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Increased Tensions With Iran; Roman Polanski Arrested; Deadly Floods in the Philippines
Aired September 28, 2009 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We are pushing forward to the South Side of Chicago now where police have arrested and prosecutors have charged three teens in the brutal death of a 16-year-old honor student. It's disturbing to watch on this amateur video.
And as we told you last hour, Derrion Albert was walking from high school to a bus stop when he was dragged into a melee and battered, kicked and beaten. You're watching the images that may have led police to the suspects, who are now charged as adults with felony murder.
Derrion is the third Chicago teenager killed this month. At least seven others have been shot. A vigil for Derrion will take place later today at Fenger High School in the commonly known -- or the community known, rather, as Roseland. Derrion's mother and aunt will take part, and so will Amina Matthews (ph), an activist with a group called Cease Fire. All three of them will join me live right here in the NEWSROOM in just a few minutes.
Chicago's hoping to get good news this week from Denmark. The city's trying to land the 2016 summer Olympics. Two famous Chicago -- folks from Chicago, President Obama and the first lady, will go to Copenhagen on Thursday to win over the International Olympic Committee. The big reveal is Friday, we're told. Tokyo, Madrid and Rio also in the running.
Iran flexes its muscle on the heels of new concerns about its nuclear program. State-run TV says that Iran test-fired two types of long- range missiles today. We'll get the details from CNN's Reza Sayah.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A show of military might in Iran. Iran test-firing some of its most advanced missiles at a time when tensions are escalating between Tehran, Washington, and European powers over Iran's controversial nuclear program. Do not expect these test-firings to ease that tension.
On Monday, Iran test-firing its long-range solid fuel missile, the Sagil, with a range of 2,000 kilometers, capable of reaching Israel and parts of southeastern Europe. A day earlier, Iran test-firing a (INAUDIBLE), also with a range of 2,000 kilometers.
It's important to note these test-firings were planned in advance as part of military exercises commemorating the anniversary of the Iran/Iraq War. But with the backdrop of Iran's nuclear program and the new revelation last week that they have a new uranium enrichment facility, there is the perception these test-firings were in response to the accusations coming from the West on Monday.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said that's simply not the case.
HASSAN QASHQAVI, IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Nothing is secret. Nothing is kept hidden. All this is done by all countries within their self-defense war games and military preparedness. We always believe that such military exercises pave the way for peace and security in the region. And its deterrent nature means lasting peace and stability and regional cooperation.
SAYAH: Iran's military exercise is scheduled to last for several more days.
Of course, this week, all eyes will be on Geneva, where for the first time in nearly 30 years, senior Iranian diplomats are scheduled to go face to face with diplomats from the U.S. and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany. They will be discussing Iran's nuclear issue.
Washington and European powers, of course, already turning up the heat on Iran in the newly disclosed uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom, calling it an illegal and secret facility. Iran denying those allegations, still insisting they're abiding by international laws, still insisting that their nuclear program is peaceful. It should be an interesting face-off in Geneva this week.
Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: President Obama starts the new week facing a crucial question -- should he deploy thousands more troops to the war in Afghanistan? His top commander on the ground there is believed to have questioned 40,000 more troops. General Stanley McChrystal says the war, in some ways, has turned out to be much more difficult than he expected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are things worse or better than you expected?
GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, COMMANDER, NATO FORCES, AFGHANISTAN: They are probably a little worse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's worse than you thought?
MCCHRYSTAL: Well, I think that in some areas, the breadth of violence, the geographic spread of violence, places to the north and to the west, are a little more than I would have gathered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, by this fall, some 68,000 U.S. troops are expected to be in country in Afghanistan. Meantime, the Taliban and its al Qaeda allies seem to be growing stronger by the day. That's why General McChrystal and other top brass says that more troops are needed.
Earlier on CNN, you might have heard another general weigh in on this issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, U.S. ARMY (RET.): I think what General McChrystal is asking for is a little clarity on the mission. He's given his assessment and asking whether Washington agrees with his assessment, that this is where we are and this is what we need. He's asking for agility in the force, but he's really looking for clarify in terms of the mission.
