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Diplomatic Limbo: Families Uprooted by Mideast Unrest; Debating "Homegrown Terrorism"; Libya: Who's in Charge Now? Eyewitness to Libyan Fighting; Unrest in Libya Drives Gas Prices; Empathize! You Will Perform Better; Ways to be Happier at Work; IPad 2 on Sale this Friday; Tornados Pound Louisiana; Pro-Hearings Rally; Potential GOP Presidential Candidates Spend Time in Iowa
Aired March 06, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Libya. The heaviest fighting of the day that we know of is east of Tripoli in the town of Misurata. Witnesses are telling us about a fierce battle between rebels and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.
A doctor says 42 people have been killed, most of them on the pro- government side. At about the same time we got those reports, this was the scene in Tripoli, crowds cheering and shooting into the air. These are supporters of Moammar Gadhafi.
The government announced today rebels failed to maintain control in the cities of Misurata and Zawiya. That's opposite of what we're hearing. CNN has no word yet on independently verifying the claims. We're getting all of our information from eyewitnesses.
The key Libyan city of Ras Lanuf is still in the hands of opposition forces. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the area. He says Libyan officials' claims that the government forces have retaken that city -- false. Ras Lanuf is a major oil pipeline hub.
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 have elevated the security threat to an extremely high point.
The State Department is also asking Americans already there in Yemen to consider leaving.
The unrest across North Africa and the Middle East has had a big impact on American diplomats in the region. One family fled Egypt as the violence unfolded on their doorstep. Now, they're in a diplomatic limbo.
Here's CNN's Sandra Endo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEVERLY DEMPSEY, DIPLOMATIC EVACUEE: This is our apartment. It's not big, but it's a good size. Here's a picture of me -- my Mom and I in India riding an elephant. SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A few cherished mementoes are what 10-year-old Beverly Dempsey displays in her temporary apartment in Falls Church, Virginia.
She and her father had to evacuate Cairo during the uprising in Egypt.
ENDO (on camera): What was the whole process and the journey like for you?
DEMPSEY: First came the tears because I had to leave my mother and that was pretty upsetting.
ENDO (voice-over): Her mom had to stay behind for essential work even as American diplomatic families got only eight hours' notice to leave. The violence was right at their doorstep.
DEMPSEY: We saw all the protesters walking by our house and that was really freaky. And once we had a tank roll by which I was scared.
ENDO: Forced to depart with just a single suitcase per person, the Dempseys have already been here more than a month.
Has it been tough for you not knowing when you're going to go home? Are you counting the days?
DEMPSEY: Yes. I'm trying not to count the days because then I'll get like -- I'll feel sad and upset.
ENDO: But her father, Jim, tries to make their life as normal as possible even though it's her first time attending an American school.
Her friends, her hobbies are all in Cairo. Many displaced diplomatic families are staying in the same apartment complex.
JIM DEMPSEY, DIPLOMATIC EVACUEE: All right. Here we are.
ENDO: Sharing a unique bond.
J. DEMPSEY: Of course, we all kind of go up and down as to be expected. It's like, oh, come on, we can -- we can do that. Even now, although things have calmed down, we still don't know when we're going back.
ENDO: For now, Beverly just clings to the comforts and memories of her distant home.
B. DEMPSEY: I want to go back really bad. But it doesn't mean I don't want to be here. I just want to be able to say goodbye.
ENDO: Sandra Endo, CNN, Falls Church, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Congress is getting ready to delve into homegrown terrorism, in particular, the radicalization of Muslim-Americans. Congressman Peter King of New York is planning to hold these hearings later this week.
And already some are arguing whether there should even be these hearings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PETER KING (R), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: 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.
REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: We're concerned about the breadth of this. I mean, I would -- 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: A number of people in New York agree. They turned out for a rally in Times Square this afternoon. That's where our Susan Candiotti was there talking to some of them. And what did they have to say, Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, mainly, Drew, they think it's simply not fair of Congressman King to be focusing a hearing entirely on the radicalization of Muslims. Even if King, they say, calls them a minority, they believe that this kind of thing will simply insight fear of all Muslims among all Americans. And that to single them out really demonizes Muslims. And in the view of some, smacks of McCarthyism.
IMAM FAISAL, CORDOBA INITIATIVE: Congressman King's hearings have the 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 extremism and not Islam and not suggest to the whole world and to Americans that Islam Muslims is the enemy.
