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Millions Urged To Hit Streets To Protest In Egypt; Mubarak Swears In New Cabinet Members; Friday Confirmed Deaths In Egypt; Detroit Rampage By Moore Caught On Tape At Precinct; Police Surrounded Moore's Home For Sexual Assault Charges; Big Storm Coming Working Up In The U.S.; Balancing Act On Egypt, Obama Administration Not Taking Sides; Balancing Act On Egypt; Egypt and Oil Prices; Major Blizzard in the Making; Marines Send to U.S. Embassy in Egypt; The Muslim Brotherhood: Who are They?

Aired January 31, 2011 - 13:00   ET

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

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Suzanne. Good to have you in town and starting a new show here. Thanks a lot.

It is 1:00 p.m. here on the East Coast and you are looking live at the White House where we are waiting for Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. He's going to give his daily briefing. No doubt we expect the headline there to be on Egypt. We will monitor that and bring you live coverage if and when warranted.

For now, though, it is 8:00 p.m. in Egypt. Seven days of revolt have pushed a 30-year regime to the edge and where the next push could be just hours away.

Demonstrators who have been ignoring government curfews, defying police, and mingling with tanks and troops are now planning what they call a march of millions to take place in Cairo and Alexandria tomorrow. Police had largely vanished after clashes on Friday, but were back in circulation today, possibly to help prevent looting.

In battle, President Hosni Mubarak, today, swore in new cabinet ministers in hopes of keeping his own job, but there's zero indication any opposition forces are content with this move. And while the stand-off persists, and the whole world wonders what's next, non- Egyptians are scrambling to get out. That's the airport. The U.S. State Department says 2,400 hundred Americans have sought its help booking flights, and within the past hour, officials told us they hope to get about 900 Americans out today. A thousand more tomorrow.

CNN crews have covered this live since it began last Tuesday. For "Two At The Top", our Ivan Watson joins me now from the heart of Cairo. And, Ivan, I've been asking this all weekend long. What is going on, at this moment, right now?

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right here, in Tahrir Square, which has been a focal point of the protests, the street movement, you may be able to see, over my shoulder, thousands of people gathered in the Square, chanting, waving Egyptian flags, waving signs that curse the president of the past 30 years, Hosni Mubarak.

You may also be able to also hear the roar of the helicopter -- an Army helicopter that nearly constantly circles over head throughout the day, and evening, at this place, and recall that we are now five hours into what is supposed to be a curfew.

Now, you mentioned that there are police on the street. We did see a handful of traffic cops out back on duty in uniform today, but, for the most part, Drew, the only people in uniforms that we saw were the Egyptian Army. Out, in force, larger numbers than I've seen, create fire to this with tanks and armored personnel carriers trying to restore law and order because there's been a wave of lawlessness since these protests erupted here in Cairo -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Ivan, the police have, generally, hated -- from what I gather from our reporters, including yourself, on the street, what was the reaction even if just the traffic cops showed up? Quite frankly, I was surprised they were going out at all.

WATSON: Well, the driver of my beaten up old taxi that we were tootling around in, he said, look, they're too scared to even stop us because we've broken some traffic law, perhaps, as a result, of the running battles that took place between the police and the demonstrations on Friday, they were bloody battles. There were deaths and casualties. It's hard for us to nail them down, but according to human rights watches, they visited two Cairo hospitals and counted, at least, 80 dead, this week, 36 dead in Alexandria, and 13, in the city of Suez, throughout the course of these days. I have not seen violence erupting over the course of today.

The neighborhood watch groups that have sprung up, the young men who are out defending their neighborhoods from the looters that have been taking advantage of the breakdown of law and order, seem to be getting more organized, though it's taking its toll on the population. A lot of these young men staying up all night with their makeshift weapons not getting any sleep, meanwhile, many of the shops, most of this city is shut down. People too afraid to open their stores and that has driven up the price of basic commodities like bread and even cigarettes -- Drew.

