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Groups Gather in Support of Muslim Rights; Controversial Facebook Comments; Supreme Court Upholds Funeral Protests; Fighting, Deaths in Libya; Land Mine Kills 12 in Afghanistan; U.S. Advises Against Travel to Yemen; The Game Goes On After Tragedy; Karzai: U.S. Apology "Not Enough"; Super Soaker Storm in the East; Trump Advisor to Meet with GOP Leaders in Iowa; Debating Homegrown Terrorism

Aired March 06, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the NEWSROOM, a police officer describing his own job on a Facebook page, calls himself a human waste disposal. Now, that officer is involved in a deadly shooting of a suspect. It is a face-off between Facebook privacy and the police. That story, this hour.

At 4:00 p.m. Eastern, a firsthand account of elderly abuse from actor Mickey Rooney. Find out what you can do to protect your loved ones, perhaps yourself.

Then at 5:00, discover five ways to be happier at work.

You're in the NEWSROOM. I'm Drew Griffin, happy to be in for Fredricka Whitfield.

We start with Libya. That is where the heaviest fighting of the day that we know of is east of Tripoli in the town of Misrata. Witnesses are telling us about a fierce battle between rebels and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi. A doctor now says 42 people have been killed.

Although pro-Gadhafi forces claim they have recaptured Misrata, a witness speaking with CNN by phone says opposition forces are prevailing there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

They're celebrating. And I'm seeing people distributing juice and water. And people are holding hands up and singing songs. Listen to this.

(CHANTING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are saying (SPEAKING ARABIC), which means "Be patient. Be happy. Be patient. In Misrata, we'll dig your grave."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: The key Libyan city of Ras Lanuf is still in the hands of opposition forces as well. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the area. He says that Libyan officials' claim that government forces have retaken that city, patently false. Ras Lanuf is a major oil pipeline hub for Libya.

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans not to travel to Yemen because of what it's calling a "high security threat level." It says Americans already in Yemen should consider leaving. The warning comes as anti-government demonstrators are clashing with security forces in several parts of Yemen.

The man accused of being the "East Coast Rapist" is under a suicide watch. Police say 39-year-old Aaron Thomas tried to hang himself in his jail cell. DNA evidence allegedly links Thomas to 12 sexual assaults on women in several East Coast states over the last 12 years.

Here's how his neighbor reacted to the news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing like having it next door. It's truly devastating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: And police in Florida have arrested the adoptive mother of a little girl who was found dead and wrapped in a plastic bag. Carmen Barahona is charged with first-degree murder and seven counts of child abuse and neglect. The body of that girl was found last month in a truck owned by the child's adoptive father.

The girl's twin brother was also found in the truck. He was alive, treated for burns.

Investigating homegrown terrorism, and the focus is the radicalization of Muslim-Americans. One congressman is holding those hearings this week -- Peter King, congressman from New York. Lots of arguing in Washington on whether the hearings should be held at all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: We're talking about al Qaeda, we're talking about the affiliates of al Qaeda who have been radicalizing. There's been self-radicalization going on within the Muslim community, within a very small minority. But it's there, and that's where the threat is coming from at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: We're concerned about the breadth of this. I mean, I think that there's -- it's absolutely the right thing to do, for the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee to investigate radicalization. But to say we're going to investigate a religious minority and a particular one, I think is the wrong course of action to take.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Others apparently agree with that. Various groups are now holding a rally this hour in Times Square, New York.

Our Susan Candiotti is close by.

How many people expected to show up, Susan?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's hard to say, Drew. And the rally is under way.

This is a very dark, dreary and rainy day. At times, the rain going sideways. We're now at a little bit of a pause right now.

So, at this moment, over my shoulder, behind me, there are roughly about 100 people or so. They don't know how many people will attend because it's going to be going on for a couple of hours, they say, at this point.

But this is basically a broad-based coalition of local business leaders, community leaders, as well as a broad-based interfaith coalition of religious leaders in this community as well, in the New York metropolitan area. And their main message is that Muslim- Americans are being demonized by the likes of Congressman Peter King and, indeed, they anticipate problems as a result of the hearings that he has scheduled in Washington this week.

