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States Battling Jobless Rates Above 10 Percent; Middle East Peace Talks; Building Bridges to Save Lives

Aired August 20, 2010 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7 at CNN world headquarters, the big stories for Friday, August 20th.

The DMV and other California state offices closed for business. It is Furlough Friday. A budget standoff forces thousands to take an unpaid day off.

Eleven weeks after Israel raided Gaza-bound aid boats, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders appear headed for new peace talks in Washington. An announcement this hour.

And meet our CNN Hero of the Week. He is building bridges in Kenya in more ways than one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARMON PARKER, CNN HERO: I feel good when I see people walking over my bridges. I feel good because people's lives are being transformed. They are being saved. Communities are being transformed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And good morning, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris. Those stories and your comments right here, right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

So let's do this -- let's begin with the latest on jobs.

The recovery certainly can't come fast enough for the 14.5 million Americans who don't have one. But instead of falling, new claims for unemployment benefits have jumped for three straight weeks. The Labor Department says first-time claims surged to the half-million mark last week. We haven't been at that level since, what, last November?

Democrats are pushing for a new jobs bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When Congress reconvenes, this jobs bill will be the first business out of the gate, and the Senate Republican leadership needs to stop its efforts to block it. Let's put aside the partisanship for a while and work together for small businesses, for employees, and the communities that depend on them across this great country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And today a new report shows how your state stacks up in terms of unemployment. The national rate, as you know, is 9.5 percent. But in seven states, Americans are battling double-digit unemployment, as high as 14 percent.

Patricia Wu joins us now. She is in New York, at the New York Stock Exchange, with details on a few of those states.

Good morning, Patricia.

PATRICIA WU, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

We will start with Nevada, which has a whopping 14.3 percent. You know, Tony, when you think of Nevada, you think of shiny casinos, new housing developments. That's the problem, because that huge housing bubble turned into a housing bust. So the biggest job losses are in construction.

Now, basically, Nevada is now the number one in the nation for foreclosures, and the problem is there's an interesting new phenomenon there according to the Nevada government. They say that the stigma of foreclosures has gone. They are now seeing strategic defaults when financially stable people choose to stop paying their mortgage because it's dropped in value. So, basically, they are saying that it's considered an entirely sound business decision to walk away from a losing proposition.

Now, back to those shiny casinos, as you know, the leisure and hospitality industry that is the big money maker for the state of Nevada. The casinos were the number one destination for corporations for their conventions. But as you'll recall, during the recession, a lot of flack to those companies for having their conventions there, so that dropped.

Also, people were not traveling as much. You'll remember the staycation.

HARRIS: Yes.

WU: The top employers in -- Nevada, Wynn, MGM, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay. The list goes on and on, and each of these casinos employ a few hundred people.

So, you can imagine, with the companies not having their conventions there, with tourism dropping, that's going to take a huge hit. The gaming and the taxable sales are down and the layoffs are up. That's why that huge 14.3 percent.

Now, Michigan has 13.1 percent, Tony, but it's a deceiving number. It's actually good news. Michigan's unemployment has been falling since January. It actually dropped a full percentage point over the past year.

Easy to make an example of this. Last year, we were talking about bankruptcy for Chrysler and GM. This week, all we talked about was GM's IPO.

So, with those companies doing better, car sales picking up, manufacturing, hiring, they're actually doing better. But the reason why that number is still so high, it's because they took such a huge hit at the start of the recession. So it's going to take them a while to get back -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. Patricia, thank you very much.

We've got a couple of things that we're juggling right now. And let's see, where do we want to go first? To the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. We are expecting to hear an announcement of a resumption of direct Middle East peace talks.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: I will appoint a negotiator to deal with that.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: Since the beginning of this administration, we have worked with the Israelis and Palestinians and our international partners to advance the cause of comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a two-state solution which ensures security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians. The president and I are encouraged by the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, and fully share their commitment to the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

After proximity talks and consultations with both sides, on behalf of the United States government I've invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas to meet on October 2nd in Washington, D.C., to relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues which we believe can be completed within one year. President Obama has invited President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan to attend in view of their critical role in this effort.