I agree with what he said, and I think he's done a good job in painting the current picture in Afghanistan for Washington. But now it's up to Washington to make some decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So, what will President Obama do, and will thousands more American troops get a call to war? There are several options on the table. We're going to take you straight to the war room.
Three decades ago, director Roman Polanski fled this country ahead of his sentencing in a sex crimes case. But that old warrant finally caught up with him.
CNN's Morgan Neill reports from Switzerland, where authorities arrested Polanski en route to a film festival.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MORGAN NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was meant to be an homage to his life's work, but the guest of honor was nowhere to be found.
CHRISTIAN FREI, SWISS FILMMAKER: As a Swiss filmmaker, I feel deeply ashamed, because Mr. Polanski was supposed to be honored this evening. We were supposed to speak about his work, his career, and his outstanding films. And now he's being arrested.
NEILL: Swiss police detained the 76-year-old Polanski when he arrived at Zurich airport Saturday. Authorities say he's being held based on a U.S. arrest warrant pending extradition proceedings.
The warrant was issued in 1978 after Polanski pleaded guilty to committing sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl. The director of "Chinatown," who won an Oscar for 2003's "The Pianist," fled the United States before sentencing. He's lived in France ever since.
The victim, Samantha Geimer, now 45 years old, has said she wants to see the case dismissed. Polanski friend Otto Weisser said he had gotten an update from the director's lawyer. OTTO WEISSER, FRIEND OF ROMAN POLANSKI: His lawyer, who is the only person who can speak to him, said he didn't lose his humor. And this is already a good thing. And he's a strong person.
NEILL: Not everyone was so sympathetic. This man carried a sign saying Polanski's past was catching up to him. And U.S. prosecutors would love to do the same. They say it would be a miscarriage of justice to drop charges against the man they say drugged and raped a 13-year-old child.
(on camera): But that's clearly not the sentiment here at the Zurich Film Festival, where other filmmakers have said they're shocked and appalled by the arrest of the man many of them came here to honor.
Morgan Neill, CNN, Zurich.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Devastating storms taking a deadly toll in the Philippines. The worst rain in more than 40 years. Some signs are -- well, a new storm may be on the way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Today could be another painful day for John Travolta in the Bahamas. He could be called back to the witness stand in the trial of two people accused of trying to blackmail him. Prosecutors say that the suspects threatened to embarrass Travolta by revealing details about his son's death, and one of the defendants is now accused of destroying evidence according to the police report.
Jett Travolta died of a seizure in January.
Following up on a story that we first brought you last week, disturbing details in the death of a part-time census worker in rural Kentucky. The witness who found Bill Sparkman's body is backing up info from a law enforcement source and even going a bit further.
Jerry Weaver told The Associated Press that Sparkman was hanging from a tree in a national forest, naked, gagged and bound with Duct tape, with something that looked like his Census Bureau ID taped to his net. There was writing on his chest. Weaver couldn't make it out, but according to the source, it was the word "Fed." Preliminary cause of death here listed as asphyxiation, but despite Weaver's account, more than two weeks later authorities still aren't calling it a murder investigation.
And what a greasy mess in southeast Texas. An oil spill closes a three-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel. More than 10,000 gallons of oil have gushed from the ruptured fuel tank of a vessel. It collided with another ship on Friday.
There were no injuries in that accident, and crews are now scrambling to clean up the mess and reopen that channel.
Also stopped up, cargo traffic on the Ohio River. The reason? Damage to the Markland Locks.
It happened about 65 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky. A lock gate fell to the bottom of the river, and engineers are now scrambling to fix it.
By the way, a lock is made up of gates that control the water level so boats can be raised or lowered as they come through. More than 50 million tons of cargo pass through the Markland Locks each year.
A huge death toll climbing as we speak. Deadly floods in the Philippines. And what's worse? A new storm on the horizon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines, they don't know what they'll call home for the foreseeable future after the worst rains in more than four decades. Devastating flooding has killed at least 140 people and left most of the capital under water, but that water is now receding.
