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Four Cops Killed in Ambush; More Troops to Afghanistan; Tiger's New Statement
Aired November 29, 2009 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It is the top of the hour. I'm Don Lemon.
And we begin this hour with breaking news in Washington State. Police in Pierce County now say one of the four officers fatally shot today in a coffee shop fought with the gunman before he died. The officer was able to fire off a couple of shots but right now, police don't know if the suspect was hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED TROYER, SPOKESMAN, PIERCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We believe that...
(AUDIO GAP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Apparently we're having a little bit of trouble with that. But what he said and we aired it on CNN moments ago when we got it after this press conference is that they believe that one of the officers was able to fire off a shot and possibly injured the suspect.
They think the suspect, they believe is going to have to be treated somewhere at a hospital and someone knows. A family member, a friend, a bystander, someone if they have seen a man injured with a gunshot to call police because they need your help. Four officers dead in all of this; we'll bring that to you just as soon as we can get that technical problem fixed.
But let's go now to the ground and CNN's Patrick Offmann for where the manhunt is under way now. Patrick, what can you tell us?
PATRICK OFFMANN, CNN ALL PLATFORM JOURNALIST: Well, Don, as you mentioned, they believe now that an officer did get shots off and that there was a struggle between one of the officers who was killed and this suspect; the struggle continued all the way to the door.
So they are asking the public to look out for somebody who maybe potentially going to a hospital seeking help tonight for wounds potentially a gunshot wound, if the officer who fought the suspect was able to shoot the suspect before being killed himself.
As you know Don, a tragic day today here; the City of Parkland in Lakewood have just been rocked by these deaths of four officers. Three male officers and a female officer who started their day having coffee, going over cases with their computers open at a cafe. And very soon after an unknown assailant came in and killed all four. Didn't target anybody else in that cafe, but a very active crime scene out here tonight and just down the road where those killings took place.
LEMON: Hey, Patrick listen, I know that police have a rough description of the suspect. They gave it in that sound bite that we played earlier here on CNN. They said that -- that it was a black male with a scruffy face and I'm not exactly sure what they said he was wearing.
Do you have a more complete description of the suspect they are looking for and where he might have been shot?
OFFMANN: They said -- they said he had a black coat on, as you said a scruffy face; anywhere between the ages of 25 to 35 years of age. I think they said he was about 5'8" to 5'10". He was actually last seen running down this road right behind me. That's how he made his initial escape. And other than that, they really don't know.
They are hopeful that he was shot because that will help them. He'll have to go to the hospital to get that wound treated you would suspect. And if he goes to a hospital it will be reported, especially tonight where they are looking for somebody who may have a gunshot wound.
But other than that, they really don't have much. They spent the day going after every lead, every call. Some of those have been false leads. They have one person who was bragging to a girlfriend that he was involved. Police have gone -- are interviewing him now but have cleared him with the actual shooting.
So they are following up on absolutely everything, Don. They want to close this case out. It's really a remarkable and horrible event here that you had four officers from this...
LEMON: Yes.
OFFMANN: ... small, brand new police department killed in the single incident.
LEMON: Yes, Patrick, thank you. Patrick, standing by on the ground where the media is gathering. And also police have been holding a press conference. Patrick stand by.
I do want to tell you, that we were just covering this a month ago. The Seattle police officer, his name is Timothy Brinton (ph) was killed one month ago, it was Halloween night, sitting in front of a police cruiser. His partner was also wounded in that attack. They did happen, that suspect in the case, a 41-year-old former security guard, was shot and wounded several days later.
He has remained hospitalized, but Seattle police vehicles have also been targeted in the fire bombings and investigators say that they -- a note left at the scene threatened to kill police officers. So we want to get to the bottom of exactly what is going on in the Seattle area.
Meantime, to Florida, where Tiger Woods has some new comments about his Friday car accident; but he is still not talking to Florida police.
We're going to join our Susan Candiotti in Windermere, Florida in just a moment. She has the very latest on this investigation.
But first, we want to take a look at the new statement that Woods posted on his Web site where he writes, "As you all know, I had a single car accident earlier this week and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore. This situation is my fault and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I am human. I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."
"This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. The only person responsible for them is me."
"My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false. This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me."
"I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But I would also ask for some understanding, that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be."
National correspondent Susan Candiotti on the ground now at that subdivision where Tiger Woods lives.
So let's talk a little bit more about this statement there. He said his wife was the first one to help him. Obviously, he is reading and seeing what is going on in the media. All the speculation and I do have to say, a lot of it created because he had not spoken out.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right and of course it's his option. He doesn't have to. Certainly this is a man who has been known, well known, for keeping everything about his life private, very much so.
