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American Morning
Global Sensation Susan Boyle Talks About Her New Found Fame; AP Reports Surviving Pirate to be Put on Trial in NYC; Maersk Crewmember John Cronan Discusses Pirate Attack, Joyful Return Home; No Drugs, Just Rehab; Minding Your Business; Top Secret Interrogation Memos Revealed
Aired April 17, 2009 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. And we're crossing the top of the hour now. Welcome to the Most News in the Morning. It's Friday, the 17th of April. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry. A look at what's going on on the agenda right now. The stories we're breaking down for you in the next fifteen minutes.
The hero captain is headed home. Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama is in the air right now and is expected home in Vermont this afternoon. Armed Somali pirates held him hostage for five days on a lifeboat. Welcome home signs are already up around his community. And his friends and family are waiting with open arms.
Well, the only pirate that came off of that lifeboat alive will be put on trial in New York. That's from the Associated Press this morning. The suspect believed to be in his late teens, could be as young as 17. He was already onboard the USS Bainbridge because he was injured when U.S. sharp shooters took out his fellow pirates.
And more sign of economic life, perhaps? Citigroup, the bank that got a $45 billion bailout, reportedly posting net earnings of $1.6 billion in the first quarter. Christine Romans also pointing out, though, that the stock lost is down 18 cents a share in the quarter as well. She's going to break it all down for us about what it means. The bottom line in the headline that Christine told us is that there's not any major bad bombshells coming from Citi or GE this morning, and so that is good news.
Also, first, President Obama headed to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in just a few hours. He's in Mexico City right now, his first official trip to Latin America.
The president's top priority drug violence that's seeping through our southern border. The president saying the U.S. and Mexico need to do more to keep American guns and cash out of the hands of cartels and also to secure the border.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We discussed steps that we can take together, both bilaterally and in a global setting to advance opportunity and prosperity in our two-countries and across the Americas. We spoke about the deep ties between our peoples and what steps can be made to meet our immigration challenge. That involves passing comprehensive immigration reform in the United States which I'm committed to doing, and it involves making certain that we are promoting increased opportunity here in Mexico.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the president and has the latest now from Mexico City.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John, Kiran, only five U.S. presidents in a hundred years have visited Mexico City. And President Obama will have spent less than 24 hours here in the southern neighbor, underscoring this very important trip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Obama came to give Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, his props for taking on the country's deadly drug cartels. Mr. Obama said the U.S. shared responsibility for the flow of weapons, cash, and drugs.
OBAMA: But I will not pretend that this is Mexico's responsibility alone. More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States.
MALVEAUX: When Calderon reiterated the point, Obama was left shaking his head and seemed eager to move on.
OBAMA: The relationship between Mexico and the United States cannot just be defined by drugs.
MALVEAUX: While both leaders pledged more resources to monitor the border, President Obama acknowledged he couldn't get delivered on his campaign promise to reinstate the assault weapons ban. Since the ban expired, Calderon says the violence in Mexico has gotten worse, acknowledging that Congress has little appetite to take on the issue. Mr. Obama instead urged the U.S. Senate to ratify a long-stalled regional treaty aimed at tackling the drug trade.
OBAMA: But what we focused on is how we can improve our enforcement of existing laws.
MALVEAUX: Now, on to the twin island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago for the fifth Summit of the Americas. Obama is touting progress with Cuba, his administration's recent move to relax restrictions for Cuban-Americans.
OBAMA: And so I think what you saw was a good faith effort.
MALVEAUX: But his Mexican host like many other Latin American leaders said Obama's move is inadequate and called for the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba to be lifted.
FELIPE CALDERON, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO (through translator): We do not believe that the embargo or the isolation of Cuba is a good measure for things to change in Cuba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Despite the fact that Cuba will not be represented at the summit, the fear is is that it could very well dominate the discussion -- John, Kiran.
CHETRY: Suzanne Malveaux for us, thanks so much.
Also breaking this morning, Cuban President Raul Castro responding to President Obama's comments yesterday and upping the ante during a meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Castro said he is willing to talk to the U.S. and put everything on the table.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAUL CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF CUBA (through translator): We told the North American government in private and in public that we are prepared wherever they want to discuss everything.
Cuban rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything, everything, everything that they want to discuss.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, his response came just hours after President Obama said it was up to Havana to make the next move.
ROBERTS: More than 50 million YouTube hits and counting this morning. No doubt about it. Susan Boyle is officially a global sensation. Not bad for a 47-year-old woman who admits the most attention that she has gotten lately was from neighborhood kids taunting her.
