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U.S. Not Leaving Afghanistan; Afghan Officials Seek More Troops; Strategy in Afghanistan; Letterman Publicly Apologizes to Wife; H1N1 Facts and Myths
Aired October 06, 2009 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Everybody has an opinion. Today, hear from people making the decisions, like the president, defense secretary, and members of Congress.
New twist to a baby kidnapping story. Allegations that a family member may have tried to sell the newborn.
Also, credit card outrage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're putting us into bankruptcy. I mean, I don't see how that helps me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: A couple with a low-interest card finds their monthly payment has nearly tripled, and they are not alone.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. It is Tuesday, October 6th, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
So how does the U.S. move forward in Afghanistan? That's the question being asked today from the highest levels in Washington. Of course, that's our focus today as well.
And Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon this morning. She's going to be talking to the defense secretary, or at least talking about what he says is a key part of the strategy. And also, Atia Abawi is on the ground in Kabul, where Afghan officials have some concerns as well about the U.S. commitment to their country.
And finally, Dan Lothian is covering today's meeting with President Obama and congressional leaders on that very same topic.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates coming out today with a firm position on U.S. policy in Afghanistan. Gates tells CNN the U.S. is not leaving in the foreseeable future, no matter what the president decides about troop levels.
Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more now from CNN's interview with Gates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They now have the opportunity to defeat a second super power, which more than anything would empower their message and the opportunity to recruit, to fundraise, and to plan operations.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The secretary of defense making it clear, the U.S. will maintain a strong presence in a region that he calls the epicenter of jihad.
GATES: We are not leaving Afghanistan.
STARR: General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, says he needs more boots on the ground if the U.S. is serious about stopping the Taliban and terrorism. It's a critical decision, one that has to be made by a deliberate president, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: It is difficult enough to deal with the challenges emanating from Afghanistan and Pakistan and the continuing threat from al Qaeda. But to do it when there is so much pressure to make a snap decision, never to ask the hard questions, is really counterproductive.
STARR: Secretary Clinton insisting any strategy in Afghanistan must include developing Afghanistan economically and socially.
CLINTON: It is kind of a chicken and egg issue. We want to focus on development, but in order to operate in many of the places in Afghanistan, you have to have a level of security.
GATES: Because of our inability and the inability, frankly, of our allies to put enough troops into Afghanistan, the Taliban do have the momentum right now, it seems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, joining us now with more on this.
Boy, Barbara, the Taliban has the momentum? That sounds pretty dire.
STARR: You know that really got my attention, Heidi, because I haven't heard the secretary be so definitive about this.
COLLINS: Yes.
STARR: You know, in the past he said, well, the Taliban, you know, are dominating in some areas of the country. And in fact, the military thinks or basically calculates that the Taliban exert substantial control in about 30 percent of Afghanistan. But the secretary is a guy who chooses his words very carefully. So that last phrase from him, the Taliban have the momentum, is really I think something to watch, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, absolutely. What are your thoughts about these meetings and the next step? Are we going to hear from some of these top commanders going before Congress at some point?
STARR: Well, at some point, you know, one assumes so, but, really, you know, this week, the watch word with is for everyone to be quiet. Mum is the word. The president making it very clear, and as well as Secretary Gates, they want the military to give their advice in private. No more public comments about all of this.
The basic thinking you hear in the Pentagon at this point is that the president will have something to announce by the end of October, but behind the scenes, the military is still really pressing for folks to come to a decision.
COLLINS: Yes.
STARR: They keep saying this really can't wait forever, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, yes, boy, it's very interesting. All right, our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, thanks so much.
And meanwhile, a couple of other people going very public. Defense Secretary Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will talk about challenges the U.S. faces overseas, not just in Afghanistan, but in Iran and the global war on terror as well.
So join us today for a special edition of "AMANPOUR." CNN's Christiane Amanpour hosts "Power and Persuasion." It's at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN, the worldwide leader in news.
Afghan officials say not only are more troops needed in their country, the U.S. debate over troop levels is strengthening the Taliban.
CNN's Atia Abawi is following that part of the story and joins us now live from Kabul.
Atia, is this discussion over troop levels really giving sort of a boost to the Taliban?
ATIA ABAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. The Taliban right now, they're relentless. They feel that they have the upper hand at the moment. They're seeing that there are some coalition countries already talking about an exit strategy, already having a date for their troops to withdraw.
