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American Morning
Baghdad Bombings Kill 100 People; Defense Secretary Gates Arrives in Afghanistan; Obama Wants Bailout for Main Street; White House Taking on Skeptics on Climate Change>
Aired December 08, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING on this Tuesday, December 8th. We are following breaking news this morning. I'm Kiran Chetry.
JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Joe Johns, in for John Roberts, who is on assignment. We're following two breaking news stories right now.
First in Iraq, a grim scene in central Iraq. Five coordinated car bombings ripped through the city, killing more than 100 people. Nearly 200 others are being treated for injuries. The attacks targeting government offices and a busy commercial district. Our Isha Sesay is in Baghdad with breaking details.
ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Joe and Kiran, today shaping up to be the bloodiest day in Baghdad since late October. Police officials telling CNN that five car bombs rocked the capital on this Tuesday morning. Explosions happening in southern, western and central Baghdad. A number of locations targeted, including busy commercial centers and a government ministry building.
Some of the casualties figures weigh here. Over 100 people have been killed and over 180 people wounded. The majority of those civilians, men, women and children included in those numbers.
Those explosions that happened in central Baghdad happened over a short period of time in quick succession and gave the appearance of being coordinated, showing that even though the overall situation in Iraq when it comes to security has improved somewhat, when militants strike, they strike in a coordinated manner and they claim many lives.
Back to you.
JOHNS: Our Isha Sesay in Baghdad. We'll be keeping an eye on developments there and bring you more information as the situation warrants.
CHETRY: Meantime, we're following another breaking news story this morning. Defense Secretary Robert Gates making an unannounced visit to Afghanistan overnight. This trip coming less than a week after the president's decision to send more troops to the region. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is live outside of Kabul this morning. Barbara, it appears the secretary is on a mission to sort of sell a little bit more the president's troop surge strategy. What will he be talking about today?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kiran, he has arrived from his unannounced visit to Afghanistan to meet with his commanders, to meet with the troops to talk to them about the way ahead. Of course, the first visit by the secretary since the president announced that 30,000 additional troops will be coming to this war zone.
There will be a lot of discussion about what those troops will do. This whole issue of potentially beginning the withdrawal of troops in 2011, if they make enough progress. The secretary has already met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to talk to him to reassure President Karzai that the U.S. is committed to the war in Afghanistan and that there won't be a precipitous withdrawal, a sudden withdrawal of troops if you will.
Now, where we are about 30 miles south of Kabul at four operating base (INAUDIBLE) really illustrates the problem, the security challenge for U.S. troops here in Afghanistan. This region last year when I visited here was pretty much an insurgent stronghold in many respects. They had about 300 troops here in the task force. Now, a year later, they have 3,000. They are making progress, but the commanders here will tell you they still have to keep their troops out on the roads in the villages to ensure security in this area -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Barbara Starr for us this morning in Afghanistan. As we said, the breaking news out of this is an unannounced visit by our secretary of defense to that country as well, and we'll have more with you throughout the morning. Barbara, thanks.
Two-and-a-half minutes past the hour right now, and here are the other big stories we'll be telling you about in the next 15 minutes, including a possible bailout for the nearly 16 million Americans out of work. With so many banks repaying the bailout funds, President Obama possibly using that money to stimulate the economy. We're live at the White House with new details on the president's plan.
JOHNS: Plus, with the climate summit in Copenhagen now in its second day, the debate over global warming hits the boiling point in Washington. The EPA and the White House are taking on the naysayers head-on saying the threat is real.
CHETRY: And as we just said, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Afghanistan and so are we. Our Barbara Starr, as we just checked in with, is embedded with U.S. forces. We're going to be checking with her throughout the morning as she shows us how U.S. troops are trying to convince Afghan farmers to turn again the Taliban.
JOHNS: Also new this morning, President Obama turning his attention to jobs. He's looking for ideas on how to get that 10 percent jobless rate down. And in just a few hours, he's expected to suggest some of the $700 billion bailout money being used to create jobs. Our Suzanne Malveaux is the only reporter live at the White House this morning.
And, Suzanne, what are we expecting to hear today?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Joe, obviously the president and the White House very anxious and excited perhaps at those dollars that they're looking at, the $700 billion that was set aside, the troubled asset relief fund to bailout those banks. White House officials have confirmed there's $200 billion of that that has not been used. It has been better than expected those banks paying back the administration.
