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Biden's Unannounced Visit to Iraq; General Petraeus Starts His First Day in Afghanistan; Russian Spy Ring; Day 75 of Gulf Oil Spill
Aired July 03, 2010 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And here we are from CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia; top of the hour here now on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING for July 3rd, a holiday weekend. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 11:00 a.m. where I sit here in Atlanta, 8:00 a.m. out in Los Angeles. Wherever you maybe I'm glad you're right here with us.
Well, General David Petraeus, he's arriving in Afghanistan and he's beginning his new command. We've got a live report coming from there for you this morning.
Also, President Obama talking about the economy but will the latest job numbers hurt him politically?
Also, we are on day 75 of the Gulf oil disaster, and a new report warning that South Florida is in serious jeopardy.
But first, Vice President Biden has made it to Iraq. He has just arrived on this unannounced trip to visit the troops there.
Our Arwa Damon is live in Baghdad with the details. And Arwa, one of the interesting details, was not just that he has arrived in Baghdad but who came with him.
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., his wife. And as far as war, this is the first time that we have had a similar official -- a similar visit from a senior official and they have brought their spouse along.
But they are both here to celebrate Fourth of July with the troops. And of course, Vice President Biden will also be meeting with senior Iraqi officials as well as the leaders of the various political parties. And this is especially critical because we have been seeing a political deadlock here that has cost -- created something of a vacuum after this country's inconclusive March elections.
Now, the U.S. would like to see a government seated before that drawdown completes itself by the end of August. The U.S., of course, as we remember, drawing down to 50,000 troops. But that is not a critical factor. We have been hearing repeatedly from the U.S. military, from senior administration officials, that unless something catastrophic takes place, that drawdown will stay on course.
What we are seeing in Iraq these days aside from the political bickering that is taking place is that drawdown happening in the complete and total intensity. It really is overwhelming when you look at it. We're talking about the U.S. moving millions of pieces of equipment. We're talking about hundreds of bases shutting down across the country.
All of this very critical, being very closely watched by Iraqi officials, but also by the Iraqi people. There are very wide spread concerns here amongst the population that the U.S. footprint is shrinking at time when nothing is so -- and especially since government has still to be formed -- T.J.
HOLMES: We're seeing Arwa on -- on Dr. Biden, on Joe Biden's wife, she is not just there, quite frankly, to -- to shake some hands and stand by her husband's side. She has a schedule of her own while she is there?
DAMON: That's right, T.J., she does. We are hearing that she's also going to be meeting with the military. We were also hearing that she was going to be sitting down and having something of a round table with teachers; teachers, Iraqi teachers who teach English in the greater Baghdad area.
And this perhaps could be an indication of just how the U.S. rule here is shifting or how the U.S. would like to see its role here shift where it's going from combat operations from having the military out of Portland to having efforts such as teaching people, such as trying to bring up businesses, such as trying to help Iraq's economy, really be at the forefront.
America is truly hoping that its role here is going to shift from one of combat and military to one where it is trying to bolster up Iraq politically and economically. But we still have to continue to underscore the reality that this still does remain a very uncertain environment.
And there are some Iraqi officials that we have been talking to who are concerned about a U.S. military drawdown without a government being seated who feel that it's going to be creating a political vacuum that perhaps insurgents will try to move in and take advantage of.
That concern is also being expected by the Iraqi people -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Arwa Damon for us in Baghdad. Arwa, we appreciate you this morning. Thanks so much.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, she's in Poland this morning announcing a major donation of $50 million, to help preserve one of the more notorious concentration camps in Europe. She said, the money will also go towards Holocaust education, remembrance, and research.
More than a million people perished at the Auschwitz Camp, during the World War -- World War II, that is. Congress still has to approve though, that donation.
Well, boots now firmly planted on the ground. The change of military command in Afghanistan is complete and U.S. Army General David Petraeus replacing the disgraced General Stanley McChrystal.
Our Atia Abawi live for us in Kabul with the new commander's message to the troops on this Fourth of July holiday weekend. Atia hello to you.
ATIA ABAWI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, T.J.
Well, it was General David Petraeus' first full day on the job here in Afghanistan as a top NATO commander. He started off with a daily briefing at ISAF headquarters where a NATO spokesman said that he was fully engaged, asking questions and trying to get a lay of the land.
That was followed with an event at the U.S. Embassy Fourth of July celebration, a day before the Fourth of July. But he was standing side by side with U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry shaking hands and greeting 1,700 dignitaries whether they be Americans, Afghans or internationals.
That's where he also addressed the audience and stated that this has to be a cooperation between everyone to make sure that they win the war in Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN: I'm reminded that this is an effort in which we must achieve unity of effort and common purpose. Civilian and military, Afghan and international, we are part of one team with one mission.
