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U.S. Gravely Concerned About Libya; Day Six of Wisconsin Protests; Calling All ROMEOs

Aired February 20, 2011 - 16:00   ET

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

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The story of the hour, Libya and the situation there is changing very rapidly. First, an official at the U.S. State Department is telling Washington - telling us rather from Washington that the situation there is gravely concerned about the clashes between government forces and protesters are continuing.

Second, although we are not expecting to hear from long-time ruler Moammar Gadhafi himself, his son is supposed to issue a statement some time tonight. In the meantime, from Benghazi we have a protester on the telephone. As is our custom, we do not identify this person for their own protection.

Are you there and can you tell us what is happening right now?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTOR (via telephone): Hello there. Can you hear me?

SAVIDGE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTOR: OK. Great. Well, basically, Benghazi is free from the tyrant. It's the end of his regime here in the eastern section of the country. His military compound, which was the sign of his dominance, was breached today by a commando brigade that turned the people against Gadhafi and his mercenaries were captured, some of them were killed and the eastern sector of Libya is free.

We're talking about Benghazi, (INAUDIBLE) and there are strong, very, very reports now that Tripoli have finally realized what an accomplishment Benghazi has accomplished and they decided to join in and hopefully soon the whole country will be free of him.

SAVIDGE: You mentioned that the takeover of these military barracks there in Benghazi, what about casualties as far as civilians, those who had been part of the protests?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTOR: OK. Basically what drove the protest on and what turned the military in our favor was yesterday, 120 people were shot dead yesterday outside those barracks protesting by those mercenaries. And I believe the army against them, especially this commando brigade. Today, the victims were (INAUDIBLE) of Benghazi we have around 40 victims today. And generally, within like four days, you are talking around 300 deaths, which is a lot. Massacre, really, on an international scale.

SAVIDGE: What is happening on the streets right now? I mean, has calm somewhat been restored as a result of this victory you described?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTOR: Oh, absolutely not. No. In fact, vice versa there is chaos and anarchy here right now, of people celebrating, obviously. The whole city came to - the whole city came to a gridlock because of tank and just general protesters blocking roads, trying to block the army, trying to block these mercenaries from entering various districts. There are obviously tires burned. Things obviously have been burned to create smoke in the air, and so there's chaos in the city from that stance and people are driving around celebrating, honking their horns, but the scary thing is right now is when the military compound was breached, a significant amount of weapons were left in storerooms and civilians were walking out with weapons.

So, now we have civilians armed with military-grade weapons and we have no idea what's going on. There is no security. All security services pulled out around four or five days ago and it was the military and the mercenaries against the civilian population.

SAVIDGE: And what has happened to the mercenaries, as you describe them you say that the military has turned in your favor but those mercenaries what have you done with them?

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTOR: OK. The military turned in our favor but the mercenaries are of African descent. There is unconfirmed reports that there are - there were some Bangladeshi and Egyptian elements in there as well.

And right now, we also have heard news that 100 were captured and they're going to be taken tonight at the northern courtroom where the main protest exists and apparently, the commandos captured them and they took them there to interrogate them and to take them - and to take note of them, I suppose and see what they say.

SAVIDGE: All right. Thank you, sir, very much for communicating with us. We have been talking with a protester that has been talking to us from Benghazi. As is our custom we are not identifying these people because the government has been trying to track them down and arrest them but he reports that Benghazi now is fully in the hands of protesters. CNN cannot fully verify that report. We are working to get our own people on the ground but of course, right now, as you know, Libya is tightly controlled.

Fionnuala Sweeney is now joining us, she is in neighboring Egypt. And we have been waiting for the statement to come from the son of Moammar Gadhafi and I'm wondering, do we have any idea what he is going to say, Fionnuala?

