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American Morning
U.S. Journalists to be Tried in North Korea; Taliban Retreat in Pakistan; Holder Vows Fair Probe of Bush Era; Necessity v. Luxury: What Items Americans Can't Live Without; President's Report Card; General Ray Odierno Discusses America's Stance in Middle East; Rating This Week's Popular Pop Culture
Aired April 24, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again to you. It's Friday. It is April 24th. I'm Kiran Chetry along with John Roberts.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Crossing the top of the hour now. And here's what's on this morning's agenda. Stories that will be breaking down for you in the next 15 minutes here on the Most News in the Morning.
Two American journalists being detained in North Korea will stand trial for what the government says are hostile acts. Laura Ling and Euna Lee are reporters for al Gore's current TV network. They were arrested in March near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China.
After pushing to within 60 miles of Pakistan's capital, Taliban fighters are retreating to their stronghold in the Swat Valley. New video this morning shows some Taliban militants leaving their base in the recently seized Buner District. U.S. military officials, though, aren't convinced the Taliban will stay away from Islamabad. Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes that we're moving closer to the tipping point, where Pakistan could be overtaken by Islamic extremists.
And mixed bag on overseas financial markets. Japan's Nikkei Index down 1.5 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained less than .50 percent. Europeans stocks, though, were trading in positive territory. And Dow Futures slightly higher ahead of the opening bell next hour.
More now on our top story out of North Korea, where American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee stand accused of entering the country illegally and conducting, quote, "hostile act." The two are reporters for Al Gore's current TV network. They were arrested last month after allegedly crossing the border from China while reporting on North Korean refugees who were living in China.
We're tapping into the global resources of CNN to bring you the very latest on this developing story.
Our Sohn Jie-Ae is live for us in Seoul, South Korea, today.
Good morning to you, Jie-Ae. SOHN JIE-AE, CNN SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, John.
North Korea did announce today through its official news agency that it is going to put two U.S. journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee on trial. While they did not specify what the charges would be, they have earlier said that these two were being investigated for illegally entering the country and for what they call hostile acts.
Now, the concern here is that the legal proceedings against these two U.S. journalists are proceeding in the backdrop of a political maneuvering that is being done between North Korea and the rest of the world. Now this is a fact that has pointed out by an Asian program that deals with the protection of the rights of journalists. They did point out that these two U.S. journalists may have become pawns in a greater issue that deals not only with their illegal -- alleged illegal entry into North Korea, but with things like North Korea's missile crisis, the nuclear weapons program, even the succession issue within North Korea, and that these two journalists may become a player in all of this.
Now what this deals with is the fact that the backdrop of this legal activity against these two journalists is the fact that U.N. is moving to flap some sanctions against North Korea. And the timing of this is very, very interesting - John.
ROBERTS: Sohn Jie-Ae for us this morning from Seoul, South Korea.
Jie-Ae, thanks very much for that - Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, turning now to the standoff with the Taliban in Pakistan. A regional leader in Pakistan is telling CNN that militants have now completely pulled out of the Buner District. The area has been under siege for days as militants took control of the government buildings, as well as bridges. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laying out some of the blame for the crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We can point fingers at the Pakistanis, which is, you know, I did some yesterday, frankly. And it's merited because we are wondering why they don't just get out there and deal with these people. But the problems we face now, to some extent, we have to take responsibility for having contributed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: CNN's Ivan Watson is live in Islamabad, Pakistan, this morning with more on the situation.
So they're saying that Taliban did actually pull out of Buner. What's the next move?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they pulled out and this comes after a deadly clash yesterday. An ambush in that same very district where Taliban fighters killed one Pakistani police officer and wounded one more.
Now Pakistani officials say the Taliban has not only occupied this district in recent days, but they've moved into other areas around the Swat Valley. And this advance that we saw from the Taliban came about a week after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with the Taliban allowing the imposition of Islamic sharia Law in the Swat Valley. The Taliban then went forward. They capitalized on this declaring victory and demanding that sharia Law be spread all across Pakistan.
So we have to see whether or not the Taliban will pull back from those other areas as well, and whether or not, they will disarm as they have agreed to do in this peace agreement with the Pakistani government.
CHETRY: All right. Ivan Watson for us this morning in Islamabad. Thank you.
ROBERTS: Five minutes after the hour now. Let's fast forward through stories that will be making news later on today.
At 4:30 Eastern, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will hold a press conference after he meets with world finance ministers from the G-7 nations. It's going to be the first of three days of meetings on the global financial crisis in Washington.
Commander General David Petraeus will be on Capitol Hill today in about a half an hour --- an hour and a half, rather.