In this important endeavor, cooperation is not optional. This is a tough question. There is nothing easy about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABAWI: Well, following the Independence Day celebrations, NATO spokesperson did tell us that General Petraeus went to meet with his top commanders here on the ground in Afghanistan. Talk about the situation in Afghanistan with them, how they feel that they should proceed and just pretty much get a lay of what they are feeling about the war.
And also the most important meeting of all, that was with the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. That's going to be a key and the mission in Afghanistan and building a relationship with General Petraeus and the NATO coalition and the government of Afghanistan, particularly the president. That's something that General McChrystal succeeded at. He was very close to President Karzai.
And it's something that General Petraeus has to start with now -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Atia Abawi for us in Kabul. Atia, we appreciate you as always. Thanks so much.
Well, there's another new twist in the ongoing Russian spy ring investigation. Four married Russian couples accused of working deep cover had seven children between them.
And Brian Todd tells us they could be left in limbo as the investigation unfolds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Emerging from what authorities say was a deep cover operation three accused Russian spies appear in federal court. The judge calls each a danger to the community and a flight risk. Orders them held without bail.
They include a married couple Patricia Mills and Michael Zottoli (ph) who have separate lawyers and don't even make eye contact with each other in court; Mills' face showing clear signs of strain. Authorities say she is trying to get their two children, ages one and three, sent to Russia to be with her relatives.
There are at least seven children among four married couples in this alleged spy operation. Children struggling not only with sudden separation from their parents --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are -- all both of them innocent.
TODD: But also the accusation that their parents weren't who they said they were. The government's complaint says "Illegals -- spies who don't have diplomatic cover, sometimes work under the guise of married couples and will often have children together. This further deepens an illegal's legend."
I asked child protection advocate Terri Braxton about theat.
(on camera): Now the children might question whether their parents were ever even married. Or their parents actually felt an emotional bond with each other because they could be spies, they could be set up to do all of this. How bizarre is that?
TERRI BRAXTON, CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: Well, I you know, I don't have any precedent on which to base an opinion. So I -- so I think that this is certainly something that I have not experienced before. But -- and I can't imagine that any of the kids in this situation are going to feel good about this situation.
TODD (voice-over): The kids may not have even known their parents' names until now. Prosecutor say suspect Patricia Mills told investigators her real name is Natalia Peraversava (ph) and that her apparent husband Zotolli (ph) said his name is Mikhail Kudzic (ph).
I spoke about that balancing act with Eric O'Neill, a former FBI operative who helped catch Russia's FBI mole, Robert Hanson, a case dramatized in the Hollywood film, "Breach".
(on camera): How hard is it to be a spy when you've got kids of any age?
ERIC O'NEILL, THE GEORGETOWN GROUP: Yes it's got to be incredibly difficult. Because when you're a spy the focus of your life is to be a spy, to accomplish the operation, to accomplish your objectives. When you're a parent, you're supposed to take care of your kids; you are supposed to put them first in your life. And a spy can't do that.
TODD: Experts say despite the bizarre nature of this case, the children of all of these suspects will very likely be handed over to whomever the parents choose for guardianship unless there is evidence of abuse on the part of the parents.
Brian Todd, CNN, Alexandria, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And we are on day 75 now of the oil disaster. And the surf's up they are hoping; some people they want to come out there and actually surf but the surf we're talking about here has been some bad news. The surf is so high it has kept a lot of those skimming ships from being out there and actually skimming some of that oil off the surface.
But they're hoping that surf's up this weekend for tourist. The tourists want it, they want them to come out and they want them to enjoy that surf. Well, the tourists this weekend, we don't know if they are going to show up.
Our Reynolds Wolf in the Gulf for us, Gulf Shores, Alabama, specifically.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, T.J. anyone coming out here this morning is going to notice a couple of things, one thing you're going to notice a very busy beach. In fact, if you look over here, you see some earth-moving vehicles they are pushing a lot of that sand and trying to create two barriers to help hold back the possibility that oil spreading on other -- on other spots of the beach.
Something else you're going to notice up here on the top of this flag pole. You're going to see not one but two different flags. That means something. What that means is you are not allowed in the water out here. And the reason is actually twofold.
One, you've got oil in the water, that's one. And number two is that the surf conditions are awfully rough. We've got some big wave that are approaching the shorelines, with that possibility of what we could be seeing it could be some well, rip tides. We could be seeing a strong undertow.
