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President Obama Budget Plan; Pakistan Defeats Taliban Islamabad Stronghold; Final Exit Network Arrests; Republicans 2012 Nominations
Aired February 28, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: All right, we've got lots straight ahead. All things politics, all the time. President Obama laid out a packed agenda this week, the budget, health care, Education, Iraq, all of that and Kate Bolduan joins us now from the White House, this morning.
So, Kate, what part of the president's agenda is getting the most focus, at least this weekend?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: At least this weekend, Fredricka, it is the budget. President Obama using his weekly address to defendant his budget request and really try to make a push for approval and he says himself that he's prepared for a fight. Why?
Well, at least in part for the eye-popping numbers, more than $3.5 trillion in the spending in his 2010 budget request and that includes enormous amounts of money for Education as well as renewable energy efforts and $634 billion, a 10-year investment in health care creating a health care reserve fund.
Mr. Obama, himself, in the address, says that he knows that passing this budget isn't going to be easy. Just take a look at how contentious the debate and how close the vote was over the stimulus package, but he also says this budget, and his spending priorities, represents the new direction that he promised from the campaign trail. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don't. I work for the American people. I didn't come here to do the same thing we've been doing or take small steps forward. I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And so far what we, as well as members of Congress have seen, is pretty much just a broad preview of the budget. We'll see the full report in much more detail in April when the formal budget request is made to Congress -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And we know, Kate, a lot of Republicans are not happy with this. So, how ready are they to fight? BOLDUAN: Well, it seems they are ready to fight and we're already hearing more about it. I mean, it's understandable when you really look at what this represents. This budget lands right in the middle of the ideological divide that separates Democrats and Republicans.
You're talking about government spending, the difference between tax cuts and a tax increase. Republicans say this is not represent, this budget, enough of a cut in spending and we'll listen here to Republican Senator Richard Burr where he says that this said that government spending is simply out of control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN RICHARD BURR (R), NORTH CAROLINA: It seems that every morning you pick up the newspaper and you're reading about another multibillion-dollar government spending plan being proposed or even worse, passed. The numbers are so large and the deficits so staggering, it's difficult for the average person to imagine how much money we're really talking about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: You can hear it right there. We can expect a debate. It will start very soon, the debate over this budget request to be contentious -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kate Bolduan at the White House. Thanks so much, appreciate it.
All right, so what do you want President Obama to do to make our country smarter, healthier, greener? Join us today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern to talk about all of this in depth.
Among our guests is former Surgeon General Joslin Elders. We'll break down the president's plans,read your comments and answer your e- mail questions that we'll be receiving all day long.
Send us your e-mails, your questions, the address is weekends@cnn.com and be sure to watch at 4 p.m. Eastern. We may use your question on the air, as well, to help drive the conversation.
All right. And now to Iraq. Still another high priority for President Obama. Just Friday, President Obama announced that his plan to pull the majority of U.S. troops out of Iraq by August 31, 2010. That's about two-thirds of the 142,000 troops currently in Iraq. The proposal got support on Capitol Hill from a somewhat unexpected source.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe the president's withdrawal is a reasonable one. I think the plan is reasonable. Given the gains in Iraq and the requirements to send additional troops to Afghanistan, together with the significant number of troops that will remain in Iraq and the president's willingness to reassess, based on conditions on the ground, I'm cautiously optimistic that the plan is laid out by the president and can lead to success.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: About 50,000 troops would say in Iraq with the drawdown. Senior Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say that number is larger than they expected.
Well, we know the president's plan, but moving that much mettle and that many troops has its own set of challenges. CNN's Tom Foreman takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pulling most troops out of Iraq by August 2010 and all the rest in the next year would fulfill the plans of two presidents.
Barack Obama made a promise during his campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, OCTOBER 2007)
OBAMA: The first thing we have to do is end this war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOREMAN: But, "Keeping Them Honest," George Bush struck a deal with the Iraqis before leaving office for the same thing, a phased withdrawal.
The timetable is a little slower than Mr. Obama promised, a little faster than Mr. Bush wanted. Still, military analysts say it will give new clarity to the U.S. mission, as tons of equipment and thousands of troops prepare to move out.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: We can focus on the stability of Iraq during the crucial period of transition in Iraq, and then focus on the logistics of redeployment after that. What it really boils down to, of course, at some level is a reverse invasion.