Our Dan Rivers is in Manila.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Much of the floodwaters here in Manila are beginning to go down. In this area, it's sort of ankle deep or knee deep at worst, whereas, yesterday, they were literally struggling to keep their heads above water in places. The authorities are beginning to get in. We have seen search and rescue teams making their way into some of the more flooded streets like this one.
And you can see these houses now, the people are coming back, they're beginning to try and assess what damage has been done and what is left of their homes. You can see in here, where the water came up to several feet deep in places, and obviously everything inside was completely ruined. At one point, the authorities estimate that perhaps up to 80 percent of Manila was under water, and some 450,000 people, it's estimated now, have been displaced.
One other detail that is interesting and distressing for many of the people that live here, most of these houses -- in fact, most of the residents here, we're told -- haven't got insurance. It's very unusual to have household insurance. So, all of the damage that you see will not be covered by an insurance company.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Manila.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, his fatal beating was caught on video, and now that video has helped Chicago police capture three suspects in last week's attack that you see here on Derrion Albert. All three are teenagers. All three charged with first-degree murder in that honor student's death.
The father of terror suspect Najibullah Zazi was expected back in court today, but the hearing has been canceled. The elder Zazi and another man are accused of lying to the government in connection with the alleged terror plot. The younger Zazi is facing stronger charges of plotting to use weapons of mass destruction in the U.S.
Destructive drywall from China. Who's on the hook? Well, we've told you about the stuff that Americans imported in the rebuilding boom after Katrina. Much of it decayed and put out fumes that corroded pipes and made homeowners sick.
Well, today, some 300 cases are pending in New Orleans alone, but China might simply ignore them. Lawyers say they may go after U.S. defendants.
Who's looking over your shoulder and into your wallet? Your credit card company. Been laid off, shopping at a discount store, getting marriage counseling? Well, guess what? All that could slash your credit limit.
You need to hear about this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Fayette, Mississippi, is one of the poorest counties in the nation. So poor, in fact, that finding any job at all, even a very low-paying one, is reason to celebrate.
CNN's John King reports on the desperate search for a paycheck.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jefferson County hugs the mighty Mississippi. It is rural, remote, and dotted with tiny churches. Fayette is the county seat; its monument to confederate soldier a tribute to the past that seems very much at odds with this community's present.
Nine in 10 residents are black, the highest percentage of African- Americans of any county in the United States. The shuttered store fronts are a sign of a less desirable distinction, 18.6 percent unemployment, the highest jobless rate of Mississippi's 82 counties.
ANGELA SHELVY, UNEMPLOYED: It hasn't always been like this -- this has not always been this way.
KING: Angela Shelvy has been looking for six months.
There's nothing out there?
SHELVY: Nothing.
KING: Shelvy is a single mother of three who quit a job as a teacher's assistant to join a union that provides workers for nuclear power plants. Twice the pay but the work was sometimes as far away as Arizona. While her parents took care of the children, the strain became too much especially for her 4-year-old.
SHELVY: I'm like, you have granny. He's like, no, I don't want granny. I want you to hold me. I just decided I couldn't go back.
KING: But since March, no luck. Despite searching as far as 90 minutes away.
SHELVY: And they're not hiring. They either say they're not hiring or I'm not qualified. I don't have enough years of experience. We'll call you later. Get back with us. And it's been stressful for me.
BRENDA BUCK, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: It becomes very depressing to some people who are trying to struggle, and it is a struggle, day to day.
KING: Finding jobs is county administrator Brenda Buck's obsession. She knows the struggle firsthand, with no jobs around her here her husband works at moment, 900 miles away in Indiana.
BUCK: Right now, he's employed with a company that's been going into a lot of the car plants doing refabrications. We have four kids but he's here basically maybe two months out of the year.
KING: Most of Buck's time with county supervisor is spent on economic development. No luck so far winning federal stimulus money to improve the roads.
