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Holiday Terror Threat; Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Aired December 22, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We'll begin this hour with breaking news out of Chicago. Live pictures of an abandoned building on Chicago's south side. Our affiliate WGN reporting that three out of a possible four firefighters believed to be trapped inside have been rescued and rushed to area hospitals. No word on their condition at this point. Rescue crews and dozens of firefighters still sifting through that rubble. That fire broke out about 6:54 a.m. this morning and fire crews are having problems with frozen hydrants and within 11 min minutes came a may day call indicating the trapped firefighters were inside.
23 degrees right now. 11 degrees windchill. The snow picking up. We're going to keep you updated on this story.
And by the way, how is this for just irony. Today is the 100 year anniversary of the stockyard fire in Chicago that killed several firefighters.
Well, the weather is absolutely punishing southern California right now. The rain just won't let up. Two inches falling per hour in some places. This is Laguna Beach. Police actually shut down most of downtown because of the flooding, mud slides, flood water, debris threatening houses in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Flash flooding is a big threat in San Diego county as well. Several other counties in so much trouble that the governor has now made an emergency declaration.
CNN's Paul Vercammen reports from La Canada, from the La Canada, Flintridge area. It's about 20 minutes from downtown L.A..
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So far so good in these foothill communities below a major burn area in southern California. No mudslides. But still more rain is on the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERCAMMEN (voice-over): After days of rain, things are going from bad to worse in southern California. It's been raining for almost a week, causing flooding and mudslides, forcing officials to issue evacuation orders in some foothill areas.
DEPUTY CHIEF MIKE METRO, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPT.: I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this storm that's bearing down upon us right now. Some say more rain than we have seen in the last 10 years.
VERCAMMEN: More than 10 inches of rain has fallen in parts of southern California causing accidents and in some cases, drivers abandoned their cars in floodwaters. It's all due to a series of storms from the Pacific trailing along what's known as the Pineapple Express. The storms have also brought more than a dozen feet of snow in some parts of the Sierra Nevada. The rain has also triggered heavy flooding outside Las Vegas.
In the town of Mesquite, residents were encouraged to voluntarily evacuate on Tuesday. And a state of emergency has been declared. For many along the West Coast, the holidays fast approaching wrapped in uncertainty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've got all my Christmas presents in the trunk and if they call they call. You know, if we have to delay Christmas by a few days, that's fine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERCAMMEN: A state of emergency has been declared in a half a dozen southern California counties. Now back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Paul Vercammen, thanks so much. Our Rob Marciano also watching all these for us.
So Rob, what do you think? Is it going to let up? Is it going to get worse?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's going to get briefly worse and then let up.
PHILLIPS: OK.
MARCIANO: So we're just getting -- try to push power through this, the last half of the storm is beginning to make its way towards the West Coast. There it is. That's the last surge. Behind it though is some colder air and that could produce some thunderstorms and some of those could become severe later on today.
So the heaviest amounts of rain right now are really focused on the extreme southern California, actually the Mexican border as well, just south of San Diego, east of Los Angeles we have seen and south of Los Angeles, we've seen some mudslides and flash flooding across eastern parts of Orange County. And then now moving up into Vegas. This is where some of the heavier rains have been the past 12 hours and flash flood warning out for much of the Las Vegas Valley.
I think we've just got some video coming in the CNN NEWSROOM highlighting just that dangerous situation here. You get a quarter of an inch of rain in Vegas and that produces problems. We already saw half an inch a day before yesterday. We got more rain on top of that. And this city and the surrounding areas just cannot handle this sort of moisture. And we expect the rains to continue in southern Nevada for another 12 hours, potentially steadily.
So the flash flood watches and flash flood warnings are out now for southern parts of Nevada and eastern parts of southern California with this system that's about to push through. I think once we get through tonight then we will turn the spigot off. But until then, the danger is certainly high. And the freezing levels are dropping with this colder air. So we've got a number of winter storm warnings that are posted.
We could see one to four feet additionally across an area that have already seen three and four feet. That is great news for obviously skiers starting to build that base and skiers that are already out there. Avalanche danger is certainly high. Eastern half of the country not looking bad at all. Actually just seasonably cool but precipitation levels will be low. And this storm that will push east, Kyra, will likely stay below the major cities as far as producing havoc for winter travel. So at least right now we're looking good. Back over to you.
PHILLIPS: All right. We'll keep talking. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right.
PHILLIPS: And we are expecting any minute now the White House press briefing to begin. Possibly the president coming out. We're not quite sure. Maybe he will take questions regarding today's historic signing of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." But we are monitoring this and we will take it live as soon as it happens.
And as we mentioned, just moments ago, the president did formally sign that repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," enacted in 1993. That policy allowed gay men and lesbians to serve in the military but only if they kept their sexuality a secret. Well, since it was put in place, that policy forced the discharge of some 14,000 men and women in uniform. It will likely take several months to implement now.
