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Memorial Slated for Michael Jackson; DEA Investigating Drug Angle of Jackson's Death; Pakistan Beefs Up Defenses against Taliban; Homeless Vets Face Challenges; Survivor Recalls 1971 Air Crash; Diana Ross Had Huge Influence on Michael Jackson; Bee Gees Beat is Lifesaving;

Aired July 02, 2009 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tony, thanks so much.

United States soldiers snatched and sold by Afghan fighters. We're pushing forward on the abduction, reaction and rescue efforts. Plus, the big Marine offensive in another Taliban stronghold.

Heroes without homes. Iraq vets sleeping in cars and alleys. We're committed to keeping veterans' issues in the spotlight, and today we tackle homelessness and unemployment.

The FAA, a little fuzzy on its own mission? Ignoring whistle- blowers' safety concerns and kissing up to the airline customers? Wait until you hear the disgraceful details.

Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips, live in the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Mark your calendar and buy your plane tickets. We're hearing that plans for Michael Jackson's memorial service have finally been firmed up. Kara Finnstrom, live at the Neverland Ranch, with the details -- Kara.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Well, we're hearing from a person who was briefed by a representative of the family who says that a service for a tribute to Michael Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Staples Center. The Staples Center, of course, home of the Lakers and of the Clippers. It's a huge facility.

And perhaps they chose it for that very reason. Much more -- much better equipped, rather, we should say, to deal with crowds and traffic than Neverland, which we had heard was their initial choice.

Also some other information we're learning, Kyra. A lot of people have wondered about how his estate may be divvied up. In his will he estimated it to be worth some $500 million.

Well, now a person with direct knowledge of the contents of Michael Jackson's family trust says, according to the trust, 40 percent of his net worth will go to his mother, Katherine. That will revert to his children upon her death. Another 40 percent will go to the kids directly. And then 20 percent will go to charities that are designated by his -- by the executors of his will.

Also, another little detail that we're learning is that there were no instructions for his burial contained either within the trust or any type of written documents to his lawyers. So, Kyra, perhaps that's part of the reason we have seen all this change these past couple of days. A large family trying to decide the best way to pay tribute to Michael Jackson.

PHILLIPS: Kara Finnstrom, thanks so much.

And since the day that Michael Jackson died, there's been talk that he abused prescription drugs. Well, now the DEA is making a federal case out of it. A federal investigation, anyway. And in the wake of that news, Jermaine Jackson addresses all the drug rumors.

Let's get straight to SIU correspondent, Drew Griffin. He's live in Los Angeles.

Drew, what have you been able to find out?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we learned last night that the DEA was brought into this investigation. It is somewhat of routine in this case, but it does provide information that maybe it is going the way of looking at drug abuse, medication, prescription drug abuse.

What the drug agents will be doing is looking at the doctors, the prescriptions, the supply line that was going to Michael Jackson. How many doctors he had, how many potential aliases he had that were getting those prescriptions. As, again, the L.A. coroner continues its death investigation, trying to figure out what exactly caused the death.

Now, on NBC's "Today" show, Matt Lauer directly asked Jermaine Jackson what would the family's reaction be, what would your reaction be if you found out this was drug abuse? This is what Jermaine had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S BROTHER: I would be hurt.

MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, NBC'S "TODAY" SHOW: Hurt? Why?

J. JACKSON: Hurt, because Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that. But I'm not saying it's right, because it's not right. But in this business, the pressure and things that you go through, you never know what one turned to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: That's an interesting response to that question, Kyra, if you keep in mind what a lot of friends of Michael Jackson have been telling us, that this guy did have drug problems, for years. Jermaine almost made it sound like he wasn't aware of any, but now saying he wouldn't be overly shocked, given the stress that Michael Jackson and other entertainers are under -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, and just remembering Jermaine Jackson. I mean, he's always been one to come to the forefront right away and defend his brother. You remember the molestation charges.

GRIFFIN: Right.

PHILLIPS: And a pretty heated interview that we had with him a number of years ago. So, it's not surprising he's coming forward and saying that. So, let me ask you, what exactly will the DEA do now?

GRIFFIN: Well, the DEA, it's the drug diversion unit. This is not your standard, knock-down-the-door, grab the cocaine kind of DEA agents. These are -- this is a part of that agency that tracks prescription drugs, controlled substances. You hear about scheduled drugs. This is the team that monitors prescriptions, doctors' licensing, looking at any medical practice kind of abuses in terms of distributing prescription drugs, approved drugs.

