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Civil War in Libya; U.S. Apologizes for Afghan Boys' Deaths; Eleven-Year-Old Alleged Gang Rape Videotaped; House House Homeland Security Committee To Hold Hearing About Possible Radicalization in American Muslim Community; Sheen Creates Web Show

Aired March 07, 2011 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: We're just getting now some more information about this decision that was just announced by the White House to clear the way for military trials at Gitmo.

And a disgusting crime story developing in a small town just north of Houston, Texas, the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl today. The number of suspects is growing to an enormous, unbelievable figure. The accusations here are dividing this community. We going to have more on this. More of the suspects apparently were in court today. We're going to get to that here in just a little bit.

But first, I want to begin with the civil war in Libya and the diplomatic push now to try to end it obviously intensifying still by the hour, first, new comments today from the Obama administration. We heard from President Obama speaking to those near and working with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, saying, essentially, you will be held accountable for whatever violence that continues to take place there.

Also in today's White House briefing, spokesperson Jay Carney said sending ground troops to Libya is -- quote -- "an option," but is not at the top of the list. And then there was this comment about a British report that the U.S. is urging Saudi Arabia to arm the anti- government fighters. These are the folks you're seeing in the pictures here. But we're also hearing that a senior U.S. official says that claim is not true.

Let's get you to what Jay Carney said just this afternoon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You have to be very cognizant of when you pursue these options what it is you're trying to accomplish. And I think that it would be premature to send a bunch of weapons to a post office box in eastern Libya. We need to not get ahead of ourselves in terms of the options we're pursuing.

And, again, I would refer you to the fact that we are reviewing and implementing actions with great haste.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Meantime, we are also getting word that NATO has begun round-the-clock surveillance flights of Libya as they're considering options here dealing for with that violence day-to-day on the ground. In fact, these are images of what's been going on in the streets of Misurata. That's in Central Libya.

Because this video is from social media Web sites, we cannot confirm its authenticity, but here's what I can tell you. Moammar Gadhafi's forces are carrying out aerial and ground assaults in the city of Ras Lanuf. They are targeting the main town heading into the town, the oil refining town, I should add, after launching another airstrike earlier just southeast of the city.

Opposition forces responded to that with anti-aircraft fire. Also from the United Nations today, word that Security Council members are working on a possible resolution that would include language on a no-fly zone.

An update now from Nic Robertson in Tripoli.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're about one-and-a-half kilometers, a mile from the center of Zawiyah. We can hear small-arms gunfire. And just down the road up here at an intersection you can see some soldiers at the intersection just ahead down here, down the road.

There's a main road there. Just along that main road, we saw two big anti-aircraft guns being driven on the backs of trucks across there. And as we have been driving into this area, we have been able to hear heavy artillery gunfire. We're not -- we haven't been allowed to come here with the help of government officials, but getting through the army checkpoints to here, we have been able to do that.

That's the sound of heavy machine gunfire, sounds, heavy machine gunfire cracks, the shots -- just ducking for cover. We're OK behind this wall. So that's the -- so that's what we can hear going on, on the outskirts of Zawiyah.

We don't know what's going on in the center of the city, where the rebels are. They're about a mile away from where we are. And the exchanges of gunfire indicate that this is still a very, very active military area at the moment. That's a crack, probably not so far from where we are right now. Just taking cover behind this wall, where we're OK.

So we don't have a clear picture of what's happening, but what the government officials have said is that they control this city right now. They control Zawiyah. And it's very clear that there's a big military operation going on here right now. We have seen checkpoints perhaps as far as three or four miles at least, perhaps -- no, probably 10 kilometers, seven or eight miles, circumference around the city here.

But from what we can see with our eyes here, the battle is still going on. The fight for Zawiyah is still going on, despite the fact the government claims they have taken control of it.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Zawiyah, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: It is nighttime in Libya. And that is where we find under a dark sky Nic Robertson in Tripoli.

And, Nic, I got to tell you, just watching all of that and hearing all the gunfire, you didn't even flinch. I guess these days that's just par for the course where you are, huh?