Our Zain Verjee in London now and the jaw-dropping performance that changed everything.
And I'm just in love with this wee lass and I got to say I think the rest of the world is too.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think so. There's just a big buzz about her as well as around the world for day. You know, John, one day she was volunteering in the local church in Scotland. Then the next day she becomes this huge star. We want you to meet the woman behind the amazing voice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN BOYLE, SINGING SENSATION: (INAUDIBLE) Absolutely. (INAUDIBLE)
VERJEE (voice-over): Who can blame her? Susan Boyle's world is turned upside down since she became an overnight sensation on the UK television show, "Britain's Got Talent." Before the notoriety, the 47- year-old described her life as ordinary.
BOYLE: At the moment, I live alone with my cat called Pebbles.
VERJEE: Pebbles was nowhere in sight when CNN paid a visit to her home in Blackburn, Scotland. And no wonder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Susan.
VERJEE: With photographers camped outside the door, photographers inside the door, not to mention the crowd of autograph- seeking kids at the door. Boyle had her hands full.
BOYLE: I do feel rather humbled. I'm very humbled and very grateful.
VERJEE: She began singing in school productions at age 12, have private lessons and won local competitions but a professional career never took hold, Boyle says partly because of circumstances at home. She cared for her aging parents. Both are gone now and so she decided to give her dream one last chance.
BOYLE: So I just thought I'm going to sing. See what happens.
VERJEE: The crowd didn't know what to make of her when she took to the stage.
BOYLE: I was scared, I was scared. I mean, everybody is nervous in such a big program like that.
VERJEE: It didn't make things any easier when the judges and audience seemed ready to laugh.
BOYLE: Those people are certainly calling you (INAUDIBLE) and it worked. Don't tell me how. There must have been (INAUDIBLE) and that have worked.
VERJEE: Moving people not only with her singing but with her story of an unfulfilled dream to be a professional singer. Now, she finally has a shot at it. But Boyle isn't getting ahead of herself. She wants to enjoy the moment.
BOYLE: I have a dream I'd like to be.
This is from a lady who is aged 72.
VERJEE: She's happily made room for a growing fan base, surprised by all the attention.
BOYLE: Everybody seems to be friendly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: And good for her. Fans just cannot wait for her to release an album. There are rumors of her, John, getting a major record deal. And she says that all this attention has not changed her one little bit -- John.
ROBERTS: Wow. Maybe they'll even let her play the part of Fantine in the future, you know, iteration of "Les Mis." That would be great. Fantastic.
VERJEE: Well, she deserves it. It's amazing.
ROBERTS: You know, she speaks just like my Aunt Effie, but she sings a whole lot better.
(LAUGHTER)
Zain, thanks so much.
VERJEE: Thank you.
CHETRY: Susan Boyle is now appearing in newspaper headlines around the world. Everybody knows about her. My mother e-mailed me the YouTube clip. Well, she got a call from "The Oprah Show" following her stunning performance on "Britain's Got Talent."
And Susan Boyle joins us live from Blackburn, Scotland this morning.
You are the international star of the moment. What does that feel like, Susan?
SUSAN BOYLE, SINGING SENSATION: Hello?
CHETRY: Hey, Susan, are you able to hear me this morning? We're here in New York.
(CROSSTALK)
BOYLE: Yes, I could (ph).
CHETRY: Hi there. I thought maybe you were speechless.
BOYLE: Hi there. I couldn't hear you there for five minutes. What was the question again?
CHETRY: Oh, I was just saying you're really the international star of the moment. What does it feel like this morning knowing that everybody in the world knows your name and knows who you are?
BOYLE: It's overwhelming. It's overwhelming. Quite humbling.
CHETRY: Well, I can imagine. You know, it's very interesting. Simon Cowell is now saying that you can't get a record deal out there fast enough. And then if you appear on "Oprah" and you get this record out, it's going to be the number one record in America. What do you think about that?
BOYLE: I'm God smacked. Absolutely God smacked. It would be wonderful.
CHETRY: Now as I understand it, you can't leave your house anymore. I mean, people are waiting to get autographs. You're receiving well wishes around the world. There's Web sites, Twitter, everything is all about Susan Boyle right now. What does your family say? What are they saying to you about this whole thing?
BOYLE: Just take one step at a time and enjoy the moment.
CHETRY: Well, are you enjoying the moment?
BOYLE: That's what they're saying to me.
CHETRY: Are you enjoying the moment, Susan?
BOYLE: What was that question again? I can't hear you?
