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Shots Fired in Alexandria; Heavy Machine Gun Fire Overnight; The U.S. Diplomatic Challenge; Couple Marries While Running Marathon; Suez Canal: Egypt's Critical Link; Clinton's Concerns over Haiti; Bad Tour Start for Tiger Woods

Aired January 31, 2011 - 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: All right, guys. Thanks so much. 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out West.

And in the Central Time zone about time for a history-making winter storm that could impact 100 million people before it's all over. It's getting ready to absolutely hammer the Midwest with more than a foot of snow. Chicago, St. Louis, could see new snow records and it could spin off tornados in the south. The East Coast could see the monster by Thursday.

The government's new dietary guidelines about to be released. If you love sugar, salt and big fix of margarine you're out of luck. The feds say cut that stuff down or out. Got to eat more seafood, fruits and veggies.

And it's fair to say that "King's Speech" might rule the Oscars. It won top film at the Screen Actors' Guild Awards and of course Colin Firth won best actor.

It is now 4:00 p.m. in Egypt. The curfew is in place and Hosni Mubarak remains in power. A short time ago he swore in a new Cabinet in his latest concession to anti-government protesters. Meanwhile, the man who has become the face of that movement says Mubarak's fall seems inevitable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE: I will continue to participate in whatever it takes to make sure that the Mubarak regime should leave. I think that is a consensus here in Egypt in every part of society. That that -- this is a regime that is dictatorial. That has failed to deliver on economic, social or political front. And that we need a new beginning. An Egypt that is free and that is democratic and we need to go through a transitional period.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: But on this seventh day of protest, some stark realities are hitting home. Food shortages are becoming common. And people are waiting in lines for hours just to buy bread. Store shelves becoming empty and lawlessness has reached a new level this weekend as well.

Prisons emptied with murderers, rapists, terrorists all running free. And a show of brazen defiance, citizens looted the prisons themselves.

No all eyes remain on the country's military and what role it's going to play in the uprising. You might remember these fighters ignited a lot of fear and rumors yesterday when they buzzed crowds of protesters. Some people felt panicked, thought they were about to be bombed.

CNN crews right in the heart of the crisis. Just minutes ago we got word that the military gun fire erupted at a protest in Alexandria.

And that's where our senior international correspondent has been. Nic Robertson, he's going to start this hour's coverage.

So, Nic, tell us what happened and what do you think this means for today?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just about an hour and a half ago, Kyra, an army armored personnel carrier, one of those troop-carrying vehicles, raced into the square behind me firing its heavy 50-caliber machine gun. That appeared to be kind of scare away a small group of protesters who were getting agitated and angry. Not far from our hotel here.

This is not what we've seen the army doing. This appears to be a change in tactics for the army. Until now they've been staying back, guarding government buildings. But when the hotel appeared to become under threat from a small group of protesters, that threat has subsequently evaporated, gone away. The protesters moved on, taken that demonstration somewhere else.

The army raced in with that heavy machine gun firing high into the air. But this is different from what we've seen over recent days. Beginning here to see a return of just a couple of policemen on the streets. They're too afraid, it appears, to patrol by themselves. Sticking with the army checkpoints.

And almost wherever you drive in the center of the city here you come across a protest. One passed through the square here behind me just a couple of minutes ago. Some protests, several hundred people, some several thousand. They're still continuing, going on in different areas more or less all the time -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Nic, we'll keep talking to you in Alexandria there. Appreciate it.

We want to get to Cairo, though, where CNN's Frederik Pleitgen is on the streets there, joins us by phone.

Now, Fred, we are watching you all weekend. You covered a prison breakdown. Now what's the scene today? Do you think it's getting any better or is it still just as intense?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the security situation certainly still an issue, Kyra, in Cairo. If you look in the central Cairo there's still a lot of demonstrations going, a lot of protesters on the streets especially in the central square called Tahrir Square. But the big problem here is simply the breakdown in security and in law enforcement in the outlying areas, where you still pretty much don't have any police officers on the streets. There's some traffic cops who came back but they're obviously not doing anything for security.

