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Considering Releasing Osama bin Laden Photo; More Details About Where Osama bin Laden was Killed; Levee Blown up to Save City; The Help Desk; Talk Back Question; Al Qaeda's Next Leader
Aired May 03, 2011 - 11:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, top of the hour now. I'm Drew Griffin in today for Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed on what is happening on this busy news day.
Video shot today inside Osama bin Laden's three-story compound. The U.S. commandoes who stormed the building Sunday may have grabbed valuable intelligence on their way out. A senior U.S. official is telling CNN, five computers, ten hard drives and dozens of CDs, DVDs and thumb drives were seized there.
The official also says the White House hasn't decided yet whether to release photos of bin Laden's corpse. The most recognizable image is said to be extremely gory, with a gaping head wound across both eyes.
Former Defense Secretary Ronald -- Donald Rumsfeld says the death of Osama bin Laden is not the end for al Qaeda. He spoke by phone to CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, FMR. DEFENSE SECRETARY: OBL will be replaced by a successor, and if we capture and kill the successor, that individual will be replaced. The people are determined, they're vicious, they are capable of raising money and recruiting people and training them to go out and kill innocent men, women and children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: White House photos show a tense President Obama and his national security team watching the U.S. raid on bin Laden, live, Sunday. Counterterrorism adviser John Brennan tells CNN the minutes, they seemed to pass like hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BRENNAN, SR. ADVISER ON COUNTERTERRORISM: There were some very, very tense moments, and we were just saying our prayers that everything was going to go according to plan. But as I think you can tell from the photograph, there was a period of intensity there, unlike none other that we had here at the White House to date.
(END VIDEO CLIP) GRIFFIN: Well, we are learning the White House could release photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse as soon as today, but officials haven't yet made the final decision.
White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar joins us live.
Brianna, what is the latest?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Drew, a government official familiar with intelligence matters says right now there isn't complete consensus, but these discussions about whether to release photos of a dead Osama bin Laden, they're leaning towards doing it. The administration is leaning towards doing it. There is growing consensus that they should do it.
And the source who told us that we could be seeing these photos released today -- this is a government official actually engaged in these discussions -- told CNN's John King that if they're released, we'll see them put out through the CIA, and that there are quite a number of photos. And as you can imagine, they are very graphic -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Yes. Well, we'll see if we see them, right?
Let's shift gears back to the White House Situation Room. You know, they're all watching this as the raid is unfolding. It sounded almost surreal.
What have you learned about what was happening in that room, Brianna?
KEILAR: You know, this is a process that actually took all day on Sunday. Early on, preparations being made in The Situation Room, and then you saw the president's top national security advisers, terrorism advisers, and cabinet members -- Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates. You also saw the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. All there, getting ready ahead of this operation.
President Obama joined them, he left for a short while, came back as the operation began. And it was really interesting to listen to John Brennan. He said this was one of the most anxiety-filled moments for the people in this room, really that they had experienced in their entire lives.
He said people were holding their breath. He remembered specifically President Obama being very concerned about the safety of the SEALs there on the ground. And then he also talked about kind of a growing confidence that Osama bin Laden was dead, that it wasn't really an ah-ha moment that he's dead, but at first there was the visual I.D., then the height checked out, and then you had that preliminary DNA evidence. And people really started to kind of breathe a sigh of relief -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Yes. I don't know if people have seen it. We have it on CNN.com. But if you see that one picture where the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, sort of has her hand over her mouth, it is a very, very tense situation, and I think says it all. Very interesting to check out.
Brianna Keilar, thank you for that.
You know, the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed is no cave. It's just down the road from the Pakistani military, which brings us to our "Talk Back" question for today.
Carol Costello following that conversation.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. A big old mansion, nobody notices.
You know, imagine this scenario: notorious mass murderer Charles Manson and his gang move into a multimillion-dollar suburban mansion for six years. Oh, did I mention that the house is just down the road from FBI headquarters? Yet, nobody in authority knows he's there.
That would be embarrassing, at best. Derelict, at worst. And that is exactly the kind of situation the Pakistani government finds itself in. How did Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted fugitive, hide in plain sight near a Pakistani military academy?
This, from Pakistan's ambassador --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUSAIN HAQQANI, PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: What I find incredulous is the notion that somehow, just because there is a private support network in Pakistan, the state, the government, and the military of Pakistan should be blamed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now, U.S. officials don't want to criticize Pakistan publicly, but say it's inconceivable bin Laden didn't have some support within Pakistan. The U.S., mind you, has given Pakistan $18 billion in aid since 9/11, in large part to fight terrorism.