CHETRY: I said are you enjoying the moment? Are you getting a chance to actually absorb all of this? Or is it happening too fast?
BOYLE: I am. I must be enjoying every minute. I'm enjoying every second of it.
CHETRY: Well, we're going to get a chance to hear you sing in just a moment. But one of the things that I thought was interesting, whenever they do these shows, "Britain's Got Talent," "America's Got Talent," "American Idol," they always seem to want to makeover the contestant.
And one of the things that you wrote about this is modern society is too quick to judge people on their appearances. There's not much you can do about it. It's the way it is, it's the way they are. But maybe this could teach them a lesson or set an example. So are you going to let them give you a makeover if they ask you that?
BOYLE: I can't make a comment on that. I can't make a comment on that.
CHETRY: It's interesting because Paul Potts from last year he actually did say that he was going to spend the money when he won on getting a new smile if he did just that on "Britain's Got Talent." And there are some of his fans who said, you know what, he should have just stayed the way he was. We loved him the way he was. What are people saying to you about that?
BOYLE: What I would like to say to (INAUDIBLE) I would like the same (INAUDIBLE). I wouldn't want to change myself too much because that would -- that would really -- that would really make things a bit false. I want to see people -- I want see people to view me, to view me -- the real person.
CHETRY: You also talked about how you cared for your parents, especially your mother until she passed away. And you talked about her being the inspiration for having the bravery to get up there on stage in front of all of those people, in front of those judges. What role did your mother play in giving you the gumption to give it a try?
BOYLE: I can't quite hear you there. Can you repeat the question, please?
CHETRY: Sure, I was asking about your mom. You talked about her being an inspiration for you to just go out there and give it a try to go on that show. What role did your mom play in helping you take that step and get out there on stage?
BOYLE: Well, she was my inspiration and she was the driving force behind my application. I felt it was a tribute to her. She was a wonderful lady.
CHETRY: That's wonderful. Susan, we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we'd love it if you would sing for our audience this morning. I'm sure they're eagerly looking forward to it.
So we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to hear Susan sing.
It's 12 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." That was the performance that blew everyone away, and she is the sensation making headlines around the world. There's a love season now of just all of the newspapers from around the world. You are in almost every single one.
Susan Boyle joins us again this morning from her home in Blackburn, Scotland. And I just want to ask you. We're going to hear from you sing. This is wonderful. If you win, what are you going to do with the prize money? Have you thought about that?
BOYLE: Hello?
CHETRY: Hey, Susan, can you hear me again? This is Kiran back in New York?
I don't think she's able to hear me. You know what I'm going to do, we want to hear her sing. We would love to hear her sing the entire song. So we are going to just get our producers to tell Susan to go for it and sing.
BOYLE: OK. I dreamed a dream in time gone by. When hope was high and life was living. I dreamed that love would never die. I pray that God will be forgiving. Then I was young and unafraid. And dreams were made and used and wasted. And there was no ransom to be paid. No song unsung, no wine tasted.
CHETRY: Susan, wonderful. Are you able to hear me?
BOYLE: OK.
CHETRY: All right. Unfortunately, the technology sometimes just plays a cruel joke on us. But anyway, we loved getting a chance to listen to Susan. We wish her all the best.
ROBERTS: She's such a sweetheart.
CHETRY: She really is.
ROBERTS: She really is. All the best. And we know, we certainly hope that she turns the show on its head and wins.
CHETRY: Exactly. And even if she doesn't, she's got a record deal probably already from Simon.
ROBERTS: Now, there you go. All right.
A returning hero who was attacked by pirates. We're live with the engineer who was on the Maersk Alabama now back in the states and calling his captain the real hero. We'll hear from him coming up.
Seventeen and a half minutes now after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Twenty-one minutes after the hour. Sarah Palin is back in the spotlight again. The governor of Alaska taking a little heat for leaving her state during a critical legislative session to headline a pro-life dinner in Indiana last night. 2012 a long way off but it's never too early to test the waters.
Our Candy Crowley now on the former vice president candidate's potential coming out party. How was it, Candy?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me tell you something. Three thousand people coming to Evansville, Indiana, and they came really for one reason. And as you point out, it was to hear Sarah Palin. She still has that zing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: Thank you so much.
CROWLEY: She came.
PALIN: Thank you, Indiana.
CROWLEY: She spoke.
PALIN: It is great to be in Indiana, the crossroads of America.
CROWLEY: She rocked the house. Officials of the Vanderburgh County, Indiana Right to Life Banquet didn't think there was much chance Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would accept their invitation to the group's biggest fundraiser, but she did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We immediately sold out before actually it was released to the public.