He's out there a lot. He could answer the questions, but he's obviously chosen not to do so.
The problem with that is that so many people want to hear some details about what they believe to be a simple accident. And many people raised the question, if it was such a minor accident, then why not simply talk about what happened.
I was out driving -- whatever the explanation happens to be. And because he hasn't done that, that's causing some people concern. Others believe if he wants to keep quiet about it, it's up to him. So, of course, it's a double-edged sword. But certainly the Internet is exploding about this.
LEMON: But -- so where does the investigation stand? Police are going to continue their investigation and find out exactly what happened. But he's just not going to talk.
CANDIOTTI: Yes, they have to keep going with their investigation. That's what they said.
By law, Tiger Woods did only had to provide them with a copy of his driver's license, proof of insurance and his registration. He didn't have to talk with them. That was an option. And he chose to exercise that option.
And I asked via e-mail Woods' agent about that. And he said, "Look because it's voluntary", he said it's voluntary and optional.
And in his words, quote, "Although Tiger realizes there's a great deal of public curiosity, it's been conveyed to the Florida highway patrol that he simply has nothing more to add and wishes to protect the privacy of his family."
So with that in mind, investigators said they would try to find witnesses. They looked around for surveillance video. They didn't have any. They'll have to take their own measurements and then decide whether they're going to file any charges against him, any citations. They might not. Decide it's not worth it. They don't know yet.
LEMON: Yes, we'll have to see.
Hey Susan, I want you to listen to a little bit of the 911 call and then we'll talk about it, ok.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALLER: Yes, Windermere, Florida, in the Isleworth Subdivision.
911 OPERATOR: What happened? What's wrong?
CALLER: I have a neighbor. He hit the tree and we came out here just to see what was going on. I see him and he's laying down.
911 OPERATOR: You mean there was auto accident?
CALLER: Yes there was an auto accident, yes.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, is he outside or inside his car?
Your phone broke up. I heard inside. Are you there, hello. Hello sir, are you there.
Yes, your phone broke up there.
CALLER: Ok. 911 OPERATOR: Is he unconscious?
CALLER: Yes.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, are you able to tell if he's breathing?
CALLER: No, I can't tell right now.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, all right, we do have help on the way. What color is his car, too?
CALLER: It's a black Escalade?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What happened?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: This, obviously, part of the investigation. Police will use this to try to figure out what happened, Susan.
CANDIOTTI: That's right. And if this man knew who that was in the car or lying on the ground, whether it was, in fact, Tiger Woods, from the excerpt we have been provided by the Florida Highway patrol, he doesn't mention Tiger Woods ever by name.
He doesn't mention whether he actually saw the accident. He doesn't say whether he saw Tiger Woods' wife standing out there with him. So it really doesn't tell us that much more about what we already know from the police.
LEMON: All right. Our Susan Candiotti in Florida. Susan, thank you very much and make sure you stay with us.
We'll have much, much more on that 911 call from one of Tiger Woods' neighbors coming up at the bottom of the hour right here on CNN.
We want to turn to Iran now, upping the ante in the high stake show down over its nuclear program. The cabinet rolled out plans today for ten new uranium enrichment plans. And President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to break ground on half of them within two months.
The announcement is bound to add fuel to concerns that Tehran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. And it comes just days after a U.N. nuclear watchdog group demanded Iran stop construction on a previously secret nuclear facility in Qom.
Iranian leaders insist they are trying to generate energy, not weapons. But the White House has been quick to issue some sharp words of warning.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement today saying, "If true, this would be yet another serious violation of Iran's clear obligations under multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions and another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself. The international community has made clear that Iran has rights but with those rights come responsibilities. As the overwhelming IAEA Board of Governors voted -- a vote made clear, time is running out for Iran to address the international community's growing concerns about its nuclear program."
So what happened to all that talk of cooperation? Coming up in about 20 minutes, we'll talk to the president of the National Iranian- American Council.
A critical decision is coming in two days. That could determine how much longer the war in Afghanistan will go on. A retired general will join us with his perspective on that.
And Tiger Woods not speaking to the police, but you will hear more of the 911 call that alerted police to the accident. And we're taking your feedback.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Tuesday will be a milestone for President Barack Obama. The war in Afghanistan that began eight years ago in direct response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks will effectively become Mr. Obama's war after Tuesday.