And what they see as a stall in Washington deciding, they think that's the U.S. wanting to pull out, not wanting to send more troops to Afghanistan. And the minister of defense here in Afghanistan says that is very dangerous. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDUL RAHIM WARDAK, AFGHAN DEFENSE MINISTER: The enemy strategy is focused on weakening the will of the international community. And what I'm seeing today, that some people talk about an exit strategy or date for the withdrawal of their forces, it is exactly what the enemy have planned for. This is why they have not given up since 2002 and all that preparation is based on that assumption.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABAWI: Well, Minister Wardak himself, he says that he does need more troops. He says that the Afghan National Army and the coalition troops, for that matter, they're at an insufficient level at the moment, that they need more help to bring security and stability in a country that he says is bigger than Iraq, that has a larger population than Iraq, but has always had less international troops.
He says that he doesn't want these international troops to stay forever. He wants them to come, to train the Afghan National Army, because he wants to take that burden off of the international community, but at this moment, they can't do that - Heidi.
COLLINS: Understood. Atia Abawi, sure do appreciate it, live from Kabul this morning.
Well, U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is certainly the focus at the White House this afternoon as President Obama briefs congressional leaders and gets their opinion.
CNN White House correspondent Dan Lothian joining us now with a preview to all of that.
So, Dan, good morning to you. The president, we know, has met with top generals and his Cabinet members. Now his attention is focused on congressional members. What's he hoping to accomplish here?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. Some 30 or so congressional members expected to be here at the White House, at least they have been invited. We're told these are committee chairs, these are top members of the armed services and foreign relations, expected to come here to the White House, like Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, the Republican, and also House speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
And as you pointed out, you know, the president has been really trying to seek advice deciding on the way forward in Afghanistan, meeting with some of the other top advisers, members of the Cabinet, and also top generals.
But Robert Gibbs said it's also critical for the president to sit down with this bipartisan group of lawmakers to get their advice, to really listen to them, to figure out what they like or what they don't like about going forward in Afghanistan. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There's no doubt that particularly on funding is not going to happen unless or until Congress signs off. I think the president wants to hear from Democrats and Republicans, from members of the Senate and the House on what their viewpoints are as it relates to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Obviously, there's -- they're an important part of this and the president wants to hear from them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Now, as the issue of Afghanistan and Pakistan is being debated behind the scenes, publicly there's sort of this growing discontent among some in the American public about the war in Afghanistan and the fact, yesterday, that was visible here at the White House, outside of the White House, where a number protesters gathered, not wanting the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and completely out of Iraq as well.
And we saw Cindy Sheehan here, speaking to the group. So this is something, certainly, that this administration has to be keeping a close eye on. Because in some of the most recent polling that we've seen, the majority of Americans don't want the U.S. to be in Afghanistan and to be ramping up the presence there as well.
So another thing for this administration to consider as the president decides what to do next in Afghanistan.
COLLINS: Yes. And also, as sort of an offshoot to that whole discussion, we know the president has also planned to visit the national counterterrorism center today, right?
LOTHIAN: That's right. That's right. And I should point out, you know, this is a center that really is sort of a clearinghouse for all the intelligence matters. They gather the intelligence and then get that intelligence to the right government agencies where it might be needed.
The president will be going over there shortly after 11:00, making some remarks at about 11:40 or so. And I'm told by a White House aide that this is twofold, this visit. First of all, kind of a pep rally to thank the folks over there for the good job that they've been doing. But also to stress that the mission has not been accomplished. That there's still a big global threat out there and this agency plays a critical role in keeping America safe.
COLLINS: Absolutely. All right, Dan Lothian, in front of the White House this morning, thank you.
David Letterman finds a way to make the best of a bad situation by becoming the target of his own jokes. But the wisecracks led to an apology for something that's no laughing matter.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Plus, I'm CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. A stormy day in the plains and air travel delays. We'll have the nation's forecast, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Jacqui Jeras over in our severe weather center right now.
Hey there, Jacqui, we're looking at the plains today. Kind of nasty weather there? JERAS: Yes, you know, kind of a rough start for a lot of folks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: All right, very good, Jacqui, thank you.
You can call it late-night drama-dy. David Letterman says he's committed to working on his marriage. He publicly apologized to his wife on last night's show as he deals with an alleged extortion sex scandal. But as our Alina Cho tells us, he also found a way to get some laughs.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Heidi. David Letterman said he was done talking about the sex scandal, but last night on his show, he said, well, it seems like people want to talk about it some more, so that's exactly what he did.