CROWLEY: She talked about stimulus money, the beauty of Alaska, her days on the campaign trail, and to this room full of abortion opponents about her 1-year-old son Trig, a Down syndrome child.
PALIN: I had to call upon my faith and asked that my heart be filled up. And I'll tell you the moment that he was born I knew for sure that my prayer was answered. And my heart overflowed with joy. CROWLEY: The anti-abortion movement is a core constituency in the Republican Party. And the speech was Governor Palin's first this year in the Lower 48. It does have people talking about her 2012 intentions and parsing her words.
PALIN: I have a feeling that I'm going to leave here with new energy and with inspiration, and I will restart my engine.
CROWLEY: Personally, professionally, it's been a rough road for the governor since the Republican ticket was defeated in November. Her relationship with Levi Johnston, father of her grandchild, is the stuff of soap operas. Her dealings with state lawmakers are not much better. Legislative battles have been bitter. Democrats and a few Republicans complained the Indiana trip shows the governor is more interested in her national ambitions than in state business.
PALIN: Which is ironic because these are the same critics who would love to see me outside of the state forever permanently, you know, outside the governor's office anyway.
CROWLEY: 2012 is political light years away. It's not likely anyone including Sarah Palin has decided whether to run for president. But she has set up a political action committee. She took the trek from Alaska to Indiana for a pretty well-covered mini show. At the very least, she's laying down a marker.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: This morning, the Alaska governor goes to a more private affair. It is with a group called S.M.I.L.E., parents of children with Down syndrome. After that, she is back to Alaska. But, John, we are told that she gets thousands of speaking invitations so I suspect we will see her back here in the Lower 48 pretty soon.
ROBERTS: I'm sure she will. All right. Candy Crowley for us this morning. Candy, thanks so much - Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, here's a story that a lot of you are talking about this morning. United Airlines announcing it's getting tough on overweight passengers planning in some instances to charge for two seats if they can't fit in to one. Our Carol Costello reports on what some are calling a heavy-handed policy ahead.
Also, tell us how you feel about United's plan. Cast your vote, CNN.com/amfix.
Also ahead, Captain Richard Phillips returning to America today five days after he was freed after being held captive by Somali pirates. Already back home, an engineer onboard with Phillips who says the captain saved his life.
And doing the crime but not the time is rehab, the better alternative for people who commit nonviolent drug crimes.
It's 24 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Pretty shot this morning outside the Time-Warner Center studios here. A look at Central Park this morning. It's a little hazy out there, but it is gearing up to be a beautiful day. We may hit 70 here in New York.
Twenty-seven minutes after the hour. We're taking a look at the stories now we're following for you in the next 15 minutes.
President Obama heading to the Summit of Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in just a few hours. He's in Mexico City right now. The president is saying the U.S. shares responsibility for the flow of weapons, cash, and drugs over the border with Mexico.
Well, two major electronics companies are announcing thousands of job cuts. Toshiba says close to 4,000 people will lose their jobs in the next year. They also posted a bigger than expected loss of $3.5 billion for 2008. Sony Ericsson also said it will slash 2,000 jobs.
NASA rolling out Space Shuttle Endeavour to the launch pad at the Kennedy Center. It may be the last time two shuttles are on the launch pad there at the same time. Atlantis also being readied for a May 12th flight to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour is scheduled for a trip on June 13th to the International Space Station. Shuttles are scheduled to be retired next year.
A developing story now. Richard Phillips, the courageous captain, is on his way home to Vermont. The man who chose captivity at the hands of Somali pirates in order to protect his own crewmates now on a plane bound for America. And we're waiting to see what awaits him this afternoon.
Jason Carroll now in Underhill, Vermont, where they're waiting for the return of an American hero.
Hey, Jason, good morning.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you. You know, I spoke to some of the folks at the Phillips' home last night, again this morning. Woke some of them up. They were not too happy about that. But they are very happy about hearing that their man, Captain Phillips, is heading back very soon. They are just counting down the hours.
In fact, a lot of folks here in Underhill are counting down the hours. A lot of excitement here. Let me just set the scene for you.
Underhill, very small town, population, about 3,000. So in something like this of this magnitude happens to one of their own, it really affects so many people here. That is the case with Captain Richard Phillips. The yellow ribbons are up around town. The signs are up as well. People showing up at the general store to send a special message to their hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that everybody is very happy he's coming home safely and just praise God he's here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't wait to welcome him back home, back to his hometown and to his family. And the town is just thrilled beyond belief as you can imagine that he was rescued and we're delighted that he's on his way home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: The sign there at the general store says it all, welcome home. I want to read you a few of the special messages on the sign that you can't see from your vantage point.
