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American Morning
Jet Carrying 104 People Crashes; Big Oil Executives Play Blame Game on Disaster; Britain's Power Shift: Conservative Leader Cameron is New PM; Head: Oil Spill Fallout; Stop Cell "Bill Shock"; Mumbai Taking on Terror; Beau Biden Suffers Stroke; 3D Centerfold in "Playboy"
Aired May 12, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING on this Wednesday, May 12th. I'm Kiran Chetry.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Drew Griffin. John Roberts is off today. We are following breaking news coming out of Libya.
CHETRY: That's right. An airbus jet carrying 104 people crashed while trying to land at the airport in Tripoli. The Afriqiyah Airline flight was at the end of a nine-hour trip from South Africa.
Now according to "The Associated Press," the head of Europe's parliament says an 8-year-old child was found alive calling it, quote, "a miracle." The EU chief went on to say that he was told about 100 people on board died, but we do not yet have an official death toll.
Right now, rescuers are still sifting through the wreckage, some of it still smoldering. They found the flight's data recorder, which could give investigators clues as to what went wrong.
So again, a plane crash in Libya as it was trying to make a landing. We're going to continue to follow the latest on this breaking story.
GRIFFIN: And today's other top stories.
It is on its way. Right now, BP workers lowering a second containment dome into the Gulf of Mexico. It could be the last real hope for a quick fix. The oil is still gushing and big oil, the bosses getting a grilling. We're going to be live on Capitol Hill.
CHETRY: The changing of the guard. Britain gets a new prime minister and a new family moves into 10 Downing Street. So who is Conservative David Cameron? And how will his new government impact relations with the United States? We're live in London?
GRIFFIN: And remember that out-of-work guy, decided to pound a pavement in New York wearing a sandwich board? Kind of depressing. Well, his depression tactics captured attention around the world as the sign of the times and now he might be the poster boy for recovery. Our Richard Roth caught up with Paul Nawrocki. The amFIX blog is up and running, too.
CHETRY: Yes. You can join the live conversation on any of the stories that catch your eye in the news today. Go to CNN.com/amFIX.
GRIFFIN: But first happening right now, BP's plan B. The oil company lowering a second smaller containment dome. It's called the top hat into the Gulf of Mexico. That larger version failed last week.
CHETRY: Yes, because of ice crystal-like filled up. And every day the company fails, more and more oil is wiping out the fishing industry, threatening wildlife, ruining beaches and quite simply killing tourism. Executives from three oil companies will be back in Washington today where there's plenty of blame to go around. But will anyone stand up and accept it? Brianna Keilar is live for us in Washington this morning.
There was a bit of finger pointing. That's one fault. No, it's that one's fault yesterday.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly what yesterday was. And these executives will face today a House subcommittee of Democrats and Republicans who handed them just blistering criticism last week after a closed door briefing. And if it's anything like yesterday's hearing before senators, there will be a lot of ducking for cover.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please be seated.
KEILAR (voice-over): They sat right next to each other, top oil industry executives, and they told senators it was the other guy's fault.
Here's what BP said.
LAMAR MCKAY, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN, BP AMERICA, INC.: TransOcean, as owner and operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, had responsibility for the safety of drilling operations.
KEILAR: But TransOcean pointed a finger at Halliburton, which sealed the well.
STEVEN NEWMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TRANSOCEAN LIMITED: There was a sudden catastrophic failure of the cement, the casing or both. Without a failure of one of those elements, the explosion could not have occurred.
KEILAR: And Halliburton, it blamed BP and TransOcean, saying Halliburton just followed BP's instructions and TransOcean's blowout preventer, a shutoff device, failed to work.
TIM PROBERT, HALLIBURTON EXECUTIVE: Had the BOP functioned as expected, this catastrophe may well not have had occurred. KEILAR: Democrats and Republicans weren't impressed.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R), WYOMING: I hear one message, and the message is don't blame me. Well, shifting this blame does not get us very far.
KEILAR: The blame game made Democratic senators skeptical that BP will make good on its promise to pay damages.
SEN. MARIA CANTWELL (D), WASHINGTON: So if it's a legitimate claim, a harm to the fishing industry, both short term and long term, you're going to pay?
MCKAY: We're going to pay all legitimate claims.
CANTWELL: If it's an impact from business loss from tourism, you're going to pay?
MCKAY: We'll going to pay all legitimate claims.
CANTWELL: To state and local governments for loss of tax revenue, you're going to pay?
MCKAY: Question mark.
CANTWELL: Long-term damages to the Louisiana fishing industry and its brand?
MCKAY: I can't -- I can't quantify or speculate on long-term. I don't know how to define it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: So just how much there BP will pay in economic damages, that is very murky. One senator who has introduced legislation to increase the liability cap from $75 million to $10 billion, asked that man, BP America's Lamar McKay if he would commit to paying that much, that ceiling, that $10 billion ceiling in damages should the damages grow to that amount. And he said he couldn't comment on that, Kiran and Drew.