Their continued leadership and commitment to peace will be essential to our success. The president will hold bilateral meetings with the four leaders, followed by a dinner with them on September 1st. The Quartet representative, Tony Blair, has also been invited to the dinner in view of his important work to help Palestinians build the institutions of their future state, an effort which must continue during the negotiations.

I've invited Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to join me here at the State Department on the following day for a trilateral meeting to relaunch direct negotiations.

As we move forward, it is important that actions by all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it. There have been difficulties in the past. There will be difficulties ahead.

Without a doubt, we will hit more obstacles. The enemies of peace will keep trying to defeat us and derail these talks, but I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times, and to continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

As we have said before, these negotiations should take place without preconditions and be characterized by good faith and a commitment to their success, which will bring a better future to all of the people of the region.

George.

Thank you all.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

GEORGE MITCHELL, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS: I'll be pleased to respond to any of your questions.

QUESTION: As tempted as I am to ask you about Roger Clemens, I'd rather, or P.J. (ph), perhaps --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I predicted that.

QUESTION: -- can you tell us what was the turning point here? What was it that got the -- that overcame the final snags to get them to come back to direct talks?

MITCHELL: We believe it's the recognition by the parties themselves, by their leaders, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, that the best outcome is an agreement which results in two states living side by side in peace and security. And that the only way that can be achieved is through direct negotiations between the parties in which the United States will be an active and sustained participant, and with the full support of our many friends and allies around the world, including, of course, specifically, the Quartet.

QUESTION: But what it was it that got them to -- I mean, you've been trying to do this for months now. So how is it today that you've gotten to this point whereas, three days ago, you weren't at this point?

MITCHELL: I think it's a cumulative it consult of the efforts made over that time and the recognition by the parties that this is the right time. We will be active participants, and there is broad support, as you know, by members of the Quartet and others around the world. But in the end, these decisions will be made by the parties themselves.

QUESTION: Senator Mitchell --

QUESTION: Senator Mitchell, could you --

MITCHELL: Why don't I let P.J. (ph) go? QUESTION: Could you talk about the sequencing of the talks to discuss territory refugees, or Jerusalem first, or will this all be in parallel?

MITCHELL: All permanent status issues will be on the table. It will be for the parties themselves to decide the manner by which they should be addressed.

QUESTION: Yes. Madame Secretary had mentioned, without doubt, there will be more obstacles. What will those obstacles be? What are the main sticking points that there are going to be going forward?

MITCHELL: We are all well aware that there remains mistrust between the parties, a residue of hostility developed over many decades of conflict, many previous efforts that have been made to resolve the conflict that have not succeeded, all of which takes a very heavy toll on both societies and their leaders. In addition, we all know that as with all societies, there are differences of opinion on both sides on how best to proceed. And as a result, this conflict has remained unresolved over many decades and through many efforts.

HARRIS: OK. Let's see if we can button this up just a bit and then get to our -- let's get to Jerusalem in just a moment.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announcing a new round of direct Middle East peace talks. And right there, right now, you have got the Middle East envoy George Mitchell taking questions.

CNN's Paula Hancocks joining us live now from Jerusalem.

And Paula, look, if you're going to have these talks, you need President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu there, here in D.C.

Is it is a bit of a surprise to hear that Egypt's President Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah will also attend?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, not really, Tony.

I mean, the fact is, there has been so much effort made by the Egyptian and the Jordanian leaders as well, and the U.S. president has really struggled to try and get the Israelis and the Palestinians to sit in the same table in the same room. So he needed to call on the help of Egypt and Jordan. Of course, Egypt and Jordan, two of the very few Arab nations that have a peace treaty and a deal with Israel, so they have a vested interest in seeing peace as well.

So, really, the Quartet, as well, the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia, they've also had quite a lot of input into trying to get the two sides back to the negotiating table. And we're expecting some type of statement as well from the Quartet.

It will be very interesting reading, because as you can imagine, with this sort of statement, there would have been hours agonizing over the exact wording so that neither side could take offense or could use it as a reason to pull back. So that will be interesting to see as well -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, Paula, this appears to have happened pretty quickly here. It was just a couple of months ago there was a huge uproar, as you know, because you were covering it extensively for us, over the aid flotilla being stopped from entering Gaza. And there appeared to be no way talks would be starting this quickly after that episode.

Was this in some way fast-tracked?