CANDIOTTI: A good 400 people attended this rally that lasted for about two and a half hours. And it was made up of business and community groups as well as an interfaced coalition.
In their view, Muslim-Americans are doing the best they can to try and stamp out radical elements within their community, Drew.
GRIFFIN: All right. Susan Candiotti, live from New York. Thanks, Susan.
We want to go back to Libya now because on the phone is an eyewitness to the fighting in Misurata, a person we've been talking to on and off all day. And, sir, we're not going to say your name but maybe you could tell us what the latest situation there is. Who is in control of the city that you're in?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, EYEWITNESS (via phone): Hello. As of 5:00 p.m. today, the people of Misurata, they protested, and the army siding with the people have regained control of the city and forced the militia groups loyal to Gadhafi out of the city center where the main offenses took place in the courthouse -- the courthouse in the parts of the city Misurata.
GRIFFIN: You are making a distinction between the Gadhafi militia and the Libyan army. Was there actually fighting where the Libyan army -- where you saw Libyan army members firing on who you believe were Gadhafi supports?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me tell you something about -- about the people -- the profile of the people who are actually now leaving the battle on the grounds against the pro-Gadhafi militias. The majority of those are actually ex-military who have denounced their links with the regime and sided with the people. And this is where most of the strength and fighting is coming from.
But alongside those are quite a large number of people who actually have volunteered to take on the arms when necessary to support the guys on the ground, the operatives, (INAUDIBLE), logistically and otherwise.
So you do have a mix of civilians/ex-military and army personnel working together side by side.
GRIFFIN: Are they using --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
GRIFFIN: Right. And are they using what you believe is Libyan military equipment? In other words, do these forces that are trying to take control of this city have access to tanks or rockets or other heavy ammunition in fighting back the Gadhafi forces?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, in comparison, when talking about the pro- Gadhafi militia groups having all sorts of heavy machinery and weaponry deployed into the city center. And I'm talking about tanks. I personally saw four tanks storming into the city center where the courthouse -- courthouse is located. Other people told me there were six tanks. I only saw four so far. But we're also talking about missile launches -- ground missile launching equipment. We're talking about heavy machinery and weaponry in the hands of the pro-Gadhafi militias.
On the other hand, on the protesters and the opposition side, we're talking about, you know, like machine guns -- automatic machine guns. We're talking about hunting rifles. We're talking about knives. We're talking about --
GRIFFIN: Right. So please -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- in the form of --
GRIFFIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
GRIFFIN: So please explain to me how those protesters, relatively speaking, lightly armed were able to push back the tanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened is every time there's a confrontation, it's because of the strong will of the people. They end up actually using the (INAUDIBLE) militia group.
They end up having one or two of the heavy artillery left behind by the militia groups. They end up having a little bit of ammunition alongside that. And this is the type of weaponry that is being later on deployed (INAUDIBLE).
GRIFFIN: All right. Thank you. We appreciate your help all day with this trying to give us an eyewitness account of what's happening in Misurata who is in control of Libya.
You can hear, it's hard to tell. It's a good question. The answer changes practically every day. Today in Misurata it changed a couple of times in the same day. We'll have the big picture and casualties from today's fighting in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: We're going to try to use this map behind me to get you updated on what's happening and where in Libya today. This, of course, is the country. Most of the cities and most of the population are right along the Mediterranean Coast. The capital Tripoli is far to the northwest. That is being held, of course, by the Gadhafi forces and that's where Gadhafi, we believe, is.
Benghazi to the east closer to Egypt is where the rebels are in control and that is where they are saying that they are building their government basically. A budding government taking seed.
Tripoli has not seen much street fighting, relatively speaking.
Now here is where it gets less certain, the cities in between, Bin Jawad, Misurata and Zawiya, all scenes of clashes and battles over these past few days. Rebels says that are in control there. People in Tripoli say, not so.
CNN has no way of verifying the account. So Misurata is not definite. Neither is Zawiya or Ben Jawad. We have confirmed reports of fighting there and in Misurata where more than 40 people are reported dead today. And I have to tell you, we are getting this information from witnesses. CNN does not have independent confirmation of the fighting or the casualties along these towns in Libya.