They will be able to go into the records, find out which prescriptions Michael Jackson had, find out who was prescribing them, find out if those were overly prescribed and just try to nail down that supply line of drugs, if -- if -- the drugs had anything to do with his death.

But we've seen this in many other investigations: steroid abuse, soma abuse, other abuse, where the DEA comes in and aids local authorities in this kind of investigation.

I just want to make clear, just because the DEA is involved, this is still not a criminal investigation. It's a death investigation. And it has never gotten above that level, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Drew Griffin, thanks so much.

And tonight, Larry King broadcasts live from Neverland Ranch. He was granted special access, so he'll take us inside the house and around the property. That's tonight, 9 Eastern, 6 Pacific, only on CNN.

Well, we're getting word that Vice President Joe Biden is a long way away from the White House. Apparently he's arrived in Baghdad just a short time ago. Biden plans to stay through Saturday, July 4, meeting with American troops and Iraqi officials. He also planned a speech to U.S. troops on that day. We're going to keep following the VP and bring you any new developments or comments.

An American soldier in the clutches of militants. Southeastern Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are going all-out right now to find one of their own, a soldier who's apparently being held by a notorious warlord clan.

According to a senior military source, lower-level militants took the soldier and three Afghan troops this week and then sold them to the clan. It's believed the unidentified American left his small outpost on Tuesday, with no apparent means of defending himself. The military believes a video of him could surface at any time.

The same region is the site of an all-out assault on the Taliban right now. A new U.S.-led offensive that translates into "strike of the sword." Allied forces now targeting Helmand Province, a hotbed of Taliban activity and a major source of the opium trade.

Thousands of U.S. troops are on the move, backed up by Afghan and British forces. This is the biggest push since the U.S. started moving extra troops into Afghanistan this year.

Across the border, Pakistani troops are trying to keep the militants from flooding in. Our Nic Robertson is in Islamabad.

Nic, the Pakistanis haven't had a good track record of keeping militants out, so is this going to be any different?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be tough for the Pakistanis. They're sending more troops to the border, along the border, with Helmand province, which is quite some distance, actually, from where the Marine operation is going on. But the idea is that Pakistani troops will stop the Taliban flooding back out into Pakistan and stop more Taliban coming across.

But I got to tell you, that area is not traditionally a place where you get a lot of Taliban crisscrossing over. If they're going to run away, they're probably going to run away to other areas.

And of course, the concern in the past, as it is today, that the Taliban have bases inside Pakistan they can use to fortify and reinforce troops inside Afghanistan. But the Pakistani army doing more on this than they have done in the past -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, you think of Osama bin Laden and you think of members of the Taliban. I mean, that's the expertise within this organization. They know how to disappear. They know how to hide. They know how to not get caught.

ROBERTSON: You know, we were there in the same place, Gonsei (ph), Helmand province, last summer with Marines fighting with British troops. They were taking on the Taliban. They got into a 30-day gunfight with the Taliban. The troops, the Marines who are going in now, bigger numbers and same area and not meeting the same resistance.

But what the Taliban will do, if they don't think they can win the fight, is run away so they can come back another day. And what we've seen they do time and time again is troops will go in, fight the Taliban, secure the area.

But then the Taliban, through intimidating the local population, because you can't be in everyone's house all the time, will creep slowly back in. They'll lay roadside bombs. Pressure-plate IEDs were typical in that particular part of Afghanistan. It's very dusty, dirty and it's easy to put a little pressure-plate IED, hard to see in the ground, where troops patrol. So that's going to be the threat to those Marines after they get done with this first phase, Kyra. PHILLIPS: And of course, we can't ignore the fact that this is a huge drug area. The poppies. There's so much power behind that trade.

ROBERTSON: You know, Helmand province itself -- itself -- not just Afghanistan itself, could supply the world with the whole illegal narcotics, opium, heroin trade, because it produces well over 50 percent of all the narcotics in Afghanistan.

And the idea now is, not to go in and destroy the fields, because that turns the farmers against you, and it's those farmers' support you need out there to defeat the Taliban. To turn them against the Taliban, not against the troops. So, the idea now is to try and surround these areas to stop the drug buyers coming in and getting the -- getting the opium out across the border. So, cut them off from the market. Make it valueless for the farmers, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson, thanks so much.

