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Protests Continue in Iran; Audio Tapes from the Nixon Library Released
Aired June 24, 2009 - 09:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Here are some of the other stories we're watching right now. Health care is taking center stage on Capitol Hill today. You're looking at just one of three hearings going on right now this morning. Two House committees, one Senate committee working on legislation. HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius is testifying in the House, Energy and Commerce hearing. Obviously are hearing some tense moments, it looks, with Charlie Rangel there going on.
We will continue to monitor this and bring you any of those fireworks, should we deem it necessary. Back and forth you see there.
Meanwhile, investigators in Washington plan to test the computer system used on metro transit trains. They are trying to determine if a computer failure caused Monday's fatal collision. The NTSB says all metro trains are operating without the computer controls today.
Mark Sanford is back in the United States. The South Carolina governor telling reporters that he wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail after all, Instead, he was in Argentina. Sanford was out of touch for five days with state officials and his security details saying they had no idea where he was.
Three top Taliban commanders are among the victims of suspected U.S. drone attacks in northern Pakistan. At least 55 people are dead in the attacks. Pakistani officials say there are dozen of civilians among the dead casualties. Now the U.S. military routinely does not comment on cross-border strikes.
Some U.S. actions may end up being scaled back, though, with a new strategy being put in place for Pakistan and Afghanistan. The U.S. military's commanding general for the region wants to stop chasing the Taliban and make an effort to consider civilians. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us live now this morning. So Barbara, this isn't the first time that military commanders in Iraq or Afghanistan have taken a moment to consider civilians, is it?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: No, certainly not, Heidi. The issue of civilian casualties is always front and center because of, of course, it causes so much controversy. Right now, as we speak, U.S., as forces are involved in very heavy firefights in southern Afghanistan, but as you say, the top commander for Afghanistan is now looking at a new strategy, new rules that he hopes will be a game changer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): Already it's the deadliest month in Afghanistan for U.S. troops since last September. For Afghan civilians it's getting more dangerous, as well, with insurgent attacks in early June at the highest level since 2001. These U.S. marines in southern Afghanistan are on the front lines against the resurgent Taliban.
British troops have also launched a massive air assault, but combat is about to change here. After less than two weeks on the job, CNN has learned that the new commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal is issuing new combat rules aimed at cutting down on the number of Afghan civilians killed by air strikes. McChrystal has made it clear keeping civilians safe is a top priority.
GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, ISAF COMMANDER: The Afghan people are at the center of our mission, in reality, they are our mission. We must protect them from violence, whatever its nature.
STARR: General McChrystal's classified orders say if civilians might be in the area, the first option for U.S. troops is to withdraw instead of firing back at the Taliban, unless troops are in immediate danger.
Telling troops to consider withdrawing from a firefight comes after a highly controversial air strike in Farrah province where at least two dozen civilians were likely killed. Retired Brigadier General Mark Kimmett said the new policy may be essential to winning in the long term.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMETT, U.S. ARMY (RET.): We may, perhaps, lose that particular target, but we don't lose something much greater if we attack it, which is the support of that town, the support of that city.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Withdrawal is an option from a firefight, now, Heidi. In fact, a first option and the other part of the new strategy. Don't look for U.S. troops to be chasing the Taliban up and down Afghanistan any more. They're going to try to get them out of the cities, out of the towns and villages and if they go up into the mountains, so be it. At least they'll be away from the civilian population and the U.S. can proceed with what it thinks is the priority now, which is rebuilding the country. Heidi.
COLLINS: Boy, this is a tough one, too. Because I think anybody would tell you that air strikes are usually designed in order to protect our troops, U.S. troops at the same time, you know, the Taliban, as we know in the history of all of this has been very good at rooting themselves closely into civilians. So, you really have to be careful about what you do here and still be successful in fighting this fight.
STARR: Right. That is actually the critical point. The Taliban are increasingly hiding among civilian populations and drawing the U.S. into firefights and when civilians go get killed, using it as a propaganda tool. General McChrystal is saying we're not going to play that game any more. That if we actually believe there are civilians, we, the U.S. troops, that we will withdraw from that firefight and we'll come back and get you another day. At least, that's what they're hoping.