This work site is also part of the county's Washington wish-list. At the moment, ten employees, each making about $100 a day; cutting and packaging firewood. General manager Paul Southerland says the noise often attracts others down on their luck.
PAUL SOUTHERLAND, GENERAL MANAGER, RELIABLE MAT: I see a lot of people come by here looking for jobs. KING: Southerland's main products is these giant wood mats (ph) used in oil and gas field. Orders are suddenly hard to come by.
SOUTHERLAND: Mississippi's always last to feel the effects of a recession. Most of the time it's always the last to pick back up, it hit us about June. It really hit us hard, too.
KING: Still, Southerland hopes to expand, if the county secures a federal grant to buy a bigger saw mill.
SOUTHERLAND: That's what it's all about, if we are have that sawmill we'll be able to add eight or 10 more folks.
KING: Eight or ten jobs might not sound like much. But in a place so remote and so poor, progress is measured a little differently.
BRENDA T. BUCK, ADMINISTRATOR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI: If you can just imagine eight men making $10 to $11 an hour could actually come home and be at home at night with their families, the impact that it would make not just from the economical standpoint, but from the social standpoint of that father's presence there in that household, and not having to travel so far, I mean, you have a double whammy. It's a win-win situation for any family. KING (voice-over): John King, CNN, Fayette, Mississippi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: So, where do you shop and how much do you drink? Is your marriage on the rocks? And you might be saying, well, that's none of your business. But guess what? Your credit card companies are making it their business, and you might be surprised what they're prying into.
Gerri Willis has the story of one man who learned the hard way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEVIN JOHNSON, CREDIT LIMIT SLASHED: How you doing? I'm Kevin Johnson.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice-over): Kevin Johnson is an entrepreneur, candidate for office.
JOHNSON: I'm running for state representative.
WILLIS: And according to American Express, a credit risk.
Coming home from his honeymoon last year, he was shocked to find Amex had cut his credit limit from over $10,000 to just $3,800.
JOHNSON: I've done a very good job of being responsible, making sure that I pay my bills on time.
WILLIS: Even more surprising, one of the four reasons Amex gave for the decision: "Other customers who have used their cards at establishments where you recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American Express."
JOHNSON: I was shocked when I read it, because I didn't know that the companies could actually assess your credit worthiness based on others around you.
WILLIS: With more than 10 percent of credit card customers defaulting on their debt, credit card issuers are trying to weed out the risky ones. How? By looking for changes in the way we shop.
ROBERT MANNING, AUTHOR, "CREDIT CARD NATION": You're shopping from a middle or upper-tier retail store and suddenly it shows a purchase at a dollar store, some form of downshifting, suddenly shopping at Wal- Mart.
WILLIS: Those red flags can lead to a deeper look at your behavior.
MANNING: And if you've suddenly started exhibiting new consumer behavior, and then you've made three or four purchases in a row at a local bar, that would raise some flags that maybe there's some impending financial crisis.
WILLIS: For its part, Amex says, "We don't look at and never have looked at where someone shops to make a line reduction. The primary factor is someone's overall debt level. And we also look at payment history with us, credit reports and FICO scores."
Banking industry sources say credit scores are still the most important tool in predicting consumer behavior. But those scores don't reflect sudden life changes like job loss or divorce.
JIM SLAWSKY, CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY EXPERT: All they can do is look at the actual volumes and transactions that are coming in and see changes in that pattern.
WILLIS: For Kevin Johnson, the experience has motivated him to get involved and perhaps change the way banks work.
JOHNSON: No one should be penalized for the actions of others.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: So, Gerri, how closely do the credit card companies actually check your purchases?
WILLIS: Well, Kyra, what they're actually looking at is your patterns of spending. Are you spending more or are you spending less? How are you paying? Where are you spending?
So, they're looking at the details of how you spend your money, and because you're doing it on a credit card, they have all that data right in front of them.
PHILLIPS: So, is it legal to change credit limits based on that spending that they're monitoring?
WILLIS: Well, you bet. I mean, these are their credit cards, after all. They're actually making you the loan. So, yes, they can definitely change their limits based on where you're spending.
