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American Morning
Troop Surge in Afghanistan?; The Fight for Pakistan; Short on Swine Flu Masks; Crushing Cost of Health Care; Your New Neighbor, the President; Short on Swine Flue Masks; Big Pay Dilemma; Hazing in the Navy; Streisand's Sale; Swine Flu: Answers for Parents
Aired October 12, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and thanks for joining us on the Most News in the Morning on this Monday. It's the 12th of October. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. It's also Columbus Day, so many of you have off, but we're here, so, glad you're with us. And we have a lot of big stories we'll be breaking down in the next 15 minutes.
First, the White House says that it could take weeks before the president makes up his mind about sending more troops to Afghanistan. He's got more meetings planned this week, but with Republicans turning up the heat and our troops coming under heavy fire, time may not be on the president's side.
ROBERTS: Afghanistan not the only U.S. ally facing a resurgent terror threat. Right now, the Taliban in Pakistan getting bolder and more dangerous. Just today, another attack. At least 29 people were killed. In a moment, we're going to go live to Pakistan for the latest on the situation on the ground there and why it's such a big issue for the United States.
CHETRY: And we see them whenever there's concerns about spreading any illness, surgical masks sometimes on the subways and around crowded cities. But there could be a major shortage of them this fall. Our Jeanne Meserve is taking a look at one of the few plans left making them in the U.S. and whether or not it would be able to fill orders in the billions.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: First this morning with the Taliban growing more powerful by the day and republicans pressing for a troop surge now, the White House says it could still be several weeks before President Obama settles on a war strategy in Afghanistan. More meetings with his top advisers are scheduled for this week.
Meanwhile, our troops are taking heavy fire. Militant forces are growing in number. Their attacks on NATO soldiers growing more frequent and intense. Our Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon. And Barbara, another week that we'll be concerned all about Afghanistan here at the administration and the Pentagon.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, John. Another week does begin in Washington and the same questions. More troops, less troops and what's the strategy in Afghanistan? Survivors of a brutal fire fight here at Combat Outpost Keating telling their story of an ambush at a remote mountain valley base.
CASON SHRODE FIRES, SUPPORT OFFICER, U.S. ARMY: I made a call and just said, we're taking heavy contact. We need assets. From that point, just tried to fight the fight.
STARR: A helicopter crew member recalls seeing hundreds of militants attacking.
C.W.O. CHAD BARDWELL, APACHE GUNNER, U.S. ARMY: It was just kind of shock to see all of the metal flames and the smoke and then to see that amount of personnel that were running outside of their wire. It was really huge, the shock.
STARR: The White House scheduling another meeting this week, still deciding on a way ahead. Counterinsurgency expert, David Kilcullen advises the Pentagon on both Iraq and Afghanistan.
DAVID KILCULLEN, COUNTERINSURGENCY EXPERT: I think that there are really two options. We need to do this thing properly or we need to go home and prepare for the inevitable humanitarian disaster that is going to happen.
STARR: Disagreement between the top republican and democrat on the Senate Arms Services Committee. Senator John McCain told John King on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," it would be a mistake of "historic proportions to reduce the U.S. effort."
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I think the great danger now is not an American pullout. I think the great danger now is a half measure, a sort of a, you know, try to please all ends of the political spectrum.
STARR: Key democrats say more has to be done to make Afghans take responsibility.
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), CHAIRMAN, ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: There are ways of showing resolve without more and more combat troops coming from the United States.
STARR: But for the men from Camp Keating, the only fight is for their buddy's lives.
SGT. JAYSON SOUTER, U.S. ARMY: I think the best moment that told me what great of a unit I was in? What great guys I was working with, was win? Everyone basically came together and in the midst of it all, they're donating blood for the wounded that we had. They all pulled together to make sure, you know, we can pull our battle buddies out of this.
STARR: Donating blood to each other while the firefight raged on around them. It took hours to suppress that enemy attack and medevac the dead and the wounded out of that, John. And now, like so many border outposts in that region, it is shut down. General McChrystal says he doesn't have enough troops to protect it all -- John. ROBERTS: In terms of the numbers of troops that General McChrystal would like to see in Afghanistan, people talk about the so- called idea of middle ground, about 10,000 troops. The number though that McChrystal is asking for is actually a middle ground. Didn't he have one plan that asked for far more than 40,000 troops?
STARR: Well, you know, the understanding is he has put up several options with his recommendation for a so-called middle ground of about 40,000. But by the time he would send in all of the support troops, it might be well above that.
And again, when you talk about the betting money, where this may all sort out. A lot of people are beginning to say, it will be somewhere in the middle. He may not get all he wants, and those who are advocating a much narrower strategy may not get all they want -- John.
ROBERTS: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thanks so much.
