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Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; Pedophile "How-to" Author in Court; President Obama Signs "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Live; Firefighters Trapped in Chicago Blaze; Al Qaeda Considers New Tactic; Lady Huskies Make History
Aired December 22, 2010 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Mudslides -- got live pictures for you right now. Some areas could actually see another eight inches of rain throughout the day.
And the strained tensions on the Korean Peninsula likely to face a new test within hours. South Korea launching another big military drill tomorrow.
Federal workers feeling the pinch of the government's budget problems. Congress freezing their paychecks for the next two years. That means no raises but possibly a bonus or a promotion.
But we begin this morning with history in the making. Just minutes from now, President Obama due to officially sign the law repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The ban on gays serving openly was enacted 17 years ago and the policy has ended the careers of 14,000 men and women in uniform.
Today, some of them will be on hand for the signing.
CNN's Dan Lothian is at the White House. Barbara Starr's at the Pentagon with a closer look at the transition ahead.
Let's begin this hour with CNN White House correspondent Dan Lothian, though.
Dan, how big of a political victory is this for the president? I mean this is exactly what he had on his top of his agenda when he was running for president.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. This is a big victory for this president as you pointed out in 2008 campaign. The president said that he really wanted to get this repealed. He also pushed this, as well in the State of the Union address.
But, you know, there was a lot of criticism from the left, the liberal base, who felt that the president was not working hard enough to get this done, was not moving quickly enough. The president countered by saying that he wanted to make sure that this was done carefully, that it was done the right way.
And so that's why he was waiting to see how this all played out, but was also working the phones up on Capitol Hill to make sure that he could get the support for this to get passed. And of course, it did happen.
The president will be signing that in about 15 minutes or so from now. It will be taking place over at the Interior Department because they have a large enough venue, a large enough room there for all the people who are expected to be at the signing.
Typically something like that would happen here at the White House but we're told by White House officials that the rooms that normally would be used such as the East Room have holiday decorations. There are also holiday tours coming through here so that's the reason they decided to shift it over to the Interior Department for the big signing today -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Dan, thanks so much. And of course, we will take it live as soon as the president steps up to the podium there.
The president's signature will really be just the beginning of the end for the policy. It could take several months for the changes to actually take effect because the military wants to move ahead carefully.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us with a closer look at what happens next -- Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, moving ahead carefully through all of the military bureaucracy you can possibly imagine.
Here at the Pentagon what they are starting to do already is set up working groups, staff, to go through hundreds of pages of rules, regulations, directives, everything that governing military life, benefits. See what can stay, what needs to be adjusted, what needs to be changed in the light of all of this, and the question is just what you said.
How long will all of this take? It could take months. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he wants it to move ahead but still, even after all of that, then it will be certified to Congress, that the military is ready. Then 60 days later "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be gone once and for all -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right. Barbara Starr.
And the official beginning is scheduled several minutes from now, 9:15 Eastern Time. We will come back to that event live as soon as it gets under way.
Meanwhile, that breaking story out of Chicago, Illinois, right now. These pictures coming to us from our affiliate WGN. Here's what I can tell you so far. Four firefighters we are being told are trapped within this rubble.
Apparently the brick walls collapsed and when the firefighters were there attending to this abandoned southside commercial building. Two of them were rescued. And now, these rescue operations are still under way to get to the other two.
The conditions of those firefighters not known. The fire broke out about 6:54 this morning we're told. This is an abandoned one- story brick building, 1700 block of East 75th Street, if you're familiar with the Chicago area.
The fire -- apparently it was a fire that broke out. The building collapsed. And while the firefighters were attending to that, four of them got trapped. Two have been rescued. Two are still somewhere within that rubble. And their colleagues are trying to get them out of there.
We're going to keep an eye on this. We're following a live picture, trying to get information for you and we'll bring it to you as we get it.
All right. Congress has raced a deadline and won. Last night, lawmakers actually approved a temporary spending bill that will fund government for another 10 weeks until March. That came with only two -- only hours, rather, to spare. The current budget funding of the government is set to expire at midnight.
Now sometime today the Senate is expected to approve the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or START. That pact with Russia is one of President Obama's top priorities at this lame duck session.
