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CIA Officers Killed; Contractors Charges Dropped; Cable Negotiations Extended
Aired January 01, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOK BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now for a look at some of the other stories we're watching for you on this New Year's Day. Tight security at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California; the highly anticipated game between Ohio state and Oregon kicks off this afternoon. Officials are advising fans to arrive at least four hours ahead of time and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police officer or, of course, just dial 911.
And the Tournament of the Roses parade kicks off in just about an hour. You know this guy, grand marshal none other than Captain Chelsey or Sully, Sullenberger. He's the pilot who successfully landed a disabled U.S. Airways flight on New York's Hudson River last year. Funny to say, last year, the miracle on the Hudson saving everyone on board.
To our top story this hour, those attacks on CIA officers, seven of them working at a base in Afghanistan. We want to get you to what we know right now. Here are seven CIA officers are dead, killed by a suicide bomber who snuck into the base. It still is not known how this attacker got past base security. Two of the victims were contractor from Z Services. That is the new name of the former company, we know it as Blackwater. Flags are flying at half staff at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
President Obama issuing a statement as well saying the CIA officers are part of a long line of patriots who make great sacrifices for their fellow citizens.
Now, the Taliban has stepped forward claiming responsibility for the suicide attack. One U.S. intelligence official has now made a vow to retaliate. CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence joins us now from Washington this morning. And Chris, good morning to you again. Tell me more about this possible retaliation that we're hearing. Are we talking military?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Not strictly military. You know, when we think of Afghanistan, Brooke, we tend to first think of the military because of the huge presence there but there is a tremendous civilian component there as well.
The CIA in the process of possibly making Afghanistan one of its largest bases of operations in the agency's history. One U.S. intelligence official told us basically, "that they're going to seek some retribution for this attack." "This attack will be avenged through successful, aggressive counter terrorism operations." Now, the big question this morning, of course, is how did this bomber get onto a base. If you look at this base, you've got barbed wire, you've got barriers, you've got a watch tower. So the question is how did he get onto the base to blow himself up.
Well, the Taliban claims they got an Afghan national army national soldier to wear the suicide vest and then blow himself up on the base. The Afghan Defense Ministry is denying that. They say no Afghan forces were involved in this. But that has happened in the past, let's be honest. Some Afghan forces have turned on their partners.
So it's at least within the realm of possibility. And just the allegation alone could drive a wedge in that trust between the coalition and the Afghans. In fact I spoke with Fran Townsend, who was President Bush's national security adviser, and she says that, you know, in the course of this investigation, it could lead to more counter intelligence done with the Afghans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRAN TOWNSEND, FMR. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Counterintelligence activity means U.S. government officials and military officials doing an increased scrutiny of their Afghan army partners, and that will undermine the sense of common mission, common team and their ability to move forward. So I actually think I can see why the Taliban will actually do it but it will have a devastating impact on the partnership, I think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Right now, they are investigating how the security broke down, whether this uniform was stolen, whether someone invited this man onto the base and why he wasn't searched when he came onto the base. Brooke.
BALDWIN: Chris, I think it also makes people think about the presence of the CIA overseas, and specifically Afghanistan. The fact that they are operating front line. So my question, I guess, is how does this impact the CIA and their operations overseas, specifically in Afghanistan?
LAWRENCE: Well, it's not only a great personal loss for the families of those killed, of the officers that were killed, but the U.S. now loses their expertise in that part of Afghanistan. This was a base where the CIA monitored the border with Pakistan, where they conducted, you know, counter terrorism operations, you know, gathered a lot of intelligence.
It is having a very rough effect on the CIA as a whole. You know, you can see out there the headquarters at Langley, Virginia, the flags are now flying at half staff.
BALDWIN: Right. LAWRENCE: This was a great shock to them.
BALDWIN: Absolutely.
LAWRENCE: President Obama, in fact, wrote a letter to the entire agency and he said, you know, "Your triumphs and even your names may be unknown to your fellow Americans, but your service is deeply appreciated." So, again, these are people who oftentimes serve in the shadows, so to speak, and this has been a very devastating attack on the whole agency.
BALDWIN: Understandably so. You lose seven of your colleagues. Chris Lawrence reporting for us on a tough story out of Washington. Chris, thank you.
Manslaughter charges have been dropped against five former Blackwater security agents. A federal judge says prosecutors simply mishandled the case. Now these men, you remember this story they were accused of massacring, killing unarmed Iraqis back in 2007, this busy square. It's a case that really changed the way contractors do business in Iraq.