I asked one of the many organizers of today's rally, Imam Faisal, about what he thinks about the hearings and why he felt it necessary to stage a rally today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAM FAISAL, NEW YORK : Congressman King's hearings have a danger of portraying all Muslims and Islam as the enemy. And this is absolutely wrong and false.

Our common enemy is extremism. And we have to fight extremist and not Islam, and not suggest to the whole world and the Americans that Islam and Muslims is the enemy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: So one of his other messages is, is that it is possible to be a loyal Muslim, a devoted Muslim, and a loyal and devoted American.

Drew, it's not the only rally that's being staged here today.

GRIFFIN: Susan, I was going to ask you -- you are very, very near where a homegrown radical Muslim actually tried to set off a bomb there in New York. And I'm just wondering if there is anybody coming out in support of Peter King's hearings on this.

CANDIOTTI: Well, there are. There is a rally that is just about to get under way that is within line sight of where I am now.

It's impossible to tell because it hasn't, I don't think, exactly started yet. But this is another group that is in favor, as you indicated, of Congressman Peter King's rally. And basically, these are people who say that there is, indeed, a real fear. There is a radicalization of Muslims in this country. And their belief is that Muslims are not doing enough within their own community to stop the radicalization within some Muslims in America.

So it will be interesting to see whether there is any interplay among the two groups today. But since the rallies have just begun, impossible to say at this point.

GRIFFIN: All right, Susan. We'll follow you through the afternoon.

And also later this hour, some insight from a former diplomat to the Middle East. Akbar Ahmed, now at the American University, says she wants to help guide the direction of these hearings on Capitol Hill. We're going to ask him what he means by that.

Dozens of police officers are being investigated for what they put on Facebook. The controversial comments, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Police officers' use of Facebook is stirring up a controversial First Amendment battle in New Mexico. Police officers in Albuquerque are being asked to turn over their Facebook passwords. The request comes after it was discovered a detective who shot and killed a suspect listed his occupational on his Facebook page as a human garbage disposal.

Here's a report from Ilana Gold of our affiliate KOAT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ILANA GOLD, REPORTER, KOAT (voice-over): Attorney Joe Kennedy just filed these court documents demanding that the city of Albuquerque release the Facebook user names and passwords of the 57 police officers listed. He's seeking to find out if they posted comments about this deadly officer-involved shooting at Eubank and Constitution last January.

JOSEPH KENNEDY, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Based on their actions after the shooting, and based upon how they carried themselves, we believe that we'll find lots of evidence.

GOLD: The investigation into Officer Trey Economidy prompted this move. It began a few weeks ago after Economidy shot and killed a suspect in the city's latest officer-involved shooting.

City leaders looked at his Facebook account and discovered he put "human waste disposal" as his job description.

KENNEDY: Are these officers involved in that similar sort of banter and behavior?

GOLD: This attorney claims officers were out of line at the fatal scene in January of 2010 seconds after Iraq War veteran Kenneth Ellis, who had PTSD, was killed by one of their own. KENNEDY: They stood around and ate pizza after they ordered it at the scene and talked about how it was great that they took another gang- banger out. And this man wasn't a gang-banger.

GOLD: He also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city for the officer-involved shooting, even though the police chief ruled it justified. Investigators maintain Ellis was trying to commit suicide by cop.

This lawyer says it's not true and excessive force was used.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Well, the civil rights attorney you just saw in that piece joins me now, Joseph Kennedy, from Albuquerque.

Mr. Kennedy, what do you want out of viewing these private Facebook pages of these Albuquerque police officers?

KENNEDY: Well, we want the truth. And the truth is what they put on their Facebook when they think they're just putting it out there for their friends to see or for people that they want to see it. But we want the truth.

The truth is that there's a culture of killing in Albuquerque among the police. There have been 14 people killed in 2010, and we want to know why, for the city of Albuquerque, why so many are being killed.

In El Paso, two people were killed in 2010 by the police department there. That's about a 10-minute walk from Juarez. In Austin, zero people. Tucson, zero people.

So we want the truth.

GRIFFIN: It doesn't seem like you're going to get that, at least without a fight. The statement from Albuquerque's deputy chief, he's telling us that, "The Albuquerque Police Department does recognize an individual's right to the First Amendment. Facebook and other sites are private to the individual."

