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Concern Grows Over Russia's Military Offensive Launched at Georgia; President Bush Expresses Concern over Situation in Georgia; Parliament Makes Moves to Impeach Pakistani President; Is Hillary Clinton Still in the Running for Obama's Running Mate?

Aired August 11, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We are ordering from the Olympic menu today. Monday, August 11th. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Well, shades of the Cold War. Russian troops marching to neighboring territory and the U.S. exchanges tough words with Moscow at the center of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, and its breakaway province South Ossetia. Russia has launched a massive military offensive there to regain control. Georgia's president has signed a cease-fire agreement. Tomorrow European leaders will meet with Russia's president asking him to do the same.

But Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the United States is damaging hopes of a quick, peaceful resolution. He criticized the U.S. for airlifting 2,000 Georgian troops from Iraq. Georgia, a close ally of the United States, made the request. President Bush had earlier called Russia's military action disproportionate and the violence, unacceptable.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Diplomats also focusing on the growing danger of a refugee crisis. Lines of civilians have been fleeing war-torn areas. Some groups already issuing humanitarian appeal to deliver emergency relief supplies.

HARRIS: Well, let's go live now to the capital of Georgia. Our Frederik Pleitgen is there.

And Frederick if you would bring us the very latest on this still very much-developing story.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is absolutely, Tony, a developing story and the most recent development is that the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has done on T.V. about an hour ago.

And basically he was calling on the international community to do more to broker a cease-fire, to get the fighting to stop in this country of Georgia. He was saying that the whole world was watching as the Russians were trying to, "murder this tiny nation of about four million people."

Now, he said the Russian forces had taken control of Southern Ossetia, that breakaway province in the north of this country and he said that the Russian forces there were conducting, "ethnic cleansing." Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI, GEORGIA (through translator): Russian tanks and many thousands of Russian troops have invaded Georgia from there and the pretext is that they want to stop their humanitarian capacity. Now I have to remind you that during previous Russian interventions 15 years ago, almost 500,000 people have been expelled from that region and there are still refugees. That is only one part of that region, in Abkhazia, basically two parts, Gal Region (ph) and upper Gori (ph) which is under our control, where people still live and the result and the endgame of this operation of Russian troop is to commit ethnic cleansing and annihilation of ethnic Georgian population in entire Abkhazia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Now, Tony, of course, the Russians are denying that these allegations are true. They are saying that the Georgians started this conflict by shelling the village of Tbilisi in Southern Ossetia -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen for us in Georgia's capital. Frederick, we appreciate it. Thank you.

KEILAR: Well, CNN has mobilized its vast international covering all angles of this conflict and that includes dispatches from the war zone. We have to warn you, some of these images you are about to see are graphic.

Here's CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russian guns pending Georgian positions in South Ossetia. Despite mounting international pressure for a cease-fire, towns and villages across the region are being struck, even the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, was hit. Russian warplanes targeting buildings near the international airport. In Tskhinvali, South Ossetia's main town, the grim aftermath of a ferocious Russian onslaught. The bodies of dead, Georgian soldiers are strewn amid their burned out vehicles.

Facing a retreat, we saw Georgian tanks lining the road out of town faced with overwhelming firepower, Georgia has abandoned the war-ravaged separatist capital, leaving it in Russian hands.

CHANCE (on-camera): Well, this is as close as we're able to safely get to the town of Tskhinvali. You can see, it's just a few kilometers down this road. The Georgians have made a very rapid withdrawal from the area leaving some of their military hardware behind, strewn across the road. They say they've done this in order to create the conditions for a cease-fire. But as you can hear, there is still a heavy artillery barrage under way.

CHANCE (voice-over): Caught in the middle, civilians have been abandoning their homes for safety. People like Lia (ph) who told me she's leaving South Ossetia with a heavy heart. "I wanted to stay, but after four days of heavy bombing, I just had to go," she told me. "I've had to leave almost everything behind."