And joining me in order to talk more about the case is CNN executive director, Suzanne Simons, who also penned a book, the head of Blackwater. It's called "Master of War." It's an inside look at Blackwater. Suzanne, we figured you'd be the perfect person to talk to about this specific story.
I need to just first react to the (INAUDIBLE) and I want to read to you what apparently this U.S. district court judge said and talking about the promise of immunity in disguise. He said that the government's explanations were contradictory, unbelievable and lacking in credibility. When you hear that, what's your reaction?
SUZANNE SIMONS, CNN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Well, you know, this case from the very beginning was plagued with a lot of very disturbing parts of it. And I wasn't surprised to hear that the charges had been dropped just given the trouble from the beginning.
One of the things that was set into place very early on was these men were all questioned by actually the Department of State officers at the time about what had happened. Now it appears that those statements were given under duress and that's one of the reasons why the judge said the case is out. However, the door is open if the prosecutors feel like they have a strong enough case without those statements that they can refile.
BALDWIN: Off the case for a moment and just talking about Blackwater because I know, obviously, you wrote and book and know a lot about it and now it's essentially the same company, is it not, just under a different name, Z.
SIMONS: Yes, exactly.
BALDWIN: Talk about the evolution and what changes you've seen. SIMONS: Well, you know, the company really got to a point after the shooting in the (INAUDIBLE) square where even Eric Prince, the owner called the company nuclear. We've gone nuclear.
BALDWIN: Wow.
SIMONS: So they knew that the name was not going to help them get any more business. They have a lot of government clients. They work for the Department of State. They work for the CIA, which we just saw. They work for the Department of Defense. So for them to go nuclear with that name is not a helpful thing to what the government is trying to do in Iraq and Afghanistan. Believe it or not.
And really, they're not the kind of company that can be easily replaced either. So in an effort to kind of redo you company and kindly rebrand your image, they changed the name early last year. Now a lot of the former executives that worked for the company left and they do have new leadership. However, Eric Prince is still the owner of the company.
A lot of other people are still there and you know, contractors in this world move from one contractor to another so a lot of the contractors are still in play too.
BALDWIN: I mean, the federal judge dismissed the charges, but the point is the story may not be over - because the Justice Department literally said they're disappointed by the ruling and this may not be in game here, the prosecutors may appeal.
SIMONS: Now it's a very incorporate case in a lot of ways too, if you think about it. Because the contractors are there. They're armed. They're running around these areas just like members of the military or members of the CIA are. You know, so how did you make the distinction. Like did you fire because you really felt you were under threat or did you fire because you were trigger happy and you wanted to clear the way?
You know, getting inside the mind of the person who pulls the trigger at that moment is not a easy thing to do.
BALDWIN: Kind of tough.
SIMONS: Yes. Exactly.
BALDWIN: Interesting. So I think the prosecutors have something like 90 days to possibly appeal. Suzanne Simons, your book is "Master of War" Blackwater's, about Eric Prince, the head of the company, (INAUDIBLE) Z now. Suzanne, thank you.
SIMONS: Yes. My pleasure.
BALDWIN: New details we're getting this hour in that failed bombing on Northwest flight 253. CNN has been digging deeper and we've learned that investigators have in fact, linked this young man, this suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to a radical cleric. According to a U.S. counter terrorism official, it is not clear if the American-born cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki played a role in the Christmas day attack, but if you've heard the name before, you're not mistaken here. He is the one who exchanged e-mails with that Army major who's now accused of the shooting rampage down at Ft. Hood, Texas. 13 people, you remember dead in that attack back in November.
And looking to the new year and all those resolutions, we all try to make, right. Well, we can look at how we can get motivated to actually keep them. It was a new year's eve that was out of this world. A full moon, a blue moon and a lunar eclipse.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: So we've all heard, you know, the expression once in a blue moon, right? Well, it means something that happens very rarely. And last night, new year's eve was actually one of those occasions you could actually see it. A blue moon, the second full moon of the month. And in front of it you saw some tree branches, the picture taken right before the partial lunar eclipse began.
So Reynolds Wolf, I didn't realize it didn't look so blue to me. Where do we get blue from?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No idea. Can't help you with that one. All I can tell you is just the meteorological or the astrological or the - yes.
BALDWIN: That's (INAUDIBLE) smart.
WOLF: No, let's just try - basically all I can tell you it's the second full moon in a month's time. Doesn't happen all that often. And really had that lined up on January 1st or at least on new year's, it's kind of a cool, kind of creepy sort of thing.
Something else that is definitely cool and definitely creepy are some of the temperatures they're dealing with in the northern plains where we have not single digits but even worse than that. Take a look at that. If you happen to be a fan of cold weather, please don't be offended. But really, this is ridiculous.