The House does not need to sign off on it. The treaty calls for both countries to reduce their nuclear arsenals and resume inspections to confirm that drawdown.
Also today, the Senate could vote on the 9/11 health care bill. That measure would provide free medical treatment to workers exposed to the toxic dangers of Ground Zero. And that includes the police and fire crews who responded to the attacks and the construction workers who worked at that site for months afterwards.
Soaking wet, winter storm clobbering the southwest this morning and the worst is coming today. Rescuers plucking people from rapids in San Diego County here and just north in the hills outside of L.A.. The potential for mud slides, hundreds of people have been told it's not safe to stay home. Don't go into that area if you don't have to.
It's been days of unrelenting rain across that region. And some places in Utah saw more than 10 inches of snow yesterday alone. Parts of neighboring Nevada actually under water. Cars stuck as muddy floodwaters continue to rage on there.
Wow. A lot of amazing pictures across the country, Rob, as we're seeing this -- the rain just pound parts of the U.S.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And it's not just localized. You know? So it's a widespread here. We've got three states. Take a look at this. You showed that video that corresponds with this sort of rainfall. (WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: All right. Rob, thanks.
MARCIANO: You bet.
PHILLIPS: And the man who wrote a how-to book for pedophiles will be in a Florida courtroom a little later today. He says he's not pedophile at all. In fact, Phillip Greaves has been talking a lot since Florida cops went to Colorado to arrest him. He said he sold and sent them the book, broke their state's obscenity law, even autographed it for them.
Some legal experts say that the charges won't stick. That the First Amendment protects that book because it contains just words, not pictures. The sheriff of Polk County, Florida, well, he's not on the same page.
CNN's Marty Savidge covering this for us.
And, Marty, this guy actually spoke to a reporter yesterday and had plenty to say. If he had a lawyer with him, my guess is that wouldn't have happened.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. It wouldn't have happened at all.
It was really a bizarre scene as you know. He's been extradited from Colorado, now brought down to Florida. While he's being driven from the airport, they run into a gaggle of reporters and has so decided well, why not? He wants to get out, he wants to talk, he wants to defend himself, so Phillip Greaves goes up and he starts talking to reporters about the book.
The name of that book, and the title says it all. "The Pedophiles Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child Lover's Code of Conduct." Anyway, he says this book is actually not a how-to. It actually can be used to try to heal those who are pedophiles.
Here's exactly what Phillip Greaves had to say to reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP GREAVES, PEDOPHILE BOOK AUTHOR: I characterized it as a book of showing people who have been improperly represented and also telling people how they can go about to improve their own lives and so that these people that are being incarcerated now can possibly be rehabilitated.
QUESTION: Do you have a message here for the sheriff of Polk County? What's your -- what would you like to say to him?
GREAVES: I don't know him. I don't know what role he's specifically playing in all of this. So I really don't want to address that.
QUESTION: Do you plan on fighting the charges?
GREAVES: Yes.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: So the sheriff down there, that's Grady Jett, he was absolutely sickened when he heard about this book and this is why he went and told his undercover officers to buy it and now what they've done is they've received it in the mail and they have charged this man with distribution of obscene material, but as you hear, there are questions about his First Amendment rights, Kyra.
He goes before the judge later today. He says he has no money. He'll have to get a court-appointed attorney to defend him.
PHILLIPS: And, you know, nobody disagrees with the fact that what he wrote is just -- it's disgusting, it's appalling.
SAVIDGE: Right.
PHILLIPS: There's obviously something wrong with this guy. But, you know, we pointed out that there are no pictures in this book. It's simply words which doesn't necessarily mean that it's violating federal law.
SAVIDGE: Right. You know, this is one of those clear examples of when we talk about the First Amendment right, the right of free speech, we all believe in it but then you get this very sickening example.
Amazon.com got a lot of heat for selling the book but they said, look, it is a freedom of speech issue. If we didn't let him sell the book, he could file a violation of his civil rights suit. So that's why many people here as much as we all agree you don't like the material, it still is an issue of free speech and that's where many attorneys say he could go free on.
PHILLIPS: Well, we will definitely follow the story, that's for sure. Marty, thank you so much.