To the north, thousands of refugees are also seeking shelter. Russian hospitals treating gunshots and shrapnel wounds. And now there are the concerns of escalation. Russia has deployed thousand of troops into another breakaway area of Georgia, Abkhazia where separatists are already launching fresh artillery and air strikes against Georgian forces. This already-bitter conflict, threatens to become a much wider war.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And this hour President Bush is headed home from the Beijing Olympics, but the spirit of international goodwill overshadowed by Russia's military offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of Russia and that we strongly condemn bombing outside of South Ossetia. It was just interesting to me that here we are, you know, trying to promote peace and harmony and we're witnessing a conflict take place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: While in China, President Bush complained directly to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He also complained by phone to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

KEILAR: Turning the city over. Police spread out in Montreal this morning searching for young people involved in a wave of overnight violence there.

Rioting set off after police shot and killed a teenager in this neighborhood right here and then fires were set, beer bottles were thrown at responders. Three emergency workers were hurt in the process of all of this, including a police officer who was shot in the leg. Arrests have been made, though it's not clear how many.

And a move to impeach Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's lower house in Parliament introducing a resolution today demanding that the president step down. Mr. Musharraf seized power in a coup nine years ago, but his adversaries won elections in February and set up a new government. Now the ruling coalition is coming up with a list of charges against him. That is the first step in the impeachment process.

HARRIS: Severe weather to tell you about this morning, this time in western New York. No, this isn't a waterway, it's a road. You know, lots of scenes like this around the area after heavy rain caused dangerous flooding. Did you see that pickup driver stuck there in the water up to four feet deep. A firefighter had to swim out and save him. Let's get you to Rob Marciano now at the severe weather center.

Rob, more rain, perhaps in the northeast?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Yes. They're getting it right now already and just add on top of what you were showing, a quick i- report out of Jersey yesterday, not only there was heavy rain across parts of the New York area, in the tri-state area, but heavy hail. Look at that. Golf ball-sized hail in spots, taking out some foliage, peppering the deck there and covering lawn chairs. It feels more like March, doesn't it? Manahawkin, New Jersey, David Goldstein sending that I-report.

Thanks, David.

But we still have s threat for seeing those kind of showers with hail today. A tremendous amount of cold air at the upper levels is sitting and you can see the kind of circulation here. The upper level low across parts of western New York and this will spin showers and thunderstorms that will pop up especially as the sun, that strong August sun heats the bottom layers of the atmosphere and the top being cold, you get that hot air balloon effect and things will start to bubble up.

Providence, Rhode Island, you're seeing some action right now. This will swing at Boston. We got a live shot out of Boston. Take a look. See, temperatures there will barely get to 70, I think 70 would be your high. WCVB already got some clouds, you'll probably see a couple of showers before the day is done.

All right. The Big Apple, Lady Liberty, you're probably getting a little bit of rain on your crown right now. There's Staten Island. Look at this cell, riding right up the turnpike there, about to head into southern Manhattan. Battery Park, Wall Street, look out. That one's probably got some thunder and lightning and might have a little bit of hail as well, but it shouldn't last all that long.

What is lasting longer is parts of Oklahoma City, actually northern Louisiana. This is heavy rainfall. Oklahoma City has had a record of rainfall. Right now, we're seeing flooding in Norman and around the Oklahoma City are as well and just to the east from the heavy rain that's fallen upwards of four and five inches in some spots. That's where we think the rain will be the heaviest stuff today. Strong thunderstorms will fire across the upper Midwest. The main threat or the main point, I guess, across the northeastern will be this tremendous amount of cold air. It will feel nice, but across the New York area, and up through New England, you will see showers and thunderstorms that will pop from time to time. It will be sunny out west and temperatures there in the seasonal side.

HARRIS: That looks great out west.

MARCIANO: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, sir. Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet. KEILAR: Maybe you're a little tired today, like me. Maybe you stayed up too late watching -

HARRIS: Have you been watching?

KEILAR: I have, too late. And I'm bleary-eyed. Host country though leading the gold rush. Today, China topping the latest medal count at the Beijing games. The Chinese have won nine gold. They have a total of 14 medals. The U.S. has three gold. This is out of a total 12 medals. And South Korea has four gold and four silvers. First medal period for a South Korean swimmer.

HARRIS: I didn't know that. OK.

KEILAR: Yes. He's awesome.

HARRIS: You have been watching.

KEILAR: Too much, I know.

Well, you know, their countries are in conflict. We've been talking about the war going on between Georgia and Russia but two competitors embrace. This is really an amazing moment Russia's Natalia Paderina. She won the silver medal in the women's 10-meter air pistol. Georgia's Nino Salukvadze took the bronze and the Russian gave the Georgian a kiss on the cheek. Obviously, very much an Olympic moment.