So they're going to argue, the president essentially, that it can create jobs with this money. So they're looking at a number of things, a package of ideas. First, providing small business incentives, perhaps some tax breaks for those who actually hire workers. Secondly, infrastructure improvements once again. Funding projects that build bridges and roads, those kinds of things.
And then something that's familiar. You heard the "cash for clunkers" program. Well, cash for caulkers is what they're thinking about here. What we expect the president to talk about, a program to give tax incentives for those who are weatherizing their homes. And then finally deficit reduction. This is something that a lot of Republicans are very concerned about, reducing the federal deficit. Perhaps using some of that money to reduce the deficit.
All of these ideas the president very much open too. He'll also say that if Republicans and others have better ideas, that he will certainly listen -- Joe.
JOHNS: So then, it's also been two full weeks now since that uninvited couple rolled into the state dinner that the White House was holding. But as those White House dinner parties now, the holiday parties start to ramp up, it's seeming more and more as if the social secretary's office has begun to learn its lesson. Can you talk to me a little bit about how the White House is dealing with this stuff now that we're going into the Christmas parties?
MALVEAUX: Certainly. Take a look at the pictures, Joe, because obviously this is a White House that has been very diligent over the last week or so with all these folks coming in. You've got 28 -- 28, John, parties, holiday parties, as well as open houses for the winter season. That means 50,000 people, guests who are coming through the White House at this time.
The social secretary's staff or office, clearly, they are positioned at the door with the Secret Service with the clipboard, with a list to make sure that they belong, that it doesn't happen again. So it certainly seems like they've learned their lesson.
And, Joe, this is as you may recognize, this is what an invite looks like. I got one of those coveted invites for one of those holiday parties for next week or so. But you've got to have one of these. You got to have one of these.
JOHNS: That's right. This is now the first round of Christmas parties that the Obamas will hold at the White House, and it's pretty clear that there's going to be a lot of security and a lot of checking going on.
MALVEAUX: Absolutely.
JOHNS: Checking twice, naughty and nice. Thanks so much, Suzanne. We'll check back with you.
MALVEAUX: I won't ask which one you are, Joe.
JOHNS: You got it.
And one quick programming note. Stay with us. In our next hour, we'll dig deeper into the president's plan to create jobs with Christina Romer, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
CHETRY: Six-and-a-half minutes past the hour. We're also watching a developing story this morning. A mission to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons is underway. President Obama's special envoy to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, arrived in Pyongyang this morning. Bosworth will try to convince North Korea to come back to the table with the U.S., South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
JOHNS: Also new this morning, intelligence officials in Pakistan say the U.S. blew up a car carrying three people in the tribal region near the Afghan border. The news comes on the same day "The New York Times" is reporting on a tough warning the U.S. gave Pakistan last month. The paper says the Obama administration warned Pakistan the U.S. would be more aggressive within the country if Pakistan did not do more to crack down on Taliban militants.
CHETRY: Well, day two of the climate summit in Copenhagen. The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency taking on critics. The EPA saying that greenhouse gas has threatened the public health and safety of every American. The announcement could pave the way for future regulation.
Our Jim Acosta is tracking the story for us from Washington this morning. And explain the significance of what the EPA said and what they want to do about it.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a big departure from the Bush administration, Kiran. President Obama is moving full steam ahead with his plans to combat climate change, and for now the White House seems to be giving the cold shoulder to the controversy whipped up by global warming skeptics known as "climate-gate."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): What a difference an election makes. On the same day a climate change summit kicks off in Copenhagen, Al Gore made a White House visit to meet the president. An EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, labeled greenhouse gases a public health hazard, warning big emitters of carbon dioxide, new regulations are coming.
LISA JACKSON, EPA ADMINISTRATOR: This administration will not ignore science or the law any longer.
ACOSTA: She also took a swipe at global warming skeptics who insist a slew of stolen e-mails from climate researchers in Britain show the cause for environmental alarm is overheated.
JACKSON: There is nothing in the hacked e-mails that undermines the science upon which this decision is based.
ACOSTA: The White House responds to the controversy known as "climate-gate" is downright icy. From the briefing room...
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think everybody is clear on the science. I think scientists are clear on the science. I think many on Capitol Hill are clear on the science.
ACOSTA: To the president's science czar who threw cold water on the e-mail's importance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The strength of science is that these kinds of controversies get sorted out over time, as to who is wrong, who is right and how much it matters.
