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Growing Threat in the Middle East; TSA Unveils New Directives for International Flights; Yemeni Security Concerns
Aired January 03, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM on this 3rd of January. I'm Brooke Baldwin, sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield.
I want to get to some new evidence today of a growing security threat right there in the Middle East. The United States closed its embassy in Yemen, citing fears al Qaeda might try to stage an attack. Also, Britain closing its doors at its embassy there as well. There's still no word as to when either will reopen.
Meanwhile, breaking news now on a related security story. Here's what we're hearing. The Transportation Security Administration has just unveiled these new directives for certain international flights.
CNN's Samantha Hayes joins us now live from Washington to talk about these new directives and the story developing out of Yemen.
Samantha, these new directives in effect tomorrow.
SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are dramatic, Brooke. Starting tomorrow, TSA is mandating that every person flying into the U.S. from or through a country that's a state sponsor of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through a hand screening or secondary screening. That can include body scans, pat downs and other regulations.
And this is sure to slow down the boarding process but it also comes after the U.S. government stepping up counter terrorism efforts in Yemen, which is emerging as a more serious front in the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAYES (voice-over): On the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula where the Red Sea meets the Indian Ocean is Yemen. That's where a strike just last month killed three al Qaeda members suspected of targeting the U.S. embassy for attack.
CNN has learned a fourth was captured with his suicide vest on. According to his senior U.S. military official. Now, the U.S. and British embassies have been closed because of continued threats in the area.
JOHN BRENNAN, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER: There are indications that al Qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against targeted inside of Sana'a and possibly our embassy.
HAYES: Saturday, General David Petraeus visited Yemen to coordinate increased counter terrorism aid while President Barack Obama in his weekly address tied al Qaeda operatives in Yemen to the attempted bombing of a Northwest jet Christmas day.
Brennan says the suspect, 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Adulmutallab, reached out to al Qaeda and received training at one of the camp's hit in a December strike. But a lack of coordination among U.S. government agencies failed to keep him off the plane.
BRENNAN: There's no smoking gun piece of intelligence out there that said he was terrorist. He was going to carry this attack against that aircraft. We had bits and pieces of information.
HAYES: But information about underwear bombs like the one used on the Northwest flight was already known. According to Fran Townsend, CNN contributor and former Homeland Security adviser to George Bush.
FRANCES FRAGOS TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: John Brennan this morning said he did get a brief on the underwear bomb from Prince Mohammad bin Naif, the head of the Saudi security service.
HAYES: Senators Joe Lieberman said former al Qaeda prisoners once held at Guantanamo Bay prison may also be to blame.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), HOMELAND SECURITY CHAIRMAN: One of the shocking facts about al Qaeda in Yemen is that some of its leaders are people that we had previously captured and were holding at Guantanamo. We released them back to the Saudis for rehabilitation. They were sent back to Yemen.
HAYES: Six more Yemeni detainees are scheduled to be sent back to Yemen although Brennan refused to say when.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAYES: And as for the U.S. and British embassies in Yemen, there is no word yet on when they will open again. Brooke, back to you.
BALDWIN: All right. Samantha Hayes for us out of Washington.
Samantha, thank you.
I want to dig a little deeper here on this story developing out of Yemen and speak with Fawaz Gerges, he is a professor of Middle Eastern politics and international relations at the London School of Economics and political science. He's also written two recent books about Islamic militancy.
Joining me now from New York. And Mr. Fawaz, if I can just put you on the spot real quickly and just get you to react to this breaking news that we're getting, this new directive, enhanced screening for folks, inbound flights to the U.S. from nations of state sponsored terrorism. What do you think, will it be effective?
PROF. FAWAZ GERGES, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Well, I think any particular measure to enhance security is a good measure. I think in light of the failed attempt, Christmas attack, I think this is the way to go. I think for the safety of passengers and for the safety of everyone.
BALDWIN: All right. Let's talk about al Qaeda specifically. And according to the Yemen foreign minister, the numbers we have seen, something between 200 and 300 members of al Qaeda, in Yemen and what I didn't realize with that number, is greater than the number of members of al Qaeda in Pakistan. I want you to talk a little bit about the strength of al Qaeda in Yemen and specifically it is far worse than a lot of us are led to believe, according to you. How bad is it?
GERGES: Well, I think it is very bad. And I think, as you said, you are absolutely correct. There are as many al Qaeda core operatives in Yemen as there are in Pakistan, between 200 and 300 members. And the difference between Yemen and Pakistan most of the core operatives in Yemen are young and they lack the operational skills of their cohorts in Pakistan.