Ivan, I want to make sure I understand what you just said. Eighty - this is according to human rights watch, 80 dead, is that in Cairo? Thirty-six in Alexandria and 13 in Suez?

WATSON: That's right. And we saw evidence of this on Saturday. Just a block or two from where I'm standing, right now, from where these crowds are gathering and chanting, there was a makeshift first aid clinic on the front steps of a mosque, where people had actually pushed aside the prayer mats and you doctors in bloody lab coats, treating young men who'd been shot while demonstrating and throwing rocks at the headquarters of the interior ministry.

And some of them showed me the wounds they got, from some kind of buck shot type projectile that was being fired at them. Some kind of rubber or plastic bullets. But some of these altercations were clearly lethal. Doctors told us that they'd seen between one and five people killed, bodies brought into that place, alone. Today, I have not seen signs of that kind of violence in this area -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Ivan, one more question, as long as our signal is good, and we have you, here. We're talking about this million person march tomorrow. In Cairo, where you are, is the word being spread to other Egyptians via public media, or any kind of media, or is this word of mouth or social media?

WATSON: Drew, the Internet is still, largely, down. We're communicating with you via a satellite connection, right now, so I don't think Internet is reliable, right now, and some Egyptians telling me that even text messaging isn't working. Instead, people are going to old-school methods, here, they're handing out photo copied fliers to people.

As far as that reported million-man march, we reached out to one opposition party, the Wofd Party, which was been around for more than half a century, here, a liberal, secular opposition party which controls just a handful of seats in parliament, and one official in that party says there's a split, actually, between older member of the party and the youth ring on whether or not to participate in tomorrow's million-man march. It's very hard the figure out who is leading this opposition protest. It truly has ground swell support and there is no one body, one leader, that is directing it. Some Egyptians tell me that's because the president, Hosni Mubarak, has been so effective at decapitating opposition rivals over the course of his 30 years in power.

GRIFFIN: Ivan, thanks for all that live reporting and we'll continue to follow, since you're at the center of the action. We thought it would be interesting, and maybe informative, to just do a little map. Slow down and take a look at where Egypt is and, then, show you where the protests are taking place. Of course, this is Egypt. Large country. It's on the northern coast of Africa. Right on the Egyptian -- excuse me, the Mediterranean Sea, there. And we want to really focus on two -- and did I do this right, fellows? Two of the cities we've been reporting on. Alexandria up on the coast. Cairo down on the Nile. And that's where most of the activity has been taking place. And, as we move into Cairo, you can see it's a pretty sprawling metropolis. Here's the pyramids -- the famed pyramids that most tourists go to see. They are closed, now. The Army is protecting them. But as we move into Cairo proper, you will be able to see, exactly, where the focus of attention is and that is right in this little area right here.

Basically, although these protests have been going on since Tuesday, they really heated up on Friday after prayers at mosques. Like this large mosque, one of the oldest in this city. After prayers on Friday, people came out of the mosque and began marching toward the city and coming from all areas of the city. A lot of focus was on this bridge, right here. That's where you saw the demonstrators clashing with the police, and, actually, pushing them back as they tried to make their way to the center of this demonstration, which is Tahrir Square, the Egyptian national museum on Friday night was vandalized. Mummies -- apparently, two mummies had their headed ripped off. That's now under protection and the ruling party headquarters, right here, right near the scare, as you can see, burned and looted.

So, main force of all of the activity in Cairo seems to be here, but you can see, this is a major city with lots of people, lots of suburbs, but again, the focus of the march tomorrow, if it happens, the focus of a lot of the protests, and where Ivan is, right now, is right here at the center of the town. Stay with us. We're -- well, not get too far away from events in Egypt, we just want to bring you other news happening around the country.