More missiles and more defiance. North Korea reportedly test- fired four short-range missiles off the east coast today, ignoring repeated international warnings to cut it out. A U.S. intelligence source says that there are no signs that North Korea plans a long- range missile test anytime soon, but that's not easing the minds of most Americans.

Our new CNN/Opinion Research poll shows that 52 percent think that North Korea is a very serious -- very serious threat to the U.S. That's actually higher than the 43 percent who feel that way about Iran.

Government airline inspectors uncover serious safety problems, but not only are their warnings ignored; they get in trouble for reporting their concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER MONTELEON, SUSPENDED FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR: My superviser called me into his office and said, "Stop your investigation." He said that this violation, these violations, never occurred.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: What in the world is going on at the FAA? The CNN exclusive report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: They plot to keep the homeland safe, but many American vets don't even have a home. You'll meet one of them right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: As President Obama talks jobs with business leaders this hour, another sign the road is recovery -- the road, rather, to recovery is going to be bumpy. The nation's jobless rate actually hit 9.5 percent last month. That's the highest rate in 26 years. Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs.

All told, 14.7 million Americans were out of work last month.

And despite those numbers, nearly half of Americans believe that the economy has stabilized. And that's according to a new CNN/Opinion Research survey. Twelve percent believe it's starting to recover, while 40 percent say it's still in a downturn. Only 20 percent describe economic conditions today as good. Eighty percent say they're poor.

Now, next hour in the NEWSROOM, President Obama is going to talk about jobs, after his meeting with business leaders. We're going to bring you live coverage of the president's remarks.

And while the president focuses on jobs, we're focusing on those who have had a harder time finding them. Our veterans. Did you know that they face higher unemployment rates and they're more at risk for substance abuse? And now more and more of our vets are finding themselves homeless. These men and women who fight to protect us shouldn't be returning home to nothing.

I'm talking about soldiers like Luis Pinto, an Iraq war vet, who slept in Iraq's foxholes with no problem but never imagined sleeping in L.A.'s alleyways. And get this: Luis is just one of an estimated 20,000 homeless vets in Los Angeles right now. And then Toni Reinis is the executive director of New Directions, an organization started by homeless Vietnam vets, and she's dedicated to help vets like Luis get back on their feet.

Great to see you both.

LUIS PINTO, HOMELESS VETERAN: Hello.

PHILLIPS: Luis, let's go ahead and start with you. Tell us what happened.

PINTO: I was discharged from the U.S. military, the Army, in 2006. I came home, and I noticed right away that I had a problem adjusting back to civilian life. I isolated. And I started abusing drugs and alcohol.

PHILLIPS: And why were you discharged?

PINTO: I just ended my four-year commitment to the U.S. Army. And I was honorably discharged, and I just wasn't prepared to come back into civilian life.

PHILLIPS: And so you got back home. And I know your mom has been very supportive of you. But...

PINTO: Yes.

PHILLIPS: ... it was too much to bear for her, right? I mean, you were pretty much out on your own. And kind of give us a glimpse for your daily living.

PINTO: My mom's been very supportive and loving.

PHILLIPS: But it was just too much, right? I mean, you just weren't coming home.

PINTO: Right.

PHILLIPS: And you were more committed to drugs and alcohol than you were Mom and getting back on your feet.

PINTO: Right. And I just -- I had jumped around in Iraq, you know, when we were living out of our rucksacks and eating, you know, out of tin cans and, you know, our MREs, that this is, you know, going from place to place that, you know, if I ever became homeless, you know, I'd be ready for that.

And I kind of tied the same survival skills out there, back out here on the streets of L.A.

And I'm just -- I'm very fortunate to come across the people at the Salvation Army, the people at the V.A., and they've helped me out a lot these past few months.

PHILLIPS: And I want to get to more of your story in just a second. But, Toni, I want you to be able to chime in here. Because you are dealing with gentlemen like Luis on a regular basis now.

And you would think, after seeing your organization formed by homeless Vietnam vets, that we would learn from history. Where do we continually fail our vets? And especially men like Luis who are coming back from Iraq?

TONI REINIS, NEW DIRECTIONS: Well, unlike after Vietnam, we now have a series of nonprofit organizations that work with the Veterans Administration to help men like Luis return to the community.

However, we don't have a housing plan. We are expecting 11 percent of those that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to return to the state of California. That's over 200,000 men and women, and there's no housing plan. There's no jobs plan.