But I think that evidence is emerging that is more and more of the Yemeni al Qaeda members, of the al Qaeda branch in Yemen, have either fought in Iraq or Somalia or Afghanistan and Pakistan unless they have acquired the skills, not only to carry out attacks in Yemen but also to take war to the U.S. itself as the failed Christmas plot revealed.
And this is why American officials are extremely concerned, not only about the growing threat of al Qaeda inside Yemen itself but about the ability of al Qaeda branch in Yemen to carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia and also against the American homeland.
Just a few weeks ago, al Qaeda member in Yemen targeted the deputy interior minister in Saudi Arabia and almost injure him, terribly injure him and this tells you about the extent that the increasing threat of al Qaeda and Yemen.
BALDWIN: And I want you to bring up the Saudis, I want to talk about the Saudis and perhaps even the Kuwaitis and their involvement in a moment.
But what about the U.S.? We know that the head of U.S. CentCom Gen. David Petraeus was there yesterday talking to President Salih, talking about yes, we will support more of these U.S. counter terrorism measures. But some say and perhaps your - in that group that these efforts are perhaps counterproductive.
GERGES: Well, to a certain extent they are. I mean, look, Brooke, what the U.S. - the U.S. provides Yemen with almost $70 million a year. This year we provided Yemen with $70 million. Today, yesterday it was announced that the United States will double the security assistance to $140 million. That is Yemen today, tops Pakistan which receives only $112 million a year. BADLWIN: Wow.
GERGES: I think what this problem is not just a counter terrorism problem. Yes, there is a short-term security problem.
BALDWIN: And what's the - what is the greater reaching problem here?
GERGES: I think, Brooke, this is a greater political and economic and social crisis facing Yemen. And the U.S. should provide the leadership and involve -- Muslim state particularly the Arab league and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in constructing a political vision in Yemen.
Remember, Brooke, al Qaeda has been able to create a major foothold in Yemen because the social and political situation in Yemen is very grave. What I mean by the situation in Yemen, have you multiple insurgencies. You have a major civil war in the north that's basically has been taking place for almost three years, you have a separatist movement in the north and several tribes are challenging the authority and legitimacy of the state.
And what al Qaeda has been trying to do or has been able to do is to submerge itself within this local conflict and challenge the authority of the central government.
BALDWIN: Capitalizing, almost it seems on this conflict. And you mentioned Saudi Arabia. I mean, we talk about the U.S. role here. But what about Saudi Arabia? And what about the Kuwaitis perhaps to a lesser degree?
They need to step it up, do they not?
GERGES: Absolutely. In fact, I will argue that Saudi Arabia is more threatened by the al Qaeda branch in Yemen than the United States itself. It is in the interests of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the Arab League to construct a political vision to Yemen, to lead the fight against al Qaeda.
And this is why for any solution for grand vision for Yemen to walk, it is not just only America providing security assistance, it is America providing leadership and convincing Yemen's neighbors, particularly Arab states, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the Arab League, to lead this particular effort -
BALDWIN: Right.
GERGES: To prevent the collapse of Yemen into being a failed state. It's a fragile state now.
BALDWIN: But it's not yet failed. Not yet failed.
All right. Fawaz Gerges, professor at LSC and also an author of two books on Jihadism. We appreciate. So much more to learn about Yemen. We thank you. Thank you for the discussion. President Obama, by the way, returning to Washington this week. CNN's senior White House correspondent Ed Henry has been traveling with the president there in Hawaii, where the president is winding up his vacation.
And Ed, wow. We know - obviously, the president has a lot on his plate and as soon as he touches down in Washington, what is priority number one?
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, clearly, it is protecting the U.S. homeland. And that's why we are seeing a very aggressive action when John Brennan, the president's Homeland Security adviser, was on the Sunday talk shows today, outlining, you know, clearly shutting down at least temporarily the U.S. embassy in Yemen because of threats there. Beefing up Transportation Security. Making sure that planes coming into the United States have tougher screening measures and so that another explosive like the one we saw on Christmas day can't get on a plane. That's job number one.
And then clearly, the president, he's going to arrive back early Monday afternoon, maybe late morning, back at the White House. And Tuesday, he's immediately going to have a secure meeting in the White House situation room with all of his top intelligence chiefs to figure out what went wrong on Christmas day and the days leading up to it. But more importantly, what they are going to do moving forward to prevent another attack, Brooke.
BALDWIN: What else does he have specifically on his agenda this coming week, Ed?
HENRY: Well, that's all we really know about right now in terms of his schedule.
BADLWIN: OK.
HENRY: I think as you were just speaking with your last guest, in terms of getting more aid to Yemen, when you talk to senior administration officials they point out one of the potential problems is corruption in the government there. And whether or not the money is going to be used on counter terror.