And, first, today's "Sound Effect" is utter chaos. Pandemonium. That's not me talking, that's the police chief in Detroit where, eight days ago, a man with a loaded shotgun strolled into a precinct house and opened fire. Now, over the weekend, police released video. It's graphic. Officers shot, the attacker killed, and all of it caught on tape from two different angles. Lamar Moore enters from the left.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOTS FIRED). INAUDIBLE.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: That's incredible. Lamar Moore was killed, four officers hurt. This is not the whole story, though. While Moore was shooting and being shot, several other officers were surrounding his house. Hours earlier, a 13-year-old runaway had escaped from that house in her underwear. Police say, Moore had kidnapped the girl, sexually assaulted her, and held her for ten days.

Now, to other of our big stories. Today, a winter storm that will affect a huge swath of the country is gathering steam. At the moment, it's being called, potentially, historic and destructive. It will bring heavy snow and high winds to plains and upper Midwest starting tonight. The next wave, with some of the heaviest snow, should hit upstate New York and northern New England, tomorrow. Along with all the snow, really bad icing, too. Up to an inch thick in some places. And if that pans out, expect tree limbs, power lines to come down, with outages lasting days, maybe even longer.

Well, it is a balancing act on Egypt. The Obama administration's relative silence can speak volumes. We'll find out more about that message. Plus, we want your take. What role, if any, do you think the U.S. should play in what's happening in Egypt? Here's how you can tell us. Head to Ali's blog at CNN.com/Ali, or his Facebook and Twitter pages and give us your input. We'll bring you the responses later in the show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The White House finds itself caught in a balancing act in Egypt. President Mubarak has been an important ally for three decades. So, how do you support change and support Hosni Mubarak at the same time? Here's how Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laid out the administration's position.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think, we have to keep on the message we've been on. Convey that, publicly and privately, as we are doing and stand ready to help with the kind of transition that will lead to greater political and economical freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: CNN's Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry joins me now. Ed, what the heck does that mean?

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, exactly. I mean, you know, what was interesting, Secretary Clinton also went on to tell our Candy Crowley, yesterday on State of the Union, look, we don't have to choose President Mubarak and the protesters. There's a third way, which is the Egyptian people. And, she said, that has been the U.S. policy for 30 years. So, pour in the Egyptian people. But, in fact, the policy has --

GRIFFIN: Ed, who are the Egypt people, if not the protesters?

HENRY: Well, they're some of the Egyptian people. They're not all 85 million protesting, for one. But, secondly, I think, to challenge what she was saying, the fact of the matter is our policy, again, spanning way before the Obama administration. Democratic and Republican administration for the last 30 years has, really, been a somewhat pro-Mubarak policy. Sure, we were supporting Egyptian people, as well, but regardless of the fact that this was a repressive regime for some 30 years, we were backing Mubarak because he could help us on Iran, he could help us on these Israeli- Palestinian peace talks.

And, guess what? We still don't have Israeli, Palestinian peace, and, meanwhile, we've got Mubarak, now, here, in deep trouble. So, I think there are a lot of the assumptions that American foreign policy, again, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations for many years. These are assumptions are now being turned on their -- turned on their head.

GRIFFIN: Do you expect President Obama out in front of this publicly or is he going to, you know, remain having the secretary of state out there and kind of pushing this?

HENRY: I think he's mostly going to have the secretary of state, at least in the short-term. I mean we saw him come out there Friday night. But as you noticed, he's been getting briefings but doing all that behind the scenes. What's fascinating is, it was less than a week ago -- it's hard to believe, it feels like a couple of weeks already -- that he delivered that State of the Union address. And before the address, his aides were kind of boasting to us that 80 percent of it was going to be on the economy and domestic issues, which they said would be his focus for the next two years and only 20 percent on national security, very little on the Mideast if you go back to it. And so now all of a sudden he's being thrust back in this and they're trying to keep him on the economy and jobs. So that's going to be interesting in the days ahead because he can't ignore this, obviously.

GRIFFIN: Yes, it's hard to ignore it when all of our eyes are certainly on it.

Ed, thank you for that.

Well, if you think what's happening in Egypt has little effect on you, in two minutes we'll tell you how it's already affecting oil prices.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: In today's "Your Money," we're going to Wall Street, where the reaction to the uprising in Egypt was strong on Friday. The Dow plunging 166 points and oil prices jumping 4 percent. Investors still on edge. Let's find out. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange with details.