GRIFFIN: Well, Brianna, how much is this going to cost, not just into clean-up, but economic damages? All these fishermen that are out of work?
KEILAR: Well, and that's -- the estimates really say that it's the economic damages that could be more. But in total, different estimates right now ranging between $2 billion and $14 billion. And so the issue with BP being murky on exactly just how much they'll pay is you really don't know how much it's going to cost until these claims start rolling in and, of course, that would take years. So it could be years before we realize that BP does make good on these promises to pay these legitimate claims.
GRIFFIN: All right. Thanks. Thanks, Brianna. CHETRY: You know, and so as this finger pointing continues in Washington, the oil spill, as we've talked about, is costing people their livelihood. Hard hit, the seafood industry along the Gulf Coast is literally in a halt right now. In eight minutes, Reynolds Wolf will be reporting from the Mississippi coast where the owners of an oyster processing plant just delivered some very rough news to the staff.
GRIFFIN: There is a new man in charge of Great Britain this morning. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is out and in his place David Cameron, Britain's youngest prime minister in almost 200 years. The change comes after last week's election in which no party was the clear winner. Our Sasha Herriman is live in London.
Sasha, this all happened very quickly yesterday. A lot of negotiations going back and forth. But Brown leaves 10 Downing Street.
SASHA HERRIMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. So we have a new tenant at #10 Downing Street now. And yes, OK, the last 24 hours were somewhat, somewhat quick, somewhat precipitate. But it has to be said that the election that was a week ago, in fact, Thursday. So last Thursday was the general election. Tomorrow is Thursday again, and only just discovered who our new prime minister is going to be. We're only just discovering what the makeup of the new government posts are going to be.
Now that new government is not just going to be a Tory government. Yes, OK, they've got the most seats, the most votes, but they've had to do a deal with the Liberal Democrats. They've had to do a lot of horse trading. And the Liberal Democrats are now going to take at least four cabinet positions. Those are the key positions in the future government and the coalition government. And they should also be getting around about 20 positions overall, this is in total -- 20 positions in total in this new government.
So yes, we know who the leader is going to be. It's going to be a Tory leader. But the makeup of that government very significantly is going to very much a coalition government. The last 24 hours we saw Gordon Brown go to offer his resignation to the queen. That was accepted. And then David Cameron went to basically accept his position as the new leader. He then moved into 10 Downing Street and Gordon Brown has moved out. So it's all changed here in London, here in the U.K., and a new leader.
GRIFFIN: Sasha, I want to talk about the relationship between Great Britain and the U.S. I mean, the Tory government, these guys are conservatives. We obviously have a liberal in the White House here. Some of this vote was Great Britain really doesn't want to be the lap dog of the U.S. anymore. I know there was a lot of that sentiment. So what is the relationship going to be between Cameron, the conservative, and President Obama, the liberal, in terms of U.S. and Great Britain?
HERRIMAN: I think an awful lot of it will depend on personal chemistry. We know in the past that Tony Blair seemed to have a very good personal chemistry with Mr. Bush. And that was very, very significant. That helped cement what was called a special relationship. Gordon Brown it has to be said didn't have such a special relationship, such a good relationship. Often it seemed that he was sidelined in talks and negotiations. So that wasn't such a significant relationship.
Perhaps it will be different this time despite the fact that David Cameron is obviously a right winger and that is going to be significantly different from what you have in the United States. It could all come down to what the personal chemistry is of those two men, Barack Obama and David Cameron. And it also has to be said that Barack Obama was one of the first international leaders to call up at #10 Downing Street and congratulate David Cameron on his accession as the prime minister. So I think very much we will have to watch very, very closely over these coming weeks to see what kind of seeds of a relationship are going to be sewn in that. Back to you.
GRIFFIN: Sasha, I want to watch very quickly at them walking into 10 Downing Street because we noticed a little something about Mrs. Cameron. If we can show that video, she is very pregnant.
HERRIMAN: She is indeed, yes. And it has to be said she won't be the first lady to actually give birth while she's actually a tenant of number 10, if you like. Don't forget Cherie Blair gave birth while she was at number 10, gave birth to little Leo, the fourth child for them. And this baby, the third that the Camerons are expecting, this will actually be their fourth child. They have two small children currently. One child who was severely disabled, Ivan, he died last year. That was a great personal tragedy for the Camerons.
So this, if you like is a very significant moment, the Camerons coming into number 10. And there will be a great deal more excitement, not, of course, just on a government level but on a very personal level for the Camerons when this child is born in just a few months' time. Back to you.
GRIFFIN: All right, Sasha. Thank you so much. A good day there in Great Britain. Thank you.