CHETRY: While the Taliban continues to strengthen its foothold in Afghanistan, the group is also fighting foreground in Pakistan, a nation as we know with new clear weapons. Just this morning, a blast in Pakistan killed at least 29 people. Over the weekend, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke about the danger now facing our ally on the war on terror on CBS's "Face the Nation."
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: This is about protecting the United States of America. We know that we can't have a haven over there for the reconstitution of al Qaeda and attacks against the United States. We also know that Pakistan has nuclear weapons. The Taliban taking over a country like Pakistan would be completely and totally unacceptable destabilizing, not only in that area of the world, but all around.
CHETRY: So, what is the reality on the ground in Pakistan? We tap into our global resources of CNN this morning. Our Reza Sayh live in Islamabad and tell us more about this deteriorating security situation. I mean, this is the fourth attack now we've heard over the past week.
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kiran. It has been an awful couple of weeks in Pakistan. A variety of militant attacks targeting a variety of locations. And that's why the Pakistani government is really keeping a close eye on the debate going on in Washington.
The Pakistani government is not saying, look, U.S. NATO troops should pack up and leave. But, they are concerned about a troop surge, especially a troop surge of 40,000 soldiers. Some government officials believe a troop surge would lead some more militants crossing the very forest and mountainous border into Pakistan and destabilizing this country.
Remember, many Pakistani government officials blame the volatility, the extremism in Pakistan on what they called a failed U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. They point to thousands of Uzbek fighters in South Waziristan. These were fighters that were in Afghanistan fighting the Afghan Jihad. Why are they now in Pakistan?
Government official will say because of U.S. and NATO presence in Afghanistan. So, there you see the dilemma that Washington and the Obama administration is facing. What they decide in Afghanistan will impact this very important ally in the fight against militancy. Kiran--
CHETRY: It's really a cyclical debate because the U.S. has blamed many of the attacks in Afghanistan on the Pakistani militants that are across the boarder. And they've also been pressuring Pakistan to get tough on the Taliban. How these recent attacks in Pakistan made it, changed the situation if you will, in terms of sentiment, when it comes to the Taliban and al Qaeda?
SAYAH: Well, there is public support for the Pakistani government and Pakistani military to go after the Taliban and these militant groups. And they have launched offensives that have been relatively successful especially in the swat valley. They're launching another one coming up soon.
They haven't announced the date in South Waziristan. An area Washington calls an al Qaeda safe haven. But the problem is, whenever they launched these offensives, the militants hit back with suicide attacks. And the attacks that you saw over the weekend with the army compound, the only way to stop those type of attacks and the suicide blast is with better police work, better intelligence gathering and management.
And the Pakistani government will tell you they are not where they need to be with that type of ability. So expect this type of cycle to continue. This is something that they have asked help for from Washington that has yet to happen.
CHETRY: Reza Sayah for us in Islamabad this morning. Thank you. Also, stay with us, coming up at 6:30 Eastern Time. A strong look at the strategy in Afghanistan earlier this year. President Obama's critics are asking what's changed. We are going to talk about with Andy Card, Former Chief of Staff of President George W. Bush as well as Lisa Caputo, former press secretary to then-first lady Hillary Clinton.
ROBERTS: Also new this morning, America's insurance companies are taking aim at the Senate Finance Committee's health care bill, known as the Baucus plan. And industry group says if it becomes law, families with private insurance will pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars more every year. But the spokesman Sen. Max Baucus, the chairman of the finance committee, calls it "a health insurance company hatchet job plain and simple."
CHETRY: More than eight years after the 9/11 terror attacks, the United States still has no way to verify whether foreign visitors have actually left the country. According to "The New York Times," immigration officials says nearly 3 million people visited America with temporary visas in 2008. But they suspect that several hundred thousand may have stayed after those visas expired.
Members of Congress are now urging the Department of Homeland Security to complete an electronic monitoring system that would track visitors when they check in and also when they check out of the country.
ROBERTS: And take a look at this wild shootout in a bar near the campus of the University of Toledo. It was all captured by surveillance camera. Police say it started out when man was thrown out of the bar possibly for selling marijuana. The three-minute video shows at least five people firing more than a dozen shots of each other, and get this, no one was hurt. Police need your help in locating the suspects. I hope you recognize anyone here as part of the shootout at the O.K. Coral.
CHETRY: That was almost looks like a joke. I mean, like a movie set.
ROBERTS: No. It's no joke, though. Those are real guns and real bullets, but obviously, they are not great shots.
CHETRY: Yes. Thank goodness because no one was hurt. Still ahead, we're talking about whether or not a major swine flu outbreak around the world would leave the U.S. in a very vulnerable position. One of the ways to prevent it, surgical mask. Where are all the surgical masks made? Not here. 10 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Some big news makers joined John King on "STATE OF THE UNION." Yesterday, and they're still making headlines today. Two of the most popular, the assistant surgeon general giving a vote of confidence to the swine flu vaccine and Sen. John McCain on whether Sarah Palin is top of the ticket material.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: She still is a formidable force in the republican party. And I have great affection for her. Sara and I, did we always agree on everything in the past and will we in the future? No, but, look, let's let a thousand flowers bloom. Let's come up with a winning combination the next time.
JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Why is it do you think many Americans and many parents aren't quite sure? Number one it's new.
DR. ANNE SCHUCHAT, ASSISTANT SURGEON GENERAL: You know, a lot of people are saying it's new. But it's important to know that the seasonal flu vaccine is made exactly the same way as this H1N1 vaccine. A 100 million people, including a lot of children get the seasonal flu vaccine every year and it has a really good safety record.
So, I think parents are wondering, is this something new, has it been fully tested. What I can say is that everything we know right now suggests a very good safety profile for the vaccines. ROBERTS: Dr. Schuchat also said there are no problems associated with getting shots for both the swine flu and the seasonal flu on the same day -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Speaking of the swine flu threat, it's rising and surgical masks are rolling off production lines here in the United States, but that may not be enough to meet demand. As our Jeanne Meserve shows us, it's a painful remainder of just how dependent this country has become on products that are made elsewhere.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, one of the supplies used to control the spread of flu, simple surgical masks. But does the U.S. have enough of them on hand and can it get a lot more if it needs them?
During the cataclysmic 1918 flu pandemic, Red Cross nurses hand made surgical masks to help control the spread of disease. Now machines crank them out at the Prestige Ameritech plant in Richland Hills, Texas, one of the few manufacturers in the U.S. 90% of production has moved to other counties where labor is cheaper and some say that has created a vulnerability right here.
MIKE BOWEN, PRESTIGE AMERITECH: If there's a pandemic, America won't be able to supply its own needs.
MESERVE: Bowen and others fear that in a 1918 size pandemic, the nations that make masks, like China and Mexico, would keep them for themselves.
REP. JOE BARTON (R), TEXAS: Push comes to shove, you take care of your own before you take care of others. That's just human nature. And for that reason alone, I think we should buy more of these masks in the United States, and we should encourage the capability to manufacturer more of these masks in the United States.
MESERVE: The government estimates the U.S. could need 3 billion surgical masks during the H1N1 outbreak. Right now the strategic national stockpile contains only a small fraction of that amount, 37 million. It's a yawning gap, government officials acknowledge, one that was laid out in stark detail in this Health and Human Services PowerPoint presentation two years ago.
Government officials say before they build up supplies, they want more evidence the masks provide effective protection, but current guidance from the CDC recommends the use of surgical masks. And last year OCIO (ph) estimated that a single health professional could go through close to 2,000 during a pandemic.
Bowen has been crusading for more domestic production of surgical masks. He could benefit financially, but says this isn't just about business, it's about the nation's health and security.
MIKE BOWEN, PRESTIGE AMERITECH: Important things like face masks should be made in America, and I think they'll finally realize what we've been trying to tell them for almost three (ph) years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: Hospitals, clinics and physicians are creating their own stockpiles of surgical masks, a good thing, except manufacturers are already having trouble keeping up with demand, and if H1N1 becomes more deadly, that demand will likely grow much larger.
John and Kiran, back to you.
CHETRY: Jeanne Meserve for us this morning. Thanks.
ROBERTS: So, jaws were dropping a couple of weeks ago when we heard that the top energy trader at Citigroup was probably going to make a bonus of about $100 million this year - $100 million. Well, now Citigroup is being forced to get rid of the energy unit that the man works for.
We've got Christine Romans, "Minding Your Business" coming right up. Seventeen minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. It's 20 minutes past the hour right now, and just 19 days until Halloween, and don't be surprised if along with the zombies, the vampires and the witches you find an infamous Wall Street con man shouting "Trick or treat!" at your front door. Thousands of Bernie Madoff masks have shipped out to stores across the country.
There you go. It looks like a mixture of Bernie Madoff and, like, with the Batman, you know...
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE).
CHETRY: Anyway. Michael Jackson costumes, by the way, still looking to be the number one seller, as well as - did see, you know, "Jon & Kate Plus 8", Kate Gosselin - the hair? Those wigs are also really popular right now. There you go! I like that.
ROBERTS: Oh, my goodness.
CHETRY: (INAUDIBLE) really well put together in the back, so you just woke up.
ROBERTS: Christine Romans here "Minding Your Business" this morning, and this fellow, I guess he became known as the $100 million man over at Citigroup, but now leaving the Citigroup.
ROMANS: Yes, that's right. Citigroup has this energy trading division called Phibro. They've had it since like 1987. This is a company - this is a part of the - of the company that's made an awful lot of money, hundreds of millions (AUDIO GAP).