ROBERTSON: I must say my heart rate went up quite a bit.

And after we left that area, we saw more troops going in. We saw about 150 troops going in on jeeps on the backs of big trucks. They were singing songs quite triumphantly. Maybe -- you get the impression that maybe the government is going to make a final push, or try and make a final push. That offensive has been going on for days now.

BALDWIN: Nic, I want to ask you about something. I you know you and Ben Wedeman and Arwa Damon, you are all in Libya covering different aspects of the story.

But I want to read to you something that Ben Wedeman apparently overheard in -- right around Ras Lanuf. He said -- heard someone say -- quote "We will capture Gadhafi, put him on top of this car and drive all around Libya. Every Libyan will get one shot."

What do you make of that? And do you think those who you speak with on the ground there in Libya, the anti-Gadhafi forces, would agree?

ROBERTSON: I'm not sure what they want to do with Moammar Gadhafi. I know they want to see him gone.

You get some middle-class people here who have been agitating for reform for years. I think perhaps some of them would just settle to see him gone. But I talked to some other people in Tripoli today. You don't have to go far from this hotel to find them. I won't tell you their jobs because that might give a clue to who these people were.

But these are normal people you might meet in a store or driving around the city, and they told us the only reason that they haven't risen up in this city yet is because they don't have any weapons. They say all the weapons in Tripoli are in the hands of Gadhafi's supporters and loyalists.

And that's what we saw on Sunday here, people firing into the air in celebration. So the answer is, there are a lot of people who are extremely angry about him, and I could see them buying into that idea that Ben heard about -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. Nic Robertson, stay safe there in Tripoli. And, Nic, my thanks to you.

I mentioned someone else we have in Libya. CNN's Arwa Damon, she is live now in Benghazi.

And, Arwa, we know Benghazi has been long held by the rebel forces, the anti-government forces. Is that, A., still the case today, and, B., has the fighting in and around where you have been intensified?

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, it most definitely still is the case, and there has not been much fighting around Benghazi for quite some time now. It was the first city to fall to opposition forces.

What they have done in terms of moving forward is actually over the weekend establish what is being called the Interim National Council. It is being headed by the former minister of justice who we're told is acceptable to the people because even though he served under Gadhafi, he was viewed as being a force and a voice of moderation. He actually tried to resign a number of times.

This National Council still very much in its infancy, but trying to establish some sort of cohesion amidst all of the chaos, not just politically speaking, but on the battlefield as well. There is a military council within it that is trying to consolidate the movement of the forces on the front lines, making sure that they have enough ammunition, really coming up with some sort of a plan, both politically and militarily, to try to move this current conflict forward -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: As you talk about the ammunition, I don't know if you heard my conversation with Nic, but he was saying most definitely that the anti-government forces, the rebels, are outgunned by Gadhafi's forces. Is that the case you're seeing as well, that they're outgunned?

DAMON: They're definitely outgunned, Brooke. They have managed to get their hands on weapons by raiding some ammunition storage facilities. They have also been able to get some heavier weapons from military people who have basically defected and joined the opposition.

But you have to remember that by and large this is not a military force. These are young men, for the most part...

BALDWIN: Teenagers, right?

DAMON: ... who have taken up arms who are fighting with their heart their courage, but they don't really have military experience. Yes, a lot are teenagers. A lot of them are very young. They're very gung-ho. They are very passionate, but they don't have that basic military training. And that is at times painfully obvious on the battlefield, especially as these confrontations between anti- and pro- Gadhafi forces intensify.

BALDWIN: Arwa Damon, my thanks to you live in Benghazi.

Coming up here, dramatic video of a tornado ripping through a convenience store. Wait until you see who was standing at the doors just moments before the twister hit. You've got to wait for that. Also, the U.S. is responding to an attack that killed nine Afghan boys.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I would like to begin by joining General Petraeus in offering my personal apology for the accidental killing of nine Afghan boys by coalition forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: After rejecting an apology from General David Petraeus, how does Afghan President Hamid Karzai respond to what you just heard, Secretary Gates' apology? You are going to see that in just a moment.