One from the Sorkin (ph) family. It says, "We are proud of you." Another one from the Medelia (ph) family which says, "Captain Phillips, you rock."
And then just one more from Dianne Skinner (ph). She simply says, "Captain Phillips, you are a hero."
The sentiments of so many people here in this town. Captain Phillips expected back at about 4:30 this afternoon. He'll be arriving at Burlington International Airport, expected to arrive via private jet. A lot of folks here in this town waiting for him no more than his family. They are the ones who are really looking forward to seeing him, his wife, and his two children - Kiran.
CHETRY: He's going to get a lot of hugs and kisses for sure. Wow, very exciting, 4:30 p.m. is when they expect him. All right, Jason. Thanks so much.
ROBERTS: And as we keep an eye on Captain Phillips' homecoming, we are joined now by one of the crew members who says he's alive today because of what his captain did. John Cronan was an engineer onboard the Maersk Alabama. He's live this morning in Oxon Hill (ph), Maryland along with his fiancee, Heather Giardinelli.
John, I know you haven't had a chance to see Captain Phillips yet since this whole ordeal took place, but if you had the opportunity to talk to him, what would you say to him?
JOHN CRONAN, ENGINEER, MV MAERSK ALABAMA: I would have to say thank you very much, Captain. I can't really express my gratitude enough. I'm home with my family and my loved ones thanks to your courage and bravery.
ROBERTS: And Heather...
CRONAN: Thank you again, sir.
ROBERTS: And Heather, what would you say to the captain?
HEATHER GIARDINELLI, JOHN CRONAN'S FIANCEE: Thank you so much. It's -- I'll be forever indebted to you for bringing him home.
ROBERTS: Right. Well he might not be able to hear you because he's on a plane, but I'm sure the thoughts will carry out across the waves there. Let me ask you, John, where were you when the pirates boarded? And how did that whole thing unfold?
CRONAN: It's quite a story. But, briefly, I was in bed. I was just getting ready to wake up and start my work day when the alarm sounded. And we all promptly moved in to our designated locations about the ship.
ROBERTS: Right. Now when you say your designated locations about the ship, there is some sort of plan that if a certain security alarm sounds, you're supposed to go somewhere and do what?
CRONAN: Well, yes, sir. Usually relevant to our job descriptions -- I'm an assistant engineer, so my place is the engine room.
ROBERTS: Right. Now it was in the engine room...
CRONAN: And we all spread out accordingly.
ROBERTS: Right. Now it was in the engine room, as I understand it, that this 17-year-old pirate who is still in custody was stabbed. Can you tell us how that happened?
CRONAN: Oh, that's another story into itself. Well, let's just say that my shipmates displayed extreme bravery and courage. We did what we had to do.
ROBERTS: Right.
CRONAN: We're Americans. We're union members. We're seamen.
ROBERTS: Right.
CRONAN: And that's what we did.
ROBERTS: Hey Heather, as I understand it, the two of you had argued at least once about piracy on the high seas and that you were very concerned about it. What was said during that discussion?
GIARDINELLI: I was concerned about John going back to this part of the world. He'd been there previously. And I knew that this was a real possibility. But I also knew that it was his job. And this is what he does.
ROBERTS: You know, when you first heard about what was going onboard the "Maersk Alabama," did you almost say to yourself, oh, my god, I had a premonition. I thought that I knew that this was going to happen.
GIARDINELLI: Sure. There was a part of me that was like, I just -- it was finally happening. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't breathe.
ROBERTS: So you know what she went through, John. Are you going to go back there? Are you going to risk it again? Because you do know that the threat of piracy is even heightened on these days. CRONAN: Well, all I can answer to that is I don't care to put my family through the stress ever again. The Staten Island ferry is much more appealing to me now.
ROBERTS: All right, well, maybe I'll get a chance to...
CRONAN: I just want to...
ROBERTS: I was going to say maybe I'll get a chance to meet you because I ride that every once in a while. But, John and Heather, we've got to wrap up. Thanks very much for being with us, glad to see you back safe and sound, John.
CRONAN: OK...
GIARDINELLI: Thank you.
CRONAN: Thank you very much.
ROBERTS: All right -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right, 34 minutes after the hour. A kinder, gentler war on drugs -- many addicts are now being sentenced to rehab instead of jail, our special series, "Drug Nation" next.