And we still have people arming themselves to protect whatever they have. And you saw, obviously, these criminal gangs, as people call them, going around to clubs with samurai swords, also in some cases with automatic rifles and trying to loot properties. So certainly security is still a major issue.

And I can tell you that last night, Kyra, we had some pretty fierce gun fire going on for several hours close to the downtown area where it also appeared as though some heavy caliber guns were being used in those street battles -- Kyra.

SPITZER: So, Fred, what's your sense? Friday, it really intensified. Do you think it's getting better in any way, shape, or form, smaller? Or do you think this is continuing to get bigger, the number of protests and the acts of violence?

PLEITGEN: I think it's continuing to get bigger. The acts of violence are a different thing. But the protests I think are continuing to get bigger. And I'll tell you why. I think that the protesters feel very much emboldened about what they've already achieved so far.

If you look back to last Friday a lot of people were quite skeptical as to what they could achieve. Then what happens was you had those street battles. And in the end the protesters beat back the police. And the police were (INAUDIBLE) -- obviously much better than having the cops here.

These people say that they're in it for the long run. And for tomorrow, Kyra, they've called them what they call "a million man march." So they want to get the people out again because, of course, Tuesday, a week ago, was when all of these protests started.

And they believe that a lot of people are going to come on to the streets here. So tomorrow will be a very pivotal day. But at this point in time it looks as though the protests are, indeed, gaining momentum here rather than losing. And a lot of people already telling us, yes, they are in it in the long run and they won't stop until Hosni Mubarak steps down -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred Pleitgen, we'll continue to talk, obviously, throughout the morning. Thanks, Fred.

The U.S. is evacuating Americans who want to escape the turmoil in Egypt. The U.S. citizens are gathering at Cairo's main airport. And the first charter flight has already taken off. The evacuees will be responsible for the cost of those flights. And according to the State Department, there are about 52,000 Americans registered with the embassy right now in Cairo. So far 2400 Americans have already been asked to evacuate. And for those who want to stay the State Department is urging them to limit their movements and keep a close eye on the escalating crisis.

The crisis in Egypt has created a diplomatic quandary for the U.S. President Mubarak has been a valued U.S. ally for decades. But as his reign appears more and more doomed, the White House has slowly distanced itself from him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, CNN'S STATE OF THE UNION: What side is the U.S. on, Mubarak or the people in the streets?

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, there's another choice. It's the Egyptian people. We are on the side as we have been for more than 30 years of a democratic Egypt that provides both political and economic rights to its people, that respects the universal human rights of all Egyptians.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, clearly, Washington's goal is to side with the winner and not be on the wrong side of history.

Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry joining us with a closer look.

So, Ed, it's quite a balancing act that the U.S. is attempting here. And it's getting some criticism that maybe it should be acting a little stronger.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is, Kyra. And you're right. And you know that 30 years that Secretary of State Clinton was talking about in terms of citing with the Egyptian people, there are critics around the world saying no, actually, the U.S. policy has been decided with President Mubarak despite the signs that this was a repressive regime. And that he was not doing enough, obviously, during those 30 years to help his own people.

I think the bottom line, though, is that she went on in that interview with Candy Crowley, to make clear that the U.S. wants what she called an orderly transition. That certainly sounded like an eventual transfer of power. Not to be clear pushing out President Mubarak now in the short term but making it clear that the U.S. wants him to institute some reforms.

And if he can't do it, someone else should. And so I think the U.S. is obviously still, as you say, walking a very fine line here. But they are edging more and more on the side of the protesters and less and less on the side of President Mubarak -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, and we're also hearing criticism of the U.S. coming from Mohamed ElBaradei, the pro-democracy leader there, advocate there.

How is that playing at the White House?

HENRY: Well, look, they say, you know, inside the White House it's easy for an opposition leader to say look, help push Mubarak out now and others will go in and take power like ElBaradei. Well, is that clear?