Plus, there was a surprising comment from a U.S. general and it's linked to a Taliban bank heist. The video -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. You may have already heard this, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates had to apologize today to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, apologize for a U.S. attack that killed nine Afghan children, apparently yet another mix-up.

But I want you to hold that thought here, because we're going to hit that in a moment here with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. But did you hear about this, what the Taliban did just last week? It might have escaped your attention. It was an ugly, ugly scene.

Here is CNN's Phil Black.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is security camera video from a bank branch in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan. It is silent and shocking.

It shows insurgents raiding the bank, shooting staff and customers randomly. Gunmen are seen blasting people at close range. They're also seen firing wildly into the crowd of cowering men, women and children. They killed 40 people, mostly members of Afghan security forces who were there picking up their pay -- 70 more were injured.

Afghan and international forces fought the insurgents for hours. Four of the attackers were killed. One survived. A man from Pakistan, his name is Sarajam Khan (ph). Afghan media were allowed to speak to him.

He said he killed lots of people. He enjoyed doing it. It made him happy. This attack was just one in a wave of insurgent violence across Afghanistan. Among the targets was the police headquarters in the southern city of Kandahar. At least 19 people were killed there.

The capital, Kabul, was secure for much of last year, but it's seen two recent suicide bombings in a supermarket and shopping center, killing a further 10.

(on camera): Targeting Afghans isn't new for the Taliban. Human rights groups say they're now responsible for most civilian deaths in this war. But they also believe these recent attacks show an increased willingness to kill innocent people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Taliban are weakened now, so they want to demonstrate themselves in a way that they are the same Taliban, they are active and they can still create an environment of fear and intimidation.

BLACK: To achieve that goal, the Taliban are showing they're prepared to pay a high price in Afghan blood.

Phil Black, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Also here just coming in, I have a piece of paper here from the White House. We're getting some news. It involves al Qaeda and Guantanamo Bay. We're gathering the facts right now. We will bring that to you on the other side of this short break.

Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. Let's talk about Afghanistan. Let's nail this down. First, I want you to take a look at the scene from Sunday, death to America, shake on Karzai. So why all the anger? And why is Defense Secretary Robert Gates having to say he's sorry, apologizing today to American-backed President Hamid Karzai.

Here is Secretary Gates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GATES: This breaks our heart. Not only is their loss a tragedy for their families. It is a setback for our relationship with the Afghan people, whose security is our chief concern.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, civilian deaths again an issue in Afghanistan.

I want to bring in Barbara Starr.

And, Barbara, we know the incident happened last week. Apparently it caused this whole problem between President Karzai and General David Petraeus. You and I spoke about it last week and that rare apology. But today, Barbara, what can you tell me about that and also what about the pressure mounting on Karzai from his own people?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a very difficult situation, Brooke. Yesterday, Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, met with General David Petraeus. Petraeus tried to apologize. Karzai wouldn't have any of it. He said the apology was not accepted for the death of these nine young Afghan boys at the hands of a U.S. Apache gunship, a helicopter which struck them last week, an inadvertent accidental killing yet again of Afghan civilians.

Today, Defense Secretary Bob Gates shows up in Kabul on a long- planned visit. It went a little more smoothly, but make no mistakes, these ongoing incidents of civilian casualties, the death of Afghan civilians at the hands of U.S. operations, very troubling to the Afghan people, very difficult for Hamid Karzai.

He has to show in front of his own people that he is the president of this country, that he can be strong, that he can really govern and take control -- 10 years of U.S. troops and coalition forces in this country, and you get the pictures like you see now, anti-American, anti-foreign troop demonstrations, Afghans getting really upset about all of this after so long of having to endure this.

And, yet, as that Phil Black piece showed, so many civilian casualties at the hands of the insurgents actually -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Well, let's get to that point because -- let's play some sound. This is going to be General John Campbell. He's a commander in eastern Afghanistan. He is talking today and he says 80 percent to 90 percent of civilian casualties are caused by the Taliban. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. JOHN CAMPBELL, U.S. ARMY: There are stories that the Taliban Haqqani are saying, don't go after the civilians, but yet yesterday we had 15 civilians killed in Paktika, two IEDs.