HANCOCKS: From a distance it may look like that, but when you are here and you see the minutia of the everyday back-chat, the behind the scenes, what's happening, who is talking to who, it does appear to have taken an awfully long time. I mean, the talks actually broke off end of 2008, when that war in Gaza started. The Palestinians broke it off to protest against the Palestinian civilian casualties within Gaza.

And even though it is a step forward, and the U.S. administration will certainly be lauding this as a step forward, we have to remember there have been direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians for the past 17 years. So it is a step forward.

But when you are here and you talk to people on the street here, they are cynical. They have seen this go wrong before. And for many people, we're just at the point where we were 17 years ago. There's the hope that this deadline of one year -- Hillary Clinton saying that she was going to make sure that the talks only lasted a year to make sure something came out of them -- that could give people hope -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. Paula, good to see you. Thank you.

Paula Hancocks for us in Jerusalem.

Still to come, an escapee and his alleged accomplice captured. Now we're learning they had ties to a white supremacist group.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

HARRIS: While we are bringing you news from around the world, we are also watching what's hot online.

Ines Ferre surfing the Web.

Ines, good morning.

INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

This is for all you single ladies out there from CNN.com. There are more unmarried women in the U.S. than there are unmarried men. Oh no!

We'll be right back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: More than 60,000 people -- and this is a horrible fact here, but it is what it is, and that's a fact -- drown in Africa each year. Now, this week's CNN Hero is literally saving lives by building bridges that help Kenyans cross some very troubled waters every day.

Harmon Parker connects thousands with live-changing resources. Have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PARKER: What strikes me about this place is the beauty and the feeling of being insignificant. Life for people here is very difficult, very secluded. The beauty of this place also becomes dangerous because of these mountains when it rains.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My father came to the market in the morning. He was with my mother. On the way back in the evening, they found the river was flooded. They drowned.

PARKER: I've worked all over Kenya. Every community has the same story of crocodiles and hippos, and loved ones lost.

When it floods, people really suffer not being able to get across to the clinic or to the market or to their school.

Oh, look at this. Here comes some kids helping.

The very first bridge I built, I saw how it changed lives and transformed communities, so I carried on. And I love what I do.

My name is Harmon Parker, and I build bridges to transform people's lives.

The community has to initiate the project. They have to participate and make some sort of financial contribution. I don't know how many goats I have in this region, but they always give me a goat.

I've spent half of my life in a tent. I've had malaria seven or eight times. It's hard, and it takes a lot of determination.

The bridge is a beautiful metaphor for many things. I feel I'm privileged to do what I'm doing, destined to help people, and I'm driven by that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Good stuff, huh? Really terrific stuff.

Harmon's work has brought 45-foot bridges to remote Kenya, improving the lives of tens of thousands of people.

To watch the residents of one village dedicate his latest bridge project, or to help Harmon build more like it, just go to CNNHeroes.com. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Not sure how this happened but we have some pretty cool pictures here to show you.

The president of the united -- is the president pictured here? He's not in that picture, but we've got folks who have gathered outside of a bookstore here, Martha's Vineyard. And I believe this is -- control room, help me here. This is the Grapes of Wrath Bookstore? Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Martha's Vineyard. I'm just nuts today. But we should be seeing the president pretty soon. I wonder what's on the president's summer reading list? Live pictures from Martha's Vineyard.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says his hands are tied on furloughs, it is the law. The California Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether he has the power to enforce unpaid days off for state workers.

Until then, the court says furloughs can resume, which they did today. CNN's Ines Ferre breaking down the numbers for us -- Ines.

INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, this is affecting some 150,000 state workers, and it's three Fridays a month where they don't get paid for those three Fridays.

And this is affecting offices like, for example, the DMV, Department of Motor Vehicles, the state courts, Division of Workers' Compensation, a bunch of state offices that are closed. But the ones that aren't, for example, hospitals, prisons. Tax collection agencies aren't closed, either.

Now, similar furlough days last year saved the state about $2 billion. These furlough Fridays are expected to save about 150 million a month and this will go on until a new fiscal year budget is in place. Tony.

HARRIS: All right, Ines, appreciate it. Thank you.

Let's jump to the Los Angeles area now, and KTLA reporter Cheryl Getuiza, she is outside the DMV office in Culver City, California.