The U.S. is unclear, frankly, who would fill a leadership vacuum. Could ElBaradei be strong enough to step up and bring some order while -- you know, transitioning to a democracy? Or would there be even more chaos than we're seeing now if Mubarak fell and have, you know, Islamic extremists take over country instead of ElBaradei?

If that happens, it's an even worse disaster. So while the U.S. is under great pressure to do something, nobody really knows what is the proper move and that's is why they're being very careful and very cautious -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Ed Henry at the White House, appreciate it.

And Egyptian Americans across the U.S. are also keeping a close eye on the developments and echoing the calls of the president to resign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hosni Mubarak, you've got to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hosni Mubarak, you've got to go.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: This was a show of solidarity in Boston. One of about a dozen U.S. cities to see rallies this weekend.

In Los Angeles about 300 people took part in this protest. They called for Mubarak's ouster and a new era of free and open Egypt.

College students from Egypt were among those rallying at the University of New Mexico, one student said that she was sorry she could not be home in Cairo to witness the transition but looks forward to returning to a new and revitalized country.

Now in just about 10 minutes from now, we're going to look at a shadowy group that could chart the future of Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood is the biggest political establishment in Egypt and that's despite being banned by the government.

We're going to take a closer look through the eyes of a former U.S. diplomat.

Now this week could be a tough one for much of the Midwest and the east. A major blizzard with possible record-setting cold snow moving in.

And Rob Marciano is watching it all for us.

I do have other news to cover today and this is the big one. ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: This is going to be a big one. You know the Midwest has often been left out of the mix this winter with all the storms that haven pounding the East Coast. But this one is going to encompass a larger amount of real estate.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: So got to be a doozy.

PHILLIPS: Sort of like Atlanta. We did see something like that like in over a decade.

MARCIANO: It was (INAUDIBLE) weekend, wasn't it?

PHILLIPS: Yes.

MARCIANO: I mean what a difference a couple of week's mess.

PHILLIPS: That was a doozy. You like Betty White, don't you?

MARCIANO: Who doesn't? She's the most popular gal in Hollywood right now.

PHILLIPS: Yes, she is.

MARCIANO: You know?

PHILLIPS: Matter of fact, I missed the special on CBS last night.

MARCIANO: Did she -- she won an award over the weekend?

PHILLIPS: She did. There was a lot of winners actually at last night's Screen Actors Guild Awards but of course everybody is talking about Betty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In this category according to Amy Poehler and the teamsters is Betty White.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: She always got that shocked look. But come on, she knows. She's like -- she's the cat's meow right now.

MARCIANO: Yes. You don't need to teamsters involved to get Betty White elected for that award.

PHILLIPS: But you know, you got to admit, she beat out some -- you know, "Glee's" Jane Lynch. You got to love -- you got to love her. And "30 Rock's" Tina Fey for the, you know, funny woman in a comedy series. They're all great. They're all hilarious. And they all love each other, too.

Now here -- who do we have sound from now? OK. She actually said something. Let's listen to her as she accepted the award. MARCIANO: All right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETTY WHITE, ACTRESS, "HOT IN CLEVELAND": Well, to have this happen on top of -- ooh.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, you know --

MARCIANO: She's always on. Even at 89. She's always on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITE: I cannot say thank you enough.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: You got to get it in any way you can, I guess.

MARCIANO: She is fabulous, 89 and still going. At the top of her game.

PHILLIPS: You got to love her. Yes. She's the best. Thanks for playing.

MARCIANO: Congratulations. All right.

PHILLIPS: OK, Rob.

Well, it's a public safety warning that you rarely hear. Be on the lookout for exploding manhole covers. Did we get your attention? Well, we're going to tell you where they are exactly and hoping that you won't flip your lid.

And we're going to keep an eye on Egypt, of course. This situation there is volatile. And things can change in an instant. We're not letting go of this story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: You've got to love her. Yes, she's the best.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Congratulations.

PHILLIPS: Thanks for playing.

MARCIANO: See you later.

PHILLIPS: OK, Rob.