HARRIS: Yes. That's true.

KEILAR: Not letting the conflict between them. They are friends and what a finish at the water cube.

HARRIS: Did you watch this?

KEILAR: Oh, yes.

HARRIS: OK. All right.

KEILAR: A water cube moment. A water cooler moment, too.

HARRIS: Right.

KEILAR: This is amazing. The U.S. winning the 400-meter freestyle swimming relay, just dramatic fashion here. This is a come from behind win coming against the French team that many had favored.

HARRIS: Wow, I didn't know that.

KEILAR: Including U.S. commentators. Yes, it was amazing. This performance good enough for a world record and it gives Michael Phelps his second gold of the game. He has his sight set, of course, on a history-making eight gold medals.

HARRIS: So the U.S. commentators are buying into this whole trash talking that was going on by the French swimmers? KEILAR: So you should say. No, they weren't buying into it although the French were saying to the media.

HARRIS: Yes.

KEILAR: There was a report from one of the French swimmers that we were going squash or crush team America.

HARRIS: Yes. Didn't happen? Did it?

KEILAR: They had to eat crow. They did. They got silver.

HARRIS: It's Michael Phelps, for goodness sakes. Come on! I'm so bad. I bought into the whole Michael Phelps hype maybe because he's from Baltimore.

KEILAR: He's pretty amazing.

HARRIS: Hello. Still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, Democrats put the finishing touches on the party. They announced a prime time schedule filled with powerhouse speakers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's talk presidential politics. Right now, John McCain is touring a G.E. plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, with him, former Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge. They have spent the last two days together. Ridge on the list of potential running mates. We'll check in on McCain's campaigning a little bit later this hour.

R&R in Hawaii. Barack Obama off the campaign trail, vacationing with his family. He is hitting the legs, jogging and visiting old stomping grounds. As you know, Obama was born in Honolulu. He says he doesn't plan to do much work this week.

KEILAR: The Democrats are promising an all-star lineup. Two weeks from now, in the international convention in Denver. Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, holding the spotlight Monday night and then Hillary Clinton takes center stage on Tuesday. Obama has yet to be named running mate is going to be speaking Wednesday and so is former President Bill Clinton and then on Thursday Obama takes the podium.

Well, noticeably missing is former vice presidential nominee, John Edwards. He, of course, dealing with an embarrassing sex scandal and deputy political director Paul Steinhauser in Washington.

Paul, looking at this lineup can one assume that Hillary Clinton isn't going to be the VP choice?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. It is a pretty good indication, because as you showed in that line up there. Wednesday night is the traditional night for the VP nominee, the running mate, to speak in front of the convention crowd. She's talking on Tuesday night and it happens to be the 88th anniversary as well of the women's right to vote. It's pretty interesting. One of the things that has not been resolved is whether Hillary Clinton's name will be on the roll call for delegates. Remember, she won 1800 delegates in that long primary battle and there was thought that maybe her name would be brought up. She would then graciously give her delegated to Barack Obama. Some controversy whether that will happen or not, not yet decided.

KEILAR: And Paul, bring us up to speed on where the veepstakes stand for both Obama and McCain.

STEINHAUSER: Yes, interesting today, John McCain in Pennsylvania. Who is he with? Tom Ridge. Tom Ridge is the former governor of Pennsylvania. Very popular Republican in the state. They met yesterday and they were also campaigning as well today. Tom Ridge, also the former Homeland Security Secretary as well. So Tom Ridge thought to be on the John McCain short list and people are buzzing about that today since they're campaigning.

Barack Obama, he is in Hawaii right now. as you mentioned, Barack Obama is enjoying that vacation but really I think it is a working vacation because when he gets back this weekend he has really about a week left to name his nominee, his running mate, I mean. So I think one of the things Barack Obama is doing this week is thinking about who he wants to name next week as his running mate.

KEILAR: Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director there in Washington. Thanks.

STEINHAUSER: Thank you.

HARRIS: A distinctive voice silenced. Singer Isaac Hayes died in his home. He was found unconscious next to a running treadmill. CNN's Rick Sanchez has Hayes' career and considerable contributions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHEF, "SOUTH PARK": Hello there, children.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): My kids' generation loves this Isaac Hayes.