The guy who runs this unit is on deck to get maybe $100 million. They've had a very, very good year trading energy security, so he's on deck to get maybe $100 million and a bonus, and for a company that is basically the ward of the state, Citigroup, it just looks like in DC they just could not stomach the idea of this guy getting $100 million from this company, basically. It's alive only because of - of...
ROBERTS: Well, isn't he (ph) actually thinking of taking this company somewhere else too?
ROMANS: Sure. I mean, I think how they solve this is pretty interesting. I mean, just getting rid of the whole unit - I mean, but the idea that they'd just cut off, you know - just like your face, because this is a part of the company that has managed to generate incredibly good returns.
So now, was this may be a part of the company that would have been good for shareholders - and that's us (ph) - that they're getting rid of just because it looks so bad to have this kind of a pay structure (ph).
Now, remember, this was an old partnership, and these - these contracts are pretty - this is the way a lot of these - these groups like this work, this particular energy trading group. If you don't make any money trading, you don't get anything, but if you have great returns, you get a big chunk of those, and this guy has been consistently generating fantastic returns. Now he's taking his whole unit and going someplace else. It's a $250 million investment Occidental (ph) Petroleum, and altogether maybe it's worth about $500 million. But it clears up this mess for - for Citi which is, as I said, a ward of the state. It was going to be able to pay this guy an awful lot of money.
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs CEO in "The Wall Street Journal" with a fascinating interview this weekend, basically saying - you know, this company also faces a big PR dilemma over its bonuses - basically saying they are going to pay out their bonuses, and Goldman Sachs CEO, Blankfein, he said, look, if it comes between disappointing the people who work for me or disappointing Washington, I'm going to disappoint Washington because, you know, these people are really good workers and we deserve it.
ROBERTS: He wants to keep his employees happy.
ROMANS: He wants to keep his employees happy. So we haven't heard the end of all of that...
ROBERTS: It's kind of a rarity in the business world these days, isn't it?
ROMANS: Yes. We're going to get four big bank earnings this week. I think you're going to see the banks are doing very, very well. We're going to be talking a lot about record bonuses again, maybe.
CHETRY: Just a year after the calamity, we're already talking about good bonuses.
ROMANS: More to come, folks.
ROBERTS: Christine Romans "Minding Your Business" this (INAUDIBLE) morning. Christine, thanks so much. ROMANS: You're welcome.
ROBERTS: More allegations of hazing in the military. This time the Navy is the one that's in the crosshairs. We'll tell you what the allegations are all about.
It's 24 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. The Pentagon is dealing with another scandal this morning, one that affects gays, straights, men and women serving in uniform.
CHETRY: You know, and it involves allegations of hazing, some of it graphic and demeaning and it's already led to one tragedy. Carol Costello joins us live in Washington with more.
Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak calls it a rogue unit. Sestak, a former Navy admiral, was so disturbed about allegations of abusive hazing in the Navy's Canine Unit in Bahrain, he's demanding answers from the Navy, asking the same questions some sailors are, "Where is the accountability?"
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): Joseph Rocha is not hiding any more. He's out and proud. But it wasn't always that way. Rocha's journey to Washington's Gay Rights March has been painful, thanks, he says, to a stint in the Navy.
JOSEPH ROCHA, FORMER NAVY DOG HANDLER: I cannot wrap my head around the degradation and the barbarity of it.
COSTELLO: Rocha was 18 in 2005 when he joined the Navy's Canine Unit in Bahrain. He played by the military's rules and kept his sexual orientation under wraps. But even though, he says, no one in his unit knew he was gay, he still suffered because of something the Navy has long outlawed - hazing.
ROCHA: I was ordered to get on my knees, pretend to have oral sex with another service member. I was instructed as to how to be more queeny (ph), more queer, more homosexual, more believable and...
COSTELLO (on camera): And who was instructing you to do these things?
ROCHA: My chief.
COSTELLO (voice-over): Rocha says the hazing was widespread - gay, straights and women in his units were targets too.
In its own investigation of the Bahrain unit, the Navy found more than 90 incidents of hazing and other abuses, with sailors hogtied, force fed liver dog treats and told to make dog and duck sounds and duct-taped to a chair, rolled outside and then left in a dog kennel until released. According to the investigation, Rocha and several others in his unit also alleged the man who ordered much of the abuse was Chief Master at Arms Michael Toussaint.
SHAUN HOGAN, NAVY RESERVIST: He loved his authority, he loves his power.
COSTELLO: Shaun Hogan says he was hazed too. He and other sailors told CNN that Toussaint created such an atmosphere of fear, no one was immune, even Toussaint's number two, Jennifer Valdivia.
HOGAN: On video, I witnessed another training scenario where Michael Toussaint ordered Jennifer Valdivia, his second in command, to - well, she was dressed, apparently, only in a bed sheet and she was handcuffed to a bed in a barracks room and she was in a almost like a cat fight with two other women.