And stay with us. Coming up at 7:40 Eastern, we're going to talk to Jamie Rubin, former assistant secretary of state. And Michael Elliott, he's the editor of "Time" magazine international about what this power shift is going to mean for the U.S.-British relationship.
CHETRY: It's a new day there.
GRIFFIN: It is in many ways. In many ways.
CHETRY: Well, an Oklahoma plumber had his work day cut short. It was a tornado that did that. He lived to tell about it.
Take a look at the sheer force of one of the twisters that hit Norman, Oklahoma, earlier this week. We talked about just how unbelievable he was. But you see him there, lifting his Robbie (ph) wheelers work van literally right off the road. There you see it. We've highlighted it so you can get a better look. But, I mean, look at that.
GRIFFIN: Wow. Boy.
CHETRY: Flipping it over almost like a toy. Robbie (ph) says that he just squeezed the steering wheel as hard as he could.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, it just kind of started spinning my vehicle. Then I know I flipped once or whatever. Then I think after that I just closed my eyes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, he doesn't look any worse for the wear but it's a scary moment and it was caught on tape. That's the amazing part as well.
GRIFFIN: That is amazing.
CHETRY: Well, it's now 10 1/2 minutes past the hour. We get a quick check on the morning's weather headlines. Jacqui Jeras in the Extreme Weather Center. And that's just a small snapshot of just how treacherous it was for many, many parts of the plain states, Oklahoma especially.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh, yes, absolutely. Quite the outbreak on Monday. Yesterday not quite so bad. We had a couple of hail makers. But today, that severe weather threat is amplified a little bit more.
Again, and we're already seeing strong to severe thunderstorms across the Mississippi River Valley. Our radar picture showing you those heavy thunderstorms moving across the St. Louis area. They're just training through here, so you probably woke up early because of all of the thunder and lightning and some flash flooding can be expected as well.
The northeast dealing with some light rain at this time. Cool temperatures expected, but we could see some thunderstorms redeveloping later on this afternoon. We'll talk about the severe weather threat in the plains later today, coming up later on AMERICAN MORNING.
Back to you, guys.
CHETRY: Jacqui, thanks so much.
Well, the oil spill in the gulf is not just an environmental disaster. It's really turning into an economic one as well. We're live in Mississippi where the owners of one seafood plant just had to deliver some terrible news to the staff. Reynolds Wolf live in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHETRY: Fifteen minutes past the hour. Time for a quick check of the other stories new this morning. In the next three minutes, is about the time it will take to present this next report. Nearly 500 more gallons of fresh crude oil will have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico making a massive oil slick that's much more of a menace.
The growing environmental threat has been well-documented, but we're also beginning to see the economic fallout, livelihoods lost.
Reynolds Wolf reports from the Mississippi coast where an oyster processing plant has suddenly become a shell of its former self.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER JENKINS, MANAGER, CRYSTAL SEAS OYSTERS: This is our cooler, and this is everything we've got.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Now, on a normal day, how full would this room be?
JENKINS: It would be full.
WOLF (voice-over): So with the shucking (ph) line, these processing stations and this machine would be flash freezing thousands of oysters each day.
(on camera): So I guess your average day you have about 120 people in here, shoulder to shoulder, all working like crazy, like mad? I'm sure it's loud as can be, isn't it?
JENKINS: It is very loud. You can't even hear yourself think.
WOLF (voice-over): And now, silence.
Virtually all the gulf fishing grounds are closed for business. Jennifer Jenkins said goodbye to half her employees this week, 60 hard workers, some she considered family.
(on camera): That's got to be tough.
JENKINS: You just kind of explain to them what's been happening as best as you can.
WOLF (voice-over): All the more frustrating, this year's catch was one of their best since Katrina.
Crystal Seas Oysters was sailing smoothly through the recession, now just snapshots of better days.
WOLF (on camera): Ever wonder what a four-month supply of oyster shells looks like? Take a look at this. It's huge, tons of shells. But, unfortunately, production has now come to a screeching halt.
(voice-over): And some of the last off the line was the Half Shell Oyster House in Gulfport.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People love them oysters. They love them.
BOB TAYLOR, OWNER, HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE: That's what we eat. That's what tourists come here to eat. My restaurant, 75 percent of the menu is seafood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just right there (ph) and just gobble up the oysters as fast as I can shuck them.
WOLF: While the supply of oysters just quickly (INAUDIBLE), there's no shortage of frustration for those responsible.
JENKINS: It appears that they - they could also regulate themselves a little better from ruining a whole coastline, because they'll probably walk away from it in much better shape than we all will.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: And Reynolds Wolf out there live right now.
What happened to the laid off workers? And this is just one example of what we're probably going to be seeing a lot of along the Gulf Coast.
WOLF: Oh, it's a nightmare scenario. You know, I mean, think about it, you know, it's not like they can just walk across the street and start working in a different place. I mean, the entire industry has been shut down for hundreds of miles up and down this coastline.