I want to take you back live to Chicago right now. Take a look at these live pictures coming to us from our affiliate WGN. If you're wondering why there are so many firefighters on the scene, it's because they are trying to rescue two of their own.
Here's what happened early this morning. This abandoned building over on East 75th Street there in Chicago, it was -- it caught fire. So firefighters responded to put this fire out. Four of the firefighters were right next to a brick wall that had collapsed. Two of those firefighters have been rescued.
Now, what you can see, all of the colleagues have come to the scene, dozens of them, to try and rescue the other two firefighters that are trapped beneath that brick wall. It's heart wrenching when you see things like this because you just don't know what you're going to be able to find in a situation like this. And we have no word on whether those two trapped firefighters are OK. If they're speaking to those that are trying to rescue them. We're trying to get information and find out as much as possible but right now firefighters desperately trying to rescue two of their own after this abandoned building caught fire and a brick wall came tumbling down on four of them. Two rescued, two hopefully will be pulled from the rubble.
We're watching it live out of Chicago by WGN. Thank you for those live pictures. We'll stay on it.
Well, history is just moments away at the White House. President Obama is due to formally repeal the ban on gays openly serving in the U.S. military. We're going to continue watching these live pictures. The vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, up there right now, getting ready to introduce the president. And signing a historic bill.
After 17 years of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," it will be repealed. Just moments from now. About a minute away from that signing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: History being made right now at the Department of Interior. The president of the United States at the mike, about to sign the repeal for the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Seventeen years ago today -- or, 17 years ago, that ban on gays began. Today, one step forward to it ending.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am -- I am just overwhelmed. This is a very good day. And I want to thank --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: All of you. Especially the people on this stage. But each and every one of you who have been working so hard on this, members of my staff who worked so hard on this. I couldn't be prouder.
Sixty-six years ago in the dense, snow-covered forests of Western Europe, allied forces were beating back a massive assault in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. And in the final days of the fighting, a regiment in the 80th Division of Patton's 3rd Army came under fire.
The men were traveling along a narrow trail. They were exposed, and they were vulnerable. Hundreds of soldiers were cut down by the enemy. And during the firefight, a private named Lloyd Corwin tumbled 40 feet down the deep side of a ravine. And dazed and trapped, he was as good as dead.
But one soldier, a friend, turned back. With shells landing around him, amid smoke and chaos and the screams of wounded men, this soldier, this friend, scaled down the icy slope, risking his own life, to bring Private Corwin to safer ground. For the rest of his years, Lloyd credited this soldier, this friend, named Andy Lee, with saving his life, knowing he would never have made it out alone. It was a full four decades after the war, when the two friends reunited in their golden years, that Lloyd learned that the man who saved his life, his friend Andy, was gay. He had no idea. And he didn't much care.
Lloyd knew what mattered. He knew what had kept him alive, what made it possible for him to come home and start a family, and live the rest of his life. It was his friend. And Lloyd's son is with us today. And he knew that valor and sacrifice are no more limited by sexual orientation than they are by race, or by gender, or by religion, or by creed. That what made it possible for him to survive the battlefields of Europe is the reason that we are here today.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: That's the reason we are here today.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: So this morning, I am proud to sign a law that will bring an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: It is a law -- this law I'm about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend. No longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans who were forced the leave the military, regardless of their skills, no matter their bravery or their zeal, no matter their years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: In order to serve the country that they love.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: As Admiral Mike Mullen has said, our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity, as well.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: That's why I believe this is the right thing to do for our military. That's why I believe it is the right thing to do period. Now, many fought long and hard to reach this day. I want to thank the Democrats and Republicans who put conviction ahead of politics to get this done together.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: I want to recognize Nancy Pelosi.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Steny Hoyer.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And Harry Reid.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Today, we're marking a historic milestone but, also, the culmination of two of the most productive years in the history of Congress, in no small part because of their leadership and, so, we are very grateful to them.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: I want to thank Joe Lieberman and Susan --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And Susan Collins.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And I think Carl Levin's still working.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: But I want to add Carl Levin.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: They held their shoulders to the wheel in the Senate. I am so proud of Susan Davis, who's on the stage.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And a guy you might know, Barney Frank.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: They kept up the fight in the House. And I've got to acknowledge Patrick Murphy, a veteran himself --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Who helped lead the way in Congress.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: I also want to commend our military leadership. Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a topic in my first meeting with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: We talked about how to end this policy. We talked about how success in both passing and implementing this change depended on working closely with the Pentagon, and that's what we did. And two years later, I'm confident that history will remember well the courage and the vision of Secretary Gates.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Of Admiral Mike Mullen, who spoke from the heart.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And said what he believed was right.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Of General James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Deputy Secretary William Lynn, who is here.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Also, the authors of the Pentagon's review, Jeh Johnson and General Carter Ham, who did outstanding and meticulous work.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And all those who laid the groundwork for this transition. And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the men and women in this room who have worn the uniform of the United States armed services.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: I want to thank all of the patriots who are here today. All of them who were forced to hang up their uniforms as a result of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," but who never stopped fighting for this country, and who rallied, and who marched and fought for change.