Also, United Airlines making overweight passengers pay for two seats on flights? Well some are calling it blatant discrimination; we're going to have a closer look at the controversy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
With President Obama in Mexico City right now, we're taking a serious look at the bloody drug war on the border and how addiction in this country is fueling it in our series, "Drug Nation" and all week we've been asking you whether legalizing drugs like marijuana could help fix the problem. Here's a few of your responses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALLER: I'm a combat veteran from Iraq. Been out, and I have posttraumatic stress syndrome among other things, but instead of going and taking a whole bunch of pills like Xanax and antidepressants, I really just prefer to smoke weed.
CALLER: It defies logic that alcohol is legal and marijuana isn't. It's just absolutely outrageous. I was a full blown alcoholic from the time I was 16 and then later a heroin addict. And nothing is worse than alcohol.
CALLER: I'm completely against it. I'm a health care professional. I don't care what all those arguments say. Marijuana destroys a portion of the brain. It is unhealthy.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHETRY: There you go. We're hearing from many people, so keep those calls coming into our hotline. We'd like to hear from you.
A lot of people convicted of drug crimes now though aren't seeing a single day of prison time. Alina Cho joins us now with more on that story. They claim it's the kinder, gentler war on drugs.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, yes, the new war on drugs, if you will, Kiran.
Good morning. Good morning everybody.
You know there is a trend emerging across the country when it comes to dealing with drug offenders. More and more judges are sentencing them not to jail but to treatment as an alternative to incarceration. And by doing this, some say you're not just saving tax dollars, you're saving a life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My pleasure to advance you to phase two. Come on up. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
CHO (voice-over): It's not a scene you normally see in a criminal courtroom. But this is no ordinary court. In fact it may be the future of the war on drugs -- drug court. Rehab for criminals convicted of drug crimes, an alternative to jail. The idea -- drug offenders are addicts crying for help.
JUDGE JO ANN FERDINAND, NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT: And in fact that you don't treat people for their underlying drug abuse problem, they continue to commit crimes.
CHO: In 12 years, Judge Jo Ann Ferdinand of the Supreme Court of New York says she sentenced 3,000 people to drug treatment. To qualify, defendants must have a substance abuse problem and their crimes must be nonviolent. Fail to show up, fail a drug test, and eventually you're sentenced to real time. A third do fail.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything going well?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great.
CHO: But two thirds graduate. People like 59-year-old Monica Holmes.
MONICA HOLMES, DRUG COURT GRADUATE: I have my own apartment for the first time in my life. I'm going back to school. I have a job.
CHO: And 45-year-old Mark Kearney.
(on camera): How long have you been clean?
MARK KEARNEY, DRUG COURT GRADUATE: Three years, two months and two days now.
CHO: You count the days?
KEARNEY: I have to count the days because it reminds me that if I don't keep counting the days where I'm going to be at if I lose the count.
CHO (voice-over): In the United States on average, it costs $22,000 a year to house a prisoner. Court-ordered drug treatment per person costs about 3,000. Proponents say mandated rehab is tougher than prison. But others disagree.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not like fairy dust; you don't just say the magic word, "treatment" and somebody is cured. It's tough.
CHO: Bridget Brennans (ph), special narcotics prosecutor for New York City says drug court is far from a silver bullet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure it would shock people to know that criminals if they think that they can escape punishment will feign addiction, will feign substance abuse. I have big concerns about just letting those people back out into the community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Drug court does not let people off. Drug court requires people to acknowledge that they have a problem, to take responsibility, and to learn new ways of behaving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Now it's interesting to note that the more jail time the drug offender is facing, the greater the success and drug treatment. And the judge you just heard from says if you think about it, it really makes sense. What we're asking them to do requires strong motivation and if you're facing two years in prison, Kiran, that is a strong motivation to succeed.
Now critics will say like the D.A., will say listen I go out in the community, I hear complaints from people all the time saying get these drug offenders off the streets, get them away from my children. But the judge that we spoke to said listen, what you're seeing is savings beyond the cost of drug treatment versus incarceration.
You're looking at people who are getting off the welfare rolls. They're going to college. They're getting jobs. They're paying taxes. They're able to take care of their children now so they're not going to foster care, so you really see a savings in terms of social services beyond just what you initially...
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: And they are talking about nonviolent drug offenders, right...
CHO: They're talking about nonviolent drug offenders. They do stringent testing to find out if they are indeed addicts. But you don't have to be a first-time offender. The judge said she sees a lot of people who have had many, many offenses. And the problem is addiction is a disease, as she says, that needs to be cured and it takes some time.