And although the V.A. is prepared to deal with the current population that is returning, that is only the medical treatment side. And we have other services that need to come together to help these men and women become whole again.

PHILLIPS: Well, and Toni, I think what's so hard for people to understand is, you know, we pay our taxes. We give the government a lot of money. And you've got people like Luis over there, fighting for our freedom, and having to go back not once but two tours, three tours, and then they come back to nothing. So, it can't just be the private sector that helps out. What more does the V.A. and our government need to do to support men and women like him?

REINIS: We need a better transition from the Department of Defense into the V.A. and into services. And I think that that's -- that's part of it.

Benefits counseling should happen while they're still in the -- within the Department of Defense, before they're released into civilian life. Because it does take several months, or it could take years before these men and women begin to get their benefits.

Their medical records, I believe now, are being transferred from the Department of Defense into the V.A. But I think there needs to be a lot more education with those that are currently in the -- just before release, who are currently in the military, to understand more what PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder, is. And we need to do a better job of assessing for it, assessing for traumatic brain injury, and making sure that there is this seamless transition from military into civilian life.

PHILLIPS: And, Toni, you didn't -- I mean, Luis, you didn't get that, right? I mean, you basically came home, and it was like a slap in the face.

PINTO: Yes. I mean, there was no one calling to check up on how I was doing out here again. And they have a short, two-week program, transitional assistance program for veterans, or for military service that are about to be discharged, and they just -- it's not extensive enough. It's not a -- I felt it wasn't enough. It was really a -- just not enough.

REINIS: And that is -- often men and women will choose not even to go into that two-week program, because they're anxious to get back to their families.

PHILLIPS: Sure. And...

REINIS: So, it's not mandated.

PHILLIPS: Very good point. It should be mandated.

And, Luis, I know that you -- it got so bad that you attempted suicide, and I'm -- I'm very happy that you were not successful and you're here with us, because...

PINTO: I know.

PHILLIPS: ... I know you've got a supportive mom and you're a strong man, and so we want to look forward to see what you do. I know you've maintained really strong in your drug treatment there at the Salvation Army.

PINTO: Yes.

PHILLIPS: And just final thought before you go, you know, to the men and women in the military that may be struggling like you've struggled, your message to them?

PINTO: You're not alone. There's going to be issues that -- that are going to come up that you're just not going to be aware of. And to the families, if you're seeing your -- you know, your family members that are -- that were in the military struggling, go out to the V.A., look for help out there. There is help. You just have to go out there and look for it.

PHILLIPS: Luis Pinto, you stay strong.

And Toni Reinis, thank you for what you do through New Directions and supporting men and women like Luis.

REINIS: Thank you.

PINTO: Thank you.

REINIS: If I could give our Web site. It's NDvets.org, so anybody who does need us, please go to our Web site. We're happy to be there.

PHILLIPS: And just -- I'm going to get to it right now. You just read my mind. Here it is. There's a lot of great groups like Toni's out there that, if you are trying to get a job, if you want to support a vet, if you are a vet yourself, you can learn about all the group that Toni works with at NewDirectionsink.org, like she just mentioned.

And another group, Swords to Plowshares, also helps vets with job placement. And CoalitionForVeterans.org has a number of resources for veterans. We've got links to all of these groups and others on our blog: CNN.com/Kyra.

And we're trying to do our part, too, connecting job seekers with potential employers. Two veterans, a married couple, will make their 30-second pitches live to the nation this hour.

Plus, why Afghanistan and Iraq war vets may have a harder time acclimating to home life than any vets before them.

A lightning strike, a two-mile free-fall, a 10-day hike through a rainforest. It happened to a German teen almost 40 years ago, and she lived to tell about it. It's one of the most remarkable stories you'll ever hear.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Dramatic new details today about the final moments of that Air France jet that crashed off the coast of Brazil. French investigators have determined the plane did not break apart before the crash, but it's still not clear what caused the plane to fall into the Atlantic. The 228 people on board the Airbus A-330 apparently had no time to prepare for impact.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAIN BOUILLARD, AIR FRANCE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR (through translator): The plane did not break up or become destroyed in flight. From all these -- from what I've showed you structurally, the plane went straight down towards the surface of the water, almost vertically. Practically at a vertical -- on a vertical line, very, very fast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, there were no survivors in that Air France crash, but there was a miracle survivor in this week's airliner crash off the Comoros islands, and she's been reunited with her father.