Fargo, 14 degrees below 0 is the current temperature right now. In Bismarck, it is 13 below 0. Pierre, South Dakota, 0 at this time. Over in Minneapolis, we got two degrees at this time. What we're going to be seeing later on today, Brooke, places like Minneapolis, the twin cities going up to six degrees. A balmy, warm six degrees, relatively speaking, of course. 17 in Chicago. 44 in Atlanta. 65 in Tampa.
Back over to Dallas and Houston, mainly in the 50s. 57 degrees in Las Vegas and 58 in San Francisco. That is a look at your forecast. Again, the astronomy questions, got to work on that, especially the blue moon. I'll see if I can get an answer as to why they call it that, coming up soon, Brooke. But also that we're going to tell folks in the northern plains to certainly warm up.
We're going to have more coming up right here on CNN. We'll see you in just a few.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN. The most trusted name in news. Now back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
BALDWIN: Negotiations went well past the deadline, in fact deep into the night last night, but there's still no resolution to this cable TV dispute that could leave millions of people without Fox Entertainment or sports programming. CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti joining me live this morning from New York. Susan, good morning. What is this all about?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and happy new year.
BALDWIN: Same to you. Not a happy new year for football fans.
CANDIOTTI: Well, that's for sure. I wish that we could tell you what exactly is going on, but it's hard to say since both Time Warner cable and Fox are zipping their lips. Since Fox program is still running on Time Warner cable at this hour, we can assume that talks must still be going on, but at midnight last night when many of you may have been kicking up your heels bringing in 2010, we were glued to the set watching a local Fox station on Time Warner cable to see whether the screen would go blank. It didn't.
Shortly after that we heard from spokesmen from both sides in writing. From Fox, they said "we're still negotiating and giving it a little more time." And from Time Warner Cable, "we've received a brief extension with Fox." It didn't say how brief that is.
Folks, it's all about money. Lean times mean fewer advertising dollars. Fox wants Time Warner cable, which is independent and no longer a subsidiary of CNN's parent company, Time Warner. Fox wants the cable company to pony up another $1 for every subscriber. That's about $13 million in all, for the right to carry its programs.
A lot of popular shows, including "American Idol," "The Simpsons" and as you said, ton of sports programming. Time Warner Cable says that extra buck is way out of line and the two sides have been going back and forth attacking each other in print ads, on commercials, asking consumers to weigh in. But the Federal Communications Commission chairman has asked for a temporary extension.
Time Warner cable asked Fox for a 30-day cooling off period or binding arbitration, but Fox says no way and so, Brooke, we wait to find out what is happening behind closed doors.
BALDWIN: So, Susan, let's just get to the meet of the issue. There's a little football game on tonight and it's the Sugar Bowl. And have you talked at all to football fans who are perhaps a little annoyed that they may not be seeing this game tonight because of this whole dispute? What are they saying?
CANDIOTTI: I know a lot of football fans who are very intent on watching. The University of Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Florida Gators in that Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Yes, they're on edge. We talked to, for example, in the New York metropolitan area, a gentleman who is the head of the Florida Gators Alumni Association here in this tri-state area, and he's even arranged some bowl watching parties at some local bars and he made sure that he got on the phone and checked with those bars to make sure the game is being carried on satellite TV so that their customers and their fans will be able to watch.
But oh, yes, a lot of people are very worried about what is going to happen and whether they will be able to in fact see that game and other games tonight and through the weekend.
BALDWIN: Yes, I guess when in doubt, find that neighborhood bar with satellite. Susan Candiotti, thank you for that report. We'll be watching for what happens there. Susan out of New York.
Moving on here and motivated, motivated for change, how to fulfill those new year's resolutions before the next new year.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Let's get you a quick check of some of the top stories we're watching this morning. A suicide bomb attack kills at least 30 people in northwest Pakistan this morning. Another 52 injured in that blast. It happened in the middle of a group of young men playing volleyball. There were also hundreds of spectators on hand. Some of the casualties were people living in homes near the courts.
North Korea says it is committed to developing good relations with other countries and to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. That was in a new year's day editorial published in state-run media. North Korea has so far refused to return to talks on its nuclear program despite a personal visit by a U.S. top diplomat.
And same-sex couples in New Hampshire are beating the rush with marriage ceremonies just after the stroke of midnight. Here is some of those new pictures. That is when New Hampshire's same sex marriage law officially went into effect. We're told about 15 couples were married at the state house in Concord just after the clock struck 12.
New Hampshire, by the way, the fifth state now to allow same-sex marriage.