FOREMAN: The president says, any remaining troops will advise and support the Iraqis. They won't be there for combat.
But CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, says, that's more political talk than practical truth.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Call them what you will. These young men and women are in combat. Troops will die, they will die in combat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator from Arizona.
FOREMAN: Nevertheless, on Capitol Hill, some Republicans who once criticized Mr. Obama's war plan are pleased.
MCCAIN: I believe the president's withdrawal is a reasonable one.
FOREMAN: And some Democrats are grousing over how many will remain in harm's way.
(on camera): In Iraq right now, there are about 146,000 troops, and even after the initial pullout, 50,000 could remain. And, at the same time the president is moving the troops down there, he wants to build up the forces in Afghanistan. Right now, we have about 38,000 troops there, he would like to raise that number up to 55,000.
FOREMAN (voice-over): He has promised to continue pursuing terrorists on the Afghan-Pakistani border. How long? His budget may give a hint.
STARR: It included a 10-year plan for so-called contingency operations overseas being conducted by the U.S. military. Right now, that's Afghanistan and Iraq.
FOREMAN: And that could start a whole new battle with anti-war campaigners back home.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads back out on the road tomorrow. This trip will take her to the Middle East and Europe. She'll meet with leaders in Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Clinton will also meet with her Russian counterpart during a stop in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.
All right, let's check in on Reynolds Wolf. He was on the road a bit, too, maybe not like the secretary of state who is just really back from her Asia tour, but instead you had a very interesting journey, didn't you?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm sorry, just missed the last part of what you were saying.
WHITFIELD: You had an interesting journey in your travels.
WOLF: Oh, very much so. Very much so.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: I'm a big believer in you, but I checked the temperature outside today and I have a hard time believing snow tomorrow in Atlanta.
WOLF: I know. Two days we were in the 70s and here we do, that's what happens when you have weather it always seems to be kind of weird here during the week. Doesn't it?
WHITFIELD: Yeah. Well, snow is always a nice little treat, but still feels a little warm out there. All right. We'll talk again tomorrow about it. WOLF: I'm telling you.
WHITFIELD: I know. I know. I'm a believer. I believe you. All right, thanks, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: A little bit later we'll talk about your travels in turbine turban (ph).
All right, well they are on schedule, apparently, doctors are wrapping up 15 long hours of surgery to separate conjoined twins. It's happening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today. The Egyptian boys are joined at the pelvis. The chief surgeon spoke with CNN this morning and says the boys have been successfully separated. The two share intestines, urinary and genital tracts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR ABDULLAR AL-RABEEAH, KIND ABDULAZIZ MEDICA CITY: There was only one external genital organ which was -- has to be dealt with carefully and assigned to one of the twins and also we have planned also a future reconstruction for the other twin. However, when we talk about the hormones and the potential fertility for both twins we are expecting both will be functioning well in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh, that's great news. Saudi television actually carried that surgery live. And of course, we'll keep you posted on the boys' progress throughout the day.
All right the war on terror, live from the front lines, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: It's called one of the most dangerous places on earth, the remote border region in northwest Pakistan. Pakistan's military says it has defeated the Taliban stronghold from and our Stan Grant toured the Bajaur region and he joins us now from Islamabad to tell us more about what you witnessed.
Hi, Stan.
STAN GRANT, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Fredricka. What we witness said was complete destruction in Bajaur, which is an area right on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border. The military is claiming a very significant victory here. They say that this was a Taliban stronghold, a six-month bloody battle has ensued between the Taliban and military, here. The Taliban, they say, have taken heavy casualties, about 1,600 militants more than that have been killed, many others have been taken captive, others have fled across the border into Afghanistan.
What I saw was complete destruction. Many of the villages had been leveled, most of the people have fled the area, but the military is now saying that it is in control for the first time in many, many months.
In traveling up and down the road I can say that we were able to pass unhindered. A warning, though, while the Pakistan military says they're in control of Bajaur, surrounding them continue to be a very, very strong Taliban presence in adjoin regions along the afghan border -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Stan, does this kind of progress, if you will, in this war on terror have anything to do with any renewed relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan given that we've got new leadership on both sides?
GRANT: Well, we know that President Obama is asking Pakistan to do more. He has said he wants them to root out what he calls the terrorist safe havens that dot the Pakistan/Afghanistan border.