My generation grew up to the soundtrack of this Isaac Hayes.

That voice, that cool, that hot-buttered soul. Disco? Isaac Hayes was pre-disco. He helped invent it. Urban contemporary, R & B, hip-hop, every artist in those categories owes their sound and any success to the groundwork laid in the early and mid-70s by Isaac Hayes who was rapping before anyone even thought to call it that, and oh, then there was this little number.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Shaft."

SANCHEZ: Do you know that song? This international super smash spent two weeks on top of billboard's charts and won Isaac Hayes an Oscar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...new blood. Did you ever kill a man before?

SANCHEZ: His fame, name recognition and charisma led quickly to movie roles, most of which proved he didn't take himself seriously, the "Blues Brothers," " I'm Going to Get You Sucka" and "Robinhood: Men in Tights." Then super stardom once again in the late '90s, thanks to that voice.

The wise ladies man, Chef, always good for a word of advice to the kids of "South Park." Isaac Hayes, dead in Memphis approximate. He was 65.

Rick Sanchez, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We are awaiting right now John McCain who is actually at this point in Erie, Pennsylvania. He's going to be making some remarks, talking about the situation in Georgia. Of course, the conflict there between Georgian and Russian troops over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. John McCain, of course, has been playing up his foreign policy credentials considered by his campaign to be a strength against Barack Obama and here he is in some pictures we just heard. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Americans wishing to spend August vacation with their families or watching the Olympics may wonder why their newspapers and television screens are filled with images of war from this small country of Georgia. Concerns about what occurs there might seem distant and unrelated to the many other interests America has around the world.

And yet Russian aggression against Georgia is both a matter of urgent, moral and strategic importance to the United States of America. Georgia is an ancient country, at the crossroads of eastern Europe and Central Asia and one of the world's first nations to adopt Christianity as an official religion. After a brief period of independence following the Russian revolution, the Red Army forced Georgia to join the Soviet Union in 1922.

As the Soviet Union crumbled at the end of cold war, Georgia regained its independence in 1991, but its early years were marked by instability, corruption and economic crisis. Following fraudulent parliamentary elections in 2003, a peaceful, democratic revolution took place. Led by the U.S.-educated lawyer Mikheil Saakashvili, the revolution changed things dramatically and following his election President Saakashvili embarked on a series of wide-ranging and successful reforms.

I've met with President Saakashvili many times including several trips to Georgia. What the people of Georgia have accomplished in terms of democratic governance, Western orientation and domestic reform is nothing short of remarkable. That makes Russia's recent actions against the Georgians all the more alarming. In the face of Russian aggression, the very existence of independent Georgia and the survival of its democratically elected government is at stake.

In recent days, Moscow has sent its tanks and troops across the internationally-recognized border into the Georgian region of South Ossetia. Statements by Moscow that it was merely aiding the Ossetians are belied by reports that Russian troops in the region of Abkhazia, repeated Russian bombing raids across Georgia and reports of a defacto Russian naval blockade of the Georgian coast.

Whatever tensions and hostilities might have existed between Georgians and Ossetians, they in no way justify Moscow's past violent aggression. Russian actions are clear violation of international law have no place in 21st century Europe. The implications of Russian actions go beyond their threat to the territorial integrity and independence of a democratic Georgia.

Russia is using violence against Georgia in part to intimidate other neighbors such as Ukraine for choosing to associate with the west and adhering to western political and economic values. As such the fate of Georgia should be of great concern to Americans and all people who welcome the end of a divided Europe and the independence of former soviet republics.

The international response to this crisis will determine how Russia manages its relationships with other neighbors. We have other important interests, strategic interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued global oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days.

The operation of critical communication and trade route from Georgia to Azerbaijan, central Asia and the integrity and influence of NATO whose members re-affirmed last April the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Georgia. Yesterday, Georgia withdraw its troops from South Ossetia and offered a cease-fire. The Russians responded by bombing a civilian airport in Georgia's capital Tbilisi and by stepping up its offensive in Abkhazia.

This pattern of attack appears aim not at restoring any status quo ante in South Ossetia, but rather toppling the democratically elected government of Georgia. This would be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together in universal condemnation of Russian aggression.

Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the United States and Europe. It is time we moved forward with a number of steps. The United States and our allies should continue efforts to bring a resolution before the United Nations security council condemning Russian aggression. Noting that withdrawal of Georgian troops from South Ossetia and calling for an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgian territory.

We should move ahead with the resolution despite Russian veto threats and submit Russia to the court of world public opinion. NATO's North-Atlantic Could should convene an emergency session to demand a cease-fire and begin discussions on both the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia and the implications for NATO's future relationship with Russia, a partnership for peace nation.

NATO's decision to withhold a membership action plan for Georgia might have been viewed as a green light by Russia for its attacks on Georgia, and I urge the NATO allies to revisit the decision. The Secretary of State should begin high-level diplomacy including visiting Europe to establish common Euro-Atlantic position aimed at ending the war and supporting the independence of Georgia.

With the same aim, the United States should coordinate with our partners in Germany, France and Britain to seek an emergency meeting of the G-7 foreign ministers, to discuss the current crisis. French President Sarkozy to Moscow this week is an expression of transatlantic activism. Working with allied partners, the U.S. should immediately consult with the Ukrainian government and other concerned countries on steps to secure their continued independence. This is particularly important as a number of Russian black sea fleet vessels currently in Georgian territory or waters are stationed at Russia's space in the Ukraine.

The U.S. should work with Azerbaijan and Turkey and other interested friends to develop plans to strengthen the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan royal pipeline. The U.S. should send immediate economic and humanitarian assistance to help mitigate the impact of the invasion has had on the Georgian people. Our united purpose should be to persuade the Russian government to cease its attack, draw its troops and enter into negotiations with Georgia.

We must remind Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect of the values, stability and peace of the world. World history is often made in remote, obscure countries. It's being made in Georgia today. It's the responsibility of the leading nations of the world to ensure the history continues to be a record of humanity's progress toward respecting the values and security of free people.

QUESTION: Senator, you talked a lot about the (INAUDIBLE). Any military preparedness?

MCCAIN: This is the total of the my recommendations for right now.

Thank you.

KEILAR: Senator John McCain pushing international diplomacy in the days old war between Russia and Georgia. Of course, Russian troops going into South Ossetia which is a breakaway region of Georgia, which wants independence from Georgia, or to be a part of Russia.

And McCain there, basically putting the blame squarely on Russia's shoulders. He said that this is -- Russia is in clear violation of international law. He said Russia is trying to intimidate other neighbors such as the Ukraine, for following western values. And he said I condemn Russia's aggressive -- if we can just scroll up, I know we have it in the prompter here. John McCain said -- I condemn Russia's aggressive -- actually, pardon me. This is an Obama statement. We'll go to that in just a moment.

But John McCain there, putting the blame squarely on Russia's shoulders. And you know, a big question in this election has been who is better fit to lead the U.S. on the world stage? We heard John McCain there emphasizing that he's spoken with Georgian President Saakashvili several times. But, both candidates -- he said he'd met with him several times.

Both candidates have spoken with President Saakashvili in the last few days. Obama, of course, on vacation right now. Though he did make a statement on Friday and another one on Saturday. He said, I condemn Russia's aggressive acts and reiterate my call for an immediate cease-fire. As I have said for many months, aggressive, diplomatic action must be taken to reach a political resolution to this crisis, and to assure that Georgia's sovereignty is protected.

So, both candidates calling for a cease-fire, pressing for international diplomacy and condemning what they see as a violation of Georgia's sovereignty. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. Your money, your concerns. They're issue number one here at CNN. Good news at the pumps. Gas prices have dropped for the 25th straight day. AAA reports that the national average is now at $3.81. That is down almost a penny from yesterday.

` KEILAR: Shades of the Cold War. Russian troops march into neighboring territory and the U.S. exchanges tough words with Moscow. Headed this hour to Moscow, a cease-fire proposal already signed by the president of Georgia.

That's the former Soviet republic under siege from Russian tanks in this video, also from troops and war planes. Russia's target, Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia. President Bush blasting Moscow's military action. Russia's Prime Minister Vladamir Putin has shot back. He criticized the U.S. for airlifting Georgian troops home from Iraq. Georgia is a close ally of the U.S. They made that request.

HARRIS: So, who are the key players to watch in this crisis? Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says a major part of the military operation has been completed in South Ossetia. He is expected to begin talks tomorrow on a cease-fire plan by the European Union. French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who also serves as the E.U. president, will promote the agreement through shuttle diplomacy.