ACOSTA: And consider who NASA is sending as a delegate to the climate change summit in Copenhagen. Jim Balog, a photographer with the group Extreme Ice Survey. He spent months capturing spectacular images of shrinking glaciers and has become a celebrity on the science lecture circuit.
JAMES BALOG, NASA DELEGATE TO COPENHAGEN: And I was stunned at how obvious and visible the signs of global warming are and seen through the glaciers.
ACOSTA: All together, it's a major shift from the Bush years, one Mr. Obama promised during the campaign.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, I actually agree global warming is a serious problem. It's not just some tree hugger, you know, sprout-eating liberal thing.
ACOSTA: Republicans accuse the president of avoiding a new inconvenient truth that the science on global warming is far from settled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not trying to walk away a bit from dealing with all forms of pollution, including those that lead to climate change. What I'm saying is get the facts right, invest our money right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Government scientists say those so-called climate-gate e-mails don't affect the data coming in agencies like NASA and NOAA, which keep their own climate records and they say they show a dramatic change in global warming -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Jim Acosta for us this morning. Thank you. And also just ahead on the Most News in the Morning, we've heard about the controversy and the politics and the science, but could climate changes at the Copenhagen summit mean higher energy bills for you? We're talking with Tufts University economics professor Gilbert Metcalf, coming up in about 20 minutes.
JOHNS: It is now 10 minutes after the hour. Encouraging news on the war against cancer. The annual report on America's progress against the disease says the death rate for colon cancer dropped by nearly 20 percent in the past 10 years. It's a result of better screenings and treatment. The report also predicts the death rate could be cut in half by 2020. There's is also progress with other cancers. The death rate of lung, prostate and breast cancer is also falling.
CHETRY: A Chicago man charged with helping to plan last year's deadly attacks in Mumbai, India that killed 160 people including six Americans. The Justice Department says David Headley, a U.S. citizen, conducted surveillance on potential targets in Mumbai before the attacks. Headley was arrested in October when he was accused of plotting to attack a Danish newspaper. He has been cooperating with authorities since his arrest.
JOHNS: It's a video you'll be talking about all morning. A woman's purse gets stuck in a subway door in Boston and the train attendant gives the all clear sign, anyway. The woman ran alongside the train, holding her purse, let go just before the train went into the tunnel and hit a wall at the end of the platform, suffered a bloody nose and bruises and is considering legal action. The employee who gave the all-clear sign was fired. The train operator was suspended.
CHETRY: Scary stuff. Well, Barbara Starr has been in Afghanistan. This is her eighth trip there, covering everything that's going on with the counterinsurgency, from guns and tanks to seeds and shovels. She takes us to the new front lines of the counterinsurgency.
Twelve minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
JOHNS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Updating you on breaking news out of Iraq.
Right now, without warning, an ordinary day shattered by the deafening blasts of five car bombs. One hundred twelve people were killed, nearly 200 others wounded, making this the deadliest attack in Baghdad since October, the militants targeting government leaders and innocent civilians.
We have resources on the ground and we'll bring you the latest developments as they come in.
CHETRY: And President Obama's goal of a stable Afghanistan depends largely on more than just training Afghan security forces. US troops are also working to grow Afghan's economy, sometimes one farmer at a time. It's a different kind of counterinsurgency that's giving the Afghan people something the Taliban cannot destroy -- knowledge. And you're seeing it here first.
Let's go back to our Barbara Starr. She's embedded with US forces in Afghanistan and brings us this "AM Original."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Joe, Kiran, here in Afghanistan we have found a group of soldiers who are turning swords into plow shares, literally.
STARR (voice-over): If you want to understand the counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan that everyone is talking about, look no further than Colonel Mike Farley of the Kentucky National Guard.
On foot patrol, we have no armored vehicles. A motorcycle drives right by. The driver is not stopped, not searched. US troops are now taking a softer approach, trying to show the people the US military is here for more than combat.
COL. MIKE FARLEY, U.S. ARMY: Now, with General McChrystal's guidance, we want to show the people that we're here to help them and support them. You know, we're basically looking at his motorcycle, looking at him, seeing if there are any obvious signs, but we're allowing him to move on through our patrol.
STARR: For this combat veteran of Iraq, the question, is he comfortable getting so close?
FARLEY: You know, initially we weren't, but as you continue to build trust in them as they build trust in you, your confidence continues to increase.
STARR: But what the troops are doing here is also part of the new counterinsurgency war. Farley leads a team of agricultural experts. They show farmers how to irrigate their fields and grow more food so they can feed their families and have enough left to sell in the local markets.