He'll testify before the House Appropriation Subcommittee on some supplemental money requests. Petraeus is expected to point to downward cycles of violence in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to support his case.
And the Dalai Lama is in the United States today. The exiled spiritual leader will spend the day in California lecturing at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
And the battle over the CIA's harsh interrogation techniques, and whether to prosecute former Bush administration officials is heating up. We'll have the debate ahead for you.
It's coming up now on seven minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: In this economy, many people are making cuts, but what could you do without your television? Now, you can't do without that because you need to watch AMERICAN MORNING.
CHETRY: No, you need your TV.
ROBERTS: Absolutely. What about air-conditioning? Might be tough, but that thermometer about to hit 85 degrees here in New York City this weekend.
Personal finance editor Gerri Willis here to talk about necessity versus luxury.
Good morning.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Yes. That's absolutely right.
Good morning.
It is luxury versus necessity, and what we think of these two things are changing.
Here's a new survey out from the Pugh Research Center. As you can see, 83 percent of you out there said a dryer was a necessity three years ago, but now only 66 percent of you think that way. You think it's a luxury.
Air-conditioning, 70 percent said that was a necessity three years ago. Today, that figure is 54 percent.
The microwave is only essential for less than half of people. The dishwasher is a necessity only to about 20 percent of folks.
But there were some newer items that remain, well, relatively recession-proof, including cell phones and home computers. Those items are still seen as a necessity for half of Americans. iPods, flat-screen TVs seen as necessities for a very small segment of the population.
One item that is seen as a necessity, though, when you can understand this completely is a car. You got to get around to -- you have to have a car to get to work, to go to the job interview or whatever you're going to do.
ROBERTS: So they say that's not a necessity. You got to wonder how many people are doing without these things. But what are some of the other ways that folks are weathering the storm?
WILLIS: Good question. Well, people are trying to save money any way they can. As you know, that's how they're coping with the economic storm. Fifty-seven percent are buying less expensive brand, shopping at discount stores. We've seen that in the earnings releases as well.
Twenty-eight percent cut back on spending, on alcohol and cigarettes. Maybe that's not a bad idea.
Twenty-four percent cut back on cable, satellite TV.
Twenty-four percent switched to a less expensive cell phone plan or cut service.
And 21 percent made plans to plant a vegetable garden.
CHETRY: Wow. That's the way that the first lady was saying they do it. She said, look, for about $200 we have all of these vegetables that you can eat for years to come. WILLIS: Now, you can do this summer because of your house.
CHETRY: Yes.
WILLIS: Will you do that this summer?
CHETRY: I'll give it a try.
WILLIS: Tomatoes are easy.
CHETRY: Tomatoes, yes, hard to kill. Either that or a Chia herb garden. That's hard to kill as well.
Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: That's something to think about.
CHETRY: Exactly.
Well, new this morning -- caught on surveillance camera at Evansville, Indiana, a man with a machete. Police say he whipped out a huge knife, trying to attack a store clerk, but the clerk used a stool as a shield, fought him off. The suspect now faces charges of aggravated battery. Police say that he told them he just snapped.
Also new this morning, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is still in a Los Angeles hospital. He checked himself in yesterday because of what's being described as a mild illness. An NBC spokesman says Leno is in good spirits. He's been testing out some monologue jokes on the doctors and nurses. The Thursday and Friday tapings of the show were canceled. In fact, our Anderson Cooper was supposed to appear tonight.
Depeche Mode taking over the famous intersection of Hollywood last night, Hollywood and Vine. The electro-pop veterans are pushing their 12th full-length album "Sounds of the Universe." A free concert was also part of the taping for "Jimmy Kimmel Live." They performed some new tracks and, of course, that classic "Enjoy the Silence."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. It's 15 minutes past the hour. A check of your "Political Ticker" this morning.
"New York Times" reporting that New York's top ethics panel is being asked to investigate allegations that confidential information about Caroline Kennedy was leaked during her quest for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. So far, the panel has not decided whether or not to investigate Governor Paterson's administration.
President Obama will soon get his hands on his super secure BlackBerry. According to the "Washington Times," the new BlackBerry is in the final stages of development by the national security agency. Since the inauguration, the president has been using two interim models to communicate with friends and staff. And there may be proof that they're burning the midnight oil at the Treasury Department, either that or the finer points of the financial crisis can get a little boring. Take a look.
Yesterday, President Obama's top economic adviser Larry Summers nodded off during the president's meeting with credit cards officials. This isn't the first time he's done it either. He was caught napping off at a financial -- or a fiscal responsibility summit back in February.
Numbers, numbers can get so boring, John.
ROBERTS: Well, at least you can't spend any money while you're asleep.