I want to thank everyone here who stood with them in that fight. Because of these efforts, in the coming days, we will begin the process laid out by this law.
Now, the old policy remains in effect until Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and I certify the military's readiness to implement the repeal, and it's especially important for service members to remember that. But I've spoken to every one of the service chiefs, and they are all committed to implementing this change swiftly and efficiently.
(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: We are not going to be dragging our feet to get this done.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Now, with any change, there's some apprehension. That's natural. But as Commander in Chief, I am certain that we can effect this transition in a way that only strengthens our military readiness, and that people will look back on this moment and wonder, why was ever a source of controversy in the first place?
I have every confidence in the professionalism and patriotism of our service members. Just as they have adapted and grown stronger with each of the other changes, I know they will do so again.
I know that Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, as well as the vast majority of service members themselves share this view. And they share it based on their own experiences, including the experience of serving with dedicate dedicated, duty-bound service members who were also gay.
As one special operations war fighter said during the Pentagon's review -- this was one of my favorites. It echoes the experience of Lloyd Corwin decades earlier. "We have a gay guy in the unit. He's big. He's mean. He kills lots of bad guys."
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: "No one cared that he was gay."
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: And I think that sums up perfectly the situation.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: So, finally, I want to speak directly to the gay men and women currently serving in our military. For a long time, your service has demanded a particular kind of sacrifice. You've been asked to carry the added burden of secrecy and isolation, and all the while, you've put your lives on the line for the freedoms and privileges of citizenship that are not fully granted to you.
You're not the first to have carried this burden. For, while today marks the end of a particular struggle that has lasted almost two decades, this is a moment more than two centuries in the making.
There will never be a full accounting of the heroism of gay Americans in service to this country. Their service has been obscured in history, it's been lost to prejudices that have waned in our own lifetimes. But at every turn, at every crossroads in our past, we know gay Americans fought just as hard, gave just as much, to protect this nation and the ideals for which it stands.
There can be little doubt, there were gay soldiers who fought for American independence, who consecrated the ground at Gettysburg, who manned the trenches along the western front, who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima. Their names are etched into the walls of our memorials. There headstones dot the grounds at Arlington.
And so as the first generation to serve openly in our armed forces you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models to all who come after.
And I know that you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor, just as you have every other mission with which you've been charged.
And you need to look no further than the service men and women in this room, distinguished officers like former Navy commander, Zoe Dunning.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Marines -- Marines like Eric Alva, one of the first Americans to be injured in Iraq.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Leaders like Captain Jonathan Hopkins, who led a platoon into northern Iraq during the initial invasion, quelling an ethnic riot; earning a Bronze Star with valor.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: He was -- he was discharged only to receive e-mails and letters from his soldiers saying they'd known he was gay all along.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: And thought that he was the best commander they ever had.
There are...
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: There are a lot of stories like these, stories that only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for this country.
That's why I hope those soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who've been discharged under this discriminatory policy will seek to reenlist once the repeal is implemented.
(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: That is why I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform, your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Some of you remember I visited Afghanistan just a few weeks ago. And while I was walking along the rope line -- it was a big crowd, about 3,000 -- a young woman in uniform was shaking my hand and other people were grabbing and taking pictures. And she pulled me into a hug and she whispered in my ear, "Get 'don't ask, don't tell' done."