And secondly, I think a big issue to watch is the fact that John Brennan, one of the president's top aides on these Sunday shows, at least one of them, he was asked about the possibility of U.S. troops being sent to Yemen because of the desperate situation there.
He said at least not now. There's no plans to do that. But you have to wonder when the U.S. already in Iraq, already sort of pinned down in Afghanistan, sending tens of thousands more troops, it's certainly difficult to image a scenario where we could hobble together enough troops right now to go to Yemen but obviously, given the speed with which the security situation appears to have deteriorated and al Qaeda strength has grown in Yemen, particularly. It certainly bears watching, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Absolutely. Ed Henry, we will see you back in Washington, I guess, come Monday.
HENRY: Thanks, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Thanks, Ed.
HENRY: That's right. See you.
BALDWIN: In Pakistan, officials tell CNN, a teacher and his nine-year-old son were killed by suspected U.S. drone. The incident happened - this is in Pakistan's north Waziristan region there. The target was a compound reportedly used by local and foreign militants. There has been no U.S. confirmation and more funerals now following Friday's deadly suicide car bomb in the middle of a group just playing volleyball. 99 people, that's the latest number we have. 99 killed there.
You remember this story? Chris Brown and Rihanna?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIHANNA, SINGER: I just didn't realize how much of an impact I had on these girls' lives until that happened, until that happened. It was a wakeup call. It was a wakeup call for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Far reaching implications, that story. Our legal guy, Avery Friedman, will be taking a look back at the year's top legal stories. And Jacqui Jeras monitoring freezing, freezing cold temperatures out there. Hey, Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I brought the warm sweater today, girl.
BALDWIN: Yes.
JERAS: I tell you. Bitter cold conditions. Gripping really the eastern half of the country. Another arctic blast is on the way. We will tell you when you can expect that and we will show you some incredible snowfall totals coming from one part of the country. We will let you know where, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Well, yes, it is a new year. And that means new challenges for the president here as he faces in the year now 2010. He has a very recent, very real reminder that terrorists are very much so out there. And they are hatching plans to hurt the U.S..
Republicans may be giving him some trouble in some upcoming elections. Let's turn now to CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, joining us there from Washington.
Paul, let's just first begin with this terror threat that we have all been talking about and the fact, you know, we heard from President Obama yesterday, finally some really tough words, tough talk on terrorism. Yet, a lot of Republicans have been saying he has just been too soft.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, that is a message that we heard from a number of Republicans for about a week now, Brooke. This has been the top story that consumed this town and the nation. We heard it from vice president - former vice president Dick Cheney. We heard it from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, some current members of Congress.
They are saying that this administration is not that strong. It's too weak when it comes to fighting terrorism. And they say this president really isn't admitting that we are involved, that this country is involved in the war on terror.
Take a listen to Jim DeMint, the Republican senator from South Carolina. He was on our own "STATE OF THE UNION."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JIM DEMINT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I was concerned about before I heard him talk and I think I'm a little more alarmed because he seems to have a hard time saying that this is an act of terror, that Ft. Hood was an act of terror. That the Christmas day bomber was an act of terror. And unless we are willing to recognize this as a global war in many cases against the United States, I'm afraid we are going to fail to take the actions that we need to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Now, the president yesterday in his weekly internet radio address said listen, I have been talking about a war on terror that this country has been facing since my inauguration address nearly a year ago. And also, you heard from congressional Democrats, they're accusing the Republicans, Brooke, of trying to play politics here with terror.
BALDWIN: Paul, looking ahead to - it's funny that we are doing it. It is a huge year. We talk about mid-term elections come November. And you know that a big topic then still has to be terrorism.
STEINHAUSER: Yes. And terrorism was an issue that was huge in the first two elections after 9/11. And helped Republicans to a great deal in 2002 and 2004. Take a look at this, though. This is a recent CNN Opinion Research Corporation national poll. This was taken before this attempted attack early in December.
And you can see right there, the economy, health care, and war are top three issues. And if you keep going down on our list you will see very low at the bottom four percent was terrorism. Now, again, this was taken before the attacks. CNN and other organizations will be out this month taking new polls and will be interesting to see if terrorism jumps in the minds of Americans when it comes to their vote.
Will it be a big issue this fall? I think as of now, the economy will still be the number one issue. But there are going to be a lot of things to keep people's minds on terrorism. We're going to have congressional hearings later this month on the attempted attack and what went wrong. You are also going to have the Guantanamo story, also dominating the news. So it is going to be in the minds of Americans. Will it be the dominant issue? Well, we'll have to see, Brooke.
BALDWIN: OK. Paul Steinhauser, big, big stuff coming up in November. We will be talking about it for some months ahead, certainly with you. Thank you for joining us there from Washington.