And, Cheryl, I'm wondering, Californians, were they told that the furloughs would go into effect today and not to show you up at places like where you are now, the DMV?

CHERYL GETUIZA, KTLA REPORTER: Tony, they probably wish they were told, because we have seen a steady stream of folks driving in here thinking that the offices were open, only to find out that they were closed.

Take a look, this is a pretty rare sight, no lines out in front of the DMV office in Culver City. The parking lot behind us also empty. Lots of folks disappointed with the closure, but that's because today begins furlough Fridays for thousands of employees. Now usually when you come down here to a DMV office you see lines winding around the building, lines that almost look like you're at Disneyland or an amusement park. Well, those will probably get longer now that a couple of Fridays a month these DMV offices will be closed. You will also see frustrated people, some who have taken time off work to come down and wait in these long lines.

Now the DMV is proposing that you go onto the website, log online, make an appointment, that that will kind of ease the burden of waiting in the long lines.

But also some are saying that online services don't offer some of what they're working for, so there is no other option but coming down here and waiting in line. So if they do, they are going to have to pack their patience, Tony.

And that's the way it is here in Culver City, we'll send it back to you.

HARRIS: OK, Cheryl, thank you. Just wanted to give you all a little flavor of what's going on in California right now.

Bruce Blanning runs a 13,000-member union, Professional Engineers in California Government, and he joins me now from Sacramento this morning.

And, Bruce, first of all, good talking to you. Thanks for jumping up early to be with us.

Do I understand your position correctly here that this whole budget crisis is political, the furloughs political? Clearly, there's a part of me that says, yes, I get that, of course it's political, but then wouldn't that be awfully cynical.

Explain the politics of this as you see it.

BRUCE BLANNING, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT: The budget crisis is very real, it's not political, but the furloughs are basically an attempt to put political pressure on the legislature to pass a budget and on employee unions and employees to reach agreement on the governor's wish list for bargaining. So it's a political effort.

In the case of the furloughs, they don't really save money even though there's a line item in the budget that indicates they do. And was indicated I think in your own report the supreme court will decide next month whether or not the furloughs were legal. And if they weren't, there's a $2 billion bill to be paid by the taxpayers.

So the furloughs don't really save money, but there is a budget problem that needs to be dealt with.

HARRIS: Well, Bruce, is your union negotiating a new deal with the state right now? And I guess my question is, if you had a deal, would your workers be subjected to furloughs? BLANNING: Well, we're in bargaining, and that's one of the things you're supposed to do in bargaining, you bargain pay and benefits and working conditions. And so you try to reach agreement on a labor contract which may have reductions in it in some areas and may have increases in others and they may be phased in over time to help deal with the budget crisis.

So that's what collective bargaining is about and we're in that process now, although I can't say there's been much progress for a while.

HARRIS: So, Bruce, are the furloughs being used as a way to put pressure on your members and the members of other unions negotiating with the state to get a deal done?

BLANNING: Oh, absolutely. The furloughs are there for pressure. If you cut people's pay, then you do put pressure on them to try to reach agreements. I think that's what the government has in mind. It's not working, but I think that's what's basically behind the furloughs.

The governor has also tried to put all state employees on minimum wage and the state controller, John Chung (ph), refused to do that and the courts thus far have stopped him.

So he's doing various pressure tactics to get unions to agree to his wish list at the bargaining table.

HARRIS: OK. So, Bruce, your workers scheduled to do work every day, to something every day, so what happens on a furlough day? Does a bridge not get inspected when one of your workers gets furloughed?

BLANNING: Well, that's why the furloughs actually wind up costing money, because there has to be an inspector out there. If there is a construction contractor building a bridge, as you say, one of our members is out there inspecting it to be sure that the bridge is being built according to plans and the public is protected.

So our member is told, OK, you're furloughed today, stay home, somebody has to inspect it, and typically it's going to be somebody who is going to be paid time and a half for overtime to go out there or they will outsource the work through new big contracts, that's how this kind of work is outsourced at, based on the governor's own figures, more than twice the cost if they have a private engineer come in and do that inspection.

So it really is more expensive in many cases to put the furloughs in right up front. It doesn't save money, it's a pressure tactic.

HARRIS: I'm frustrated just reporting on this story as often as we've reported on it. How does California tolerate a system that leaves 144,000 state workers uncertain of their work life, their work schedules, their income from week to week? How is this system even tolerated?