COLLINS: Right. Of course, this could take a lot longer? Is that what overall we could be taking away from this potential new strategy.
STARR: In fact, it might take longer according to some commanders because they want to, not be chasing the Taliban everywhere. Do it where it counts, but, you know, Afghanistan is a vast country with very remote areas and the U.S. is never going to have enough troops there to secure the entire country all at one time. So prioritize, work on what you think is most important, at least, that's how the strategy is shaping up.
COLLINS: Very, very interesting. All right, our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. Barbara, thank you.
STARR: Sure.
COLLINS: President Obama is moving towards more normal relations with Syria. Sources tell CNN the U.S. wants to send an ambassador back to Syria for the first time in four years. Syria could be critical in movement to Middle East peace and keeping foreign fighters from crossing into Iraq. President Bush pulled the U.S. ambassador after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri. Syria denied being involved in that killing.
Health care reform. It's a debate that could affect every American. We want to give you the very latest now on the proposed changes in store. Senate negotiators have whittled down a proposal from its original price tag of $1.6 trillion and they still need to trim another $200 billion to meet the goal slight more sellable $1 trillion price tag.
House lawmakers are also focusing on the reforms. The Ways and Means committee hearing from health experts. We have been showing you the live pictures and the secretary of health and humans services Kathleen Sebelius is talking to other members of the House. More medical and consumer experts also expected to testify before the health subcommittee. We'll keep our eye on that for you.
Meanwhile, the president also looking for feedback on a health care overhaul. He'll hear from a bipartisan group of governors who hosted forums on the topic. And then he'll attend a town hall meeting himself. The president says Americans need to understand the appeal of government coverage is that would provide a choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES: And you can look, OK, this is how much this plan costs, this is how much that plan costs and this is what the coverage is like and this is what fits for my family. As one of those options for us to be able to say, here's a public option that's not profit driven, that can keep down administrative costs and that provides you good, quality care for a reasonable price as one of the options for you to choose, I think that makes sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: If you have health care, you already know that costs are skyrocketing. So will a new health care reform plan change that? We're going to take a look at that issue coming up right here in just a few minutes.
D.C. Metro officials say all of their trains are running in the manual mode today. While investigators take a closer look at the computer systems. They are trying to determine if the automatic systems are to blame for Monday's deadly crash. As you know, nine people died in that accident. It was determined the train was in automatic mode, which meant it was computer controlled at the time of the crash.
Now, earlier, I talked with a spokeswoman for the NTSB who told us it also looks like the train's operator engaged the emergency brake before the collision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBBIE HERSMAN, NTSB INVESTIGATOR: Our investigators on scene yesterday did find some evidence of emergency brake application. They found the emergency mushroom, which is a button that was depressed in the control cab and they also examined the wheels and the brakes and they found that the rotors had showed some bluing and that bluing is consistent with an emergency brake application. And so we don't when she might have applied the brakes but that first car did show some evidence of application of emergency brakes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Debbie Hersman also told us investigators will try and test that brake system today to see whether it was working properly.
We are talking about the D.C. metro crash on our blog this morning, too. Just go to cnn.com/newsroom, click on my name and go ahead and join the discussion there.
Parts of Florida getting slammed by severe weather. Take a look at the damage in north Miami Beach now. Officials say Broward and Miami-Dade counties were hit by a double whammy of torrential rainfall. The storm flooded streets, knocked over some trees and power lines. Rob Marciano here now with today's weather. So how are things going to look for them today?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Well, a little bit better. A severe thunderstorm watch for much of the afternoon yesterday and I was in Orlando briefly, at the airport trying to get out of there and it was coming down in buckets, not just for 10 minutes but for about an hour and obviously some wind and some hail damage from the line of storms that rolled through there.