So just for the safety of the swimmers they would like you to stay onshore. And you can stay on the beach, the beach conditions are fantastic and they love as many people as they possibly they can get to come down here. This is a huge industry. They bring in $1.1 billion a year for the Gulf Coast, especially in this area for tourism. And keep in mind how different it is from last year. Last year, there was no hotel room to be had. Everything was booked solid. This year, we've got hotel rooms that have dropped in price from $225 on average to about $150. And even then, they are only about halfway full.
So again, it's not looking too good so far. But they're keeping a chin up and they're hoping to have a good time through the holiday weekend and looking for better times ahead for the rest of the summer.
T.J., that's the latest from Gulf Shores. Let's send it back to you in the studio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right and thanks to our Reynolds Wolf who's keeping an eye on things for us this weekend at the gulf.
Well, a lot of people are thinking about the troops this weekend on this Fourth of July holiday weekend. How can you help out? Well, can you believe you can do it by just drinking beer? And the more you drink, the more you can help out. I'll explain just ahead. It's 12 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: More people are expected to hit the road this July fourth weekend. AAA projects 34.9 million Americans will travel in some way form or fashion at least 100 miles or more this holiday weekend. That's up over 17 percent from last year.
Still too early to tell how much the oil disaster is going to have an impact on tourism in the Gulf Coast region.
Bonnie Schneider, we talk about how the oil could impact things. How is the weather going to impact things on this holiday weekend?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, two ways T.J. really because we have storms that are kicking up along the Gulf Coast. But we're also watching some of that wind that will move about the oil and that's going to be news in the coming days.
Strong easterly wind.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHNEIDER: Yes, so some changes out there for sure.
HOLMES: Some changes out there for sure. For their holiday, a lot of people want to make sure it stays dry so they can cook. But still, some people are going to get a little something.
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. Further east now, we are looking at stormy weather.
I want to show you what's happening in Florida because we are monitoring this area of low pressure that's developed right in the Gulf of Mexico right here. This one is something that the National Hurricane Center is watching just because of the possibility of tropical development.
I can tell you that what we are looking at is a very slight chance, less than 10 percent. But we are seeing storms firing up over parts of Florida. And certainly, we had some stormy weather through areas of Texas. The remnants of Alex kind of kicked up that into Oklahoma too.
Look at the thunderstorms rolling on shore. You can almost see that rotation with that low pressure center -- broad area of low pressure in the Gulf. So speaking of the beaches, since it is the holiday time, and you want to head to the beaches.
In Alabama, certainly we have a lot of advisories due to the oil, no swimming. Some are actually closed completely but some are open and some are just advising that you don't go in the water or certainly interact with any of the tar balls. Some people have been trying to pick them up -- not advisable.
In Florida it's a little bit better. Panama City reporting scattered tar balls out there but the beaches are open. So that's some good news. Some other beaches just say use caution certainly, if you are going to go in the water.
The big picture for the country as a whole shows the heavy rain through Texas and Oklahoma. Beautiful weather, T.J. just asked me what's happening elsewhere, it's gorgeous out there. A little bit of wind for our northern Minnesota but check out what's going on for the Fourth of July.
We are going to see some big heat building in the east. So temperatures for New York City about 95 tomorrow from 89 today; Philadelphia, up to 97 tomorrow with a heat index of 100 degrees.
So I'm glad it is the fourth of July. You can get out there and do your cookout. But you'll definitely want to be near some air- conditioning if you can or a fan. It's going to be hot, really, really hot out there for the Fourth and even hotter for the 5th in some places.
HOLMES: Yes. You need to stay hydrated out there. You need to get some air. But a lot of people are happy it won't be raining on their barbecue grill.
SCHNEIDER: That's right.
HOLMES: Thanks so much Bonnie. We will talk to you again soon.
You remember "The Jetsons" -- that cartoon? Everybody thought that was so far-fetched, the flying cars of the future.
Well, it is here, folks. You want one. You think you got some bad drivers out there in your family. Now, there might be bad pilots as well. Stay here. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 20 minutes past the hour now. Let's take a look at some of the stories making headlines.
Authorities in Mexico have arrested several drug gang suspects including a man they believe is behind a shooting that killed a U.S. consulate employee and two other people. Police say Jesus Ernesto Chavez Castillo planned the shooting for the Los Aztecas drug gang. The victims were gunned down while leaving a birthday party.
Turning to suburban Tampa now; funeral services are underway for the two police officers who were shot to death during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, the suspected trigger man is now in custody after a four-day manhunt. Investigators now say that suspect, 24-year-old Dante Morris, is being looked at as a possible suspect in three other murder cases.
Also, the Tour de France is underway today. So when you think Tour de France, you probably think of that guy, Lance Armstrong, seven time champion. Earlier this week, he announced on Twitter that this will be his last tour de France. Haven't we heard that before? He is going for number 8 right now.