CNN's Kate Bolduan explains -- Kate.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, with all eyes on Tuesday's long-anticipated announcement from President Obama. Defense Department officials tell CNN they are preparing plans to send about 34,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.
According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, the president will use his address Tuesday to explain why the U.S. is in Afghanistan, what the U.S. plan is in the country going forward, what the cost is for this new comprehensive strategy and, according to Gibbs, the president will also make clear this is not an open-ended engagement.
But President Obama faces some real challenges in selling this new comprehensive strategy as the American people and members of Congress seem divided.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: From my point of view, the president is correct in assessing that Afghanistan is a war that must be won because the national security implications of what happens in Afghanistan will follow this country for decades.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want...
GRAHAM: So I intend to support the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BOLDUAN: That support comes from a Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham. And the president may actually have more trouble winning over his fellow Democrats, like Democratic Senator Carl Levin. He's the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a key military committee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: I do not believe we should send more combat forces at this time. That's been my position. Combat forces are where we are the ones doing the fighting, without an Afghan partner. If we have Afghan partners that are fully involved in the fight, partnering with us, which is on-the-job training for them, critically important, I can be more supportive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And what about the American people? Well, the latest CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll suggests Americans are almost split down the middle on whether the U.S. should commit more troops to the eight-year-old war -- Don.
LEMON: All right, Kate. Thank you very much.
Let's dig down deeper into this. Former assistant secretary of state and retired Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt joins us now from Washington to explain what the president's means both short and long term.
On Tuesday night, I'm sure you pretty much have an idea of what he's going to say and whether or not it's going to make a difference. What should we expect on Tuesday?
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY (RET): I think what we're going to see on Tuesday is an announcement for more troops. Most everybody in Washington expects that number to be somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 when you add in the NATO component of that as well. The focus will be on training. The focus will also be on governance and more civilian support.
This can't simply be about a military responsibility and a military response. It also has to attack the important issues of governance and corruption within the Afghan government itself.
LEMON: General, with 30,000 to 40,000 more troops going, is this enough? Will this make a difference?
KIMMITT: It will if we give them enough time. I think patience -- strategic patience is going to be necessary as well as troops. It won't turn around overnight. It may take a couple of years; may take more than a couple of years. I suspect it will take perhaps a decade before we can completely hand over the responsibility for security to the Afghans themselves.
LEMON: Ok. You heard Senator Carl Levin, who's a Democrat, that the president is facing some opposition even in his own party with this there. And there are also others who say if we send more troops that means it takes us longer to get out; takes the U.S. longer to get out of Afghanistan the more troops that we send.
KIMMITT: I don't think that's correct. I think we need to send troops over for two reasons: one to maintain and stabilize security in the areas that are necessary to win over the popular support of the Afghan people; but also sufficient troops to fully accomplish the training mission so that we stand up an Afghan national security force that can do the job when the Americans and NATO forces are no longer there.
LEMON: When you said time -- you said if they are given enough time to do their job. What time frame are you looking at; a year, two years, five years, ten years?
KIMMITT: I certainly know that one or two years will not be enough. We will not be as lucky in Afghanistan as we were in Iraq. I think we need to prepare the American people for the honest truth that this will take five to ten years at a minimum before we can hand this over to the Afghans so that they can run the security portfolio and no longer be reliant on American troops in Afghanistan.
LEMON: General Kimmitt, explain to me what you mean by "as lucky in Afghanistan as we were in Iraq". There are those who say we haven't been very lucky in Iraq as well. But explain that a little bit more for me.
KIMMITT: In the sense that there were a confluence of events: the Sunni awakening, good political outcomes, great counterinsurgency strategy and the defeat of al Qaeda who is making so many mistakes on their own that pushing them out for the most part from Iraq. Those five or six events coming together is why the surge was so successful in such a short period of time.
I don't think we're going to be as lucky in Afghanistan that we will see that confluence of events come together in as short a period of time as we serendipitously saw in Iraq.
LEMON: At least ten years you say, huh?
KIMMITT: It could take as long as ten years, yes.
LEMON: All right. Retired Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, we appreciate it.
KIMMITT: Thank you.
LEMON: Tuesday night President Obama will reveal his decision about U.S. troops heading to Afghanistan. Our special coverage with the best political team on television begins 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
U.S. troops in Afghanistan get ready for more backup as we've been talking about. Work is already under way to make room for reinforcements. We're going to have an inside look.
Hi Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi Don.
Well, it's the last The last big push for holiday travelers. Find out what kind of complications you can have tonight and tomorrow.