Now, tomorrow he will visit the capitals of both Russia and Georgia. In Tbilisi, he will meet with Georgia's president. Mikheil Saakashvili has already signed the agreement.

KEILAR: This is the scene in Los Angeles. Georgians and supporters of Georgia, took to the streets demonstrating against what they call Russian aggression. They carried Georgian as well as American flags and you heard the chants there of peace in Georgia.

HARRIS: Power crunch is splitting atoms. The answer, going nuclear in today's "Energy Fix."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, the condition of an American stabbing victim in Beijing, has been upgraded from critical to serious. Barbara Bachman and her husband were attacked by a Chinese man at a tourist site Saturday. Todd Bachman was killed. The couple's son-in-law is the coach of the U.S. men's volleyball team. Family members say Barbara Bachman was heard trying to save her husband.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DALE BACHMAN, VICTIM'S COUSIN: I was told that Todd was a few steps behind Barbara and Elisabeth. And when the attack happened, Barbara heard Todd. She turned, went back toward Todd and that's when she was attacked. To me, that was a strong indication of her love.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The Bachmans' daughter, if you can believe this, Elisabeth, witnessed the attack, but was not hurt. Officials say the attack appears to be random. Meantime, Chinese officials have stepped up security at tourist attractions.

In a North Carolina court today, one of the two men suspected of fatally shooting Eve Carson during a car jacking. She is the former University of North Carolina, Student Body President. We're expecting to hear today if prosecutors will seek the death penalty for suspect Demario Atwater. The other suspect is too young to face the death penalty.

KEILAR: In Texas, federal officials have shut down a bus company involved in that rollover crash that killed 17 people on Friday. Investigators say the owner the same man ordered to shut down another fleet for safety hazards back in June. And they say, they believed he continued operating those busses, just under a different name.

Investigators say that a blown out front tire on the bus had been re-treaded which is a violation of safety rules. But, they're not sure if that's what caused the accident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are a number of dots that we're trying to connect and some of them just don't connect right now. It is not clear how this vehicle and the driver were operating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The driver lost control near Sherman, Texas, which is north of Dallas. HARRIS: You know, we are watching some wicked weather this morning, in the northeast. Check out this scene in New Jersey. Man, that is a hail storm in August. This video coming to us from one of our iReporters in New Jersey. He says his house wasn't damaged, but the hail did knock down some tree limbs and branches.

And here's what it looks like after a storm tore through Philadelphia. Some homeowners dealing with this kind of mess today and that's pretty nasty stuff there.

KEILAR: Get your chainsaw out when one of those passes over you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

KEILAR: Russia on the move. Is the Republic of Georgia just the first stop in the return of a super power?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Say the words nuclear power and you're bound to get a response. Some say that it's safe, clean, reliable and necessary. And others are really concerned about the risks and the nuclear waste that is produced.

And CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow, with our "Energy Fix" from New York, here to sift through it all.

Hi, Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Hey there, Brianna.

Well, of course, as you said, a lot of people count wind and solar energy as our fix for our massive energy demand these days. Others say those sources are simply not reliable or robust enough. And that has a lot of people including including presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, calling for more nuclear power in this country.

After all, it is clean. It doesn't produce greenhouse gasses, it's reliable. It works if the sun doesn't shine and if the wind is not gusting. And France, that country gets about three-quarters of its energy from 59 nuclear plants in a country that is just the size of Texas. It makes so much energy that it sells electricity to its neighbors, places like Germany.

Now, in the entire United States right now, there are 104 nuclear plants, producing about 20 percent. Only 20 percent of our power. None have been built in this country since the 1970s and John McCain, he's calling for 45 new nuclear plants by the year 2030. Obama, on the other hand says that nuclear power does have to be part of the equation for energy in this country. But he is not quite so aggressive about that -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes. And Poppy, you say that no plants have been built since the 1970s. And the reason obviously, three-mile island, 1979, partial meltdown of the a reactor core there.

That's what has so many people scared about nuclear power, right?

HARLOW: I Think the word even carries a negative connotation to a lot of people. So, safety is definitely a concern.

The nuclear industry though points out there has not been a U.S. death from nuclear power ever. The French have not had an incident either. The Soviet Union of course, did in 1986, Chernobyl. So, the potential is there.