CHETRY: Yes, all right, a great story, Alina. Thanks so much.
CHO: You bet.
CHETRY: John.
ROBERTS: Here's what we're working on for you this morning. The journey from addiction to recovery, Dr. Sanjay Gupta gives us an inside look at rehab.
And the extremely dangerous job of dealing with Mexico's drug cartels. Joining us at the top of the hour the nation's first drug czar, Bill Bennett, on the president's plan.
You're watching the Most News in the Morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: What a day to wake up in hot Atlanta where well OK, it's not going to be hot by Atlanta's standards but it will be very pleasant. Clear and 51 right now; later, sunny and 70 degrees. It's going to be a very nice day there in Georgia today.
Two corporate giants Citigroup and General Electric reported their first quarter earnings this morning. Our Christine Romans "Minding Your Business" -- she's here because the numbers from Citigroup are, shall we say, somewhat complicated.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm sorry, banking earnings confusing and crazy looking, yes they are.
ROBERTS: Perish the thought.
ROMANS: They are. Let's talk about Citi first, its report card for the first quarter. It reported what it says is a net income of $1.6 billion. They say oh, it earned a lot of money, right? Well there's some complicated accounting...
CHETRY: No way.
ROMANS: Imagine. There's also -- it paid dividends to preferred shareholders. There were some massive loan losses. You put this all together the loss to common shareholders is $966 million. So, the common shareholder lost money. The company, because of this accounting treatments and stuff can say that it had a net profit of 1.6 billion. Essentially, this is the best quarter for Citi in a little over a year, but this is not a healthy situation overall for Citi. Citi is -- we can still say the beleaguered Citigroup...
ROBERTS: So they're not healthy. They're just maybe a little less sick than they were.
ROMANS: That's exactly right. John, that's a very good way to put it. It cut its head count in the last quarter by 13,000. We told you before since its peak, it's cut 65,000 jobs. It also had to put money aside, more than $1 billion it put aside to cushion itself from future loan losses.
So what we've been seeing in the banks you guys is a lot of these banks have positions of strength somewhere in the -- in their numbers and where kind of Wall Street focuses on that position of strength. But remember, credit losses are mounting. They're having to put aside a lot of money to prevent future problems and the like.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: GE...
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Quickly, GE profits down 35 percent, it's a big company, so that one is important too. It's better than expected. Both of these are better than expected. Both of them are not great but better than expected, so there you go.
ROBERTS: And that's what it's all about I guess when you're talking about confidence, right...
ROMANS: You know it's everything about the economy. Not great but better than expected. That's what we're looking for...
ROBERTS: Thanks for staying (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great.
CHETRY: Well should overweight passengers have to pay for two seats on certain airline flights? United is the latest carrier to adopt this policy. Is it fair? We're going to look at both sides.
Also, President Obama taking an extraordinary step releasing top secret terror interrogation memos from the Bush years. Critics say it's proof of torture. Others say the move is making us less safe. We're live in Washington with details.
It's 47 minutes past the hour.
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CHETRY: Well a developing story this morning -- top-secret terror interrogation memos revealed. The documents detail the methods used by the Bush administration. Critics say it's proof of torture.
CNN's Kate Bolduan has details this morning from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sleep deprivation, slapping, forced nudity, and simulated drowning known as waterboarding. The Bush administration saying these interrogation techniques were OK and legal in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to prevent another attack like it. Now the Obama administration is releasing four Bush-era memos about what happened behind closed doors and in back rooms as the war on terror raged.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: I have to say these were some of the most shocking legal documents I've ever seen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
TOOBIN: To see the United States government and assistant attorney general say that waterboarding was not torture, a position that he is totally without legal support.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: These are legal authorizations for specific actions to be undertaken. The CIA that did what they were told based on the authorization that they had been given. The president believes it would be unfair to punish those.
BOLDUAN: The Justice Department under President Bush issued opinions on the case of high-value al Qaeda detainee Abu Zubaydah (ph), who was said to be deathly afraid of stinging insects. The Justice Department ruled it was OK to put him in a confined space and tell him there was such an insect in the cell with him, as long as he was told the sting would not kill him or severely hurt him.
A memo also noted that some detainees subject to forced nudity and sleep deprivation may be kept in diapers for, quote, "sanitary purposes", not as another way to get them to talk. Waterboarding and other techniques were said to be used on Zubaydah (ph) and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad (ph), the admitted 9/11 mastermind, but these memos stress that American troops have endured these techniques in training and do not constitute torture.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This government does not torture people.