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, we don't, but let me just roll back, if I may, to what that last person was saying to you from Benghazi. We, too, are hearing from a number of sources that Benghazi is now in the hands of the demonstrators. Throughout the day, Martin, there have been (INAUDIBLE) battles protesters who were trying to breach the wall of the military compound which contains forces who are loyal to Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. We are now hearing that the protestors have overrun that camp. They're distributing guns, food and ammunition to the people of Benghazi and essentially now, the city is quiet. It is in the hands of the protesters, and when I say quiet, quiet for no gunfire but not quiet in the sense that people are on the streets allegedly and celebrating.

We have to caution that it is difficult for us to verify any of this because we are not on the ground there but we've checked with numerous sources within the last 40 minutes, this is what we are hearing that the protesters in Benghazi have claimed the city for themselves and they are now saying that they own Benghazi. This is the second largest city in the country. It has always been a hot bed of unrest and trouble for Colonel Moammar Gadhafi and if these reports are true, then this would be a very serious development for his rule.

SAVIDGE: Right. It would essentially mean that the eastern part of the country would have fallen under the control of these protesters. The son of Gadhafi was expected to make some sort of statement tonight. First of all, why would we hear from the son and not from Moammar Gadhafi, the leader himself and do we have any idea, Fionnuala, what is going to be released or said?

SWEENEY: Well, I think it can only be that (INAUDIBLE) Gadhafi is going to make a statement indicating some kind of development or at least outline the thinking of Colonel Gadhafi regime as of the moment in the face of these protests. We do know that state TV since yesterday evening, has been acknowledging which is quite something in itself but there have been demonstration and unrest in the country but the question really remains is what (INAUDIBLE) Gadhafi going to say?

He is seen as one of the more liberal people in that regime. He is a western-minded man in many ways. He is an architect by profession, liberal, that if you contrast it to what else we have heard from that regime over the last 42 years. (INAUDIBLE) We will have to wait and see those developments and what he is going to say but essentially now, they must be doing some real thinking, if I must venture an opinion to put it mildly in Tripoli, because if Tripoli were to fall and we hear reports of demonstrations in various parts of that city, then that really would be a very serious, serious development for the Gadhafi regime, if the events in Benghazi and other cities haven't been a reminder that there have been more than 200 people killed, the majority of them in Benghazi.

This uprising began there six nights ago when protesters spontaneously took to the streets following the arrest of a human rights activists who had been investigating an alleged massacre at a (INAUDIBLE) Prison near Benghazi and those riots have continued. Thousands of people again on the streets today. The clashes have followed a certain passion, Martin, and that usually when people have been going to bury their dead and huge numbers of people attending funerals that clashes with the security forces have broken out.

But as this had day has progressed and more people have died, at least 25 we are told today, it seems the focus of the violence was on this military camp, which according to the people we are speaking to, and again, I have to kind of couch this in quantitative terms here, this military camp has been overrun and Benghazi is now in the hands of protesters.

SAVIDGE: Fionnuala Sweeney, reporting on Libya from Cairo for us. we will stay in close touch, thank you.

A change of plans for budget protestors in Madison, Wisconsin, a major winter storm has forced them inside the state capitol. They are demonstrating against the government's plan to cut public workers' collective bargaining rights. That's workers' collective bargaining rights.

CNN's Casey Wian live in Madison, Wisconsin.

Casey?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Martin. We have a much different scene here today than we saw yesterday when tens of thousands of protesters were ringing the state capitol. You see some folks behind me, they are the exception. Most of the protestors are actually inside the state capitol building, thousands of them.

Hundreds of them have been spending the night here to protest this controversial legislation which would strip public employee unions of many of their collective bargaining rights in this state. We saw a very interesting scene and I think we can show you some video of that earlier today when a group of firefighters walked into the state capitol to very, very loud applause.

And what's interesting about this is that firefighters, police officers, other public safety state employees are actually exempt from this legislation but they showed up here anyways to voice their support for these protesters who have been here for six days. Now, Wisconsin state governor Scott Walker says he needs these measures to his words, protect the jobs of 6,000 state employees over the next two years.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the state Senate continue to be absent. They have left the state, which has stopped this legislation from moving forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is not open to any changes from obviously Democrats or Republicans who have floated a couple of changes to this proposal this past week. So again, the ball's in his court. He has the money he needs from the public employees to balance his budget. If he takes this and agrees to that, that is great, we can form consensus and move along together. If he doesn't agree to this then I'm wondering what the intentions were in the first place.