Plus, dust makes for deadly travel in Arizona. We'll have the details coming up in your forecast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: CNN's Jacqui Jeras checking things out in the Holiday Travel Headquarters for you. Hey, Jacqui.
JERAS: Hey there, Don.
Yes, we have a few problem areas if you are going by the airways today. Of course, literally millions of you are trying to travel today and all of these delays not weather related, believe it or not. This is due to volume.
Yes, so many of you are trying to get in and out of Teterboro; delays pushing 2 1/2 hours. Thirty minutes right now, departure delays in Charlotte. And White Plains, New York we're going to have delays of about an hour and a half.
Now a lot of people are hitting the roadways and we have sad news to tell you about out of Arizona from yesterday. A big dust storm kicked up in Pinal County along I-10 and there were at least five accidents reported in this area. You can see how visibility was so poor.
In one of those accidents, two people were killed. One person seriously injured. These things can just kind of come out of nowhere and reduce your visibility down to near nothing.
We have been watching Arizona today as well, including the Phoenix area with some of these showers. Looking for gusts maybe 25 to 35 miles per hour and that could kick up some dust as well. We'll continue to monitor that situation across much of the southwest.
We're also getting those thundershowers here across parts of New Mexico. We've had some snow into the higher elevations and travel trouble here across the Southern Plains States, across Arkansas and there you can see the Great Lakes.
By the way, Great Lakes, we have not seen hardly anything in the way of snow this year. In fact, you should have seen a lot of snow. In fact, today Syracuse, New York, breaks the record. Today is number 278 consecutive days with less than one inch of snow. The last day that you had an inch or more was February 24th and those records have been kept since 1902. The lake-effect machines just have not been kicking in. Tomorrow's forecast showing you that Syracuse will get rain again, not snow, as a cold front makes its way toward the Eastern Seaboard. So expect showers there and really heavy rains along the Gulf Coast over the next couple of days -- Don.
LEMON: Jacqui thank you very much.
Tiger Woods is taking blame for the crash but not talking with police. The 911 tapes have been released. You can listen for yourself.
And a bombshell announcement in Iran: 10 new uranium enrichment plants. Can defiance be met with diplomacy? We're talking to the president of the Iranian-American council.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time right now to update our top stories here on CNN: a desperate manhunt on right now in Washington State to find the killer or killers of four police officers this morning. Police now say there was a struggle and they think the suspect may have been hurt or even shot. The Lakewood Washington officers, three men and one woman, were in a coffee shop getting ready for their shift when a gunman came in and killed all four.
Ten new uranium enrichment plants in Iran -- that's the plan unveiled today by the cabinet, fueling international fury over the nuclear program. The announcement comes after the U.N.'s atomic watchdog group demanded Iran shut down its long secret enrichment plant in Qom. And the White House says this is another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself.
Tiger Woods has turned down a third request to answer questions from Florida highway patrol officers. They want to know more about Woods' car accident early Friday morning. Meantime, Woods posted a statement on his Web site today calling the one-car crash embarrassing. He says it is all his fault and he also asks for privacy.
Also today, the Florida state patrol released the recording of the 911 call from Tiger Woods' accident. Here's how it went down. Take a listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: 911, what's your emergency?
LEMON (voice-over): 2:30 Friday morning. The unidentified man, a neighbor, calls for help to the exclusive Isleworth Subdivision in Windermere, Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Isleworth Subdivision, I need an ambulance immediately. I have someone down in front of my house. They hit a pole. I came out to see ...
911 OPERATOR: Is it a car accident, sir? LEMON: The caller seems distracted. A woman's voice is faintly heard in the background.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, sir, is it a car accident?
LEMON: The 911 operator tries several times to get the caller's attention.
911 OPERATOR: Sir? Hello?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, yes.
911 OPERATOR: Is it a car accident, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a car accident, yes. I need you, yes.
911 OPERATOR: Are they trapped inside of the vehicle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they're laying on the ground now.
LEMON: As golf phenom Tiger Woods lays on the ground, according to police, in and out of consciousness, the operator instructs the caller to hold on while she calls for an ambulance.
The man is overheard instructing someone on the scene to assist Woods.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And get some water.
LEMON: Moments later, fire and rescue takes over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Windermere, Florida in the Isleworth subdivision.
911 OPERATOR: What happened? What's wrong?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a neighbor. He hit the tree. And we came out here just to see what's going on. I see him and he's laying down.
911 OPERATOR: Hit a tree? You mean, it was an auto accident?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, there was an auto accident. Yes.
911 OPERATOR: Is he unconscious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Are you able to tell if he's breathing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I can't tell right now.