And let's take a look at this. Some pictures, nasty pictures coming in from Beijing, the entire country. As you can see, just getting pounded with the nasty winter storm system.
Jacqui Jeras joining us in the CNN weather center. So, I guess, Jacqui, we are not alone. John is dealing with a lot of the white stuff as well.
JERAS: Yes. Misery loves company.
BALDWIN: I guess so.
JERAS: And a lot of miserable folks out there. Not necessarily with major snowstorm with the exception of New England. But with bitter cold conditions. And so we got a lot of stuff going on impacting people this weekend and this is going to be carrying over into early next week.
And one of the biggest issues we are dealing with today is we that we still have a lot of holiday travelers. And with this system here impacting the northeast and along with some very strong gusty winds, we are talking some major delays here at the area airports.
Look at Boston, JFK, La Guardia, Newark. You are all well over an hour here. Teterboro, we got ground delays, over an hour and a half here in D.C., Fort Lauderdale, you got some volume delays and White Plains, over two hours and Toronto looking at about 40-minute delays. So a lot of people not so happy watching this, probably in the airport today.
Snowfall totals continue to stay heaviest right along i-95 and to the west of there, parts of Maine. The winds are the big issue a little bit farther on down to the south. New York City, over towards Philadelphia. And down into Washington, D.C.. The wind speeds in the teens here. However, we are getting gusts well beyond that. Still up to 30 miles per hour. But we are expecting those advisories to be expiring at 6:00 Eastern time.
Those cold winds blowing over the warmer lake waters. So lake- effect snows have been a huge issue here. We got a picture I want to show you here, out of Buffalo, New York. Look at this. Wow. Talk about a winter wonderland. You had about 6 1/2 inches of snowfall yesterday. And those numbers are going to continue to add up throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening.
We think the worst of the heavy snow bands has blown through Buffalo but several inches can be expected each and every day this weekend and your temperatures staying well below the freezing mark. 14 is your current temperature but it feels like a big goose egg with those bitter cold conditions.
So unfortunately, we are looking at more of that. Look at some of the snowfall totals, near the buffalo area. Perrysburg, New York, 24 inches, so that's two feet of snow. Do the math there. Nearly, 20 inches in Oswego and Hannibal at 15 1/2 inches of snowfall. But bitter cold temperatures really gripped the nation, the eastern half, even almost two-thirds.
But we got another plunge of arctic air coming in mid week. So look for temperatures to stay about 10 to 20 degrees below average for a whole lot of people. Brooke.
BALDWIN: Minus 20.
JERAS: Below average. Yes, 20 degrees below normal. So if your normal is 20, you are going to be around zero.
BALDWIN: Wow. Yikes. All right. Jacqui, let's move on from this cold, freezing weather here. We're going to be chatting just in a couple of minutes in the chat room and maybe we want to what, head to Florida this time of year because it is just so cold. But how did this other place we could live? How about a little further away, the moon.
JERAS: Yes.
BALDWIN: We are not kidding. Scientists actually think they found just the spot. You don't want to miss this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right. Checking some of our top stories for you now.
Nine days after the terror attack on the Northwest Airlines flight 253, the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, today, issuing some of these new airlines security directives. The TSA says every person flying into the United States from or through a state that sponsors terrorism has to go through what they are calling enhanced screening. That also says that rule will also apply to passengers flying in from, "other countries of interest."
American and British embassies are shutting their doors in Yemen today. The move comes, of course, in the wake of a new threat by a branch of al Qaeda based on the Arabian peninsula and word has it the embassies themselves could be targeted. John Brennan, the White House senior adviser on counter terrorism says, they are taking measures to keep diplomats safe.
To Iraq, the government there wants to make sure there are no former Blackwater employees left in their country. A spokesman says the government is actively pursuing ex-contractors from the private security firm. Iraq is appealing the U.S. judge's decision to drop murder charges against this five Blackwater security guards who are accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians back in 2007.
And 20 years ago, how about this? A group of school kids made just one single promise and now keeping it. A look at what they did to honor a former teacher.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: OK. So time for the chat room.
JERAS: Yes.
BALDWIN: Hi.
JERAS: Hello.
BALDWIN: So we have two stories. We are going to kind of chat about that really sort of struck us. Some of our writers that pulled them together. And this first one, this idea of, you know, a group of third graders 20 years ago actually getting back together what was it on January 1st?
JERAS: January 1st 2010. They made a pact when they were in the third grade because they loved their teacher, Mr. Lewis. It was an accelerated class, I guess.
BALDWIN: The gifted children.