We stopped to visit Muhammad Wali (ph), a blind, elderly farmer who'd spent years flooding his great vine fields with water, getting very poor crops. But now, the American troops have installed a new drip irrigation system to show him and his neighbors modern methods.
FARLEY: Salaam-Alaikum. It's good to see you. Good to see you.
STARR: But today, these water pipes have been cut. The soldiers think maybe someone is sending a warning to this man not to work with the Americans.
FARLEY: It's aggravating because, you know, the only thing we're trying to do here is help them feed themselves. STARR: Colonel Farley's effort here is to help change Afghanistan one village, one farmer's field at a time.
FARLEY: You still have the same uniform on, you're still carrying the same weapons, but you're out there with a shovel and a -- and a hoe and you're trying to help the farmers better their -- better themselves.
STARR (on camera): Farley's team faces tough odds. Once, they found themselves in the middle of a firefight when they were visiting a farmer's orchards and they have encountered widespread corruption when they try to do things like distribute seed to Afghan farmers who desperately need the help -- Joe, Kiran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Barbara Starr now.
Fifteen hundred marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina have gotten the call, the first to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of the president's troop surge strategy. They don't have much time to prepare.
We're live from Camp Lejeune ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JOHNS: Now that is what I call the ultimate morning wakeup song.
CHETRY: (INAUDIBLE) dancing this morning.
JOHNS: You got it.
CHETRY: Love it.
JOHNS: Christine Romans is here, "Minding Your Business" and telling us that Ben Bernanke says we're actually going to make cash money out of the bailouts?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, and the bailout -- and now, look at this.
When we talk about the bailouts, we always think TARP. That's the big Treasury rescue of the banking system, right? But there are trillions of dollars out there. The Fed has pushed out an array of different programs, and Ben Bernanke, the Fed chief, said the -- the Fed will make a profit on those bailouts.
He doesn't specifically mention AIG, but there are dozens of other programs out there that he says in the end he thinks that he's going to get all that money back and the taxpayers will get a profit on that.
Before the financial crisis, the Fed had a balance sheet, as we call it, of $900 billion. After the financial crisis, $2.2 trillion. So you can see basically they created this money out of thin air and pushed it out to try to protect many different parts of the financial system. He said that that's going to be a good investment in the end.
Now, the Fed chief making most of his comments, though, about the economy, where we stand. He said the economy is subject to formidable headwinds, but he's got a guess about when we'll start to see the unemployment rate peak and start to fall.
JOHNS: So...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN BERNANKE, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL RESERVE: Economic forecast is subject to great uncertainty, but my best guess at this point is that we will continue to see modest growth next year, sufficient to bring down the unemployment rate, but at a pace slower than we would like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: My best guess. You know, sometimes you just want an economist to say I know this will happen. No, but this is his best guess, and sufficient to bring down the unemployment rate. I think that's a very important point about his -- about his forecast.
Now, just a moment of lightness, really, with the Fed chief at this. He was asked what's the favorite part of being the Fed chairman. I think you might be -- you might be surprised to hear what he had to say.
JOHNS: I couldn't imagine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the best thing about being chairman of the Federal Reserve Board?
BERNANKE: I get to go through the security lines at the airport much more quickly than -- and I can take along even 3 ounces of fluid if I want to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: You know, Ben Bernanke, the Fed chief, you know, many have credited him and some of his quick thinking after the financial crisis, really helping save us from the second great depression. At the same time, he's under fire from -- from some people in Congress who say, you know, they're going to (ph) give him a hard time about his confirmation again for another term as -- as Fed chief, so...
JOHNS: (INAUDIBLE).
ROMANS: I -- I think his joke about, you know, that is (ph) the best part. It certainly isn't the confirmation process, I'm sure.
JOHNS: It's brutal. CHETRY: Christine, welcome back. We missed you.
JOHNS: Absolutely.
ROMANS: Oh, it's nice to be back. Thanks guys.
CHETRY: Thanks.
Still ahead, we're going to be talking about changes from the Copenhagen Summit. We talked a lot about the climate issue surrounding this, but what about the financial issues of any regulation when it comes to protecting the environment? We're going to talk about whether or not it will hit your wallet or businesses in your local community.
It's 24 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Twenty-six minutes past the hour right now. Welcome back to the Most News in the morning.
It took three agonizing months for President Obama to decide that a troop surge was needed in Afghanistan, but it did take less than a week for the first deployment to be announced by the Pentagon.