You never know what you find out there sometimes on the Internet. Josh Levs usually on the lookout for different things for us. Today he has found a flying car.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is the kind of thing we have always seen in futuristic movies and TV shows? But now one step closer to it actually existing. Take a look at this -- the flying car. No joke.
And what we're going to see here is this flying car that's created by a company called Terrafugia (ph). And what's happened now is that government has -- basically allowed this company to take a step forward and here it is, about to take off.
The Federal Aviation Administration has given it an exemption for its weight allowing it to take off at weight of 1,430 pounds. Other planes in that class are limited to a slightly lower weight and the reason is that it has these safety precautions on it. It has a protective safety cage, air bags and what the company's calling an energy absorbing crumple zone.
Now what they say about this is that it converts from a plane to a car in about the same time that it takes you to put down the top of a convertible; The cost on this thing, this flying car, $194,000.
Now, the fact that the government has taken this step forward doesn't mean it is actually quite in production yet. There's a couple of things that would have to happen. First, the FAA would have to certify it and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would have to put it through tests before it could go into production. When it gets through that, comes to the big next question. When will these things really exist on the roads? None of us really wants to be stuck on a highway and suddenly see a car take off. But then again, we all want to be the car that gets to take off.
How far off in the future is it that these things are actually flying around? That we have the laws that design these basically roadways and the airfares to do this; we don't know yet.
What we do know is that now, we are officially one step closer to having what you are seeing right there, a flying car.
Speaking of cool inventions, before I go I want to show you another really cool invention right here. This is from the folks at CNN money and they are showing you how a 3D printer works. And the idea is that an architect can come along and design on a computer whatever he or she wants to create, then -- this actually exists already -- you can get that to come out of a printer.
You can even get that to come out of a printer, obviously in a bunch of different stages and the reason is there's a lot more going on in there than just paper. It can layer and layer and layer and layer.
These 3D printers that already exist; the most expensive ones are $100,000. But there are smaller ones available as well for $20,000. You're seeing their potential medical use for if a doctor wants to see how a part of a patient's body might look in 3D, boom. They can create.
Not too bad. I have posted information about both these inventions for you up here at my Facebook page, facebook.com/joshlevscnn. I also put it at Twitter/joshlevscnn -- let us know what you think about these cool inventions and the other cool inventions that you want to see. We'll keep an eye out for you right here.
I'm Josh Levs, CNN Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, this year alone, 30,000 kids volunteering with the organization BuildOn is spreading out across the U.S. cleaning up decaying neighborhoods. They're "Building up America" one street at a time.
In economically depressed Detroit, one student with challenges of her own is lending a hand.
Here now, CNN's Jason Carroll.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Motor City. Motown. In its heyday, Detroit thrived, a place of economic opportunity and growth. A place 15-year-old Ivory Price only hears about.
IVORY PRICE, STUDENT: My grandma would show me pictures of what it used to be.
CARROLL: Ivory's Detroit is a city with one of the country's highest unemployment rates. So many businesses shut down, so many homes abandoned. But Ivory believes there's a way to get Detroit growing again.
PRICE: Just planting one seed can definitely help towards that goal.
CARROLL: We found Ivory with a group of volunteers, planting a garden in an abandoned lot in one of Detroit's worst neighborhoods.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CARROLL: She volunteers for an organization called Buildon; it's a non-profit that created after-school programs where students help rebuild impoverished areas. Here, they reclaim land with a garden. Eventually they'll donate the food they grow.
PRICE: We've definitely encountered people even with this project, and other times in Buildon saying that that's impossible. You can't do that. You should just leave it alone. Why waste your time.
CARROLL (on camera): What do you say to people like that?
PRICE: I tell them you never know until you try.
CARROLL (voice-over): Trying -- in this neighborhood, it's challenging.
(on camera): In addition to being economically devastated, the volunteers that are out here trying to rebuild this neighborhood also have to deal with crime. There's a gang that operates right here on this block and prostitution as well, which takes place right here in what used to be a playground.
(voice-over): While shooting in broad daylight, a woman who did not want to be identified still stopped to make sure we were ok.
(on camera): A group volunteers they have put together a garden over here around the corner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I saw that. That's nice.
CARROLL: ... as a way to -- you like that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's great. But the area itself, you know, you just don't feel safe anymore.
JIM ZIOLKOWSKI, FOUNDER, BUILDON: Before our kids begin any projects, they can ...
CARROLL (voice-over): Buildon's founder says the garden is just the beginning.