JERAS: But they said he made such a difference in their lives. And Mr. Lewis said they were such wonderful children he wanted to find out what they were doing all those years later.
BALDWIN: So we were chatting before just being on. Our question, of course, is did they get - did they Facebook one another to remind one another that hey, we made this promise 20 years ago to go hang out at the flagpole and honor our teachers? So I wonder - it must have had to something but what a great idea.
JERAS: Absolutely. I know they did Facebook and they did some MySpace as well. But I'm not sure exactly how they organized it.
BALDWIN: All came together. One of the quotes from one of the students was the fact that everybody looked pretty much the same, just like a bigger version with beards and gel in their hair.
JERAS: I love that. What a wonderful reunion.
BALDWIN: How about this other story? I kind of think this is cool. I don't know -
JERAS: It is very cool. If you remember, you know, in science and technology news a couple of weeks ago, what four, five weeks ago, we brought you a story here on CNN about how water was found on the moon.
BALDWIN: Right.
JERAS: Now they found another discovery here. Yes. Where maybe a colony could possibly survive.
BALDWIN: Can you imagine actually living on the moon? But that is what some people are talking about. They are talking about this hole and researchers discovered that this protected lunar, they're calling it this lava tube.
JERAS: Lava tube. Yes.
BALDWIN: So not quite sure how we would live on the moon.
JERAS: Well, they are saying it would protect them within this tube from some of the extreme conditions on the moon. So the temperatures are not livable because it is so cold there. So this would protect them from some of that. It would also protect them from maybe being impacted by a meteorite as well.
BALDWIN: Still, we are talking extreme conditions on the moon. And this little thing is - it's amazing.
JERAS: It is really deep. How deep is it? I mean, it's like -
BALDWIN: 200 plus.
JERAS: 250 feet deep, 213 feet wide. So that they put all the equipment in there and they could be protected. Obviously, they are going to have to have, you know, some type of a structure.
BALDWIN: Yes. So if you want to live on the moon or be part of the moon colony, you get your name on the list.
JERAS: Yes. A lava tube may the place for you.
BALDWIN: Yes. It's kind of like going to the moon, sign me up for that trip, I guess. Jacqui Jeras, thanks for that chat.
JERAS: All right. I'll be there with you.
BALDWIN: All right. It will be a date.
JERAS: 30 years from now.
BALDWIN: Yes. 30 years from now. Exactly. We will talk about it then. Have you heard about this? Guns in an NBA locker room. We will tell you what's coming tomorrow. Two Washington Wizards teammates accused of drawing weapons on each other in the locker room.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Our top story, the United States and Great Britain today closed their embassies in Yemen. Now this move was precautionary measure against possible terror attacks from an al Qaeda cell based in Yemen. This is the same group which claimed responsibility for the failed Christmas Day bombing of the U.S. airliner bound from Amsterdam to Detroit. Right now, still unknown exactly how long the embassies will remain closed. Earlier today on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," John Brennan who is the White House senior advisor on counter terrorism said that the United States is working very closely with the Yemeni government on proper security precautions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BRENNAN, WHITE HOUSE SR. ADVISOR ON COUNTERTERRORISM: I spoke with our ambassador in Yemen, Ambassador Saysho (ph) both this morning as well as last night and there are indications that al Qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against targeted inside of Sana (ph), possibly our embassy. What we do is to take every measure possible to ensure the safety of our diplomats and citizens abroad. So the decision was made to close the embassy. Work very closely with the Yemeni governments on taking the proper security precautions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Poor judgment or criminal behavior? That's precisely what police are trying to figure out as they investigate the allegations into two Washington Wizards basketball players who displayed guns in a locker room. The NBA wants to know what happened as well here. Witnesses say that Gilbert Arenas and Javars Crittenton were having some kind of a dispute over a gambling debt just before Christmas. I think this was Christmas Eve here. Now Arenas had admitted he showed bad judgment quote, unquote bad judgment for storing his firearms in the team's home locker room.
Now he will be meeting with the D.C. Metropolitan police tomorrow. The league, by the way, closely watching developments in the case. So Stephen A. Smith has been covering the NBA for ESPN and as a columnist for the "Philadelphia Enquirer" he is also a nationally syndicated radio host. Stephen you don't have to be totally hip in basketball to ask this very one specific question. And that is what was Gilbert Arenas doing with guns in a locker room?
STEPHEN A. SMITH, FORMER NBA ANALYST FOR ESPN: Well, clearly from his own admission he was being an idiot. That's only way to slice it right now. It is completely catastrophic for the league. So mainly for him, specifically because who knows what laws he has violated. It is against the law in D.C. to carry a concealed weapon. To you carry it into the workplace.