This morning, the Obama administration and Congress caught up in a firestorm over harsh interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration and whether officials who crafted the policy should be prosecuted.
Joining me to debate the issue this morning, Republican strategist Ed Rollins and Democratic strategist James Carville, both CNN contributors.
Gentleman, good morning to both of you.
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Good morning.
JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning.
ROBERTS: Ed, in a column that you wrote for CNN.com you took the president to task over the CIA memos and whether to possibly prosecute or not, he said that he was leaving it in the hands of the attorney general. On that point, you wrote, quote, "He waffled big time. Now all sides are mad at him and he looks weak. Weakness is the death knell for a president. Obama has got to get tougher or he'll be viewed as a personality who reads well from a teleprompter."
Is the president losing his mojo here, Ed?
ROLLINS: Well, I don't think he's losing his mojo, but I think at this particular case, he made -- he made a major error. I think the reality is the president and the Democrats have the opportunity to push forward an agenda. He's made it very clear that his administration is not going to torture, that they'll reverse the old policies, which haven't taken place since 2003, the waterboarding part of it.
And I think to open this thing up to let a congressional hearing move forward or let his attorney general basically have investigations that will try and prosecute people from a past administration, will so distract from health care and other things he wants to do. And I think it's a big mistake.
ROBERTS: What do you think, James? Is he looking weak over this issue? CARVILLE: No, I was dozing off.
(LAUGHTER)
I think that they would have preferred, obviously, that this thing would just simply go away. And they had a lot of things to do. And, you know, you open these things up and God knows what happens.
The point is, it seems to me, that it's not going to go away, that there are a lot of legal people -- I think, that there were actually crimes that were committed here. I don't know that.
And they're going to probably try to do something here to get somewhat close to the truth without being distracted. It seems to me that the momentum on the administration's part and some of the congressional leadership is to leave it in the Senate Intelligence Committee for now. I supposed there will be a report toward the end of the year. If that happens, I think they would all be happy with that, but that may not be -- that may not be (INAUDIBLE).
ROBERTS: Yes, but, as Ed suggested...
CARVILLE: Go ahead. Go ahead.
ROBERTS: ...as Ed suggested, that he opened up a can of worms here, that he shouldn't have because it's beginning to overshadow his agenda now?
CARVILLE: There is no can in Washington that is not full of worms. And -- but the point of the matter is that this stuff took place. There are very, very serious and grave questions about its legality and a lot of people are just not going to let it go away. Neither is the press going to let this thing go away. We'll going to be inundated with stories like this.
ROBERTS: You know, the big question, too, is where you go from here. Arianna Huffington wrote in "The Huffington Post," quote, "This is a defining moment for America. The way we respond or fail to respond to the revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture will delineate for ourselves and for the world the kind of country that we are."
Ed, is this a case where you release these memos, now you have no choice but to follow up on wherever they go?
ROLLINS: Well, if you're going to keep releasing memos, I mean, obviously, everybody in the world is going to know what's happened behind closed doors. That will take place in this administration, too. You set a precedent.
You know, at the end of the day, we're still in war. I mean, I think the key thing here is terrorism did not go away the day Obama got elected. The Fatah -- that Osama bin Laden said to go out and kill Americans, is still out there. We can't handicap our CIA. And you can set your -- it's his administration, and he can set whatever tone he wants, but at the end of the day, we still have troops on the ground in Afghanistan and other places and that's a dangerous, dangerous place.
CARVILLE: I couldn't agree with Ed more, but the secretary of defense points out, I think there are more Red Cross documents that are coming forward. You know, this stuff was some pretty controversial stuff that may be illegal and it just doesn't seem like it's going away. I think the president wishes it would, but it's not.
ROBERTS: Yes. More pictures coming out apparently by May the 28th. I think, James, that's what you were alluding to.
CARVILLE: Right.
ROBERTS: All right. We've got the hundred days coming up, just a few days from now. It occurs on Wednesday. We'd like you, gentlemen, to grade the presidency so far.
James, let's start with you. A hundred days, what kind of grade would you give the president?
CARVILLE: Well, I mean, if you would expect me to give him a good grade because he's a Democratic president and I'm a Democrat, but the more important thing here is the public is giving him a very good grade. I mean, the country is now...
ROBERTS: Oh, wait a minute. Don't duck it. Don't duck it. Don't duck it. What would you give him? Come on, James, put it on the table.
CARVILLE: "A" minus.
ROBERTS: "A" minus.
Ed, what would you give him?
ROLLINS: If I was a Democrat, I'd give him very high marks. I might give him an "A" if I was a Democrat.
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: I just said mine because I didn't want to say two in the tank.