Hi, Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Drew.

And we are watching oil prices rise yet again. Oil prices up more than $2. $2.72 to be exact. That means oil prices in two session up more than $6. This could be cause for concern because analysts say these prices could go even higher, especially if tensions rise in Egypt.

Now, the reason is because it could cause a supply disruption. Egypt controls the Suez Canal. It's a waterway that moves almost 2 million barrels of oil a day. Right now, things are OK, but the problem is, if it's compromised, it will affect oil deliveries around the globe.

Also, if the unrest in Egypt spreads, it could affect other Arab nations, Drew. Egypt isn't a big exporter of oil, but the Middle East is and that's what the concern is, that this could create a huge ripple effect.

Drew.

GRIFFIN: Yes, we saw the jump in oil prices. Has there been or is there going to be soon a jump at the pump?

KOSIK: You know, we're not seeing any jump right now. But what could happen is it could lead to higher gas prices if this oil rally is sustained, if it happens for a while. Higher oil prices also wind up affecting jet fuel and that means that those airline tickets could wind up costing you more as well if we see oil prices remain higher.

Of course, the big fear is that the ripple effect, you know, could spread to spending that if we see oil prices hit somewhere around $100 a barrel, that could eat into what our disposable income is, because if we spend all our money on higher gas prices, we're going to spend less on other things and that could overall hurt the economic recovery as a whole.

Drew.

GRIFFIN: Yes, Alison, there was a typical knee jerk reaction to crisis on Friday in the markets. What's happening today? Have things settled down?

KOSIK: Yes, you said it, Drew. Yes, all the TVs were on here at the stock exchange. They were watching the events unfold in Egypt. And, so, yes, when they came to work today, I'm talking about the traders, they were surprised that stocks didn't sell off at the open because, you know, the situation in Egypt is really uncertain. It is really volatile.

You know, it could be that we got strong earnings from Exxon. That's what's boosting the market. Exxon said that its profit was up more than 50 percent. So, sure, Friday may have been more of a knee jerk reaction. But, you know, this political unrest, it continues. It's still on the back burner and it is in the back of trader's minds. Although today we seem to be holding our own. Stocks are treading water here.

Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right, Alison, thanks for that.

KOSIK: Sure.

GRIFFIN: And be sure to tune in to "Your Bottom Line" with Christine Romans each Saturday morning, 9:30 Eastern, and "YOUR $$$$$" with Ali Velshi, Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and Sundays at 3:00.

Well, it's just past 8:00 in Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak swore in new cabinet members earlier today in his latest concession, but no indication that's enough to satisfy the growing anti-Mubarak movement.

On this seventh day of protests, some stark realities are hitting home, like food shortages becoming common. People waiting in lines for hours just to buy bread. Store shelves becoming empty.

A massive winter storm that could affect 100 million people before it's all over is getting ready to hammer the Midwest with more than a foot of snow, Chicago and St. Louis. Yes, forecasters say the storm could spin off tornados in the south as well. The East Coast could see this monster by Thursday. More on this storm in 10 minutes.

Also happening in Chicago, today, voters can start casting early ballots for city offices, including the mayor, in what's expected to be a high turnout. Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, there, met residency requirements despite not living in the city for a year or so, but his name will be on the mayoral ballot.