He apologized to his wife, his staff, and above all, he made jokes about his favorite target, himself.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): He's become the butt of the late-night laughs over the past few days.
SETH MEYERS, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": It was reported that the blackmailer Joe Halderman was threatening to reveal embarrassing details of Letterman's personal life. For example, after sex, he would always say, "Stay tuned for Craig Ferguson."
CHO: If you can't beat them, well...
DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS HOST, "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Did your weekend just fly by?
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: I'll be honest with you, folks, right now I would give anything to be hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
CHO: Fans at Monday night's taping said Letterman handled the situation like a pro.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very into it, very energized. It was a lot of fun and I think people really generally support him.
CHO: It did get serious for a few minutes when Letterman, a very private person, again used his very public forum, speaking directly to his staff, and then his wife, Regina Lasko.
LETTERMAN: She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person, then it's your responsibility, you try to fix it. And at that point, there's only two things that can happen. Either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed. CHO: Letterman also stressed, those sexual relationships are over.
LETTERMAN: I would just like to set the record straight, no, I'm not having sex with these women. Those episodes are in the past.
CHO: Meanwhile, the 27-year CBS veteran accused of demanding $2 million from Letterman to keep quiet about his sexual past is firing back. Joe Halderman's lawyer says Letterman is a master at manipulation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wanted to get out ahead of the story and that's exactly what he did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Halderman has pleaded not guilty to attempted grand larceny. He's been suspended from his job and if convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. For his part, David Letterman acknowledged, ladies and gentlemen, this is only phase one of the scandal. Phase two, next week I go on "Oprah" and sob.
Heidi, that's what you call comic relief.
COLLINS: All right, Alina, thank you.
Well, it's a big day in the battle against H1N1, but do you still have nagging questions on the swine flu? Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the expert, he's had it, joins us with some answers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Checking our top stories now, the Taliban are taking responsibility for that suicide bombing at the World Food Program offices in Pakistan. Yesterday's attack killed five workers at the U.N. food agency's compound.
In a call to the Associated Press a Taliban spokesperson said U.N. and other foreign aid groups are not working in the interests of Muslims.
And check out this video from New Mexico. The gondola of a hot air balloon hits a tent, tipping the gondola over, and a 70-year-old man tumbles to the ground. He is hospitalized with a dislocated hip.
The pilot managed to stay aboard as the balloon ascended about 300 feet and then made a hard landing. Yes. The pilot was OK, but went to the hospital just to be sure.
And General David Petraeus, America's top military commander in the Middle East, reveals he has been treated for early-stage prostate cancer. A statement from his office notes the general was diagnosed in February and underwent two months of successful radiation treatment.
A lot of you may be heading out today to get a swine flu shot. In fact, it's the first day the H1N1 vaccines are widely available, but many of us still have a lot of questions about this.
Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has won his own battle with H1N1. It's the first time I've seen you since.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE)
COLLINS: Yes, right. Here to answer some questions. So we are glad that you're OK, obviously.
GUPTA: Thank you.
COLLINS: But it's true, a lot of people are wondering about this. Because, I guess it's available in the mist form, right, and so they don't really have to get a shot?
GUPTA: That's some of the first vaccines that are available, in the mist form. But you know, here's one thing that's important to point out, the mist is not for everybody, Heidi. In fact, if you needed to make a list of people who are the best candidates for the mist?
COLLINS: Yes?
GUPTA: People between the ages of 2 and 49 who are neither pregnant nor have any other kind of medical problems of some sort. So it is not for people who have some sort of immune compromise or something like that. It is an attenuated virus in the mist, as opposed to a dead virus in the shot.
COLLINS: Got it.
GUPTA: So the virus is kind of knocked down, but still there. And if your immune system is not working well, it could potentially make you sick. So flu mist available, but not for everybody.
COLLINS: OK. Understood. So how do you feel now? You're all good to go? And are you going to get the vaccine?
GUPTA: I almost coughed on you. No, I feel 100 percent. I feel -- I'm roaring back to things. I feel really good. I -- you know, it's interesting, you know, if you have it, whether or not you need the vaccine, I probably don't need it. It's a tough way to get vaccinated, to actually get the infection, but it does protect you as well.