COSTELLO (on camera): It's unclear whether Toussaint was found to have violated any rules or if any disciplinary action has been taken against him. We do know he has since been promoted to Senior Chief, working with the Navy SEALS. We tried for a week to reach Toussaint for a comment - he didn't respond. Navy spokesman told us he is now deployed and declining interview requests.
COSTELLO (voice-over): As for Toussaint's number two, Jennifer Valdivia, her father told us she expected to take the fall for what happened in Bahrain. She committed suicide after posting this message on MySpace: "Tired of being blamed for other people's mistakes.
COSTELLO (on camera): Do you still love the Navy?
ROCHA: I love the Navy. I love the Navy...
COSTELLO: How is that possible now?
ROCHA: Because I understand that this is not a representation of the military.
COSTELLO (voice-over): But Rocha has left the Navy. He's in college now and hopes one day the Navy will do what's right and hold someone accountable for what happened in Bahrain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (on camera): Rocha believes the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is in part responsible for creating a climate within the military that allows such abuses to go unpunished. The Navy is now reviewing actions taken since its 2007 investigation, telling CNN, "The incident that occurred within the Military Working Dog Division does not reflect who we are as a Navy" -- John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: Well, we certainly hope not. Wow! What a story.
CHETRY: Carol Costello for us this morning. Thanks. And right now we're crossing the half hour. We check our top stories. Thousands marching on Washington for gay rights over the weekend. A lot were supporters of President Obama in the campaign but are now criticizing him for putting issues like the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on the back burner.
The National Equality March came a day after President Obama delivered a supportive speech to the largest gay and lesbian rights group.
Across the country gas prices are up for the sixth day in a row. According to AAA, they say that the national average for the price of a gallon of regular unleaded $2.48. That's up 2 cents from last Monday. The cheapest gas right now is in South Carolina, the most expensive in Alaska.
And boost U.S. tourism by taxing the international traveler. May seem like an odd concept. But it is the idea behind the measure moving through Congress. Under the proposal, most people visiting the U.S. would be charged $10. The money would then fund a non-profit company that promotes tourism. It's already passed the House and the bill now heads to the Senate - John.
ROBERTS: The health care battle headed for a big showdown on Capitol Hill just a day before the Senate finance committee votes on its reform bill. The so-called Baucus plan. The insurance industry is now charging the legislation would boost your policy cost by hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.
Let's talk about that and all other things political this morning with Andy Card. He's the former chief of staff to George W. Bush. He joins us this morning from Washington. And here in New York City, Lisa Caputo, who's the former press secretary to then first lady Hillary Clinton.
Good morning to both of you. Andy, let's start with you.
Good morning to you.
ROBERTS: This America's Health Insurance Plan study that was done by PricewaterhouseCoopers. You've got -- you can't help but notice the timing here. A day before the Senate finance committee is scheduled to vote on its health care plan, AHIP, which was at the table -- excuse me -- with the Obama administration working on health care has suddenly come out with the appearance that it looks like it's trying put a bullet in all of this. What's going on?
(AUDIO GAP)
ANDY CARD, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: ... an important issue to debate. But it's much more important we address the real challenges in the country that are real needs first and the need is to protect us and to get the economy back on track.
ROBERTS: Lisa, the White House is pretty upset by this, almost feeling like they were sandbagged. LISA CAPUTO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Yes, I mean, we saw this in the Clinton administration unfortunately and I had to deal with that first hand. And what you see is Nancy (INAUDIBLE) coming out swinging. The administration coming out swinging but I think this shows the difficulties that lie ahead for this issue.
I think we saw over the weekend that the chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, had to pull the ad featuring Senator Bob Dole. But the timing of this is absolutely suspect. There's no question about it.
On the eve before the Senate finance committee debates this bill, this trade association comes out with something that I think, you know, is clearly an attempt to derail but it shows the vast constituencies that have to be balanced.
I mean let's remember the administration spent months ruling the insurance industry and now all of a sudden this comes out on the eve. It's political.
ROBERTS: You know another big topic of discussion this week in the administration and throughout Washington is going to be Afghanistan, what to do about it. David Axelrod gave a speech over the weekend in which he talked about the president's deliberative process.
Let's listen to a little bit of that. Actually, let's not listen to it. We have, here a quote from him, I'm sorry. David Axelrod said, quote, "This is a complex issue. As an American I'm happy the president is diving in as deep as he is and gathering information so he can make the right decision."
But Lisa, you know, some Democrats like Ike Skelton are saying, didn't you come out with a comprehensive policy back in March? Why did we have to do it again? What's changed?
CAPUTO: Well, I think what's interesting about this is a threshold question of a national security issue really being debated in the papers. And I think certainly I'm sure Andy has a point of view on that being a former chief of staff to the president. Not something I think you want to do.