And the mayor of New York goes after gun shows. Find out what investigators were able to buy in Arizona just days after the Tucson shooting. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We're not going to get to far way from events in Egypt. We just want to bring you some other news happening around this country. New York's Mayor Bloomberg on a crusade to tighten restrictions on gun sales. And doesn't stop at the New York City limits. Bloomberg recently sent undercover investigators to a gun show in Phoenix, Arizona, held 10 days after the Tucson shooting that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford. Well, Bloomberg discussed the probe at a news conference this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: The ATF estimates that 30 percent of all illegally trafficked firearms are connected to gun shows. And the reason is simple. Federal law does not require what are called occasional sellers to perform background checks. This exemption was meant to allow individuals to sell the occasional gun from their personal collections, but instead what has happened is that these so- called private sellers are using gun violence -- gun shows to run profitable businesses while criminals and traffickers are using the private sellers to buy guns anonymously and easily with no questions asked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Even private sellers are prohibited from selling guns to buyers they think may be ineligible. Barred from gun ownership because of a felony conviction or mental instability, for instance. Bloomberg says one of his investigators was able to buy a semi-automatic pistol at the Phoenix gun show, even though he told the seller he probably couldn't pass a background check. Bloomberg showed reporters this hidden camera video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have to worry about taxes or anything?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that's good. So you're not one of those, you know, dealer guys, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no tax, no form. You don't have to be (ph) transferred or nothing. (INAUDIBLE). You've got an Arizona ID, that's it. (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes. So no background check?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's good because I probably couldn't pass it, you know what I mean? Yes, I like this, man. You take five for it cash? Right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have your ID with you? I just need to see your ID.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs my ID. I thought you don't do background --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me see -- I need to see it, that's all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, you need to see it. OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll show you mine. We're a private seller. I'll show you mine, I'll see yours and that's it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Of course that's all perfectly legal. Bloomberg says the investigation shows the need to require background checks for all gun sales with exceptions for transfers among family members, while gun rights advocates say people who occasionally sell weapons at gun shows should not be required to conduct background checks.

We are waiting for the White House briefing in that room right there. We expect some information to be sent to us about Egypt coming from that room. And speaking of Egypt, we continue to monitor events there. This is live TV coming to us from Egypt and we will bring you the very latest on all the information we have right after this.

We also have a major blizzard with possible record-setting cold and snow moving into the mess (ph). We're going to tell you what you need to know about this now, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Happening now. Thousands of Egyptian protesters are defying the latest government curfew, filling the streets across the country for the seventh straight day. Antigovernment activists in Cairo and Alexandria say they are organizing a march of millions in those cities for tomorrow.

The health care law signed by President Obama last year is facing a major legal challenge in Florida right now. A federal judge expected to rule on a lawsuit filed by governors and attorneys general from 26 states. They are arguing the law oversteps federal authority by requiring citizens to require health insurance or pay a penalty.

And game on in Dallas. The Pittsburgh Steelers just arrived in town for Sunday's Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers are just a few hours away. Both teams face the media today. The U.S. homeland security secretary is also getting a tour of security operations.

(WEATHER REPORT)

It combines political action with charity work, but is Egypt's largest Islamic organization linked to terrorist groups? We're going to hear from national security analyst Peter Bergen, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: A bit of breaking news now coming from the Pentagon. Our Pentagon reporter, of course, correspondent Barbara Starr is there.

Barbara, I have to ask you, is this as serious as it sounds? Or precautionary? Tell us what's going on.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Drew, another signal of the deteriorating conditions in Cairo and how seriously the U.S. is taking it.

U.S. military officials confirming to CNN that a small group of heavily armed marines have been sent to the U.S. embassy in Cairo. They are not saying how many for obvious reasons, very sensitive. But, this is a unit known as a Marine fleet antiterrorism security team. They go to embassies when countries are in trouble and reinforce, provide additional security for U.S. embassy sites for the personnel trying to work there in emergency circumstances.

Basically, they have the inside perimeter of the embassy we are told, and are providing as much security as they can. Egyptian military on the outside of the embassy walls. But definitely this is a signal that the U.S. is reinforcing where it can, making sure that members of the U.S. embassy team are safe and secure.

Everyone remembers many years ago in Tehran, when basically, mob violence took over and the hostage crisis ensued at the U.S. embassy. Determination that will not be repeated if the situation were to deteriorate further. So these heavily armed Marines now at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, very quietly moving in, but looking after things there, Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right. Barbara, we should add, I think there's about 380 State Department employees in Egypt. And also, the earlier word I got is that the embassy is still open. Got that earlier today. I believe that is still the case, although it is night there.