BLANNING: It's really been off and on. Last week, employees thought they were going to be furloughed on Friday and were told on Thursday, don't come to work.

This week, they thought they weren't going to be furloughed and based on what the supreme court did, they were told, no, you are furloughed today. And I think your story pointed out, the public doesn't know it at that. They show up thinking state offices will be open.

So it's been very frustrating. It's been a real dark cloud hanging over not just the employees but the businesses. I mean, here in Sacramento, so many businesses rely on state employees as part of their clientele for everything from restaurants to movie theaters all kinds of businesses. When employees are cut 15 percent with a threat of minimum wage, they stop spending money, and so businesses are having a difficult time.

HARRIS: All right, Bruce, we'll check back in with you and see how this thing works out itself out. And it goes to the supreme court in California next month.

Bruce Blanning our guest. Bruce, thank you.

Combat troops from Iraq are coming home, so what has the military learned from this war? We go to the Pentagon for answers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: We showed you these pictures a short time ago in anticipation that we would see the president leaving the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore.

Did I miss the shot? I just missed the shot of the president leaving the store?

OK. The president visiting the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Martha's Vineyard. What's on the president's summer reading list for the summer vacation? Maybe he's buying some books for the girls. I understand Malia was with the president.

So there you have it, pictures from just a short time ago of the president on vacation in Martha's Vineyard.

FERRE: And taking a look at top stories.

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen briefing reporters on BP's underwater well, he says four months into the event they are moving cautiously and do not want to make a mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. THAD ALLEN (RET.), NATIONAL INCIDENT COMMANDER: That said, we are in the process of transitioning to a lot of work that's in- shore, looking at the long-term recovery process for the marshes.

We are actively negotiating right now with the parish presidents in Louisiana, in the state of Louisiana, with the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, on how clean is clean, how are we going to check off these beaches, when do we know that is good enough and doesn't require any more treatment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FERRE: Former pitching star Roger Clemens says he looks forward to fighting charges that he lied to Congress. He was indicted yesterday, the case stems from his 2008 testimony before a House committee where he stated he never used steroids or human growth hormone.

A raid on a California home nets 300 pounds of crystal meth and 80 kilos worth of cocaine, an estimated $80 million worth of cocaine. Investigators say the home in Santa Clara County may have ties to a drug cartel. Three Mexican nationals are under arrest.

HARRIS: You know, we are seeing more and more of these -- I love these scenes -- happy reunions as the war in Iraq winds down. You are looking here at 200 members of Fort Benning's 3rd Brigade arriving at Lawson Air Field in Georgia last night.

Family members say they waited -- what? -- almost a year for this moment, the return coming early thanks to President Obama's call for an end to the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by the first of September.

The military has undergone radical changes since the start of the Iraq war almost 7.5 years ago. Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence has been looking at the lessons learned.

Chris, good to see you, but what are some of the big changes?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Tony, if you remember, this really changed everything for the military from top to bottom. If you go back the Iraq war, you really have two classes of American troops. You had the active duty, front-line infantry guys and then had you everyone else -- the supply guys, the logistics teams, National Guard and reserve. Those, they weren't given the same training. They weren't funded to the same extent. You saw a lot of people speaking out about that. We saw National Guard troops say it's not an army of one, it's an army of one and two little brothers.

You know, that changed a lot. I spoke with a general who commanded some of the troops during the height of the surge. He said, look, there was a finite amount of money, we decided to fund the front-line combat troops and save a little money on the backend because at the time they didn't think it would be needed.

Well, the asymmetrical warfare of Iraq changed all that, supply troops were getting ambushed. And so now what you are seeing is all of those troops getting the training -- how to avoid IEDs, how to deploy convoys. They're getting a lot of the better equipment that the front-line troops do as well.

HARRIS: All right, Chris. Chris Lawrence for us.

Chris, appreciate it. Thank you.

I got to tell you, a lot of folks sounding off on whether time spent in Iraq was worth it. Couple of comments here.

Melissa says, "I do not believe that our efforts have been worth it. The United States cannot coerce other cultures into adopting our democratic ideology."

From Michael, "American freedom is priceless and our country is still free, so it was worth it."

Stewart says, "Absolutely not, where is the WMD? Where is the money from oil to pay for the world? Where's our reputation in the world?"