So it's a very difficult thing for them to do. They wanted to work in this kind of field, they're going to have to go to the East Coast and work along the eastern seaboard or head out west, but for the Gulf of Mexico, for the most part, things are going to be shut down until further notice, and who knows how long that might be.
CHETRY: And as we just talked about - I mean, they still haven't plugged the leak. So, to be continued for who knows how long.
Reynolds Wolf, thanks so much.
WOLF: Absolutely.
GRIFFIN: And still to come on the Most News in the Morning, you've got a teenager, you gave them a phone. You didn't have that frequent texting or all texting, and you got that bill, right?
CHETRY: Thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for one month.
GRIFFIN: Yes. You could get jacked up by the phone companies.
Well, there might be some relief on the way. Christine Romans "Minding Your Business" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: OK, 6:21, time for "Minding Your Business". And we're just sitting here, chatting about -
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I know.
GRIFFIN: -- (INAUDIBLE) phone bill.
ROMANS: I don't have any teenagers yet, so, you know, this hasn't happened to me. But you've heard about this. It's called bill shock where suddenly - you think you have a certain plan with your cell phone provider, your data provider for your phone, right? And then suddenly, you've got all of these bills at the end of the month. You can be charged five cents, 20 cents, 25 cents for - for texts after you go past the cap of whatever your plan is.
So what the FCC wants to do, wants to ask you, the public, whether we should have new rules to make sure that you don't get shocked by a bill. Should the wireless companies have to send you an e-mail or a text or even a voicemail message when your phone - when you're running out of your - of your capacity for your phone for your phone - for your phone plan? This is for voice, text and data.
And the FCC wants to know what you think about this, and they're specifically looking at the EU. And in the EU you have to get - if - even if your kid is starting to run up a bunch of texts, the parent gets a text message or a voicemail message saying, hey, by the way, you're almost to the end of your limit here. Just - just letting you know so you don't go over it.
But the FCC has had hundreds and hundreds of complaints from parents and from people who say, wait a minute, I thought my plan was this. Here's the advertising for my plan, but this is really what my bill looks like.
So the SEC said it's not just necessarily people who didn't know what their plan was, who were just dumb. In many cases, they say they feel like people are being misled, too. So they want to - they want to find out if there need to be new rules about this.
GRIFFIN: Well, I'm telling you, I don't think I'm an idiot, and I got slammed on a couple of these bills --
ROMANS: Did you?
GRIFFIN: Absolutely. They had these little -
CHETRY: The data - the data charges where - where you're just looking up a website or you're downloading information or your kid is.
ROMANS: Right.
CHETRY: You don't realize it, but there are some extreme cases that are being fought right now.
ROMANS: Oh, yes.
CHETRY: There's this one guy who says his son ran up more than $13,000, I think, in one month, and he said it's impossible and you guys knew this was happening and you should have alerted us or we should just pay what the maximum is to have unlimited data. How can you pay $13,000?
ROMANS: Many of the wireless companies, what they say is like, look, it's very easy. You can go online and see exactly where you are.
GRIFFIN: No, it's not easy.
ROMANS: We have the -
GRIFFIN: It is not easy on their websites. I'm sorry. No. It's just like getting their dang bills. It's ridiculous.
ROMANS: Oh, true.
GRIFFIN: It's true.
CHETRY: Mr. Special Investigative Unit over here. Oh, yes.
ROMANS: (INAUDIBLE) how to avoid some surprises -
GRIFFIN: No way.
ROMANS: -- pick the right plan that's right for you. Don't get a plan that has 500 or 700 texts if you have three teenagers and you know that they're going to be texting 100 times a day, or, you know, tell them not to - take the phone away.
Consider a pre-paid plan - say that 10 times fast at 7:00 in the morning. Understand roaming and know the charges for use abroad.
So that's - you know, you got to - you got to really study this, because kids, especially at 20 cents a pop.
CHETRY: And they're being charged for getting incoming tax messages and pictures as well.
ROMANS: My brother - my brother told me not to text him because it cost him 10 cents. Like, oh, I'm not worth 10 cents? He's like -
GRIFFIN: No.
ROMANS: -- not 10 times a month. He said if you want to text me, then send me a dollar at the end of the month.
CHETRY: That's hilarious.
ROMANS: Thanks, Jeff. I love you too.
CHETRY: The joy of being an only child, no one to text.
Thanks, Christine.
GRIFFIN: Thank you. CHETRY: Well, coming up on the Most News in the Morning, he took an unusual approach to finding a job. You remember this guy, right? Ninety-nine weeks on -
GRIFFIN: This is sad (INAUDIBLE).
CHETRY: It was sad. He put on a sandwich board and he walked the streets with his, you know, CV, resume on the sandwich board. Hey, it worked.