Thank you. Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon.

We want to walk you through just what has been going on for the last seven days here. This all kind of began on the 25th, when tens of thousands marched in Cairo and other cities, demanding that the president step down.

Police firing tear gas, water cannons, and at least three protesters and police officers were killed. Two days later is when Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel Prize winner returned to Cairo and he called on Mubarak to leave; to step down, to resign. Large protests continuing in Cairo, other cities. And that's when the government actually tried to shut down, or did shut down the social media sites.

On January 28th, more protesters taking to the streets. This took place after Friday prayers. Mubarak imposes a curfew, largely ignored. Protesters burned the ruling party headquarters there and Also, the U.S. urged Mubarak to avoid violence and the army was ordered into the streets. On the 29th -- this is Saturday -- clashes in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, other cities. Mubarak fires the cabinet, names a vice president for the first time since he was vice president back in '81, and he banned the Muslim Brotherhood calls for a peaceful transfer of power.

On the 30th, we saw the protests continue. A hundred and twenty people, the total killed in six days according to our reports. President Obama calling regional leaders about the crisis and the police ordered back to the streets.

And that's kind of where we stand so far. So far, no clear cut leader has emerged among the antigovernment protesters, but some, perhaps many, would like to see the Muslim Brotherhood take the lead, at least have a major role in what's unfolding in cities and towns across Egypt.

Here are some of the things you might not know about the Muslim Brotherhood. It's Egypt's oldest and largest organization founded in the 1920s, the organization combines political activism with charity work. Its slogan is "Islam is the Solution." The group has been banned by Hosni Mubarak.

Joining us now from Washington to talk more about the Muslim Brotherhood, CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen.

And Peter, the discussion around the Muslim Brotherhood -- at least in this country -- has been mostly fear that this is a (sic) Islamic radical group and if they get into some political power situation, it could turn into a situation like Iran.

Your take?

PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I think that fear is over blown, Drew. I think the Muslim Brotherhood are a group that, you know, I don't precisely share their views, obviously. They are, I would say, Islamic fundamentalists by and large, people who take Islam very seriously, seek to further Islamize Egyptian society.

But, you know, they've been around, as you point out, since the 1920s. They had a terrorist wing when they were fighting the British. That is wing is now defunct for many decades. They've been, I think, a rather useful player in Egyptian politics over the last several decades.

When there is a major crisis and the government can't get involved in because it's so incompetent, the Muslim Brotherhood will step in and provide relief. The Muslim Brotherhood also has run party candidates as independents in Egyptian elections. And if there was a free and fair election tomorrow in Egypt, they would do rather well, probably get about a third of the vote.

They're going to take a role in Egypt's future because they're already taking a role in Egypt's present. But they are rational actors, I think. I mean, I've interviewed a number of their leaders, (INAUDIBLE) educated. They're doctors, they're lawyers. They aren't table thumping revolutionaries, Drew. GRIFFIN: But Peter, the critics, and I should say those who are warning about the Muslim Brotherhood point to the past. Point to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was among their members, point to the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood does, I believe, support Hamas, and perhaps believes that this group is not table thumping deliberately so that they can kind of get access to the political power structure and then bring on what they would deem a Sharia law-based government.

BERGEN: Well, I mean, on the issue of their relations with al Qaeda, you know, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two in al Qaeda has written a book length denunciation of the Muslim Brotherhood who he condemns out of hand for their participation in elections which a group like al Qaeda doesn't think are basically Islamic.

The Muslim Brotherhood is hated by al Qaeda and vice versa. And, of course, Hamas in Gaza, is, of course, a Muslim Brotherhood group which one a free and fair election in Gaza. And you know, there are plenty of people who are unhappy about that, and there are plenty who would say, well, if we're trying to encourage democracy in the Middle East, there may be outcomes which don't precisely accord with perhaps what the United States officials would like.