If you go to Jalalabad and look at the bank incident that happened here a couple weeks ago -- I know there is video out on the Internet that you can go watch where the guy is smiling and laughing as he shoots civilians down in cold blood. Insurgents target innocent women and children. The coalition forces do not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, obviously, Barbara, no one wants to hear about talk about civilian casualties. But would it help at all, the U.S. cause in Afghanistan to compare the U.S. record with that of the Taliban?

STARR: Well, you know, that certainly is the strategy right now. And I think U.S. commanders, NATO commanders believe they must point that out to the Afghan people, that the majority of the casualties do come at the hands of the insurgents, the warlords, the Taliban, who still engage in IED attacks, bomb blasts, the kind of bank robbery incident that we saw.

Overwhelmingly, the number of civilian casualties are at the hands of the insurgents. But, that said, when you see very high- profile incidents like this, a terrible mistake that the U.S. helicopter crew made in firing on nine boys in Afghanistan, that certainly is going to pop right to the top of the concern to the Afghan people -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. And apologies now we're hearing from Petraeus and also Secretary Gates.

And, Barbara, before I let you go, because I know you know a heck of a lot about Guantanamo Bay, this e-mail here from the White House, the headline is new actions on Guantanamo Bay and detainee policy. Barbara, have you had a chance to look at this? What are you learning? What does this mean?

STARR: Yes. Well, yes, let's just go back in time a little bit.

BALDWIN: OK.

STARR: You will remember, of course, that President Obama during the election campaign made a vow he would shut down Guantanamo Bay.

STARR: Right.

STARR: Clearly, that is not happening and isn't about to happen any time soon. So the administration for some months now has been, if you will, regrouping, re-looking at the whole policy of how Guantanamo and the legal proceedings there are handled.

And pretty much what we're seeing today is the issuance of the administration's new way ahead, if you will. Trials, military commissions, they call them, of detainees will be resumed there. There will be more protection for detainees' statements received under duress of interrogations, will not necessarily be admissible.

Detainees who are being held there, but not charged still building to be a threat to national security, their cases will be reviewed. The federal option for trials will remain open. But this is all about the way ahead. There is some negative reaction on Capitol Hill.

Congress wanted a say in all of this, the president largely doing it by executive order. Now that Guantanamo is not going to be shut down, I think they -- this is a clear signal they just want to move ahead -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. And I think we are going to try to work through what some of these legal complexities mean.

But, Barbara Starr, I appreciate you sorting some of it out here initially. Barbara, I appreciate it. Thank you.

STARR: Sure.

BALDWIN: Also ahead here, a young woman, we have talked about her. She's the chief of police in one of the most dangerous towns in Mexico. There are reports now she has fled Mexico to the United States because of her threats -- because of threats against her life. Well, now her town just made a drastic move. We're following that story ahead.

Also, a volcano erupts. Perhaps you visited this once upon a time here, one of America's most popular vacation spots, lava, you see it there, shooting 80 feet in the air. We will walk you through some of this amazing video. Can you guess where that is? Obviously, you can. It says it on the screen -- Hawaii.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The 20-year-old female police chief of a violent Mexican border town has now been fired. It was just last October when Marisol Valles Garcia made headlines around the world by becoming chief of police in this Mexican town.

Well, last week, rumors started flying that Valles Garcia was seeking asylum in the United States to escape some drug cartel threats against her. City officials said she was on personal leave, would return to work today. She did not do that, so she has been fired.

You want to see what it looks like inside a tornado? Then check out this amazing video with me. Let's take a look here. well, this is what surveillance -- there we go -- that's a twister slamming into a drugstore, a bunch of cars. Look at the force of this thing. Folks, this is Louisiana Saturday. It was one of at least two tornadoes hitting the state over the weekend and the storms leveled several buildings, knocking out power. You saw the rainfall along with it. One woman died when a tree fell on her home.