A recent poll shows the public is overwhelmingly in favor of the repeal. According to the "Washington Post," ABC News poll, 77 percent of Americans believe homosexuals should openly serve in the military. 21 percent oppose the idea. Here is what President Obama said just about an hour ago at the signing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This law I'm about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risked their lives to defend. No longer will our country -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Straight to the White House. Robert Gibbs beginning that White House briefing. Let's see if the president comes out live.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: ... around the holiday season to insure security as well as to discuss some actions that have been taken over the course of the past year after incidents like December 25th and Fort Hood. And I will turn it over to John and we will take a couple questions afterwards.
JOHN BRENNAN, CHIEF COUNTERTERROR ADVISER TO THE PRES.: OK. Thank you, Robert. Good morning, everyone. As we enter the peak of another holiday season, the Homeland Security, law enforcement and intelligence communities are collectively focused to do everything they can to prevent terrorists from disrupting the safety and security of Americans as they travel, spend time with family and friends and enjoy holiday festivities both at home and abroad.
We remain vigilant to attempts by Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations to carry out cowardly attacks against innocent men women and children. And we are working very closely with other governments, to share all threat information immediately and to coordinate closely our counter terrorism and security activities.
These international partnerships are critically important to our ability to identify would be terrorists and to thwart their plans before they are able to act. In response to President Obama's direction, senior officials from departments and agencies met yesterday at the White House to review the latest threat reporting and to coordinate security and counter terrorism plans that will be in place during the holiday season.
Finally, President Obama has been provided an update on the many steps that have been taken over the past year to enhance our counter terrorism capabilities as a result of the after action reviews on several terrorism and security related incidents including the tragic shooting at Fort Hood Texas. The attempted bombings of passenger and cargo aircraft as well as Times Square in New York City as well as a variety of arrest and disruptions of terrorist plots in the homeland.
These enhancements include protocols for strengthened cooperation and information sharing between the Department of Defense and the FBI. Clarified analytic responsibilities and new analytic training courses within the counter terrorism community. Improvements and refinements in the watch listing process as well as information technology systems that service the counter terrorism community. The accelerated deployment of advanced imaging technology at domestic airports and advances in cargo screening and international aviation security cooperation.
Protecting the American people from the scourge of terrorism is an ongoing and constantly evolving process. It is the goal of the counter terrorism community to a stay several steps ahead of our terrorist adversaries so we can stop them dead in their tracks before they are able to carry out small scale or potentially devastating attacks. That is what the president has corrected. That is what the American people rightly expect and deserve and that is what we are bound and determined to do. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Brennan, just wondering if you have any - I know, you can't talk specifically about any intelligence but is there anything out there that you know about at this point that's kind of driving this stepped up effort?
BRENNAN: Well, as we have discussed previously we are concerned about Al Qaeda's plans to carry out attacks and the Department of State had issued an advisory about Europe and about plans by Al Qaeda to try to carry out attacks there. We do not limit our focus to one geographic area. That's why we are constantly looking at whether or not there is something that is directed at the homeland here. We always receive reporting. What we try to do is investigate it and to scrutinize it very carefully so we need to be on top of our game particularly during the holiday season but throughout the year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. It seems as though in the past there was a primary focus on a single catastrophic attack and it sounds like that has been shifting to a concern about multiple small attacks. Is that an accurate description of what the landscape is right now?
BRENNAN: Well, I think we're concerned and we are staying vigilant about both ends of that spectrum as far as the large scale attack as well as smaller scale ones. But I think the enhancements that we have made to our security over the past decade has made it more difficult for terrorists to conduct these large scale attacks. We have degraded their capabilities. We have degraded their training capabilities and ability to plot and move operatives.
So what we have seen recently is increased focus, I think, on the part of terrorist groups to try to carry out some of these smaller scale attacks. And so we are staying very focused on our ability to detect those types of attacks and stop them whether or not they are by individuals or they are part of a larger organizational effort.
Mark.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Brennan, should your statement alarm Americans or reassure them that they will be safe?
BRENNAN: I think what the statement is intended to do is to reassure Americans that there are fellow Americans who are working in the Homeland Security, law enforcement and intelligence communities, working around the clock to protect their fellow citizens. We will not rest because we know that Al Qaeda and other organizations are still out there. We are going to do our best to disrupt these plots and their plans before they ever make it to the homeland.
And so what we want to do is to let the American people know that we are on the job. We're staying vigilant. We are working with our partners, and not just our international partners with our state and local partners as well and we will do so through the holiday season and beyond.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just to follow up on (INAUDIBLE) point, (INAUDIBLE) is there a particular concern during the holidays given the enormity of passenger travel?
BRENNAN: Well, I think as you pointed out there is a fair amount of volume that is going through the different transportation sector whether it be aviation, rail and other areas. So what we want to do is to make sure that we are able to provide the security to the traveling public.