Richard Roth checks back in with him to see what's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
From pink slip to paycheck for more than a year. Paul Nawrocki, a laid-off toy executive, was desperate to get hired. He walked -
There he is, walking the streets of Manhattan, wearing a sandwich board, handing out his own resume.
CHETRY: It finally paid off, and not a moment too soon. A week after his unemployment benefits ran out, Paul found a job and our Richard Roth joins us for what is a pretty inspirational story given how many people are out of work right now.
And we're talking about the long-term unemployment, people that lose a job, it takes twice as long as it ever did to get re-hired again. So what's Paul's story?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He was one of the sign men. He wasn't the only person who was doing this, but he seemed to stand out, maybe more because of his look, his demeanor. I mean, at least there's one person off the unemployment roll, his life searching for a job was profiled by media around the world and his failure to find work became a sign of the times.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice-over): This was Paul Nawrocki a year and a half ago at New York's Grand Central Station. The laid-off toy industry worker was stepping outside to go public with his job search, wearing a large sign to advertise his plight.
PAUL NAWROCKI, NEWLY EMPLOYED: When you're doing something and it doesn't work, you have to do something different.
ROTH: Paul Nawrocki, the sign man, became a face of the recession.
The other day, the morning commuter train pulled in and Paul Nawrocki was on it once again. But things have changed for Nawrocki. After collecting 99 weeks of unemployment checks, he was on his way to a paying job.
ROTH (on camera): Paul.
NAWROCKI: Richard. How are you?
ROTH: What's new? I hear you have a job?
NAWROCKI: Yes.
ROTH: How does it feel?
NAWROCKI: Great. Great. It's a - it's a lot different from the first time we met.
ROTH (voice-over): He was back on famed 42nd Street where he used to wear that sign and hand out resumes.
NAWROCKI: Oh, it's my way of networking, but - but it was tough. And it seems like another life. It was such a surreal thing to go through.
ROTH: When I last saw him, he was depressed and tired. The new job has put some pep in his step.
NAWROCKI: I don't know. I feel very separated from - from that guy that was with the signboard at this point.
ROTH: Something else was different, the hair was changed and the mustache gone. Credit his job coach.
NAWROCKI: She said that change - if you can change the outside, you'll make yourself feel better, and it really did have an exhilarating effect on me.
Oh, thank you.
ROTH: Nawrocki doesn't have to comb the newspaper for jobs anymore. That doesn't mean he has stopped thinking about the millions of others.
NAWROCKI: You look around, who's unemployed? You don't know. How many people here are on their way to an interview rather than a job? You don't know, you know?
So that sticks with me.
ROTH: Can the disappearance of sign man indicate an economic recovery is near?
NAWROCKI: You can't say, look, he got a job, everything is honky-dory. I don't think that's the case but it does seem like it's getting better, I think.
ROTH: You probably want to know, where did he get his job.
Back in the toy industry working at Fantasma Magic as the operations manager. ROGER DREYER, PRESIDENT, FANTASMA MAGIC: I'm actually surprised that someone today would have Houdini-like skills to go into the streets, saying, you know what, when it comes to your family, you'll do you anything.
ROTH (on camera): How do you feel you pull this job like pulling a rabbit out of a hat? Had you given up hope?
NAWROCKI: You never give up hope. You can't give up hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Paul Nawrocki is smiling at work but he's not completely out of the woods. He and his wife had to declare bankruptcy. They're struggling to pay off mortgage debt and have significant medical bills from his wife's battle with uterine cancer.
For now, he's got a job.
CHETRY: First of all, he does look completely different. He said a job coach told him to change up his outward appearance?
ROTH: Yes. Doesn't that work?
CHETRY: Apparently, it worked for him. But how did he -- how did he get hooked up with this Houdini's job? How did he eventually get that job?
ROTH: I guess you can say contacts, a referral from someone in the toy industry who he knew, who matched him up at the annual toy fair convention in New York with the man at the Fantasma toy company.
CHETRY: There you go.
GRIFFIN: We wish him luck. He does look great, I must say.
ROTH: I may have to try some of his tricks, I don't know.
CHETRY: You have -- you have a major job here for now, at least.
ROTH: Yes. Some would say I'm pulling a rabbit out of the hat every morning here, too.
CHETRY: Well, we love having you. We'll see you back here soon. I hope.
ROTH: Let's hope.
CHETRY: Richard Roth, thanks so much.
Well, now, turning to our top stories -- and we do have some breaking news out of Libya. A plane crash, an Airbus jet carrying 104 people crashed while trying to land at the airport in Tripoli.
Now, according to the "Associated Press," the head of the European parliament says about 100 people onboard died and an 8-year- old boy did survive. The Afriqiyah Airline plane was at the end of a nine-hour trip from South Africa.
GRIFFIN: BP is lowering that top hat device at the Gulf of Mexico. It's about 98 tons lighter than the dome that failed to stop the leak last week. The spill is sending 210,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf every day that it's left to leak.