Check the calendar, it's January 1st. That is that time of year again, it's resolution time. A new survey says that the top resolutions for Americans in 2010 are to improve their financial situation, lose a little weight and develop a healthy habit. But the trouble is, most people don't actually end up keeping up with their end of the deal.
Experts say about three out of four people who make new year's resolutions will eventually break them. Sound familiar? Let's bring in senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen this morning. Elizabeth joining us from Boston.
Elizabeth, that's not a great success rate. Why - I mean we're all guilty at one point or another of breaking our resolution, but why is it so tough to keep, do you think?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it's tough to keep, Brooke, because people say I've made a resolution but then they end there. They don't think how am I going to keep this resolution. So everyone's resolution for 2010 should be I'm going to make a resolution and I'm going to come up with a strategy for keeping it.
So let's look at three ways to do that. The first thing that you want to do is you want to set a small and specific goal. In other words, don't say I'm going to lose 50 pounds. Say I'm going to lose 10 because that's much easier to attain.
And then secondly, you want to write it down. You want to write down your goal and the strategy to achieve your goal. And thirdly, you want to spread the word. The reason why you want to spread the word is that people can help you. If you tell your family and friends that you want to lose weight, who knows, maybe your neighbor also wants to lose weight and she'll take a walk with you every weekend and make sure that you take a walk even when you're tired and don't feel like it.
So these are three ways that you can actually become one of the four people who actually keeps their new year's resolutions.
BALDWIN: Yes, I like that, tell somebody, your husband, your girlfriend, whoever, to make sure you're staying on track, I guess. But let's talk about specific examples, Elizabeth. I mean, let's say, you know, to be successful it's kind of like debt. Like Gerri was talking about, you have to start with your small debt. So start with smaller goals and write down but just how specific do people actually need to get in their goals?
COHEN: You know what, Brooke, they need to get really specific and they need to write it down. It doesn't need to be a Ph.D. thesis but you need to write things down. So we've given you an example because I think it's important to see a plan in action.
Let's say that my plan is to lose 10 pounds by March 1st. What I'm going to do is I'm going to write down, the goal is to lose 10 pounds by March 1st. So that means I'm not going to eat out on weeknights. I'm not going to pack lunch for work. I am going to pack a lunch for work rather so I don't run out to fast food.
I'm going to walk the dog four times a week. I'm going to purchase, I'm only going to eat whole grain bread because that's healthier and I'm going to drink a glass of water before every meal. Because that's healthier. So that's how I'm going to achieve that goal. Then I sign it. I have no idea who Annie Maude Scott is, but it's a great name. You should sign your own name. I have no idea where they came up with that. You should sign your own name and stick it on your fridge so that you can see it on a regular basis.
BALDWIN: Yes. I'm a big fan of post-its on the fridge. If I write and I'm going to stick it in front of me, you can't avoid it. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you. Happy new year to you. COHEN: Thanks. Happy new year to you.
BALDWIN: Make sure you tune into "House Call" this weekend. Elizabeth is hosting the show with a really great line up of experts. She said the entire focus, helping you develop a game plan of successfully reaching your goals in 2010. That is Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Eastern.
And still to come here this morning, disasters both natural and manmade. We will have the latest on the man accused of trying to bomb that flight, that Northwest flight 253. Could there be a common link to the Ft. Hood shootings?
And a new year, a new death toll. We'll tell you where deadly floodwaters are rising still.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: We have been digging a little deeper on the story, that failed bombing of Northwest flight 253. And here's what we've learned so far. CNN has learned that investigators have in fact linked the suspect here, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to a radical Muslim cleric.
In fact, according to a U.S. counter terrorism official it is not clear if the American-born cleric, Anwar Al-Awlaki played a role in the Christmas day attack, but if you remember, Al-Awlaki's name is familiar because that is the person who exchanged e-mails with the Army major who's now accused of the shooting rampage down in Ft. Hood, Texas. 13 people died in that attack happening last November.
A lot of questions still for all these investigators, one of them being when did the seeds of hate, if you will, first take root in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. We've heard from his father. He says this descent into religious extremism was recent, but we wanted to look a little bit deeper first.
So we sent CNN Christian Purefoy to Abdulmutallab's home town to speak to those who have known him the longest. He joins us from Kaduna, Nigeria. And Christian, I know you told us you're actually standing in front of the 23-year-old's former home. I know you've been talking to people. What's the sense you're getting from people? Are they surprised that he would have been capable of this?
CHRISTIAN PUREFOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi, Brooke.
