomination ballot. You know, don't hold these marches. She said something interesting in California last week that was interesting. Let's have a listen.
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SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know from just what I'm hearing that there's just this incredible pent up desire. And I think that, you know, people want to feel like, OK, it's a catharsis, We are here. We did it. And that everybody get behind Senator Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Is that a plan? Why can't she just say it now? Let's do it now?
WHITMAN: Well, she has. And I think we'd all be better off if we could move immediately to Obama's nomination. But I believe she does have a point. She got 18 million votes. There's going to be 1,800 delegates in that hall. Not all of whom, but many of whom want to see her name placed in nomination. And I think that she does have a fair point in saying, that this could be a cathartic moment where we recognize everything that Hillary did to advance her cause and all the supporters in the hall and around the country. And then you get together behind the nominee, you go forward post labor day.
MARCIANO: I'm totally out of time but real quick, I got to ask you, you know the Clintons real well. Do you believe they want Obama to win?
WHITMAN: Absolutely. They have a huge legacy to play for. Hillary Clinton is going to be in public life for a long time. Bill Clinton is a public citizen, is going to be around for also a long time. And they can only enhance their reputations by doing everything in their power to ensure a democratic victory in November.
MARCIANO: Bernard Whitman, thank you very much for your insight.
WHITMAN: Appreciate it.
MARCIANO: Kiran.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN, ANCHOR: We have some breaking news this morning. Tragedy in Texas. At least 13 people now confirmed killed after a bus went off of a bridge and crashed at the bottom of a hill on a highway in Texas. 55 people were on board that bus. Area hospitals say they're now treating more than a dozen people. Some of them in surgery right now with their lives on the line. We're going to check in now with Nicole Holt. She's with affiliate KXII and joins us now from Texas with more on exactly what happened. Hi, Nicole.
NICOLE HOLT, REPORTER, KXII: Good morning. How are you were, Kiran? We are, like you just said, reporting that 13 people are now dead. 12 who died on the scene, one other died at a local hospital just a few hours ago this morning. We are told that there were 55 passengers on the bus. It was a private tour bus in the Houston area that was traveling to Carthage, Missouri. They were headed to Marian Days, which is a big event in the Carthage area.
The driver apparently had a flat tire, we're being told, hit a guardrail and then road that guardrail for about 75 to 100 feet before the guardrail gave way and then landing the bus on its side on the hillside near a creek bed area. They are having problems with the driver and a language barrier so the investigation continues this morning. Just a big chaotic mess this morning and a horrific site.
We will be following this story all morning long. And like I said, they are having a language barrier problem, so the investigation continues.
CHETRY: Nicole, let me ask you this. The driver did survive, then?
HOLT: Yes. We are being told that the driver is still alive. Many of the survivors this morning, we're not sure where they have taken them. But they think a lot of the survivors did suffer at least minor injuries and have all been taken to area hospitals. We are told that at least 18 medical helicopters had to take many of these survivors to the area hospitals and many ambulances. I think 14 counties assisted in this accident.
CHETRY: Yes. It's a huge crash site. We had spoken with a couple of the EMS and fire chiefs earlier who was trying to sort all that out and they continued to try to figure out what happened and to make sure that the people who survived this do make it through these surgeries. Thank so much, Nicole Holt for us this morning from KXII.
When she talked about the language barrier, as we understand it these were a Vietnamese tour group. And at least according to one of the fire officials we spoke with, they did try to mobilize some language translators to get there so that they could try to get more information. But again, at this point they say it does look like it was a flat tire that caused that crash.
MARCIANO: Well, CNN has learned the Army is identifying combat units that could go to Afghanistan to fill the need for 10,000 additional troops. The troop surge in Iraq is being credited with stemming the tide of violence there. Can that strategy help in Afghanistan? Well, CNN's Barbara Starr is joining us live from the Pentagon with more on that. Barbara, what are you hearing this morning?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rob, we put that question to the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. And he had some very interesting answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): The troop surge worked in Iraq. But could it work again, this time in Afghanistan? Top commanders aren't counting on it.
GEN. DAVID MCKIERNAN, CMDR. NATO INT'L AISSTANCE FORCES: There is no magic number of soldiers that are needed on the ground to win this campaign.
STARR: In an exclusive interview with CNN, General David McKiernan says a different type of surge is needed in Afghanistan.
MCKIERNAN: What we need is security of the people. We need governance and we need reconstruction and development.