The crisis in Libya is putting a spotlight on world oil prices and just how dependent the U.S. is on foreign oil. We've seen these sharp spikes in gas prices. And you have to wonder what does Libya have to do with the prices here?
CNN's Lisa Desjardins connects the dots.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA DESJARDINS (voice-over): The uprising in Libya is sending tremors into world oil markets. But what exactly does that mean for the U.S.? Consider this your simple explainer on the oil problem in America starting with this. The U.S. is a huge oil producer.
JOHN KINGSTON, PLATTS ENERGY: We are number three behind Russia and Saudi Arabia and U.S. be number three. So we are a major producer, but, yes, we consume -- we consume about 19 to 20 million a day.
DESJARDINS: Let's stop right there. This is John Kingston. He's a longtime oil watcher with Platt Energy. Let's replay a key point he just made.
KINGSTON: We are number three behind Russia and Saudi Arabia.
DESJARDINS: The United States is the third largest oil producer in the world. It pumps out about eight or nine million barrels of oil a day. But the United States uses 19 to 20 million barrels a day.
KINGSTON: We have to import foreign oil because even though we're a large producer, we're the largest consumer.
DESJARDINS (on camera): OK. So the vast majority of that U.S. oil consumption happens right here at the gas pump. And this is where the U.S. is making some progress.
By the year 2016, new cars must average 35.5 miles per gallon. That could save a million barrels of oil a day. But some experts say that's far from enough.
BOB DEANS, NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL: Every president since Richard Nixon has been saying, we need to break our dependence on oil and start moving toward cleaner, more sustainable fuels.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But we haven't done it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to do it.
DEANS: We haven't done it.
DESJARDINS (voice-over): That's environmentalist Bob Deans. He's saying that until American cars get far more efficient and use far less gas, we're at the mercy of world oil prices -- which brings us back to Libya. Oil prices right now are jumping, not just because of Libya, but out of fears that instability can spread to oil giants like Algeria, Iraq and even Saudi Arabia.
(on camera): So what does this mean for gas prices in the U.S.? Well, they're not likely to go down. How much they go up is unpredictable.
(voice-over): John Kingston, remember him, our energy guy? He sums it up.
KINGSTON: I think the markets are going to be on edge for quite some time.
DESJARDINS: Lisa Desjardins, CNN Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Don't isolate yourself. That's just one tip to make yourself happier at work. Hear the others after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Well, we all want to be happier at work, don't we? There are several ways we can do it. Life coach Valorie Burton joins us now to reveal what those secrets are and your first tip, find something to be grateful for. You know, I'm always grateful just to be working.
VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: Yes, that's a good thing to be grateful for, isn't it?
You know, I think a lot of times when we're frustrated at work or we feel like we're not really happy, it's so easy to focus on what's going wrong. And you have to also focus on what's going right even if it's that one thing that you find.
So I always say at the end of the day ask, you know, what was the best thing that happened today? Or who or what am I grateful for today at work?
GRIFFIN: Number two?
BURTON: Number two, I think it's really important to step out of your own shoes and step into someone else's. So there's research that shows that people who are empathetic are much better workers. They tend to perform better. Companies that have empathetic workers tend to have less theft. Customers report that they enjoy working with the company more.
So it's really important sometimes when people are -- they might be negative. You might have a lot of negative coworkers. It's really important to step into their shoes, not necessarily make excuses for them, but understand that other people's behavior isn't about you, it's about them.
GRIFFIN: So try to step into the shoes of the person who's bugging you.
BURTON: That's right.
GRIFFIN: Oh, that is interesting. I don't know if I can do that.
BURTON: You can do it.
GRIFFIN: The other thing you said is don't isolate yourself --
BURTON: Yes.
GRIFFIN: -- which is interesting. How can you isolate yourself at work when you're interacting with all these people?
BURTON: Well, some people are very to themselves. So you always want to make sure that you're interacting with the people that are around you. Try to be a part of the team even if that doesn't come naturally to you. And especially if you are in a job that doesn't always require you to interact with other people.
Think of people in engineering or technology jobs that are focused on problems, but not necessarily people. And there's a lot of research Gallup has done over the years that people that have a best friend at work tend to be happier, tend to be more productive.
GRIFFIN: Really? So there is a payoff to this? Not just in being happy. Is there a financial payoff? Are you going to do better in the company if you're happier?