ZIOLKOWSKI: The rest of the neighborhood sees what's going on and sees how the youth are stepping up and leading this change. They take a stake in the garden. And then the gangs move out. Then the prostitution moves out. It's changed. It doesn't happen overnight, but it happens.
CARROLL: Ivory Price believes change is possible. She's seen it in her life. When not singing or volunteering, she's writing about her own economic struggles.
PRICE: The place had rats and bugs. At night my mother and sister and I would sleep in the same bed to keep warm.
I have been there before. And the fact that I can come out here and help other people that are going through the same thing or things that are even worse, it makes me feel happy.
CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, Detroit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And you can keep it here on CNN for a special "Building up America 3:00 p.m. today. Tom Foreman takes a closer look at innovative ways people and communities across the country are coping in these tough economic times.
Well, these tough economic times, one of the big deals is trying to get this economy going again; president Obama and his Republican opponents squaring off over that issue on this Fourth of July weekend. We are going to hear from both sides coming up on the top of the hour -- oh, the bottom of the hour, I should say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Bottom of the hour here now on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And some down time for President Obama. The start of his Fourth of July weekend, he and the First Family are at Camp David right now. They head back to the White House this evening, and tomorrow the president and first lady are going to celebrate Independence Day by hosting a barbecue and concert, fireworks display as well for American military members and their families.
But in his weekly radio and web address, President Obama says his economic policies are helping create jobs across the country but he says getting the country out of the recession not going to happen overnight. In response, Republicans accuse the president and the Democratic Party of out of control spending.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On Friday, we learned that after 22 straight months of job loss, our economy has now created jobs in the private sector for six months in a row. That's a positive sign.
But the truth is the recession from which we're emerging has left us in a hole that's about 8 million jobs deep. And, as I've said from the day I took office, it's going to take months, even years, to dig our way out, and it's going to require an all hands on deck effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: The national debt has risen by $2.4 trillion in the 500 days since President Obama took office. That's an average of nearly $5 billion per day. Even though we have to borrow 43 cents of every dollar we spend and the debt is set to double in five years, Congress and this White House still continue to splurge.
More than half of the $9 trillion in debt America will accrue in the next decade will be from interest alone. That money could be better used on national defense or returned to taxpayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Let's bring in our CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser, who has heard all of that stuff before from both sides. But, you know what, this isn't even about a debate they want to have or a policy or policies they want to enact. A lot of this is just about getting ready for November.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. Four months now from those mid-term elections.
T.J., hey, you want something where Americans agree? Just about every poll indicates the economy, still, by far, issue number one with Americans. That's pretty much where it ends, though and most polls indicate Americans are divided on how President Obama is dealing with the economy which is the big issues and it will be most likely.
Take a look at this, though. The stimulus is something that both sides are battling over. You just heard the president and Saxby Chambliss from Georgia, has the stimulus helped or not helped? Well, you can see here, this poll from Pew, just taken about a week ago, indicates about 6 in 10 say it really hasn't helped the economy. Republicans, they -- they agree and they say, listen, we think that stimulus, that $860 billion program, has not worked.
But you know what? Polls also indicate, T.J., that Americans think that Democrats have better solutions, slightly better solutions than the Republicans, so it's kind of a mixed message here.
HOLMES: Well, they think they have better solutions but who do they think is the cause of the problem in the first place? STEINHAUSER: Interesting. You know, I mean, most Americans realize that the recession, the president inherited it, but now that he's been in office a year and a half, check out these numbers. We asked just this with the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll, and you can see right here, we said, who's more responsible for the current economic problems?
Forty-one percent still say the Republicans, 28 percent the Democrats, so more people are still blaming Republicans rather than Democrats. About one in four say, you know what? Both of you are to blame. And, T.J., you said it correctly before, the economy, jobs, that's going to be the top issue.
We are going to hear so much more of this. We're going to look at those monthly reports every month between now and early November.
HOLMES: All right. Paul, our deputy political director. Always good to see you.
Paul, it's a holiday weekend. Are you going to have any Miller High Life this weekend by any chance?
STEINHAUSER: I may. Maybe I'll be drinking a few beers, enjoying the fireworks tomorrow.
HOLMES: Well, drink a lot, and I say that because Miller High Life has a new promotion out that you -- the more you drink, you save your caps and your tabs, you can mail them in and you help the troops. So it's OK this time. Seriously, Paul, it's OK.
But let me explain this serious message here that Miller has. Support the U.S. troops who fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company wants you to mail those beer caps and those tabs. Mail them back to them. In exchange, they'll donate up to $1 million to help veterans and their families have a little fun.
And here is the new Miller High Life commercial promoting the new campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WINDELL MIDDLEBROOKS, ACTOR: See you, buddy. Pardon me.