Senator Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, told me he wants U.S. aid suspended until he is satisfied Pakistan was not harboring bin Laden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D), NEW JERSEY: We have to find out what it is that they're up to. Are they on our side all the time? And here's this building. All they needed was a neon sign to be identified.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But consider this -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said without Pakistan's help, Osama bin Laden would never have been found and killed. In short, the U.S. needs Pakistan to find and fight terrorists.
So, the "Talk Back" question today: Should the U.S. freeze Pakistani funding?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
GRIFFIN: All right, Carol. Thanks a lot.
COSTELLO: Sure.
GRIFFIN: The big question of the day, that's for sure.
(EXPLOSION)
GRIFFIN: Don't worry. That was supposed to happen.
The Army Corps of Engineers sets off an explosion. That was at a Missouri levee. The corps wanted to ease the flood pressure on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and save the town of Cairo, Illinois. The operation will flood, however, 100 homes elsewhere and 200 miles of farmland.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rob Marciano, in Cairo, Illinois, where last night they exploded parts of the levee system here because the water was just too much for the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to bail. This is the confluence of the Ohio River on the left side and the Mississippi on the right. And last night at this time, they were nearly touching each other on this road.
So, at least for the time being, that effort has worked here. The waters have come down somewhat. But further down river, that's certainly not the case. Not everybody happy about it, especially on the Missouri side.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Almost a week after tornadoes ransacked Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the mayor's office says more than 300 people are still missing. The tornado separated one couple for 27 agonizing hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS WOZNIAK, TORNADO VICTIM: At that point, you know, the dogs got sucked out. You know, they were just like flying like kites on a string. And the tub started to lift like it was going to go with it. And I was able to just hang on to the dogs and try and push them down.
DEBORAH WOZNIAK, TORNADO VICTIM: The worst is running through your mind. Obviously, his body is in there, and he's not alive. And I just give him a hug and tell him, "I promise to never nag you ever again about taking out the garbage."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The death toll from last week's severe weather outbreak stands at 356 across the South. An oil industry analyst predicts gas will average $4 a gallon nationwide by the end of this week. That's not too far-fetched. It's already at $3.97 a gallon, according to AAA. Last week's tornadoes across the South knocked several Gulf Coast refineries off line.
In Arkansas today, a National Guard helicopter rescued six missing Boy Scouts and their troop leaders. The scouts had been hiking along the Little Missouri River and hadn't been heard from for days. Well, it turns out the rising river blocked their path out of a wilderness area.
Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering over the next hour.
First, a tour of the compound where bin Laden was hiding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We never can bring them back, but we can do everything we can to bring the people who are responsible to justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Reaction from New York firefighters after the death of bin Laden.
Plus, an Arab-American comedian looks to the future now that bin Laden is dead.
Then, President Obama will be remembered as the leader who nailed bin Laden. Our Wolf Blitzer, checking to see if it's enough to get him re-elected.
And Missouri farmers worried sick about their livelihoods.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: The place where Osama bin Laden was finally captured and killed was not a cave in Afghanistan, but a compound in Pakistan. And we are learning more about the fortress where he was hiding in plain sight.
CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson has made his way there to Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Nic, we're learning more about who was inside that compound with Osama bin Laden. What can you tell us?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Some very interesting details, Drew, just coming in from a senior Pakistani intelligence source from the ISI services.
Obviously, they feel t hey have been very heavily criticized for not tracking down bin Laden themselves. They're saying, yes, they are embarrassed that they didn't manage to find him, but it doesn't mean they weren't trying, they say, and it doesn't mean they get it wrong all of the time. They say they've captured more al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan than any other country.
But what they have also told us is that when the raid took place, there were 17 to 18 people in the compound, four to five men, they say, brothers and a son, two to three women. They say that one of the women was a maid or a nurse for the young children. And eight to nine children.
They also say that when the special forces left, they took bin Laden, plus one other person. They don't know who that person is.
And we've also heard from a government spokesman today who said that these people who were left behind, the other family members who were left behind, are in government custody. Some are getting medical treatment because they require it. But what the government says it will do is repatriate, it says, all these people to their countries, as is the common practice here -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Nic, you said that when U.S. forces left, they took bin Laden's body and one other person. I'm assuming you're meaning one other body. There's no indication they took a live person out of there?
ROBERTSON: It's not clear to us at the moment, Drew. And what we're hearing from the source, intelligence source, is that it was one other person.