BURTON: Actually, people who are happier tend to get more raises. They tend to be more likely to be promoted. So a lot of times we think that if we're successful, if we get that promotion, we're going to be happier. But it's actually the other way around. When you're happier, that positive emotion tends to help you deal with stress and adversity better. And it also tends to lead to promotions and raises.
GRIFFIN: OK. Look at something positive that happened during the day. Be empathetic towards somebody. Don't isolate myself. Any other tips you can give us on this?
BURTON: You know what, you always want to tap into your strength and we all have them. Whatever your strengths are, they probably come so naturally, that often you don't notice them. But try to find those ways to tap into them.
And look for a challenge. So you want to make sure that your challenges are matched to your abilities. And all that means is, if the challenge isn't all that exciting to you, if it doesn't tap into your strengths, you tend to get bored. But if the challenge is too big, you want to be willing to ask for help, look for ways that you can build your skills because if the challenge is too great for your abilities, very often you get frustrated. So you want to reach out for that help or gain those new skills.
GRIFFIN: All right. I'm going to try to be happier at work. I'm actually pretty happy anyway. But, thanks, Valorie Burton, we appreciate that.
Well, if you just bought an iPad, hmm, this isn't going to make you happy because Friday the iPad 2 is coming out. Earlier I talked to our tech time guru, Marc Saltzman, and I asked him why I'd buy the new version if I already had the old one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER (via Skype): 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 FaceTime 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. And if -- you know, 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 to 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, this 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 best-selling 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 to 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 at more than 10,000 hotspots 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 could watch your data, it can get some user information from you. It can also install more malware unbeknownst to the user.
So these were quickly taken off the App store and Google has now introduced more stringent security measures for putting Apps on their Android market. They are remotely wiping those Apps from its users and encouraging those to upgrade the Android operating system to the latest version, which is free.
But again, this is a security vulnerability. This is a big problem for Google this week. And you know, a lot of people criticize Apple for their -- what they call "walled garden" approach where there's -- not easy to get your App approved on their store. But this is showing that 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 they said that they're going to make sure that this doesn't happen going forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: There's been heavy damage in parts of Louisiana from a line of heavy powerful storms. Two towns struck by tornados and one woman killed protecting her child. We'll get an update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Back to Susan Candiotti. She's in New York. Susan, at the top of the hour, we talked about a rally held today against those congressional hearings looking into the Muslim radicalization. There was another rally though and this one I guess was in support of that. Tell us about it.
CANDIOTTI: That's right. About 400 people at the other rally. Only about 50 at this one. A small one but certainly a very vocal one. This was sponsored by a group called Liberty Alliance and it was in opposition to the rally that we told you about earlier.
Mainly the message is to defend Congressman King's hearings coming up this week on Capitol Hill. This group says that they are true patriots, that they are not bigots, and they say furthermore that they are very concerned that Muslims in the United States are trying to take over and instill Sharia law -- religious law -- their religious law here in the United States.
Furthermore, they don't believe that Muslim Americans are doing enough to single out those who are becoming over radicalized or radicalized among Muslim-Americans who are trying to do harm against the United States.
One of the speakers is someone who is very prominent in the rallies and the opposition to the mosque that may be built near Ground Zero. And here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY SULLIVAN, BLUE COLLAR CORNER: I don't know what anybody else is thinking, but this war on terror, this isn't some operation overseas. That's part of it. But this war on terror is happening right here, right now, and we need to deal with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: So I think it is pretty clear, Drew, overall that people on both sides of this, there is still a huge controversy here and they will all be focused on those hearings this week on Capitol Hill.
GRIFFIN: Yes Susan, a lot of controversy and we haven't even had the hearings yet so we'll see what does happen. Thanks.
Turning now to the budget woes impacting states, fines of $250 a day due to begin starting tomorrow for Indiana's Democratic lawmakers in hiding. More than 35 Democrats have been boycotting the Indiana State House to deny the necessary quorum for lawmakers. That's so a vote cannot be held on legislation the Democrats say would harm workers' rights. Sound familiar? That is similar to what is going on in neighboring Wisconsin where lawmakers approved $100 a day fine for absent Democrats there.
Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore is urging budget protesters in Washington to keep fighting -- in Wisconsin, I should say, to keep fighting proposed cuts to their bargaining rights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: That's one person, one vote and there's a hell of a lot more of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Moore addressed thousands demonstrating outside Wisconsin's state capitol this weekend. He compared their situation with the Egyptians who revolted against Hosni Mubarak. That's what he said. Moore says the wealthy have overreached by taking the working class money and trying to shut them out of the bargaining table.
There's been a trail of destruction across Louisiana as tornadoes sweep across that state. A young mother was killed while sheltering her child during a tornado. The 21-year-old died when a tree fell on her house. This happened in rain and that is west of Baton Rouge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL COLE, VICTIM'S UNCLE: And then everybody come out, I guess after it passed, then, you know, noticed that man, there's nothing but broken trees and roofs off of different houses. And then you started seeing people running. When we got down there, we saw that a tree had been fell and collapsed in the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: That same extreme weather that's now pounding up the East Coast, I guess, Jacqui?
(WEATHER REPORT)
GRIFFIN: Going to be a long week. Thanks a lot, Jacqui.
Well several potential GOP presidential candidates are spending some significant time this week in a politically critical state. Here is CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Drew. Call it the first real Iowa cattle call in the next race for the White House. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, businessman and radio talk show host Herman Cain and former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, all possible Republican presidential candidates, tomorrow all of them attend a forum put on by a major social conservative group in Iowa.
At the same time, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas who ran for the GOP presidential nomination last time around and is thinking of doing it again, he talks to another influential family values organization. Iowa plays a crucial role in picking presidential nominees, as its caucuses kick off the primary and caucus calendar.
Back here in Washington, the Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on competing Democratic and Republican plans to fund the federal government through October. If there is no agreement by lawmakers by the end of next week, funding runs out and there could be a federal government shut down. Drew?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: OK, Paul. And for the latest political news, you know where to go, CNNPolitics.com.
Well how can the U.S. get back to the top in all of the places its fallen behind? Fareed Zakaria and a friend will show us how.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: So how does the United States get back to the top in all areas where it has fallen behind? That is the focus of a CNN documentary tonight, a special edition of "Fareed Zakaria: GPS." Fareed is joined by Swedish professor Hans Rosling. He's got an amazing way of making statistics come alive. In this graph, the bubbles you see there represent countries. The bigger the bubble, the bigger the population and well let me let the professor explain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANS ROSLING, FOUNDER, GAPMINDER: United States was on top. Europe had fallen behind and Japan was trying to catch up here and interestingly a small country on the equator, Singapore was just behind.
Latin America was in between and China and India were still down here with low life expectancy and with low incomes, but they had gained their independence and look what happened after 1954.
Here. U.S. continues to lead, but Europe is closing in. Europe is closing in. And Japan there, they make this amazing catch up together with Singapore and now the tiger economies in Asia.
And here, China and India got educations, more families and health before they start this amazing economic growth where they catch in together with more and more emerging economies and they keep up the speed through the last economic crisis and here we are today. 2010.
And what is most interesting here is, if you look at the replay, you see this very clear how the west took off first and then how the rest is following and catching up.
And how will this continue? Well, let's make a projection into the future by going backwards first. This is where China was in 1980. They're very low income over there. And U.S. was all over here in the other end. And we never thought this would happen that China in 30 years would move so much faster than the United States.
Now, if both countries would keep the same speed in economic growth in the coming 30 years, where would the U.S. end up? It will end up there. And where would China end up? They would end up here, the same spot.
This is not so problem because when the country gets richer, the population get older and it's very difficult to keep the same economic growth. We can see that on Japan. So, the more intelligent way of looking at China is to see what has already happened today. I will split China here into its provinces. It's a huge country and it is better to look at the provinces because they are so different. No, Shanghei is already here, the catch up is done. And the coastal provinces are in between and the inland provinces are just like other countries in Asia or Middle East or Latin America.
Now, Singapore and Japan were trading places and the others are coming closer and very soon, China and India will come to a place near to you.
FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST: This is fascinating and it highlights the central idea that it's not that we are falling behind, it's that the whole rest of the world has begun to catch up. And it -- what it suggests is that it's not so much that people are overtaking us, it's that everybody is moving into the same space, that there's a whole set of advanced countries, European and Asian that are all converging in one space.
ROSLING: Yes. It's the healthy, wealthy corner. That's where people want to live. I live there myself. It's a nice place.