We know the U.S. is going to contribute more troops now to the push into Afghanistan and they see the battle in Afghanistan and the battle against the militants here in Pakistan as one in the same.
That's yet military took us there today. They wanted to say that they have achieved this victory, but as I say, there are other areas where the Taliban has a stronghold, Right next to Bajaur, the Taliban is in control and has forced the Pakistan government into a cease-fire on the Taliban's terms, many call that a capitulation by the government, a surrender to the Taliban -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Stan Grant, thanks so much for the live update from Islamabad. Appreciate it.
All right, in this country now, arrests following a how-to on dying.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Up to 200 suicides may be linked to the same organization. It's a case that conjures up memories of Jack Kevorkian, the so-called "Dr. Death" who helped chronically or terminally ill people die. CNN's Brooke Bolduan is on this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two people in Georgia arrested this week, suspects in an investigation into the Final Exit Network. It's an Atlanta area-based organization police say may have helped as many as 200 people commit suicide, including 58-year-old John Selmer. He was suffering from cancer and died in Georgia last June. According to a court affidavit, evidence involving Selmer's death prompted police to investigate.
Wednesday the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted an undercover sting, sending one of their agents to pose as a terminally ill man seeking assistance with his suicide. He learned for a $50 membership fee the group would help with helium inhalation, an assisted suicide done with two helium tanks and a hood, known as an "exit bag."
JOHN BANKHEAD, GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVEST: They told him what would happen and described the use of the helium tank and the bag over the head and then got on top of the agent on a bed, held his hands down and said this is what I'll be doing as you commit suicide.
BOLDUAN: Seventy-six-year-old Clare Blair (ph) and 63-year-old Tomas Goodwin were arrested in Georgia. Then, authorities in Baltimore, Maryland arrested two others including Final Exit's medical director, Dr. Larry Egbert. His wife spoke to CNN affiliate WMAR.
ELLEN BARFIELD, WIFE OF DR. EGBERT: It has been a very contentious issue on the front end of life choice and I believe that people should have the choice to do with their bodies what they wish and this is the back end of life, and I believe it there, too.
BOLDUAN: Following those arrests, law enforcement in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and Montana began executing search warrants in order to locate and obtain additional evidence about the Final Exit Network. We spoke to the group's vice president who was not charged on the phone. He denies his group of 70 volunteers assists in any suicides. Instead, its members, "help hasten death when people approach them with a serious illness."
JERRY DINCIN, FINAL EXIT NETWORK: We're there to hold their hand and it's quite an experience to hold the hand of someone as they move from living to dead.
(on camera): Assisted suicide pioneer, Jack Kevorkian, has also come forward criticizing this group's lack of doctors and method of death calling it "illegitimate." All four arrested have been charged.
Brooke Baldwin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: President Obama has been in office just a little over a month now and Republicans are already gearing up to take back the White House in 2012. The party's front-runners.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK. We all know it's a nightmare when you lose your I.D., worse when you're traveling. Melissa Roberts (sic) has practical tips on what you should leave home without.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It can be a secret agent's or a traveler's worst nightmare. Your wallet is gone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have I.D.?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not really. ROBERTS: Even Jason Bourne in "The Bourne" movies couldn't escape the red tape to reclaim his identity. But there are ways to stay in control.
SARAH KANTROWITZ, TRAVEL & LEISURE: Before you leave, first e-mail yourself a copy of your itinerary so you have all the important information. The second is to buy comprehensive insurance coverage that covers you in case you lose your wallet and passport.
ROBERTS: If the unthinkable does happen, act fast.
KANTROWITZ: Cancel your credit cards immediately and be sure to let the credit bureaus know. And in addition, go to a U.S. consulate, prove your identity with additional forms of I.D.
ROBERTS: But you're Social Security card is something you should leave home without.
KANTROWITZ: Make a copy of your health insurance card so you will have all of your important information. But be sure that it doesn't have your Social Security number on it. And if it does, black it out.
ROBERTS: Travel under the cloak of secrecy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, half past the hour and here's what's happening right now. "Fortune" magazine reports that super investor, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway lost $11.5 billion last year. It's only the second time Berkshire has declined in Buffett's 44 years as CEO. The 2001 drop was attributed to the 9/11 terror attacks.
President Obama defends his $3.5 trillion budget plan, unveiled Thursday. The president says lawmakers may find it difficult to pass, but voters gave help a mandate for change.