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: I believe we have got a path that allows us to have everybody come back and vote. There's going to be plenty of time to have the debate. They can make their case. They can make their argument but democracy is not about hiding out in another state. It is about showing up here in the capitol and making the case there and for us, we are willing to take this as long as it takes because in the end, we are doing the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIAN: Now as both sides dig in their heels as we speak, teachers are meeting to craft their strategy for the next week and one of the decisions they are going to have to make is whether to recommend whether teachers go back to work or not. There were many teachers throughout this state who are off their job for three days at the end of last week, forcing schools to close.

One other aspect of this story, one of the teachers we spoke with said they received notes from sympathetic doctors excusing their absences which may help them avoid the loss of wages that they would suffer because of those absences from work. They are saying that some of these doctors are upset about cuts to the state health care program so they are writing notes for teachers who are absent, protesting this issue. Martin?

SAVIDGE: Casey Wian up there in Madison, Wisconsin. Thanks very much.

Growing frustration over the investigation into the mysterious death of a former Pentagon official. The body of John Wheeler was found in a Delaware landfill on New Year's Eve. Wheeler's family is voicing some theories now about how he may have been killed.

We want to go to our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti in New York for details on this. Susan?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Martin. Well, what really happened to John Wheeler? How did his body wind up in a dumpster and then a landfill near Newark, Delaware. Was he killed in a random act of violence or was the former Pentagon official the target of a hit? Was he drugged ahead of time? The family is not immune to theories floating around. They are wondering some of the same things.

Today, I spoke briefly by phone with Wheeler's widow. It's clear she and the family are frustrated. She declined an interview but I talked with the family's attorney at length. He says police aren't saying much to the family. In his words, "information has not been shared with them and that's leading to frustration over what's going on."

Now, you remember that Wheeler was seen on security cameras appearing confused and disoriented in a parking garage and later on in an office building in Wilmington, Delaware, before disappearing. Why? His family can't explain it either. Was he sick? His lawyer says his relatives are trying to figure out whether Wheeler's medical issues could help had explain what happened.

In an interview with slate.com, Wheeler's widow says her husband was bipolar and taking lithium, however, her lawyer would not comment on that. Last month, a medical examiner said Wheeler died of blunt force after an assault. The heelers' attorney says the police did not tell the family that news. They had to find out from the media. It is again one of the things that's hard for them to understand. We have also learned that since Wheeler's mysterious death, his widow has been the target of identity theft.

Her attorney says someone charged a $3,000 airline ticket from New York to Madrid on her credit card. Now, Wheeler did not carry his wife's card, so it is hard to say whether the theft had anything to do with his death, but it is just another unanswered question. And finally, Martin, a $25,000 reward is being offered by the family for help in solving the case. Friends say they might add to that amount and at the end of April, the former West Point graduate will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

SAVIDGE: It is indeed a mystery. Susan Candiotti, thank you very much.

Well, one of our CNN Heroes captured the attention of a TV show. That TV show is the "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." We are going to show you the good that has come from this hero's generosity.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: This week on CNN Heroes we are updating you on heroes from last year. Dan Wallrath builds homes for injured service men and women. CNN's Anderson Cooper takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KID ROCK, SINGER: It is my honor to present CNN hero Dan (INAUDIBLE).

DAN WALLRATH, CNN TOP 10 HERO: Being a top 10 CNN Hero was just very humbling. The true heroes are servicemen and women who answer the call.

Since the show aired, we have been getting phone calls and -mails and donations from all over the world. It has just been incredible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had seen Dan on CNN Heroes tribute and we thought that's perfect guy we got to team up with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, Patrick and Jessica.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" joined forces with Dan to build a home for an Iraq war veteran wounded at the 2009 attack at Fort Hood in Texas. 13 soldiers died and Staff Sergeant Patrick Zeigler pulled through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was shot four times, once in the head. He has just made a remarkable recovery.