ZAKARIA: Can so many countries live there? Can the United States prosper with so much competition?
ROSLING: Yes. I mean, it is more competition but it is also more customers.
ZAKARIA: You are an optimist?
ROSLING: No, I'm not an optimist, because that is an emotional state. I'm a possiblist. I stay that it is possible if we keep peace and we keep free trade and we protect human rights, we can all live up in a healthy, wealthy corner because in the end, that's where people want to go. (END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Interesting. And it's called "Restoring the American Dream: Getting Back To #1." That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
You think you had a bad day at work? Bet you wouldn't trade places with this woman. We are going to tell you how she's doing and what happened right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: We go cross country now for a look at stories making news coast-to-coast. First stop is Ohio. A priest had to be saved by rescuers. He had fallen into a flooded storm drain not far from his local Catholic church. The man who jumped in to help also needed rescue. The fire departments in several nearby cities responded to the call. Both men OK.
A 22-year-old worker at a Georgia dry cleaners alive but nursing a broken leg after this happened. A pickup truck crashed into her workplace Thursday. This has been happening a lot. The whole thing caught on surveillance tape. The driver, we are told, wasn't hurt and is a regular customer.
From Redwood City, California, our update on Dusty, this kleptocat, the feline notorious for catburglary. Dusty's owner holding a free rummage sale yesterday, trying to give everything back that Dusty heisted from neighbors. If you don't know the story, this cat apparently went out and grabbed all this stuff, unbeknownst to anybody. Besides starring on "Animal Planet," Dusty's exploits have reportedly earned him grand marshal status for the upcoming pet parade. Not sure that's such a big idea, Don.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Was that one of your investigative reports?
GRIFFIN: No, it wasn't.
LEMON: That was a moment made for "The Daily Show."
GRIFFIN: I will probably get that -- you know, bitten back to me, Dusty the cat. Anyway, what's going on?
LEMON: How are you?
GRIFFIN: I'm good.
LEMON: It's good to see you. Doing well. So you saw the video, we are going to be talking about at 5:00, the whole reason I'm here is to tell you what is coming up at 6:00, I should say 6:00 Eastern, I'm getting my days confused. It's Sunday.
So you saw the video, the horrific video of women on the Ivory Coast being killed as they were protesting against Gbagbo there. That got us to thinking in the NEWSROOM about women and the role of all these uprisings around the world. Ivory Coast is a little bit of a different story but it's putting women in the spotlight. And women are feeling empowered in some places and in other places, as the Ivory Coast there, in danger. So we want to see -- we want to check out the role of women in these uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East to see where they stand.
GRIFFIN: It is very interesting, because you can go from country to country and some demonstrations, there's no women to be seen.
LEMON: Yeah. Yeah.
GRIFFIN: And then in others, it's a mixed bag.
LEMON: We are going to tell you, I don't know much about this NFL player, this possible lockout and strike, I don't know much, but someone's going to explain it to us, like it has never been explained before, coming up at 6:00. And then Rodney King, Rodney King, 20 years later, Rodney King is going to join me live.
GRIFFIN: Really?
LEMON: Yeah. And I am going to ask him about the day before the 20th anniversary of his beating, why was he driving around on a suspended license?
GRIFFIN: He's a nightmare that just keeps on happening to him. He is a train wreck.
LEMON: The first question is you should be the first person in line at the DMV. Why weren't you? Especially in LA, right?
GRIFFIN: That is interesting. But you know, your special was great.
LEMON: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: And that will be an interesting interview, actually, say what the heck. He still doesn't get it, really?
LEMON: Well, we will talk about that.
GRIFFIN: He don't. All right, Don, thanks. Look forward to it. Don is going to be next right here at CNN.
The move movie "The Adjustment Bureau" deals with the struggle between fate and free will. After the break, the director is going to tell Fredricka Whitfield how he views that struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE NOLFI, DIRECTOR: I think by the time you get college, you've had enough disappointments in life to understand that you know, that when you get knocked down, it is your choice to stay down or to get back up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: There's a new movie out this weekend that poses the question is our destiny determined by fate or free will? The film is called "The Adjustment Bureau." And our Fredricka Whitfield caught up with its director and one of the stars as she talked face to face with them about the premise of the film and how the fate versus free will dilemma plays out in their own success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NOLFI: It's certainly not a movie saying that everything is determined by fate, I'll say that. But I think there are multiple ways to read it, and I'm definitely embracing the idea that people should seize their free will, but there's also a place for that grander plan, I think.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Do you lean one way or the other?