JOHNS: About 1,500 marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina just got the call. They're shipping out this month. Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence is live at Camp Lejeune this morning, and, Chris, a lot of lives are about to be disrupted there.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's right, Joe, Kiran.
You know, this is the -- completely the other side of the deployments that we always hear about. The marines, the soldiers, they're excited to be deployed, but their families have some big, big adjustments to make.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Five-year-old Thomas, 3-year-old Georgia and baby Catherine -- the family that's getting ready to say good-bye to Lieutenant Dan Durbin.
LT. DAN DURBIN, US MARINES: I'm hanging. Yes.
LAWRENCE: He's one of 1,500 marines who just got orders to Afghanistan. They'll be gone within the month.
LAWRENCE (on camera): What are some of the things you're already doing as -- as a family?
KIM DURBIN, MARINE SPOUSE: Well, we're talking to my 5-year-old a lot about it.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Reality is crashing down on Kim Durbin. She's going to have to be mom and dad.
K. DURBIN: Oh, it's scary. It's very frightening trying to be the one that spanks the kid and being the one that hugs the kids, you know? You're doing everything.
LAWRENCE: Once deployed, it's not easy reconnecting with family. Marines just back from Southern Afghanistan say they were able to call home or e-mail every four to six weeks, if that.
LAWRENCE (on camera): Are you prepared not to be able to talk to him for, say, you know, a month at a time, maybe?
K. DURBIN: I don't know how you prepare for that, but you just got to do what you got to do.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told marines they'll be deployed to Helmand Province, one of the most violent areas of Afghanistan.
They seem excited to go, but some young marines wonder, can I do in real combat what I've only done in training?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll see how I react when it goes down in a couple of weeks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best thing you can hope for is that you (INAUDIBLE) yourself that you're not going to freeze up.
LAWRENCE: These last few days can be the hardest. Kim's husband, the kids' dad will be gone before the New Year.
K. DURBIN: Well, we're thankful that he's going to be with us for Christmas. So we're just trying to enjoy the time we have together. I think when we actually say good-bye, it's going to be hard, but we'll get through it and we want to enjoy the time we do have together.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Yes. Kim says, you know, the only thing that really makes it bearable is knowing that there are so many other families around her who are going through the exact same thing, and when you think that 16,000 more American troops are going to be on the ground in Afghanistan by the end of spring, she's certainly not going to be alone -- Joe, Kiran.
JOHNS: Thanks. That's...
CHETRY: It really does bring it home, though, what -- what all of these families have to go through.
Chris Lawrence, thanks so much for bringing us that story.
Thirty minutes past the hour right now. We are bringing your top stories this morning, including breaking news overnight. Defense Chief Robert Gates arriving in Afghanistan. It was an unannounced trip, meeting with President Karzai and assuring him the United States will be a partner for years to come. Secretary Gates also expected to deliver a message to our troops that we're in this war to win it.
JOHNS: Looking for middle ground on health care reform. Senate Democrats now are said to be considering expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage in return for scaling back a government-run public insurance option. Senators and aides tell the AP it could make Medicare available to people at 55 years or 60 years instead of 65.
CHETRY: Two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their landing by more than 100 miles last October are now blaming air traffic controllers for the incident. The pilots filed documents with the NTSB for trying to get their licenses back. They first claim that they were distracted because they were using their laptops. Well, now the pilots say that controllers failed to follow rules and didn't effectively coordinate the flight with Northwest dispatchers.
Diplomats from 192 nations are kicking off a two-day -- day two rather of the Climate Change Summit that's taking place in Copenhagen this morning. So far, we've heard a lot about the politics, about the science, and the controversy around climate change. But if world leaders do agree on new environmental rules, what could that mean for the economy and for your bottom line?
Well, here with the "A.M. Breakdown" is Gilbert Metcalf, an economics professor at Tufts University. He focuses on energy and environmental economics.
Thanks for being with us this morning, Gilbert.
You're welcome.
CHETRY: So we talk about climate change. And there are serious financial implications here at home. What industries, first of all, would face the most drastic changes -- if any climate change legislation were enacted?
GILBERT METCALF, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, TUFTS UNIVERSITY: Well, clearly, the first big player would be the electric utility industry. Over half of our electricity comes from coals so we would see significant changes there. Beyond electricity, we're looking at paper, cement, steel, glass, a number of energy-intensive industries.