These vets must be here for the parade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you look at that? Paying to have a designer's name all over your luggage. What is that?
MIDDLEBROOKS: Excuse me, sir. Whose name is on your duffle bag?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name, Connor O'Brien (ph).
MIDDLEBROOKS: Now, that's deserving a piece of the high life.
MIDDLEBROOKS (voice-over): Miller High Life is saluting the vets of Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, for every bottle cap returned, 10 cents will be donated to help give vets a piece of the high life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And just a bit ago I talked with Miller's famous pitch man, actor Windell Middlebrooks whose one-second adds were among the most popular commercials (INAUDIBLE) Super Bowl. Also, the executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paul Rieckhoff.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: What was the thought for Miller to -- to go this route and try something else? Something a little different this time.
MIDDLEBROOKS: Well -- well, first of all, good to see you, T.J., and thank you for having us back. And good morning, Paul.
The last -- the last time we were here, we were giving back, because, you know, after you take back the High Life so much, then comes the responsibility. Well, we're taking it back from a certain group, but who's the group we should be giving it to? And so, this time, we've decided that it's time that we honor our veterans, especially on this Fourth of July weekend, so we want to give veterans of America a piece of the High Life.
So as they're returning, man, we want them to get back to just the quality of life that we've been enjoying as they've been over, sacrificing, so we want to give them tickets to games and NASCAR races and concerts, just where they can have time to come back and enjoy with their family.
HOLMES: Well, Paul ...
MIDDLEBROOKS: And so ...
HOLMES: Yes. I'm sorry there, Windell, but Paul, what did you think about this idea? We all -- and everybody wants to help our troops in one way or another and, quite frankly, the more beer people drink, the more they can help out. So what did you think, Paul, about this campaign?
PAUL RIECKHOFF, DIRECTOR, IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN VETS OF AMERICA: It's a great way to -- to connect with our troops and veterans. It's common sense, and it's really exciting to kick this off in July Fourth.
I'm down in San Diego right now, and for the Fourth of July we're going to have 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families at the Padres' game. That's a great opportunity for them to come together, have a nice day, enjoy the July Fourth holiday weekend and understand their country really cares about them.
So Miller High Life's really stepping up here, and it gives all Americans a way to get involved and -- and to really connect with our veterans, which is what we need, not just on July Fourth but throughout the summer and throughout the year. HOLMES: And -- and Windell, am I -- am I selling this the wrong way? Should I not be saying, hey, go out there and drink as much beer as you can to help the troops? I guess that's -- that's -- I shouldn't pitch it that way.
MIDDLEBROOKS: Well, man, the thing is you know, the Fourth of July you're going to be drinking anyway. So with the High Life, you can now take that and give back to something that's very important.
And so that's all it is. People have been asking, what can I do to say thank you, you know? So it's not taking anything from you, but instead of being lazy and throwing it in the crash can, take your bottle caps and pull the tabs to grocery stores, to bars, mail them in. And then, now, you're helping a veteran get to have a good time with his family, and I think that's great.
HOLMES: And Paul, what can this money go towards, this $1 million, possibly, up to this $1 million? What could you guys do with that money?
RIECKHOFF: Well, Windell -- Windell mentioned it's going to provide thousands of experience for vets and their families, NASCAR pit passes, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, but it's also going to support our work at IAVA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
We provide educational support, employment opportunities, mental health support, family support, and that's going to go a long way for the 2 million men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
HOLMES: Now, Windell, what's this like for you to -- and, you know, I should probably ask you this, are we starting to see a softer, gentler side now of Miller? We're so used to the funny commercials, but the last time I talked to you, that was around the Super Bowl and you all were donating that time to -- to tough -- to businesses who are having a tough time with the economy.
So you all are now taking up some pretty serious campaigns, quite frankly.
MIDDLEBROOKS: Oh, yes, man. And no, you're seeing a softer side. I mean, we're still funny and still acting a nut. Now, that wouldn't change.
But the heart is there, you know what I mean? There comes a point where you're like, how can we really make a difference? And then with Miller Coors, the power that they have, they've decided that we want to -- we want to start this movement of giving back. And so if we start it, then, we have many followers. We have many beer drinkers who will follow with us and who will contribute to that. And so this is just starting this movement to get everybody involved.
And so, no, it's not -- I wouldn't say a softer side. I say we're still talking noise and taking back the high life, but now we're giving it to people who deserve it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: So, there you heard it. We're not telling everybody to got out there and drink, but if you have to, hey, that's the way you can at least help out.
Well, there's been some trouble in orbit. Have you heard about this? NASA missed an opportunity to -- to park where they were supposed to park up there at the Space Station. We'll explain this, exactly what went wrong at the Space Station. That's coming up next in some of our top stories. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Now take a look at some of the stories making headlines this morning.