NOLFI: I think they're in tension with each other and I think that's how most people experienced life. Again, you can read it just as a met for social forces and I think everyone would say, well, you know, who my parents were is a big part of why I ended up where I ended up, but it's also my own choices.
WHITFIELD: So Anthony, when you said yes to this movie -- I guess first, what intrigued you about being involved in this movie?
ANTHONY MACKIE, ACTOR: It was 100% the script. I was looking for something different and unique and something that -- I was working on subtlety as an actor and I was taking these classes, trying to figure it out because I'm not a subtle person. When I read the script I was excited by the idea of finding this three-dimensional character. It's not usual that if you're not the leader of the movie you get a character with a complete arc. So when I read it, I was gung ho about being a part of it.
We can't talk here. Meet me on the 4:00 p.m. boat, and I'll answer what I can.
WHITFIELD: And so the premise of this movie, is it fate, is it free will, is this something you have tangled with in your lifetime? Have you questioned many different crossroads in your life, whether is it destined? Am I supposed to make a decision? Should I take this road or is this road chosen for me?
MACKIE: I was dealing with that heavily when I got the script. That's what was so funny about it. I deal with that all the time. Being an actor, you always ask the question of how much of my success was fated, you know, because there is no rhyme or reason to why an actor becomes successful. There's no, you know, formulated plan. So when I read the script, it was something that I was dealing with and going through my mind over and over and over and it just hit home to me. I'm a firm believer in fate, but I always believe it's free will that deters us from our fated path.
MATT DAMON, ACTOR: Why do you people care who I love?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not about love. It's about you. Why do you refuse to accept which should be completely obvious by now?
NOLFI: I mean I think everybody's had lots of those moments now, where you go to school, the people you end up with, you know, whether you decide to leave basically an academic career is what I was heading toward and write scripts. And something called me in my head to this industry even though nobody in my family is in it and they were kind of looking at me like, really, you want to do this?
And we're rolling.
WHITFIELD: So what's your advice to young people who are thinking about going into acting or in performing arts? What would you say to them if there's like a -- you know, a real kernel to your path of success? What would you share with young people?
MACKIE: Take as many classes as you can. You want to be bad in your personal time, not in your work time. I feel like a lot of people in this business think oh, Denzel is so good, I can do that. And it's like Denzel is good because he is good. Just because he's good does not mean you're good.
WHITFIELD: It doesn't just happen.
MACKIE: Exactly.
WHITFIELD: You have to study, research it.
MACKIE: Take as many classes as you can and be as bad as you can to get ready to be great.
WHITFIELD: You mean bad as in good.
MACKIE: Bad as in awful. I can think of a lot of time in school. Make as many mistakes as you can in your personal time. You don't want to get on set and make mistakes because those mistakes will live with you forever. Once it's on film, your great grandkids will go back and be like, yo, grandpa, you sucked. You don't want that to happen. My goal in my career is to continue to get base hits. You know, when you're in your career and you're trying to get home runs, you're going to get strike out a lot. As long as you're getting base hits, you're going have a long and beautiful career.
NOLFI: I'm looking for you to get a triple on this one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are the people who make sure things happen according to plan. My name's Richardson.
DAMON: Oh.
NOLFI: I do think you have to follow your heart, but I also think you have to be realistic about what the options are and what the chances are, and so it's definitely hard to make it in Hollywood, acting, directing, writing, anything because so many people want to do it.
So if your heart really says I want do this, then you've got to say, I'm going to spend 10 years going out there and seeing if I can do it. That's a reasonable amount of time. Not two years.
WHITFIELD: A lot of people want to hear today. They want instant gratification.
NOLFI: They're not going to hear it from us.
MACKIE: It's a long time coming.
DAMON: What does that have to do with anything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were never supposed to see her again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Well what's next for the two talents? Actor Anthony Mackie starts a new film in his hometown of New Orleans very soon. And director George Nolfi tells Fredricka that he is putting the final touches on a couple of projects that he's been working on.
I'm Drew Griffin. Don Lemon is up next as news continues right here on CNN.