We also want to make sure that we run to ground any type of report out there about a threat to the American people. So, I think as Secretary Napolitano said the other day as far as something specific and credible, we don't see that. There is a constant stream of reporting throughout the course of the year about Al Qaeda's plans. Sometimes we have that warning. We're not going to wait for a tactical warning. We're going to be poised every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Brennan, as you know from last time the Christmas day bomber there was intelligence gathered in the field that wasn't clearly shared, with the appropriate people (INAUDIBLE) to execution. Are you confident now that that situation won't happen again?
BRENNAN: I'm absolutely confident that the deficiencies identified in the system as a result of the after action review of the Christmas Day bomber have been addressed and some of the reasons why certain information was not shared, certain information did not make it through system. We have taken steps to ensure that that type of problem does not happen again.
So one of the things that President Obama has insisted that we do on each of these incidents is to take a look back and to see where the system worked well. Where it fell down. What changes we could make either in information technology or in business processes.
And so I'm confident that those deficiencies we identified as a result of previous reviews are being addressed and we are in a much better position today than we were last year at that time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Monday, there were 12 individuals in the UK who were arrested on a suspected terrorist plot. I was wondering if you could tell us anything more that we know about that? Or anything more about their intention. And also if the problem of intelligence sharing has been solved, if you could explain why the director of national intelligence Clapper did not know at 3:45 on Monday, about this arrest.
In an interview with Diane Sawyer that you and Secretary Napolitano did, how that's possible that hours later you had not been told -
BRENNAN: I would be pleased to address that question.
Today -
Let me address your first question first and I will defer to my British counter parts to provide information about their investigation. We are in constant contact with the British. We were since the beginning of this take-down of the individuals in Britain to work with them closely to find out whether or not there is any nexus to the homeland. Find out what we can about their motivations and intentions and where their operational planning was going. So that is ongoing.
On the second issue, Jim Clapper is I think the consummate DNI. He was working on developments in the Korean peninsula, in terms of political military development. He was focused on trying to provide support to the Congress as far as the S.T.A.R.T. treaty deliberations were concerned. He was engaged in a variety of classified matters. Should he have been briefed by a staff on those arrests? Yes. I know there was breathless attention by the media about these arrests and it was constantly on the news networks.
I am glad that Jim Clapper is not sitting in front of the TV 24 hours a day and monitoring what is coming out of the media. What he is doing, he is focusing on those intelligence issues that the president expects him to focus on and to make sure that we don't have conflict in different parts of the world. He continues to focus on those. And his not being briefed yesterday afternoon this is something that they have acknowledged that he should have been briefed on. They have taken steps to correct that. Now, if that happens again, I am sure that he is going to be (INAUDIBLE) as far as the takedown overseas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is one quick followup. Is that - by implications, are you suggesting that the arrest or the threat was not serious enough to have risen to that level?
BRENNAN: No, what I'm suggesting was there was the sharing of the information from the British to U.S. officials. We were in touch with the British throughout the day and continued to be so. There was no action that the DNI had to take. There was nothing that was required of him to do so he was focused on those matters that required his direct and personal attention. And he was giving full attention to those matters. The president was very appreciative that he was focused on that. There is going to be a continued interaction on the British on this. There maybe things that the DNI person will need to be involved in but as of that time, there was nothing that the DNI needed to do or to be engaged in that would have required him to set aside other pressing intelligence matters to get briefed on things that were being put out in the press.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, gentlemen.
Questions?
You said there is currently no credible specific imminent threat? Is that correct?
GIBBS: We will send around the transcript which will have the answer to both Dan and the earlier questions. And I hope you guys all should have the paper which will also come electronically going through as you heard John say the corrective actions and the result of the president's asking for after action reports on incidents and disruptions that have taken place over the course of more than a year. Ben?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I may - I want to see and feel more security during the holiday travel? Are you giving us this in part to give them a heads up about that and give an explanation why?
GIBBS: No, I think you guys over blew that when we did that at Thanksgiving. So I think that's sort of taken cared of. I think we wanted to give a sense, I think importantly of what has - what has been done as a result of what John mentioned last year as a failure in our security and intelligence apparatus relating to the attempted bombing on Christmas day.
I think it's important for the American people to understand that as John said we take the threat enormously seriously. There is a huge part of our government that is focused on those threats and on their security. We wanted those to be aware of the steps that have been taken in the intervening weeks and months to address them.
I do not anticipate that people will see or feel an increase in or an inconvenience in their travel plans. But suffice it to say, we are taking all the necessary steps and measures across not just air travel, but other modes of transportation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Robert, can I cut in on that?
So are the recently initiated searches of bags here in the D.C. Metro part of the program? And would we expect to see that in other transit -
GIBBS: I don't want to talk about specifics. Obviously, John and others look at - look at intelligence and reporting across. As I said many different modes of transportation. And many different, are aware of and acting on information across a broad spectrum.