Safety, though, that's not the only issue. Nuclear plants are really expensive to build. They range from about $6 to $8 billion. That's about four times the cost of a comparable coal plant. There are also concerns about what to do with all that nuclear waste that the plants produce. And of course, this is key, some fear that new plants could be targets for terrorists -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right. Poppy Harlow with CNNMoney.com. Thanks.

HARRIS: Remembering a soul legend and a king of comedy. Your i- Reports filled with love for Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The entertainment world is mourning of the loss of two greats: actor and comedian, Bernie Mac, and award-winning singer, Isaac Hayes. Our i-Reporters, as well, paying tribute.

In fact, Veronica De La Cruz joining us now with what they have been sending in -- Veronica.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brianna.

They've been sending in their memories. We want to start with this first picture from Sharon Akaiwa. It was taken the night that she went to see the "Kings of Comedy" tour with Bernie Mac. Her daughter actually took her on her 50th birthday. This is her and her daughter. She says: "The night with Bernie Mac on stage was something to remember. He told old jokes and new jokes. I laughed so hard a button popped off the back of my dress. I have never enjoyed myself more."

And Brianna, it was also a birthday present that Brandon Judkins the opportunity to meet Isaac Hayes. He met him backstage after a concert. This is the two of them together. He says: "I'm only 24, but I have loved his music since I was little and to meet him was amazing. I got a chance to tell him about all of the work of his I loved and he was just the coolest cat you could have ever met. I'm going to miss him."

So how are you remembering Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes today? Go ahead and send us an i-Report. All you have to do is logon to our Web site at ireport.com.

KEILAR: Great i-Reports. We definitely want to see more of them.

Veronica, thanks.

HARRIS: Definitely not American foodcourt fare. Lamb testicles, anyone? Tastes like chicken. Delicacies at the Beijing games.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: You know, it could be an Olympic feat for Americans to swallow some of the different food at the Beijing games.

CNN's Larry Smith samples the menu -- or does he?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): OK, eventually you have to eat. So we have come to the area known Wangfujing and this is a giant outdoor food court. But chances are you're not going find this food at your local mall.

Is this your first time eating star fish?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, this is my first time (ph).

SMITH: And you have no problems jumping in and trying it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it was fine and we ate some scorpions on the way.

SMITH: The scorpion is good?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it tastes like chicken.

SMITH: We found scorpions, all sizes, large and small.

There you go. Fresh, deep-fried scorpion. Yum, yum! Bon appetit!

Lamb testicles -- right there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to go for that, bro.

SMITH: I can't wait.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to go for that.

SMITH: I can't wait.

This thing stretches through the entire block -- city block -- as far as you can see. And clearly, it's quite popular.

OK. You've got everything that you ever thought about eating and a lot of things that you hadn't, including this right here -- dog meat pot, which we were told was going to be taken off the menu during the games here in Beijing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can't make it during this time.

SMITH: It is banned. OK. OK.

Look at what we've got right here. Look whose live has been saved for two more weeks. You wouldn't be that bold to walk around here a month ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good. Good.

SMITH: I've been down the whole walkway and I've seen nothing that I'm going to eat, so I'm going to go get a pizza.

(voice-over): Larry Smith, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: By foreign standards American food can seem pretty strange as well, though.

HARRIS: Thank you, Brianna.

KEILAR: Hot dogs.

HARRIS: Hot dogs, really? Oh yes, exactly.

KEILAR: Strange things. I'm just saying.

HARRIS: Good note to that story.

KEILAR: It's a fierce fight, but the competitors here are animals. No, seriously, they are animals. This is the Olympet competition in Hong Kong. The largest pet shop in the city organized these games and it is a chance for owners to show off what their pets can do. Dogs compete in track and field events like this here. It looks like the owners are competing even more so. Birds, they have to climb up a string to get them (INAUDIBLE). And all of the money generated from this will go to help earthquake victims. So a good cause. This dog is not cooperating.

HARRIS: Come on now. Come on.

KEILAR: That's not an Olympic spirit.

HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. You're informed with CNN.

I'm Tony Harris.

KEILAR: And I'm Brianna Keilar in for Heidi Collins. Developments keep coming into the CNN NEWSROOM on this 11th day of August. Here is what's on the rundown.