STARR: Added to which more troops alone cannot solve one of the biggest problems. Pakistan's safe haven for militants. U.S. troops are barred from going after them in Pakistan. Meanwhile, U.S. officials say militants cross the border freely.
LISA CURTIS, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Unless you stabilize that border with Pakistan and uproot the terrorist's safe haven which has developed in the Pakistan tribal areas, you're not going to be able to stabilize Afghanistan.
STARR: Another problem? Afghanistan's unchecked drug trade is financing the violence. 90 percent of the world's opium comes from Afghanistan and much of that money ends up in the hands of war lords and other militants.
MCKIERNAN: There is a clear linkage between narco trafficking and financing of the insurgency.
STARR: There is one positive difference between the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unlike Iraq, the Afghan Army is eager to challenge its enemies.
CURTIS: There is a sense of commitment from those troops. And that when they go in for the fight, they go in with everything they've got.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Now, General McKiernan says the Taliban will eventually be defeated. But it's going to take time and money and one new measure of just how much money, Pentagon officials are confirming this morning that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has endorsed a $20 billion plan to expand the size of the Afghan Army. Rob, Kiran.
MARCIANO: Barbara Starr live for us at the Pentagon. Thanks, Barbara.
CHETRY: Let's check in with Ali Velshi, bringing us some good news for a change this morning. Talking about how the U.S. dollar made a little bit of a rebound.
ALI VELSHI, CNN, SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: So, for those of you who haven't had a vacation yet, you might want to get those plans going. But I'm going to have a little bit of bad news. Your air fares may be going up again. We'll have that right on the other side of this break, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Things have been a little crazy. Up and down on the market.
MARCIANO: It is crazy.
VELSHI: Yes. In fact, the Dow was down that huge amount yesterday. And I was talking to my producer who's saying this morning, you know, what more do you say about this? This is one of those things the markets just don't make sense right now. They go up or go down because something else goes up. Oil may be up or down with the dollar. I'm going to tell you about something that we do know has been going straight up, and that is air fares.
We know about that. I've been talking about the dollar this morning which has strengthened to the highest point against the euro in five months, the British pound in 17 months. For those of you who are resistant to take your vacations outside of the United States, you might be emboldened to book your flights. Well, book them now. Because we just got a report out from OAG, that's the Official Airline Guide.
Those are the people who track every flight, everywhere in the world. They are forecasting for the last three months of this year, the fourth quarter, major cuts in capacity again. We keep hearing about airlines cutting capacity. A seven percent cut in global capacity. That's 59.7 million seats. And many of those are going to be right here in the United States because we've seen those costs go down. So what we've seen right now is we've seen a 15 percent increase in domestic air fares in the United States because of those fuel charges. You'll know that on any ticket you've booked. And by the way, that's average.
There are some flights that we've been looking at that are up over 200 percent since the beginning of the year. You combine the fuel surcharges with the fact there are fewer seats and fuller planes. That means you're going to be paying more for your ticket. So our friends over at fare compare like to recommend if you're planning to travel for Thanksgiving or even Christmas, make your booking now. Because if you wait, first of all, space will be tight and your fares are most likely to be much higher.
MARCIANO: I'm already noticing that when I book flights.
VELSHI: Yes.
MARCIANO: The seats are only a handful.
VELSHI: Exactly.
CHETRY: Are you going back to Croatia for Christmas?
VELSHI: You know, I dodge the whole euro thing by going to Croatia. But I come back and while I'm here the dollar is strengthening. You know, I'm an indicator of the wrong thing. Let me tell you, when I decide I'm taking a vacation because the euros too strong, you should book your vacation. The euros going down.
MARCIANO: Thanks, Ali.
VELSHI: All right.
CHETRY: Follow the Velshi. That's where the trouble is.
Well, John McCain pitches his energy plan to voters in Ohio. Takes another shot at Barack Obama's tire gauges. We're going to hear from McCain in his own words.
And Matthew McConaughey. He's a dad now. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to the star about his experience in the delivery room. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. CNN wants to help you make an informed choice for president come November. So we're playing long chunks of the presidential candidates in their own words. So here's John McCain at a campaign stop in Ohio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need to open new markets to U.S. products. We need to reduce the cost of health care. We need to end out of control spending that's putting the debt on the backs of our children and our grandchildren. That's unconsciousable. Senator Obama says he wants energy independence, but he's opposed to new drilling at home. He's opposed to nuclear power. He said the high cost of gasoline doesn't bother him, only it just rose too quickly. Tell that to the people that are driving the oldest automobiles the furthest to work. Tell them the only problem is the price of gas rose too quickly.