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And I said to her, "I promise you, I will." For...
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: For we are not a nation that says "don't ask, don't tell," we are a nation that says, "Out of many, we are one."
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot. We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Those are the ideals that generations have fought for, those are the ideals that we uphold today.
And now it is my honor to sign this bill into law.
(APPLAUSE)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Enlist us now! that's right.
(SIGNS BILL)
OBAMA: This is done.
(APPLAUSE)
PHILLIPS: You haven't heard cheers like that from the Department of Interior in a really long time, and that's because history is being made.
(CHEERS)
PHILLIPS: There you go. The president officially signing into law repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. That ban on gays serving openly was enacted 17 years ago. That policy ended the careers of 14,000 men and women in uniform. Imagine all the men and women that wanted to wear that uniform and couldn't because they couldn't live openly as gay men and women.
Now, the president signing into law the repealing of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Barbara Starr, truly a huge coup for the president, and as he put it, this is going to strengthen our national security.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: You know, indeed, Kyra. I think we saw a bit of the fiery President Obama come out there at the end of his remarks becoming very emotional, very strident saying this is not a country of "don't ask, don't tell. This is a country of one," and really making the point that the United States' military will embrace everyone, even calling for those who had been previously dismissed under "don't ask, don't tell" to reenlist in the military. Of course, they can reenlist now if they meet the physical and other qualifications for military service. It will be interesting to see, of course, how many decide that they want to.
Talking about the integrity of the U.S. military -- the U.S. military, the problem over the last 17 years if nothing else, is that people were being asked to lie about who they were. And lying is something that is so antithetical to what the U.S. military's about. Reassuring everyone that this will be handled smoothly and calling for the implementation to happen swiftly and efficiently.
So here at the Pentagon they now this morning have their marching orders from the commander in chief. Look at all the rules, look at the regulations. See what has to be changed. See what has to be adjusted. But get on with it.
There's been a lot of chatter around the Pentagon, oh, it could take up to a year to get everything in place. I think the president very adamantly saying he wants this done as fast and as responsibly as it possibly can. There's going to be bumps in getting all the rules sorted out about benefits, dependents, all of that. But the president really making it clear, now that he's signed the law, he wants to get this whole process moving, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. No doubt. He made it clear he didn't want to be, as he put it, we're not going to be dragging our feet. But still, reality check here. There are education programs that need to go forward. They have to figure out certain issues with regard to living conditions and all of that --
STARR: Right.
PHILLIPS: -- before this can go. It is not like tomorrow, everything's going to be great and everything's going to be set and everybody's going to be happy about this. I mean, this could seriously take months and months, Barbara, to actually get settled. Correct?
STARR: You're absolutely right, Kyra. There's a good deal of work that needs to be done. They have to go through all of the Pentagon bureaucracy and rules about all of this.
They have already determined there will not be separate housing, separate barracks, if you will, separate shower facilities. This country had long ago moved beyond any concept of separate but equal. In the U.S. military, everyone will be treated alike. So, that is the one thing that seems clear.
What remains to a large extent to be sorted out are some of the very technical questions, I think, about benefits and dependents. There is the Defensive Marriage Act in this country, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. So, the question of same-sex partners, health care benefits, health care benefits for dependents, who is a dependent, some of these are the very technical questions that still will be worked on in this period for several months to come. There will be training materials, education materials to the military forces out there around the world.
All of this part of effort so that when it does happen, it goes smoothly. But still, it is going to take sometime, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And we're going to keep talking about it all throughout the morning. We have got some active -- well, not active right now, but some very, you could say active in the advocacy front, for repealing "don't ask, don't tell." Both men and women, gay members of our military joining us coming up in just about a half hour and take that live and have a great discussion with them monitoring this history in the making.
Barbara Starr, thanks so much.
Something else I want to bring your attention to now. Live pictures out of Chicago, Illinois we're monitoring. This is via WGN. Scotty, I don't know if we can go to that WLS live picture, but what's so compelling about this, there we go.
If you're wondering what all these firefighter are scurrying to do, they're trying to rescue two of their own. And this is just been heartwrenching to watch. I've been following these live pictures. And you'll notices the helicopters moving off the pictures every so often because -- my guess is, just knowing journalistic responsibility, they are searching for two of their own and would like to be respectful if the outcome isn't good. They don't want to be carrying that live. And we are on delay, as well so that doesn't happen.