His house is just behind us there. He grew up there until he was about 12 and then went on to education elsewhere, but he continued to come back here. The mosque where he and the entire neighborhood here worshipped is about 50 meters down the road. They say he was always the first to arrive and the last to leave prayers. They are all extremely shocked at what happened. But it must be said that Kaduna, his hometown is no stranger to religious violence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PUREFOY (voice-over): While Abdulmutallab would have been at school, his primary school was just down the road as well, which by the way, the school -- we spoke to his teacher. It didn't teach any religious education while he was there.
While he was at school, outside the gates in the streets of Kaduna, there was religious violence. Kaduna sits on one of the longest religious fault lines in the world probably, between a sub- Saharan Africa, a Christian sub-Saharan Africa and Muslim northern Africa. Since that violence where a thousand people died in 2000, even the city itself is segregated.
And the views that drive a lot of this violence is mixed with global issues, the Muslim world. Nigeria may be on the other side of the African continent far from the Middle East, but, listen for yourself. Here's what one man we spoke to in Kaduna had to say.
"Whatever happens in Iran and Iraq, it's because of America," this Islamic preacher says. "Whatever is happening to America today is happening because of its foreign policy."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PUREFOY: So as you can see, Brooke, the people here, the Muslims here are well tuned into what is going on in the Muslim world across the world -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: Unbelievable. It's a story that's shaking a lot of people there were some are saying the idea of this religious extremism really gaining ground in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Christian Purefoy for us, reporting out of Nigeria. Christian, thank you.
I want to go from Africa to South America to Brazil specifically where the New Year is getting off to a pretty rough start. The government says flooding has left at least 19 people dead. Look at these pictures. Nine of the deaths occurred in the city of Rio de Janeiro since this heavy rain starred Wednesday. A few people were hurt, hundreds left homeless. People in boats, landslides, mudslides across the city there from Rio. Amazingly though, there no one was hurt.
Obviously, Reynolds, they're dealing with serious stuff in Brazil. Some of those homes really held together just barely so I imagine it just wrecks their lives. For us here, hopefully, no major flooding, just downright cold.
(WEATHER REPORT)
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: OK, guys, that is a wrap on your weather. Let's get that out of there and send it back to you.
BALDWIN: So, Reynolds, I know we're talking a lot of numbers and we were talking about the cold weather. I love how you said it was ridiculous. I want to throw another number as you. A little bit of debate, this is serious stuff. As we enter into this new decade or New Year, are you going with 2010 or are you saying two thousand-ten. WOLF: Twenty-ten.
BALDWIN: Twenty-ten. I'm with you. It's snappier, 2010.
WOLF: Think of it this way -- very quickly, I know we're tight on time. How would you say this? Would you say this? Would you say it's 1,999 or 1999.
BALDWIN: 1999.
WOLF: See what I'm saying.
BALDWIN: Right. I'm with you.
WOLF: So, yes, we're...
BALDWIN: I'm with you, my man. Reynolds, 2010. Apparently, we are in the minority. Look at the poll. Most Americans want to say two thousand-ten. A research poll showing 69 percent want to a two thousand-ten. 29 percent saying 2010. We're in the minority. But, oh well.
WOLF: Sometimes you just have to tear to be different.
BALDWIN: Dare to be different. Maybe we can change the tide, at least here at CNN.
WOLF: Absolutely. We've started, just make this momentum happen, make it sweep the nation. Let's all go for...
BALDWIN: You and I, friend.
WOLF: Yes, that's what I'm saying, 2010.
BALDWIN: Thanks, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
BALDWIN: Ringing in the New Year 2010-style and all around the world, the spectacular sights and sounds from some of the big celebrations.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Millions of you are taking it easy this New Year's Day, maybe just barely waking up, got the cup of coffee. Maybe some of you haven't gone to bed yet. Many of you ringing in the year, 2010.
There were some huge celebrations all around the world. Want to show you some of the pictures here. I want to begin first in New York. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: And there it was. About a million people, cold, kissing, I guess, in crowded Times Square to watch the crystal ball come down on 2009.
Over to London -- love the London pictures. Huge fireworks lighting up the night sky there as the clock struck 12. The pyrotechnics were shot from the London Eye, that big old Ferris wheel that towers over the River Thames.
And thousands and thousands of miles away, this one in Russia, a very picturesque sight. Look at this, a fireworks show over Moscow's Red Square. Thousands of people attended the celebration.
And that, my friends, brings us to today's blog question. We're asking you what New Year's resolutions you have made for the year 2010. I'll read you some of them.
The first one coming from Dennis. Dennis writes and says this. "This year, I will try so, so hard not to participate in any work gossip. I've heard enough to write a book."
Denise, thank you.
James says, "Getting away from the fast food chains and becoming healthier for my wife and daughter."
A lot of us can relate to that.