CHETRY: And, of course, when we talk about that, we're also talking about the workers, right? The manufacturing jobs that are linked to those. And we're obviously struggling with unemployment. We have millions of people out of work. What does any agreement on limiting carbons mean in terms of potential job loss?
METCALF: I think the job loss is very much overblown if we start with a kind of modest policies that are embodied in either the House or the Senate bills, they have really a negligible impact on job growth or job loss in most industries. Now there are a few exceptions.
The coal industry is obviously going to be heavily affected by any climate policy. But let's keep in mind that some total of wages and profits to all workers and owners in the coal sector is about $11 billion a year. So some modest transition assistance over a couple of years, on the order of a mid-sized bank bailout would really be all you need to help these workers get adjusted and move into new sectors.
CHETRY: If you say that it is overblown, just how many jobs may be lost and that you're talking about moderate changes, why is there such a vehement opposition to not only talk about limiting carbon emissions, but also the whole notion of climate change and human involvement in general?
METCALF: I think there's a lot of confusion about the impacts of climate policy. So when you hear numbers that, for example, that if we have a cap and trade system that the value of the permits is going to be $80 billion or $90 billion, people think that that's going to be the cost in their pocketbook.
But what they don't understand is that the revenue that gets collected through say auctioning permits in a cap and trade system by the U.S. government, most of those moneys are going to be turned back to households in the form of lower taxes, or could be turned back to households in the form of lower taxes or even a stimulus type check. We had the stimulus rebate checks to households. You could do a similar thing with a carbon dividend check to households.
CHETRY: I got you. And, you know, I mean, some of this boils down to fear that, you know, why should I change if you're not going to change? I mean, it's the classic human condition in some cases, trusting that another country is going to be on board and you're worried about it as well.
And a lot of people say, you know, it's the economic competition that we really need to worry about. The economic advantage. How do you get countries to make promises when we're all still struggling with our own footing after a global recession?
METCALF: Well, that's the key million-dollar question that we're grappling with in Copenhagen. And I think that we're seeing real progress here. For the first time, you see the two largest carbon- emitting countries, China and the United States, committing to some sort of climate policy.
You know, China really has a dog in this fight. They are the highest emitters of greenhouse gases, but they also face real risks from climate change.
For example, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, which are the source of water from much of southeastern China, they are fed by Tibetan glaciers, glaciers that would be at risk of disappearing with significant climate change. So I think we're going to see that if the United States enacts policy, then it makes it much more likely that we're going to see China come on board. And then if China comes on board, then India is now isolated among developing countries. There's a real opportunity here at Copenhagen to break down this divide between the developed countries and the developing countries.
CHETRY: And we have been doing a lot of reading on the Climate Change Summit. This conference is taking place, and many say that they don't expect a lot of action to come out of it. Promises, maybe a framework, but not necessarily real guarantees. What's your take?
METCALF: I think if anyone is looking for a Kyoto-type agreement, where we will see specific reductions, a promise by all countries, they will be disappointed. But what I do see is the potential is for countries to agreed to taking steps within their country to reduce emissions. It may not be hard -- hard goals that they are putting out, but we're going to see things like China improving on its 35-mile-per-gallon vehicle fuel efficiency standards, already higher than the United States. We'll see promises like that. That will get us real reductions, but may not look like the old fashion Kyoto agreement.
CHETRY: All right. Great take. We learned a lot talking with you today. Gilbert Metcalf, thanks so much for being with us.
METCALF: You're welcome.
JOHNS: With so many people in debt right now, wait until you hear some of the crazy extremes collection agencies are going to to get your money.
It's 36 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
Buried under debt with no way out. As more consumers fall behind on their bills, some in the collection industry are going to offensive extremes to get a hold of your cash. But you should know there are strict laws about how debt collectors have to do business.
Here's John Zarrella with an "A.M. Original."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here's how debt collectors are supposed to treat you on the phone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to inform you, and I am obligated to inform you that this is an account to collect a debt.
ZARRELLA: This is how they are not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stanley McLeod, you need to call Green Tree and get your act together and make your payments on your mortgage and quit playing these games.
ZARRELLA: Diane McLeod says the call is one of hundreds her husband got before he died of heart failure.
(on camera): How many calls a day would you get?
DIANE MCLEOD, WIDOW: Six, seven. There might have been more.
ZARRELLA (voice-over): McLeod is now suing Green Tree Servicing, LLC, with using harassing tactics that broke Florida law and she claims led to her husband's death.
