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New Record High for Unemployed Number; Obama Goes to Canada; Calling Up Troops for Afghanistan Duty

Aired February 19, 2009 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: His first foreign trip in office. This hour, President Obama arrives in Canada. What's on the agenda for the allies?

Marriage proposal turned down. He turns on his loved one. A vicious attack changes her life forever. Now years later, she gets even.

And U.S. calling up troops for Afghanistan, but will NATO also answer the call? We're live in Kabul. It is Thursday, February 19th, I'm Fredericka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

This hour, President Barack Obama begins the first foreign travels of his presidency. The trip just across the border into Canada. The topics, Afghanistan, the economy, trade. Canada warmly embraces the new president, but is on edge over some of his policies. Are the world's biggest trading partners on a collision course? The president is due to land just minutes from now in Ottawa, Canada and that's where we find CNN White House correspondent Dan Lothian. So Dan, what do we expect from this trip?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well you talked about Canada and America being the world's largest trading partners, and that is correct. We're told about $1.5 billion worth of trade crosses the border every day. So that will be at the top of the agenda here as the president sits down for what they're calling a working lunch with the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper.

He'll have along with him his top economic advisor, Larry Summers, also his climate and energy czar Carol Browner and others. And as they talk about NAFTA, they no doubt will hear some of the things that were brought up in the campaign.

As you know, President Obama then running for president talked about how he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA to make it a stronger for labor and the environment. And that has brought a lot of concern from some Canadians. And so the president was asked about this during an interview recently with Canadian television, and he really has sort of softened his approach saying that during this time, these tough economic times across the world, this is - and in terms of trade, as well, we have seen a drop in trade. He said these are not the times to really do talk about pulling back at all in trade. But no doubt, NAFTA will be at the top of the agenda as they sit down and talk here today, Fredricka. FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And will the president also be pressuring? We know they'll be talking about Afghanistan, will he be pressuring the Canadian troops to keep their troops in that country?

LOTHIAN: That's right. Because you might be aware that the parliament here has set a deadline for 2011 to pull back all of their ground combat troops out of Afghanistan. And you know there has been the question as to whether or not the president would put some pressure on Canada to perhaps keep their ground troops there much longer than them, because as you know, just recently, the president has talked about beefing up the number of American troops in Afghanistan, as the president really sees Afghanistan as a central front on the war on terror.

The president has said he will talk about Afghanistan at this working lunch, it will be more from the standpoint of saying, listen, here is our commitment, this is what we plan to do in Afghanistan, but at this point no plan to really pressure the Canadians to stay there longer, past that 2011 deadline.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dan Lothian, thank you so much in Ottawa. The leaders will also be talking about jobs, the economy. Well on this side of the border, now new numbers this morning on how many Americans are now living without a paycheck. And as we have heard so often lately, the news is worse than expected.

CNN's business correspondent Stephanie Elam is in New York with the details. Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The government's latest report says the number of people continuing to draw unemployment benefits jumped to a new record high for the fourth week in a row. The number now stands at 4,987,000. So nearly five million people. Meanwhile, new unemployment claims held steady last week at 627,000. But that is still a 26-year high. This comes just a day after the fed said unemployment could hit 8.8 percent this year. And the economy is likely to shrink for the full year. That's much worse than what the fed actually projected late last year.

Now, moving on to wholesale inflation, the government says producer prices rose 8/10 of a percent in January. That was higher than expected, mainly because of high energy prices after a near two percent drop in December. That ends five months of decline there. But if you strip out food prices, the so-called core consumer price index, well that rose 0.4 percent, a tad more than expected after a 0.2 percent increase in December.

However, investors seem to be shrugging it off today, not really concerned about inflation at this point. In fact, there was talk about deflation. So we have to see if this is a one-month blip or if this is a continuing trend, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Stephanie, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

ELAM: Sure. WHITFIELD: All right. Well, talk about getting a deal done in California. Another overnight session brings results in the state budget battle. The final votes passing just last hour. CNN's Ted Rowlands joins us live this morning from Los Angeles. So a lot of relief, or a lot of angst still?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think a lot of everything, Fredricka. Another all-night session. Finally, though, a deal has been brokered at the state capital in Sacramento to address a $40 billion projected budget in the state of California. The stakes were high to get something done, because starting today the governor was going to halt some 300 construction projects around the state, meaning real job loss and something that all of these lawmakers knew constituents would not stand for.