ROLLINS: Listen, I think -- I think the guy has had a great start. He's pushing an agenda that obviously he ran on. He's lived up to most of his promises. You know, he's a big personality and I think -- and I don't -- I don't diminish that.
I think the country wants a president they feel comfortable with. A long, hard path ahead, and hopefully, some of the stuff he's thrown out there will work because we're spending a ton of taxpayers' money.
ROBERTS: All right. So professors, so what grade would you give him?
ROLLINS: I'd give him a "B."
ROBERTS: All right. There you go. So an "A" minus from James and a "B" from Ed. That's not too far apart.
James, you might want to up it just a little bit there.
CARVILLE: I hope it works, and history gives him an "A," and we'll be happy.
ROLLINS: I will be, too.
ROBERTS: As you said, yesterday, it's like the guy that jumps out of a 40th floor, and as he's passing the 30th floor, you say, it's going pretty good so far.
CARVILLE: Go, go, boy. Yes.
ROBERTS: We'll see where this is headed.
CARVILLE: (INAUDIBLE).
ROBERTS: James Carville, Ed Rollins, always great to see you. Thanks for dropping by.
ROLLINS: Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Again, next Wednesday, marks President Obama's 100th day in office. Join us at 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. Let us know how you think that he's done so far.
And at 8:00, President Obama will hold a live news conference. Just go to cnn.com/reportcard for details - Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. John, thanks.
Well, still ahead, deadly attacks in Iraq. Can the U.S. hold to its June 30th deadline to pull combat troops out of harm's way in Iraq? We're going to be speaking to the top military leader in charge there -- Ray Odierno. He's joining us live from Baghdad just ahead.
Also, Miss California's controversial answer at the Miss USA pageant to the teen pirate suspect grinning for the cameras.
It's been quite a week to remember. The host of VH1's "Best Week Ever" is here to recap.
Twenty-one minutes after the hour.
ANNOUNCER: This is "CNN Heroes."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA IVORY, CNN HERO: In 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially, there's shock, but I realized how blessed I was to have health insurance. It made me think about all the women who didn't have health insurance. I wanted to make a difference in their lives. I'm Andrea Ivory, and I'm fighting breast cancer in south Florida one household at a time.
The Florida Breast Health Initiative is an outreach organization. We're targeting working-class people. We're going to make a difference and we're going to save some lives. We have a take it to the streets approach.
We feel like little pixies spreading breast cancer awareness.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I ask you a few questions?
IVORY: We target women that are 35 years or older, and make appointments on the spot for a free mammogram.
I look forward to seeing you. I'll be there.
Bringing the mobile mammography van into the neighborhood is one of the most important facets of the work that we do.
Let's go.
We provide a service that is so need. I know I'm saving lives.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They said it was free, so come right over and get it.
IVORY: Is the lady of the house at home?
We're giving a free mammogram on the 25th.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's easy!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm like, OK, I'll go.
IVORY: Thank you so much. Take care.
I was saved from breast cancer to serve other women. Every time I knock on the door is another opportunity to save a life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. We're following developing news for you now.
The Pentagon set to release another batch of photos. The ACLU says it shows prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hands of American personnel. The ACLU filed a suit for the pictures to be released and says they will come out by May 28th.
Attorney General Eric Holder is kicking the door open, though, to possible prosecutions over alleged torture. Yesterday, he went before Congress promising to hold people accountable, but also promising it wouldn't be a political witch hunt. Here's CNN's Jim Acosta.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, pressure is building For President Obama to investigate the Bush administration for authorizing interrogation methods that even some Republicans say amount to torture.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is my responsibility as the attorney general to enforce the law.
ACOSTA (voice-over): For the Obama administration, it's the question that won't go away. And Attorney General Eric Holder is refusing to rule out the possible prosecution of high-level members of the Bush administration who authorized harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists.
HOLDER: If I see evidence of wrongdoing, I will pursue it to the full extent of the law and I will do that in an appropriate way.
ACOSTA: Some Democrats are turning up the heat on the White House to name a special prosecutor who could bring indictments.
JONATHAN TURLEY, PROFESSOR, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW: Attorney General Holder needs to appoint a special prosecutor.
ACOSTA: Law professor Jonathan Turley says the president has no choice.
TURLEY: You have insurmountable evidence that we ran a torture program. President Obama has the constitutional authority to pardon President Bush and Vice President Cheney and these other individuals. He does not have the authority to obstruct an investigation to a war crime.
ACOSTA: Democrats point to this Senate intelligence report released this week. It states then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and then-National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice were briefed by CIA officials in 2002 that the agency was considering alternative interrogation methods, including waterboarding. An international Red Cross report found waterboarding was used saying it induced a feeling of panic and the acute impression that the person was about to die. Former POW John McCain has called the method torture.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: It's in violation of the Geneva Convention. It's in violation of existing law.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This government does not torture people.