He actually thinks that raising taxes on oil is going to bring down the price at the pump. He's claiming that putting air in your tires is the equivalent, is the equivalent of new offshore drilling. That's not an energy plan, my friends. That's a public service announcement. My friends, we need to - we need to drill offshore here and now. We need to drill offshore, and it can affect the price of a gallon of oil - of gas. And, my friends, when we exploit and find these new reserves of oil off our coast, it will reduce the price of a barrel of oil. That's just a fact.
When you increase supply, obviously, the price of whatever it is going to go down. So we've got to do it, and we've got to do it quickly. We don't have to wait. By the way, Jim mentioned, with an energy crisis, with people in this room deciding how they're going to be able to go and fill up their gas tank and do the things that they planned on doing in this month of August, Congress does what? They go on a five-week vacation. A five-week vacation. And not address the energy crisis that's facing this country. And, by the way, the speaker of the House of Representatives will not allow a vote. Will not allow a vote on offshore drilling.
Is that democracy? I don't think so. I don't think so. So, my friends, when I'm president of the United States, I'll call them back into session, and I'll keep them there until they get the work done, get the job done for you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Coming up in the next half hour, we're going to hear from John McCain again. This time, about wasteful Washington spending.
MARCIANO: A couple things we're working on for you this morning. A small town mayor. Police raid his home. Tie him up and his family and kill his two dogs. Now they're saying the guy was an innocent man. The mayor joins us live.
Plus, the driver for Osama Bin Laden just convicted of supporting terrorism. He could be out of prison in five months. We'll tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: It's 10 minutes to the hour. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from Los Angeles. He scored an exclusive interview with Matthew McConaughey who just became a dad. Sanjay, you've got Matthew McConaughey, you got Lance Armstrong, when is this celebrity a-list palling around end with you?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we were so interested in, you know, Matthew after the birth of his son, talked a lot about, talked a lot about that process. I remember when I had my daughter's as well. It is a transformative process for him and his girlfriend, Camila Alves. It was frightening, but an amazing labor, 60 hours it took. They planned on a completely natural childbirth. But things don't always go the way as you planned. So that's what we talked about primarily. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Did you guys have a plan ahead of time? Was she going to get an epidural? Was she going to get pain meds? How did that all go? MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: Yes, we did have a plan. It didn't happen. It didn't happen.
GUPTA: Sometimes the best laid plan.
MCCONAUGHEY: Yes. We had a plan. We had an ideal that we said let's go in and do this as natural as possible.
GUPTA: I mean, was it frightening for you? When you're hearing all these going on. The pulse is dropping and they say C-section? What's going through your mind?
MCCONAUGHEY: You see a woman just really digging deep into her soul and bearing pain and being on top of it. And you see a strength come out of a woman that you've never seen before. And I saw a strength come out of here that I'd never seen before. And the baby comes out and his eyes were wide open, he was crying, glad to see the a day. And she was sewed up and that's all been fine in post.
GUPTA: So no regrets about the way it went.
MCCONAUGHEY: Absolutely not.
GUPTA: Yes.
MCCONAUGHEY: It went down perfectly. And even though we went 60 hours to do what could have been done in a few hours, it was a great journey and for both of us. And her and I now have gone through something that we call it the best dance we've ever had. We've gone through something that, we're like, I know and you know and only you and I know and that's good for us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Now, as you heard there, Rob, Camilla did end up getting a C- section. They had planned on a natural childbirth. 60 hours of labor and then as Matthew tells it, the baby was out in three minutes. So things moved very fast after that. What had happened was this is something that women and their obstetricians sometimes talk about, the umbilical cord had wrapped itself around the neck. And every time the baby was they try to deliver the baby, the pulse rate drop and that's what required the C-section. In typical McConaughey style, I got to tell you, Rob, he had a bongo drum in the delivery room. And was deejaying Brazilian music for nearly the entire 60 hours, he told me to try to get everyone in the rhythm of that delivery.
MARCIANO: Well, I had no idea. You've got to have some sort of entertainment to keep those people hanging around for 60 hours. Baby home's now. What is he saying about being a dad and some of the challenges back home?
GUPTA: Yes. Baby's home now. The baby's named Levi McConaughey. You know, it's interesting, I asked him, I said, what's the biggest thing that surprised you. And he kind of think about it for a second, well the biggest thing that my surprise me was that my life hasn't changed that much. Everyone said my life is going to change completely. And it really hasn't. They've taken the baby to a Mellencamp concert. They've been on the beach with the baby. He is changing diapers. He has learned how to swaddle. He's going to the baby a passport. They're going to start traveling. What he does concede at one point as I was groaning when he was saying all these. And that is everything takes a lot longer than it used to and you know, that's the way it is with kids. It sounds like they're having a lot of fun.