Well, it's a public safety warning that you rarely hear. Be on the lookout for exploding manhole covers. Did we get your attention? Well, we're going to tell you where they I -- where they are, exactly, and hoping that you won't flip your lid.

And we're going to keep an eye on Egypt, of course. The situation there is volatile, and things can change in an instant. We're not letting go of this story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC - "Monday, Monday")

PHILLIPS: Well, it's one big step a couple of long distance runners will never forget taking. Their story tops our look Cross Country. Molly Johnson and David Upton not only ran the 26 miles of Houston's Chevron Marathon, yesterday, they actually took a matrimonial side trip. Yes, they tied the knot during the race. As they crossed the finish line, another journey was just starting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID UPTON, MARATHON NEWLYWED: She figured the only way I was going to marry her on a marathon.

MOLLY JOHNSON, MARATHON NEWLYWED: It's been five years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Molly and David, just as you took care of yourselves during the challenges of those training runs, take care of your marriage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Aw. We've got another love story with good fortune for a homeless couple from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Ouida Wright and her boyfriend won an all-expense paid trip to this Sunday's Super Bowl showdown in Dallas, compliments of the city's Visitors and Convention Bureau, which held a secret phrase contest that we'd actually read about online.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OUIDA WRIGHT, WON TRIP TO SUPER BOWL: I said, "Have you been to Dallas lately?" He said, "Why yes, I have." And I said, "Are you the contest guy?" "Why, yes, I am." Can you imagine a homeless person who can't afford a movie gets to go to the Super Bowl?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Lots of people asking why don't they sell the trip and bank the proceeds for their future? But like nearly everyone in Green Bay, they're Packer fans, what can I tell you?

Motorists in downtown Indianapolis need to be careful around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Street after five manhole covers literally flipped their lids yesterday. Firefighters investigating a report of the smell of natural gas when the manholes started popping. One fire truck and a nearby building were damaged. The local gas company says the exploding manholes don't appear to be natural gas-related. Well, you know the old saying, be careful what you wish for. Say the protesters in Egypt get what they want and President Mubarak leaves office. That could pave the way for a controversial and banned Muslim group to take over. We're looking at that scenario as we monitor what's happening on the streets.

(CROWD CHANTING IN ARABIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: If you've been following the crisis in Egypt, you might have heard the term "Muslim Brotherhood." Here's who they are and what role that they're playing right now.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the biggest political establishment in Egypt. And it's illegal. It's been around since 1928. The Brotherhood believes that Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. It has denounced violence, but has been blamed for many bloody attacked in the past, and it's been linked to terrorist groups. That's why it's been banned in Egypt.

But the US State Department does not include it on the list of terrorist organizations. The Muslim Brotherhood is playing just a small role in the crisis that we're seeing now, but if President Mubarak falls, the Brotherhood could gain power, and that could threaten the Israeli/Egyptian peace treaty that's been responsible for 30 years of stability in that region.

US relations with the Middle East could be impacted as well. Marc Ginsberg, former US ambassador to Morocco, now the senior vice president of APCO Worldwide, joining us to talk about this.

You know, Marc, even though it has denounced or renounced violence, at the same time, it has inspired jihadists for years.

MARC GINSBERG, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO MOROCCO: Absolutely, Kyra, going all the way back to the 50s after the revolution that overthrew King Farouk, the Brotherhood, or al Ikhwan in Arabic, was largely inspirational for the ideology that brought al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden together. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two of al Qaeda, hails from the Brotherhood, the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Brotherhood was the inspirational parent to Hamas and is the largest financial supporter to Hamas. And there's Brotherhood organizations throughout the entire Middle East.

PHILLIPS: So, some might be saying, OK, why hasn't the US put this group into enemy territory officially, and why would they even invite the group to come speak at an Obama event in 2009? Why embrace this group when you look at history, and even the fact that it sided with the Nazis and not be concerned? Why hasn't there been a stronger take on the Muslim Brotherhood?