That being said, you have Senator Levin coming out yesterday saying, you know, this isn't just about troops, we should be enhancing the Afghan police force and the national police and National Guard there. Then you have Senator Feinstein coming out and say, well, we should move and move quickly and we should have, you know, an increase in troops.
I think what's important here is this is a complex issue. It is not just about Afghanistan, it's also about Pakistan. It's also about the consideration of potential fraud in the presidential elections there. I think he is heading the guidance that's in the recommendations from the general, which is have a deliberative process. And I think that's smart, that's what you want to do.
ROBERTS: Andy Card, your administration was widely criticized for taking your eye off the ball in Afghanistan to focus on Iraq. What do you think the president should do with General McChrystal's report?
CARD: Well, first of all, I agree with Lisa, that this debate should be a private debate inside the administration rather than a public debate. The public hand wringing is not attractive at all and I don't think President Obama is serving anyone well by having this public hand wringing challenge to come up with a decision.
I also don't think politics should play a role in this at all. Period. No politics. It should be based on what's on the national interest. I think generals and admirals and the folks who wear the uniforms in the armed services are the people who are in charge of making sure that missions can be accomplished and yes, their counsel and advice should be disproportionately important but it's not the only advice that the president should have.
ROBERTS: So...
CARD: I don't think there should hand wringing, I think we should get to an answer quickly.
ROBERTS: So if you were still chief of staff, and you've got General McChrystal's report, what would you have recommended to the president?
CARD: Well, first of all, I'm -- the president today knows more than people outside of the White House. And I respect that. But I don't think that the public hand wringing is good. I would tend to say the benefit of the doubt should go to the people wearing the uniforms with the responsibility for carrying out the missions that have been established.
ROBERTS: Andy Card, Lisa Caputo, good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for joining us so much. We appreciate it - Kiran.
CARD: Thank you, John.
CHETRY: Well, still ahead of here, looking to buy in the Chicago area? Here's a thought. What about moving in next to the first family's home? Alina Cho gives us a sneak peek at this house which is now on the market. Thirty-six minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. A new for-sale listing in Chicago is getting some national attention.
CHETRY: That's right. It's a nice colonial. It's a mansion on a safe, quiet block. But as our Alina Cho tells us, if you're thinking about buying, you have to get clearance from the Secret Service first.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How much would you pay for this house? 6,000 square feet, 17 rooms, three floors, next door to the president?
BILL GRIMSHAW, OBAMA'S NEIGHBOR: Location, location, location.
CHO: 5040 South Greenwood Avenue is next door to 5046, home to the Obamas, not this home. This one which also has round-the-clock Secret Service. Peer out the dining room window of Bill Grimshaw's place and just 15 feet away is the Chicago home of the president. Grimshaw and their wife bought their house in 1973 for $35,000.
(On camera): Why would you want to sell?
GRIMSHAW: It's expensive to live here and then there's this thing the realtors are calling the Obama factor.
CHO (voice-over): There's more. Cache. President Obama taped a commercial at the Grimshaw home during the campaign.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: From our family to yours, I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
MALIA OBAMA, PRESIDENTIAL DAUGHTER: Merry Christmas.
SASHA OBAMA, PRESIDENTIAL DAUGHTER: Happy Holidays.
CHO: There's the neighborhood dog. Urban legend has it Malia and Sasha Obama grew fond of dogs after playing with this one. The downside, getting in is almost like breaking into Fort Knox. Two barricades. Secret Service. Everyone is prescreened.
GRIMSHAW: People don't drop in at Grimshaw's anymore.
CHO: But there is an upside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have not locked their front door in two years.
CHO: Then there's that chance you could get a glimpse of the first family.
GRIMSHAW: Michelle has rules and Michelle is a strong woman. And so when Barack wanted to have a cigarette, he had to go out on the back porch to smoke and gave my wife ideas.
CHO: Anyone who buys the house should be prepared. Friends who drop in may have ulterior motives. Like the time the Grimshaws had a Christmas party.
GRIMSHAW: They stood most of the time staring out the window at Barack's house. That's -- would you like a sandwich? Would you like a drink? No, we're fine.
CHO: Yes, but to be the president's neighbor.
(on camera): Some people might say that you're sitting on the most important property in the United States right now.
GRIMSHAW: Well, there's the White House.
CHO (voice-over): That one's not for sale. This one is. Next door to the Obamas, yours if the price is right.
(on camera): Beautiful, beautiful home. Little bit of a fixer upper.
GRIMSHAW: Fixer upper. The basement is a disaster. It's...
CHO: You're an honest man.