General David Petraeus, he's the new, of course, military commander in Afghanistan. He is on the job. He's meeting with the troops, taking the reins following the deadliest month for coalition troops in the nearly nine-year-old conflict.
Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo, 230 people dead there after an oil tanker crashes and then the tanker explodes. But officials believe a lit cigarette may have sparked the explosion after people gathered after the accident to try to get some of the spilling oil.
Also, a big miss up in space, 220 miles above the Earth. NASA says an unmanned cargo ship failed to dock with the International Space Station yesterday. The Russian spacecraft overshot the ISS when it went past the space station. It was about two miles away.
There was never any threat to the astronauts who are aboard that space station. This was a technical glitch. They are going to give it a shot again to try to dock it up.
Well, from high profile Washington lobbyist to low profile pizzeria worker? Jack Abramoff's journey. That's just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Just 10 minutes to the top of the hour. That means we are 10 minutes away from you. Fredricka Whitfield.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, how are you? Good to see you.
HOLMES: Good morning. Good to see you this morning.
WHITFIELD: Happy Fourth weekend.
HOLMES: Happy Fourth weekend.
WHITFIELD: It's exciting, the holiday weekend, isn't it?
HOLMES: It always is. WHITFIELD: I like that Miller Lite -- that Miller ad.
HOLMES: Wasn't that great (ph)?
WHITFIELD: Yes. That was very fun.
HOLMES: Any time on this show we can tell people to drink more, we try to do so. I'm just kidding. It's the whole campaign, if you missed it.
WHITFIELD: I will refrain from comment.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Hey, let's talk about what's coming up in the noon Eastern hour. You've heard Wall Street 2 will be coming out, right?
HOLMES: Yes. Oh, yes.
WHITFIELD: Yes? You know, greed is good.
HOLMES: Greed is good.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, Michael Douglas, the star of Wall Street 1, Wall Street 2, well, his ex-wife, Diandra, is saying, OK, you've got another one coming out. I want a cut of that.
So is this a legitimate argument or is this about greed being good? Our legal guys ...
HOLMES: I've read this story.
WHITFIELD: Yes. This is fascinating.
HOLMES: This is about a sequel versus a spinoff. It is -- I want to see this (INAUDIBLE) that.
WHITFIELD: That's right, and, you know, maybe she's going to argue that she had some -- something to do with the first one, you know, offered some kind of artistic or intellectual -- yes, content. And so she says, wait a minute, a part 2? I want a little bit of that.
Our legal guys are going to delve into that.
HOLMES: All right.
WHITFIELD: And Foxy, Coffy, Jackie Brown. You know who I'm talking about?
HOLMES: I know who you're talking about. Of course.
WHITFIELD: Pam Grier.
HOLMES: Of course.
WHITFIELD: Who doesn't know this actress and icon?
I got a chance to sit down with her face to face. Here's a little bit of what she has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So then, how about if I have you read a portion where you kind of describe what blaxploitation was all about. You talked about, you know, the plot, kind of what blaxploitation does --
PAM GRIER, ACTRESS/AUTHOR: You mean when I stepped in the room that you hear, waka waka waka waka (ph), you knew (INAUDIBLE), you know, a black person stepped into the scene (ph).
WHITFIELD: Here she comes, Pam Grier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Pam Grier -- she is so funny, but she's not who you think she is. Because you know her by Jackie Brown, Coffy -- she is all that and a lot more. She's really incredible.
Her book is called "Foxy: My Life in Three Acts". But she has a wonderful, candid kind of -- conversation about hey life and waka waka. I love that. It was all day I'm thinking waka waka.
And, you know, are you a buy new guy or do you like to buy some things used?
HOLMES: I like new stuff. I'm sorry. That new smell, that new everything. I like new stuff.
WHITFIELD: Oh, OK. Well, maybe we're going to change your mind in the 2:00 Eastern hour.
HOLMES: All right.
WHITFIELD: We have a guest who's going to talk about the things you should never buy new ...
HOLMES: Really?
WHITFIELD: ... including a home.
HOLMES: What about a car? (INAUDIBLE).
WHITFIELD: The new car you can do.
HOLMES: I can do ...
WHITFIELD: You can do a new car. OK. But a home, video games, musical instruments.
HOLMES: You should buy those used?
WHITFIELD: You should buy those used. HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: And there are a host of other things.
HOLMES: Just to save money? I assume ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, to save money, get a little bit more mileage out of something, because a lot of times you buy something new and then you really -- you use it once and then you put it away?
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: Waste of money.