So they worked all night, they got it done. The governor is expected to sign this budget. Nobody is happy about it, but we will sign it at some point today, that's the expectation. Safe to say, it was a very long night for lawmakers in Sacramento.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH (R), CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE: We've been talking about this for days, hours on end. But here we are, the impacts are well-known. We have talked about it. $1,000 to $1,400 per California family. We're going to reach down with the power of government and say, we're taking that in order to fix the problem we created.

ABEL MALDONADO (R), CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE: Many, many Californians, this budget is a real-life and death situation. Let me tell you a bit about the impacts of our inactions here in California. Let me tell you who we hurt. There are teachers in classrooms throughout this state who work day and night to educate our kids. Many are afraid, but the pink slips that are about to be mailed to them. They need this budget.

DARRELL STEINBERG (D), CALIF. STATE SENATE PRES. PRO TEM: This is not really a time of celebration, when you think about the difficult decisions that we have been called upon to make. It is, however, a time for great relief. That this crisis is about to be behind not us, but behind California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: Now, the stalemate was broken by the middle guy, that second guy you heard speaking there, Abel Maldonado. He is a moderate republican, in the central part of California. He broke from party ranks. He's probably going to get some political backlash for it, but he is actually on his way out.

As part of the deal, Fredricka, he got everybody to agree to change the election laws in the state, making open primaries, which has really put a lot of people, a lot of legislators nervous now, because it's going to have some of those solid seats up for grabs next election. We'll see what happens. Bottom line is, California at least now has a plan to address this unbelievable $40 billion budget, as one state lawmaker put it today, it was a disgusting process from start to finish. A lot of partisanship.

WHITFIELD: I remember that sound bite. That was very terse too. And you know, Ted, there is a statement now coming from the governor, perhaps you know on the other side of the (inaudible) respond a little bit to it, and how you measure whether this is a huge victory for him. He said, in his statement, I'm extremely proud of the members of the legislature, both republicans and democrats, who had the courage to stand up and put the needs of Californians first, rather than approaching this unprecedented crisis with gimmicks and temporary solutions, we took the difficult but responsible steps to address our entire $42 billion budget deficit and pass historic bipartisan reform measures. I wonder at least for the governor is this sort of redemption, because he was getting a lot of grief initially that 20,000 jobs, at a minimum, would have to be potentially cut.

ROWLANDS: Yes. You know, he needed to get this done. There is no doubt about it. And he was getting absolutely no cooperation from his own party, in getting this done. This bipartisan deal that was negotiated over the last three months. But it was a disgusting process. And the pathetic reality is, in this state, like Washington, it is so partisan, if you break ranks, you hear from your own party.

They will mount a campaign against you the next election. So these lawmakers are petrified, not because of voters, but because of their own party. The governor was able in the end, apparently, I guess he's going to take credit - everyone is going to take credit for it, that is the other disgusting part of this, the back end, but, you know, it's done and the bottom line is, nobody is happy. Sales tax increases, and spending cuts in the billions. Nobody is happy, but at least there is a plan now to deal with this.

WHITFIELD: And at least now some security on some jobs, which is really important.

ROWLANDS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: In this day and age, too. All right, Ted Rowlands, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Tornadoes, hail and lightning strike take aim at Georgia. At least one person, in fact, is dead. Seven others were hurt. A number of funnel clouds were spotted late yesterday. This one, just south of Atlanta. Right there. A National Weather Service confirmed that several tornado touchdowns did indeed occur, one was tracked across south Georgia and into the Florida panhandle. And then just east of Atlanta, hail the size of baseballs, or at least really big marbles there, and wind gusts of 75 to 80 miles an hour causing most of the damage.

Rob Marciano in the weather center. You know all this reminds me was kind of this time last year where we had that tornado that came right through downtown Atlanta, if off by about a month or so.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you're right. It was in the beginning of March. And this is the time of year when the south and southeast will get tornadoes. So yesterday was nothing out of the ordinary. A big event, so we had five tornadoes, maybe more as we get more data in. But over 100 reports of hail. And this is the - the little symbols indicate any place that got some hail, and in some places, we had some serious hail, over three inches in diameter.

So that will certainly at the very least, take a tooth out. All right. North of Tampa in through Daytona Beach, this is what's left of the storms that were firing across parts of Georgia and the panhandle, overnight last night. Tornado watches have been dropped. This thing is weakening as it heads towards Ormond Beach, towards Orlando. Tampa will get a little squirt from this, but that should be about it. Cold air moving in behind us.