At the end of the day, it's your responsibility to make sure that you're paying your cards off wisely and using them in the way you should, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Kind of scary. Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
PHILLIPS: Pushing forward on a developing story, the alleged terror plot to bomb targets in New York. The feds claim the plot centers around this man, Najibullah Zazi. He's expected to appear in federal court in New York tomorrow for an arraignment. His father is actually charged with lying to the FBI. He is due to be in court in Denver today. But that was canceled.
What you see in this picture is the arrest of a 19-year-old Jordanian citizen in Texas. Officials say that he tried to blow up a skyscraper in Dallas with a car bomb. He's due in court next week.
And in Illinois, the FBI accuses Michael Finton of trying to blow up a federal building with a truck bomb.
Pushing forward now on a big question facing President Obama. Right now, should he order thousands more troops to Afghanistan? There is word the top U.S. commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, is asking for up to 40,000 more troops. Our Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence, he's on top of it. He joins us now.
Chris, what are you hearing about McChrystal's request for more troops?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're told he does present the president with several options, with 30,000 to 40,000 troops being on the high end of the request.
But, again, this is going to affect a tremendous amount of families. And what's happening now is that troop request is based on a counterinsurgency strategy. That's the Obama administration's original plan for Afghanistan. Now what they are doing is going back and taking a look at that and saying, do we really want to fight a counterinsurgency, because if we don't, then you would not need that sort of troop request.
And Defense Secretary Robert Gates talked this weekend on CNN about what it would mean to fail there in Afghanistan. And why he feels they're taking another look at the strategy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: He found a situation in Afghanistan that is more serious than we had thought, and that he had thought, before going out there. So we're in the middle of a process of evaluating really the decisions the president made in late March to say, have we got the strategy right? And once we're confident we are the strategy right, then we will address the question of additional resources.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Secretary Gates says that that strategy review will take at least a few weeks and that the earliest that any additional troops could get there would be early next year, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So, Chris, if they don't continue with the counterinsurgency, what are some of the other strategies they might be considering?
LAWRENCE: There is the pure counterterrorism strategy where you just sort of bomb from afar and that needs a tremendously fewer amount of troops. But I haven't heard, really, very many people in the building talk credibly about that as an option. We have heard some people talk about sort of a half option, where it focuses on holding back some of the troops to put more pressure on the Afghan government to say, look, you've got to clean up your own corruption before we go all in.
And also at the same time, trying to negotiate with some of the more moderate Taliban. The problem with that is the troops would be needed to secure more areas and sort of turn the momentum from the Taliban, because one senior defense officials said, flat out, right now the Taliban believe they're winning. A lot of Afghan people believe they're winning. Trying to co-op the Taliban at this point is going to be very difficult. Because why at this point would you jump ship from what you think is a winning side?
PHILLIPS: Chris Lawrence, thanks so much.
Well, Hamid Karzai getting some big-time backing. "The Washington Post" says the U.S. and other NATO nations believe that Mr. Karzai will keep his job as Afghan president, whether as legitimate winner of the disputed August election, or through a run off. NATO also plans to launch expanded campaign to turn insurgents loosely tied to the Taliban against them. The same kind of push helped turn some Sunni tribes against Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Young voices singing the praises of the president; their parents raising a chorus of alarm. Outrage is growing as more parents spot their kids in a video that's gone viral. Innocence or indoctrination?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: This recession has been marked by job losses, even people who aren't out of work have been hit by pay cuts. But now we're starting to see a new trend. Stephanie Elam has today's breakdown.
Hey, Steph.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra, how about some good news for a change here? This is good news for a lot of people.
We've seen positive economic signs on Wall Street. And now Main Street is getting welcome news. A growing number of companies are reversing the pay cuts they made earlier. For example, computer chip maker AMD cut pay up to 20 percent in January. But this December the cuts will be rolled back. General Motors cut pay for salaried workers up to 10 percent in May. But the automaker reinstated previous salaries this is month. Overall, 44 percent of employers plan to reverse pay cuts according to consulting firm Watson Wyatt.