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: OK? And then Reba McEntire. She's going to help the nation celebrate the Fourth of July. She's going to be joining us today, 4:00 Eastern hour.
So you get a little taste of what our journey for the day is going to be like beginning, in what? Nine minutes now.
HOLMES: Nine minutes now.
WHITFIELD: Noon Eastern time.
HOLMES: Fredricka will be along. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: OK. Good to see you too.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE) to your legal guys.
WHITFIELD: Yes, of course. And Pam Grier. Of course.
HOLMES: And Pam Grier, of course. And you've got -- well, you've got a lot of good stuff going today.
WHITFIELD: Yes. You know, we aim to please. It's what we do.
HOLMES: We'll see you in just a second. Fredricka Whitfield coming up in just minutes.
Well, there's no going away from here just yet because we'll tell you about this guy who made millions as a high-powered lobbyist and now he's a convicted felon, making just over minimum wage. His new job is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, he went from making millions of dollars to just a little over minimum wage. Jack Abramoff. Do you remember that name? He was a top-notch Washington lobbyist until he got convicted for fraud. Now Abramoff works at a pizza parlor.
CNN's Joe Johns has an update on his downfall. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACK ABRAMOFF, CONVICTED FELON: I solemnly affirm that the testimony I give today will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jack Abramoff went from high profile super lobbyist in D.C. to super high profile crook to decidedly low profile worker at this kosher pizza joint in Baltimore.
Abramoff wouldn't talk to us about his new life ...
RON ROSENBLUTH, OWNER, TOV PIZZA: (INAUDIBLE).
JOHNS: ... but his boss did.
(on camera): So you have a celebrity working here?
ROSENBLUTH: I have just a guy who's going through (ph) the system and hopefully he'll get back on his feet soon enough.
JOHNS: And you gave him a break. How did -- how did all of that come about?
ROSENBLUTH: Oh, this is really nothing new to us here at Tov Pizza. We've been in business for 26 years. I've had over 1,000 employees come through the doors over those years, and I'd say between 15 to 20 of them have been through the prison system, and people need a second chance.
JOHNS: Jack Abramoff spent more than 40 months in prison. Now, he's living in a half-way house and working at this pizza restaurant in an unremarkable section of Baltimore.
He's only been here about a week. He's expected to stay on the job about six months. He's making a little bit more than minimum wage.
(voice-over): A far cry from the millions he was raking in as a lobbyist before being convicted of fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion. The one time high roller pleaded guilty to illegally showering gifts on officials who provided favors for his clients.
The scandal tainted the image of then House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a key ally in one of the GOP's most powerful politicians. It sent another Republican congressman, Bob Ney of Ohio, to prison and lead to the convictions of former Hill staffers and other government officials. Tens of millions of dollars later, the downfall of Abramoff prompted Washington to tighten its ethics rules.
Here at Tov Pizza, Casino Jack's not making any dough, mostly sticking to the business side of things.
ROSENBLUTH: He's getting the job done. He's helping when he's (INAUDIBLE) and, you know, I run some ideas past him, and he's a pretty bright guy.
JOHNS: Just another worker paying his debt to society, but he's certainly attracting a lot of attention. The restaurant's website, for example, has gotten more hits in the last week than in the last year.
ROSENBLUTH: He seems like a really nice guy. He seems quiet. He's nice. He's doing his job. I don't go, like, look over his shoulder, you see what he's working on. I go in and talk to him from time to time to see what's going on. That's really it.
You know, hopefully he'll be here six months, and I don't know what he's doing after that. But if he wanted to stay, I, at this point, would love to keep him.
JOHNS: For the time being, he's giving Rosenbluth advice on e- mail blasting his customers, just to remind them their favorite pizza place is there. But for some, could any pizza be as delicious as this tale of how the mighty have fallen?
Joe Johns, CNN, Baltimore.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: A much different scene there.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: And again, a lot of people hearing about the pizza parlor and thought he might have been, you know, serving pizzas or something. But that's not exactly what he's doing, as you were informing me about the story.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And he still gets the chance to, you know, steal a page from something he's very much used to and the whole marketing, you know, of it. He doesn't seem humiliated.
HOLMES: Well, we don't know what's in his head, in his mind or how he feels.
WHITFIELD: That is true. That is true.
I don't know. I think it is probably humbling, but I don't know. He -- he seems like he's handling it in stride.
HOLMES: All right. Fredricka, you always take things in stride. Please.
WHITFIELD: Half glass full -- that's all I'm saying.
HOLMES: Please.
WHITFIELD: Half glass full.
HOLMES: I will see you later.
WHITFIELD: T.J., have a great day. Thanks so much. Have a great holiday weekend.