You know, all of these different things. There's a litany of violations that we are talking about here. And there is a question about the guy that he got involved with. This is a guy that played at Georgia Tech University, seemed to be somebody of decent intelligence. But yet, still he didn't walk away from the incident himself and who knows what role he played or whether he indeed had a weapon in the arena himself. All of those things have question marks right now and it is a story that was broken by Peter Vecsey (ph) of the "New York Post" and he did an outstanding job at doing it. But we are learning more and more details as time goes on. It is a completely touchy situation.
BALDWIN: Touchy and still a lot of questions, here is my other question. This is the only way I feel like I can relate to this. Let's say I'm coming to work and I'm not so happy with the story we are putting in the run-down. I say to my producer, Pam, I'm not a big fan of the moon story. I either pull out a gun or even if I am joking about it, I would be fired. And the fact is neither of these guys, to my knowledge, or -- not only are they not fired they are not suspended. What's up with that?
SMITH: Well, first of all, you have to let the -- you have to let due process take its course. The D.C. Metro police is investigating the matter. Because Gilbert Arenas lives in Virginia and the arena is in Washington, D.C., it could be a federal matter. Because so you have the District of Columbia along with the federal government involved in this right now. So the NBA itself has to wait until that process, due process, takes place actually before they come down with a ruling.
I can tell you right now you have a lot of people in the NBA according to numerous people that I have spoken to that believe that Gilbert Arenas should be suspended for the year. Remember, according to NBA laws, collectively bargained, I might add if he's convicted of a felony, you know, his contract can be voided. He signed a six-year $111 million contract over a year ago. Still owed about $100 million, if he gets convicted of a felony you can scratch that. Those dollars are gone.
BALDWIN: $111 million. Wow.
SMITH: Also, you have to remember according to the report in "The New York Post", the president Ernie Grunfeld informed the league that, indeed, there were firearms in the locker room but the league had not been informed there was an altercation involving the guns. So who knows what kind of effect this will have on his career as well. It is a whole bunch of -- I mean this collateral damage all over the place. No matter what way you slice.
BALDWIN: And what about, Stephen just what about you know if I'm a parent and I'm watching this story, I'm thinking oh, brother, you know, because these -- not just NBA, not just basketball here but professional athletes really are sort of role models for a lot of kids out there. Parents are just probably at home shaking their heads like here we go again.
SMITH: Well, it is called and what it is. I mean if you are the NBA, Commissioner David Stern, the best commission in all of sports as far as I'm concerned and somebody who has done an outstanding job of (INAUDIBLE) himself with sponsors and advertisers to make the NBA into a $4 billion a year industry, the reality is is that you can't look at this and say you know what, this is something to sneeze at. The fact is the image has been an issue for the NBA for quite some time.
Particularly because it is over 70 percent African-American and although by and large I'm here to vouch for a lot of players in the league that do know how to act like they have sense, there is a small piece of that culture that just contaminates everything. You got people looking at some NBA athletes and some NFL athletes because of the litany of African-Americans that have gotten arrested and they are saying it is like prisoners acting up in the prison yard instead of recognizing that they are multimillion dollar professionals paid to do a job and go home.
It is completely disgusting. It is going to be addressed by Commissioner David Stern; I can assure you of that. He will have something to say about this one when it is all said and done and Gilbert Arenas may very well find himself suspended for the year at the very least.
BALDWIN: At the very least. He will be meeting with police tomorrow and we have to see what comes out of that meeting. Stephen A. Smith for us, thank you. Interesting conversation. Amazing.
Well, it started with a question for a beauty queen. What happened next turned out to be one of the most talked about legal stories of 2009. We will take a look at that list.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A check of the top stories here. Nine days after that terror attack on a Northwest Airlines flight 253 the Transportation Security Administration today issuing these a new airline security directive. Here is what the TSA is saying. Every person flying into the U.S. from or through a state that sponsors terrorism has to go through what they are called enhanced screening. It also says that rule will also apply to passengers flying in from, quote, other countries of interest, unquote.
Top stories this hour here. Heightened security concerns prompting the U.S. and British governments to close their embassies in Yemen. That move taken because of a possible terror attack from an al Qaeda group based on the Arabian Peninsula. This by the way is the same group that claimed responsibility for the failed bombing of that flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.