Over the weekend, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, Kilauea, put on quite a show. The volcano is located on the big island of Hawaii. And this stunning video of the eruption was taken after the Pu'u O'o Hawaiians' -- Am I saying that right? -- crater collapsed Saturday afternoon.

Some reports suggested the lava shot as far as 80 feet in the air. No lives, no homes are threatened. But look at that stuff, the magma.

We are able to do what we do every day all thanks to you, and this week CNN thanks our army of iReporters at the upcoming South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Not familiar with iReport? Well, aha. Let me remind you of some of the stories you have covered here in CNN. Here are the nominees in the breaking news category for the iReport Awards.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) just happened. It's 5:45 in the morning. A car bomb just went off outside of our apartment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still got about 11 -- I think 11 of 15 people missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Local officials fear that those buildings and homes are going to collapse from this raging water. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: You can see more nominees at CNNiReport.com/awards.

For instance, really, who can forget those unforgettable submissions in the best original reporting iReport category?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're fishing for crude oil.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is anything supposed to live in this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is actually the world's largest pet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go. Let's go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if my insurance covers this or not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A cluster bomb can be cleared in a day, but a survivor needs help all their life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mom dresses me funny.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: CAT therapy helps stimulate the brain and relax the body at the same time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Little bit of everything there, huh? Again, check out CNNireport.com/awards. And we'll show nominees throughout the week right here on the show.

Now to a disturbing, disturbing story here out of Texas. A town is in shock after an 11-year-old girl is allegedly gang-raped inside a mobile home. There are now 18, at least 18 suspects. Police are out looking for more after video of the attack has gone viral.

Coming up next, I'll be speaking with someone who spoke with the girl's mother. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I'm going to tell you about a crime so terrible, so chilling, it may be impossible to get this out of your head. This case is so, so huge, and is ripping apart this town. The town is Cleveland, Texas, just about 50 miles north of Houston.

Eighteen men and boys have been arrested so far -- so far -- in the alleged gang-rape of an 11-year-old girl inside an abandoned mobile home. Yes, I said 11-year-old girl. The suspects include a middle school student and a star high school athlete just for starters. The alleged victim, who is in sixth grade, reportedly is now in hiding. Cindy Horswell is a senior writer for "The Houston Chronicle" newspaper. She also exclusively interviewed this 11-year-old's mother. Cindy, I read this article today, and the word that comes to mind is "enraged." I'm enraged over this story.

I want you to begin for people who aren't familiar with it, begin with the gang rape. I know it happened last November. How did police learn about it?

CINDY HORSWELL, SENIOR WRITER "HOUSTON CHRONICLE": Well, the young girl was in school, and these videos, onlookers of this event -- we know it was at least on one day, and it might have been other days things happened. But on the one main event apparently videotaped and photographed things with their cell phones.

And so it was getting -- becoming a very popular -- went viral basically around the school, and someone reported it to the school authorities that they had seen this. They were very upset because they knew the young girl and recognized her.

BALDWIN: Hang on. Let me back you up. This whole thing started according to your article from this 19-year-old young man who sort of lured this 11-year-old into a mobile home, an abandoned mobile home, allegedly. Then from there he then called in other young men to partake. Yes?

HORSWELL: Right. It started out he asked her to ride around with him and three other young men, I think it was. They first went to another person's house, and it kind of started at this one house. And then when a relative of that person came home, they scrambled out the back window and they ended up in that mobile home, and it continued on there.

BALDWIN: Now, so far 18 young men have been arrested. According to you, they range in age from middle school all the way up to 27 years of age. How are police tracking them down, all through these videos that were allegedly shot?

HORSWELL: I believe so, and interviews. It's been a long investigation, but I think it's 17 total so far, but it's been very -- because people are wondering who's involved, who's not. It's disturbing -- the whole basketball team. I think they lost on Wednesday. Let's just say they've lost a couple of players. Some of these people are adults. Some of them had criminal records.

BALDWIN: Because you're saying some of these young men were on this Cleveland High School star basketball team. Is that what you got from investigators?