BOLDUAN: Former POW John McCain disagreed.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Clearly, waterboarding is torture and it's a big issue with me.
BOLDUAN: And the Obama administration has since banned waterboarding and other so-called enhanced interrogation tactics but groups like the ACLU who fought for these documents to be released want something more.
AMRIT SINGH, ACLU: Torture is illegal, it is immoral and it is essential that individuals who conducted torture be held accountable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: But that isn't likely. The Obama administration has also informed CIA officials they will be not prosecuted for past waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics since they were following orders that were considered legal at the time -- Kiran?
CHETRY: All right, well critics continue to say that that memo -- no one is above the law when it comes to torture. Is the administration pushing back on that?
BOLDUAN: Yes, they are. And there is an interesting and strong statement coming out from the director of national intelligence, Dennis Blair (ph). He basically says that you need to remember the context of these events when these memos came out. In part (INAUDIBLE) says those memos -- those methods read on a bright sunny day in April 2009 appear graphic and disturbing but he then goes on to say these public servants were working under the assurance that their actions and the orders that they were working under were legal at the time. So he says you really need to have a bit of a reality check here.
CHETRY: All right, Kate Bolduan for us this morning from Washington -- thanks.
Also coming up at 8:30 we're going to talk to CNN contributor Fran Townsend, former Bush homeland security adviser about the now declassified torture memos -- John.
ROBERTS: Here's what we're working on for you this morning -- United's new controversial policy, the airline will now charge overweight passengers for a second seat on certain flights. Is it unfair? Humiliating? We want to hear from you.
And the captain of that hijacked cargo ship is headed home to Vermont as we speak. A huge celebration is planned. We'll take you live to his hometown in Underhill, Vermont, coming up.
It's 53 and a half minutes after the hour.
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ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Overweight passengers will be paying more to get on certain commercial flights. United is the latest carrier to double charge plus-size passengers or in some cases, bump them altogether from full flights. As you might imagine, the airlines new seating policy is creating quite a bit of controversy.
Carol Costello is following it for us this morning from Washington.
Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Yes, some people think it's pretty extreme, but United has joined eight other American airlines and will now require obese passengers to buy an extra seat if one is not available. Some people are not very happy about this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): It's all the rage in the world of flight, to "charge the large," as Slate online puts it. United Airlines is the latest to jump onboard. It will now require passengers who are unable to fit into a single seat, buckle the seatbelt, or put the seat's armrest down to pay for an extra seat if one is not available. If they refuse, they're booted from the flight. It's not sitting well with everyone.
BRANDON MACSATA, ASSOCIATION FOR AIRLINE PASSENGER RIGHTS: It's clearly a money-making thing that the airlines have engulfed themselves in once again. And we're really not surprised because they seem to be at it almost weekly now.
COSTELLO: United doesn't see it that way saying it cares about all of its customers. It just wants to ensure that everyone's travel experiences are comfortable and pleasant. Plus, the airline says it's gotten hundreds of complaints from thinner passengers who have been made extremely uncomfortable by what United calls infringement. People we talked with were more charitable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two seats is just out of control.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think to some degree, it's kind of like discriminating. To me -- my personal opinion, it's not cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's not fair. That because they're heavy or overweight or whatever, they have to buy two tickets. I find that to be ridiculous.
COSTELLO: And others say the airlines themselves caused the infringement problem by cramming in too many seats.
MACSATA: I'm six feet, I weigh about 190 pounds. Most coach seats, I'm crammed in like a sardine. And if somebody is next to me of the same build which is not overweight, we're fighting over the armrest. If somebody in front of me goes to recline their chair, now, I can't even use my laptop because I'm crammed in.
COSTELLO: So why not charge "Mr. Long Legs" extra or people with crying babies? Don't they infringe on pleasant travel experiences too?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Just asking the question.
Canadian Airlines actually considered this policy, too, but Canada ruled charging the morbidly obese amounts to discrimination because Canada considers being morbidly obese a disability and actually requires airlines like Air Canada to provide a second seat for free for its large customers - John.
ROBERTS: Interesting difference. Carol Costello for us this morning -- Carol, thanks so much.
And that brings us to today's quick vote question. We are asking our viewers if you agree with United's new policy. Right now 74 percent of you say you do agree with United; 25 percent disagree with the extra charge. Log on to CNN.com/amfix to cast your vote. And call us with your opinions on the story or anything else that's on your mind for that matter. Call our AMFix hotline at 877-MY-AMFIX.