Today on CNN's "State of the Union," the White House senior adviser on counterterrorism says that closing the U.S. Embassy in Yemen is a wise precaution in light of the recent situation there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BRENNAN, WHSITE HOUSE SR. ADVISOR ON COUNTERTERRORISM: I spoke with our ambassador in Yemen this morning as well as last night and there are indications that al Qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against target inside of Sanai, possibly our embassy. What we do is to take every measure possible to ensure the safety of our diplomats and citizens abroad. So the decision was made to close the embassy and we are working very closely with the Yemeni government on taking the proper security precautions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Looking back to 2009, you remember the Beer Summit? Do you actually remember what led up to it? We will take a look back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: There are stories that captured the nation's attention way back in 2009. We just couldn't stop talking about them. Let's talk to our legal eagle Avery Friedman joining us now to count down his top legal stories of the past year. So Avery, first off we are talking about the serious troubling legal talkers here. Number five, of course, we all remember the Beer Summit. You have to remember the catalyst of that. Of course was the arrest of a Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, and that's the amazing thing Brooke. The fact that a Harvard professor gets arrested in his own home by the police and, of course the police's perspective is hey all we want to find out is show me your I.D. It really highlights a serious question in America and that's the relationship between the police and the black community.
The Beer Summit was terrific. I'm not sure what it resolved but it highlighted the issue. Frankly if the president were having a conference with every confrontation between somebody black and the police, he would be in a perpetual state of stupor, alcoholic stupor. No doubt about it.
BALDWIN: All right. Number four, two big pop stars, Rihanna and Chris Brown. He admitted, he apologized in so many words that he assaulted her. This was a huge story.
FRIEDMAN: Well, yes. He apologized after beating the heck out of her. The truth is it highlights the issue of date rape, of violence against women. But it also highlights this very important question of whether or not celebrity impacts on justice. The fact is I think any other normal guy would be in jail for years. Chris Brown is cleaning off graffiti in northern Virginia to pay the price, hardly a fair sentence.
BALDWIN: Yes, a lot of people said the punishment in that case did not fit the crime.
Number three, Ponzi artist Bernie Madoff.
FRIEDMAN: Man, oh, man. Changed the culture. He is going to go to his grave, he will never tell the truth about what happened. But is it a question of do we need more federal regulation? Or are rich people just too gullible to see the reality? It is a problem that will never resolve but it taught us a lesson that we will be paying attention to in 2010.
BALDWIN: Number two, the first Latina on the U.S. Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor a little bit of flack over that comment she made about being the wise Latina.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, well you know what in the beginning of the year, after the inauguration, everyone kind of thought it was John Paul Steamans (ph). He didn't resign. Justice Souter resigned, Sonia Sotomayor, enormous historical significant first black or first Hispanic female sitting on the Supreme Court. Enormous legal chapter last year. BALDWIN: The number one most serious legal story, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. One of the principal architects in 9/11 and now the fact that this trial will be held in New York right by where the World Trade Center once stood.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, big political debate on that Brooke, but the truth from a legal perspective, a great move by attorney general Eric Holder. This is where the case belongs. Unlike Iran and china where they do things in secret, we do not. And we will get in 2010 a conviction.
BALDWIN: All right. Those were the serious stories. Stand by for me. We are going to have some of the silliest stories. We are going to talk about a story; it is a legal story with legs, if you will, as in pant legs. Look at these pants here. What do you think about this? Would this pair of pants actually be worth $54 million? We will tell you what the court said.
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BALDWIN: We have been counting down some of the top legal stories of the past year. We are talking with our legal guy, Avery Friedman. We will bring him back in. You know Avery we have been talking about the most serious stores, Sonia Sotomayor, Bernie Madoff. And now the list of the top five stupid, outrageous, you fill in the blank, whatever adjective you choose. Legal toppers of 2009 providing fodder for Halloween costumes. Coming in at number five, the story out of Louisiana --
FRIEDMAN: Ponchatoula (ph).
BALDWIN: Ponchatoula (ph). The guy in Louisiana says, you know, thanks but no thanks, I will not marry this particular couple because --
FRIEDMAN: Well, the justice of the peace, he's made a decision despite the Supreme Court's ruling 50 years ago, Brooke, that you don't -- you cannot refuse to marry somebody because of what color they are. Well, a chief justice -- justice of the peace Bardwell made a decision that he didn't like interracial marriages and despite the constitution decided not to issue marriage permits. Not only did it involve one couple, there were four other couples. Well after a reaction in Baton Rouge, the state legislature and potential federal litigation, guess what, he resigned. We don't have to worry about Keith Bardwell anymore. Good bye Keith.
BALDWIN: OK. Good bye Keith. Coming in at number four, this is actually a tie. The first half of the tie, remember the story was a group of those young African-American kids trying to swim one summer. Here they are. And they tried to swim at this predominantly white exclusive club outside of Philadelphia.
FRIEDMAN: Right. Huntington Club. You know what? The head of the club actually announced after they threw out the black kids that they were concerned about bringing them in because it might change the complexion of the club. Whoops. Well he actually said what the reality was that in addition to civil rights claims that were filed and even Arlen Specter, the senator from Pennsylvania, got involved. The club is now in bankruptcy.