HORSWELL: Right, right. I think the basketball team is ranked third in the state. And so at least two of the people played on the team were starters, and now they're not on the team anymore, I don't believe, because they haven't returned to school.

BALDWIN: CNN has not been able to confirm that, but that is confirmation from you according to investigators. So I want to get to this 11-year-old. I know you spoke with her mother exclusively. How is she doing?

HORSWELL: Her mother is saddened because she's prevented from being with her daughter, as is her brothers and sisters and father.

BALDWIN: Why is that?

HORSWELL: You know, Child Protective Services will not discuss the case because there's a gag order, but they've had some hearings. The parents tell me she's been put in foster care as a safe house because, as these names come out, as this trial goes on, that it's going to become dangerous for actually them, too. They should move from the area, they believe, because there could be -- there have been people calling the house and just saying, "Where is she?" And they don't believe the mother that she's not there. Then they cuss and get upset. They're worried it could become worse than that, so they just kind of don't want any more pressure on her or the family.

BALDWIN: Understandable. Understandable. I know you spoke with an attorney representing three of these young men. What did he say? What is his defense?

HORSWELL: Well, he believes that, you know, you can't -- he's not trying to say anything -- whatever happened that anything would be good for an 11-year-old. But he said the little girl is not, you know -- it wasn't like she was completely innocent in this case. It wasn't like she was kidnapped or something, and whether he was indicating that she might have been a willing participant.

BALDWIN: At age 11, as you point out, an 11-year-old cannot legally give consent.

HORSWELL: Right. And I do believe at some point a police affidavit says she was not -- that she was balking and there were threats made. It will all have to come out fully. I know she's got a Web site where she sounds fairly confused. It's basically her Facebook page where she knows a lot of people are looking at her now like she's caused problems. And she's feeling a lot of conflicting feelings.

BALDWIN: I can't even begin to imagine. Cindy, I appreciate it. I'd love to speak with her mother. I'd love to hear how this little girl is doing from her, but until then, I thank you for your reporting with "The Houston Chronicle." Thank you, Cindy.

HORSWELL: OK.

BALDWIN: Controversy brewing on Capitol Hill. This week lawmakers will hold hearings on the threat of, quote-unquote, "radical Muslims." Many Muslims are outraged saying they're being demonized by these hearings. Coming up next we'll talk to someone who literally has his finger on the pulse America and the Islamic faith, an imam from the oldest mosque in America joins me live. So what does he think of these hearings? I'll ask him, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: You want to talk about Middle America? How about Cedar Rapids, Iowa? Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by some accounts is the safest city in the country. That is the Cedar River you see there meandering through the town. Did you know Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is home to the oldest mosque in America? Yes, correct. It is called the mother mosque of America, and it goes all the way back to the early '30s. But when that mosque flooded in 2008, the city came together to help repair the damage.

So as we talk this week about Muslims in America, we decided to start in the middle of the country, in Cedar Rapids. Joining me by phone is Imam Tawa Tawil. I appreciate you calling in here. What did it mean to you that three years ago the community pitched in when your mosque was flooded?

IMAM TAWA TAWIL, MOTHER MOSQUE OF AMERICA (via telephone): Well, that was a great feeling and it was the normal that the community always in Iowa comes together and help each other, regardless of their race or religion or background, because they have been an always welcoming community. And that's -- I saw from Buddhists to Christian, Catholic, and even a monk coming in and helping the mother mosque to clean and put it back together.

BALDWIN: Different places of the community, different backgrounds coming together. Just curious, how many Muslims do you have in Cedar Rapids?

TAWIL: We have about 2,000.

BALDWIN: You said 2,000. What percentage of cedar rapids would that be, roughly?

TAWIL: I would say roughly 1.5 maybe.

BALDWIN: So, 1.5 percent, obviously a teeny, teeny number.

TAWIL: Very tiny, yes.

BALDWIN: So we hear these stories. Does the city at all treat Muslims as radicals?

TAWIL: No way. No way.

BALDWIN: Not at all.