COOPER: For Dan, who normally works with around 200 people, it is a chance to help build a home on a much larger scale.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been probably 4,00 or 5,000 volunteers involved. We have tons of military folks helping us. God bless you.

This house is going to be built in about 100 hours where normally we take about six months.

COOPER: And an event at Fort Hood honoring Patrick and his fiancee, Jessica, Dan made a special announcement.

WALLRATH: We have established a Fort Hood victims' fund to reach out to all the families affected by this tragedy.

It feels so good all the time about seeing these lives change. Now we are going to be able to change a lot more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: And tonight, that episode of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" airs on ABC. As we just showed you, one of our top CNN Heroes Dan Wallrath teamed up with them and he joins us from Austin, Texas.

Dan, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with you. Welcome.

WALLRATH: Thank you very much.

SAVIDGE: Let me ask, how has your life changed for you, for your organization, since becoming a CNN hero?

WALLRATH: It has changed immensely since we first started with the CNN program. It has just been amazing that - the response that we have been getting from just all over the world, of donation and e- mails and cards and letters. It's just phenomenal and I want to take this opportunity to thank CNN for making us one of the top CNN Heroes this year because our organization wouldn't have gone as far as we have in this short period of time without the help of CNN. So I want to thank everybody at CNN.

SAVIDGE: How did you get into this line of work? What inspired you at the start?

WALLRATH: Well, I was a custom home builder in Houston for 30 years and actually what happened was we was introduced to a young man that needed help and he had some severe head injuries and as a builder, I went and talked to the family and seen the changes that need to be made in their home and it really just touched my heart and from there, you know, the organization was begun.

SAVIDGE: And as far as your latest project here, I mean what was it like working on this home, especially helping a victim of the 2009 Fort Hood tragedy and working on, you know, "Extreme Makeover"?

WALLRATH: It was such an amazing project, to see so many people come together, it was just - it was just wonderful. The builder, Tillson Homes, a Texas builder, just a fantastic group. They helped us put this thing together along with the Texas Association of Builders and ABC. And CNN there was. You're all there and it was just a great experience.

SAVIDGE: Got it done in 100 hours? WALLRATH: Yes. Yes. Tillson Homes built this house in 100 hours. It was amazing. And I would just like to say that, you know, I built homes for 30 years and I have never seen anything like this. It was just incredible.

SAVIDGE: So what's the future got in store now, after all of this notoriety?

WALLRATH: Well, we are just praying that that we will continue to build homes for our heroes, our true heroes. We are excited. We're spreading across the United States and we work through the local builders association and just this last week, we gave away three homes in different spots here in Texas and it is just really taken off and we just couldn't be happier.

SAVIDGE: Well, Dan, that's wonderful good news. We're happy to share it. And most of all we're happy to have you as a hero. Thanks very much for talking with us today. Good luck in the future.

WALLRATH: Well, thanks for having us.

SAVIDGE: And remember, all of the CNN heroes are dominated by you, so logon to cnn.com and tell us about the hero that may be in your neighborhood or your town.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Let's take a look once again at our top stories.

Day six of protest in Wisconsin in the capital of Madison. Thousands of people demonstrating for and against the plan that would take away government workers' collective bargaining rights and trim their benefits. The measure is part of Republican Governor Scott Walker's proposal to cut the state budget deficit. Tea Party activists are supporting the governor.

This amateur video out of Iran shows lines of plain clothes security forces lighting up on a Tehran street. Reports are coming out of Iran of thousands of security officers cracking down on protests, at times, striking the protesters were batons and rushing others with motorcycles. Opposition web sites say that one person was killed in Tehran today but the government is denying that.

1,900 lucky people need to be watching their mailboxes for a special invitation it is for the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton. Friends, family members and dignitaries should be getting them real soon but one royal is being snubbed. Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of the Duke of York, who is William's aunt, is not invited.