But we need to be kind of grown-ups about this. I mean, in a country like Egypt, it's -- there is a large conservative Islamic population. If you want to have elections and you want to encourage democracy, the Muslim Brotherhood is going to be part of the scene there because they have a lot of legitimacy and authority. And certainly much more than the government as we've seen over the last several days.

GRIFFIN: The protesters from what we've seen, have been asking for a more open society, more economic freedoms, more political freedoms. Would those protesters be pleased with the stance that a Muslim Brotherhood would bring?

In other words, is the Muslim Brotherhood also supportive of an open, a free, and fair democracy-style government?

BERGEN: Well, I think the Muslim brotherhood has repeatedly said on the record in Egypt and by its actions has demonstrated that it's going to participate in elections and going to run candidates and do the kinds of things people do in any democracy.

As to are their views shared by many of the protesters? Probably not. Because what we have seen what's so interesting about this is that as protesters span every age group, demographic and political kind of view in Egyptian society. And so, Egypt is a big country. There's plenty of secularists. I'm a Noor (ph), for instance, who's been imprisoned by the Egyptian regime as a, in the past, as a liberal secularist who would be opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood.

But that's what democracy is about. You're not going to get a kind of universal agreement on all issues. We see that in our own country.

GRIFFIN: All right. Peter Bergen, thanks for joining us from Washington today. Appreciate your insight.

We are not going to get too far away from the events in Egypt. Just want to bring you some other news happening across the U.S. today.

For the first time in five years, the government updated recommendations about what you should eat and how much. 23 recommendations. Six more for specific population groups.

Here's what the report says we should focus on. Kind of what your mom told you. Balance your calories, enjoy your food, but eat less and avoid oversized portions. Increase some of the foods you eat. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables, and switch to fat free and low fat milk. Decrease some of the other foods you eat. Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, frozen meals so you can choose foods with lower sodium numbers. And drink water instead of sugary drinks.

While most of us probably won't bother to read the entire report, its findings will have an important impact. They're going to affect school lunch menus, the food stamp program, and nutritional labels on the food we buy.

We are again monitoring the situation out of the White House. Still waiting for the White House press conference news briefing to begin, and we will bring you that when it happens.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We're continuing to follow events in Egypt. The very latest, the breaking news that we heard from Barbara Starr at the Pentagon that Marines are heading to the U.S. embassy in Cairo. We're going to update that situation as we get more information.

But right now, news from other parts of the country here today. It is a case of sex, lies and videotape not being investigated by the FBI but apparently being carried out by FBI employees themselves. A CNN investigation has uncovered a pattern of bad behavior at this nation's elite law enforcement agency that's been going on for years. Here's CNN's Kyra Phillips.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): This is the FBI we know and trust, agents who take down bank robbers...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shots are being fired.

PHILLIPS: ... the mob, Russian sleeper cells, agents who swear to uphold fidelity, bravery, integrity.

But what we found inside one of the most respected federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies doesn't always match that image.

(on camera): Why did you lie? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I panicked. I lied about speaking to somebody about a piece of information.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Ashamed that he was caught, fearful that he will be identified, the story of this former agent who illegally searched the FBI database for personal use, and then lied about it, is not unique.

Matter of fact, the FBI confirms about 1,000 cases of misconduct over the last three years.

(on camera): Many are highlighted right here in confidential summaries of disciplinary reports that we obtained, bad behavior that may have you wondering why many of these employees didn't lose their jobs.

(voice-over): These internal reports that include a sex tape, sleeping with informants, tapping into FBI databases for unauthorized searches, viewing pornography on bureau computers, even driving drunk.

We went to the president of the FBI Agents Association.

(on camera) It was pretty appalling, reading some of the acts of misconduct. Is that ever acceptable?

KONRAD MOTYKA, PRESIDENT, FBI AGENTS ASSOCIATION: No, it isn't acceptable. Specifically, demonstrable incorrect conduct or criminal conduct is not acceptable and never should be.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Here are just a few examples. An employee had a sexual relationship with a source over seven months. The punishment: 40-day suspension.