They are dying for those kinds of storms across parts of the central U.S. and southern plains. Temperatures, once again, approaching 100 degrees in many spots and with humidity, it's going to be miserable. So, red on the map for Kansas City to St. Louis. These are heat warnings which means it's just dangerous to be outside, and if you have to go outside and god forbid you have to work outside in these conditions, just take the precautions to keep yourself safe. That's for sure.
All right. Dallas you are up into the upper 90s yesterday. Here's what it looks like right now. Not a cloud in the sky. WFAA, our affiliate out that way, temperatures right now in the mid-80s but will probably get not only get to the 90s but probably up and over 100 degrees today. So stay cool in the big "D," you will need it, my friend.
Check out some of these numbers, yesterday, Pensacola, Florida, 102. Mobile, Alabama, 101. That's right on the water. Apalachicola, similar situation 100. So you got some humidity in there. Little Rock, Arkansas, got to an 83 degree dew point. Dew point is really the true measure of humidity in the air.
COLLINS: Yes.
MARCIANO: What it feels like. You know, over 60 it feels kind of muggy. Over 70, it feels humid and get over 80, that's pretty rare and it's just disgusting and that's what they had yesterday and we'll see a similar action today. The only real chance for same storms across the northern plains and maybe across south Florida, but I don't think it will be as bad as yesterday.
COLLINS: Boy, oh, boy, you know, above 80 for me and then I'm locked down inside.
MARCIANO: You and me both.
COLLINS: I'm very fragile. All right. Rob, thank you. Appreciate it.
MARCIANO: You got it.
COLLINS: Why is President Obama staying on the sidelines in Iran's election dispute? You can find a clue in 50 years of stormy U.S.-Iranian relations. We'll break it down for you, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We are still waiting to hear whether a planned opposition rally will go ahead today in Tehran. But the Iranian government is making its own statement today about the election dispute. Here's what we know, Iran's supreme leader said the government will not give into pressure for a revote. Iran's intelligence ministry said it has arrested several foreign nationals for plots against Iran and there had been no visible sign of opposition leaders, including Mir Hossein Mousavi who some say is being watched by secret police.
President Obama's decision not to be drawn into an Iranian internal affair like the election dispute is a reflection of a half century of stormy U.S.-Iranian relations. CNN's Ivan Watson takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Since this month's controversial elections in Iran, the world has been riveted to scenes of protests and deadly clashes. Iranian leaders blaming the turmoil on western governments, especially Great Britain, France and the United States. But despite Iran's brutal crackdown, U.S. President Barack Obama is holding back, not choosing sides.
OBAMA: The United States is not going to be a foil for the Iranian government to try to blame what's happening on the streets of Tehran on the CIA or on the White House, that this is an issue that is led by and given voice to the frustrations of the Iranian people.
WATSON: So why the caution? A half century of turbulent relations between Washington and Tehran. Starting with 1953 when the CIA helped overthrow Iran's popularly elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosadek.
SCOTT PETERSON, IRAN CORRESPONDENT, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: A lot of Iranians feel that was their one shot at real democracy in the past half century and that was taken away from them by the United States and that's a grudge that continues.
WATSON: The U.S. helped install a dictator, the Shah of Iran. A quarter century later the Shah was overthrown in an Islamic resolution fueled by anti-American rage. The militants took America's embassy in Iran hostage for 444 agonizing days.
In the 1980s, Washington armed and equipped Iran's mortal enemy Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war. Iran says more than a million of its citizens died in that conflict. To this day, Iranians chant death to America every week at Friday prayers at Tehran University. When in trouble, Iran experts say the regime rallies its supporters against a foreign threat.
PETERSON: One of the things that the regime is trying to do is that they're trying to externalize this crisis and blame it on outside elements and say that the people who are on the streets now who are, even if they're silently protesting, they're accusing them of being terrorists.
WATSON: At a recent sermon, the country's supreme leader, again, accused America of meddling in Iran's internal affairs.
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN: Enemies try through various media and some of those media belong to the zionists, ill wishers. They try to make believe in those media that there's a fight between supporters of the Islamic establishment and the opposition, know that's not true. They have no right to say that. That's not true.