I wonder what the weather will be for that day. Well, a little early to be thinking of that, the weather already though for parts of the upper Midwest are not, not nice at all.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I didn't get my invitation either, by the way. I don't know about you. But I'm waiting. SAVIDGE: They just went out.

JERAS: Oh, OK. Hopefully another couple of days. Good deal. Hopefully another couple of days and spring arrives, right? I think this is a big thing everybody is wishing for because winter making a comeback this weekend, really, with a vengeance.

Take a look at this video, this is out of Flagstaff, Arizona, the high country getting hit hard yesterday with the heavy snow causing some slick roads and poor visibility. There are lots of accidents across the area, not just in the high country but also in the valley, strong winds were also an issue, thousands of people were without power and even some roadway also to be closed down between Sedona and Flagstaff because of those slick roads. So that heavy snow and that system on the move.

And believe it or not, the system in the southwest now across the upper Midwest. And we are talking blizzard conditions across parts of the Dakotas. Heavy snow just north of i-90. And this is moving in across Wisconsin as well as Michigan and eventually making its way across the northeastern corridor. There you can see the snow coming down.

And one of the other big concerns is some freezing rain and that is what we have been seeing across southern Minnesota and northern parts of Iowa. In fact, we did get some power outages, the ice could accumulate that thick. We are also looking at maybe anywhere between eight and 14 inches of snow for the twin cities.

All right. Let's talk about where this system is going to be moving, what you need to watch out for the next couple of days. Snow for you in Milwaukee, snow for you in Green Bay and then into the northeast, it starts to quiet down a little bit but we do think you will get some rain, sleet and snow mixing in here and then the system eventually moving offshore.

By Tuesday, staying nice and warm in the southeast, put that little glass half-full thing out there we had a bunch of records yesterday, maybe a few yet broken today.

SAVIDGE: I didn't want to mentioned, I felt I would make the other parts of the nation jealous.

JERAS: I know. Don't you feel like you are bragging a little?

SAVIDGE: A little bit.

JERAS: A little bit. So stop it.

From supermodel to business mogul, does Iman know why she has lasted so long in this fashion business? You are going to find out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Her name is synonymous with fashion, her iconic face with modeling. Iman talks face-to-face with Fredricka Whitfield about evolving into a business mogul and her staying power.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fashion week in New York means a lot of excitement on the runways, among the models and the fashion designers. Well, someone whose fame rose from the runway, Iman, says been there, done that. The Somali-born icon says you will rarely find her at a show these days. But she tells me face-to-face, she loves how models of today are seizing the opportunity, recognizing that the cat walk and magazine covers can be a spring board for even bigger business breaks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAN, CEO, IMAN COSMETICS: You know, I was awarded the fashioning icon award, which was -- I was totally surprised because it is not a yearly award they give. They have given it only to other four women, I believe Kate Moss, Nicole Richie, Sandra Bernhardt and I can't remember the other one and I was the fifth.

So I have to stay it is great for the ego, at my age, I'm a 55. I thought how perfect, right? On top of that Barney's gave me two windows; it was celebration and love fest for a week.

Tells me it was forever.

Fashion is not forever.

WHITFIELD (voice over): So, you say fashioning is not forever. However, did you ever realize you would have this kind of staying power in the industry of fashion or beauty, of business?

IMAN: No. It's all a surprise. If anything, I was more confident about my legacy, which is Iman Cosmetics. I was confident if the women got their hands on the cosmetics they would be a believer. Now, as a model, I have no idea how I lasted. I don't think the whole industry even knows why -- how and why I lasted this long. And to top that all, I stopped modeling in 1989. To be still relevant in this industry, I have no clue. I have no clue how it happened. But I'm glad.

WHITFIELD: You did something that was unique. You forged a relationship with fashion designers, Calvin Klein, you had Michael Kors. People asking you, how should I put this together? Iman how would you wear it? Donna Karen (ph) saying you know if you wanted to make a statement, you put it on Iman.