Keyung (ph) says, "My new year's resolution is finishing up my dissertation. I have several good excuses not to finish it but really the main reason is I am too lazy to finish it. I hope I can fix my laziness this year by confessing it on CNN."
Keyung (ph), bring it on. Good luck with your dissertation.
Remember, we love hearing from you, hearing your responses. Just log on to our blog at CNN.com/heidi. Share your comments.
All right, texting at gunpoint? A Texas man sends a life-saving text message while allegedly being held hostage in the trunk of his own car. Can you imagine that?
And remember this, the famous White House beer summit? Wow. We will look back at that story and other legal highlights from the year 2009.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Checking the top stories for you now. Hundreds of Texas Tech fans rallied in the rain for their fired coach, Mike Leach. He was let go Wednesday following allegations that he mistreated an injured player. Back on Thursday, he would have been paid $800,000 for completing a portion, a portion of his contract.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PEYTON AUFILL, LEACH SUPPORTER: That will always be a red raider but I tell you what, if we had the guts to ever schedule a Mike Leach football team, I hope he beats the living tar out of us every year.
BECKY KOEHLER, RALLY ORGANIZER: I don't plan on renewing my season ticket. I think that's the only way the administration is going to get the message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Coach Leach says he's being railroaded by Texas Tech officials, and his lawyer promises to sue.
Mike Tyson starting off the new year on a high note. The former heavy weight boxing champ has learned he will not, he will not be facing any criminal charges for a recent incident at the L.A. Airport. Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence from that November scuffle he had with a photographer.
And conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, said to be "in good spirits," quote unquote, in a Honolulu hospital. He was rushed there Wednesday with chest pains, but doctors have not yet said whether or not he had a heart attack. Hospital officials say Limbaugh is resting comfortably, and appreciates all the well wishes he has received.
Texting at gunpoint from the trunk of his car. Seems unimaginable for us, but a Texas man said he was abducted by gunmen and forced to take a ride to the bank in the trunk of his car. While in the trunk, the man pulled out his cell phone and sent a text message to his friend saying, robbed, call police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing I can think maybe you send a text message to my friend. Then because my friend had most of my information. If he needs, he can explain to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Police met the group at the bank. Two teenage males were arrested.
And I've been looking forward to this segment. broken barriers, beer summits and a scoundrel thrown in jail, 2009 providing years and years of material for all the law students everywhere.
Civil rights attorney and law professor, Avery Friedman, joining me this morning from Cleveland to run through some of the highlights.
And perhaps, some would say, Avery, the lowlights of the past year.
(LAUGHTER)
AVERY FRIEDMAN, LAW PROFESSOR & CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Something like that.
BALDWIN: Something like that I guess. Avery, let's start -- we'll be serious for this first segment so the top five serious legal stories. Coming in at number five on your list, this is Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates. It was something that was legal turned political very quickly, led to the beer summit. What did you think about it?
FRIEDMAN: Well, that is number five on the list, Brooke, because how can it be that a Harvard professor gets arrested in his own home? Well, it triggered the issue of the black community and police relations. You want to know something, if the president had a beer summit with every black person, every cop that got into a dispute, he's been in a perpetual state of drunkenness. But it did raise the important issues about relations of the African-American community and the police.
BALDWIN: Number four, we have pop star, Chris Brown. He ultimately admitted guilt to assaulting his then girlfriend, Rihanna. Before I get a reaction, I want to toss to a quick sound bite. This is Chris Brown apologizing on "Larry King Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS BROWN, POP STAR: As many of you know I grew up in a home where there was domestic violence and I saw firsthand what uncontrolled rage can do. I sought and I am continuing to seek help to assure that what occurred in February can never happen again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, Avery, did the punishment fit the crime?
FRIEDMAN: What the heck does that mean? I grew up exposed to violence, therefore, I did it? Look, it tells us a story about date violence, prevalent in America. It also tells us about celebrity justice. And it's something that's very troubling because, here Chris Brown -- any other normal person would probably be spending a year in jail. He walks. He's cleaning up graffiti in northern Virginia. But it highlights the importance of why women have to fight back when it happens.
BALDWIN: Number three, moving through Bernie Madoff.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
BALDWIN: That's all you have to do.
FRIEDMAN: Well, that's it. It's actually part of the lexicon, part of our language right now. How rich people can be so gullible, whether or not America needs further regulation. 2010 will answer both of those questions.
BALDWIN: Coming in at number two, Sonia Sotomayor. The first Latina...
FRIEDMAN: Oh, my goodness.