We're still getting lake-effect snows off Lake Michigan from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Some of this extending all the way to Fort Wayne and then a lesser amounts of lake-effect but certainly some enhancement as everything rotates around the storm that came through. Some snow across parts of the Ohio Valley, and then into upstate New York and the north country. And just across the river there, in Ottawa, Ontario, where Mr. President is. I think we have a live shot. Do we? Temperatures there in the lower 30s with snowfall in the forecast.

There it is. WESH. Where is this, Eddy? We don't know where this is. OK. All right. Somebody from the affiliate, tell me where WESH, and we'll give them the credit that's due.

All right. We've got some airport delays, Newark, an hour and 20, and La Guardia, you got 45-minute delays there. So those will be on the increase probably. We got a little bit of wind heading across the northeast, and all it takes is that, to get things going. Fire danger across parts of the western panhandle of Florida and across parts of Texas. High pressure, warm conditions across the west coast. Big ridge building in after what has been a pretty long week and a half of some horrible weather. So you'll see nice weather from almost Seattle all the way down to San Diego as storms kind of deflected out here and will remain there for the next couple of days until probably the end of the weekend.

It will be 71 in L.A., 56 degrees in Kansas City, 31 in Chicago, 36 for a high in New York and 17 degrees in Dallas.

WHITFIELD: OK.

MARCIANO: Orlando. That was in Orlando.

WHITFIELD: Just because we're all over the map, you know, hey, we've got to show Orlando and spend time with some of these affiliates across the country. So I know WESH. Orlando. The complete antithesis of Ottawa temperatures.

MARCIANO: Yes, for sure.

WHITFIELD: But that's OK.

MARCIANO: Yes.

WHITFIELD: We'd like to share the wealth a little bit.

MARCIANO: Sorry, Mickey Mouse.

WHITFIELD: But at least we saw in Dan Lothian's live shot that it was snowy and quite pretty in Ottawa.

MARCIANO: It is.

WHITFIELD: So there we go. A little prelude to your live shot.

MARCIANO: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right. Well, more U.S. boots will soon be on the ground in Afghanistan. Commanders say their mission won't be easy. So what do they face? We're live in Kabul.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A jet setting billionaire and an empire that will have been built on lies. His offices are raided, customers panic, and the questions mount. Who are we talking about?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live breaking news, unfolding developments, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: A key U.S. air base could seen be closed. A move that could hamper efforts in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan parliament voted to close the Vanaz air base, the base that is home to the 376 Air Expeditionary Wing. It's the key hub for troops and equipment going in and out of Afghanistan. U.S. troops, they process about 500 tons of food and equipment, every month for the mission. The order now goes to Kyrgyzstan's president. If he signs it, the U.S. would have 180 days to leave.

A new administration and a new focus on Afghanistan. President Obama bolsters troops there, looks to allies for support, and faces one critical supply line shutting down. Let's get the view from the ground now with CNN's Atia Abawi, joining us from Kabul. Atia.

ATIA ABAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the situation in Afghanistan is still very tense, but commanders on the ground say that this new influx of troops will help. We're seven years on in the war here, and for many, it still feels like the beginning. But just last week, we went to the mountain division, the first part of this influx and as we learned with them, they have many challenges awaiting them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABAWI (voice-over): A midnight convoy in Afghanistan. Suddenly, a routine mission is anything but. Soldiers of the 10th mountain division opened fire at a car after the driver failed to heed orders to stop. It turns out, the driver is a civilian. He has been shot through the arm and is lucky to still be alive. But it shows how hard it is for U.S. units just deployed here to distinguish friend from foe.

More than 3,000 U.S. soldiers are being sent to the volatile provinces of Wardak and Logar, bordering Kabul. In the seventh year of a relentless war, the weather and the terrain is severe. These soldiers are at the sharp end of a U.S. plan to snatch back the initiative from the Taliban.

COL. KIMO C. GALLAHUE, U.S. ARMY: It is very easy to draw the line. Why the U.S. should be involved in here. You just have to go back to September 11th. And if we - we leave chaos, or we see portions of Afghanistan in my mind to chaos. Then we haven't protected the world. Nonetheless, the United States.

ABAWI: The troops get a mixed reception from Afghans. The governor of Wardak province says security will lead to development.

GOV. HALIM FEDAI, WARDAK PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN: New forces are an opportunity to improve the security of the people in this province. And also, for us, it means that we can utilize this opportunity for other factors, such as a developmental factor.