WATSON: A government blaming an old enemy as it beats its own people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Ivan Watson joining us now live from the Iran desk. So, this is pretty interesting stuff now, Ivan, that we're hearing. The Iranian government actually saying it's not the Iranian people themselves who are leading these protests. They are saying somebody else is coming in and kind of stirring the pot.
WATSON: This is an old theme in Iran and we have fresh reports now, fresh accusations coming from Iran's intelligence ministry that a number of people have been arrested, including what he claims are several British nationals and that they were planning to plant bombs around Iran to try to disrupt those controversial elections on June 12th. Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, we will continue to watch the story as it unfolds and bring all of that information and video as soon as we get it here into the NEWSROOM, we'll put it out for our viewers. Ivan Watson, thanks so much for all of that.
Also our correspondent Reza Sayah will be returning to the United States and we're going to be talking with him here and also I believe our primetime programming will have a little bit more with him, as well. Some fresh information coming in, as always, right here on the CNN NEWSROOM.
And how do you feel about what is going on in Iran? Viewers all over the world have been letting us know what they think and Josh Levs have been reading quite a few of these. So what do have now, Josh?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Keeping busy here, Heidi. Let me tell you something. You know, I spend a fair amount of time on the internet, right. I want to show you the first thing here, the best collection that there is, anywhere that I've seen of protests about Iran in the United States. I want to show you the images. It's from I-report.com, which is from CNN. This is our main page where we're covering the story. But check this out, this is a series of stories we can give you about protests all over the country, all over the world.
I'm going to (inaudible), this one is a video from a protest outside the White House. This one here is video from a protest at U.N. Plaza in San Francisco. Look at all these images, you got this one here. Images from protests in Los Angeles. People having their voice heard, we have all sorts of interesting images coming from there. Boom, more from Los Angeles -- Neda spelled out in candles.
Chicago now, this is from a rally that is going on there. I'm going to show you one more here from Tampa, Arizona, again, a rally all about this. Just a handful of the images people are sending to ireport.com along with their notes. About what they feel. I'm also following twitter. Let's go to the latest tweets I want to show you right here. We're grabbing them minute by minute.
Quiz for tyrants. How many do you have to shoot to regain control. Answer, none. You lost minds and hearts years ago. Next one is asking, why doesn't the U.N. step in and send peacekeeping forces. Some people then debating that idea on twitter. I got one more for you here. Someone and this is important, saying if things get quiet on twitter, don't take that as a lack of people wanting to get their messages out, if there are people inside Iran or talking about. There are suggestions that proxies, which is part of the system that helps get messages out may be shut down by authorities. So someone there saying, hey, if things quiet down on twitter, don't think that therefore the protest is quieting down necessarily.
And let's zoom in and I want to show you two more things before you bring it back to Heidi. We got conversations going on right now over at Facebook and, of course, at our blog. Here's my Facebook page. Mazamir Missy wrote this. The Iranians just want more freedoms, want to be rid of the current choke hold government they have. And Cnn.com/newsroom, click on Heidi. This is a blog. It's a good feeling. This is from (inaudible), it's a good feeling to know we stand united not as Persians, not as Americans but rather as a human race. And that's where you can reach us. Cnn.com/newsroom. Facebook or twitter. Just type in Josh Levs CNN. We're really keeping a close eye on this because Heidi, I tell you, I can't remember the last time I've seen this many people want to weigh in this frequently on a major international story.
COLLINS: Yes, absolutely. OK. Well keep us posted, Josh. Appreciate it.
LEVS: Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Thanks.
If you have health care, you already know costs are skyrocketing. So will a new health care reform change plan, change all of that? We'll have some answers for you coming up in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: All right. We have some disturbing news that's just come in to the CNN NEWSROOM. We want to get it out to you just as quickly as we possibly can. We are getting reports of a shooting that happened in a locker room of a high school. We're talking about Iowa, specifically Aplington Parkersburg High School. We want to go ahead and bring in the superintendent of this school district John Thompson who is with us on the line. Mr. Thompson, if you can hear me okay, what do you know at this point about what happened at the school?