BALDWIN: Wow. They are in bankruptcy. I think it was Tyler Perry that came in and saved the day and took the group to Disney World.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, exactly right. And what a wonderful resolution for the kids. But you know what the sad part; Brooke is the young ones are going to remember this forever and that really is a shame.
BALDWIN: Yes, it is a shame. Another story, some people might have said it was a shame, regards to this family, two words balloon boy.
FRIEDMAN: When Casey Kasem counts down the hit, I think this one fits exactly where it fits here because the Heene family got what they deserved. A lot of people know that Richard is going to spending 90 days in jail. The mother, 20 days, different times. But the more important thing, Brooke, was that the punishment did fit the crime. The judge barred the Heene's from any reality shows or any books. So the whole idea of the fraud and using children to defraud government agents and the public goes up in smoke. Justice prevailed.
BALDWIN: Yes, that is one of the stories we will all remember where we were listening, with bated breath, this child in this balloon.
FRIEDMAN: We thought somebody was there.
BALDWIN: It was so scary. Number three, Carrie Prejean. She had quite a colorful answer to a question what is it, Miss USA pageant that got her in a little heap of trouble.
FRIEDMAN: Well, the answer actually she claims denied her the title so she brings a religious discrimination case against the pageant. Because after all, she's pure and very religious. The problem was she brought $5200 from the pageant to increase her breasts and also made some x-rated videos that of course she never told the pageant. Well the religious discrimination case in court, as you might imagine, Brooke wound up exactly as it should, dismissed. She wound up with absolutely nothing.
BALDWIN: She wound up with nothing. And she was --
FRIEDMAN: Bad reputation.
BALDWIN: Right. She was on "Larry King," remember she was trying to talk to Larry. Now this video we have all seen. She tried to walk out of the studio on him.
FRIEDMAN: Exactly right.
BALDWIN: Yes. Number two, the $54 million pants. What happened? This guy goes to the dry cleaners. They screw up his pants and later sue. FRIEDMAN: Yes. You know what? I thank goodness for Ray Pearson the judge; he is a judge that actually brought the lawsuit for $54 million because he was the gift that kept on giving. This case was actually number one in 2008. It's actually number two in 2009. Why? Because the three-judge appeals panel came down with a 23-page opinion saying you know what, Mr. Pearson, your lawsuit is absolutely baseless. Case dismissed. He was not renewed as a judge. Guess what. He is now bringing a suit against the D.C. government because they won't let him be a judge.
BALDWIN: Really? Wow. I worked in D.C. a bunch of us covered that.
FRIEDMAN: It will never end, it seems like.
BALDWIN: That was a great one. All right. Number one, you have your sports enthusiasts and you have your sports enthusiasts. This was what, a World Series Congress woman that put an ad on Craig List saying what?
FRIEDMAN: Thank goodness for Susan Finkelstein. She was number one. She was a Philadelphia fanatic wanted tickets for the World Series. As many people did, of course, Brooke. She went on Craig's List and advertised her physical attributes saying that she would basically do anything for tickets. Well, guess who contacted her none other than some undercover policemen.
BALDWIN: Whoops.
FRIEDMAN: And she made the offer as everyone expected. The truth is that she's now been charged with prostitution for trying to get those tickets. Absolutely ridiculous. Number one, for 2009.
BALDWIN: Avery Friedman, such a pleasure. Happy New Year to you.
FRIEDMAN: Happy New Year to you too Brooke.
BALDWIN: Thank you so much. You stay right there. CNN NEWSROOM will be back in just a minute.
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BALDWIN: News affecting your money in the business week ahead. Regulations not raised, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is talking about how to avoid another speculative bubble like the housing bust behind the nation's economic troubles. Some blame the Fed for keeping the interest rates too low over the last decade. Bernanke told economists in Atlanta today those low rates were appropriate at the time. He says smarter regulation is needed.
And yes, remember all the Wall Street hand ringing overdue buy as economic problems last year? Not so much now. This structure, look at this, huge thing, world's tallest building opening in Dubai tomorrow. Wow. It has enough windows to cover 17 football fields. Enough steel reinforcing rods to go a quarter of the way around the earth. The project already boosted investor's confidence. Thank you for joining us; I'm Brooke Baldwin sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield. Don Lemon will be here in an hour with some new video of protests in Iran. And he will also be asking this question. Is year-round school a good idea? We will go to a school district where that is already the norm. All of that coming up during the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour of CNN NEWSROOM.
Right now I want to get to you Fareed Zakaria, "GPS."