TAWIL: Not at all. As I said in many cases they come to our mosque, they have meetings, even the mayor when we elect him he comes and tell us his agenda, like any other nominee, and then the Muslim community will go and vote for whoever is fit for that job.

BALDWIN: Well, here's why we wanted to talk to you. As you know, Representative Peter King of New York is hosting these hearings this week. In fact, the official title is "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that community's response." Some people coming out criticizing these hearings saying, look, this could be a way to stigmatize, demonize one slice of the community, the Muslims. Are you behind these hearings, or you think it's a bad idea?

TAWIL: Well, it seems, generally speaking, that Representative Peter King is really a great man with a great talent and skill. And as a chairman of the U.S. Homeland Security Committee he is trying to make our beloved country secured and safe. And as Muslim-Americans, I stand firm with him on these issues.

But I do admire also his vision to be proactive and to be alert and aware of what's going on in all radicalization, whether it is coming from Muslims or Christians or Zionists or any political party.

BALDWIN: Forgive me from interrupting. If the United States holds a hearing on the radicalization within the American-Muslim community, should there also be one regarding Judaism, the Christian faith? Should that be equal?

TAWIL: I think that's where the issue is. We don't attack the people, we attack the issue. The issue is safety and security, and I don't think we attack the people of certain religion or certain color or background. We attack what is being done.

And we have much radicalization in our country starting to come up, and unfortunately in our schools we hear feuding. In our college we have shootings. And the one who shot our congresswoman the other day, who led him to do so? There is radicalization across the board.

BALDWIN: Right. I think many would agree with you in looking at the safety and security of our country. From the middle of the country, the oldest mosque in the country, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, my thanks to you.

Later this month, I do want to remind you, our own Soledad O'Brien is taking us into the dramatic fight over the construction of a mosque in Tennessee. We're calling it "Unwelcome -- the Muslims next door." It airs Sunday, March 27, at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

And an oil platform in the gulf goes up in flames. Coming up, the dramatic rescue off the coast of Louisiana.

Plus -- love him, hate him, it seems a lot of people are talking -- here we go again -- about Charlie Sheen. As he fights CBS over his TV show, the actor now starring in his own show online. Have you caught any of this? He is now apologizing for something that has happened, though. That is trending. So Brooke Anderson has got the goods. She's got the goods. Brooke is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Trending this hour, say it with me, collectively, Charlie Sheen, now rivaling the Energizer bunny. Entertainment correspondent Brooke Anderson joins me live from Los Angeles. And Brooke, I have to be honest. I took a bit of the Charlie Sheen diet over the weekend.

BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN CO-HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Good for you.

BALDWIN: Yes. But I do know he's doing this whole web TV thing. What can you tell me about it?

ANDERSON: Yes. A lot of people, Brooke, say he's taking his media blitz to the next level. And he is, but to me it's not the next level in a good way. The Charlie Sheen spectacle really did continue over the weekend. Good for you for getting a break from it. But Charlie took his very bizarre behavior to the internet for a live webcast.

As if the onslaught of radio and television interviews last week were not enough, he launched his own show titled "Sheen's Korner," and it "Korner" with a "k." The stream also had this onscreen message -- you're in Sheen's "korner" or with the trolls, whatever that means.

In the nearly one-hour webcast that drew 100,000 viewers, if you can believe it. Sheen rallied his fan base and had a message for his children. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Disorganized random experiment of sorts.

(LAUGHTER)

A big shout-out to my children, Cassandra, Sam, Lola, Bob, and Max. Daddy loves you, and if you're watching, tell mom to leave the room. It's on. Winning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Winning.

SHEEN: Winning, winning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So he sends a shout out to all five children.

BALDWIN: Nice sippy cup.

ANDERSON: And then that's the strangest part, then he drank from one of his baby's sippy cups.

BALDWIN: Strange.

ANDERSON: Yes. And, you know, of course -- go ahead.

BALDWIN: No, no. And then the twins' mom, that is Brooke Mueller, right?