JOHN THOMPSON, SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT: Well, Heidi, what am I able to tell you is there was a senseless shooting this morning. It was a very well-known football coach in the state of Iowa, but those of us locally know Ed Thomas as a better person and father and grandfather. He's a great man and our thoughts and prayers are with him right now. COLLINS: Boy, are there any more details on what happened? I'm understanding that this took place in the locker room. I'm assuming this is summer football practice or is there anything more you can provide on the circumstances.
THOMPSON: Well, there was weightlifting taking place this morning. Coach Thomas was supervising that and no students were hurt. We have counselors on the scene, a crisis team out of our local area education agency is being made available of counselors and the kids are receiving the attention that they need right now. But no students were hurt.
COLLINS: And this coach, Ed Thomas, how long had he been serving as a coach or had worked that school?
THOMPSON: Ed had been in our school district for over 30 years. He's a gentleman that's had a lot of success on the football field. Over those years state titles and players in the NFL that are his former players. He's a great coach, as I said earlier, he's a better man.
COLLINS: He's been there for 37 years.
THOMPSON: 30 plus, I'm not sure on the exact total.
COLLINS: OK. Any idea, whatsoever, of the condition? I understand he's certainly getting treatment right now at a hospital.
THOMPSON: You can about imagine, I am still on the scene here and the details we're getting are sketchy at best. So I wouldn't care to comment on those. But he's fighting, I know that.
COLLINS: All right, we certainly appreciate your information Superintendent John Thompson right now. Once again, the details that we can share with you at this point that one of the coaches at Aplington-Parkersburg High School which is in Iowa. You can see it there on the map. Ed Thomas was shot this morning in the weight room. There were some students present and we are hearing that, of course, none of those kids were injured, but we are waiting to hear more about the condition of this high school football coach. So we will follow that story for you the best that we can and bring you any new information just as soon as we learn it here.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting to hear whether a planned opposition rally will go ahead today in Tehran, but the Iranian government is making its own statement today about the election dispute. Here's what we know, Iran's supreme leader said the government will not give into pressure for a revote. Iran's intelligence industry says it has arrested several foreign nationals for plots against Iran and there have been no visible signs of opposition leaders, including Mir Hossein Mousavi, who some say is being watched now by secret police.
President Obama continues his pitch for health care reform tonight. He's participating in a town hall style meeting inside the White House east room. He is expected to answer health care related questions from audience members, but republicans who oppose the plan won't be included in this discussion.
A new government report says Americans are paying more for health care, but getting less. You may already feel that pinch in your wallet. So, why are some republicans calling it a shameless political document? Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining us now to look at this issue. So Elizabeth, what is in this report exactly?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: What's in this report is we're all paying more money for our health care, those of us who have insurance. Let's take a loot atone pretty startling number. What this report from the Department of Health and Human Services found is that in 1999, the average individual was paying 1,543 a year for health insurance premiums.
In 2008, that number, more than doubled to $3,354. It about doubled when you take a look at those numbers. That is a huge jump, that is a jump that is three times faster than wages. So and also the report talks about how we're paying higher deductibles. That's the amount of money that we have to pay before your insurance kicks in. A lot of people have $1,000 deductible or something like that. And higher co-pays. That's the check that you write when you go see the doctor. $25, $30 or whatever. Both of those numbers have gone up, as well.
COLLINS: Yes. So I think unfortunately I mean, everybody is pretty well aware that these costs are going up. So, what is it that's new here in this report?
COHEN: I asked that question when I got the report because some of these numbers have been out for at least a year.
COLLINS: Yes.
COHEN: So this isn't necessarily new and that's why some republicans are calling this a shameless, political stunt. They're saying that this report is sort of being put out there to get support for the President's health care reform bill. They're making people with insurance realize, holy smokes, look how much I'm paying.
COLLINS: And so you're saying that you're paying less and you'll get more with the health care reform plan.