ACOSTA: Two years ago, President Bush stressed Congress knew about the program.
BUSH: The techniques that we used have been fully disclosed to appropriate members of the United States Congress. ACOSTA: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she was only told waterboarding might be used.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: We were not - I repeat, we were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used.
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They did work. They kept us safe for seven years.
ACOSTA: Bush administration officials are firing back, including former Justice Department official John Yoo, who advised the former president the Geneva Convention banning torture does not apply to suspected terrorists.
JOHN YOO, FORMER JUSTICE DEPT OFFICIAL: This wasn't worth it? Well, we haven't had an attack in more than seven years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: President Obama has come out against one option, that is naming a 9/11-style independent truth commission to investigate allegations of torture. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president did not want the issue to become what he called a political back and forth.
John and Kiran?
CHETRY: All right. Jim Acosta for us. Thanks.
The attorney general also telling Congress he is willing to release as much information as possible about those interrogations saying he won't play hide and seek with secret memos about the harsh interrogation tactics and their effectiveness.
ROBERTS: Coming up on the half hour now. We're following a developing story for you this morning.
A regional leader in Pakistan tells CNN that Taliban militants have completely pulled out of the Buner District. The area has been under siege for days and stands just 60 miles from the nuclear nations capital of Islamabad. But U.S. military officials are not convinced that the Taliban will stay away. Admiral Mike Mullen saying Pakistan could still be overtaken by Islamic extremists.
The Ford motor company posting a first quarter loss. The healthiest of Detroit's big three lost $1.4 billion.
Things even worse for Chrysler. "The New York Times" reporting the Treasury Department is preparing a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for that automaker.
More deadly violence hitting Iraq today. At least 60 people were killed in back-to-back suicide bombings near a holy shrine in Baghdad. Police say the bombers had two different entrances to the Shiite shrine, while worshippers filed in for Friday prayers. Today's attacks come during funerals for dozens killed in two bombings just yesterday in Baghdad at Iraq's Diyala province.
These attacks have some experts and politicians asking can the president hold to a June 30th deadline to get U.S. troops out of Iraqi cities? For the latest on the ground, let's bring in General Ray Odierno. He is the man in charge of those troops and in charge of getting them out. He is the commander of the multi-national force in Iraq and he joins us live from Baghdad this morning.
General, the first thing I wanted to ask you about were reports yesterday from the Iraqi military that Omar Al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic state in Iraq was captured. Do you have information that confirms that?
GEN. RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDING GENERAL, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE, IRAQ: Not yet, John. The Iraqis are questioning him. We have not yet been able to confirm his identity. We'll work with them as they continue to question the individual that they have in custody.
ROBERTS: If in fact he has been captured, what effect do you think that might have on al Qaeda operations in Iraq?
ODIERNO: Well, again, Omar al-Baghdadi is an individual who is the Iraqi face of al Qaeda in Iraq, so it would be important if we had him in custody. He is one that continues to plan and potentially recruit individuals to join al Qaeda inside of Iraq. ROBERTS: We were mentioning, as we came into you, General, the suicide bombings over the last couple of days. Eighty-three dead yesterday in a couple of suicide attacks. One of them, a female suicide bomber who detonated her explosive belt while she was holding a small child. Sixty more dead today.
What effect might that have on this June 30th deadline that the administration has set to pull U.S. troops out of urban areas?
ODIERNO: Well, John, we still have a lot of assessment that we'll have to do before the June 30th date. What I will tell you, though, is this spike in suicide attacks that we've seen over the last couple of days, frankly, is another tragic event caused by al Qaeda and their links. They are killing many innocent people. They are killing pilgrims going to pray and killing women and children; killing homeless. It again shows the type of individuals al Qaeda has and how much they care about the Iraqi people.
I will tell you we will assist the government of Iraq going after these networks and these individuals who continue to conduct these attacks. I believe, though, that the Iraqi people will not be intimidated by this. They see that progress is moving forward in Iraq. They have hope now and they will not let this stand in their way of moving forward.
ROBERTS: On this June 30th deadline, Colonel Gary Boleski, the top military commander, as you know, in the northern part of Iraq says his forces may have to stay in Mosul past the June 30th deadline because of unrest there. If he has to stay past June 30th and potentially in other areas if this violence continues to escalate as it has, you have to keep other U.S. forces in some urban areas, what might that do to the overall deadline that the administration has set of getting all U.S. combat forces out of Iraq by the end of 2011?
ODIERNO: Again, that would have no impact on that.