So, welcome news there, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: What about all the other cut that is employers have made like cutting back on 401(k) matches?
ELAM: Yes, that's something a lot of people care to hear about. Some employers are rolling back other cost-cutting measures as well. Nearly a quarter of employers have slashed their 401(k) matching program. They plan to reinstate those over the next six months. Also not everyone had a pay cut. Some workers had their salaries frozen. Now about a third of employers plan to unfreeze salaries, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK, so are these actions a sign that corporate America is back on its feet?
ELAM: I think they're getting close to the point of getting up off of that chair and standing up. But they're not all there. Some are, though. But many companies are in a better position due to cost cuts. Not necessarily because of improving demand. So when sales do pick up we could see other companies reverse pay cuts. FedEx, for example, says it's thinking about it, but the company is waiting for sales to turn around first. But for AMD reversing pay cuts is a way to boost morale. And I don't know anyone who is upset about getting more money in their paycheck. For more on this story, go to cnnmoney.com and you can read more about it, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You're right. Nobody is going to argue about that. Thanks, Steph.
ELAM: Sure.
PHILLIPS: The nation's first African-American president has appeared before the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. President Obama used his Saturday night speech to rally support for health care reform.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of all the barriers still standing in 2009, few are more unjust, few or are more entrenched, few are more inhumane than the barriers to a healthy life and a good education. Barriers that constrain the dreams not only of African-Americans but of all Americans, barriers that can and must, and shall, be overcome. For the sake of every American living today, and for the sake of every American yet to be born, we must bring about a better health care system in this country. Not in 10 years, not in five years, not in one year, this year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The president also told the dinner crowd the economic recovery plan is working and has helped pull the economy back from the brink of disaster. Won't get much attention or action from Congress today. Lawmakers are out for Yom Kippur.
Is it brainwashing or simply praise? A video of elementary school kids singing about President Obama has gone viral. As more parents spot their kids in the choir, a chorus of outrage is growing. Critics say the kids are being indoctrinated into idolizing the president. Our Mary Snow takes a look at it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GINA PRONCHIK, PARENT: That's my son right there.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Gina Pronchik says she was shocked to find her son Jimmy, and his classmates, singing about President Obama. It's gone viral after being posted on YouTube and it set off a firestorm of emotions.
CHILDREN, ON YOUTUBE: Barack Hussein Obama, he said we must be fair today, equal work means equal pay. Hmm, hmm, Barack Hussein Obama.
SNOW (on camera): Your thoughts, watching that again?
G. PRONCHIK: The chanting is what upsets me.
SNOW (voice over): Gina and her husband, James, say they had no idea last year her son's class last school year even sang the song.
PRONCHIK: I feel like they were brainwashing my child rather than teaching him. They're pushing their political views rather than educating him. I just think they overstepped.
JAMES PRONCHIK, PARENT: I think the groundswell has to do with people that don't want politics mixed with school.
SNOW Parent Brenda Morrison doesn't see a problem. She says the kids are adorable.
(On camera): What do you say to critics who say this song about Barack Obama was indoctrinating kids?
BRENDON MORRISON, PARENT: It's just laughable. It's ridiculous.
SNOW: But difference of opinion has spread far beyond Burlington, New Jersey's B. Bernice Young Elementary School, becoming front-page headlines and a hot topic on the blogosphere. Police were added outside the school after the superintendent e-mailed parents saying it did receive harassing calls.
A repeat request to speak to with school officials were denied. The district, in a statement, explained the song saying, "The activity took place during Black History Month in 2009." And it says the recording was unauthorized. But the state's education commissioner is now reviewing what happened to, quote, "to ensure students can celebrate the achievements of African-Americans during Black History Month without inappropriate partisan politics."
Dejay Duckett lives in the area and is stunned by all the attention.
DEJAY DUCKETT, PARENT: To me, the biggest issue is all the anger and where is that coming from?