We do know that four people were also killed, but at the moment we don't have specifics on who was killed, left behind, and who was perhaps injured and killed and taken, or taken uninjured. It's not clear at this time -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Finally, we're learning from intelligence sources in the United States that there was a fair amount of computer equipment, computer data, records, if you will, taken from that compound. Your sources at ISI, the Pakistani intelligence service, I would imagine want to get their hands on that intelligence, too.
Has that been brought up?
ROBERTSON: They would. And therein lies part of the problem between the United States' and Pakistan's intelligence services. Their communications, although they've been cooperating with each other at official government levels, their communications and cooperation has gone down to a very low ebb this year.
And indeed, they're still not cooperating fully. So it's not clear that they're going to get that information in the short term.
What's interesting as well, at the compound today, when we were looking in through a tiny gap between one of the metal gates and big concrete walls, past the policemen and soldiers who were guarding it, we couldn't see anyone inside the compound. So it doesn't appear at this stage, after the attack, that there is any forensic work going on inside. It doesn't seem like the Pakistanis at this stage are mounting an effort to sort of try and find any other information or evidence that might have been left behind -- Drew. GRIFFIN: All right. Nic Robertson.
Great stuff from Abbottabad, in Pakistan. Thanks, Nic, for that.
Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants killed thousands of people worldwide in their terrorist acts. Remember the Madrid commuter train bombings? That was in 2004. Those coordinated attacks included 10 bombs on four trains. A speaker (INAUDIBLE) to be bin Laden called the bombings, "Your just returns."
Today we want to remember those victims as well -- 191 people died in Madrid. More than 1,500 were injured.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: The historic flooding where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers come together has forced the federal government to take action. And last night they did. The Army Corps of Engineers blew up a levee in order to save the town of Cairo, Illinois. While some are feeling relief, others are angry.
Joining me now is the mayor of East Prairie, Missouri, Kevin Mainord. He's also a farmer forced to evacuate so his land could be flooded to save another town.
Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us.
I guess you were on the wrong end of this decision which the Army Corps of Engineers felt they had to make.
MAYOR KEVIN MAINORD, EAST PRAIRIE, MISSOURI: Well, Drew, it certainly was a devastating decision that they laid for our county and our community, and several farmers in the spillway here in Mississippi County.
GRIFFIN: I mean, is it the wrong decision to have been made? Did you see any other option based on what you all have down there, which is just too much water?
MAINORD: Well, Drew, what we encouraged the corps to do was to let the levee naturally overtop. We felt like there would be less permanent destruction. You know, and the corps promoted that they would get a four-to-five-foot drop at the Cairo gauge (ph). And that has not occurred since 10:00 last night, when they actually activated the spillway.
They've only gotten one foot and .2 of a drop at the Cairo gauge (ph). So the plan is not working. And that's what we told them all along, that we had doubts that the plan would work as they thought it would. And the evidence is right now that it is not working like they thought it would.
GRIFFIN: Mr. Mayor, I get the fact that the farmland was flooded, and that makes it -- maybe you have lost the planting season for a lot of farmers. But are there also homes in the path of this deliberate flooding? MAINORD: Yes, Drew. There's approximately 90 homes that are in the way of the floodway. There's also several farm headquarters where they have infrastructure, grain bins, grain handling equipment, shops, office buildings. So there's a tremendous amount of infrastructure along with the 90-some-odd homes that are in the spillway itself.
GRIFFIN: Is there a federal plan to make you guys whole after this?
MAINORD: Well, Drew, the court says that there is a plan to repair the levees and to take care of the destruction. But, you know, all of that is bottom ground. It's all drained by ditches that, over the years, millions of dollars have been spent on to maintain those ditches.
And we all know what shape the federal government is in right now. Even though the corps has told us they'll make us whole, they don't appropriate the money, Congress does. And our question has been, where's the money going to come from? Until they fix the levee, we essentially have 130,000 acres that's river front ground that never has been river front ground before.
GRIFFIN: All right. Mr. Mayor, a terrible position you're in. Let us make sure that we follow your story as the water drains, and those questions that you raise are going to be answered, whether or not the corps will live up to its promise to make you whole again and make your farmland farmable.
MAINORD: We appreciate your time today, and we appreciate your focus on this disaster.
GRIFFIN: All right.
Mayor Kevin Mainord from East Prairie, Missouri.
Thank you, sir.
The mother of a firefighter killed on 9/11 reacts to the killing of Osama bin Laden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAUREEN SANTORA, MOTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: At the moment, I'm on a high, because I feel my son's joy and exhilaration, that this very evil man was captured and killed by Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: How many of you have been to that fire station since 9/11?