"The Albuquerque Police Department does not issue Facebook addresses; therefore, cannot release their user names and passwords. The policy has been written and disseminated to the rank and file that it is not appropriate to correlate their job to their personal opinions or communication."

So, again, it doesn't look like you're going to get that without a court fight.

KENNEDY: Well, we anticipate a fight. And we're not afraid of a fight.

There are two things about this when they talk about First Amendment rights. First Amendment rights for public officials are not unlimited. When they destroy the core value of a police department, which is to protect and serve, by putting obnoxious, ugly comments about human waste disposal and celebrating the death of a criminal defense attorney in this city, they are destroying the core purpose of what they're about. So they do not have that First Amendment right.

Secondly, we have a Seventh Amendment right, my clients have a Seventh Amendment right, which is a right to a civil jury, to have these things determined by a civil jury. So that's what we're fighting for.

GRIFFIN: So you think there is evidence pertinent to your specific case involved in this police shooting incident that may be on Facebook that could help the family of your client, your --

KENNEDY: We think so. Yes, we think so.

There's an APD unofficial fan page in which various things are discussed as they come up throughout the course of work by police officers and other things. And this fan page, there's been various comments at times about shootings and about other things that are going on. And it essentially is something that they discuss on Facebook, they talk about, and they create this culture of indifference, really, to people when they call them garbage, to people that they're dealing with on the streets.

And that's what we're looking for, is looking for the truth to find their motivation and what causes them to use this kind of force on these people.

GRIFFIN: The shooting ruled justified though by the police department. You obviously disagree with that?

KENNEDY: They're justified within 24 hours. They have a plan playbook in which they justify all their shootings within 24 hours and release information about these victims as far as any mental health history, anything to justify their shooting.

They have two checked boxes on a list, on justified lists. It's either suicide by cop or they were threatened by a person.

There has actually been one shooting that has been found to have -- officers were found to have lied, and there's been no prosecution out of that. There is a situation in which the police department is not only not addressing it, they're addressing it as Facebook problem rather than as an underlying issue of a culture of death.

GRIFFIN: But it's certainly the Facebook issue that is bringing the national attention that this case is now bringing. And I hear that many people are worried that if you should succeed in getting these Facebook privacy pages opened, that it could open a whole can of worms or all kinds of Facebook workers. I mean, police, we could lead to other kind of city workers, other municipal workers, state workers who believe that their private Facebook postings are just that, private.

KENNEDY: There's no -- the court system is set up to protect privacy, as well as to protect the right of people in court to prove their case. There is a system set up where these things will be reviewed, Facebook postings will be reviewed for only those things that are relevant to the litigation. And that's all we're looking for. We don't care about vacation pictures. People aren't going to, all of a sudden, have to turn over all sorts of private information to lawyers. If you're on Facebook, you're a public official, and you're talking about these things, we have a right to know. And we will and the courts will protect privacy of people.

GRIFFIN: So I guess what you are saying -- and we're out of time. I just want to be very quick here. You would submit that a judge perhaps could look at these Facebook pages and then disseminate to you what that judge seems relevant to your case?

KENNEDY: Absolutely. A judge or a neutral party. It's done every day in courts across the United States.

GRIFFIN: All right.

Joe Kennedy, thanks for joining us from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Appreciate it.

We'll follow this case, obviously.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that Westboro Baptist could continue to protest at military funerals under its First Amendment protection. Students will sound off about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Leaders of a group that picket U.S. soldiers' funerals say they're going to redouble their efforts even though the protests disgust many Americans.

CNN's Kate Bolduan reports the U.S. Supreme court has now ruled the Constitution allows them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): You're going straight to hell on your crazy train.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Members of the Kansas- based Westboro Baptist Church carry signs that read, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "America is doomed."

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): God hates America.

BOLDUAN: They have made a business out of protesting at military funerals across the country. They believe soldiers are dying because God is punishing the country for "the sin of homosexuality."

In an overwhelming 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday Westboro Church, led by Pastor Fred Phelps, has the right to continue spreading their angry message. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and as it did here, inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker."

The pain the chief justice refers to is that of Albert Snyder. The Phelps family picketed outside the funeral of Snyder's son, Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, killed in Iraq.