All right. Conservatives, well, they're meeting in Washington today in a very big way trying to find Mr. or Ms. right. Here's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Republicans are ready to cast their next movie, 2012, the sequel. They've got a script.
NEWT GINGRICH, FMR HOUSE SPEAKER: You know, I listen careful toe to the president's speech that night. I think it is the boldest effort to create a European socialist model we have seen.
SCHNEIDER: But who's the lead? George W. Bush? Dick Cheney? John McCain? Their last pictures bombed. John Boehner? Mitch McConnell? They're minority leaders, bit players. The CNN poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation asked Republicans who they liked best for their party's 2012 nomination. There's no clear front-runner among the three best known contenders, Sarah Palin, whose debut was a little bumpy.
SEN SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: You travel this road in life and as you turn the corner there may be something there that -- circumstances change, you got to call inaudible and you decide to shift gears, take another direction. I'm always open for that.
SCHNEIDER: Mike Huckabee, who's got some good lines.
MIKE HUCKABEE, FMR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Eleven-hundred-page bill that nobody read, actually did have a title. It's the name of a movie, "Confessions of a Shopaholic".
SCHNEIDER: And Mitt Romney who looks like a leading man.
MITT ROMNEY (R), FMR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to do my very best to help the Republicans across the nation re-establish a balance of power in Washington.
SCHNEIDER: How about casting a minority? Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Oops, his screen test didn't any so well.
GOV BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: Our party is determined to regain your trust.
SCHNEIDER: Some Democrats already know who they want to cast as the Republicans' leading man. He's featured in a new ad being run by Americans United for Change.
ANNOUNCER: So who are Republican leaders listening to?
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I want him to fail.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Our Bill Schneider joining us now, not from Washington, but instead from Los Angeles to talk about CPAC, which is the Conservative Political Action Conference, for those who are just hearing it for the first time. Anyway, all right, let's talk about adding to that list, Bill, add Rush Limbaugh, now.
SCHNEIDER: Yeah, well, a lot of Republicans are listening to Rush Limbaugh. He seems to be something of a boss of the Republican Party, they dare not cross him. He is saying things that a lot of Republicans may think, but they dare not say, like when we just heard, "I want Obama to fail."
Leading Republicans won't say that, but a lot of them are thinking that and he gives that message full-throated voice, so a lot of them are nodding their heads and saying, he's saying what we think.
WHITFIELD: So, there are true benefits he and his supporters may be seeing and not necessarily this being a gigantic risk, a big shot in the foot?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they can't say it.
WHITFIELD: Out loud.
SCHNEIDER: In fact, we've heard John Boehner and others say we're good Americans, we want this program to succeed, we're with the president, but really, when they listen to Rush Limbaugh and he says I really want him to fail, some of them do nod their heads and they don't say a word. They -- the risk is that they would be invested in failure, which is not a very flattering way to position yourself politically.
If this program succeeds, if the economy begins to turn around and it's got some time to work. I think Americans will give it at least two years before they were looking for real signs of improvement, they did that with Reagan, they did that with Clinton. Then, it'll be a big risk because Republicans will be in a very bad situation if the Obama program begins to turn the economy around. Then, there'll be a lot of "I told you sos" heard in the land.
WHITFIELD: OK, Bill Schneider, you had such a good time at the Oscars last week there in L.A. that you just could not part, but I got to ask, do you still have the red shoes on today?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they're not on, but I still have them here.
WHITFIELD: Of course, for the next Oscars, for the next red carpet event.
SCHNEIDER: I call them my ruby slippers.
WHITFIELD: I like it. I love them very much. All right, thanks so much, Bill. Good to see you.
SCHNEIDER: OK, yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, and of course, CNN plans live coverage action this afternoon when radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh does address the CPAC. His keynote speech is set for the 5:00 Eastern hour, 2:00 Pacific right here on CNN is where you'll see it live.
All right, as the government talks about solutions for the mortgage crisis, a lot of people don't want to see tax dollars bail out people who actually bought homes that they simply couldn't afford. That's why many Americans were struck by something President Obama said this week, but was it true?
Our Josh Levs has a reality check.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this was surprising when we heard it. Here is what President Obama said.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages. It's a plan that won't help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values.