ANDERSON: Yes. And she and Sheen are in a really heated custody battle over their twin sons. The boys are almost two years old now. But if you think it stopped there, it did not. Sheen had a message to all of his listeners. Watch that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEEN: Everyone out there who thinks that they have been wining along with us, who has been supporting this entire movement that is in fact winning. I want you to go to your window. I want you to open, it because if you don't, no one can hear you, and I want you to join our chant -- winning, winning, winning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Who are all of those people? Brooke, that really has become the slogan for the recent wild behavior of Sheen's over the past few weeks - "winning." But I actually think the guy is losing. The more he says and does the bigger joke he becomes.

BALDWIN: If I have to hear "winning" one more time. It's everywhere, twitter. And speaking of Twitter, what does he have, like two million followers now, and now he's trying to make some dough on twitter, right, endorsements?

ANDERSON: Yes. More than two million followers, and you and I touched on this last week because Sheen has joined the forces with the Beverly hills-based company Adly which specializes in celebrity endorsements.

"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" spoke with that company and the CEO says they helped get Sheen's twitter account up and running. Sheen has not made any endorsement tweets, but the company tells us their phone is ringing off the hook with potential clients wanting to latch on to Charlie Sheen. Brooke, Adly tells us they have never seen a level of engagement quite like this before and that it is very possible that Sheen could rake in $1 million a year just for tweeting.

BALDWIN: Wow. Sounds like a good deal. We should get in on that, Brooke Anderson. I tweet all the time during the show, how about you?

ANDERSON: Only if.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: All right. Brooke, thank you so much. Good to see you as always.

And now to this dramatic life-and-death moment all inside this restaurant. Coming up, how a waiter reacted when a guy starts choking. We have the whole video. We'll play that for you.

Also, a high-profile senator making a major announcement today. Wolf Blitzer with John Ensign's political future. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And now for the CNN = Politics update. Let's go live to Wolf Blitzer live in Washington with what's hot off the Political Ticker. Wolf, good to see you. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Hey, Brooke. Keyword "hot," as in hottest right now on the political thermometer, as they are calling it. A new poll put out by Quinnipiac University, it's got some "hot" politicians, some not so hot politicians.

But guess who among the sitting politicians is the hottest right now. Not a huge surprise. Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey. He ranks "hot, hot, hot" on this thermometer, as they call it. Michelle Obama is very hot on the thermometer and so is the former president Bill Clinton, the current president.

But among the sitting politicians, right now Chris Christie. As you know, Brooke, he's repeatedly said he's not interested, has no plans, will not run for the Republican presidential nomination but a lot of Republicans looking at Chris Christie saying right now is his moment. If he doesn't take advantage of it right now works knows four years or eight years down the road if that moment will reappear? A lot of Republicans really like Chris Christie. This poll suggestion he's really hot.

By the way, some of those not so hot right now, Tim Pawlenty who is also running for the Republican nomination, we suspect, among others. Nancy Pelosi, by the way, not very hot. She's among the coolest of those in this new pool, along with the majority leader Harry Reid in the Senate, and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is pretty cool, as is Newt Gingrich. Cool not necessarily a positive description in this particular poll.

John Ensign, by the way, the Republican senator from Nevada, announced he's not seeking reelection. He's had a lot of personal issues over the past year or two, including acknowledging an extra marital affair, so he's not going to run when he's up for re-election. We'll see what happens in Nevada.

Just a quick note as far as Libya is concerned and oil prices. I know, Brooke, you're doing a lot on that. Former governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, he's coming into "THE SITUATION ROME" today. We'll speak with him live. He's got a lot of thoughts. But one thing I'll ask him, because he's got a lot of experience going to rogue nations and dealing with a bunch of tyrants out there, who would be the best person in the world, the best leader in the world, to actually go out and go to Tripoli, meet with Gadhafi, and tell Gadhafi, guess what, colonel. It's over. You've got to leave.

Who would be the best person to do that, to face to face tell Gadhafi it's over? Is there anyone in the Arab world, the Muslim world in, Europe? Is it Bill Richardson? Is it someone like that who can actually go there and tell Gadhafi it's over?