To my knowledge this is the first time since right after 9/11 there have been searches of bags in public transit systems and it is happening at this holiday, right at this time. So -
GIBBS: Again, we are going to take whatever steps and actions are necessary to insure a heightened sense of protection. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe my recollection is wrong but isn't it true that aside from the underwear bombing attempt last Christmas day, we in Washington, (INAUDIBLE) get breathless each holiday time about increased security?
GIBBS: I don't know that your breathlessness is limited simply to holidays observed on a calendar but -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are - the attempted attacks have been random it seems.
GIBBS: I think that John would probably tell you there is quite frankly a little bit of both. Look, obviously, you have around the holiday season whether it's - whether it's Thanksgiving or whether it's around Christmas. You have - you know, you have a huge increase in just the volume of those that are moving around. You have, as you mentioned, at other times, you know Times Square, or the AQAP plot involving cargo planes, which is not, as you mentioned, not affixed necessarily to a holiday.
So that's why I think one of the points that John wanted to make was regardless of the day on the calendar, there's a vigilance that must be maintained around the clock in order to insure that we are doing al that we possibly can and taking the steps that are necessary to rightly protect the American people and to inform them of threats that might be had outside of the homeland. So again, this was largely an informational briefing on John's part to give you a sense of what we're doing. Ben?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a question about the signing ceremony on "don't ask don't tell," I'm struck by the president saying at the top that he was overwhelmed and obviously, there was a lot of emotions in that ceremony. (INAUDIBLE) for many years, is that one of the more emotional times you have seen him (INAUDIBLE) in that way.
GIBBS: I think watching it on television as well as I was not there. I wish I would have been. But I think the - this is something that the president has fought long and hard for and believe is needed to be done for many years. Again, when I started working for him in April of 2004, and as part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate, he had pledged to vote for the repeal of this policy because he thought it was wrong.
I think today represents the beginning of a process that ends that policy. The president has occasion to speak with Admiral Mullen and several of the joint chiefs yesterday. To discuss what is now being implemented in terms of a working group to - that will lead to the certification by the Secretary of Defense, the chair of the Joint Chiefs and the president that the policy is officially ended.
The president's belief in discussing with the chiefs is that this is a matter of months, and he looks forward to that happening. I do think it was - I do think this was one of - this is an accomplishment that he is enormously proud of and happy that it was one that was not just the - not just the work of one party but by those across party lines that believed that the policy was wrong. Didn't make any sense for national security and is now in the process of being ended.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just one other on that. Some of the advocates who have fought for this for so long see this as an opening as greater justice for their cause. Do you see that as well? The way I see this is the country is ready for more equality on this front?
GIBBS: I will say this. I think whether you look at the attitudal study that was done at the Pentagon or you look at any assortment of public polling conducted by many of your news organizations I think it is clear to see that the attitudes of - the attitudes of Americans about who should or who could serve in the military has clearly changed over the course of the past several years. What that leads to in the future, I think is harder to tell. Because some of this stuff obviously has to go through a divided Congress. Yes ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two things. One on S.T.A.R.T., Harry Reid said he expected it to be ratified by 2:00. Can you talk any more about how many calls the president has made?
GIBBS: We will have more on that when the treaty is ratified.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And on North Korea and South Korea today announced that -
PHILLIPS: Also on the White House agenda today, of course, President Obama officially signing into law the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell policy." We're going to talk more about that with the exact people it impacts just about two minutes. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well some of those top stories that had us all talking this morning. The end is finally in sight for rain-soaked Californians. The water works beginning to taper off. A half dozen southern California counties still under an emergency declaration.
More than 230 residents in L.A. already ordered to evacuate. Flooding, mudslides still a major concern.
And in New York, Spiderman in the new Broadway show wasn't quite able to pull off his characteristic moves. The stuntman fell 20 to 30 feet from the stage Monday. He is hospitalized in serious condition, we're told. An actor's union blames the fall on human error and says it's working with other agencies to create a safety plan to address the issue.
And it's official. President Obama signed the repeal of "don't ask don't tell" into law. After a 17-year ban, the president's signature means gay men and lesbians will be able to openly serve in the military. But you won't see the changes right away. The White House says it will take several months to actually implement the law.
The White House invited our next two guests to attend the signing because the repeal will literally change their lives.
Major Margaret Whit, a decorated flight nurse who was dismissed from the military under that policy. And also joining her is Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, a decorated fighter pilot who also faced the end of his career because of the ban. They're both joining me now live from the Washington bureau. Great to have you both.
Victor, we have been talking for such a long time about this. I finally get to meet your inspiration, Margie. But Victor let's start with you. What did it feel like in the room? I have never seen the Department of Interior so full of cheers and screams from the audience.