COHEN: That certainly the message that has been put out there. That even people with health insurance would benefit from healthcare reform because it would drive down your premiums.
Now, whether or not that's true is highly debatable. None of us have a crystal ball to say, yes, you know, our costs would go down with reform or they might not go down with reform or they might go up. It's not clear.
COLLINS: Well, there's still so much more to learn about what exactly is in this reform plan.
COHEN: Right. We don't even have a firm plan on the table yet. I mean we have lots of different ideas. I mean, that is not going to happen for a while.
COLLINS: Yes. No question. All right. I know you're watching it closely, as are we all. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.
Tiny dorm rooms, bad cafeteria food, classrooms with 500 people. You can skip all that these days and still get a higher education. A look at how students are learning without setting foot on campus.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: I want to give you a quick look at the headlines this hour now. No compromise. Iran's supreme leader vowing not to throw out election results despite pressure from protesters and the international community.
An olive branch for Syria. President Obama wants to send an ambassador back there. The U.S. pulled its ambassador four years ago believing Syria had Lebanon's foreign prime minister assassinated.
And sparing the life of civilians. The new leader of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, limiting air strikes now in areas now where civilians are at risk.
The economy -- issue number one. General Motors says it will cut even more jobs in its fight to survive. But these will not involve the production lines. GM says it will eliminate 4,000 white collar jobs by October 1st. That's 600 more than previously announced. The bankrupt carmaker says it will eliminate jobs by layoffs and buyouts.
And there is disappointing news from the housing market now. Just a few minutes ago we learned new home sales fell 0.06 of one percentage point in May. Now, that was the worst than what economists had actually expected on this. They say this is a sign the housing market's recovery is likely to be gradual and long.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
COLLINS: Meanwhile, as the fed makes its decision on interest rates, more attention turning to the man on the helm. Ben Bernanke's term as fed chief ends in January. So, will he get another one?
Alison Kosic is breaking down all of this information for us and joins us now from New York.
Hi there, Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
You know, January may seem like a long way off, but speculation is already heating up. The subject even came up yesterday at President Obama's news conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not going to make news about Ben Bernanke, although I think he has done a fine job, under very difficult circumstances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Fed watchers say there's a strong case for reappointment. For one thing, he gets fairly good marks for how he's handled the current crisis. One economist told us Bernanke helped turn market psychology around. He also has history on his side. No first term president has replaced a sitting fed chief in 30 years -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. So, that's the case for reemployment.
What about the case against?
KOSIK: Yes, there is a case for that, of course. There are two issues that have the vultures circling as one analyst put it.
First, whether he went too far in pushing Bank of American to buy Merrill Lynch. That will be the subject of a House hearing tomorrow. Second, whether the fed is getting too powerful. Some members of Congress are worried the fed's independence is at risk and Bernanke supports regulatory reform that would expand its authority -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Well, we are watching all of that very closely, as you can see. Thanks for the break down.
Alison Kosik for us this morning, from New York.
KOSKI: Sure.
COLLINS: Thank you.
It should be easier to get your teen to fill out those financial aid forms. The Obama administration is slashing the size of the free application for federal student aid. The new FAFSA has fewer questions and less to click through online. You can also download your tax information right on to the form instead of taking the time to fill it all out.
It's not just financial aid that many students are looking for online, though. More and more are learning on the web and staying out of the classroom entirely. It's not necessarily cheaper, but as reports, it could lead to more diplomas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of the greatest challenges facing America is keeping all of its almost 19 million students in college. Currently, about 4 out of 10 students in the U.S. don't graduate within six years. That's not a surprise to Patrick Callen who studies higher education.
PATRICK CALLAN, NATL. CTR. FOR PUBLIC POLICY & HIGHER EDUCATION: Some students are simply not well prepared and so you know, they don't finish. Other times it's the quality of the teaching and the counseling they get while they're in college. And a third problem that gets bigger every year for American students is the cost of colleges getting so high that many of them are working excessively to the point where they either reduce their credit loads and never quite finish.