The 13-year-old arrived today in Paris, aboard a government plane. She spent about 13 hours clinging to wreckage in the Indian Ocean before she was rescued. Her mother was among the 152 people killed in the Yemeni airline crash.

An amazing story of survival, and it reminded us of an equally incredible story from almost 40 years ago. That's when a German teen became the only survivor when a plane broke apart over the Peruvian rainforest, but surviving the crash was just the beginning of her ordeal.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was Christmas Eve 1971, a day after her high school prom, when Juliane Koepcke, then 17 years old, boarded a plane like this one in Lima, Peru.

JULIANE KOEPCKE, 1971 PLANE CRASH SURVIVOR (through translator): There were dark clouds all around us and lightning everywhere and suddenly we saw a bright flash. The plane went into a nosedive. I believe the wing then tore off.

PLEITGEN: Seconds later, at about 9,000 feet, the aircraft broke into pieces. Juliane was thrust out, still strapped to her seat.

KOEPCKE (through translator): There was an amazing silence around me. The plane was gone. I must have been unconscious and then woken up in midair. I was flying, spinning through the air. And I could see the forest spinning under me.

PLEITGEN: She fell more than two miles into the thick rain forest but miraculously survived with only minor injuries.

KOEPCKE (through translator): I didn't wake up until the next morning, so I must have been unconscious for the afternoon and the whole night, and then I was all alone, just my row of seats and me.

PLEITGEN: Her collarbone was broken and she'd suffered a concussion, but despite her injuries, she dragged herself through the rain forest for ten days, until she was found. Juliane survived, she says, thanks to skills her father, a rain forest biologist, had taught her.

KOEPCKE (through translator): He says if you find a creek, follow it, because that will lead to a stream and a stream will lead to a bigger river, and that's when you'll find help.

PLEITGEN: When a group of lumberjacks found Juliane Koepcke, the Peruvian authorities had already given up the search for survivors. Juliane finally led them to the wreckage.

Years later, Juliane visited the crash site again and found debris from the plane still strewn across the jungle. Today, she says, the events of 1971 come back to haunt her when she hears of disasters like the Air France crash.

KOEPCKE (through translator): Just thinking about it horrifies me.

PLEITGEN: Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Munich, Germany.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, they've always had a special relationship. Now Michael Jackson makes a special request of his lifelong friend, Diana Ross.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

PHILLIPS: Well, Michael Jackson's public memorial is finally taking shape. The latest from a person close to the Jackson family says it will be Tuesday morning at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. There will be room for 20,000 people in the arena, which is owned by the same company that was promoting Jackson's "This Is It" tour.

The investigation into the singer's death has gained some manpower now. The DEA joining the case at the LAPD's invitation. Everybody's trying to zero in on Jackson's doctors and the drugs that they may have prescribed.

Pushing forward now on the Jackson story, we could get an idea next week whether Debbie Rowe is considering a challenge for custody of the two Jackson children born to her. A hearing on Michael Jackson's estate is set for Monday. But the pop star's brother Jermaine, who spoke on the "Today" show, says the kids are right where they need to be, with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: She's capable. She's up to it, because she's always with all the grandchildren, all the time. She loves the laughter and the crying, and all the excitement. Yes, she is. I mean, we're still her kids, like, to them we never grew up.

But she's definitely capable. And she has someone with her to make sure that they're doing the right things. I thought it was a great will because the children are fine. My mother's the perfect person to be there. And it's definitely him (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Well, she's a singing legend and a diva, but to Michael Jackson, she was a lifelong friend. And we learned this week that Jackson put Diana Ross in his will along with a very special request. Our Mary Snow looks back on their special friendship.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After Michael Jackson died, Diana Ross said in a statement she couldn't stop crying, that she was praying for Jackson's children and his family. Jackson's will shows how highly he regarded her. The will says if Jackson's mother, Katherine, died or was unable to take care of his three children that Ross should be named guardian.

MIKE WALTERS, TMZ.COM: It is fitting, if you think about that, and the people that he trusted, Michael didn't have very many people around him for a long time, including some of his family members, that he trusted.

SNOW: Jackson knew Ross most of his life. She lent her star power to the young Jackson family. Their first album was called "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5." Ian Drew of "US Weekly" says Ross, who has five children of her own, taught the Jacksons the ropes in show businesses but also provided emotional support.

IAN DREW, SENIOR EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": A lot of times when they were visiting Los Angeles before they had a house there, they would stay at Diana's home. He would often seek refuge there when things were very bad at home. She really was a surrogate mother to him almost.