Here's a couple of concerns, though. One is that it can still mutate. The virus can still mutate and we can a different sort of strain of H1N1.
COLLINS: Yes, right.
GUPTA: Within the next couple of months. So that's what the vaccine makers are worried about as well. Also there's this crazy thing going around, I don't know if you've heard about the swine flu parties? H1N1 parties where people...
COLLINS: No!
GUPTA: Someone who's sick actually gets everyone else sick with the hope that they get sick and then not have to worry about it anymore. Bad idea, as you might imagine, for lots of reasons.
COLLINS: Yes.
GUPTA: But that's something that's happening as well.
COLLINS: Wow. All right. Well, let me ask you this, can you get the virus from other people just coughing around you? Remind us how this is carried.
GUPTA: You know I wish I could answer no to that question, but absolutely. You know people cough, they sneeze, the virus gets out there. The safe window is about 3 to 6 feet away from somebody who's coughing or sneezing. So try and stay away from that person.
But -- you know especially this time of year more so than other times of year, you've got the flu going around as well.
COLLINS: Right.
GUPTA: Regular seasonal flu. So the other thing is for the people who are coughing and sneezing, stay home for a few days.
COLLINS: Yes. And a lot of them don't.
GUPTA: I know. I did.
COLLINS: Yes.
GUPTA: Which is unusual. And I actually fought it, but it was the right thing to do because I didn't want to get you sick or anybody else here sick in the building.
COLLINS: Right. I knew it was all about me. Listen, that brings up a good point. Because there's this thing going around, tell me what you think about it, one of the newspapers here, the "Atlanta Journal Constitution" is actually writing about this story now that there are some employers here who are seeking legal advice, talking to lawyers about whether or not they can actually require, as a company, that their employers -- employees, pardon me, get the flu shot, whether it's seasonal flu or H1N1 or whatever.
Is that even legal?
GUPTA: Well, it's going to be a tough legal argument for them to enforce, because it's very hard to make people do this sort of thing. And I think it's actually illegal to require that sort of thing. Now there are certain institutions that are different. The military, this has come up before with the anthrax vaccine, for example, and other vaccines. They're going to to require H1N1 vaccines for the military.
And also a lot of healthcare institutions because they are around sick people and they are sort of the first-line responders. COLLINS: Yes.
GUPTA: Hospitals may also recommend their health care workers get it. But as far as how they mandate it, how they enforce it, what they would do to somebody if they don't get it, it's nebulous. I've had conversations with people at hospitals about that variation. I don't think it's straightforward at all.
COLLINS: Yes. I guess they're saying that because Georgia and many other states are right-to-work states, you know, you have the opportunity to go work somewhere else if you don't get the shot.
GUPTA: Yes, that's right.
COLLINS: But again, far from, you know, being enacted, I just think it's an interesting conversation.
GUPTA: Yes. I think we'll have a lot of conversations like that. This has been a very interesting, I think, sort of social experiment as well, people wanting it, not wanting it and all that.
COLLINS: Yes. No kidding. All right. Sanjay Gupta, wearing the Minnesota Vikings purple tie, appreciate that.
All right, also want to let you...
GUPTA: Minnesota gal.
COLLINS: You know that we are talking about flu vaccines and the workplace on my blog today. We do think this is pretty interesting. We want to know, would you get a flu shot if your employer asked you to or told you to, like, required it. Go to my blog at CNN.com/heidi and let me know what you think.
He drives a taxi, but it's his camera that may be the real vehicle for a change. We'll go to the streets of Istanbul outside a gathering of the world's most important bankers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: To Wall Street now. Stocks bounced back a little bit yesterday, with each of the major averages jumping 1 percent. And today the rally is circling the globe, boosting overseas markets as well.
Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange now as the opening bell rings with a look at what's putting investors in a buying mood.
Yes, we want to know.
(LAUGHTER)
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Well, the Dow will add to triple-digit gains today. Australia's central bank became the first major central bank to boost interest rates since the recession began, showing policymakers they are optimistic about the recovery there. Well, we're not expecting the Federal Reserve to follow suit anytime soon here.
And a major reason why, consumer spending. The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to fall one percent. The decline, of course, not as bad as last year's, but the two-month period can account for as much as half of retailers' annual profits. On one hand, it means we as shoppers will see great bargains, but on the other, it means retailers will probably keep hiring levels tight.