The bottom line is we're doing joint assessments with the government of Iraq in all of the areas today. And we believe, if you ask me today, the one area I'm still not sure about is Mosul. But we will do a joint assessment. We'll provide recommendations to the prime minister and he, ultimately, will make that decision whether we stay with combat forces in the city. We will remain with advisers and we will continue to provide enablers to them and we will assist them in going after other safe havens and sanctuaries that are located outside of the cities.
ROBERTS: And General, let me take you to Pakistan for a minute. Because as many people know, a lot of the al Qaeda you're fighting there in Iraq somehow come through Pakistan, whether they are just transit through there or they go to training camps in the northwest frontier provinces. When you see what happened yesterday with the Taliban, over the last couple of days with the Taliban moving into Buner Province, they seem to really have a desire to expand their influence in that area. What is the potential impact for you? And what do you think the U.S. military should be doing about that?
ODIERNO: Well, I would just say, I don't like commenting much about Pakistan or Afghanistan because that's not my area of responsibility.
ROBERTS: Right. But I thought since you feel the blowout from that it perhaps enters into your link?
ODIERNO: Yes. Well, what we worry about, obviously, is the freedom of movement of terrorists around the world and what we want to do is eliminate those areas where we believe terrorists or foreign fighters are allowed to move freely and then are able to conduct operations against innocent people around the world. So, clearly, that might have an impact on that.
ROBERTS: All right.
ODIERNO: I know General Petraeus is working extremely hard on policies and military options with General McKernan to solve this problem. I'll leave it to them to work the operational tactics.
ROBERTS: General Ray Odierno joining us today, live from Baghdad. General, it's always a pleasure to sit down and chat with you. Thanks so much for taking the time.
ODIERNO: Thank you very much, John. I appreciate being with you this morning.
CHETRY: Well, firefighters are still trying to battle an inferno raging in South Carolina. We're taking you to the Severe Weather Center for the latest on the wildfires across the south.
Also, it's been quite an eventful week. Friday is the perfect day for the host of VH1's best week ever to show you which stories got the biggest buzz. He is here live with us.
Thirty-five minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, it's certainly been an eventful week. We have Miss California versus Perez Hilton, the smiling teen pirate suspect, and President Obama shirtless. These are just a few of the headlines getting some big buzz and Paul F. Tompkins, he is the host of VH1's "Best Week Ever" and joins me to talk about the stories that will be topping his list this week.
Great to see you again, Paul.
PAUL F. TOMPKINS, HOST, VH1'S "BEST WEEK EVER": Good to see you, Kiran.
CHETRY: So can we please start with the Miss California controversy here.
TOMPKINS: Oh, boy.
CHETRY: There is always some controversy by the way at these Miss U.S.A. pageants.
TOMPKINS: Yes.
CHETRY: And we have the 2007 situation as well. But let's listen to what she said and what Perez Hilton said back to her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE PREJEAN, MISS CALIFORNIA: We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and you know what? In my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there.
PEREZ HILTON, BLOGGER: She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she is a dumb [expletive], OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Who won that cat fight?
TOMPKINS: That was a real Lincoln-Douglas debate. What was Perez Hilton doing within a mile of that building in the first place? You know, why would they think he would be a great judge on the Miss U.S.A. pageant? It's like happy birthday, I got you a wasp nest.
I mean, watching this, it's like - I don't know. It sort of makes it seems like is the Miss U.S.A. pageant even worth it anymore? Why are we doing this? Because as a role model for young women, it's like, yes, one day you can be judged by your appearance and maybe win some cash.
CHETRY: Right. Exactly. And get some super white teeth! They were blindingly white!
TOMPKINS: Yes.
CHETRY: I don't know what they do.
But anyway, all right, so I want to ask about this as well. Did you see the perp walk, as they call it, when the Somali, the only surviving Somali pirate was making his way to the Manhattan court house. He could be facing life imprisonment, he is grinning and he is looking like he is quite enjoying himself. What is going on here?
TOMPKINS: Well, I mean, obviously, it's always nice to visit America. So he is happy about that. It's great to be on TV. That's fun.
I think what it is - and I think this is not just - I think this is not just a problem with him, but this story in general. People love the idea of pirates. Because I think when they are thinking about this they are not picturing the right kind of ships and hats and things like that. And I think even this guy is like I'm a pirate, this is fun.
CHETRY: It felt strange. Because for a kid's birthday party, you know, the pirate theme is extremely fun. This is a huge international problem and people being held hostage for days and, still there are 200 people out there being held by pirates. You know, at the same time, it can also be a theme at your kid's birthday party.
TOMPKINS: Yes, they may have to dispatch snipers to that Disneyland ride.