We are hoping it's good news here, but there's dozens of firefighters that you see, working faster and faster trying to rescue two of their own. After this abandoned building caught fire earlier this morning, a brick wall came tumbling down. It trapped four of those firefighters. Two were rescued, two are still now trapped.
And here's what makes this so tough as well. The weather conditions, 23 degrees right now. Eleven degrees wind chill. And the snow is picking up. And at first, you saw them digging with their hands. They've been lifting parts of that brick wall and digging feverishly there in this area. Now they have brought in buckets, filling up bucks. Trying to dig through all of that mud and brick, hoping to find two of their firefighters that have been buried alive in that rubble.
We are going to keep following these live pictures, and we are all keeping our fingers crossed that there's going to be a good outcome.
Here's the best news of all. We are actually finally seeing a tow truck come in that's going to help with the digging process. We are watching this live unfold for you.
Taking a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Once again, live pictures out of Chicago as firefighters are desperately trying to rescue two of their own that have been buried beneath a brick wall after an abandoned building caught fire. What's making this so difficult -- adding to the difficulty of trying to find their two colleagues is the weather; 23 degrees, wind chill 11 degrees. And the snow is just picking up and becoming more and more fierce. They're digging with their hands, they are using buckets and we just saw some type of a truck being moved in, a front end loader, (INAUDIBLE).
To help with the digging process which may make it a lot quicker but it's a -- it's a tough story to watch. As we see dozens of firefighters there trying to find two of their own. That's in Chicago, Illinois. We are keeping our eye on it for you.
We hear two terms that you don't normally hear used together, out of the box thinking and al Qaeda. We have heard from this offshoot of al Qaeda before that conjured up some unusual tactics in the past and apparently were busy with a new one.
And CNN's Brian Todd is here to tell us about yet another unconventional terror tactic this group apparently has considered. Brian, is this one of the more unusual threats, you would say?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is, Kyra. At least one of the more unusual ones that we've seen recently, CNN has learned that associates of the group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have contemplated an unconventional but potentially deadly tactic to attack the U.S. And that is spreading poison on salad bars and buffets at American hotels and restaurants.
U.S. officials we spoke to sought to down play this threat. Saying, this came into the threat stream months ago and that it was more of a discussion of tactics than an actual plot. But they do say those associates of that group AQAP, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula considered the tactic of placing the agents racine and cyanide into food supplies.
Department of Homeland Security officials tell us in response U.S. officials met through regular channels with representatives of the hotel and restaurant industries to discuss the possibility that terrorists could be targeting the food supply and to make sure they took steps to protect against it.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said, quote, "We are not going to comment on reports of specific terrorist planning. Al Qaeda has publicly stated its intention to carry out unconventional attacks for well over a decade and AQAP propaganda in the past year has made similar reference. We get reports about the different kinds of terrorist attacks that terrorists would like to carry out that are frequently beyond their assessed capability."
But terrorism experts we've been speaking to have told us it wouldn't be that difficult for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula especially to deploy people to spray salad bars. That was the group that devised two toner cartridge bombs in an unsuccessful attempt to blow up two cargo planes just a couple of months ago and is believed to be behind the failed attempt to blow up a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Detroit last Christmas -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, now an attack like this has been carried out on American soil before, right Brian?
TODD: That's right, back in 1984 followers of a cult sprayed several salad bars and buffet tables in the Oregon area, in a town in Oregon, with salmonella and hundreds of people got ill from that. No one was killed but it did disrupt the local economy and had kind of a chilling effect on the local population for quite some time and that's the kind of thing that terrorists are after in these situations.
You know, it's the -- the shock effect, it's the disruption to the economy. That's a by-product of this kind of attack.
PHILLIPS: All right. Brian Todd thanks.
TODD: Thanks Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Eighty-nine back to back wins for the UConn women's basketball team. The Lady Huskies played their waves to the record books chasing down a men's record. And one stand-out player is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "you play like a girl". We're taking a look at the science behind the streak and this unbelievable basketball player.