CHETRY: And Britain has a new prime minister -- Conservative leader, David Cameron, replacing Gordon Brown yesterday. Brown resigned after a national election failed to identify a clear winner. Cameron announced he plans to join forces with the Liberal Democrat and together, they'll create Britain's first coalition government since World War II.
GRIFFIN: Moving to the fight on terror, just two days after the only surviving gunman from that 2008 Mumbai terror siege was convicted and sentenced to death, police in the city of more than 15 million putting would-be terrorists on notice.
CHETRY: India's financial hub has a new 300-member task force. It's called Force One. Officers are patrolling the streets in armored vehicles.
And as our Sara Sidner tells us, they have one main goal, and that's making sure terrorists never get the upper hand on their home turf again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gearing up for the war on terror on the streets of Mumbai.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have prepared on everything.
SIDNER (on camera): You feel prepared now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SIDNER (voice-over): New vehicles, new guns and new attitude. The new equipment and anti-terrorist training, the direct result of the brutal attack the city has suffered, including the attack dubbed India's own 9/11. It happened on November 26th, 2008, more than a half dozen places attacked all at once, sending law enforcement into a frenzy.
DEVEN BHARTI, MUMBAI POLICE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER: In our part, there will be engagement of so many multiple targets at one point of time.
SIDNER: At first, the meticulously planned attacks overwhelmed law enforcement. Police didn't know who they were dealing with, until they tapped into cell phone conversations from the area that linked the attacks to men in Pakistan.
Police say the voices you are hearing are two Pakistanis involved in the attacks. One is a handler in Pakistan giving instructions to another inside Mumbai's five-star Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower. The handler: "We'll keep updating you on what the media is reporting. Don't delay now."
The gunman then answers: "Listen, two brothers have gone to open another room in the other corner, facing the sea, when they open it, we will set this room on fire and get there."
The handler says: "It will be too late my brother. Why haven't you hurled the grenade? There are so many people down there on the seafront. It doesn't take long to throw grenades."
It was a plot to kill. The siege went on for 60 hours. Fast forward a year and a half, the state added a new task force called Force One, new posts for national security guard commandoes and the city has upgraded what are known as QRTs or quick response teams.
(on camera): This is one of quick response teams put in place because of the Mumbai attacks. Their job is to get to the scene first.
BHARTI: I can assure you that we will be reacting much better way and in a much faster manner.
SIDNER (voice-over): The vast majority of police still don't even carry guns.
(on camera): Do you think some officers will be able to carry guns or will they always have just stick?
BHARTI: (INAUDIBLE) you know, they are a civilian police.
SIDNER (voice-over): Commissioner Bharti says a dedicated team of specially-trained officer is the only way to go in a city that he knows will always be a prime target for terrorists.
As locals will tell you, Mumbai is to India as New York is to the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIDNER: Now, the government faced a lot of angry criticism over its uncoordinated and basically slow response to those attacks. The government and the police there in Mumbai say that should never be an issue again -- Drew and Kiran.
CHETRY: Sara Sidner for us this morning -- thanks so much.
Well, it's now 36 minutes past the hour.
A high stakes meeting happening between President Obama and Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. We're going to take a look at what's at stake for these two wartime allies.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC) GRIFFIN: Today, President Obama welcomes Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to the White House. Now, the Obama administration has not always seen eye to eye with Karzai. But yesterday during his visit with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the two sides downplayed disagreements over the now nine-year war in Afghanistan.
Joining me now from Boston, Colonel Andrew Bacevich, international relations professor and military historian at Boston University.
Good morning, sir.
And here in New York, Brett McGurk, former senior advisor for the National Security Council, now with the Council on Foreign Relations.
Brett, this guy couldn't get invited to dinner last year, and now, we're courting him. What's the change and why so much attention to Karzai?
BRETT MCGURK, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Well, you know, one of the things in Afghanistan foreign policy, the only thing worse than dealing with enemies is dealing with friends. Because with the enemies, you kind of know where to stand, you know what you need to do. With friends, it's very fickle and we're dealing with multiple audiences.
So, President Obama when he announced the surge says, we're surging, we're going to help the Afghans, (INAUDIBLE) national security interests, but we're also going to get start getting out in July of 2011 and speak to the Afghans. And Karzai wants to know that he is in a strong position with us.
So, he's coming her saying, what's with this July 2011 date? Are you going to be with me? I need to know you have my back.
And he's really eager to start negotiations with the Taliban and with the insurgency. And that's what's going to be going on behind the closed doors in the Oval Office today. What's your vision for sorts of those talks?
GRIFFIN: The U.S. doesn't want him to begin those talks with the Taliban.
MCGURK: Well, we do. All wars must end. And there's going to have to be some sort of a political settlement. We think we want to let the military campaign go forward a little bit so we can increase the pressure and then probably get a better deal. It's kind of a way we did in Iraq. A lot of differences here between Afghanistan and Iraq but we'd like it to go forward for a few more months.