IMAN: That had a lot to do with and unfortunately they don't use models like that anymore, models use to be music and they really paid attention to how you wear your own clothes and what your personal style. So now that doesn't exist, yes, that had a lot to do with it when I see Oscar de la Renta, I saw him at the battle of Versailles, he was like he said I can't believe you aged a bit, you look better than when -- 20 years ago, he is being nice.

WHITFIELD: No it is probably true, too, actually. So, when you see models today, the it model or the up and coming, what are you hoping for some of these young models on being able to stay in the industry or maximize this opportunity?

IMAN: I think a lot of models today understand the branding of one's self. They really do understand, because it is a new generation of models and of business that is at hand. They have a business plan. They have seen how Giselle or Kate Moss have navigated this. And so they are really aware of the longevity doesn't exist anymore it is a very tough business. Lots of girls want to get into it and the amount of girls that go into it; maybe I would say 5 percent make it.

So it is a tough and competitive business. It is a tough -- and you lose your identity. You totally have -- you lose your identity, you lose one's self, you only see yourself through the eyes of how they judge you. So it is really tough on a young person.

WHITFIELD: So, now what does your family say about the choices that you made that went as far back as when you were 18 and 19?

IMAN: They still think I made the wrong choice.

WHITFIELD: No they do not.

IMAN: Yes they think I would have made better as -- in public service. I personally think I can probably do more on the outside than the inside; inside is tough you have to play by the rules.

WHITFIELD: But perhaps your philanthropy is a type of public service.

IMAN: That is the only thing that I feel really proud of is my philanthropy service.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Your vision, your next act?

IMAN: I don't know. Usually it unfolds itself, you know, and it reveals itself. I wish I could say I planned a lot of the things that has happened to me, none of it was planned. Once it arrives, I recognize it, I mean I don't have it in my head but once they arrive, I recognize them as my path.

WHITFIELD: Instincts mean something?

IMAN: Instincts mean a lot. You know, and I'm taking advantage of an opportunity when it comes. But it somehow reveals itself. I have no idea. When I was writing my book "Iman" I had no clue from day what I was going to call the book and as we went along, my book design, an English young man told me it would reveal itself when you finish the book and the day I finished the book it revealed itself. A lot of people thought I am being grand, "Iman."

WHITFIELD: There is only one.

IMAN: Come from a lot of places, people in the streets sometimes say to me, you look just like Iman. And I say Iman. So that comes from that and phonetically it looked good together. And remind you, my name, Iman is a man's name in Somali it is a play on I am a man.

WHITFIELD: Your dad played a big role in that, right? For some reason he said that this young girl is going to be different.

IMAN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Is going to be unique. And I'm OK with naming her a man's Somali name.

IMAN: Yes, the funny thing is that in the rest of the Middle East it is a girl's name but in Somalia, it's a man's name and it is a high name, like to have faith, like to have faith in god it means. And I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Next, Iman tells me face-to-face the secret behind her 20- year marriage to rocker David Bowie.

SAVIDGE: Well, parents who wouldn't let their child drink a cup of coffee may be surprised because many kids could be getting three times as much caffeine from another source.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Your kids may be OD-ing on caffeine and coffee and soda may have nothing to do with it that is coming up.

But first a look at some of today's top stories.

It is day six of protests in Madison, Wisconsin, thousands of people are demonstrating for or against a plan that would take away government workers' collective bargaining rights and trim their benefits. The measure is part of Republican Governor Scott Walkers a plan to cut the state budget deficit. Tea Party activists are supporting the governor.

Gunfire disrupts a sweet 16 party in suburban Atlanta. Five teens were shot and taken to the hospital. The victims range in age from 15 to 17. Police found more than two dozen bullet shells and shell casings scattered in the street. A search is on for the shooter.

And hundreds of Auburn University fans and supporters are hoping that two old oak trees can be saved. They held a rally in Auburn, Alabama, yesterday. The trees were allegedly doused with a lethal herbal side by a disgruntled University of Alabama fan. Scientists are doubtful that the trees will survive.