LT. COL. VICTOR FEHRENBACH, U.S. AIR FORCE: It was overwhelming. From the two weeks ago the Senate vote that failed, where I had really lost faith and hope. I did not expect this day to come. And then finally, to be in the Senate chamber on Friday, that is the most emotional day I had. I was overcome there.
And today, it has been several days where it's been almost surreal that this is really happening. And finally to see the president today to put ink to paper and sign this into law, it has been a tremendous day. It made it real for me and for tens of thousands of others that are currently serving.
And I'll just add that he made a promise to me a year-and-a-half ago. He looked me in the eye and said, "I'm going to get this done." There were times over that two-and-a-half years that I doubted that, but it looks like today the president always believed it. He did get this done. He signed the bill, and he pounded his fist on top of it, and said, "This is done."
PHILLIPS: And what's interesting is we have known you through the years as being a very confident and strong advocate for repealing "don't ask, don't tell." But what a lot of us didn't know is the woman sitting right next to you was your inspiration. Tell us why.
FEHRENBACH: Well, she really was. This -- my ordeal started in May 2008. For anyone who has ever had to go through this law and had this affect their lives, they know what that can do to you. And that first week, I was crushed. I mean, I wanted to quit. I wanted to give up. Not just on my career - I didn't want anyone to know about this -- there were times when I thought I was going give up on life.
And someone told me about a week after that told me that there was an Air Force major up in Washington State who had just won a case. She had beaten "don't ask, don't tell" and has been continuing to fight for several years, and I needed to read about her case. That it might affect me.
And I did. I read about the case and I started to look it up on the Internet. And that was the first glimmer of hope that I had that someone could speak out. Someone could fight and win. So, Margie has been an inspiration to me. From the first day, our cases have been intertwined.
Other leaders, like "Grethe" Cammermeyer, obviously, she has been an inspiration for millions of people for over 20 years now. And just others that have spoken out. There was no way I could speak out if there were not people who came before me to lay the groundwork, and Margie was one of those people.
PHILLIPS: And Margie, why did you decide to fight this battle so hard and so publicly?
MAJOR MARGIE WITT, U.S. AIR FORCE: Well, like Victor said, I think -- because I had the opportunity to do it, for one thing. Not everybody can really be capable of doing that. I had many people that were willing to help me.
But because of people like "Grethe" Cammermeyer, who came before, there are so many folks that have come before and really showed courage and strength and, you know, honor.
PHILLIPS: And Margie, we have heard Victor's story many a times. He was outed by another party. And that was really, really tough because he had such a great relationship with his squadron and everybody with whom he worked.
Take us back to how that happened for you. Is that something that you think about, like that moment when it happened and how devastating it was for you?
WITT: Oh, absolutely. It was a devastating day in my life. I think I probably felt a lot of the same emotions that Victor did. Came as a complete surprise to me. I had not told anyone I had been serving what I thought under "don't ask, don't tell" in the proper manner. So, it was quite a surprise.
PHILLIPS: How did it happen?
WITT: My commander came and got me and walked me down a hall to a conference room and said there was somebody that wanted to speak to me. I thought it was about something else that was going on on base. I stepped into the room, and she closed the door and he introduced himself as a JAG and said what's your relationship with this individual? And I was absolutely shocked.
PHILLIPS: And Margie, do you think it's been harder for gay men or gay women dealing with this policy? Or do you think it's definitely been an equal struggle? Because I'm sure there's differences, right? for both men and women?
(LAUGHTER)
WITT: Of course there's differences. You know, I think it does depend on the individual. There are more women, however, that have been discharged under this policy because of being -- having it used against them in many circumstances when advances were refused and things like that. I think many of us experienced that.
PHILLIPS: Finally, and Victor, I will let you answer this -- there is obviously an overwhelming amount of support to repeal this policy. But of course there are still critics out there. And you know, last time we talked, we talked about the survey that was done -- led to try to implement how this would work and how would you deal with those critics and those that are against homosexuality in the military. The chaplains being very vocal about that, as we both know.
And I am thinking of the one quote that came through. A Marine was quoted in that survey that done talking about the comfort level. He had said, "I cannot rely on someone on whom I do not feel comfortable with, nor can they trust me. A lack of trust turns into a lack of cohesion, which eventually leads to mission failure."
What do you say to those men and women who are still struggling with this change?
FEHRENBACH: Just from my personal experience, I found that once you know someone who is gay and you fight alongside them and you go to combat and you bleed and cry with them when you see your friends may die or get injured in combat -- once you go war with someone and you form this bond. And that bond goes beyond any kind of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion.
I mean, we all have people we are not comfortable with that we don't want to work with or fly in combat with everyday. But you know what? The difference is when you put on the uniform, there may be somebody I don't like or I don't want to go to war with, but at the end of the day because they want to serve their country and they believe in the same values that I do, I would jump in front of a bullet for that person.