ALBERT SNYDER, FATHER OF FALLEN U.S. SOLDIER: We found out today that we can no longer bury our dead in this country with dignity. What is this country becoming?

BOLDUAN: Snyder sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress. But the high court disagreed, saying the protest on public property outside the funeral was not overly intrusive and, however reprehensible, the speech was protected by the First Amendment.

Because, Robert said, "The issues they highlight, the political and moral conduct of the United States and its citizens, the fate of our nation, homosexuality in the military, and scandals involving the Catholic clergy, are matters of public import."

MARGIE PHELPS, ATTORNEY FOR WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH: Having your feelings hurt over words is not enough to shut up the speech.

BOLDUAN: The lone dissenting opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, saying, "In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims like Albert Snyder."

(on camera): In the end, military families across the country will undoubtedly be very upset about this ruling. And going forward, the broader legal issue may not be entirely over. Separate state laws setting up so-called floating buffers to keep this church away from other funerals are still working their way through lower courts. As for Westboro Church, they told me this ruling means only they'll redouble their efforts.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Well, it's not just the courts, but the classrooms where there's debate about this case.

Carl Azuz runs CNN Student News programs.

And Carl, this may be a disgusting practice, but also educational on First Amendment issues.

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Exactly. Many students are studying the First Amendment, they're studying American freedoms. And they're commenting to us about this.

And for a lot of students who talk to us at CNN Student News, there's a disconnect taking place between the Supreme Court sort of defending Westboro's freedom to protest and the fact that they're protesting at the funerals of people who fight for American freedom. Now, that's how students are talking to us about this. We started out by showing them that quote you saw just a moment ago from the chief justice, and especially the part we sort of highlighted where he's saying that, "We cannot react to the pain that these protests cause by punishing the speaker."

I want you to listen how Mary reacted to that. She's a student. We only use first names at CNNStudentNews.com because these are minors.

She's saying she agrees with the quote from the Supreme Court, but not with what Westboro is doing. She finds it morally wrong for them to "desecrate a funeral, especially one of a person who gave their life for their freedom."

So there's definitely a disconnect in students between defending the freedoms and those who died for that freedom, should protests be there. Many students are saying no way.

GRIFFIN: This is such a heavy issue for all of us, especially for kids, because not only are you talking about dead soldiers and war, you're talking about homosexuality, sin and God.

Are the kids also talking about those issues like God?

AZUZ: They are. And bringing that up themselves. It's really interesting to see how they're bringing God into this and what they're saying.

You can listen to this quote we have right here. This one I thought was pretty interesting from a student named Megan.

And she's telling us she can't believe protesters "are saying God hates us. He doesn't hate anyone. The Supreme Court couldn't be more wrong."

And then Tom, echoing that, saying, "The bible says God is forgiving. He doesn't hate us. He's not our enemy. We don't know why Westboro has these signs. They don't know the God I know."

GRIFFIN: Any kids agreeing with what the Supreme Court did?

AZUZ: A very small minority. There's one more comment I have for you very quickly from a student named Zakariah. And Zakariah brings up a really interesting point.

He's saying the Supreme Court made the only decision they could. "It might seem like a good idea to prevent despicable speech, but if the government overrules that, once that habit of censoring is formed, our freedoms are only going to become more constricted."

So very interesting insight from a legal perspective from some students. But as I said, those folks are in the minority. Most kids are saying not the right thing to do, to protest these funerals.

GRIFFIN: And I don't hear any kids saying what Westboro is doing is correct. AZUZ: You would be hard pressed. We haven't seen any on the hundreds of comments we've gotten that totally agree with it. They're looking at it from a legal perspective, saying, legally, the law does state there's a freedom of speech. And some, a very few students, are saying we've got to protect them.

GRIFFIN: All right. Carl, thanks.

AZUZ: Thank you, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Interesting stuff.

Well, each week we take a look at ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. For a long time, Toby Tanser's goal was being a successful long-distance runner. But when he was attacked and nearly killed for his shoes, it changed his focus.

Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta caught up with Tanser in his home in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Toby Tanser was an elite runner, talented enough to keep up with the best in the world, the Kenyans.

TOBY TANSER, FOUNDER, SHOE4AFRICA: I run 13 minutes high (ph) for the 5K.