GRIFFIN: Professor Bacevich, I guess a lot of Americans, certainly I am asking, after nine years of fighting in this war in Afghanistan, why are we still there at all? And with apparently the terrorists we thought we were fighting in Afghanistan now in Pakistan, is there a point to this? COL. ANDREW J. BACEVICH (RET.), MILITARY HISTORIAN: Well, I think the answer is no. There is no point to it. You've put your finger on the big question that most people want to -- want to dodge.
The war actually makes no sense. If the object of the exercise is to reduce the threat posed by violent jihadism, there's a lot of evidence to suggest that invading and occupying and trying to transform countries has the effect of exacerbating that threat rather than reducing it -- giving the impression that we are engaged in a war against Islam.
And Afghanistan, along with neighboring Pakistan, provide two clear examples of this misguided strategy that the Obama administration inherited from the Bush administration and is continuing today.
GRIFFIN: So, get out in 2011, period?
BACEVICH: I think so. But I mean, again, the larger question -- I mean, we obsess about what to do about Afghanistan. I think that's actually a secondary issue. The larger question that really deserves much attention is: what ought to provide the basis of a strategy to deal with the threat posed by violent jihadism?
In your previous segment about the Mumbai bombing, we learned that the Indian government's response to terrorism is not to go invade and occupy Pakistan, but to view the problem as primarily something to be addressed through improved intelligence and law enforcement. It seems to me that what the Indians -- the approach the Indians are taking, really ought to teach the United States quite a bit.
GRIFFIN: Hold on one second.
BACEVICH: This militarized response to jihadism simply doesn't work.
GRIFFIN: Professor, let me ask Mr. McGurk -- what is the end game here? Do we want a free and democratic Afghanistan? Or do we just want to stay their long enough until we think we've got rid of the Islamic terrorists?
BACEVICH: Well, the model is -- I agree with Andrew on one point. The model is actually what we're seeing in India. We want strong capable partners who are able to hold the line while we draw back. Again, that's what we did in Iraq with the surge. We had the surge to increase the Iraqi capacity of just allowing us to now pull out without the country collapsing and leaving a sanctuary.
In Afghanistan, we're trying to surge especially in Kandahar province to provide a semblance of security to degrade the Taliban and come to a political deal.
In Pakistan, that's why you have to broaden the lens, Afghanistan and Pakistan and India are all linked. In Pakistan, we're helping the Pakistani army move in slowly but surely into North Waziristan, because it's where a lot of these groups are now coalescing in one part of Pakistan. That's good. It also means they're able to cooperate.
So, we're trying to degrade the sanctuaries and closely but surely increase the capacity of our partners so that they can do this on their own, just like we're seeing the Indians do.
The Afghans can't do that now. It's going to be a long time. The Pakistanis have a proud national army and want to go into North Waziristan, the will is there. It's going to take time. They have to consolidate in the south and they're going to go in.
So, that's the long-term but you have to get from here to there, unfortunately, no short cuts.
GRIFFIN: Well, can you get from here to there by 2011?
MCGURK: Probably not. I think we have to be honest with how long it's going to take. I do agree, though, with Andrew, this is not about occupying countries. We do not want to be an occupier. It's about building up post-nation capacity so we can pull out and have a sustainable partnership with these countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
GRIFFIN: Very good. Brett McGurk, thank you very much. Professor Bacevich, I got it right, sir -- thank you for joining us -- Kiran.
MCGURK: Thank you.
BACEVICH: Thank you.
CHETRY: All right. We're 45 minutes past the hour right now. Jacqui Jeras is going to come along with a look at our morning travel forecast. Some of the extreme weather we've seen in the country's midsection -- right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: This is from my playlist. Maybe you should have brought your iPod.
Forty-eight minutes past the hour.
I'm sorry, guest iPod, you should have brought it. The S-I-U iPod.
GRIFFIN: Hey, is it 47 degrees in New York?
CHETRY: Yes, it is. It's going to be 52 a little later, but sadly, it is raining today. So, bring your umbrella if you're going out there.
GRIFFIN: OK, I will.
CHETRY: "Minding your Business" now this morning. It's a boy meets girl meets iPod. A new dating site in the works for fans of Apple computers and gadgets. I guess, Drew is not one of them.
One of the three self-proclaimed geeks behind the site used to work for Microsoft, he calls it Cupidtino. Get it? Because it's cupid and tino homage to Apple's hometown of Cupertino in California.
The official launch is dated for next month. The developers say that you'll only be able to use Cupidtino from the Apple's exclusive internet browser Safari or on a Mac, iPhone or iPod -- until the battery runs out.
GRIFFIN: OK. I thought those people were so cool they didn't need to meet people like on computers.
CHETRY: Everybody needs love.