GRIMSHAW: Well, I think I'm selling location, not my basement, so I can afford to be honest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Which begs the question, Kiran was just asking me, how much will it cost you? Well, the Obamas paid $1.65 million for their Chicago home back in 2005. The realtor tells me if the Grimshaw home was moved down the block it probably could ask $1.5 million but remember, as Bill Grimshaw told us, there is the Obama factor.
What is that worth? Well, he says the sky is the limit. Of course, I think that may be wishful thinking. But there could be...
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: They don't have a list price on it, interestingly enough. There's -- well, this is a special property. They have -- it has its own Web site, 4540 Greenwood Avenue. You can go there. Take a look at it. They've gotten hundreds of inquires...
ROBERTS: Any offers?
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: No offers. Interest from all around the world, including, according to the realtor, a Saudi Arabian prince. Nobody has actually looked at it yet. You need Secret Service clearance and of course...
ROBERTS: Well, you got in.
CHO: We were on the list.
CHETRY: She had a little -- I saw you had a little placard around your neck. But can they then nix a potential buyer, I mean, even if all the financing comes through, and says -- can they say no, you can't live next to the president?
CHO: The White House isn't commenting on this. No surprise there. But yes, conceivably they could. I mean, listen, in order to get through those two barricades you have to be on a list, you have to prescreened, even to see the house you have to be prescreened. And so that's the challenge. But certainly it's a hot property and lots of interest.
CHETRY: Very interesting. All right, Alina, thanks.
CHO: You bet.
ROBERTS: Winter comes early to the Midwest and the northern plains. Rob Marciano is tracking the extreme weather this Monday morning. Stay with us, it's 44 minutes after the hour.
ANNOUNCER: "Minding Your Business" brought to you by...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. A live look at Manchester, New Hampshire this morning. Thanks to our friends at WMUR. It's 33 degrees right now. A little chilly this morning. Going up to 57. It's going to be mostly sunny.
ROBERTS: You think it's cold in New Hampshire though, try the Northern plains and the Midwest and on over into the mountain West as well where it's temperatures are just barely out into single digits. Rob Marciano is at the weather center in Atlanta. He's tracking all the extreme weather. They had to postpone a baseball game in Denver last night because of snow, Rob.
CHETRY: Yeah. That game ended at 2:15 in the morning, by the way.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah. I don't think it ended well for the Rockies; although, I stayed off court. Minneapolis back through Denver, this swath of real estate certainly showing a moisture. We haven't put the old radar legend that has the white and the pink up yet. So that certainly tells us we're well to poll on our way to winter.
Certainly, we're on the weather across the parts of Minnesota and then now back through Denver as far as what kind of action we've seen out of Minnesota. This is just last night. We shouldn't see more than two to three, maybe four inches in spots. But, certainly enough to at least wet down the roadways and grassy surfaces and maybe the light post there. See, it starts to pile up.
Denver, Colorado, as John mentioned, Rockies and Phillies postponed over the weekend because of this. They finally got it going yesterday after having to cancel the game on Saturday night. That has happened a few times. And, you know, when you live a mile above everybody else, that becomes a bit of an issue for sure.
Still fall across the Midwest again. Just one or two inches possible. It is kind of chilly across the Northeast. We have some frost and freeze advisories that are posted mostly North and West of the city there. As far as travel today, you're looking at Atlanta, Charlotte and Memphis.
While a heavy rain across the South today. That will certainly at least slow down travel at Atlanta and Charlotte, maybe over an hour in spots. Minneapolis and Denver, a little bit of white snow left. And Dallas and Houston see some snow as well. And just as I say that, one of warnings pops up here in our weather center and showing a flash flood warning, I believe for Birmingham effective until 9:45. So, the hits just keep on coming, John and Kiran, across the South as far as the rainfall is concerned. Back over to you.
CHETRY: That's cool that you get that information right there at the magic wall.
MARCIANO: As we get it, you see it. And you can even read it along with me. Flash flood warning for Jefferson County and Central Alabama. So that's going to include Birmingham proper. So, heavy rain for the Birmingham area if you're out and about this morning, turn around, don't drown if you see water covering the roadway. Something we've been saying for a couple of weeks, unfortunately, down there.
CHETRY: Good advice. Rob, thanks.
We still ahead, 100 -- several hundred items all belonging Barbara Streisand throughout the years are up for auction this coming weekend. Any takers? We'll find out. It's 29 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Barbara Streisand has the number one album in the country right now. It's 67 years of age, she says she's just pleased that she's still in fashion.
CHETRY: How about it? This weekend, fans get the chance to buy hundreds of items that belonged to the Oscar-winning actress and singer when she auctions off items to raise money for her foundation. Kareen Wynter has a sneak peak at the collection.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, get your money ready if you want to own something Streisand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice-over): Award winning entertainer, Barbara Streisand, is putting more than 500 items up for auction, clothes, knick knacks and art work. All available to the highest bidder.