GUPTA (on camera): Thirteen minutes.

TANSER: Actually, I think it was 4:28 or 4:30. And I did a half marathon at a 4:49 pace or something.

GUPTA (voice-over): But while running one day in Africa, this happened.

TANSER: Two guys came walking towards me and he pulled out a machete down on my head, and the other one had like a homemade baseball bat and he swung like this and it smashed against my skull. And they robbed my shoe, my watch and sunglasses, and they were just stealing my other show when I woke up.

GUPTA: He almost died, but it was a chance for Toby to find his calling.

TANSER: Who is going to be number one?

I believe very much in fate, and I think it happened to me for a purpose.

GUPTA (on camera): They wanted to kill you for your shoes and you have taken that whole experience and said, you know what, if they want shoes, we'll give them shoes.

TANSER: Two years ago, we took 7,000 pairs to that island where I was robbed. GUPTA (voice-over): His organization is called Shoe4Africa, and as you might guess, he donates running shoes to those living in Africa. What he found is even one pair makes a difference.

TANSER: So this boy, he took the shoes and he started training. Boom, boom, boom, five years later, he won the world championships.

GUPTA (on camera): Wow. That gives me goose bumps.

(voice-over): And in case you're curious, yes, Toby is back to running.

TANSER: I thought, like, what is something that someone has never done before and that's gone from absolute sea level to the top of the world's highest free-standing mountain and, you know, as fast as possible.

GUPTA: But his main focus is giving everyone a chance to run.

TANSER: If you come in, you're buying a pair of sneakers, why don't you put the other pair into a box and send them over?

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Checking top stories. Fighting continues in Libya. Gunfire heard in the capital city of Tripoli. Witnesses are telling us about a fierce battle with rebels and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.

A doctor says 42 people have been killed in the fighting in Misrata. Although pro-Gadhafi forces claimed they recaptured a town, a witness speaking with CNN by phone says opposition forces are prevailing there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via telephone): I've seen people distributing food and water and people singing songs. Listen to this. Listen to this. (Inaudible), which means be patient. Gadhafi be patient. We'll dig your grave.

GRIFFIN: Meanwhile, the U.S. is evacuating more refugees who have fled Libya and are stranded now in Tunisia. Today, four U.S. military planes were scheduled to fly trapped Egyptian citizens back home to Egypt. Britain says it's going to provide evacuation flights for 500 stranded Bangladeshis.

Twelve civilians were killed today when their vehicle hit a land mine in Afghanistan's Pactica Province, two children, five women among the victims there. Five others injured in the blast. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the attack is against all principals of Islam.

The U.S. State Department urging Americans not to travel to Yemen. It's issued an advisory saying civil unrest and terrorist activities in the Middle Eastern country has elevated the security threat for U.S. citizens to an extremely high alert level.

Back here in Louisiana, a young mother was killed while sheltering her child during a tornado. The 21-year-old woman died when a tree fell on her house in Rayne, that's west of Baton Rouge. The twister also caused major damage in the nearby city of Crowley.

And at least eight people, including one firefighter, injured Saturday after fire ripped through that motel on Chicago's south side. According to our affiliate WLS, it was a combination of high winds and construction caused these flames to spread quickly. The building a total loss.

Wisconsin isn't the only state where angry state workers are taking to the streets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not be silenced.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): That's Nashville, Tennessee, 5,000 teachers marched in downtown Nashville against a proposal to scale back collective bargaining rights. That plan now under consideration by Tennessee's state lawmakers.

Despite the death of a key player, a Michigan high school is going to play in tomorrow night's basketball playoff game. Les Leonard collapsed after making the game-winning shot Thursday night closing out a perfect regular season for the Fennville Black Hawks. A doctor says he died from cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: An apology not just is not enough. That's what Afghan President Hamid Karzai is telling General David Petraeus about a NATO air strike that has killed nine children.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us live from Washington. Barbara, what have you learned about this exchange between Karzai and Petraeus.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Drew, Hamid Karzai and General David Petreaus had a meeting in Kabul earlier today and it did not go well. Both sides are saying pretty much the same thing. General Petraeus apologizing for this just terrible incident earlier -- well, late last week in which a U.S. helicopter air strike inadvertently killed nine Afghan children.