GRIFFIN: It's almost 6:49. Let's get a quick check of what? The morning headlines?
CHETRY: The weather headlines.
GRIFFIN: All right. With Jacqui Jeras.
CHETRY: With Jacqui Jeras. Hey, Jacqui, what do you think? Cupidtino.
JERAS: Whatever.
GRIFFIN: Exactly.
JERAS: It's always something new out there, isn't there? The new weather headlines today is severe weather again just in a different place. We have showers and thunder showers, some have been putting down some heavy, heavy rainfall across the nation's midsection. Look at that along I-70 across Missouri and to Southern Illinois as well as Indiana. We're getting rainfall rates here about an inch to inch and a half per hour. So, we're concerned about some flash flooding.
If you're one of those people getting up dark in early this morning heading off to work in St. Louis, make sure that you watch out for any water on the roadways because we are getting some reports of some ponding in this area and there are some flash flood warnings in effect here. There you can see Jefferson City, Columbia, and St. Louis as well over towards Edwardsville, and that will be ongoing into the morning.
OK, as you mentioned, Drew needs the umbrella, right? Yes, a whole lot of people across the northeast today were going to get a little break here. Don't expect too much more than sprinkles throughout the rest of the morning, but we will see some more showers and thunderstorms developing especially across the mid-Atlantic as we head into the afternoon and evening.
Now, if you're trying to travel, yes, we'll have some delays as a result of that. Hopefully, we'll stay under an hour here. Delays in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco as well as Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Louis, possibly over an hour because of those thunderstorms. Things are a little quiet out west but rather chilly. Snow in Denver this morning, guys. Who wouldn't want to be there this morning? I would rather have a little sunshine and warm.
CHETRY: So, you don't want to be here either because it doesn't look to good for us in the Big Apple.
JERAS: Not so much. Yes, we're a little better here in Atlanta. I'm thinking Florida, perhaps.
CHETRY: Got you. I'm on with you. Thanks, Jacqui.
This morning's top stories coming up in a couple of minutes, including at 25 minutes past the hour, license to steal. It's a good time to be in the repo business from cars to (INAUDIBLE). Carol Costello sneaks in with the guys who are getting paid to lift a private jet.
GRIFFIN: Nice. And potentially bad news for Verizon customers especially suffering iPhone envy. Those stories and more at the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Fifty-five minutes past the hour right. Time for the Moos News in the Morning. And it's not your father's stock of Playboy's.
GRIFFIN: Yes. The magazine knows attempt and attention is to do it in 3D. Jeanne Moos takes a look at what popped up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ready, low and behold it's "Playboy's" latest centerfold --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy cow!
MOOS: -- in 3D.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the beautiful naked body in 3- Dimensions jumping out of the page into your arms.
MOOS: Maybe not into your arms but still --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks very realistic like I could just touch it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like I'm in a strip club and she's in very front of me and about to dance.
MOOS: OK, guys. Now, you're getting creepy. Surrender the glasses. Actually, there are other flimsy glasses come with the issue and you assemble them yourself, all in hopes of seeing every dimension of model, Hope Dworaczyk, playmate of the year. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have actually wanted to do this with the first issue of "Playboy."
MOOS: But it was too expensive way back then. Now, CNN's fellow Time Warner Company HBO is picking up part of the costs to advertise its series "True Blood."
"Playboy's" first ever 3D centerfold. What do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have a copy of "Playgirl?"
MOOS: Sorry, no male centerfolds for gay readers. Unfortunately, putting the glasses on the camera won't make 3D work on TV.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes it appear larger than it should be.
MOOS: Actually, 3D is a growing part of porn. Hustler is even planning an x-rated 3D spoof of "Avatar." Though, "Saturday Night Live" has already featured Navi lovemaking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's crazy tough. Where did you learn that stuff?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: College.
MOOS: "Playboy" isn't exactly breaking new ground. "Sports Illustrated" has done 3D photos spreads twice already.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
MOOS: With the swimsuit edition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, but who cares about "Sports Illustrated"? This is "Playboy."
MOOS: And how do models feel about the ideal that readers might be tempted to reach out and touch their 3D image?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't even want to go there.
MOOS: Critics say "Playboy's" circulation is dwindling, and then this is a desperate gimmick.
But "Playboy" sees things through rose-colored and turquoise glasses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's big day for men everywhere who want to see women in 3-Dimensions.
MOOS: At least, 3D dispels the notion that nude models are one dimensional.
(on camera): What part looks most realistic to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those. MOOS: Those are very 3D. Those are 38D.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, those are 44D.
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, if there was a movement --
MOOS: -- CNN --
(on camera): I'm doing the best I can, sir. I can't do everything here.
(voice-over): -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: I need a shower after that one.
GRIFFIN: I know. I mean, pathetic enough just reading the magazine and then in those stupid glasses. Please.
CHETRY: Fifty-two minutes past the hour. We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