BALDWIN: Hold on. Hold on. Before we hear from you, I want to hear just a snippet of her Congressional testimony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONIA SOTOMAYOR, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: I want to state up front, unequivocally and without doubt, I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judging.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Remember, she was testifying. She was defending after that wise Latina comment. Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Right. The fact is she was extraordinarily qualified, the most experienced federal trial judge on the Supreme Court now, from poverty in the projects in the south Bronx all the way up to the Supreme Court. You've right, Brooke, history making, the first Hispanic, a very significant legal development.
BALDWIN: And number one, there's been a lot in the news about with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. He's been name one of the principal architects of the terror attacks of 9/11.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BALDWIN: The fact that the trial will be happening just a shake away from where the terror attacks happened in Manhattan.
FRIEDMAN: This is a wonderful development. Contrary to the political talk, if you know anything about our courts, anything about our Constitution, American has the best legal system in the world. Let's get him to trial in 2010. Look for a conviction.
BALDWIN: Avery, those are the top five, serious.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BALDWIN: Stand by with me.
We will be right back with the top-five wackiest, silliest, stupidest, perhaps, legal stories in 2009.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely.
BALDWIN: Here's a hint, one of them about the boy in a big old balloon.
(LAUGHTER)
Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: OK. From huge balloons to crazy Craigslist ads, 2009 provided plenty of unusual legal drama.
Civil rights attorney and law professor, Avery Friedman, joining me again with a little bit more fun this time.
(LAUGHTER)
Avery, now we're talking top-five wacky legal stories. Number five was the justice of the peace down in Louisiana who said, thanks, but no thanks, I don't want to marry you because you're interracial.
FRIEDMAN: We're counting down the hits like Casey Kasem (ph). But the top wacky legal cases involves Justice of the Peace Bardwell who, despite a Supreme Court case over 50 years ago, Brooke, said that you can marry whoever you want, no matter what race. He just didn't like the idea of black and white people getting married, so he refused to marry them. Well, facing federal lawsuits, facing censure by the legislature, the good news, Brooke, is that he resigned and is no longer a judge.
BALDWIN: He resigned. Now, we have number four. We have a tie. The first half of the tie, the Philadelphia swim club. The group of little -- the African-American kids who were not allowed to swim in the predominantly white swim club.
FRIEDMAN: The head of the Huntington Club said, by letting the black kids in, it will change the complexion of the people that are there. Whoops. That's the end of that. By the way, in addition to federal lawsuits, they're now in bankruptcy. No more swim club.
BALDWIN: And the other part of the tie, the story really heard around the world, great fodder for Halloween.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
BALDWIN: Before I get your reaction, I want to -- this is balloon boy -- the family, the Heenes, talking to Wolf Blitzer. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FALCON HEENE: You said that we did this for a show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: We did this for a show. That was little Falcon. That was the beginning of the end.
FRIEDMAN: Wolf Blitzer should get a DuPont for that one. The bottom line is that the disposition, Richard, the father, goes to jail for 90 days; Mayumi, for 20. More importantly, Brooke, this brilliant judge handled it exactly right. The family is barred from any reality shows, any books for four years. Outrageous behavior using the kids. Justice was served.
BALDWIN: Number three, Avery, Carrie Prejean.
FRIEDMAN: Oh, my goodness.
BALDWIN: Let's hear her answer. This is from the Miss USA pageant. She was Miss California. This was the beginning of...
FRIEDMAN: The beginning of the end.
BALDWIN: The beginning of the end. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE PREJEAN, MISS CALIFORNIA & MISS USA: Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be, between a man and a woman. (APPLAUSE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: And that is what got Miss Prejean all over the news.
FRIEDMAN: Sure did. Narcissistic exhibitionism. She didn't win it. She brings a religious discrimination case, can you believe that? But when the $5200 breast augmentation loan surfaced, as well as x- rated videos, you know what, the litigation turned into exactly what she deserved, absolutely nothing.
BALDWIN: OK. Coming in number two -- I worked in Washington, D.C., I remember this story. The $54 million pants. Guy goes to the cleaners, sues the cleaners because they ruined his pants?
FRIEDMAN: Yes. This is legally the gift that keeps on giving. The case got thrown out actually in 2007. 2009 the court of appeals, in a 23-page opinion, said in one sentence where's the common sense, case dismissed.
BALDWIN: Coming in at number one -- and I was kind of surprised that you make this number one. I'm interested to hear why. This was the woman, I guess, you have sports enthusiasts and sports enthusiasts. You have a woman who posted an ad on Craigslist for World Series tickets.