You can still tell us what you think. Just go to CNN.com/tony or you can reach us at Facebook or Twitter.

We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's rock the "Fit Nation" report.

There is a saying, you're only as old as you feel. Or how about 50 is the new 30? Sounds great to me, but how old is too old when it comes to playing sports? Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They call themselves "Old Guys," but these 50 and 60-somethings are anything but when they're on the field.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People, you know, look at me and they say, you're still playing soccer, and yes, I'm still playing soccer.

GUPTA: Today, they face a team of 40-year-olds. The game plan for the older guys, in a word, preparation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're learning a little bit more that we have to take care of our bodies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I work out, and I think I've got a couple things in mind -- endurance, strength and flexibility.

GUPTA: Because now their biggest competitor, threat of injury.

FORREST PECHA, CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER: When we get older, we lose the ability for our muscles to stretch as much. You know, we just lose some water in the muscles and the cartilage and the ligaments and we just get stiffer.

GUPTA: Which can lead to pulled muscles or sprains. So on and off the field, the players stretch, a lot. They work hard to stay fit, remain strong, and they play smarter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm more of a tactical, technical player and I avoid physical contact. GUPTA: The older guys won the game, 5-1. But most importantly, they also remained injury-free. Ready to compete another day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to play until they put me in a wheelchair and I can't get on the field anymore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there's still guys my age that want to play at 80, I'll be playing.

GUPTA: I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Just, just play. Get more information on living a healthier life by clicking on CNN.com/fitnation. And tune in every weekend morning at 7:30 for "SANJAY GUPTA, MD."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: I want to share this with you. A recent poll shows one in five Americans erroneously believes President Obama is Muslim. He has repeatedly said he is a practicing Christian. We will take a look at why this just won't go away in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

Plus, in today's "What Matters" segment, we talk with Harry Shearer about his new documentary about the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The United States is increasing aid to Pakistan to $150 million, but the U.N. says much more international help is need. Devastating flooding has left almost 1,500 people dead, and millions homeless. Reza Sayah reports on what's holding up the relief effort.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.N. calls Pakistan's floods the worst natural disaster in recent memory, but despite urgent appeals for the world to help the 20 million victims, relief groups say aid has been painfully slow.

Aid workers and analysts say it's impossible to figure out why government and individual donors are not giving to Pakistan the way they've done with other disasters, but they say there could be at least four reasons and they say none is a good excuse.

Reason one, the death toll is relatively low for a natural disaster. That creates the impression that Pakistan's floods may not be such a big deal.

NEVA KHAN, OXFARM: It is misleading when we're not able to quantify it in our heads.

MARCUS PRIOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: The needs here are quite clear enough, that there are many millions of people relying on the international community to step forward.

SAYAH: Reason two, donor fatigue. For years now, Pakistan has been on a seemingly constant campaign to ask for money to save its economy, to fight the Taliban, for the 2005 earthquake, the 2009 refugee crisis and now the floods.

KHAN: A donor never gets fatigued. Giving, just as an idea, is not about sort of, I'm fresh and so I'll give. You don't give because you're fresh or because you're flush with cash, you give because of the sense of humanity.

SAYAH: Reason three, the perception that Pakistan is run by corrupt politicians and the aid won't get to those who need it.

This week, Prime Minister Gilani insisted all aid would be transparent. And relief groups say, if you don't want to give to the government, then give to an aid agency that you trust.

MOSHARRAF ZAIDI, POLITICAL ANALYST: There are different ways people can actually give that doesn't have to be rooted through the government if that's a concern that people are really feeling.

SAYAH: Finally, reason four, what aid groups call the worst excuse of all, the perception in the West that Pakistan is just not a good place, a country filled with extremists and militants.

ZAIDI: Yes, there is militancy within the country, but when you take into proportion, it's very small.

KHAN: If the only time you see the word Pakistan is sandwiched between two evil words, words that make you feel bad, make you feel insecure, make you worry about your children and their future, how are people supposed to feel energetic about wanting to help this country?

SAYAH: Analysts say the consequences of not helping Pakistan could be costly. In the short run, more people will go hungry, get sick, maybe lose their lives. In the long run, a nation that's critical in the fight against extremism may face another political crisis that could further destabilize the region.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.

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