FERRE: One solution to close part of the gap may be collegiate studies online. Last year almost 2 million students were taking most of higher education online. A large portion of those are over the age of 25, working full or part-time with family responsibilities.
ANDREW GANSLER, ELEARNERS.COM: For a lot of folks, especially working adults, it's a matter of convenience very much. The format is very conducive to doing the degree on your own time, on your own schedule.
RICHARD GARRETT, EDUVENTURES.COM: Many, many online programs at Bachelor's level are essentially Bachelor's completion programs where people can get that additional credit in the most convenient, sort of frictionless way possible.
FERRE: Even though some may think online studies would be cheaper, colleges often charge the same or sometimes more than campus classes. Four-year colleges can cost up to $50,000 annually. The average student graduates with more than $21,000 in debt from student loans.
CALLAN: We've got to look at making -- of getting the costs and the tuition down for students on the campus and off the campus.
FERRE: For the U.S. to be globally competitive, experts say the percentage of young adults with Bachelor's degrees has to increase to about 60 percent. Right now, it's 39 percent, behind countries like Japan, South Korea and a handful of European nations.
Ines Ferre, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: They're seeking refuge in the United States from violence and their Iranian homeland. We're protecting the identities of two women, but what will they say -- it's what they'll say that will shock you.
(COMMER CIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A tense time in Iran's capital. Many people waiting to see who shows up for a big rally that's been planned for today. Talking directly to anyone there is difficult, as you know. With residents fearing the government is listening to phone calls, especially from the U.S. and Europe.
The government is blaming other countries now for the post- election unrest and authorities say they have arrested several foreign nationals. Great Britain says it's investigating Tehran's claims that some of those arrested had British passports.
Two Iranian women with first-hand experience of their country's post-vote violence -- they've just arrived in the U.S. and ask that we protect their identities.
Listen to this story now coming in from CNN's Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two women, one in a wheelchair, neither one wants to be identified. They've just arrived in the U.S. from Tehran. Their story mirrors the horrifying images and reports that are trickling out of Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's beyond fear. The situation is more like terror. I mean, it's a state of terror. It was a police state before, but, now it's incredibly, incredibly horrifying to see and experience. I mean, they're cracking down on old, young -- every class of people. It's -- people are dying. And if you hear otherwise, do not believe it. We've seen instances of people being beaten to death.
ROWLANDS: The woman in the wheelchair a broken ankle and her thumb during a demonstration.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we were both just bystanders looking at the people who were chanting, "death to dictator," at one of the major streets in Tehran and these motorcyclists who are from the regime started coming down hard on people and everyone started running down the street and we got trampled.
ROWLANDS: The women say fear kept them from going to the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had a doctor come and visit her at the house. The point is, when they take them to the hospital, the stories are (AUDIO GAP) just like the reporters are being told not to really record what they see, hospitals, all the administrative kind of levels are being told to stay out of the public because that's like what they're saying is that you're accusing the regime of being hostile.
ROWLANDS: Especially frightening, they say, the people cracking down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really strange-looking Individuals. They're huge. They're wearing helmets, military clothing, boots and they carry huge batons. I think they were carrying some sort of gun or something. But so we couldn't really identify them as Iranian because we shouted back, like, don't do it, don't do it. And they wouldn't say anything.
ROWLANDS: The women also say it's not about a contested election anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They couldn't even speak before. Now they're coming out of their homes and chanting, "death to dictator." I even heard deaths of (INAUDIBLE). I mean, that's like going really beyond the limits. I should be crying right now, but I'm kind of too proud to even cry. But we basically cry every night over there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The women say they're staying with family in the United States. They say they are still concerned about other family members back in Iran, as well as for their own safety. They hope the rest of the world, including the U.S. gets more involved with what's happening in Iran.
President Nixon ordering surveillance of his secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Just one of the nuggets from newly released tapes from inside the White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We are still waiting to hear whether a planned opposition rally will actually be taking place in Tehran today. We may be getting some more information on that momentarily. But, obviously, a very tense time in Iran's capital.