911 OPERATOR: All right. We do have help on the way. What color is his car, too?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a black Escalade. LEMON: Another woman is heard screaming in the background while the caller explains what he knows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What happened?
911 OPERATOR: Is anyone able to open the door?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're trying to figure out right now.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Is he trapped inside of the vehicle or is he on the ground?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're trying to get the police here right now. We don't know what happened. We're figuring it all out right now. We're on the phone with the police right now.
911 OPERATOR: Your phone is breaking up. Can you hear me, sir?
LEMON: Fire and rescue calls police while the caller, neighbors, Woods and his wife wait.
911 OPERATOR: Are you with him right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm with him right now.
911 OPERATOR: OK.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: The person who made the 911 call has been interviewed by the highway patrol. A patrol spokeswoman says investigators might speak with other people who were at the scene, if needed.
We've been talking about this story throughout the day here on CNN as well. Iran making big plans to amp up its nuclear program and not asking for permission from the international community. Trita Parsi is the president and founder of the National Iranian-American Council. He is joining us from Washington, D.C..
Good to see you, Mr. Parsi.
TRITA PARSI, PRESIDENT/FOUNDER, NATIONAL IRANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL: Good to see you, Don.
LEMON: So this announcement comes just two days after the IAEA told Iran to shut down its enrichment plant in Qom. What do you make of the timing of this? Retaliation possibly?
PARSI: It certainly looks like it. And we've seen this pattern in the past. That when Iran is rebuked by the IAEA or by the west, it responds by threatening to retaliate against the IAEA by reducing its cooperation with them. And that is in many ways a serious threat because it's through the IAEA inspections in Iran that we have a pretty decent insight into what's happening in Iran's nuclear program. If that is reduced, that means that the outside world would have less information and knowledge about what the Iranians are actually doing. And that's not a good thing.
LEMON: You know, I was going to ask you. Does this mean diplomacy is over in this matter? I mean, has there been really much diplomacy especially on Iran's part because there have been sanctions, there have been resolutions, and it appears that maybe Iran doesn't really care about diplomacy here.
PARSI: No, I think - I'm not convinced that they don't care. And then certainly if they don't care, they are committing a major mistake. Because there's an opportunity right now to be able to resolve some of these matters. But that opportunity doesn't exist forever. The president has said that he's going to be reassessing this strategy by some time end of December.
And if the conclusion is drawn that this path is not leading anywhere, then unfortunately, we would be going down the sanctions path, which is not a very constructive path because all that can do is not to resolve this issue, but to transform this conflict into a different kind of conflict. And I don't think that's what the Obama administration is hoping to do.
LEMON: OK. That brings me to the next question. You mentioned the Obama administration, what do you make of the White House response that time is running out for Iran to address the international community's growing concerns about its nuclear program.
PARSI: Well, again, I think the president is hoping that by end of December something will be able to give. That, you know, there will be some movement. So far, unfortunately, there's been very little and there's significant concerns that this may actually be the end of this phase of diplomacy. Doesn't mean that diplomacy will have been completely defeated. But at least this phase may come to an end much sooner than people had hoped.
LEMON: A significant concern from the administration but also from Israel. Is Israel - you think they'll act on its own to deal with Iran's nuclear program?
PARSI: I don't see it as very likely, but, of course, the temperature in Israel is likely to increase and the pressure from Israel on the United States is very likely to increase. But we have seen in the past that there are precedents that the United States can prevent Israel from taking military action, precisely because of the fact that the Israeli military action against Iran would spell disaster for the United States in the region, which has been made very, very clear by Admiral Mullen, as well as other military figures in the U.S.
So in the past we've seen examples in which the United States actually has successfully prevented Israel from taking military action.
LEMON: Trita Parsi is the president and founder of the National Iranian American Council. Thank you.
PARSI: Thank you.
LEMON: Let's talk about the economy now. Because the chairman of the Federal Reserve goes before a senate committee this week as lawmakers consider a second term for Ben Bernanke. He is getting a head start on the discussion with an opinion column in today's "Washington Post."
Bernanke argues against several moves under way in Congress designed to limit the Central Bank's independence. In Bernanke's words, "we should be seeking to preserve, not degrade, the institution's ability to foster financial stability and to promote economic recovery without inflation.
The final numbers are rolling in for the black Friday shopping frenzy. A survey by the National Retail Federation found that more people went shopping over the holiday weekend than last year. But they spent less per person. About $343 per person this year compared with $372 last year. Total spending for the black Friday weekend reached an estimated $41.2 billion.