FRIEDMAN: Yes. This is Susan Finklestein (ph). The Philadelphia Phillies went to the World Series. Goes on Craigslist and said, "I'll do anything, I'm tall, I'm beautiful, I'm buxom. Meet me and let's see what I can do." Met undercover cop. She didn't know it. She lifts her skirt, she shows topless pictures. The judge, two weeks ago, added a prostitution charge. Oh, my goodness, the dumbest legal move of any American last year, 2009.
BALDWIN: Didn't she end up getting the tickets? Or am I remembering that wrong.
FRIEDMAN: The irony is that a car dealership, and I think a radio station, got her the tickets, but in the meantime, I think she actually might be going to jail. Wow!
BALDWIN: Avery Friedman, so great to talk to you.
FRIEDMAN: My pleasure. All the best.
BALDWIN: Thank you so much. Talk to you tomorrow.
FRIEDMAN: Take care.
BALDWIN: I don't exactly remember this course from journalism school at UNC Chapel Hill. Local news anchors busting a move. You may bust a gut when you watch this. Check out what happens when the cameras aren't rolling. Yes, that's during a commercial.
And dance fever must be contagious. A couple of our own. There's my friend Poppy Harlow, getting down on New Year's Eve.
More of that coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. MIGUEL PARSHANA (ph), U.S. MILITARY: Hi, I'm Sergeant Miguel Parshana (ph), here in Kabul, Iraq. and I'd like to wish my family back in Chicago, Illinois, a happy holidays and a happy new year. Love you guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
BALDWIN: OK, that's about the extent of my dancing for you. But there is apparently a lot required, for a good news anchor, credibility, perhaps the top of the list. But dance choreography is much further down, or is it?
Our Jeannie Moos takes a look at what some anchors are doing when the camera is turned away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNIE MOOS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you think listening to the news is depressing, imagine delivering it.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: The burning building.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: Three patrons were stabbed.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: An undercover drug operation.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: The toxic dirt ordinance.
MOOS: Give us a break, a commercial break. There's a name for this.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: What anchors do during commercial breaks.
MOOS: Well, maybe not all anchor anchors.
(SINGING)
MOOS: At WGN in Chicago, the weekend anchors do this in the first commercial break of every show. It started a decade or so ago.
JACKIE BANGE, WGN NEWS ANCHOR: We are so tickled to hear our names. We went, "Ah."
BOB JORDAN (ph), WGN NEWS ANCHOR: And we started pointing.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching WGN News at 9:00 with Jackie Bange, Bob Jordan (ph)...
MOOS: This used to be something only the crew got to see, but then it ended on YouTube. They have between two and two and a half minutes till the commercial break ends.
JORDAN (ph): Getting close.
MOOS: Moves range from...
JORDAN (ph): Remember the John Travolta.
MOOS: ... to the Dick Cheney.
Hold it. That's the famous line move based on an actual incident when Robert (ph) got caught on camera when he thought he was off camera.
JORDAN (ph): I see the fly zooming around and I started reaching for it.
MOOS: Sure there have been dancing weathermen on YouTube, even dancing Iraqi anchormen. And one of WGN's own reporters couldn't keep still.
UNIDENTIFIED WGN REPORTER: I've got to do my thing, I'll be right back.
MOOS: But this takes choreography.
BANGE: 30.
JORDAN: 30.
She would try to go with me and poke my eyes out.
MOOS: Borrowed from the three stooges. But don't call these two stooges.
JORDAN (ph): I try to add moves. She won't let me add new moves, the ones that I like.
BANGE: Ask him what his move was, please.
JORDAN (ph): I want to do the chest bump.
MOOS: So next commercial, when you take a bathroom break, remember these two, breaking into their routine, working it right down to the last second.
BANGE: 10 seconds. Coming into a voice over.
JORDAN (ph): We made it.
MOOS: Back to the world of may hem and destruction.
BANGE: 3, 2, 1.
MOOS: Two anchors who aren't quite anchored to their desk.
Jeannie Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: You never know what your news anchors may be up to.
Apparently, we have our own dancer here at CNN. Check out CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow. She's busting a move. Take a look.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Are you ready? 1, 2, 3. Yes, it's my favorite song, by the way. It's "New York" by Jay-Z.
BALDWIN: Wow, if only we had Poppy sitting next to me. She's my friend so I can say this, but we'd be poking fun to her face. She's rocking it out and bringing back the Cabbage Patch, folks. You remember that dance? There she is in Times Square rocking out with her new year's coverage with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin. Poppy worked the crowd, got them to dance with her, doing the Cabbage Patch.
You know someone else who I have a feeling can do the Cabbage Patch? Mr. Tony Harris.
TONY HARRIS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: I'm old enough to have invented the Cabbage Patch.