DARREN JULIEN, PRESIDENT, JULIEN'S AUCTIONS: We estimate the sale to bring between $400,000 to $600,000.
WYNTER Even in this economy?
JULIEN: Even in this economy, yes.
WYNTER: Darren Julien of Julian's Auctions gave us an exclusive early look, a rare glimpse into an iconic life. Stuff that's kept away in closets and cupboards. So why is Streisand doing it? I talked to her on the phone.
BARBARA STREISAND, AWARD-WINNING ENTERTAINER (voice-over): If you can't really use something any more, even though it belonged to you for a long time and you loved it, it's great to pass it on.
WYNTER: All of the proceeds from the auction like these dolls and teddy bears will go directly to the Streisand Foundation, which is doled out millions for variety of charities for 23 years.
The items are plucked from her various homes. And you can bid on everything from her rugs to her drapes. And lots of antiques.
STREISAND: I've had that dentist cabinet since I was about 18. It was one of first things I ever bought. I kind of will miss it, but I can't really use it. I haven't got the space for it.
WYNTER: Belongings tied to her music are expected to get fetch competitive bids. Like, this dress she wore when she returned to the stage after a 25-year absence. This outfit she wore to accept a Grammy in the mid 1980s, and her baby grand piano.
JULIEN: I told her, I said if we get a photograph of you sending on it, it'll bring more money.
STREISAND: That was when I was eight pounds heavier, to tell everybody.
WYNTER: And you can't forget the accomplished movie career expanding for decades.
A robe she wore in "The Way We Were." a vest and Yamakas from Yentl (ph).
A brides maid's dress from "The Mirror Has Two Faces." And loads from "Meet the Fockers".
STREISAND: Some of those things are back in style, I swear to God. You know, you hold on to something long enough, it comes back to a style.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: The auction starts this weekend. And, if you want to have a little more Streisand in your home, you can always bid on this cardboard cutout. John, Kiran --.
ROBERTS: So, what are you thinking? You want a dress, you want a knick knack, your cardboard cutout?
CHETRY: Sure, why not. How about snit (ph) from Meet the Fockers.
ROBERTS: I will do the fun part. Maybe Yamaka from Yentyl.
CHETRY: Yup. Not bad either.
ROBERTS: So, there is a lot of questions that are going along with the swine flu outbreak they were experiencing in this country. I don't think I've got swine flu, but I got something this morning and unsure what. But we're answering some questions with the deputy, the assistant surgeon general. She talked with our John King yesterday. We'll have that coming up right after the break for you. It's 55 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. There are new and alarming statistics about swine flu this morning. While, everyone is at risk, children seem to be taking the biggest hit. Still many parents are passing on the swine flu vaccine. Yesterday on State of the Union, the assistant surgeon general joined John King to try to clear up some of the confusion that's out there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Let's put to you some of the questions we're getting on Facebook and on Twitter. Here's one from Cameron Cools on Facebook. "How far apart should an individual wait before he or she gets both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine, and should the mist be avoided if you're receiving both?
DR. ANNE SCHUCHAT, ASSISTANT SURGEON GENERAL: What we found out recently from the NIH was good news about the shot. It's fine to get the seasonal flu shot and H1N1 shot on the same day, the same visit. With the sprays or the mists, we don't think you should get a seasonal spray and an H1N1 mist at the same visit.
They should be spread out about three weeks. But it's just fine to get two shots or a shot and a mist on the same day.
KING: Okay. Here's another question from mtgoldeneagle. This one is from Twitter. My five-year-old son has asthma. Should I get the H1N1 shot and should I be more concerned about exposure to H1N1 than the regular flu?
SCHUCHAT: Right now what we're seeing is virtually all H1N1. And we think it's very important for children with asthma to get the vaccines, both the H1NI vaccine and the seasonal vaccine. We may not see seasonal strains for some time.
They may come in December to May, their usual season. But we know that the H1N1 strains are already here. So I think children with asthma have suffered disproportionately and it's great that the parents are asking about that because the vaccine is the best way to protect your children.
KING: Here's another one. You mentioned we're seeing H1N1. Here's from KLopusNow. Both of my kids school classes have had multiple cases of H1N1. Is there any point in getting vaccinated now?
SCHUCHAT: You know, I hear that a lot. It turns out that only about 5% to 10% of people, even in very affected communities have already gotten this infection. So, the vast majority of people are still at risk. We think vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your kids from this virus.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHETRY: I was just saying bless you as we're talking about swine flu. He's maybe living it.
ROBERTS: I don't think I got swine flu.
CHETRY: Bless you, though.
ROBERTS: I think I got whatever you had last week. Thanks for sharing.
CHETRY: Just a bad, bad cold.
ROBERTS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states 76 children have died in the U.S. from swine flu, so definitely something to be very concerned about.