And that's all we care about. Again, we are disciplined. We are dedicated to the mission, and we love our country and we just want to serve. And those are the people that need to be serving in the military today. This is a great day.
PHILLIPS: Well, and I know that Margie feels the same way. Major Margaret Witt and Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach. Didn't know how long this was going to take, but we are finally talking about what we are talking about for a number of years. And the energy and smiles on your faces says a lot.
Thank you so much to both of you for being with me today.
FEHRENBACH: Thanks, Kyra. Merry Christmas.
WITT: Thanks, Kyra. Thanks very much.
PHILLIPS: Same to you both.
Breaking news right now. Want to show you live pictures. This is coming from our affiliate WCVB. We're being told that one person has been killed in a small plane crash at a central Massachusetts airport. This is according to the FAA. Apparently the crash happened there at Spencer Airport, which is located about five miles west of Worcester. It's not immediately clear what kind of plane was involved. As soon as we get more information, we will bring it to you.
(AUDIO GAP) -- a news conference out of Chicago, Illinois, we are being told in just a few minutes. Is this still a live picture, guys? This is the tape.
All right. This is video from about 45 minutes ago. We don't have a live picture at this point. But firefighters were desperately trying to rescue two of their own after four had become trapped in an abandoned building that had collapsed after a fire.
It happened this morning, about 7:00 a.m. this morning. The four firefighters were trapped under a brick wall that had collapsed. Two were rescued, rushed to the hospital. Those firefighters still trying to figure out where the other two are, digging feverishly there in the rubble. We hope to know more in the news conference coming up in a just couple of minutes. We will take it live.
We'll be right back. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: There is nothing quite like a kid's smile on Christmas, unwrapping gifts from Santa and loved ones. But there are thousands of kids out there who might have flown under Santa's radar, if not for a little help from one charity. There are innocent children of men and women behind bars and Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree is reaching out to help them reconnect with their families this holiday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See something you want?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The smiles and laughter from these children may be one of the best gifts a parent serving time can receive. Angel Tree has brightened their Christmas and it all started with a convicted felon named Mary Kay Beard.
MARY KAY BEARD, ANGEL TREE FOUNDER/PRISON FELLOWSHIT: The headlines referred to me primarily as the Bonnie Parker of Alabama. And my specialty was a double barrel sawed-off shotgun, which I carried in a very attractive attache case.
PHILLIPS: Mary Kay Beard was known as a safe cracker, a gun packing bank robber who made the FBI's ten most wanted list. She was arrested in 1972, and while serving time, she noticed her fellow inmates, especially the women with children saved, sorted, and traded most donations they received.
BEARD: As I looked at the women, I realized the number of piles they had organized corresponded with the number of children they had, and that's what they planned to give their own children at Christmastime.
PHILLIPS: After her release, she began working with Prison Fellowship Ministries.
BEARD: My first assignment was create a Christmas project. Well, I knew instantly that it was the children that we need to do something for, not the inmate.
PHILLIPS: Since 1982, her idea has grown, now helping an estimated 1.7 million children who have parents behind bars.
KEONNA SMITH, CHILD OF PRISONER: It is exciting because I wasn't expecting to get like a lot of gifts.
PHILLIPS: Children like 10-year-old Keonna Smith.
CASSANDRA GRANT, CAREGIVER: You know, he is away. But he's still making it possible to still be a part of her life.
PHILLIPS: But Keonna is not the only one. Each child at this Angel Tree Christmas party has received gifts, a token of love on behalf of an incarcerated parent.
NATOSHIA QUANDER, FORMER INMATE: We're not there.
PHILLIPS: Natoshia Quander signed up her four sons for Angel Tree Christmas while in prison. She was released in July and is grateful for the support her family received. QUANDER: They are doing something which I couldn't do. They're helping me out. I couldn't be there in presence, but I was there in spirit.
PHILLIPS: Mary Kay says her mission meets every child's need. The need to feel loved by parents who can't be with them during the holidays.
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PHILLIPS: This is a group that has helped families like the Clevelands. Chris Cleveland smoked his first joint when he was just a preteen, kicking off 30 years of drug abuse and dozens of arrests. He has a son he that he loves very much, Christopher, but he couldn't seem to get it right. They spoke just once a year until Angel Tree actually helped them reconnect.
Father and son both joining me live from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Great to see you both!
CHRIS CLEVELAND, FORMER PRISONER: Great to see you, too.
CHRISTOPHER CLEVELAND JR., RECONNECTED WITH FATHER THROUGH ANGEL TREE: Great to see you, too.
PHILLIPS: So, Christopher, let me ask you, just seeing what your father has gone through in this struggle but having this sort of new chance to build a relationship, what has that taught you as a young man about drugs and drug abuse? My guess is you are not only a big advocate for Dad, but also a big advocate for kids not to even get near drugs of any kind.