ABAWI: This new unit in the town of Jarez are meeting their Afghan counterparts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Captain Tom(ph), I'm the commander of Alpha company.

ABAWI: In an area where the Taliban have made in-roads. Civilians are more weary, and the soldiers are quickly finding out that there are expectations, even among the youngest citizens.

What the children here just told me is that the one thing they want is their school. The A and A, the Afghan National Army has taken over their school and now they say they don't have a place to get educated. But Captain here says now that he knows that's an issue, he will help.

As the snow melts, the true battle for the future of Afghanistan will begin. It's not just a war of weapons. It's a battle to stabilize an all too forgotten country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABAWI: And as that snow melts, the Taliban and other militants will come out of the woodwork and attack the soldiers, but the soldiers say that they're ready for that fight and even though they're not situated in the volatile southern region of Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan, their Wardak and Logar provinces are just as strategic as they border the capital of Kabul, and their place there, to prevent infiltration into the capital, like we saw last week when eight Taliban suicide bombers made their way into the capital city. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: OK. Atia Abawi, from a snowy Kabul. Thanks so much. We appreciate it.

OK. And live pictures right now, and that small box there that is the air strip in which president will be landing there in Ottawa. And you can see the jetway is poised and ready for Air Force One's arrival. It was just last hour, you saw here live on CNN Marine One, and then you saw the president leaving Marine One and walking across the tarmac at Andrews Air Force base before boarding, jogging up the jetway of Air Force One.

And now it is airborne, and momentarily, he will be landing roughly 30 minutes from now, actually. He will be landing there in Ottawa, where he and the Prime Minister Steven Harper will be talking trade. And the economy. And Afghanistan.

All right. New signs that it may be a struggle raising 14 children after all. Records show that the house where the California mother octuplets live just may face foreclosure.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A disgraced billionaire. Federal investigators say a jet-setting financier spun a web of lies to investors who gladly shelled out a total of $8 billion. Well, now panicked customers are lining up outside his banks from Texas to Antigua. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Crowds of people swarm around Allen Stanford's bank in the Caribbean island of Antigua. News of his legal troubles has bank customers worried their money is on the verge of disappearing. U.S. investigators say the fraud committed by Stanford will be felt around the world. In Houston, Memphis and Tupelo, Mississippi, investigators raided the office of Allen Stanford's investment firm.

Federal authorities say Stanford and two other executives are responsible for a fraud of, "shocking magnitude." The feds say Stanford lured investors into buying $8 billion worth of usually safe CD investments, promising breath-taking rates of return that don't exist. Investors are stunned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Initially, we put our money in this institution and in the CD, because we were nervous about the market and we thought it was a safe place. It's - I'm so just upset right now, I can't even talk about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I find this disgusting.

LAVANDERA: Stanford's father appeared stunned today as well by the allegations against his son.

JAMES STANFORD, BILLIONAIRE'S FATHER: We've had problems before but nothing of this magnitude of this - apparently this is of a serious nature. Hopefully, it's not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if you ever wondered what U$20 million looks like, here it is.

LAVANDERA: Allen Stanford lives the life of a high flying billionaire, sponsoring high stakes cricket matches in the Caribbean. He has dual citizenship, from the U.S. and Antigua. He was knighted by the Caribbean nation and is known as Sir Allen Stanford. "Forbes" magazine says he is worth more than $2 billion. And it prompted this question during an interview with CNBC last year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it fun being a billionaire?

STANFORD: Well, yes. Yes. I have to say it is fun being a billionaire. But it's hard work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: We have made several attempts to reach Allen Stanford and his attorney, but so far haven't been successful. Stanford could be in the Caribbean island of Antigua where he has a home, but so far, no one really knows for sure where he is. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

WHITFIELD: And this new chapter in the octuplets' family drama. Property records show the house where the mother of the eight babies lives is under threat of foreclosure. The home is owned by Nadya Suleman's mother, Angela. A default notice reported last week showed Suleman's mother is more than $23,000 behind in her mortgage payments and the house could be sold at auction beginning May 5th. Suleman lives in the three bedroom home with her six other children.

All right. Loving those long eyelashes? Well, some women are trying something new these days. But there could be some hairy side effects. CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The lobby of a medical spa isn't your typical venue for a cocktail party. But these women aren't just here to socialize. They want better-looking eyelashes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just a little more length, maybe without the mascara.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dark, thick, fabulous lashes.