GINSBERG: I believe there's several reasons for that, going back for the last several decades. First of all, even though the Brotherhood has been banned and is illegal in Egypt, its candidates run for offices independents. Number one.

Number two, while the Muslim Brotherhood is the great granddaddy of Islamic political parties in the region, the more extremist elements, one that was run by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Gama'a al-Islamiyya, which was, in effect, run by Ayman al-Zawahiri, spun off from it and denounced the Brotherhood as an organization that does not support jihad.

And moreover, Kyra, to our -- I guess, to much -- to our credit, there's no one leader of the Brotherhood that will emerge from here that will inspire those masses in Cairo. Ironically, it's Mohamed ElBaradei rather than some Ayatollah Khomeini-type originating from the hood that's emerging here.

But that could change, because again, it's not an issue of which personality emerges, but what is the political party establishment that could take control of parliament in a presidential election.

PHILLIPS: So I guess my next question is, what does Israel do, as it -- can it do anything but sit and wait? And then, what does the US do? It's such a complex situation. And, of course, critics are coming forward, saying more has to be done now before it's too late.

GINSBERG: I think the administration has finally gotten -- the Obama administration has finally gotten its calibration together. I believe that what it's trying to do is to get a soft landing in Egypt.

That is, number one, to arrange for Hosni Mubarak to announce that he's not running for re-election. Number two, to get his son Gamal Mubarak, who he -- who Hosni Mubarak, the elder, wanted to put in power.

Number three, to announce more -- earlier presidential elections.

And number four, to probably get the current vice president, Omar Suleiman, as well as Mohamed ElBaradei, to begin cooperating together so that the Egyptian people see there's some transition, number one.

With respect to Israel, this is Israel's worst nightmare, if chaos reigns in Cairo. There is not support among many of those people in the streets in Cairo for the Israeli/Egyptian peace treaty going back to the Camp David Accords in 1978.

There's been a cold peace, but without Egypt, there would be no peace in the Middle East. Without that peace treaty in place, which the Brotherhood, by the way, denounces, you could see a lot of other instability emerging with respect to the Arab/Israeli crisis.

PHILLIPS: Well, we're going to keep our eye on this for sure and keep talking about the potential threat, here. Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, always great to see you weigh in. Great to see you, Marc.

GINSBERG: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You bet. The Washington/Cairo connection. Billions of dollars in military aid. What happens to all that deadly hardware if the US-backed Mubarak government falls? A live report from the Pentagon in five minutes. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Well it is just past 9:30 in the east, 8:30 in St. Louis, where folks are getting ready for a major winter smack down. A huge, dangerous system, as a matter of fact, about to hit the Midwest.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: There has been machine gun fire from an Egyptian tank in Alexandria. The firing, apparently to scatter protesters. It could be an indication that the military is siding with embattled President Hosni Mubarak. We're following that for you.

Plus, thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's sprawling (ph) Tahrir Liberation Square. The protestors in both cities ignoring a curfew that went into effect 90 minutes ago. Egyptians say they want more freedoms and someone to replace Mubarak.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: Mubarak must go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want freedom. We want better education.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear people of America, you have the right to choose your presidents. We need to have it once in our life. Once in our life, I want to choose my president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And the big problem now, shortage of food and gas. Our correspondents tell us there are long lines outside bakeries and many gas stations are closed.

Well, Egypt is proving to be a delicate balancing act for the Pentagon. Take a close look at the tear gas, right here being lobbed at protesters this past week. Like a lot of the Egyptian military equipment, this too was made in the U.S. Everything from tear gas to tanks. Cairo actually gets $1.3 billion annually in military aid from us. That's second only to what we give Israel. Since 1975, the U.S. has provided nearly $30 billion in economic aid to Egypt.

CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us from the Pentagon.

So, Barbara, what else does Egypt get from us?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, as you say, this aid program has been going on for decades. That tear gas canister may well have been bought commercially.

But in terms of what the U.S. government gives to Egypt, it's big picture stuff -- fighter jets, F-16s, tanks, armored personnel carriers, weapons, all kinds of gears. Now, all overwhelmingly it goes to the Egyptian military, not to the police, not to the security forces that may be moving against the demonstrators to some large extent.