They were going after insurgents. They struck and instead, nine children said to be gathering firewood were killed. General Petraeus again apologizing in person to President Karzai, but issuing a statement saying Petreaus' apology is not enough, that the civilian casualties are unacceptable.

And all of this game with unrest certainly amongst the people in Afghanistan today. Large numbers of people taking to the streets, protesting all of this. The whole issue of civilian casualties caused by U.S. forces has been a real flashpoint for many years now.

And President Karzai is saying once again it is unacceptable and he wants it stopped. For his part, General Petraeus apologizing saying U.S. commanders will once again review their rules of engagement. Drew --

GRIFFIN: Barbara, you have been to Afghanistan many times. You know this is a different kind of war. It's hard to tell where the front lines begin and end, which makes it so hard to prosecute a war when there are so many civilians just around.

I know Petraeus has been doing many things to try to reduce these civilian casualties, but what more can be done or is being considered to be done to try to reduce these risks?

STARR: Well, the fundamental problem is just what you said. You know, the insurgents, the Taliban, whatever, act in and amongst the people of Afghanistan. In the case of these air strikes, such as this incident, U.S. forces were retaliating against what they thought was an insurgent cell because one of their remote bases had come under attack.

When they come under attack, they move very quickly to try and strike back where they believe the rockets or mortar fire has come from that has attacked them. In this case, no one can seem to explain just yet why this terrible mistake, why it was children and not the insurgents who were struck.

So it's a tough thing because the U.S. has really stepped up this type of air activity and really stepped up attack against the insurgents. They believe that is making progress, but it is coming at a price and it's confident of the Afghan people. Drew --

GRIFFIN: Barbara, thanks. Look forward to your reporting later this week when we get more information on this. Appreciate it. Barbara Starr, Pentagon correspondent.

Well, the weather has been quite nasty up along the eastern seaboard there. I just keep looking at the radar, Jacqui Jeras, and it's a mess.

JACQUI JERAS, METEOROLOGIST: It doesn't want to stop, does it?

GRIFFIN: It seems like it just developing out of thin air, regenerating itself.

JERAS: Right, yes. It's been a very steady rain. It's one of those days where you just want to stay inside and have a cup of coffee, watch a good movie perhaps. It's a cool wet one for many people up and down the eastern seaboard. You know, unfortunately, this is really a super soaker. We're concerned about flood issues and a lot of travel issues associated with the system as well.

Cold air on the backside of it is bringing in some heavy snowfall in parts of upstate New York, as well as in the western Pennsylvania and into Appalachians. We're talking as much as a foot of snow could be hitting you in the higher elevations, the green mountains, the white mountains even into some of the Adirondacks where we will be seeing this.

The travel problems are a great concerned. If you're trying to get around the airways, check out the delays at JFK, more than two and a half hours, LaGuardia about an hour, 15 minutes. Two hours to get into Newark. Boston about 45 minutes. San Francisco, you get a storm out west to 50 minutes for you, 25-minute departure delay getting out of LAX. Philadelphia looking at departure delays as well around 30 minutes or so.

Flooding has been a huge concern in the last week or so and that will continue to be a concern as we head through the next week. Our I- Reporters have been sending us great photos of the conditions to give you a better idea what's been happening there.

This is from Rick Hutton. This is some video that he shot in Albany, Indiana. He says he doesn't think people realize just how bad the situation is there. He believes it's affected thousands of people in his area. He said that all the stores by the way are sold out of pumps as people are trying to keep their basements dry.

So flood warnings in effect across the Ohio Valley as well as parts of the Appalachians and watches today because the system out to the east. We think things will calm down a little bit though, Drew, in terms of the travel conditions for tomorrow.

GRIFFIN: Good because I'm traveling tomorrow.

JERAS: Are you? OK.

GRIFFIN: Thanks, Jacqui. Well, who is in your family? Your mother, father, brother, sister, husband, children? One woman is expanding her children to include hundreds of people. See why Amy Stokes is our "CNN Hero of the Week."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to help me do this one? In 2003, my husband and I want went to Johannesburg and we adopted our son.

HIV/AIDS has really decimated some of these communities, seeing all of the children and so few adults to help them grow up. With none of the adults who care about has ever learned past 35, then why would you think you can? Why would you stay in school and why you invest in yourself?