And a new warning for parents now about the possible dangers of energy drinks and what they may pose to their children's health. The study says that kid could actually OD on caffeine. I spoke with Dr. Bill Lloyd about how energy drinks are different than other popular beverages.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: A lot of confusion about these beverages. Energy drinks are loaded with caffeine, sometimes ten times as much caffeine compared to some of the other beverages. Now, that's different than sports drinks, which have a lot of sugar and a lot of electrolytes, so they restore, they rehydrate you after physical activity. But in a report published this month in the "Journal Pediatrics" these hyper caffeinated energy drinks are dangerous because of all the caffeine and nothing else that will help you.

SAVIDGE (voice over): What happens when say a young person quickly consumes too much caffeine?

LLOYD: Excess caffeine can be a big problem and as you increase the amount of caffeine that you consume your blood pressure goes up, your heart rate goes up, the ability to breathe changes, you start having mental problems, you become disoriented and what a lot of people don't know, when you take too much caffeine it can lead to liver and kidney failure. So we have to back down on the amount of caffeine that our children are consuming and that especially means the energy drinks.

SAVIDGE: And with the removal of energy drinks that were infused with alcohol there were a number of those for a while, I.e. 4 loco, why is problem drinking still a concern?

LLOYD: Well the young people like to mix alcohol with sweet drink. Most of us probably had a bourbon and Coke when we were in college. Well nowadays, they are mixing alcohol with these carbonated energy drinks that are loaded with caffeine. Here's the problem. When you have all that excess caffeine, you remain stimulated even though you're still getting the effects of alcohol. These drinks come in large containers so youngsters who consume alcohol with energy drinks tend to drink for a longer period of time and they tend to drink a lot more alcohol than they thought. Now they are stimulated but yet they are getting drunk and incapacitated from all the alcohol.

SAVIDGE: Before drinking their first or maybe their next energy drink, what is the most important things that consumers ought to know?

LLOYD: Well there's two important things you need to know. First of all, how much caffeine is in this drink anyway? This particular beverage has 160 milligrams of caffeine, which is triple, the amount in an ordinary caffeinated beverage. However, it also includes other herbal ingredients like guarana. And guarana is another form of caffeine but it is not in the list of the different ingredients of the drink. So, you're actually getting far more caffeine than is posted on the label. So you have to be careful and know what's in the can that you're drinking.

Next, if you're going consume it with alcohol, you have to be aware that you will underestimate the effects of those alcohol. You will be wide awake drunk. You could get into trouble driving you and with other social behaviors. You know, Martin, there's on record now more statistics of people mixing alcohol with energy drinks getting involved with DWIs, physical altercation and sexual assault. So don't mix them up, could get yourself into a lot of trouble.

SAVIDGE: According to the published research, who should definitely stay away from these energy drinks?

LLOYD: OK. I have got a great list. Let's break it down. These are the people that should not get involved with energy drinks what is so ever. For starters, children. Children already consume too much caffeine during the day. Children who are taking medications like medications for ADHD it is a poisonous combination.

Also, you want to make sure that diabetics aren't taking it because the drinks contain lots of sugar and the combination of caffeine and sugar is not good for diabetics as well as for people with sleeping disorders or some people with eating disorders, they shouldn't be consuming energy drinks as well.

And also, we have to mention pregnant women. It is already been shown that pregnant women who consume too much caffeine and that's what these energy drinks have, too much caffeine, are going get into trouble with their new baby.

SAVIDGE: Well it is worth repeating actually, Dr. Bill. Tell us again the three biggest dangers that these super-charged energy drinks have.

LLOYD: Here's what's important to know. Energy drinks are loaded with too much caffeine. Also, when you mix energy drinks with alcohol, you will underestimate the effects of that alcohol because you will be wide awake drunk.

And finally, there's new research that shows that since alcohol and caffeine stimulate the same areas of the brain, individuals who rely heavily on energy drinks are at risk of developing alcohol dependence later in life. So once again, back off the energy drinks and enjoy the sport drinks and other available beverages.