LEVS: The plan the administration has put forward would help your neighbor down the street who bought a home he can't afford. In fact, officials have defended that. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke compared it to calling the fire department to put out a fire in your neighbor's house even though your neighbor was smoking in bed.
Here's what he said. He said, "I think the smart way to deal with the situation like that is to put out the fire, save him from his own consequences of his own action but then, going forward, enact penalties and set tougher rules about smoking in bed."
The head of the FDIC Sheila Bair told MPR, "I think it's just simply impractical to try to do a forensic analysis of each and every one of these delinquent loans."
And you can see the "Associated Press" headline on the screen behind me, it's right here: "Fact check: Obama's words on home aid ring hollow."
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Josh. And of course, Josh will be joining us later on today as we try to focus on how everyone can live healthier, smarter and greener in our 4:00 Eastern hour later on today.
All right, well, he is the last of his kind and he's about to get his day in court. The legal buzz behind the last enemy combatant.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, our Reynolds Wolf has been keeping us up- to-date on some pretty severe weather in the Southeast. Now, we're talking about tornado watches in Alabama?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. Tornado watches until 7:00 p.m. for parts of the Southeast. We're going to zoom in, showing you that it's parts of Alabama, portions of the Florida panhandle along parts of I-10 and into portions of Georgia, even a sliver of South Carolina, just southeast of Akon (ph) at this time.
What we're seeing with this is some really rough dose of parts of Alabama and into Georgia, this very rough weather. We actually have a severe thunderstorm warning that's still in effect southeast of Macon at this time. We've been dealing with some heavy rainfall, some damaging winds.
We have some footage that just came in a short while ago from Bleecker, Alabama inside Lee County, Alabama. Portions of 280 near this video where it was taken closed for traffic in both directions. Hard to tell at this point if this was caused by a tornado. A straight line of winds, regardless at this point, it really doesn't matter. These people have damage, there's some power outages in the area. These families are going to have quite a bit of a clean up do later on today.
At this time, we do have no reports of injuries or fatalities, certainly some good news, but we don't have all the information yet. We're still gathering it. It's a news-gathering process that is currently in progress, so we may get more information as time goes on. No doubt we will, especially into the afternoon hours, so let's keep our fingers crossed for the good people of southeast Alabama, certainly not out ofthe woods yet. These -- this video compliments of WTVM.
As we mentioned, tornado watch in effect. You'll see right behind me on the screen 'til 7:00 p.m. It could get very rough for parts of Georgia, into Alabama, Florida and even South Carolina before the day is out.
Fredricka ...
WHITFIELD: Wow.
WOLF: ...let's send it back to you.
WHITFIELD: Those pictures are extraordinary evidence of how violent this storm really is and potentially could get even worse.
WOLF: Yes, and they strike so quickly.
WHITFIELD: As you warned. Yes.
WOLF: So, we got to be ready for it.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Reynolds. Appreciate it.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right, the war on drugs, what it means depends on exactly where you are. In the U.S., it's more of a slogan than a military campaign, but in Mexico, it's nothing short of an all-out bloodbath and the casualties are mounting.
CNN's Michael Ware goes south of the border to show us the war being fought in America's own backyard. We caution you, of course. Some of the pictures, however, are very graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is how American Jose Molinar knew his wife was dead. He saw these television pictures of her bullet-riddled car broadcast from just across the boarder in Juarez City, Mexico, minutes from his Texas home. JOSE MOLINAR, WIFE KILLED: As soon as the image came up, I saw her truck, and I knew what had happened right then and there.
WARE: His wife, Marisela (ph), a U.S. resident and mother of two was gunned down, doing a last-minute favor, giving a Juarez government lawyer a ride to go shopping.
MOLINAR: Wrong place, wrong time. That's the only way I can describe that.
WARE: Marisela died close to the border crossing, just yards from U.S. soil. It was her passenger who was the gunman's target. He was shot multiple times. She was killed by a single shot to the chest.
This is the cartel war in Mexico, a conflict raging on America's doorstep. A conflict in which Juarez police officers like this one under attack from a drug gang are fighting for their lives, while the drug cartels are battling throughout the city for control of a lucrative drug route into the United States.
1,600 people killed in this city last year, that's three times more than the most murderous city in America and 50 of them were police officers. This year in just two months, 400 more already murdered. We saw the most recent victims lying in the city's morgue overflowing with bodies, many unidentified cartel members destined for mass graves. They'd been brutally killed by rivals, beheaded, tortured, sprayed (ph) with bullets.