But the Egyptian military right now, also has its forces on the streets in that country. And that's why the U.S. is so focused on the Egyptian military. They're seen as a force potentially for stability if there is a transition of power.

The U.S. behind the scenes talking to key Egyptian leaders about all of this -- key Egyptian military leaders because they want to make sure any equipment that has been given to them is not used against the demonstrators and they want the Egyptian military to be this force for stability until all of this sorts out -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So Barbara, what are your sources telling you? Is there any possibility that the U.S. Military could get actively involved in what is happening in Egypt?

STARR: Well, the key for the U.S. Military, of course, will be if it is called in by the White House to assist in getting thousands of Americans out of the country.

Right now there are those State Department charter flights but by all accounts those are going very slowly. A senior U.S. defense official gave us a statement earlier saying, quote, "The U.S. is prepared to conduct noncombatant evacuation operations if necessary, although at this time it appears there is no violence directed against U.S. personnel. National authorities, the U.S. European command, U.S. central command are all reviewing options to be prepared to respond if there are threats against U.S. citizens."

So those are the key words right now, Kyra. That would be the trip wire. If this violence escalates and appears to be directed against U.S. citizens in Egypt and those State Department charter flights can't move fast enough, the U.S. Military now planning, prepared to move in, if asked -- which they haven't been -- by the State Department. But they have planes and ships available and they could move very quickly -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Barbara Starr, thanks.

And we've got a programming reminder for you. CNN's Piers Morgan talking candidly with our correspondents in Egypt and getting reaction from Egyptians on the streets. That's tonight 9:00 Eastern.

Rolling into the future. Later today, the shuttle Discovery begins a long, slow move toward the launching pad. This one is special. Get ready to say goodbye to Discovery.

And flashback today. The race to space. Americans have been taunted by the launch of Soviet Sputnik 1 in October of 1957. U.S. scientists and engineers got the order to step it up. Jupiter Sea Project already underway, went into overdrive at the jet propulsion laboratory in California and 119 days later, the U.S. rocketed 30 pounds of metal, instruments, and battery power, more than 1,500 miles into space. Explorer I is what it was called. And then it transmitted data back to the U.S. until May of that same year but stayed in orbit until it reentered the atmosphere in 1970 over the Pacific.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's Fast Forward. Here are some stories on our radar for throughout the day.

The government's new dietary guideline about to be released. And if you love sugar, salt, big sticks of margarine, guess what? You're out of luck. The Feds say, cut that stuff down or out. You got to eat more seafood, fruits and veggies.

Ready to roll. A little more than 10 hours from now, workers at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida will begin moving the space shuttle Discovery to the launching pad. The February 24th liftoff will be Discovery's last. The Discovery crew will deliver a module and spare parts to the International Space Station.

And in Chicago, early voting for mayor and several other elected posts opened about 30 minutes ago. The early voting will go on through February 17th. At the top of the ballot, the office of Mayor. As you know, Rahm Emanuel, among six candidates, but he almost didn't get on the ballot. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week that the former White House chief of staff passed residency requirements allowing him to run for mayor.

House Democrats gearing up for the race for 2012. They're already launching TV ads targeting some of the top Republican contenders. You'll see them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Potential White House candidates out campaigning today. They include a Republican who has one place that we've been focusing on, the Middle East.

Our political producer Peter Hamby has the story now from CNNPolitics.com desk. Hey, Peter.

PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Hey, Kyra, how are you?

Oh yes, you're right, none of the candidates -- none of the Republican candidates have officially jumped into the presidential race. The timeline has sort of been pushed back from what it was two years ago. But we're still following the candidates who are making plays in some of these key early states.

Like former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty who is in the state of Iowa today, the first of the nation caucus state, signing copies of his new books. He did that in New Hampshire last week.