C CLEVELAND JR.: Well, seeing firsthand how drugs had affected my dad's life really made me not want to get involved with drugs. So, I stay as far away from drugs as possible that I can. So, yes.
PHILLIPS: yes. And dad, that's got to be music to your ears. That's probably the best thing you could ever hear from a son you want to turn out so perfectly yes?
CHRIS CLEVELAND : That's right, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And --
CHRIS CLEVELAND: It blesses my heart.
PHILLIPS: Yes. No doubt. And what was it like? I know it was a real struggle for you to kick the habit and to stop dealing. How did it get so bad? And at what point did you realize that I have got to clean up? And I've got a son that I've got to be a role model for?
CHRIS CLEVELAND: You know, Kyra, I was. I was doing really bad. And it got to a point to where I realized that the chances of me having a relationship with my son were coming close to an end, and so I knew that I needed to do something. And it was God that really changed my life. PHILLIPS: And Christopher, you know, how did you forgive Dad? How did you learn to love him and be close to him after so many years of not having him around?
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: He was around every once in a while, and I still saw him as my father figure because I didn't really know what was going on. But as soon as I came back to live with my dad, he started to show me the ways of the Bible and how I should forgive. After we started talking about things like that, I really started to forgive him.
PHILLIPS: What do you love so much about your dad now?
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: That he is responsible, and I can trust him to go out and not do what he used to do.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: I like that. Chris, you laugh. Tell me why you chuckle.
CHRIS CLEVELAND: Well, it's -- it just -- you know, I recall some of the things that I used to do, and I think back now to current events and how abundant my life is since God changed me. And the things that we do together is just incredible. So, the life, more abundant.
PHILLIPS: Let's talk about that. The two of you now working together within the Angel Tree project. What a fabulous thing to do as a father and son.
Chris, why do you do it? And how has it helped not only other kids who have been through what Christopher has been through but what does it do for the two of you and your relationship and your hearts?
CHRIS CLEVELAND: Every year when we start the process of putting the angels on the tree, watching the process go, I know exactly from the other side how long and what it really takes to put all of this together. So, bringing it all together and doing the bag and sort where we get to be interactive together with other people in the church. And it really just is a great time together.
PHILLIPS: And Christopher, how about for you? You know? Is it -- do you have advice for the other kids? Do you get a chance to talk to them and say, hey, hang in there? Look at my dad and me? It could get better?
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: You know, as what he said, seeing from the other side, I know how it felt as those kids. So, when I go and bring them their gifts and I see their smile, it just brings a lot --
CHRIS CLEVELAND: A lot of joy.
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: A lot of joy.
PHILLIPS: How about seeing your dad right next to you? Not only being one of your best friends but giving back together? What's that like?
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: I never would have thought that me and my dad would have been able to do anything like that because of how both of our pasts were. And now that we get to do things like this, it's just such a blessing to do it.
PHILLIPS: It's pretty awesome to see what you're doing. And guys, thank you so much for being - by the way, is that the football you have got in your hand, Christopher?
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: No, it's a basketball.
PHILLIPS: Oh, basketball! Okay. I saw you guys playing football. I'm glad you're playing a little B-ball too. How about the UConn Huskies, huh? I know you were watching history being made now.
CHRIS CLEVELAND: Right.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Well, Chris and Christopher Cleveland, you have a fabulous story. Thanks so much for sharing it with me this morning. It means a lot to a lot of us.
CHRIS CLEVELAND: Thank you so much, Kyra. We appreciate everybody and have a merry Christmas.
PHILLIPS: You stay strong, Dad, and Christopher, you keep on the level as well. We're really proud of you.
C. CLEVELAND, JR.: Thank you so much.
CHRIS CLEVELAND: And God bless.
PHILLIPS: You bet. Thank you.
All right. Straight to that news conference in Chicago, Illinois where they are searching for possibly two of their own.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
LARRY LANGFORD, CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT: At this time, we're still taking the building apart to look and see if there were any homeless people that were in the building. We have the building department assisting us at this time. That's all I know until I get to the hospital. I can't tell you much more.
QUESTION: We're reporting that two are confirmed dead?
LANGFORD: No, not confirmed yet. No. I'm going the hospital now.
QUESTION: Which hospital?
LANGFORD: Main group went to Northwestern in Christ.
QUESTION: So, tell us again the fire actually has been knocked down? LANGFORD: The fire had been knocked down. They were overhauling the hot spots and they were searching for -- we always look in these buildings because in the wintertime, people are seeking shelter. We always go in and look for homeless or vagrants that may be in there. And that's what the companies were doing when the roof let loose.
QUESTION: Do you have any notion as to the nature of the fire (OFF-MIKE).
LANGFORD: Not at this time. We are investigating now due to the condition we have now. We had a pile of bricks. It was a flat, ordinary constructed roof in the front and a bullstring (ph) truss in the back.
QUESTION: So, the building was abandoned?