Hi. Tell me something that's going to happen in school this week?

I had to find a way to bring the caring, nurturing effect of other adults for that child to invest in themselves.

I'm Amy Stokes. I used the internet to create a global village where the kids can interact face to face on a regular basis.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How was your day at school? Did you work in the garden?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That mentor shows up every week. A relationship starts between one person here and one person there and then that relationship expands.

My mentor is so good. I like him very much.

Because they want to connect with that special someone, they're going to learn keyboard schools. The skills that they will need to have jobs and to be able to do whatever they need in the future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Love you too. Bye.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She is part of my family and also part of my life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a bite-sized opportunity to change the world and there's no commute.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: We want to hear from you. Tell us about the heroes in your community. Send us your nominations to cnn.com/heroes.

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GRIFFIN: If you had an iPad, too bad because this Friday you can get the iPad 2. Our "Tech Time" guru, Marc Saltzman was at the big announcement this week, and Marc, the big news really wasn't the device, but who brought it out, I guess.

MARC SALTZMAN, TECHNOLOGY ANALYST: That's right. Steve Jobs, who was on medical leave, was on stage to deliver the unveiling of the iPad 2. So that was a pleasant surprise. He received a standing ovation and roar from the crowd of about 200 analysts and journalists.

Yes, he sounded good, very energetic and of course, in his trademark black turtleneck and blue jeans, but, yes, the iPad 2 coming out Friday, March 11th so great stuff.

GRIFFIN: Yes, well what is great about it? What's different about it? If I had an iPad, why would I want to buy this one? If I had waited, why would I want to buy this one?

SALTZMAN: Yes, very good question. So the iPad 2 is twice as fast. It has a new dual core processor. It's about a third as thin. It's a little bit lighter at 1.3 pounds and it has two cameras. So one that takes pictures and scans barcodes or shoots video and one pointing at you for real-time face time conversations not unlike this Skype video interview we're doing now.

Also it comes in multiple colors and a few other bells and whistles. If you already own an existing Ipad, I wouldn't say you should have iPad 2 envy because it's still an amazing device unless, of course, you really want those cameras. There's no shortage of ways to get rid of your iPad.

There are those apparently eBay and Craigslist have been really wild this week with tons of people looking to let go of their original iPads. Plus, you can buy the original iPad, if you don't want to spend the 500 on the new device and up, if you want get one for about $100 less, you can buy a brand-new iPad from Apple.

GRIFFIN: Yes, let me ask you about another story that I guess, you're covering this week, Netflix/Nintendo thing because I'm kind of interested in this. You can get movies through your game console?

SALTZMAN: Right. So on March 27th, the new Nintendo 3DS gaming system is coming out. This is the successor to the bestselling video game system of all time next to the PlayStation II. So the Nintendo 3DS not only shows 3D games without requiring glasses, by the way, but on Tuesday Nintendo announced a deal with Netflix to support 3D movies.

So using the Nintendo 3DS's built-in Wi-Fi connection, you're going be able to stream 3D and 2D TV shows and movies off Netflix on your Nintendo 3DS. And on a similar note, the same day the announcement was made that AT&T and Nintendo are partnering to allow free Wi-Fi access to more than 10,000 hot spots across the U.S. So, you know, if you are a movie fanatic, you like your TV shows, you can now watch it on the Nintendo 3DS. So that was a big announcement.

GRIFFIN: OK, lastly, Google and Apps? What is the story here between Google and Apps?

SALTZMAN: So last week, 21 malicious software programs or malware was found on the android market. This is the App store to download new software for your Smartphone or tablet that uses Google's mobile operating system called android.

So this software reportedly can get user information from you. It can also install more malware unbeknownst to the user. They were quickly taken off the App store and Google has now introduced more stringent security measures for putting Apps on the android market. They are remotely wiping those apps from users and encouraging those to upgrade to the latest version, which is free.

But, again, this is a security vulnerability. This is a big problem for Google this week. You know, a lot of people criticize Apple for the wall garden approach. Your App approved on their store, but this is showing with an open source operating system like android, it's not all, you know, the best scenario out there.

So at least Google has stepped it up and said they're not going to make sure this doesn't happen going forward.