United Airlines launching a new checked bag pass called Premiere Baggage. The pass costs 250 bucks a year.
Have you heard this, Heidi?
COLLINS: I knew it was coming.
LISOVICZ: Allows a customer to check two bags without paying extra. Could be good for frequent fliers or for families because it covers bag fees for up to eight people who are traveling on the same confirmation number. So for $50, you know, one way for two bags, so I guess after, you know, five single one-way fares...
COLLINS: Right.
LISOVICZ: ... it works out.
I mean, if you're going to get nickel and dimes, just pay up front and maybe you just fly more frequently.
COLLINS: Well, that was definitely some of the complaining that we were hearing in the beginning about all of this. It's that, hey, just tell me how much you need and how much the ticket is, put it into the ticket and we'll pay it, instead of the nickel and diming of people were opposed to.
LISOVICZ: Exactly, right. So we'll see how Premiere Pass works. Meanwhile, stocks are taking off. The Dow, the NASDAQ, and the S&P 500, each up about two-thirds of a percent. Boeing shares bucking the trend. They're down one percent. The plane maker expects to take a $1 billion charge because of higher costs and market conditions affecting one of its programs -- the 747.
COLLINS: Yes, yes.
All right, well, we're watching all of it.
Susan Lisovicz, thank you.
LISOVICZ: See you later.
COLLINS: As taxpayers, we have all funded hundreds of billions of dollars in bailouts. Well, now the White House wants to limit the executive pay at companies that received some of the largest payouts.
Christine Romans with the CNN money team is here now with more. So, Christine, as these details are kind of coming out on plans to reform pay for CEOs at bailed out companies, there are people who still wonder, all right, so this is just the CEOs, the top of the top, and not all of the people who sort of depend -- or I mean, the argument is, they depend on those bonuses as part of their salary.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: These are the top earners. The top 175 earners at the big companies that have had to have exceptional assistance from the United States government. And who are those companies?
AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup, General Motors, GMAC Financial Services, Chrysler, and Chrysler Financial.
There's a special master for compensation, a man named Kenneth Feinberg over the Treasury Department. His job is to try and find a way to balance the problem here. To make sure that these big earners at these places are being paid for performance and for returning shareholder value and not for just short-term risk taking that boosts the bottom line.
So how are they going to do that?
Well, the "Wall Street Journal" says that one idea they're moving toward here is actually cutting the paycheck of some of these people and putting more of their compensation into stock that's paid out over several years. So they couldn't get a big payday for taking very big short-term risks, say, with exotic derivatives that no one really understands. They couldn't get paid for taking these big risks and rewarded for taking big risks. And if, in fact, they did, then they would have to, you know, the stock would get hit and then they would, eventually, not be rewarded.
So that's one of the idea that the "Wall Street Journal" says they're coming toward. But this Kenneth Feinberg, the special master for compensation, he doesn't have to turn in a report until about the middle of October. So they're still working on this.
And we asked the Treasury Department, you know, where they stand on this whole process. Will they be reigning in this pay? And they say Mr. Feinberg was appointed to review and approve executive compensation for the top executives at the seven firms receiving this assistance. The idea here is to help ensure that companies strike the right balance around their need to retain talent, reward performance and protect the taxpayers' investment - Heidi.
COLLINS: Feinberg worked for the previous administration, too, right?
ROMANS: You know, he was -- he was somebody who came to sort of public awareness. He was the person who worked out the settlements for the families of the victims of the September 11th disaster. So he's somebody who knows how to sit down and figure out fair pay. I mean, he's got some background in this. And so that is - that is what he's most recently been known for.
COLLINS: All right. Understood.
Christine Romans, we'll continue to watch that one with you.
ROMANS: Sure.
COLLINS: Thank you.
As President Obama prepares to hear from congressional leaders about the war in Afghanistan, two of his cabinet members are sounding one clear theme. U.S. troops are not leaving.
It's a CNN exclusive.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked strategy in a rare joint interview with CNN's Christian Amanpour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There should be no uncertainty in terms of our determination to remain in Afghanistan and to continue to build a relationship of partnership and trust with the Pakistanis. That's long-term. That's a strategic objective of the United States.