CHETRY: Yes, exactly. All right. Well, how about this green celebrities. It was Earth Day, a couple of days...
TOMPKINS: Happy Earth Day. I'm sorry, I didn't...
CHETRY: My three-year-old is coming up from school saying, "Happy Earth Day," too and singing a song, "See Litter, Pick it up."
But anyway, so they are learning early now. But Mariah Carey apparently is topping greendaily.com's Earth Day poll as the "least green celeb." She flies, apparently, her trainer from St. Bart's to New York every day to work out.
TOMPKINS: This may seem wasteful but...
CHETRY: To some...
TOMPKINS: I bet that guy has made the most awesome workout play list that she just cannot find anywhere in this country. That really is insane.
CHETRY: Why do that though when you can air-brush on your abs and you don't need to do any actual work?
TOMPKINS: You still got to walk around. You still got to walk around. If it was just picture, sure, I would say forget it.
CHETRY: And what about the uproar on "Washingtonian Magazine," President Obama going shirtless. They are not necessarily upset that our president is showing up shirtless with the paparazzi photo on the cover of the "Washingtonian" magazine. They were mad that they changed the color of his shorts. They were black when he was in Hawaii and now they are red.
TOMPKINS: I think they could not convince the president to pose for a new shirtless picture. So they said OK, let's just Photoshop the shorts. The only problem is have with this cover is that it sends a bad message to Americans like me who like to pretend they don't have time to go to the gym.
CHETRY: Right. Because he is shaming you.
TOMPKINS: Right. He is running the country and he is still doing a little bit every day.
CHETRY: Exactly. All right. Well, "Best Week Ever" airs tonight on VH1 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern.
You got a lot of good stuff this week. So I'll be watching. Paul, great to have you on as always. Thanks.
TOMPKINS: Thank you.
CHETRY: John.
ROBERTS: Well, you can catch VH1's "Best Week Ever" with Paul F. Tompkins tonight on VH1 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Very entertaining guest this morning.
The resort town in South Carolina threatened by a four-mile inferno. Plus, another fire shuts down Alligator Alley in Florida. Our Rob Marciano is tracking the threats from all the severe weather. He is down at the Weather Center in Atlanta today.
And jet lag feels terrible enough, but wait until you see how it looks. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to show you what the disruption actually does to your brain. I'm experiencing the effects right now.
It's 43 and a half minutes after the hour.
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ROBERTS: Forty-six minutes after the hour. Let's fast forward now to stories that will be making news later on today.
Some key indicators of the economy out this morning. We'll get a snapshot of the housing market today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern when the government releases the latest numbers on new home sales. We're also expecting first quarter earnings reports from Xerox and Honeywell. Those will be before the opening bell.
Al Gore is going to be on Capitol Hill today, talking about his trademark issue, climate change. He is going to testify before the House Energy Committee which has been holding hearings on climate change all week. They are looking at energy and environmental legislation proposed by House democrats.
Our Rob Marciano is tracking the extreme weather for us across the country. Today, he is down in the Weather Center in Atlanta and not necessarily extreme here we're talking about. But maybe some extreme fun for people who want to go to the jazz festival in New Orleans.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHETRY: All right. Well, your brain on jet lag. You know what it feels like, now see what it looks like. Dr. Sanjay Gupta on what flying to another time zone does to your head.
It's 48 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
CHETRY: Welcome back.
Well, traveling across time zones you know what it feels like. How about what it looks like on your brain? We're traveling with Dr. Gupta right now to see out how jetlag impacts your body.
Good morning, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. You know, this maybe one of those stories where art is sort of imitating life.
I flew in from Los Angeles last night and I was in India a few weeks ago. So we started investigating this jet lag in your brain story. I was absolutely fascinated by this. We know it affects our sleep. We know it affects our brains. The question has been how for some time now. What is interesting is doctors sort of keyed in on a specific area of the brain called the hypothalamus.
You spin that brain around and zero in on this area of the brain. We know this is the area of the brain that is sort of responsible for our sleep. And more specifically, it's an area of the brain that is responsible for two types of sleep. Deep sleep and REM sleep, REM sleep that's called.
Now what is interesting here, Kiran, I found this really fascinating was that if you talk about sleep overall, if you're flying back from Paris, for example, to D.C., your deep sleep can actually acclimate pretty quickly. You see, you got nighttime over here and day time over here. You get on a schedule within a day or so. But it's this REM sleep that is so much more of a problem.
So Paris, you're back in D.C., several days now and you're still thinking it's nighttime in D.C. when it's day time and you're still on the night schedule in Paris and that is the problem and that is where a lot of researchers are focusing their attention. How do they get that REM sleep back on track a little bit more quickly, Kiran?