SNOW: Michael Jackson got older, he remained close to Ross. The two of them, seen here in "The Wiz" in the late '70s, performed together at times. And former president of CBS Records Walter Yetnikoff recalls how Jackson turned to Ross before releasing his blockbuster "Thriller."

WALTER YETNIKOFF, FORMER PRESIDENT, CBS RECORDS: Two people other than Michael who saw "Thriller" for the first time. He invited me and Diana Ross to preview, you know, "Thriller."

SNOW (on camera): That's just a glimpse of the kind of influence Diana Ross had on Michael Jackson's career. Some music industry watchers say it's unclear how close the two performers were in the last several years since the will was written in 2002. Diana Ross has not commented publicly on the fact that she's mentioned in this will.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And Larry King will broadcast live from the Neverland Ranch tonight. He was granted special access and will take us inside the house and around the property. That's tonight, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific only on CNN. U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan doing all they can right now to find one of their own. An American soldier has been abducted in Paktika province, and now we're hearing he's in the clutches of a notorious militant clan. The military isn't naming the soldier.

Also, in southern Afghanistan, the biggest offensive against the Taliban since the U.S. sent in extra troops this year. About 4,000 U.S. troops, mostly Marines, are leading that charge. The Marines spent about -- or sent out an update just a few minutes ago, saying that one of their own has been killed in action, and several others have been wounded, but they described the Taliban resistance as light, mostly small-arms fire.

Knowing what to do when seconds count. Why humming a specific tune could help save you and your life in an emergency.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A week after the death of Michael Jackson, questions linger about what happened in the moments after he was found. Would you know what to do if someone went into cardiac arrest?

Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, joins us now. She actually has the story of a woman who used a pretty clever tool to remember some critical lifesaving information. Tell us about her.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: She remembered a Bee Gees song. Like, who would have thought that a Bee Gees song could save your life? But this woman, she really is amazing. Her name is Debra Bader. She lives in Massachusetts. She was taking a walk in the woods with her husband, Christopher, when all of a sudden, he just fell to the ground. He wasn't responding to anything.

And she immediately did two things. One, she called 911, and two, she started bumping on his chest. And she remembered hearing a one-minute radio PSA that says thump to the beat of "Stayin' Alive," that old song from "Saturday Night Fever" -- "Stayin' alive, stayin' alive, stayin' alive."

So she did that for 15 minutes. She was alone with him for 15 minutes before the EMTs could reach them in the woods. And she saved his life.

PHILLIPS: OK, that's amazing.

COHEN: Isn't that amazing? Because she...

PHILLIPS: The music that literally never dies.

COHEN: Exactly. Exactly. Doesn't die.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. So, she didn't do full CPR.

COHEN: She didn't. She'd never been trained in CPR. She'd never taken a class in her life. All she'd heard was thump on the chest hard to the beat of "Stayin' Alive."

So, it's really pretty incredible, the sort of the coincidence here the song "Stayin' Alive" has about 100 beats per minute, and that's how many times you want to thump on someone's chest when they have cardiac arrest, like her husband, like Michael Jackson.

Now, what's interesting, when she went to the hospital, the doctors of course commended her and said, we do things a little bit differently, Mrs. Bader. We beat on people's chests, but we beat to the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust" because that also has about 100 beats per minute.

PHILLIPS: Oh, but that's...

COHEN: Remember that song?

PHILLIPS: Yes, but that's not good lyrics.

COHEN: It's not good.

PHILLIPS: We want to talk about staying alive, not biting the dust when you're doing...

COHEN: Right. Right. She said these E.R. docs have kind of a dark sense of humor because of the profession that they're in. But remember that, "Another One Bites the Dust"?

PHILLIPS: Right.

COHEN: Yes, we have to sing it because we don't have the rights to it, so you and I have to sing it to remind people of what it sounds like.

PHILLIPS: Oh, it's not ASCAP.

COHEN: No, it's not. So, I have to sing it.

PHILLIPS: You have a good voice.

COHEN: So, that's what you do.

Oh, I don't know about that. But, of course, it is better to have a class. I mean, you should be trained in CPR. Everyone should. It's a three-hour class. CNN.com/health, and you'll see a place to find a class near you.

PHILLIPS: There we go. Thanks, Elizabeth.