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PHILLIPS: Following a lot of developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr with the historical story of the day -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we just saw President Obama signing the law to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" so why is it still in place? We'll explain coming up.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. The Food and Drug Administration finally gets some teeth. I'll have that story and other medical headlines at the top of the hour. ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano, on the CNN Severe Weather Center, the storm just won't quit out west and it's finally moving to the east. The full forecast is coming up in the next hour -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.
Also, next hour an ex-con turned angel giving nearly two million kids the ultimate gift, a way to reconnect with a parent in jail.
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PHILLIPS: Oh I love this story. The University of Connecticut women's basketball team on a hot streak, the hottest streak in NCAA basketball history; these women have won 89 straight games. Unbeatable since 2008 and last night's win against Florida put the Lady Huskies over the top, breaking the record set -- ready for this, by the UCLA men's team in the early '70s.
One of UConn's biggest fans? President Obama who actually gave the head coach a phone call right after the big victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENO AURIEMMA, HEAD COACH, WOMENS BASKETBALL TEAM UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT: Mr. President, I really appreciate that. It's -- it's an incredible thing that these kids have done. And -- we owe you a little bit of gratitude. That -- that lesson you gave them on the White House basketball court really paid off. So I appreciate, I appreciate you doing that for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Ok that's all great, right? But let's talk about this senior. Mya Moore. Ok, she scored 41 points, it's pretty awesome but here's the deal. The word phenom (ph) doesn't even cut it. This woman rivals NBA players.
Sports science on ESPN actually broke it down. It's great if you haven't seen this video. Her standing vertical leap, 26 inches, just two inches under the NBA average. And the show also analyzed one pickpocket move. Her lightning quick hands moved five and a half feet in 284 milliseconds.
Why is that a big deal? Because it's faster than a rattlesnake.
That brings us to our "AM Extra" John Roberts live in New York. I tell you what, John -- yes, exactly. You know what, for all those guys that say, oh, "you play like a girl", you know what? Right in there. Go Mya. I love her magic.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: I would love to play like any member of that team because I'm horrible at basketball. I can be standing right in front of the hoop and not get it anywhere near the net.
(CROSSTALK) PHILLIPS: Ok, no, no. Who cares about you --
ROBERTS: But it really is --
PHILLIPS: Let's talk about Mya. Let's stay focused on the story.
ROBERTS: You were just asking. You just said it -- redefined the whole phrase. I'm just saying, I have a great appreciate for what the Huskies can do. They are really incredible.
I mean John Wooden (ph) was the coach of the UCLA Bruins who took them to that streak of 88. His grandson was in the stands last night, watching this and he said that his father would have really appreciated what the Huskies can do. They play a game that is probably more true to the original ideals of basketball than the men do.
I put that question to a Renee Montgomery who's a former member of the UConn Huskies. She's now with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. I said do you really think that the women play a game that is more true to the original fundamentals of basketball than the men? Here's what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RENEE MONTGOMERY, FORMER MEMBER, UCONN HUSKIES: I think they say that because women, we still have to rely on fundamentals. You know men and a lot of times, they're so athletic that if they throw a bad pass, someone is athletic enough to catch it. Or they throw an alley-oops and they're dunking.
And they're playing above the rim a lot of times that women, we have to support each other. We have to rely on each other to play a team game rather than just a one-on-one basketball style.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: That could be true for many people on the team and many people throughout the league. But not for Mya Moore; she does a lot of playing above the rim. She is just an incredible phenomenon.
What's really interesting, Kyra, is that Geno Auriemma who is the coach of the UConn Huskies said that they were getting a lot of attention. This was after game 88. He really unloaded on the press and on the sport in general saying he doesn't think that this much attention would be paid to a team if they were going up against a record that had been set by a women's team.
Because they were looking at the record of a men's team, he thought that there was a lot more interest. And he actually thought that people were trying to sort of bet against his Huskies wanting that UCLA record to prevail. But they proved last night that records are designed to fall and that one fell.
PHILLIPS: There you go. Even a little history in the stands, too, with the Wooden family, which just goes to show what this means and it's definitely historical. We're going to watch (INAUDIBLE), continue to play above the rim. She's just amazing. John, thanks.