An employee who was drunk exploited his FBI employment at a strip club, falsely claiming he was conducting an official investigation. His punishment: suspended for 30 days.

A supervisor viewed pornographic movies in his office during work hours while sexually satisfying himself. Punishment: 35-day suspension.

And an employee in a leadership position misused a government database to check on two exotic dancers and then took them into an FBI office after hours. That penalty: 23-day suspension.

CANDACE WILL, ASSISTANT FBI DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY: People are human. They make mistakes.

PHILLIPS: Assistant FBI director Candace Will oversees the Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles disciplinary proceedings.

(voice-over) When you hear those type of allegations, suspension seem right to you versus being fired?

WILL: When I hear those types of allegations, I'm deeply aggrieved. I don't -- I don't want to hear about any of our employees doing anything like that.

But again, I -- my job is to look at the full file in the case.

PHILLIPS: To some you could hear allegations like this and think, "Wow, it takes a lot of bad behavior to get fired from the FBI."

WILL: That is so not true. If I get any type of criticism on a routine basis, it is that I am the hammer. I don't -- I don't ever hear that I am light or that I take any zeetag (ph) ever.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Will says she receives about 500 cases of alleged misconduct a year. And about 70 percent result in some kind of discipline. Just a fraction, she says, of the 34,000 FBI employees.

WILL: The vast majority of our employees do not lie. The vast majority of our employees do not cheat. The vast majority of our employees do not steal.

PHILLIPS: But the internal reports we obtained do detail serious misconduct. Misuse of position. Fraud. Even abuse of a government credit card. In one case, an FBI employee used government databases to get details about celebrities the employee thought were, quote, "hot."

WILL: I have seen allegations in my office where I have been surprised by what I've read. I have seen allegations in my office where I've been very saddened by what I've read.

PHILLIPS: Like the FBI employee who leaked law enforcement sensitive information to his girlfriend who was a news reporter. And after breaking up, threatened her with the release of a sex tape the two had made.

(on camera) How could someone like that even work for the FBI in the first place?

WILL: Well, that someone is a former employee.

PHILLIPS: Director Will, why not a no-tolerance policy?

WILL: We do have a no-tolerance policy. We don't tolerate our employees engaging in misconduct. It doesn't mean that we fire everybody.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): But one sure way to get fired is to lie under oath.

(on camera) Why did you make the mistake? You took the oath. You knew what you were doing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because you're a human being, and you make a mistake. You fail. You fear. It's a fit of panic. That's all.

PHILLIPS: Kyra Phillips, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: You may be wondering why these internal reports are e- mailed to employees in the first place. The assistant FBI director there tells us that she selects which cases of misconduct to highlight and then sends them throughout the FBI, hoping that employees will steer clear of making the same mistakes.

We continue to wait for the White House news briefing today. And as we do, we'll take a little break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We're still awaiting news on the White House on when the news briefing of today will take place. And as we do, we're going to bring in senior political editor Mark Preston, one of our CNN Political Update team members standing by with a look at what the rank-and-file Republicans are talking about when it comes to the Tea Party. Mark?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Drew. Yes, great news for Tea Party activists. New Gallup poll just released this morning show that's 90 percent Republicans want the party leaders here in Washington, D.C., to at least explore the ideas and push forward the ideas of the Tea Party. Now, that shouldn't be too surprising because the whole basis of the Tea Party or at least the beginning of the basis of the Tea Party, Drew, was about fiscal issues and fiscal discipline. And given, of course, the state of the economy at this point, it seems to make a whole lot of sense.

You know, 2012 is, what, two years away, but Democrats are wasting no time in their effort to try to win back the House majority. In fact, today they put out a new campaign that's targeting 19 different Republicans. Seventeen of these Republicans they are criticizing them on fiscal issues because these 17 Republicans are talking about making specific budget cuts. The other two Republicans that Democrats are focusing on have some kind of ethical issues.