GRIFFIN: All right, Marc, all interesting stuff. I guess, we'll see you next week. We appreciate it. You can get more technology news by logging on to cnn.com/tech. Thanks, Mark.

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GRIFFIN: Time for a CNN Equals Politics update. You know, we're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines on cnn.com politics desk. Here's what is crossing right now.

Potential presidential candidate Mitt Romney visited the politically key state of New Hampshire this weekend headlining a Republican Party dinner last night. He called for lower taxes and criticized President Obama for the country's economic conditions.

An adviser to Donald trump will be in Iowa tomorrow to meet with leading Republicans there. The real estate tycoon is considering running for president, but says he won't make a final decision until after the last episode of his TV series, "Celebrity Apprentice." Not everyone is enthusiastic about the prospect of Trump entering the race.

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SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER, (R) TENNESSEE: It says more about the media than it does Donald Trump. I mean, there's always someone like Donald Trump who runs because absolutely no chance of winning and who is well known.

I mean, he's famous for being famous. He may be good in business, but he's not going to be president. Tim Pawlenty has a much better chance than Donald Trump of being the Republican nominee.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Also in Iowa tomorrow, Republican Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum and Buddy Romer. They're all there. The potential candidates will address a group of social conservatives. You know, for the latest political news you know where to go, cnnpolitics.com.

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GRIFFIN: With hearings set to begin Thursday on the radicalization of Muslim America, some people are anxious, even angry. Joining me from Washington is Akbar Ahmed, Islamic Studies professor at American University, distinguished author, former Pakistani Diplomat.

And we're pleased to have you here, Sir. When these hearings were announced you actually went to the committee and tried to steer the committee in a certain way or at least get them to open their eyes up to a different version of what you thought they were looking at. Does that mean you think the hearings could be helpful?

AKBAR S. AHMED, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Drew, for me this is a very important moment. It's a teaching moment for America. This is part of the great tradition of this great democracy. And I really hope that Congressman Peter King uses this really to instruct and educate America about Muslims in America. Now unfortunately the rumors, the controversies around the Muslim community mean that there's already a predisposition towards accepting the stereotype for reality. Now I have conducted a study and I traveled throughout the United States for one year, went to 75 cities, 100 mosques with a team of young Americans, wrote a book called "Journey to America."

This is what I convey in the findings of the book to the staff of Peter King in the hope that they will use this to inform their deliberations.

GRIFFIN: Yes, you know, Mr. Ahmed, having covered a lot of the counterterrorism events that have happened in this country. I think it's fair to say that a lot of the success stories that have come out of the Muslim community have not really been told.

We can look at Naji Velozazi, the Lackawanna six. All of these were prosecuted prior to anything happening. Basically tips from inside the Muslim community.

AHMED: Drew, there are many paradoxes, and I'm glad you pointed out one of them. We found many examples. Many Muslims telling us, talking to me, Muslim to Muslim privately in their homes, this is the best place in the world to be a Muslim.

Many of them are saying Thomas Jefferson is my role model. Now, unfortunately in the public perception Islam does have a bad image. And this is my fear that this particular feedings may feed into this generalized Islamophobia.

Therefore I'm very conscious that the witnesses, the experts that are being called should be neutral. They shouldn't be feeding into this media frenzy. I think we have to be very cautious here. The more scholars he gets in, the neutral people, the more people who are not driven ideologically, the stronger and the more credible these hearings will be.

GRIFFIN: Let me ask just real quickly conversely, though, should the Muslim-American community be saying more when these isolated Islamic radicals are identified in the United States?

AHMED: Of course, Drew, I have not spared them the leadership of the Muslim community at all. They have to do a lot of things. They started doing them. They still have a long way to go. There are problems within the boards running the mosque, the training of the imams is a problem.

The relationship between the older and the younger generations remains a problem. These general senses of drift, the uncertainty, the sense of paranoia, all these things as a community do not bode well. The community, the Muslim community needs to give us a clear strategy, vision, where they're moving as Americans and as Muslims.

GRIFFIN: Great. Thanks for joining us. Appreciate the reasoning there. We'll probably see you in the hearings. Thanks a lot. We'll be back right after this. AHMED: Thank you, Drew.

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