But now, the cartels are renewing a favored tactic: intimidating government leaders. This time, they're doing it by killing cops, one by one.
MAYOR JOSE REYES FERRIZ, CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO: They started killing police officers and not while they were doing police work, but when they were coming out of their homes and getting into their cars to go to the police station.
WARE: This sign says it all. A cartel vowing to kill one person every 48 hours until this man, the chief of police, stands down. At first, he refused to go until on one of the days when we were there, and he'd finally had enough, after the cartel had killed eight of his officers in less than a week.
In the hours following his resignation, we rode on patrol with police officers out on the streets, the entire force on high alert, the cartel war grinding on.
(on camera): And it's going to be a long war with most of the advantages in the cartel's favor. Their gunmen outnumber these police and they're better armed. And the body count continues to rise.
(voice-over): Now, the mayor's family is being targeted, a cartel threatening to behead them wherever they are. Police in the U.S. suspect the cartel is planning to cross into Texas to get to the family where they're hiding. Meanwhile, over the past year, the Mexican army has moved into Juarez. Over 2,000 soldiers centers part of a huge operation that has 45,000 troops combatting the cartels across Mexico.
"This is not going to be won quickly," says Mexican government spokesman Enrique Torres. "While we know the monster is big, we don't have any idea just how big it is."
And though the U.S. this year is giving Mexico about $400 million to combat the cartels, officials on both sides of the border privately agree. The war, as it's fought now, cannot be won, which is something Jose Molinar's wife probably knew before she was gunned down.
(on camera): This drug war in Juarez robbed you of your mother. I mean, how do you carry that?
ALBA PRIETO, MOTHER KILLED: Day by day. Just -- I always think she's at work.
(voice-over): And the unwinnable war that killed her mother rages on.
Michael Ware, CNN, Juarez, Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And now to the other War on Terror as we all have come to know it, and another legal case that seems to be branching out of it. We turn to our legal expert Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor. Good to see you, Avery.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi Fredricka, how are you?
WHITFIELD: All right, well, let's talk about this so-called last enemy combatant ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, and let's talk about why the U.S. is, I guess in part -- at least the Obama administration through the Justice Department is celebrating a bit of a victory because he is on the path to being tried in federal court.
FRIEDMAN: Well, at least that's what we expect to see happen. This is such an important case, Fredricka, because al-Marri is, according to the Department of Justice, one of the last confidants, a sleeper cell, of Osama bin Laden. And the question that the case presents is if the Supreme Court, which is expected to hear arguments in April, determines that he's an enemy combatant, it's a whole different thing.
But with a new administration and a new Department of Justice, they say they want to bring him to a federal district court and try him as a terrorist under our criminal laws.
WHITFIELD: But unlike some of the other so-called enemy combatants who are still being held at Guantanamo ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...he instead is at a Navy brig in South Carolina. This is very different. Why?
FRIEDMAN: It's different because No. 1, he's been there for seven years. Unlike Gitmo, he's on U.S. soil. But secondly, what his lawyers are saying is that even if the Justice Department changes its mind and tries him in our federal court, we want a decision on what an enemy combatant is and we want a determination. The Department of Justice is saying, Fredricka, look it, if we try him, the case is moot, the Supreme Court shouldn't hear the case in April.
WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, let's talk about another case, this time in Pleasant Grove, Utah ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...where I guess there are some allegations, there are some deference to a religious monument or signs of religion, in what way?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, a Summum, which is a religious movement is saying look it, if you're giving preference to Judeo-Christian symbols such as the Ten Commandments, then we have the right under the Establishment Clause under the First Amendment to have ours, too. They're saying when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, they had the Ten Commandments and Summum says they had theirs, too.
Well, it faced off in the U.S. Supreme Court and a decision came down this week that said, you know what? It is not a public forum. We're not going to buy into First Amendment preference. The city in Utah has the right to bar them and you know what? The Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision, something we don't see very often these days.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, and surely no unanimous decision as it pertains to former NFL player Michael Vick. Everyone has an opinion about his situation, soon to be leaving jail after serving time for the ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...abuse of the animals, et cetera, and instead, however, of a halfway house, it looks as though he's on the path to house arrest.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: That's pretty good for him, right?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, well, it's not that he had anything to do with it. Actually, the "A.P." sent out -- picked up some information that wound up on the wires that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Fredricka, ran out of room for a halfway house and they're sending him home. WHITFIELD: Oh, so he lucked out.