Also tomorrow is so-called cyber Monday when people head back to work and use their office computers to snag a few bargains. So, bosses, you know what everybody is doing. They are shopping. One survey predicts 96 million Americans will shop online tomorrow.
Staying with the economy. Tomorrow President Obama plans to announce renewed effort to reduce the growth in home foreclosures. And on Thursday, he is planning a forum on jobs. All of this as the debate over health care reform kicks back into gear this week on Capitol Hill.
CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins me now. Hello again to you, sir.
Paul, the administration already has a mortgage plan in place. So why another big announcement tomorrow about this?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You are right, Don. You know, the president announced this foreclosure prevention plan back in February. The plan kicked in in April, but foreclosures continue to mount. So it is still a problem. That's one of the reasons why you're going to see tomorrow the administration coming out and announcing more steps to help people who are facing foreclosure, who are facing losing their homes.
The White House says, listen, though. This plan is working. They say 650,000 people have been able to readjust their mortgages. But there are a lot of skeptics out there that say this plan has fallen short so far, Don.
LEMON: Another problem the president is addressing on Thursday, holds a forum on job reform, right? A summit. Why is that being held? STEINHAUSER: I think there's one big number that explains it all. And that is 10.2 percent. That is the unemployment level in this country. It's the highest in 26 years. So, yes, the president and he announces just before he went over to Asia. On that trip, he's going to have this forum at the White House inviting leaders of the corporate world, small business owners, union leaders, economists.
And the whole idea here is to figure out a strategy to create more jobs. And we know the economy is the most important issue with Americans right now. How do they think the president is doing when it comes to creating jobs? Take a look at these numbers. Back in March right after that stimulus plan passed, 64 percent of Americans said the president was doing a good job handling unemployment. Now only 47 percent approve of his handling of unemployment. And we know that is such a crucial issue with voters, Don.
LEMON: So we were sitting here a week ago, talking about - actually a week and a day ago. And the Senate was voting and then a couple of weeks before that, the House. And so tomorrow health care resumes in the Senate. The timetable stumbling blocks. Walk us through it, Paul.
STEINHAUSER: Timetable. I think Senate majority leader Harry Reid would like to have a final bill and a final vote on that bill before Christmas. That's going to be a tall order because there is a lot that definitely is on the table these next couple of weeks as they deliberate and probably argue over the Democrats' bill.
Now some of the stumbling blocks, you ask. Well, two of them that come to mind. The public option. We know that's a government plan. We compete with private insurance. Well, not all the Democrats are on board on this. There are some moderates that are really against it and say they will vote against that bill if it has the public option.
Remember, the Democrats have 60 votes in their coalition. So they have none to lose. Another stumbling block, the abortion provisions that would prevent public funds to go towards abortion. The House bill is stronger than the Senate bill. Some of the moderate Democrats want a stronger provision in their bill. So a lot of stumbling blocks ahead, Don.
LEMON: I would imagine a lot of these lawmakers, Paul, got an earful at home from people if they were out and about in their communities, and I'm anxious to hear what they were hearing as well. I'm sure we will. Paul, thank you very much.
STEINHAUSER: Thanks, Don.
A new president in Central America will tell you who is up for the top job in Honduras. Plus, who will fire a warning shot just in case Washington is planning an invasion of the communist nation. We'll go in depth on both issues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: They say they are armed and ready for the next U.S.-led invasion. Who are they? Why, it's our neighbors, 90 miles off the Florida coast. The communist island nation of Cuba has concluded weekend war games. And CNN's Havana bureau chief Shasta Darlington joins us now, live.
Hello, Shasta. We're talking about this last night. They were gearing up today for a big day. What's going on now?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Well, that's right, Don. We haven't seen a whole lot of activity here in Havana. But for the past four days, state television has broadcast impressive images of troops marching through the jungle, tanks rolling down the street, helicopters, rocket launchers and impressive display of force considering that supposedly relations between Cuba and the United States are on the mend.
But as one general put it given the history of these two countries, things can go from relatively normal to very confrontational quickly. And Cuba wants to send the message to the United States that it's prepared in case they get any ideas, Don.
LEMON: Yes, it's very interesting, considering that the administration lifting travel restrictions and so on and so on. We're hearing from Raul Castro who apparently went out to watch these military exercises, Shasta, and said that this show of force showed more to anyone who might be a threat to Cuba than a nuclear or weapon of mass destruction.