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think what we're going through in asking ourselves, OK, we know what the goal is, is what we're doing most likely to achieve that goal is what a very decisive and intelligent, you know, commander-in-chief would do. So we're going to come up with what we think is the best approach, but the goal remains the same.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: You can check out the entire interview later this afternoon when CNN's Christiane Amanpour hosts "POWER AND PERSUASION," 3:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Disappointed with the way the war is going. Several hundred protesters showed up outside the White House, Monday. Among them, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. She was one of the 61 people arrested. White House Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president did not know about the protest until it was mentioned in a press briefing.
Protesters hit the streets in Istanbul, Turkey. They are gathering outside the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. They came within a half mile of the meetings.
(VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Before riot police use water cannons and pepper gas to disperse them, they say their outrage is based on a simple injustice. "The rich get richer while the poor gets poorer."
CNN's Ivan Watson takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sevket Sahintas works the night shift, driving his taxi from midnight until dawn. His route takes him past symbols of wealth, both old and new. Periodically, he stops, not for customers, but to take photos.
In addition to being a cabbie, Sahintas is also a self-taught photographer. His lens focuses on the poorest segments of Istanbul's society.
"I saw people sleeping in the street in winter," he says. It made me sad and angry." "I started taking photos, he adds, because I want government officials to see these poor people the way I do and do something to help."
Armed with a small point-and-shoot camera, Sahintas photographs the homeless who often sleep in bus stops next to billboards advertising luxury products. He also shoots the street kids, prostitutes, and garbage pickers who roam the city streets at night.
"I judge a country's wealth on how its income is distributed," Sahintas says. "If just a few people control most of the money," he adds, "I think that shows a country's poverty, not its wealth."
Sahintas says the global economic downturn has hit the city's taxi drivers, cutting clientele. The crisis has even hurt business for the city's freelance garbage pickers. Men like Yasar who earn 7 bucks a night recycling paper, to feed his family of six. Over a cigarette, he tells the taxi driver, business has slowed down for Istanbul's shopkeepers. The consequence, there's less packing paper and cardboard boxes for him to scavenge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
WATSON: Sahintas's unique perspective has won him some international attention. His work has been displayed abroad, and here at home in Istanbul. But he doesn't make enough money off of his photos to earn a living. For that, this photographer still has to work the night shift.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Ivan Watson joining me now from the IMF meeting in Istanbul.
So, Ivan, when you were in the cab, yourself, what was it like to see him stopping and taking some of those pictures?
WATSON: He's got a very unique perspective on this city, driving at these late hours. And, Heidi, he's not making money from this, (INAUDIBLE). He seems to really be driven by anger at the huge income gap in this society. Nearly one in five Turks lives below the poverty line. And due to the crisis, you've got a record high unemployment here right now.
I asked him, at one point, you know, do you make friends with these homeless people, do you make friends with the garbage pickers that you talk to out in the streets? He said, I used to, but it just got too painful, because you make friends with somebody, then I get to go home to a warm bed, and these people are still out sleeping on the street, and he said that's not really friendship - Heidi.
COLLINS: All right.
Ivan Watson for us in Istanbul this morning.
Thank you, Ivan.
So what exactly is the International Monetary Fund?
It's made up of 184 member countries that share common economic goals. It oversees the global financial system and tries to keep exchange rates stable and promote development. Critics, including many of the protesters, say these policy makers largely ignore or exploit the poorer countries. Critics have also accused the IMF of supporting governments that abused human rights, but were favorable to U.S. and European corporations.
Checking our top stories now. A custody hearing set today for a Tennessee newborn kidnapped last week from his Nashville home. The baby was found safe in Alabama three days after he was taken. An Alabama woman is in jail, facing a federal kidnapping charge. But the Associated Press reports there are allegations a family member was arranging to sell the boy. Police are not commenting on that report.
There's a new sign of openness from the reclusive nation of North Korea. Chinese news reports say the north is willing to take part in bilateral talks with the U.S. and return to six-party talks over its nuclear program. That report follows the Chinese premiere's visit to Pyongyang.
Members of the Senate Banking Committee taking up the thorny issue of Iran. They'll be looking at various options the U.S. has, especially after Iran admitted building another nuclear facility. United Nations inspectors hope to get their first look at the plant later this month.
If you have a credit card, you'll want to see this story. Millions of Americans are finding shocking new bills from their credit card companies.
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COLLINS: International aid is making its way to Indonesia one week after a powerful earthquake hit there. Makeshift hospitals and shelters are going up for the thousands of homeless people. And as more victims are found, officials fear the death toll could rise into the thousands.