MCLEOD: The stress just builds up with him. He had trouble sleeping, not eating well. The stress is getting worse and worse for him.
ZARRELLA: The company's general council told CNN, quote, "The collection activity did not lead to his death. The claim is meritless. We deny that the content the number, or the timing of the calls, had anything to do with him dying in 2005."
After a heart attack and continuing heart problems, Stanley McLeod went on disability in 2002. The McLeods fell behind about three months on their mortgage payments. The calls began. This one after explaining to the collector he had been life-flighted to the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you have that helicopter pick you up and bring that payment to the office?
ZARRELLA: Scare tactics charges McLeod's attorney, Billy Howard.
BILLY HOWARD, CONSUMER ATTORNEY: That's how these mafia-like tactics result in so much money. People are scared.
ZARRELLA (on camera): Howard says this is not an isolated incident. He's got hundreds of cases involving other clients. Now how would you feel if you got a call like this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "When I see you, I'm going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you up. I want my money, and I want it now."
ZARRELLA: Or this one --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "You haven't heard the last of me. And if it takes me a year or takes me two, believe, I will find you."
ANNA INGLETT, PHG RECOVERY SERVICES: We want them gone. We want all of them gone.
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Anna Ingrid runs a debt collection agency. She says collectors breaking the law should be prosecuted.
INGLETT: Sometimes the industry is penalized for a few bad apples, and we try very hard, and here at our firm, we absolutely make sure that we're in compliance.
ZARRELLA (on camera): With the recession, the number of people in debt has gone up and so has the number of complaints against debt collection agencies. According to the Federal Trade Commission, between January and June of this year, they received 45,000 complaints. That's up more than 20 percent over the same period last year.
(voice-over): But the FTC has only one case pending, referring most complaints to the states for the legal action to protect consumers. Attorneys say if you get harassing messages, do what Stanley McLeod did, save the tapes.
John Zarrella, CNN, Tampa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Unbelievable.
JOHNS: I know.
CHETRY: I mean, the way they are supposed to conduct themselves with one of those phone calls.
JOHNS: Right. You can say anything -- well, and then get in trouble, especially if it gets on TV.
CHETRY: Yes. There you go. Save the tape, as John Zarrella said.
All right. Well, we're coming up on 43 minutes past the hour.
The first major winter storm heads east. There are blizzard warnings in effect.
Are you going to get home today?
JOHNS: Yes. Well, I hope so. I know, I get out my snow shovel.
CHETRY: And your snowshoes. Our Rob Marciano tracking extreme weather for us. He will be around in just a moment.
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CHETRY: Forty-six minutes past the hour. Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. We fast forward through the stories we'll be following for you today on CNN throughout the day.
Voters in Massachusetts head to the polls for the first big step to fill Senator Ted Kennedy's seat. The state is holding a primary election for that seat today. The general is going to be held on January 19th.
Talking Afghan strategy, General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, as well as Ambassador Karl Eikenberry are headed to the Hill this morning to talk about the President's new war strategy. They will go before the House Armed Services Committee first then they head to the Senate Armed Services Committee after lunch.
And another tree-lighting ceremony in our nation's capitol today; this is the Capitol holiday tree in front of, where else, the Capitol building. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will do the honors. The tree- lighting is set, I think, for 5:00 p.m. tonight, so got to wait until it gets dark, and we got another Christmas tree there.
JOHNS: I've had a beautiful view of them lighting that thing up, standing inside the Capitol, looking straight down the mall toward the Lincoln Memorial. It's really beautiful.
CHETRY: It is nice, but it's going to be tinged with snowflakes today?
JOHNS: I'm sure it is, and Rob Marciano, we're not really looking forward to that those of us, of course, who have to fly. It seems like the storm is just raised across the country.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It has. It really hits the California, Arizona, New Mexico, the Colorado Rockies Hard, and now it's emerging into the plains. It is an all-out blizzard in spots, notably the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado and then getting into some parts of the northern plains. At ahead of it, we do have the threat for severe storms, and this is marching East towards the Great Lakes.
It will get to the Northeast but will likely take a track that will bring you'll be on the warm side. Temperature is right now in the 40s or at least the high temperatures today will be in the 40s across D.C. to New York. You really have to go well upstate to get in that any snow. We're going a little bit of late-effect snow, the kind of precursor for folks who live in Syracuse. Schenectady, Rochester.