FORTIN: Jennifer Altmeyer is first in line for a new prescription drug called Latisse. It contains a compound used in medication for glaucoma patients. One of the side effects is thicker, longer lashes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's something you do every night right before you go to bed only on the upper eyelash.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

FORTIN: But Dr. Randy Rudderman says be patient.

DR. RANDY RUDDERMAN, PLASTIC SURGEON: Use Latisse between four weeks and 16 weeks, you're going to see a significant growth in your eyelashes.

FORTIN: He also warns about negative side effects, such as eye irritation, darkening of the lash line, and hair growth in other areas of the skin if you miss your target. Breast cancer survivor Mary Johnson is willing to take her chances.

MARY JOHNSON, PATIENT: Until you have lost your eyelashes, you really don't realize how hard it is to put eye make up on.

FORTIN: Without lashes, she says, you just don't look the same. For today's health minute, I'm Judy Fortin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. And live pictures right now out of Ottawa, Canada. We understand that Air Force One has indeed just landed there in Ottawa. President Obama, along with the Canadian prime minister, Steven Harper, will be meeting today just for about seven hours. They'll talk about everything from Afghanistan to the economy to trade. A very quick flight for Air Force One. The president's first over the border international trip as president.

All right. Overseas, something else we're watching. The shoe- thrower in an Iraqi court today saying he didn't like president bush's smile. We're live in Baghdad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live, in the CNN NEWSROOM, Fredricka Whitfield.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, live pictures right now, Ottawa, Canada. Air Force One has just arrived. This is President Obama's first foreign trip, as president. He just took off from the Washington, D.C. Area, Andrews Air Force Base, just seemingly an hour and a half or so ago, and now already there on Canadian soil. As you see the doorway opens up and likely the jetway will soon be making its way to the doorway before the president is able to disembark there.

He, along with the prime minister, Steven Harper, will be talking about quite a few things under the sun in their seven-hour - roughly, seven-hour luncheon and meeting, everything from the economy to trade, as well as jobs and even Afghanistan. The president of the United States will be requesting of the Canadians to try to keep their troops in Afghanistan, as President Obama tries to redirect most of - some of the military attention on Afghanistan. The Canadians have wanted to pull out their troops, and the president will be making another pitch to the prime minister to try to reinstate or at least maintain the commitment there in Afghanistan.

They'll be spending about seven hours today, doesn't seem like a whole lot. But this is all that the president and the prime minister have committed there. Let's listen in as you see some of the Canadian troops there getting into place just shortly before President Obama disembarks.

All right. And as we await the president to disembark there - you see Canadian forces there getting in position. Apparently, they will be meeting at Canadian Parliament at roughly about the 2:00 Eastern hour. There will be a press conference for the prime minister, as well as the United States' president, to answer some questions for the reporters. Much of the White House pool that has traveled with the president there, our Dan Lothian is there in Canada, as well in Ottawa for what will roughly be a seven-hour meeting between the two leaders of these countries.

They'll be talking about Afghanistan, again; the economy; NAFTA, North America Free Trade Agreement; and also jobs. Jobs affecting Canadians, as well, just as they are in this country. Particularly with U.S. automakers. Canadians are very much concerned about the demise of the U.S. automakers here, and the sort of reinstatement plan or a plan to revitalize the U.S. automakers, because many of the parts being made in Canada impacting jobs in Canada, as well.

So a lot the stake, even though it only seems to be they'll be meeting on the ground for a short amount of time. But this will be a power lunch like perhaps no one else has ever seen.

All right, all right as soon as the president disembarks there, we will bring you that image, again, as it happens.

All right. Remember this video? An Iraqi journalist tossing the shoes at President Bush? He's in court this morning to tell his side of the story and CNN's Arwa Daman joins us live from Baghdad, as well.

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, Muntadhar al-Zaidi showed up in court today, pretty much seeming in high spirits. He was wearing an olive-colored suit, he was waiving, people were cheering him on, one of his female relatives draped an Iraqi flag around his neck.

In court, he testified about the reasons why he felt compelled to throw his shoes at then-President Bush. He said that while he was listening to Bush during that press conference back in December, speaking about his accomplishments in Iraq, al-Zaidi said the only accomplishments he, al-Zaidi, could see was the more than a million martyrs and the rivers of blood in the streets of Iraq. He said looking at Bush's smile that he described as begin soulless and bloodless, his joking manner with Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al- Maliki, that all aggravated him to such a degree that it provoked him to then hurl both of his shoes at the former president.