At least 300 people are dead in southern India where torrential rain triggered intense flooding. More than a million people have lost nearly everything. The same is true in the Filipino capital. Floodwaters from two typhoons still cover some of Manila's poorest neighborhoods. The main worry there -- disease from all of the filthy water.
Jacqui Jeras is in the Weather Center right now to talk a little bit more about this. Yes, that's always the case. After you get rain like that, you really have to be careful if it's possible about staying healthy.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it takes a while for all those waters to go back down and certainly months and months sometimes years to recover from something like that.
We're watching the tropics in the Atlantic, too, Heidi. And we've talked a little yesterday about tropical storm Grace, which is no longer -- that's moving up towards the UK. But we've got a new area of disturbed weather right here and the National Hurricane Center has put a 30 to 50 percent possibility that this could become our next tropical storm.
However, take a look at these clouds, way back here. We've got what we called wind shear. So this is going to be moving into an environment that's unfavorable say after 48 hours. So even if we do get some development here, we don't think it's going to be too much of a big deal for too many people. So that's some good news.
By the way, crazy quiet hurricane season so far. We've only had seven named storms. We're going to talk a little bit more about why in the tropics coming up tomorrow, so make sure you watch.
Today, we're looking at the threat of severe weather from Texas on through parts of the Mississippi River Valley. And this will be our big headline throughout the day today. We've got showers and thundershowers, some of which have been severe already across Oklahoma now making their way into Arkansas.
This is just kind of a beginning, Heidi. We expect most of the severe weather to develop late this afternoon and into tonight as those cold temperatures continue to make their way across the nation's midsection and a big arctic blast by the weekend.
COLLINS: Arctic blast. Sounds great...
JERAS: Like the coldest temperatures of the season so far, yes.
COLLINS: All right, wow. All right, Jacqui thanks so much. We'll check with you a little later on.
They were supposed to be looking out for investors, but it turns out some who failed to uncover Bernie Madoff's scheme are now reaping the rewards.
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COLLINS: Millions of Americans are opening their mail and finding a terrible surprise. Their credit card companies are jacking up their monthly payments before a new credit reform law goes into effect.
We hear of one family's struggle from CNN national political correspondent Jessica Yellin.
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CHUCK LANE, CREDIT CARD HOLDER: It's an injustice.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Chuck and Jean Lane are outraged. They have excellent credit. Never been late, still Chase Credit Cards jacked up their monthly payment from $370 to $911. So Chuck Lane called the bank to complain.
What did you tell them?
LANE: I told them this was the worst economic times in history practically. I work for a small company. We've laid off 30 percent of our workforce. I just took a 10 percent pay cut this morning. And this is what you're going to do to us?
YELLIN: He says he learned his credit card payments skyrocketed when he checked his online bank account.
C. LANE: And I went to my checking account so I could write down the amount that was coming out, yes, and lo and behold it was $911.
YELLIN: That's a surprise?
C. LANE: I was shocked. I was stunned.
YELLIN: Now he feels abused. You thought you had a deal.
C. LANE: I did, I thought I had a really good deal.
YELLIN: The card was sold as a low-interest way to pay down big bills. The Lanes have paid off about half of what they owed but still have more than $18,000 to go. They can't afford the new monthly payment, so Chuck Lane called to ask Chase for help, and guess what he was told?
C. LANE: You want me to pay five percent more in interest...
YELLIN: He can go back to his old payment, but only if he agrees to a higher interest rate. Under the new credit card law, the Lanes will have options, but for now, they're stuck.
C. LANE: So you are putting us into bankruptcy? I mean, I don't see how that helps me.
YELLIN: The Lanes aren't alone. In a statement to CNN, Chase says they doubled the minimum payments for a million card holders because while tens of millions of Chase loans have been paid back in less than 24 months, "there have been a small percentage of customers that have not made as much progress. Our desire is to have balances paid back in a reasonable period of time."
JOE RIDOUT, CONSUMER ACTION: Truly, this is the single most abusive credit card change in terms that I've ever seen.
YELLIN: The credit card industry insists companies are not trying to skirt the new law.
SCOTT TALBOTT, FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE: It's their desire to provide the best products to consumers always every day to ensure that customers have credit they need.
YELLIN: Insuring that Americans have affordable credit that was one reason banks, like Chase got billions in taxpayer bailout money.
Do you think they're showing proper respect to what Americans are going through?