SAVIDGE: All right. Dr. Bill Lloyd, as always, we appreciate it very much. I got two teens at home. I'm going to home to look at the fridge. Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Fridge was empty.

Calling all Romeo's. You may naturally be one, even if you don't know it yet.

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SAVIDGE: Forget Twitter and MySpace. One group of senior guys is doing their social networking the old-fashioned way, they are called ROMEO's which stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out it is part of a growing club. Take a look.

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EARL STINSON, LONGTIME ROMEO: ROMEO groups spring up all over the United States. They have no organization. No members. No requirements. No dues and no offices. And if you try to organize it, you have a riot on your hand.

I am Earl Stinson and we have had this ROMEO group here about five years.

ROMEO's stands for retired old men eating out. Come on in. We are waiting on you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys are already eating.

STINSON: Well, where you been?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, late getting up, I guess.

STINSON: Are those your hips or did you buy those? It is great to come in and these men, we all -- we all have been through the fire, we have raised families; we can share with each other things that concern us, things that concern us about our children, our grandchildren. What do the ROMEO's do? The ROMEO's do whatever the Juliet's tell us to do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we always come together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We always come together.

STINSON: Anybody disagree with that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, that's good. That's fair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, do you have Juliet in your life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I sure do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me a little bit about her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mean my boss?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been married 54 years. I do what she says.

STINSON: When the ROMEO's started meeting, a couple of the ladies says that's not fair there has to be Juliet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My Juliet's name is Joyce and she brings me great joy, so I'm happy about that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I won't let him out of my sight. He is too good looking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's going to pay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joe's paying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They do give us a 20 percent discount.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Always listen to your Juliet, which proves, with age, comes wisdom. Very nice story.

Well, one of the chief architects of the Iraq war says that President Obama apologized -

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SAVIDGE: Budget fights in Washington and Wisconsin got a lot of play on the Sunday morning talk shows. Here are the highlights.

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GOV. SCOTT WALKER, (R) WISCONSIN: For us this is about balancing the budget. We have got a $3.6 billion budget deficit. We are broke, just like nearly every other state across the country who are broke. It is about time somebody stood up and told the truth and the only way for us to balance the budget not only at the state level, but at the local level is to make sure we give those local governments the tools they need to balance the budget and that is what we are proposing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we heading toward some kind of government shutdown?

SEN. DICK DURBIN, (D) ILLINOIS: I certainly hope not and we made it clear from the start that is the worst outcome. If we shut down the government and call into question whether we are going to meet our obligations for Social Security checks and paying our troops than that is an absolute otter failure. We could do better and I think we need to sit down in a positive constructive way and work out our differences.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: The only way we will shut the government down, our Democratic colleagues insist on keeping the Federal government large and unsustainable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Obama administration scaled back their democracy and freedom agenda of the Bush administration. In Egypt, the funds for NGOs and the like, civil society and democracy building were cut back and furthermore, were directed, when they were directed to NGOs that were supported by the Mubarak regime, was that a mistake?

HILARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, first of all, I just reject the premise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is in disputable.

CLINTON: No it is not. That is just not the case there were differences in approach under the same set of goals to try to promote democracy, economic opportunity, women's rights, labor organizing. There are many different ways that I think all of to us, different administrations, different experts have struggled with. There is no debate that for 30 years, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have the same message to President Mubarak and the regime, that they had to change and we were all trying different ways. You know, I think it's fair to say that none of us were particularly successful because we kept running into an absolute rejection.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The president's supporters say that in two years, he has been able to return this country to a status of being liked across the world in a way that America was not liked during the Bush administration, that he has once again made America a beacon. Do you agree with that? Do you think that the U.S. is now looked at much differently than it was and much more positively than it was during your tenure?

DONALD RUMSFELD, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: No. And I don't think there's data that supports that. I think he has made a practice of trying to apologize for America. I personally am proud of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Well, meanwhile, new developments in Libya where anti- government protests continue. The latest, we will get in a live report right after the break.

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