As you may know, the act of hurling shoes is considered one of the biggest insults across the Arab world, and he is now facing charges for assaulting a head of state on an official visit to Iraq. His defense, however, wants all of those charges dropped, saying they do not apply to the case, arguing that his intent was not to harm former President Bush, but rather to humiliate him. The trial has adjourned, as the court investigates the nature of former-President Bush's visit to Iraq on that day, whether or not it was official, because that could actually impact the charges and the sentence. The trial is set to resume on March 12th, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Arwa Damon, thank you so much from Baghdad.

In the meantime, you see him there, live pictures and we've also reracked some taped images as well, President Obama, just by about a few seconds, arriving in Ottawa, Canada, being greeted by the contingent there, including the prime minister. They will be meeting today, talking about a number of things. But they only have seven hours in which to accomplish or make some ground work on the economy, on trade, as well as on Afghanistan.

President Obama, as you heard early on in his presidency, he is committed to focusing on anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan and wanting to make some troop movements. At the same time, wanting to implore to the Canadian government there to continue to commit to Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

As it pertains to trade, wanting to keep free trade open. At the same time, the Canadian economy just as concerned about what takes place in America as it pertains to the economy, especially as it pertains to American automakers. Canadians want to hear that U.S. automakers stay afloat, because the number of the parts are made in Canada, and that too means jobs.

The president and prime minister will be meeting at the Canadian parliament throughout the day over a rather elongated lunch. And then in the 2:00 Eastern hour, there will be a press conference with the two leaders addressing the questions of reporters.

And among the reporters there, our own White House Correspondent Dan Lothian, who has traveled to Ottawa. He'll be covering it from that end. I'm not sure if we have Dan on the line with us now. Do we? No. All right, we don't have Dan with us now, but he is there in Ottawa.

As you see, President Obama making his way on the snowy surface there at the tarmac there in Ottawa, Canada. We'll, of course, be covering his visit. This is his first foreign visit, just across the border, as president, and we'll cover it throughout the day here.

Clearly, just by the - yes, there you can see some onlookers there with their cameras, not sure if they're press corps or just onlookers there at the airport, but he gave a nice little gentle wave to a number of them.

All right, we'll continue to watch that throughout the day.

All right, well, this overseas. Very disturbing. He wanted her hand in marriage. And when she said no, he took her eyes. Literally. Instead. An Iranian woman blinded and disfigured from an acid attack fights for justice so that no one will have to suffer like she did. Her story contains graphic images, which you might find pretty disturbing.

CNN's Reza Sayah reports from Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amenah Bahrami says her big brown eyes used to be the envy of her friends. But this is what a jilted suitor did to Amenah's eyes when he threw acid in her face.

AMENAH BAHRAMI (through translator): I was just yelling, I'm burning, I'm burning, for god sake, somebody help me.

SAYAH: The attack has made headlines in Iran, because Amenah, now 31, is demanding an eye for an eye.

BAHRAMI (through translator): People like him should be made to feel my suffering.

SAYAH: In accordance with Islamic law, Amenah wants to blind Majid Movehedi the man who blinded her.

The two met in college in 2002. First came his unwanted advances, says Amenah, then came the threats.

BAHRAMI (through translator): He called me every day and harassed me. He told me he would kill me. He said, you have to say yes.

SAYAH (on camera): This corner that you're looking at right now, that's where her jilted suitor, Majid, used to hide. And a couple days before this incident, she said, look, I don't want to marry you.

(voice-over): But Majid wouldn't take no for an answer. November, 2004, as Amenah walked home from work, the threats turned to violence. This is Amenah's first visit back to the scene of the attack in Tehran.

(on camera): She says she went up a little bit, and then she sensed someone was right behind her.

(voice-over): The moment she looked back, she says, Majid attacked. What felt like fire on her face was acid searing through her skin.

(on camera): So these are the clothes that Amenah was wearing that day, and her mother has just kept them. This is the coat that she was wearing, and just look at it. It is just absolutely shredded. And you can - I can right now smell the acid. Yes. I mean, I have trouble breathing.

(voice-over): Attack victims in Iran often get what is known as blood money from the culprit, a monetary fine in lieu of harsh punishment. With no insurance and mounting medical bills, Amenah could have used the cash, but said no.