DARLINGTON: Well, that's right, Don. I mean, if you take a close look at these pictures, you'll see that the weaponry is aging. It's not the most modern weaponry you find out there. So I think one of the messages that they want to send is that often preparedness can be more important than the weapons themselves. These people aren't sitting around waiting for something to happen. They're on top of it.
And another important thing to keep in mind, what some analysts have been saying is that this show of force may not be so much for the United States but for people here on the island that the government perceives is trying to destabilize things. And those would be the dissidents, people that they consider counterrevolutionaries who might even be receiving money from other governments.
And so this message may be going out to a lot of different people, more than you'd expect, Don.
LEMON: Can you drill down a little on that because I was wondering, and many are wondering, where these - Cuba, obviously poor, where all these weapons are coming from. Who is paying for them? Are they getting money from other nations? Who are they?
DARLINGTON: Well, Don, again, a lot of these weapons are quite old. And you'll recognize some of them back from the Soviet era. And, I think, what they rely on most is actually manpower. Now, remember, there is a mandatory military service here. So all people go through that. We have reservists across the island. And a lot of these exercises are as much about marching, getting doctors into hospitals quickly, getting firemen out in the case of an emergency as they are about weapons.
And even here in Havana, you will see some missile launchers, some tanks but really quite old rickety stuff, Don.
LEMON: And crude. A lot of it crude. Thank you, Shasta Darlington in Havana. We appreciate it.
Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Voters went to the polls today in the country's national election. Amid questions whether they should vote at all. We'll try to make sense out of all of it for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Happening right now, they are counting the ballots to elect a new president in Honduras where the polls closed about two hours ago. A longtime central American ally of the U.S. has been a big political mess of late following the ouster of the former President Manuel Zelaya.
And so Rafael Romo is our senior Latin affairs editor. He joins us now. First off, why should the U.S. be concerned or even care about this?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Well, there are about a million Hondurans here in the United States. The last time they had a crisis, we have a huge wave of immigrants come into the United States. And the main reason why the U.S. should think about that right now is because every time there's a crisis in Central America, the possibility of new wave of immigration is there.
Also, for many central American nations, the role in the United States in negotiation - negotiating this situation is being closely watched because the United States, if it still wants to be the leader of democracy, has to have a more active role.
LEMON: Listen. Explain - and I remember when Manuel Zelaya was trying to get back into Honduras. At the airport, do you remember that? This summer. Right during the Michael Jackson story. I was in Los Angeles when it broke. So his departure, the machetes, the coup, the subsequent exit, all of that and then the two front-running candidates. I mean, you can't write this stuff.
ROMO: It's been incredible. Drama all around. First, he was kicked out of the country. He was taken prisoner by the Army in his pajamas. He was flown out of the country. He was flown into Costa Rica. Then he went to Nicaragua, then snuck back into the country. He returned in September. He has been holed up in the Brazilian embassy ever since. He remains insisting that he is insisting that he is the legitimate president of Honduras and he wants to go back.
And there is a big portion of the population who says he is the legitimate president and we are not going to recognize anybody else until he is reinstated to the presidency. LEMON: And the U.S., at odds with many Central American countries over the Honduras situation. Explain that.
ROMO: Well, the United States gave mixed signals about what the United States was going to do in this situation. First, the State Department said unequivocally that they were not going to recognize any government that did not include President Manuel Zelaya.
Then there was an agreement that the United States brokered that basically put the two sides together. Now it seems like the State Department is going to recognize whoever wins this election, these elections, as long as they're transparent. No violence and as long as there is a high turnout. So far, that seems to be the case. So this is a 180-degree turn-around for the United States.
LEMON: A reversal as they say. So this all started up when Zelaya wanted a longer term, right? Is that part of it? Might we see a return though of Manuel Zelaya?
ROMO: Not possible, very unlikely. First of all, Honduran law prohibits re-election. And then the other thing is that even if he came back, which is very unlikely at this point, Congress and the Supreme Court to Honduras both say we are not in favor of him returning to government again.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, Rafael Romo. You know it's a little odd sitting here because Rafael and I both worked together in Chicago for two different stations and now we're in the same company. It's good to have you aboard. You've done a fantastic job. Welcome to CNN.
ROMO: Thank you. Good to be here.
LEMON: Good to see you.
ROMO: The president hasn't delivered his big speech but work is already underway in Afghanistan. We're on the ground with the troops as they prepare for the arrival of more U.S. forces.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. A lot of people have been anticipating this, especially our men and women who are overseas. So if you are or you have been handicapping 2012 GOP presidential race, one possible candidate said today, he doubts he'll be jumping. Sorry, I skipped ahead to a story here.