FRIEDMAN: So, he's -- it looks like he's getting a break on that part of it.
WHITFIELD: And so, how long would that be? Do we know?
FRIEDMAN: Well, he's supposed to be there in May, although the difficulty is that there's a case in federal bankruptcy court and now, the federal bankruptcy judge said you know what, if he's getting out, I want him in this federal courtroom and his lawyers don't know what to do because he's in the federal penitentiary in Kansas. So, if he doesn't show up in bankruptcy court, his creditors are going to take millions of dollars.
WHITFIELD: Oh man.
FRIEDMAN: What a mess.
WHITFIELD: Yes, it really is a mess.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right, I have a feeling we're going to be talking about that again, lots more ...
FRIEDMAN: Oh yes, we got a long way to go on Michael Vick.
WHITFIELD: ...this spring for starters.
All right, Avery, thanks so much. Always good to see you.
FRIEDMAN: Good to see you, too.
WHITFIELD: And we're still missing our other part of our regular trio, our Richard Herman ...
FRIEDMAN: Have a good day.
WHITFIELD: ...so all the best to Richard.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Hopefully, he's watching. All right, thanks so much, Avery.
FRIEDMAN: Take care.
WHITFIELD: All right, mother nature harnessed and creating some serious energy. CNN's Reynolds Wolf takes us high in the mountains for this first hand look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: So, harnessing the wind could actually help power America's independence from foreign oil. One of the president's goals is to double renewable energy resources in this country and our Reynolds Wolf, the intrepid Reynolds Wolf, takes us to a place already onboard.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: I'm coming to you from high in the Berkshires, the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. And you know, at first glance, this could be any ski resort in America. I mean, you've got the skiers, you have the snow, you got the trees, you have the ski lifts, but you know, there is one big thing that does set this place apart from any other ski resort in America.
Take a look.
(voice-over): Meet Zephyr, a turbine named after the Greek god of wind. It's taller than the Statue of Liberty standing more than 250 feet high and it generates power for the mountain. Our CNN crew was the first to take a camera to the top.
(on camera): Is it safe to stand up here, you think? Is it the wind shaking or is it me? It's freaking me out.
(voice-over): Zephyr's 123-foot blades produce a third of the electricity at the Massachusetts resort.
(on camera): In terms of dollars and cents, what kind of a difference has this wind turbine been for you in your business?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two million kilowatt hours we don't have to buy fro mthe grid. That's worth $300,000 to us. Two million go out to the grid and we get $150,000 for that, so $450,000 of economic impact is here forever.
WOLF: Pretty substantial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty substantial and as long as we take care of it, that thing's going to keep giving us power every year.
WOLF (voice-over): In the off season, there's even energy to spare and Zephyr helps power local homes and businesses. Still, not everyone is a fan of this $4 million green machine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had some people in the community that have said I don't want to look at that.
WOLF: And studies show turbines can be deadly for migrating bats.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When they're trying to fly and there's a low pressure system and any kind of a blade moves through the air, they die from hemorrhaging.
WOLF: But most bats migrate early in the fall, before skiers hit the slopes and some think the benefit far outweighs the costs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it helps us have less dependence on foreign oil, it's a wonderful thing. This is the sign of the future.
WOLF (on camera): I am Spartacus! Wow, that's a long way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Oh, I love it.
WOLF: (INAUDIBLE) part of this.
WHITFIELD: You are.
WOLF: Yes.
WHITFIELD: But that is so cool. But wait a minute, so we saw the before picture Reynolds ...
WOLF: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...of you, you know, and the after, but the in between climbing up that turbine, that's the fascinating point to me.
WOLF: It was freaky. It was really weird. Well, the inside of it is a cylinder.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: Kind of like this sort of number, and yes, you climb up in three different stages.
WHITFIELD: Statue of Liberty, I heard you say it in your piece.
WOLF: Yes, it's taller than the Statue of Liberty and when we climbed up, we had this weird-looking harness on us with the clip and the clip is attached to, you know, a wire that's maybe as thick as my pinky.
WHITFIELD: No.
WOLF: And if that thing were to break and you were to slip, it was nice knowing you.