Also in New Hampshire, former Pennsylvania Senator, Rick Santorum -- a kind of dark horse candidate for the nomination. But he's calling into New Hampshire talk radio today. And he'll be up in the -- in the Granite State tomorrow.

But like you mentioned, Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, one-time presidential candidate. He goes to Israel every year. He's leading a group of Christian pilgrims around some historic sites.

But he's also meeting with Israeli officials. And he is in Israel this week. He's the only one of the 2012 candidates who's really commented on Israel. He hasn't really said much controversial about it. He just said that you know, we need to keep an eye -- keep an eye on the situation in Egypt and it could cascade around the region.

Also, speaking of Republicans, this weekend, as you know, marks the 100 birthday of Ronald Reagan. Republicans around the country are celebrating the birth and its anniversary of -- of -- probably their biggest political hero. And the Republican National Committee today is out with a new Web site touting Reagan's birthday.

They are saying you know, they have a video on the Web site and they are urging people to be part of this online discussion looking back on the contributions that Ronald Reagan made to the GOP. The new RNC chairman Reince Priebus is up with the video saying, "Ronald Reagan was my political hero and he urged me to get into politics" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, we've been hearing a lot about bipartisanship but now Democrats are -- are launching these ads attacking Republicans. What's the deal?

HAMBY: Right. I mean, the -- the 2012 campaign is starting so early and like you said, we've been hearing a lot about toning down the partisan rhetoric and that sort of thing. House Democrats are launching radio and Web ads in 19 targeted Congressional districts attacking Republicans trying to soften them up well ahead of the 2012 elections.

They are targeting districts like Allen West in Florida, Shawn Duffy, sort of these Democratic leading districts that have vote for Republicans, criticizing them for voting for -- opposing President Obama's spending plans -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Peter thanks.

We'll have your next political update in about an hour. And a reminder: all of the political news, of course, you can go to our Web site 24/7, CNNPolitics.com.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: About 11:00 in the morning, I was woken up by an intense volley of automatic machine gun fire. And that woke me up, I started to wake, I grab my telephone, trying to look for everybody. The first person I called was my 17-year-old son Christopher and I called him up and "I said where are you get back home quickly." He said, "Why? I'm going, I'm watching at my girlfriend's house."

And I said, you know, you need to get home, there's shooting in the street. He said, "I'm used to it."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Like father, like son. I'll tell you what, if you believe what happens in Egypt has little effect on you, watch the price for a gallon of gas in the next few days and then get back to me on that.

CNN international anchor Zain Verjee is live in London with our "Morning Passport." Isn't that so Ben Wedeman for his son to say something like that? Because that's -- we know Ben so well, it doesn't matter, nothing stops him. You know from --

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Exactly.

VERJEE: But particularly in the environment that they're in, especially now, it seems like what we find so extraordinary is kind of run of the mill for the day.

So, Kyra, I want to tell you about the Suez Canal. I've been making a few calls about this today and that area, that body of water is one of the most important waterways in the world. The reason it matters to the United States is oil, oil, oil baby. There are over a million barrel of oils Kyra, that go northbound a day through that particular waterway. It connects the Middle East and the Fareast to the Mediterranean.

Suez Canal authorities are saying that everything is operating normally, that the army is in control, but many maritime experts as well as shipping companies say that they're bracing themselves. Because communications are down, they say some delays at least are inevitable. There will be backlogs, problems with transfers and things like that. And it's really going to be an issue.

Many of them say it won't have a devastating effect, it will be minor. But what we need to watch for is to see what does happens and if it hits international market or international trade and have that knock on effect.

So the Suez Canal and the shipments that go through that waterway are just really crucial to think about, as we watch the crisis in Egypt unfold and how the military handles that area.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll keep an eye on that.

Now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton obviously we've been talking a lot about Egypt with her, but also she's got some real concerns about Haiti's presidential election and runoff, a story that we haven't covered so much because of everything that's happening in Egypt.