Well, they fought for their country, and now many vets are fighting to find a job. They're part of our special edition "30- Second Pitch" today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More than 14 million Americans are looking for work. And while the president of the United States talks about jobs for all Americans today, today in the NEWSROOM, we're focusing on jobless American veterans. So, we bring you the "30-Second Pitch" veterans' edition. We're starting with a husband and wife, Prince and Cecilia Royall. They both served in the Army. They now find themselves not only jobless but homeless in the state of California. Prince and Cecelia, I sure appreciate you both being with me.

PRINCE ROYALL, HOMELESS, JOBLESS VETERAN: Thank you.

CECILIA ROYALL, HOMELESS, JOBLESS VETERAN: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Cecilia, what happened? What kind of work -- were you working while you were in the military or just full-time military? And tell me how you basically were not able to find work.

C. ROYALL: Well, I was actually -- I was -- served for 12 years, active duty. I got out of the service, and I did work.

But due to circumstances like my husband getting laid off his job, I had to go -- I obviously, I followed him, and we found ourselves back out here in California. And the reason why we moved back out here was because of family out here. And we'd rather be around family than be on the other side of the continent with no home and no job.

PHILLIPS: Definitely. It's great to be with the family in times like this. That's when you count on them the most.

C. ROYALL: Yes.

PHILLIPS: And Prince, what happened to you? What kind of work were you doing? And how did -- why did you get laid off? What did they tell you?

P. ROYALL: I was working in an aircraft company in Alabama. And I had been there close to a year. And it was just slow. The aircraft industry was slow. So, you know, I was -- since I'd been there the least amount of time, they laid me off first, so...

PHILLIPS: Wow.

P. ROYALL: That's what happened. So, now I'm back here looking for work.

PHILLIPS: All right, well, that's what we want to help out with. We've been working through a fantastic organization, and that's how we found you. And we're going to talk about that in just a second.

But, yes, I know you guys are geared up, ready to go. We've got your e-mails to put up on the screen. Cecilia, I want to start with you, and you'll have 30 seconds to basically give us your resume. And I sure hope that folks reach out. So, are you ready to go?

C. ROYALL: I am. And thank you so much for the opportunity.

PHILLIPS: You got it. All right, Cecilia, take it away. C. ROYALL: All right, my name is Cecilia Royall. I am a veteran with an honorable discharge. I served in the United States Army and also currently in the IRR with the Army National Guard.

I'm a business professional with an associate's degree in business administration from Cochise College from Sierra Vista, Arizona. I have extensive experience in human resources, administration and clerical. I am seeking employment in the admin support area in the Bay area, and I am also a very reliable, dependable and team player.

PHILLIPS: Perfect. All right! Right on the money. All right. OK, Prince, the wife has done awfully well here. Are you ready for yours?

P. ROYALL: Sure am.

PHILLIPS: OK, here we go. Prince Royall, we're going to get your e-mail up there on the screen. Here we go. Take it away, Prince.

P. ROYALL: All right, my name is Prince. I'm looking for a supervisory position in a warehouse. I have 15 years' experience in property management, shipping. I also have ten years' banking experience. I've got ten years in the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army. And I'm hardworking, dependable, so give me a shot.

PHILLIPS: I love it! You've got four more seconds. Give me another great adjective to describe yourself.

P. ROYALL: Oh, I'm real friendly.

C. ROYALL: Outgoing.

PHILLIPS: Yes, you are. I love it. Cecilia, threw it in there -- "Don't forget outgoing, honey."

P. ROYALL: All right.

PHILLIPS: Well, you -- the organization that we have made contact with is the Swords to Plowshares. I know they've been fantastic with regard to working with vets who are not only homeless but also looking for jobs. The two of you I know are working hard to find something.

We've got your e-mails up. Let us know if you get any bites. We want to continue to watch after you and really help you as much as we can.

P. ROYALL: All right.

C. ROYALL: Thank you so much for the opportunity.

P. ROYALL: Thanks a lot.

PHILLIPS: Oh, it was my honor. Cecilia and Prince Royall. We'll keep an eye on you.

P. ROYALL: All right, thanks.

C. ROYALL: Bye.

PHILLIPS: All right.

Thirty seconds just isn't enough when it comes to the latest jobless numbers, that's for sure. It's practically raining pink slips out there, so we're pushing forward to try and help find you a job. And we've got some high-profile help. President Obama talks about jobs. Just minutes from now, you will hear him live.