WHITFIELD: So, you were into this because -- do you rock climb?
WOLF: No.
WHITFIELD: Do you rock climb?
WOLF: No.
WHITFIELD: So, this was the first to do something like this?
WOLF: Absolutely, absolutely. But the people at ...
WHITFIELD: Wow.
WOLF: ...Jiminy Creek Resort are the most wonderful people ... WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: ...and it was great to give us the advantage, to give us the opportunity to go up there and see this thing first hand.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: I mean, we hear the president, we hear Congressmen, we hear T. Boone Pickens talk about wind power. It's kind of hard to get that concept and actually wrap our minds around it, but by going up close and seeing it personally ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: ...it kind of strikes it home. It's kind of neat.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and just seeing those images -- pretty profound. I mean, one turbine ...
WOLF: Aboslutely.
WHITFIELD: ...powering all of that ...
WOLF: Sure.
WHITFIELD: ...you know, acreage, the resort and then, I heard you say potentially the community.
WOLF: Could see a lot more.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
WOLF: Absolutely. And you know, one of those things is worth about $4 million. So, it is ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, it's pricy.
WOLF: ...it's a huge expenditure, but anyone who happens to be in Southern California, if you've ever ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: ...taken that drive out towards Palm Springs on I-10, you'll go through that one valley where you happen see them all over the place. And also in places like Oregon right near the Columbia River, you'll see areas where you also have them there.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: So, it is beginning to grow and in the coming years, there's no question we're going to see more of it. And the thing is, we often think of it as being a green subject. Well, if you are one of those and you don't -- or you aren't into, say the environment, you don't consider yourself a green person, if you just are for the idea of throwing off that yoke of dependence on foreign oil, I mean, come on. WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: You got to be thumbs up for it. It's got to be a positive thing.
WHITFIELD: Yes, everyone likes green trees, right? I mean, it's just funny how people would say, you know, they can't be for the environment ...
WOLF: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...and there are so many methods of going about it, but you know, we all rely on the land, don't we?
WOLF: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: And it is just so darn cool.
WHITFIELD: I know ...
WOLF: There's a new thing to it (ph).
WHITFIELD: ...well, that was really cool, too.
WOLF: Well, thank you.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
WOLF: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Of course, we're going to talk a lot more about energy and President Obama's plan on energy and how to make America greener and that's in our 4:00 p.m. Eastern hour. So, that's a nice little segue to help promote.
WOLF: Awesome.
WHITFIELD: Thank you, Reynolds. Appreciate it.
All right, "Extreme Makeover" as well, foreclosure edition style, however, the sequel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, their heartwarming story actually touched America when their home received an extreme makeover a few years back. Well, now the refurbished house of a Georgia couple is in foreclosure for a second time.
Jim Strickland with CNN affiliate WSB has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM STRICKLAND, WSB CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Harper? (voice-over): We got no answers at the "Extreme Makeover" house on Ioka Drive. We'd been there eight months earlier.
(on camera): Are you behind on your mortgage? I mean, you borrowed the money a little bit more than a year ago.
(voice-over): "Extreme" homeowner Patricia Harper told us at the time, it was no one's business that the house so many had contributed so much time and money to build was in foreclosure.
MAYOR WILLIE OSWALT, LAKE CITY, GEORGIA: In a case like this, it's -- it's just heart wrenching and you don't understand.
STRICKLAND: The mayor says now, the Harpers' finances do matter to the public because along with foreclosure, the Harpers haven't paid their city garbage bill in a year and a half.
OSWALT: Well, it was in November of '06 and their current bill now is $432.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd heard that this had happened and I just wanted to see if there was a for sale sign because I couldn't believe it happened for real.
STRICKLAND: Bystanders are already back.
(on camera): Why are you shaking your head?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it's depressing for me and I work every day to pay for mine, so.
STRICKLAND (voice-over): Chase says the family has again defaulted on a $450,000 second mortgage. They'd worked out a loan plan to save the home the last time.
OSWALT: I don't like to owe anybody $10, but you're talking about $450,000. I don't -- I don't understand. I don't comprehend.
STRICKLAND (on camera): Can you talk about the foreclosure on your house again, sir?
(voice-over): The Harpers' son was driving the truck. I passed along my cell phone number, but got no call back from his parents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Ow, that is sad.
All right, well, stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest breaking news. "YOUR MONEY" begins right now.