VERJEE: Yes, you know, it was really important what she said today. It's -- really the headline is that the Secretary the State said in Haiti that the U.S. is not going to cut off aid to the country, because you see, Kyra, there are all these concerns about the process of the election there, and a lot of issues that were complicated by the return of Baby Doc Duvalier, right, remember that?

And so there are a lot of challenges with Haiti but the Secretary of State says, hey, you know, U.S. aid is still going to go. She met with a bunch of people there including the three presidential candidates and made a point by saying, look, you know, the people's voices need to be heard, they need to be recognized. And she said, the organization of American states has put forward kind of like a road map for the way that the election should be run and she hopes they follow the recommendations.

PHILLIPS: All right, Zain Verjee live for us out in London, good to see you, Zain.

A lot happening in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM; let's go and check out with our correspondents to see what we've got -- Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we take a look at what is going on in Egypt, and you may think, hey, here in America it doesn't really affect me, but it could affect you. I'll explain coming up in the next hour.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Another winter storm, but this one is a little farther west, about three quarters of the country involved. Blizzard watches are up for Chicago; could see the worst snow event there in over ten years. The weather coming up next.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.

And what's in your beef taco? All-beef, your beef? Flesh-like substances maybe? Next hour we're going to take a closer look at a lawsuit that claims that Taco Bell is stuffing those big tacos with just 35 percent beef. And the lawsuit says that it's all cheese, no meat. So what's all that other stuff in the so-called meat?

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PHILLIPS: Tiger Woods made his 2011 tour debut this weekend and 2011 is looking a lot like 2010, in other words, not good. Jeff Fischel from HLN Sports is here.

I'm telling you. It's his head. His head is still screwed up.

JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: He was singularly focused for so long and then everything fell apart --

PHILLIPS: He was focused on too many other things, that's what's happening.

FISCHEL: Well, that has sort of fallen apart as well. He shot over par both Saturday and Sunday, completely fading from contention at the Farmers' Insurance Open. Tiger ended up finishing tied for 44th. It came down to two lefties. Both guys have been through a lot. Phil Mickelson, his wife recovering from breast cancer. For an Eagle to pull into a tie -- no, he can't even believe it.

Phil could just never quite catch Bubba Watson. Watson lost his dad to cancer in October. This putt at 18th clinches it. Bubba Watson said afterwards, he said he was going to cry all day thinking about his dad. A great win for Bubba Watson.

Some hoops -- Celtics and Lakers in L.A. Pau Gasol takes it to the rack, bangs into Kevin Garnet. Ouch. After a game, a Lakers ball boy asked for KG for an autograph. KG said, "You have a better chance of catching bin Laden." That's what he said to a Lakers ball boy, I guess.

PHILLIPS: That is rude.

FISCHEL: Meanwhile, Kobe tries to bring the Lakers back in the fourth. He gets to two, 41 for Kobe. Lakers still down four. But don't lose track of Ray Allen, the sharpshooter for three. And the Celtics win it in L.A., 109-96.

Ok Kyra. It's super bowl week, the Packers and Steelers starting to get into their regular game prep routines, and of course, we find all kinds of goofy stories about both teams.

I love this one. A hospital in Pittsburgh is keeping the babies warn with Terrible Towels. Babies are also being sent home with beanies, little Steeler beanies. They're being prepped right away. When you're a Steelers fan you start right at newborn, don't you?

The staff at St. --

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: They brainwash you immediately.

FISCHEL: They start doing this before the Steelers last trip to the Super Bowl. The Steelers won. So hey, you want to keep it going to make sure the Steelers won again right.

The NFL Pro Bowl was yesterday. No one could quite figure out how to keep things interesting in this one. Maybe start letting the linemen carry the football more. This is the final minute. Cleveland's Alex Mack, he wants a touchdown, and I think we might see those pants fall down there -- ooh, a little too much there at the end. Despite the big man's efforts, the AFC lost to the NFC, 55-41.

PHILLIPS: Part time plumber.

FISCHEL: Yes, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

FISCHEL: I'm smiling and I don't mean (INAUDIBLE).

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Jeff.

FISCHEL: All right, Kyra.