Government inspectors report -- or government inspectors, rather, are coming forward and saying that dozens of airline safety violations have taken place. But instead of seeing the problems solved, they get in trouble for reporting them. So, what's going on here? CNN exclusive report straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: A troubling new report about the government's oversight of airline safety. CNN has now learned that federal whistle-blowers have made dozens of safety complaints in recent years. Many of those complaints have been ignored and sometimes even met with retaliation. But now, there are new signs the whistle-blowers are being vindicated. Allan Chernoff has our exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Major safety issues, aircraft maintenance, runways, air traffic. I mean, these are very important issues.

And we did tell just a few weeks ago about an FAA inspector, Christopher Monteleon. He said that he's gotten nowhere when flagging safety violations. Other inspectors have said exactly the same to us.

Now the Office of Special Counsel is telling us that many of these inspectors are pointing to legitimate problems.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Kyra, some FAA inspectors like Christopher Monteleon have told CNN they've gotten nowhere when flagging safety violations like maintenance, runway and air traffic issues. Now, the Office of Special Counsel tells us many of the inspectors are pointing to legitimate problems.

(voice-over): FAA inspector Christopher Monteleon warned of safety problems at Colgan Air for several years before a Colgan plane crashed near Buffalo in February, killing 50 people.

CHRISTOPHER MONTELEON, SUSPENDED FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR: My superviser called me into his office and said, stop your investigation. He said that this violation, these violations never occurred.

CHERNOFF: But Monteleon continued raising safety concerns about the airline. Eventually he was demoted, then put on leave of absence.

MONTELEON: I've had my aviation safety inspector credentials taken from me. It's just been humiliating.

CHERNOFF: Monteleon filed a complaint with the federal Office of Special Counsel, which investigates allegations of reprisal against whistle-blowers. CNN has learned the OSC has found merit in Monteleon's case against the FAA. He's not alone.

The Office of Special Counsel tells CNN it has made a positive determination that the FAA improperly responded to 27 current cases of FAA employee whistle-blowers warning of safety violations.

TOM DEVINE, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT: It means that FAA is a very sick agency. There's never been an agency that's had that large of a surge of whistle-blowers whose concerns were vindicated.

CHERNOFF: The Department of Transportation told CNN, "We acknowledge it's a large number of cases. We take all of them seriously."

But the Office of Special Counsel finds the FAA repeatedly retaliates against employees who flag safety problems, often deferring to the airlines they regulate. The former inspector general of the transportation department in the 1990s, now an attorney for families of accident victims, says the problems she saw seem to have gotten worse.

MARY SCHIAVO, FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: That's shocking. And it's really unconscionable for a government agency that supposed to be about safety, not about witch hunts for those who find safety lacking.

CHERNOFF: What's going on at the FAA? Critics say it's the culture. Former FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in 2003 established a Customer Service Initiative that defined airlines as customers, not the flying public. The current transportation department inspector general found FAA's definition of its customer has had a pervasively negative impact on its oversight program.

While there's no evidence of illegal dealings, the FAA has had an active revolving door -- agency managers regularly going on to work in the aviation industry while industry executives take top spots at FAA.

Former FAA administrator Blakey is now president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association. Former FAA chief operating officer Russell Chu moved on to become president of JetBlue Airways. FAA's chief operating officer of air traffic, Hank Krakowski, is a former United Airlines vice president. Linda Daschle, wife of the former Senate Democratic leader, was FAA's acting administrator and then became a lobbyist representing the airline industry.

SCHIAVO: There's a very cozy relationship between the lobbyists for the industry and the Department of Transportation and the FAA.

CHERNOFF: In spite of past problems, the new transportation secretary and FAA chief say the agency will change. Whistle-blowers will now get an open ear.

RAY LAHOOD, U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: We will pay attention to any kind of complaint or accusation or any kind of concern that's expressed by an employee of the FAA. It's a new day at the FAA. And it's a new day at DOT.

CHERNOFF (on camera): The Office of Special Counsel has referred all 27 cases to the transportation secretary, who now must investigate and tell the special counsel what steps will be taken to fix the safety problems. While FAA says it does investigate all whistle- blowers' safety claims, it has resisted calls for an independent office within the agency to investigate allegations.

The pending House bill to reauthorize FAA would require the agency to create such an office. The bill would also have FAA change its Customer Service Initiative to remove any reference to airlines as customers. The Senate should be working on its version of the bill after the July 4 break -- Kyra.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Allan Chernoff, thanks so much.