SNOW: Parent Leslie Gibson says attention on the video is justified.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people say they want the media gone, they want the media gone. I'm glad you guys are here because they're trying to sweep this under the rug.
Mary Snow, CNN, Burlington, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Iran flexes its military muscle again. Tehran says it successfully tested long-range missiles. Those missiles could allow Iran to strike U.S. military bases in the Middle East, targets in Israel and even parts of Europe. Today's test follows those of short- range missiles yesterday. Germany's Angela Merkel will be a familiar face on the political scene for at least four more years. She'll remain German chancellor after winning this weekend's election. Merkel is expected to form a coalition government that could shift's Germany's economic policy. President Obama called Merkel yesterday to say congrats.
Accused Ponzi scheme operator Allen Stanford back in jail, just outside Houston. He was released from the hospital yesterday after he allegedly got into a fight with another inmate. Stanford is accused of bilking investors out of billions of dollars. His attorney says that Stanford suffered a concussion, two black eyes and a broken nose.
Watch what you say in Honduras and where you say it. The Honduran constitution is the latest casualty of unrest, supposedly surrounding the ousted president.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It was three months ago today that the Honduran army toppled the Honduran president. But the coup itself was a breeze compared to what happened since the ex-leader slipped back into the country. In response to a stand off at the Brazilian embassy the Honduran government has issued a state of emergency that muzzles the media and keeps a very tight rein on protestors. CNN's John Zarrella joins me now, live, from the Honduran capital.
So, John bring us up to date to what's happening right now.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, right now, we are across from a university here where the supporters of Manuel Zelaya have gathered to stage many of their marches. And this is another one. They are gathered here behind us. You can probably see all the national police here.
In fact, right now, there are some of the protest leaders, the leaders of the resistance, who are trying to get a call through to the congress, here, to get them to allow to march. Because as you mentioned, there really has been a suspension here of many of the constitutional rights the people are afforded in this democracy.
That came about yesterday because Manuel Zelaya, on radio yesterday, called for this to be "The Day". This was supposed to be the day that he said that he would be -- the big day of the resistance. And that he wanted his supporters in the streets.
Well, in response to that, the Micheletti government immediately ordered this under emergency decree, the suspension of a lot of the civil liberties. Basically, that police could arrest, police could break up any kinds of demonstrations, any kinds of gatherings of people, as well as shut down radio and television stations, that they believe are sending out any kind of incendiary messages that might spark violence in the country.
In fact, Kyra, one radio station, Radio Global, and one television station, Channel 36 here, were in fact, shut down. We went by the offices today and there were police and military in front of the offices of both of those places.
But, again, you can see that there is a demonstration going on behind us here and they have allowed this to take place, although they are telling the marchers they cannot march, they must stay there. But there is a negotiation going on right now in an effort, the marchers hope, will allow them to continue a peaceful march down the streets and towards the embassy where Manuel Zelaya is holed up --Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Just to reiterate, because it has been going on for a couple of weeks now. Everything has remained peaceful. There has not been any violence that has broken out to this point, right? This hasn't gotten ugly?
ZARRELLA: No, no, other than on the original day when he returned here and there were some demonstrations and some tear gassing and some things like that.
But I have to tell you, Kyra, the other day during one of the marches, by the embassy, a credit to these people back here, the resistance. A young man, a teenager, picked up a large rock and was about to throw it. And members of the march, the marchers themselves, grabbed him and pulled it away from him and stopped him from doing it. So they're trying to keep peace among their own. That is certainly a credit to them. They want this to be peaceful. Both sides have continued to tell us they want this to be peaceful, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: We'll keep following with you. John Zarrella, thanks so much.
All right. Well, as always, I don't know why we rolled the "what the?"
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: That was the "What the" I was going to say, "What the?"
PHILLIPS: That makes perfect sense every time Rick Sanchez walks into the room, we say what the - Actually what was perfect, I think they might have meant to do that.
SANCHEZ: I accept it with pride.
PHILLIPS: On a serious note, though -- very good.