Down to the South. New Orleans, this is serious rainfall heading into Alabama and Mississippi, parts of Georgia as well. Flash-flood watches up for the heavy rain there in the northern side list of snow, Kansas City up to Chicago. Chicago, if you're flying in there, or Minneapolis, you will see delays, today because the snow is about to pick up for you folks. The forecast from Omaha through Des Moines, anywhere from 9, 10, maybe as much as 12 inches just South of Minneapolis. Folks in Iowa yesterday, getting ready for the big snow.
Check out this little toddler, helping dad out there dad is out there -- and the kid out there with the lawn mower. I'm not sure how well that is going to work, Joe, and Kiran, but then nonetheless, a good attitude helping dad and the snow blowers certainly will be flying off the shelves this first major storm of the season heads in through the Midwest.
CHETRY: There you go. Take the train. You'll be fine.
JOHNS: Yes, absolutely.
MARCIANO: Yes, you'll be all right, Joe.
JOHNS: You know, maybe I can just stay here.
CHETRY: That's another option.
MARCIANO: If she'll have you.
JOHNS: No, I don't think she will. She's done. CHETRY: You're welcome to stay. Rob, thanks so much.
MARCIANO: All right guys, see you in a bit.
CHETRY: News we want to bring you right now, just in to CNN. According to WESH-TV as well as "The Orlando Sentinel," firefighters responded to a medical emergency at Tiger Woods' home. We had video of that right now that we want to show you.
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CHETRY (voice-over): It's a woman who we believe was taken from Tiger Woods' home. We're sending someone to the hospital at this moment, and we will keep you updated as soon as we get more information, but again, according to WESH, it's an affiliate there in Orlando, Florida, as well as the Orlando Sentinel firefighters were called to Tiger Woods' home.
And you are seeing video right now of a woman believed to be taken from Tiger Woods' home, being offloaded on that ambulance on a stretcher into the hospital right now, and again, CNN has sent people on the ground into the situation there at the hospital to try to find out more. As soon as we find out more, we will bring it to you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: In other news this morning, President Obama about to pony up more cash to create jobs, and how are we going to pay for that? We'll ask one of the top economic advisers live from the White House. It's 50 minutes after the hour.
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CHETRY: Fifty-three minutes past the hour. A developing story now, a U.S. citizen now facing charges this morning for allegedly helping with the planning of last year's terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. A 160 people were killed; among them six Americans. Justice department now focusing on a man from Chicago who allegedly attended terrorist training camps in Pakistan. Drew Griffin of CNN special investigations unit has more on an American terror suspect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a well-planned assault on two Mumbai hotels; a Jewish center, a cafe, and Mumbai's train station. Gunmen racing in, killing as they went, then holding off police for two days, as the hotels burned, and victims were trapped inside.
For the last year, India has pointed the finger at Pakistan, and the Kashmir terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the so-called army of god. Now the U.S. attorney in Chicago says one of two men arrested earlier this year in connection with another conspiracy was involved in the Mumbai attacks. David Headley faces charges of aiding and abetting the murder of six U.S. citizens killed in those Mumbai attacks and conspiracy to bomb public places in India. Headley, a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan but grew up in Philadelphia, is charged with using his status as an immigration consultant to help plan and carry out the attacks in India. Headley already faces charges along with two others of planning an attack against the Danish newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad as well as an editor and cartoonist at the paper.
The FBI says Headley is cooperating with its investigation but would not cooperate with Indian investigators. CNN has learned, once President Obama pledged cooperation with India, FBI agents from Chicago flew to Mumbai to aid in the investigation. Those agents are right now in India, working alongside Indian intelligence. According to court papers filed in Chicago, Headley conducted surveillance and took video of the Mumbai targets then met with the conspirators in the months before the November 26th attack.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: A source close to the investigation is telling CNN that at the time of Headley's arrest, just this past October, FBI agents believed Headley was planning a second attack in India. We reached out to Headley's attorney who does confirm that his client is cooperating with the FBI but says he will not comment any further on the additional charges. Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.
CHETRY: Drew Griffin for us. Thanks so much.
Still ahead, the CDC estimates that 1 in 100 U.S. children will be diagnosed with some form of autism. This morning, we're digging deeper with an a.m. original series on reporting on called inside the child's mind, and today we're going to see first hand the dramatic transformation that one little boy made, thanks to early intervention therapy.
JOHNS: Also, more on the breaking news, reports out of Florida that paramedics were called to Tiger Woods' mansion early this morning. All those stories and more in 90 seconds.
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