LANGFORD: Was apparently abandoned. We do know that for a fact because it was boarded up, but the back end was open. That's why we assume somebody may have been in there that was sleeping in there or something. That's why we went in to do the search, and the fire was in the northeast corner of the building.
QUESTION: Commissioner, can you describe the rescue attempt to us?
LANGFORD: Hard and fast. The companies were - I mean, the Red (ph) company went to work right away. They removed -- I couldn't tell you each and every spot, but firefighters were removed from different corners of the building. They worked hard and they got them out fast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will get back to you guys later on with more details so the commissioner can get to the hospital and check on the guys. We'll have some more later on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Unfortunately, we missed the first part of that news conference, trying to get confirmation from the folks in the newsroom.
OK. So, several firefighters, we are being told, were rescued after this building collapsed. We were told early on that two were still trapped under a brick wall that came down on top of them.
Can we confirm whether those firefighters are still searching for two of their own? OK, 12 firefighters taken to the hospital? OK. So, 12 firefighters taken to the hospital. Do we know, Carrie, if they are still searching for fellow firefighters as we were told earlier on?
They are not. Ok, no longer searching then. Do we know if there are -- if they believe that any firefighters are trapped still under that rubble?
OK. We are being told that all have been accounted for. This is according to WGN's Web site, actually. They are one of our affiliates in Chicago that has been on the story from the very beginning. We were told possibly they were searching for two of their own, but apparently all the firefighters have been accounted for. That is great news.
And the ones that have been rescued, the 12 that have been rescued, are being treated at local hospitals. As you heard right there from that news conference, possibly the chief or one of the captains there headed to the hospitals to check on his firefighters to see what their conditions are.
We will stay on top of this and keep you updated on the conditions of those 12 firefighters that were rescued after that abandoned building caught fire and collapsed and caught fire this morning in Chicago, Illinois.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. President Obama expected to sign into law the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. food safety in more than 72 years. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth here with our "Daily Dose." So, the House passed the measure on Tuesday.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. The president is expected to sign it.
PHILLIPS: There we go. What does this mean for you and me, then?
COHEN: You know what? I think when most people hear this, they're going to say, well, duh! Why didn't they do this a long time ago? Because some of these things are so obvious.
Let me talk about two big things that this law does. This law makes it so the Food and Drug Administration can recall tainted foods.
PHILLIPS: Hello? That should have happened a long time ago.
COHEN: Right, because now they have to ask the company, "Will you please recall it?". Now, they won't have to do that anymore.
Also, it introduces a food tracing system. So, when food gets somebody sick or kills them, they can trace it back to see where it came from. Because right now, let's say a hamburger kills somebody, they have no idea where that cow is and where the rest of that meat is. Those are two of the big changes.
PHILLIPS: All right. And also, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebeilius making this proposal that would make health insurance companies justify premium hikes?
COHEN: Exactly. If an insurance company hikes your rates more than 10 percent, this proposal means that the federal government would automatically review it. Because sometimes those rate increases may be justified, but often, they are not. So, the feds would review it and say whether or not it is okay.
PHILLIPS: OK. And finally, the third thing we should be talking about? C-sections? COHEN: Right. C-sections.
PHILLIPS: On the rise.
COHEN: On the rise again. We tell this story every year.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'm going to be one of the. There you go. With twins on the way --
COHEN: There is a high likelihood.
PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly.
COHEN: That's right. So, C-section rates went up yet again. So, right now, one out of every three babies - actually, I shouldn't say right now. When - for the statistics, 2009, C-sections. One out of every three babies born in 2009 were delivered by C-section. That was the highest number ever. And those rates have gone up 60 percent since 1996. So, up 60 percent in 13 years.
I think the message here, you know what? Some ladies want a C- section.
PHILLIPS: Yes, I was just going to ask you, why is it on the rise? Is it because of IVF and women are having multiples? So, that increases it, right?
COHEN: That's part of it. Women are having babies older, which increases the chance you'll have a C-section. I have asked doctors this, and I say, is this sort of the professional ladies in their suits saying darn it, I want my C-section? Give it to me --
PHILLIPS: We like to stay on a schedule!
COHEN: Right! Exactly! I'm free on June 15.
That's part of it. But they said, really what it is is doctors don't like lawsuits. And so, it used to be if they are in the delivery room and things are looking a little bit like they are headed to a C-section, they would try really hard to get that vaginal delivery. But they said these days, they are much more likely to go and do that C-section.
And so, the Empowered Patient message is, if you do not want a C- section, choose a doctor at the very beginning or a midwife who is committed to vaginal deliveries. And you can interview them and ask them their C-section rate and what not. But you need to know that from the get-go. How committed are you to me having a vaginal delivery?
PHILLIPS: Elizabeth, thanks.
COHEN: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, that does it for us. We hope you have a great rest of your day. Tony Harris starts in just one moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