Is this the one we're going to? Is this where we are? OK. All right. This is it. All right. One says he'll be jumping in. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee told Fox News Sunday that another run at the White House for him is less likely than more likely. A recent poll showed Huckabee, the early front-runner in the GOO field.
Huckabee didn't close the door entirely, saying any decision depends on mid-term elections and Republican solidarity, and noted, President Obama will be a tough opponent. OK. Now on to the next story that we were talking about. This Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, President Barack Obama will announce how many more U.S. troops he will send to Afghanistan in a bid to end the war. It could be 30,000 or more. But with U.S. bases already filled to capacity in Afghanistan, a lot of new construction is needed to accommodate the new arrivals.
Here's CNN's Frederik Pleitgen at a forward base operating in southern Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tens of thousands more American soldiers in Afghanistan leads to a basic question. Where will they stay? Tech Sergeant Nicholas Caldwell is building a new road at Camp Wolverine in the south. He said the Navy and the Air Force engineers are working overtime to expand the base.
TECH. SGT. NICHOLAS CALDWELL, U.S. AIR FORCE: We're working hard and we're doing as much as we can. It would be nice if we can get some help.
PLEITGEN: The base commander staff says they've been told to prepare for an increase from currently 1,800 soldiers to about 5,000. Navy Lieutenant John Critch is in charge of construction. New roads, a new air field, more housing units, and a tight schedule.
LT. JOHN R. CRITCH, U.S. NAVY: 20 soldiers is one toilet. So many soldiers to a shower. There is nowhere, we're still doing a lot of that right now just to get ready to bring in the massive troops.
PLEITGEN: The workload is huge and subcontractor's don't always perform. The Lieutenant Critch says this Afghan contractor he caught on camera showed up with a few men and some wheelbarrows. And only managed to lay a tenth of the agreed upon concrete and even that needed to be torn up because the quality was poor.
Setbacks the military doesn't need anywhere in Afghanistan. Bases like this one in Kandahar are already overcrowded and many soldiers wonder aloud where to put the new arrivals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The force of nature can be brutal.
PLEITGEN: Much of Camp Wolverine looks like this. They call this moon dust. And the engineers are trying to clean it up.
CRITCH: We'll put concrete in there and then we'll backfill this whole area and then we'll come across the top of it with rock.
PLEITGEN (on camera): Right now, we're standing at the perimeter of the base. And some expansion is going to happen in this direction. But most of it is going to be right over here. As you can see right now, not much of the space is occupied.
(voice-over): But only a couple of months from now, this will be full of tents, containers and all sorts of other living quarters for the many soldiers that will be coming in here.
And that means more work for these men who have to make sure there is space for every new soldier on the battlefield.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Camp Wolverine, southern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: A reminder for you, CNN's coverage of the president's announcement on Afghanistan begins Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
OK. It's time now, I guess, for your feedback. I want to get it into the right spot here. Just checking some of it. A lot of you are weighing in on the Tiger Woods' story and some people weighing in on the Iran story and also the police officers who were shot and killed out in California.
So let's get to it real quickly here. I just want to make sure. Sometimes something is in there that we don't want. This one. Responding, dalena (ph), 13 - responding to Tiger Woods. Need to explain more than what he said if not the speculation will go on. If truly is a minor accident, just say so. What's to hide? I think everyone should move on from the Tiger Woods story, focus on the police officers that got shot. Let's dig into why, then how.
I am thrilled that Tiger has stepped up to denounce the thrill seeking gossip mongers. Until unless Tiger Woods breaks law, does something socially threatening, offensive, he and family have privacy right.
I understand Tiger's need for privacy but why keep eluding police. I'll respect his privacy and move on.
All right. Thank you for your comments. We really appreciate it. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, iReport-com. That is how you can get on the air here.
Cindy Sheehan. Remember that name? She is the anti-war activist who has been pen on a crusade ever since her son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004. Her protests often heated and yesterday one at a military base in California got lot.
Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CINDY SHEEHAN, ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST: It's still early in the morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody cares.
SHEEHAN: Get out of my face.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody cares.
SHEEHAN: Get out of my face. What are you doing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wow! The military veteran obviously not a fan of Sheehan. And he let her know it with no uncertain terms. We'll have more on this confrontation tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Also we're following this story out of Washington state. Four police officers shot to death at a coffee shop. Police on the trail of the gunman.
And Tiger Woods not talking to police again. Plus a call made to 911 following the accident. You're going to hear it. I'm Don Lemon at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. See you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. "CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE" begins right now.