With regard to Honduras, you had a chance to interview both leaders, de facto and ousted --
SANCHEZ: Yes, Micheletti and Zelaya.
PHILLIPS: What's your take? Could we somehow become more involved as a government?
SANCHEZ: Well, I think that's up to the State Department and Hillary Clinton. I think she's had kind of a protracted position on this so far.
Let me tell you what Zelaya was saying today. I don't know if John had a chance to share this with you. But I have some friends down in Miami, at "The Miami Herald."
"The Miami Herald" did an interview with Zelaya over the weekend and he says - are you ready for this? Sounds crazy but this is what the man is saying. He says that Israeli intelligence agents are trying to use poison gas to kill him by sneaking it into the Brazilian embassy.
PHILLIPS: Why would the Israelis want to kill him?
SANCHEZ: Because he thinks the Israelis are in bed with the Micheletti government and that they are trying to get him out of power because he is a populist president.
PHILLIPS: So, what would be in it for Israel - if indeed that's true?
SANCHEZ: Oh, I have no idea.
PHILLIPS: Seems a little suspect.
SANCHEZ: You know, it's that same implication that we hear in the past, that if the United States government wants to do a coup in Guatemala or Honduras, or anywhere else, that they would most likely use American or Israeli agents. Bogus 90 percent of the time. But that's what the man is saying, by the way. It's bizarre.
PHILLIPS: You'll be talking about that coming up at the top of hour.
SANCHEZ: We've got that. And we have one other interesting thing. This is information that some organization is trying to cheat people out of their money by convincing them that Obama's a bad guy. They're hitting the "birther movement" and we have real inside information on who these people are -- and it isn't good. This isn't good. You'll see what we've got.
PHILLIPS: See you in a little bit.
SANCHEZ: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: Now we're going to roll the animation.
SANCHEZ: "What the?"
PHILLIPS: You only get one shot to win over voters. And time will tell if a guy named Dean Allen proves to be a political marksman. He's running for South Carolina adjutant general, the person who overseas the state National Guard and emergency management. He just met up with potential supporters for what he dubbed a machine gun social. Barbecued lunch followed by a chance to shoot 20 rounds, followed by a raffle for an AK-47. My kind of picnic. Yes, the winner does have to clear an FBI background check, by the way.
And not enough checking or double-checking by a Florida roofing company. They were hired to replace one guy's roof but, oops, actually removed his neighbor's two doors down. That neighbor, understandably, upset, and he's getting madder by the minute. His insurance company is threatening to cancel his policy if he doesn't get a new roof on the house. The roofer says, no problem. But only if the homeowner pays the deductible. He says, no way.
Out of the big house and into a big problem. Sex offenders with nowhere to go, living in packs in the woods near stores offices and homes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Welcome to no-man's-land: A patch of woods northwest of Atlanta, more than 1,000 feet from the nearest playground, church or school, and that is key. You're actually looking at a makeshift campsite set up by convicted and registered sex offenders. They've served their sentences but can't find housing that meets the legal buffer, 1,000 feet from children. Probation officers are actually referring sex offenders to this site when all else fails. The officers insist they make regular visits just to keep tabs.
You've been sending us a ton of Tweets on this. Let's get right to them.
WritersBlock 2 says, "No one wants the offenders near them. They chase of force them out. Forcing them to live on the streets and put kids at risk!"
LisaMarieW writes, "I think no man's land is a terrible idea. Just lock them up!"
And this person writes, "I live in Atlanta, hearing the sex offenders get tents makes me wonder why the homeless get less!"
ThreeRoyalBlue writes, a tent camp for the sex offenders "is a horrible idea. How can you keep up with someone with no address? I understand up people want to protect kids but the offenders have to have a place to live!"
BeachLife2 puts it this way. "Get rid of them! They don't belong in my neighborhood. Would you want to live next to one?"
Thanks for your thoughts. If you're wondering if you do live next door to a sex offender, go to our blog at CNN.com/kyra. We have a link to the Justice Department listing of sex offender registries right there. We'll talk more about this story tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Rick Sanchez picks it up from here.