CHETRY: So are they trying to work on developing drugs maybe to help do that?
GUPTA: Yes, you know, they are always working on some sort of medication it seems to target the specific area. They are also looking at strategies that might be the most beneficial. You know, strategies that you and I may have used, for example, getting on the plane and immediately setting your clock to the new time zone and if it's nighttime there, going to sleep and putting on an eye blinder or something like putting on a heavy sweater and going right off to sleep.
Some people use melatonin which is a type of medication as well. Think of it as the darkness hormone. So when you want to go to sleep or it's sleep time over in the country you're visiting, take the melatonin, it can help. It doesn't help everybody but yes. Kiran, maybe there will be a medication that can help jetlag so I don't look so bleary-eyed in the morning like this.
CHETRY: You actually look fine. I wouldn't have known but you do so much traveling, you're probably an old hat at it anyway.
All right. Sanjay, thanks.
GUPTA: Thank you.
ROBERTS: The next time you're on a plane before you settle in to take your nap perhaps you'll get treated to the rapping flight attendants. Passengers simply love him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID HOLMES (ph), FLIGHT ATTENDANT, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: So it's going to be a slap, stomp, slap, come on. Stomp, clap. Stomp, clamp. There you go! You got the beat there. There you go. Keep that going! Before we leave, our advise is put away your electronic devices and fasten your seat belt, then put your trays up, push the button and make the seat back raise up. Sit back, relax, have a good time. It's almost time to go. So I'm done with the rap. Thank you for the fact that I wasn't ignored. This is Southwest Airlines. Welcome aboard!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Pretty good!
ROBERTS: There you go. That is David Holmes. He is a flight attendant for Southwest. He has been rapping to travelers for several months now and obviously his pre-flight routine has made him a YouTube hit. Deltalina (ph), watch out!
CHETRY: He sound a little like Will Smith. Pretty good.
ROBERTS: He's not bad. Yes.
A woman tricks her former classmates by sending a stripper in her place to attend her high school reunion. See what happens when the classmate, formerly known as Andrea gets down and dirty!
It's 54 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: All the cabs in Columbus Circle in New York boogie there.
CHETRY: That's right.
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
A woman sends a stripper as her stand-in at a high school reunion and then films the entire affair. It's one of the most popular videos on cnn.com and our Jeanne Moos breaks it down for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my...
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What a yank the chain of old classmates at your high school reunion. Send a stand-in. An imposter who is a go-go burlesque dance playing a stripper.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is Cricket(ph)
MOOS: And cultured. With an ear piece.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has the same birthday as you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have the same birthday as me.
MOOS: Where better to reinvent yourself than at your reunion?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I invented Post-its.
MOOS: The invitation alone can provoke dread.
MOOS (on camera): The name tags, the forced joviality, comparing wrinkles and weight gain.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Had that initial reaction of oh, my god I never would ever go to this.
MOOS: This being her 10th reunion at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in California. But then comedy writer Andrea Walkner decided to turn it into a video project.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So I bought a ticket and got a hotel room directly above the ballroom and hired a crew.
MOOS: And sent in Cricket with cameras feeding Andrea images so she would know who is who and what to say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shawntel Covington.
MOOS: And what to say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was a young republican.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did you know that?
MOOS: A classmate suggested she didn't look like Andrea. Cricket said she had work done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you gotten work done too? Or...
Because if you did, you have an awesome surgeon.
You look beautiful.
MOOS: And then there was Alex Wormbrand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe he was your first kiss?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. You know I kissed him once when he was like six years old.
MOOS: So Cricket planned one on him and then eventually Cricket, the stripper, lived up to her name.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I felt like I jump-started the party right then and there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god!
MOOS: You figure this is what her classmates really got suspicious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remember Andrea. She can't do that with her body. She was no way that flexible!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is not flexible!
MOOS: And then disaster struck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I lost the earpiece! The earpiece fell out. It's on the dance floor in front of you! Right in front of you! Oh, she can't hear me!
MOOS: For more, go to Andrea's website, ihateselfpromotion.com where she is promoting the trailer she hopes to turn into a documentary. What more memorable way to end your high school reunion than getting thrown out shortly after that dance routine. Cricket was asked to leave. But not before this guy realized Cricket wasn't Andrea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like you better.
MOOS: Or interested in union than a reunion. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: One way to spice up a class reunion. How creative?
ROBERTS: Have you ever been to one of those?
CHETRY: No. I have not.
ROBERTS: I avoided them, too!
CHETRY: Oh, goodness. All right. Well, thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. We'll see you back here on Monday.
ROBERTS: We will. Have a great weekend. Right now, here is CNN NEWSROOM with Heidi Collins.