MARCIANO: Great work, Sanjay. Good to see you. Safe trip home.
GUPTA: Thanks, Rob. All right. Thanks.
MARCIANO: You can see Sanjay's entire interview with Matthew McConaughey on "House Call." That's Saturday and Sunday morning this weekend, right here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): Raid gone really bad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The police shot your dog dead and did this to you, how can I trust them?
CHETRY: A Maryland mayor joins us live after a S.W.A.T. team busts into his home by mistake.
Plus the Olympic ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First of all, it's easy for him to remember.
CHETRY: Why so many people are getting married today on 8-8-08.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRINITY TOMSIC, MAYOR CALVO'S WIFE: A little girl came to our house after this happened the next day, she said if the police shot your dog dead and did this to you, how can I trust them?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, that was the wife of a small town Maryland mayor talking about a recent police raid on their home that has attracted national attention. Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo says that a sheriff S.W.A.T. team stormed inside of his house, tied up his family and shot his two black labs dead. Now the FBI is investigating the police. And the Mayor Cheye Calvo joins us now.
Mayor, good morning. And thanks for being with us to tell us a little bit about your story. A shocking story for most of us that have heard the situation and we certainly sympathize with what happened to your family. It was last week, you got home, you found a package on your porch. It was addressed to your wife. So you took it inside, what happened then?
CHEYE CALVO, MAYOR OF BERWYN HEIGHT, MD.: I just sat it on the table. I was hurrying to get to a community meeting of local municipalities that I was hosting. I went upstairs to change. You know, I walked my dogs and had on shorts. I had to get back into business attire. Midway through, I was literally in my boxer shorts, I heard.
It was a simple explosion through the door followed by immediate gunfire. I hit the floor, you know, more gunfire, loud noises, they eventually came upstairs, put high caliber rifles at my body and brought me downstairs, bound me on the floor in my boxer shorts and kneeling in the corner. My mother-in-law had been bound, pushed on to the floor in the kitchen and my older dog Peyton was near the kitchen lying in a pool of his own blood.
CHETRY: Such a horrific thing to imagine. What was going through your head? What did you think was happening before you found out?
CALVO: I thought it was a home invasion. It made no sense, but I thought it was a home invasion. I just asked them questions, I asked, and once I realized they were actually law enforcement officers. I began asking for the warrant, which they didn't provide me that night at all. Despite - I probably asked for it about every half hour and I only got it about three days later and then it turned out that not only was it - it was not a no-knock warrant. They original told us it was a no-knock warrant. And it wasn't. And they really didn't have authorization to enter our home at all in that manner.
CHETRY: Right. And as we are finding out this morning, you had called for the FBI to open a civil rights investigation into this case.
CALVO: Yes.
CHETRY: They indeed are doing that. What would you like to see happen?
CALVO: We need to get the facts out. I mean, I've lived in Prince George's County all my life. This is my home and I love this county, although some people choose to malign it. I don't think that's right. I think the problem is the leadership in the county has the wrong attitude about how to conduct government affairs. You have to be transparent. We make mistakes. Public officials make mistakes but you have to own up to it. You have to learn from it. We're all imperfect people and I make mistakes everyday and I try to learn from them and do better tomorrow. The problem with Prince George's County is over the years, over my 20 years of involvement in county politics and government, they don't do that. And so hopefully the FBI can get the facts out and we can make the systemic changes necessary to ensure that this never happens to anyone ever again.
CHETRY: And I want to play right now some of what the Prince George's county police chief said. He responded to the incident. Let's actually talk about what he said. This is from the Melvin High, the chief of police. He says "from all indications at the moment, they, speaking about you and your wife. Had an unlikely involvement, but we don't want to draw that definite conclusion at the moment. As it turns out, they were trying to do a drug sting and somebody stole your identity, which is how they got your home address. How had they not cleared you guys?
CALVO: Right. They actually - Chief High, after we got international attention yesterday did call me at my home and cleared us. He refused to apologize through any specific action of the police and only expressed regret. And that's what disturbs me. They are not prepared to step forward that they make mistakes. And the mistakes are plentiful. They did not look up who lived in our house. They did not know my name when they came to the door. They refused to contact local police.