Many people waiting to see who might actually show up for that rally that's been planned for today. In talking directly to anybody there is, of course, difficult. With people now fearing the government is even listening in to phone calls, especially those that might be coming in from the United States of Europe. The government is blaming other countries for post-election unrest and authorities say they've actually arrested several foreign nationals. Great Britain says it's investigating Tehran's claims that some of those arrested had British passports.
Of course, we are watching all of it very closely and so is Ivan Watson over at our Iran desk.
Ivan, I want to bring you in here now because I understand we are getting new reports about these potential rallies that had been planned.
What are you hearing?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Heidi.
Disturbing reports coming from two of our trusted sources in Iran, coming here to the Iran desk. Of course, we can't work on the ground in Iran because of a near complete foreign media blackout there. The opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi -- his supporters had called for a rally to be held in Tehran today near the parliament. Well, the report's coming from Baharestan Square, near the parliament that quote, "Just in from Baharestan Square, a situation today is terrible. They beat people like animals. I saw many people with broken arms, legs, blood everywhere. Pepper gas like war..."
I guess water.
"... People were being shot like animals."
And another contact there, "They are beating women madly. 500 thugs with wood and clubs. They came out of a mosque, they were attacking people. They beat up a woman so bad she was all bloody. Her husband fainted. They opened fire on people."
Now, this is from two of our sources on the ground. We cannot confirm this ourselves because, of course, we're not there right now. We're going to try to keep following this and we'll bring you up to speed if we get more reports like this.
We have to treat this carefully.
COLLINS: Yes.
WATSON: But this coming from two of our sources on the ground -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, no question about that.
But we had been hearing that some of these rallies have been planned. So, interesting to try to get as much information as we possibly can. Those, obviously, very disturbing reports if, in fact, we are able to verify them.
Ivan Watson, over at our Iran desk. We of course will stay on top of the situation.
We're back in a moment, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: New insight now into the mind of Richard Nixon. His presidential library is releasing audiotapes from the White House. More than 150 hours of conversations from early 1973.
CNN's Elaine Quijano takes us through some of the tapes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the hills of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, President Nixon agrees with top aide Charles Colson, legalizing abortion could lead to sexual permissiveness. But in some cases --
VOICE OF PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON: -- there are times when abortion in necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white.
VOICE OF CHARLES COLSON, FORMER TOP AIDE TO PRESIDENT NIXON: Or a rape.
NIXON: Or a rape.
QUIJANO: Also included in those 30,000 documents and 150 plus hours of tapes, the president ordering the FBI keep secret logs of national security adviser Henry Kissinger's phone call.
NIXON: I want him on his private phone, too. We can get that, can't we?
COLSON: I think we can.
NIXON: Sure ... goddamnit, we get it through the FBI.
COLSON: Oh, yes, yes, sorry, yes, yes. OK.
NIXON: The FBI is to get it, to keep the log on his phone. That's all we want to know who the hell he calls.
QUIJANO: He also talks politics with then Republican National Committee Chairman and future president George H.W. Bush.
NIXON: George, nothing of great importance.
QUIJANO: Looking to boost the Republican Party, he recounts a recent visit to the South Carolina state legislature.
NIXON: I noticed a couple of very attractive women, both of them Republicans in the legislature.
QUIJANO: Nixon surprised at the Republican women's public success in a southern state. Then tells Bush to recruit good-looking women to run as Republicans.
NIXON: I want you to be sure to emphasize to our people, God, let's look for some understand because -- and understand I don't look because I'm for women, but I do it because I think maybe a woman might win someplace where a man might not. So you got that in mind?
VOICE OF GEORGE H.W. BUSH, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: I will certainly keep it in mind, sir.
QUIJANO (on camera): The director of the Nixon presidential library says the tapes give us something we don't normally get from American presidents -- the inner most story.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And the very latest coming out of Iran now. We are watching the story very closely. Possible new demonstrations taking place as we speak.
I'm Heidi Collins. We are digging deeper in the CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris. It starts right now.