BAHRAMI (through translator): I don't want to blind Majid for revenge. I'm doing this to keep this from ever happening to someone else.

SAYAH: Amenah's demand has outraged human rights activists. Usually they support victims of acid attacks, but on Internet blogs, they criticized her. Her determination to blind her attacker is as barbaric as the crime, they write.

Late last year, a court in Tehran handed down the sentence acid in each of his eyes is his sentence. He has appealed the decision, but this month, the court ruled the sentence stands.

Today, Amenah is remarkably self-sufficient, but challenges remain. She says she can't afford to pay for her medical care, so she's turned to the Internet to ask for help. She's lost her big brown eyes, but her smile is still there. Determined, she says, to get justice.

BAHRAMI (through translator): If I don't do this, and there is another acid attack, I will never forgive myself for as long as I live.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Reza Sayah now joining us live there from Tehran.

So how rare is this that a woman is able to seek revenge through the court system there and actually able to get her request granted?

SAYAH: Fredricka, that's very rare. First of all, acid attacks are rare in Iran, especially Tehran. And exercising for an eye for an eye is extremely rare. Usually under Sharia Law, in Iran, experts - legal experts tell us that people go in and ask for forgiveness, the family of the victim and the family of the culprit, there is a fine and that's it. This is a very rare case when the victim says, no, I don't want the money, I want an eye for an eye, because she is convinced that with enough publicity, other attacks will be prevented - Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So once the day this sentenced is carried out, that the acid is poured on her attacker, will she be present?

SAYAH: She says she wants to be present. But we don't know if that's going to happen yet or if that's going to be possible. But she said she is probably going to be sick to her stomach. She is probably going to cry. But she is going to go through with it, because, again, she is convinced that this is going to prevent other attacks.

WHITFIELD: Wow. Reza Sayah, thanks so much, a remarkable story. And so disturbing, too.

All right, trying to stay sane while keeping your head above water. Our next guest suggests gets going and unveil a new you. And as always, we're watching the market right now. The Dow - I'm not sure if that means it's up or down. OK. It's up by 64 cents at 7556. We're watching it for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, so it seems every day brings more pink slips. Not good news. Well, every week, long unemployment lines seem to also persistent. So no wonder then more people are reinventing themselves. Our next guest is a journalist and an author who one day a week works at a retail store, as well. Caitlin Kelly wrote about all of that in Sunday's "New York Times." She is here with us right now.

What's interesting here is that it's not that you wanted to, I guess, throw away your work as a journalist or that you were fired, but instead you were a little bored? Do I get that right? And you wanted to mix things up, so you decided, hey, why not seek a retail job, as well?

CAITLIN KELLY, JOURNALIST, AUTHOR, RETAIL SALES CLERK: It's a combination of things. I needed some extra income. I make a good living as a writer and lots of people do. But it's an indirect income. It sometimes it takes two or three months, four months, five months for the checks to show up. And working alone at home, which people think, oh, that would be so great. It's really lonely. So I wanted more people contact, I wanted a regular income, and I need cash flow. Because as everybody knows, especially if you lose your job, the bills don't stop coming. And yet you need money every week to pay them.

WHITFIELD: Right. In fact...

KELLY: So having a paycheck was a good thing.

WHITFIELD: Everyone can kind of impart a lesson from you, especially if they have lost their jobs, cause it really means stepping outside your comfort zone.

KELLY: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: You had no experience in retail, but thought, hey, wait a minute, I can use extra money, let me try it, and to your surprise, you actually landed the job. How do you think you did it? What was the skill set that you think you presented to let them be convinced that your skills were transferable?

KELLY: Well, you know, truthfully, I literally made a separate resume. I sat down and thought, what do I do as a journalist? I size people up within seconds, I make them comfortable and engage them. And I did one sheet, I said these are my skills, I'm speak fluent French, Spanish, I am an athlete - I work in a sporting goods store, an outdoor clothing store, I work for the Northface. So I had a lot of interests and passions that really fit. And my manager told me recently, about two weeks ago, he said you know why I hired you, you're engaging, you know how to talk to people. You know how to get them interested in a conversation. Once a customer feels comfortable and relaxed, they're going to talk to you, they're going to trust you, and then you can move towards a sale. People don't want to buy from people that aren't interested in them.

WHITFIELD: Right.

KELLY: So a lot of it was personality, I think, truthfully.

WHITFIELS: So the great fringe benefit that came from this too, it turns out, you love it, too. So how has this enhanced your life, made everything full-circle and complete for you?