JEAN LANE, CREDIT CARD CONSUMER: No, they're not. They have no respect in the American people. All they think about is the almighty dollar for themselves.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
YELLIN: Some members of Congress are trying to help. They've introduced a new law that would make the credit card rules go into effect on December 1st instead of February 22nd.
But even if that law passes, it would still give credit card companies another two months to keep raising interest rates and doubling payments and that's little solace for Chuck and Jean Lane.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.
COLLINS: We do have a lot going on this morning including more on those credit card rate hikes. CNN crews are in place to bring you all the details.
Now, let's first check in with Christine Romans in New York -- hey, Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi.
That's right, I'm following that credit card story. I'm going to tell you what your choices are, what your rights are, what the laws are if you are in a situation where the credit card company is cutting your credit limits, raising your interest rates or making you pay a higher balance. I'll tell you what you can do; that's coming up at the top of the hour.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: I'm Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates tells CNN exclusively what he really thinks is going on in Afghanistan. I'll have that coming up.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: We're talking about saving you some money. It's going to cost less to heat your home this winter.
High unemployment though, that's going to mean that millions of Americans will still need help paying their heating bills. How much are you going to need to budget? Where can you get help if you need it? That's all coming up in the next hour.
COLLINS: All right very good. Thanks, guys.
Also, you might want to take a second look at your lunch. Some foods that are supposed to be good for you could make you sick. It's the top ten riskiest foods.
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COLLINS: They failed to do their jobs and that cost investors billions of dollars. SEC staffers never uncovered Bernie Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme.
But as our Allan Chernoff reports, today most of them are sitting pretty.
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ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: The SEC's failure to find the Bernard Madoff fraud is a black eye that just won't heal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How the heck did this happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Massive complete total bureaucratic incompetence.
CHERNOFF: Yet while the commission gets skewered most staffers who investigated Madoff and their supervisors have suffered few consequences. Many are enjoying successful careers.
Richard Walker (ph) led the SEC'S New York office when it missed its first good chance to catch Madoff in the early '90s. Today Walker is general counsel of Deutche Bank.
Among those cited in the SEC Inspector General's report on the failure is one of Walker's former examiners. Demetrios Vasilakis (ph), he now works for a New York hedge fund, Atticus Capital as chief compliance officer.
The former SEC official who met with the Madoff whistleblower Harry Markopolos but failed to act, Grant Ward (ph), is now senior counsel with MetLife. Markopolos told Congress he was shocked by Ward's financial illiteracy.
HARRY MARKOPOLOS, MADOFF WHISTLEBLOWER: If you paid peanuts, and then you should didn't wonder why you ended up with monkeys.
CHERNOFF: And then there is the former SEC investigator who married Bernard Madoff's niece, Eric Swanson (ph), who is now general counsel of stock trading firm Bats Exchange.
SEC Inspector general David Kotz found Swanson's romantic relationship did not affect the investigations but his actions created "the appearance of a potential conflict of interest." One of many failings the inspector general uncovered.
DAVID KOTZ, SEC INSPECTOR GENERAL: The SEC never conducted a competent and thorough examination or investigation of Madoff for operating a Ponzi scheme.
CHERNOFF: And the SEC director who ok'd the closing of a Madoff investigation last year Mark Shawnfeld (ph) is now a partner of law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. Arthur Levitt, chairman of the SEC during some of the failed Madoff investigation is with the private equity investment firm Carlyle Group.
ARTHUR LEVITT, FORMER SEC CHAIRMAN: It never occurred to me or anyone on my staff that Madoff was anything except a market maker.
CHERNOFF: At least six SEC staffers who were directly involved in examining Madoff's books at his office remain at the commission, including Simona Stoltz (ph).
SIMONA STOLTZ, SEC: I have no comment.
CHERNOFF: Her supervisor's evaluation, "Simona's ability to understand and analyze the complex issues of the Madoff examination is particularly impressive."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many have been fired because of this gross incompetence?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't believe anybody has been fired.
CHERNOFF: Aside from Arthur Levitt, former and current SEC regulators declined to comment for this story. Only two high profile SEC officials resigned after the Madoff scandal. Lori Richards (ph), former head of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations and former SEC Enforcement Chief Linda Thompson (ph). Ms. Thompson has landed nicely; she's now a partner at a law firm Davis Falcon Wordwealth (ph).
Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.
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