KELLY: I think it's been a really, really good experience for me. One of the things that I have to do as a journalist, day to day freelance and it would be great to get another full-time job. My interest is pretty challenged. You have to sell yourself. Now, if I know that I can sell a ski jacket, a pair of pants, some boots to a really impatient young child and his mother who just wants to get back to the car, I can sell anything. And I have learned that. My sales figures are fabulous, and I've had no experience. It's given me tremendous confidence.

WHITFIELD: You have just boosted the confidence of a whole lot of people who are kind of wondering, wait, I just lost my job, I can't find another job in my industry, but now you have kind of given a lot of incentive and some great constructive advice on how to step out of that, and how it too might be the perfect fit.

Caitlin Kelly, thanks so much and all the best to you.

KELLY: Thank you very much, I appreciate it. Take care.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

But when models take a tumble, it's there for the world to see. So what keeps models straight up most of the time?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Runway wipeouts may be rare, but really get the flash bulbs popping. So how do models stay on their toes the rest of the time?

Our Alina Cho is in New York with the answer.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred, you know, models make it look so easy, but walking on the cat walk is no easy feat. Earlier this week, I got a lesson from one of the toughest modeling boot camp instructors out there. I even got a couple of tips from supermodel Heidi Klum. And what I learned is that modeling is not for mortals.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHO (voice-over): It happens just about every fashion preview: a catwalk tumble. Go to You Tube and you'll find the best of the trip-ups. Even supermodel Heidi Klum isn't immune. HEIDI KLUM, SUPERMODEL: And the dress got under my shoe, so I stepped on the dress so I couldn't go any further.

CHO: Klum took a fall while taping this Diet Coke ad. So what's a model to do?

KLUM: Boom, boom, boom. The key in walking great is always making big steps.

CHO: I wanted to find out for myself. So I signed up for a high-heel boot camp.

ANASTASIA, MODEL: One, two, three, four.

CHO: My instructor, Anastasia, this Ralph Lauren muse even has a how-to video on modelinia.com.

ANASTASIA: One, two, three, four.

CHO: We met up at Milk Studios in New York for a one-on-one lesson.

ANASTASIA: Concentrate.

CHO (on camera): I'm concentrating!

(voice-over): Lesson one, balance.

ANASTASIA: And you're straight here, and you keep straight. Shoulders straight. This is straight. Head up.

CHO: Once that's down we get to the walking.

ANASTASIA: Your movement always comes from the hips.

CHO: Easier said than done. I've never been afraid of the high heel, so I thought boot camp would be a breeze.

(voice-over): It's hard!

ANASTASIA: Well, fashion is hard. It's not easy to be a model.

CHO: Anastasia's explanation for why model's fall? Too much heel-toe on the runway.

ANASTASIA: I go like this - right? - and I'm falling.

CHO: So what's the key?

ANASTASIA: If you want to be a great model, if you want to be successful model, it's a job.

CHO (on camera): And like any other job...

ANASTASIA: Of course.

CHO: ... practice makes perfect.

ANASTASIA: Practice makes perfect.

CHO: Klum adds, don't obsess.

KLUM: I want to look powerful and I want to look sensual, I want to look sexy. I think more about those things. I don't think about, oh my, god, let's not fall. Oh, my god, I can't trip.

CHO: After an hour, how did I do?

ANASTASIA: That's almost perfect.

CHO (on camera): Yes!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: Not so fast. You know, Anastasia told me I still need a couple more sessions. That's for sure.

Now, when you're at a fashion show, you watch these models, it looks effortless, but I found out it is far from easy. And Fred, as you well know, I am no stranger to high heels - Fred.

WHITFIELD: That's right. You can strut your stuff in those high heels. All right. Thanks so much, Alina.

Frederick Whitfield, I'm going to stumble out of here; Tony Harris is going to saunter in with the next hour of the NEWSROOM.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is Thursday, February 19th, and here are the top stories we're following for you now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Washington tees up billions and billions for the recovery pipeline. A stimulus plan. A foreclosure rescue, loans for Detroit. And that's just this week. The bottom line on your taxpayer dollars. Plus this....

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

One vote. One vote. Is worth billions of dollars.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: After long days and all-nighters, California politicians pulled the state from the brink of financial catastrophe.

Seven years of war, a new president approves more U.S. troops for Afghanistan. The challenges ahead, and there are many.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.