Mixed emotions for families and firefighters who lost friends and loved ones at Ground Zero. I'm going to talk to the city's fire commissioner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) GRIFFIN: Here is a rundown on some of the stories we are working on.
First, the 9/11 attacks were especially brutal for New York firefighters. Their families, talking to us today about the death of bin Laden.
Next, examining the bin Laden effect on Arab-Americans.
Then, the war on terror goes on. A look at the thugs who may become the next face of terrorism.
Many who lost loved ones in the September 11th attacks are expressing mixed emotions over the killing of Osama bin Laden. President Obama will visit New York's Ground Zero Thursday. He will meet with family members of those killed.
And our Mary Snow talked to New York firefighters and a couple whose son was killed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the day they'd been waiting for. Maureen and Al Santora came to this firehouse where their son Christopher worked. He was one of 15 firefighters from Engine 54 killed on September 11th. This Manhattan station, suffering huge losses that day.
SANTORA: At the moment, I'm on a high, because I feel my son's, you know, joy and exhilaration, that this very evil man was captured and killed by Americans. You know? And I just feel his presence, that he's just, "Right on, good for the soldiers."
And, I mean, I can hear him yelling and screaming. And he'd be dancing in the streets today, my son.
SNOW: But that elation was mixed with deep emotion for her husband Al, who was also a firefighter for 40 years.
AL SANTORA, FATHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: We never can bring them back, but we can do everything we can to bring the people who were possible to justice. And that's what happened today. It's a win for the United States of America, it's a win for everybody in the world, the free world. And hopefully we'll have some more wins, and it makes it a little easier.
PETER REGAN, LADDER 174: I have an added respect for my military brothers.
SNOW: Thirty-year-old Peter Regan is now a firefighter in Brooklyn, following the steps of his father Donald, who was killed on 9/11. Regan is also a Marine who was deployed to Iraq twice.
(on camera): A lot of people are saying they didn't want to use the word "closure." REGAN: No, I don't feel any closure. I mean, there's always -- like I said, he's a big chapter, he's a big forefront, he's the main target. But, you know, I mean, there's someone behind him. For me, closure would be letting the guard down. And I'm not ready to do that.
SNOW (voice-over): But for a moment in Times Square Sunday night, some firefighters stopped to take in the news and were touched to watch hundreds of people celebrate word of bin Laden's death.
CAPT. THOMAS VENDITTO, ENGINE 54: Last night people came out of their hotel rooms, they came out of theaters, wherever they were, in restaurants. They showed up and they smiled, and they kissed us and hugged us, and took photos and cheered us on.
And it's not just about us. It's about the United States. They were cheering the United States, they were cheering the firefighters, they were cheering our troops. It's all good things.
SNOW (on camera): And New York City's fire commissioner told us that his elation over the news only lasted for a few brief moments, that he is overly concerned about retaliation, and that he told firefighters in the field to be extremely cautious.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: You know, New York lost 343 of its firefighters and paramedics inside the twin towers on September 11th. The city's former fire commissioner, Thomas Von Essen, joins us live from New York.
A lot of emotions in that piece from Mary Snow, Thomas. What were your emotions when you heard the news?
THOMAS VON ESSEN, FMR. NEW YORK FIRE COMMISSIONER: Well, you know, the biggest smile I think I've had in two days is listening to that firefighter, Regan, talking about serving in the Marines and now serving in the fire department.
I went to a dinner recently, and there were over 100 firefighters at the dinner that had been in Afghanistan or Iraq, serving in the military. And now on FDNY. So I think that's just a phenomenal testament to the young people who we have out there that have made commitments not just to the military, protecting the country, and getting some sort of justice for FDNY, but then coming back and serving again to honor their fathers and loved ones that they cared so much about. It's just phenomenal.
GRIFFIN: Yes, it is a great full circle, if you will. But also the raw emotion -- Al Santoro, who still cannot really talk about his son without choking up.
What was your most intense memory of 9/11?
VON ESSEN: Oh, wow. I mean, it just goes from every possible level you can imagine.
The first day, the fear for all of the troops, knowing getting up there so far, how hard it was going to be to get out quickly. And then hoping to rescue so many. Twenty-four hours later, we realized no rescues.
And then recovery and dealing with the families was -- I've always felt for me, personally, the worst part of it was the grief, dealing with the families, that you couldn't give them what they wanted. They wanted nothing else but their loved one returned. And that was the one thing we couldn't give them.
We would give them pensions and memorials and all kinds of attention, and camaraderie and spirit, but we couldn't give them what they really wanted. We couldn't give them back their sons or their fathers.
GRIFFIN: The one thing I think that everybody wanted and was promised since they were gone was the capture of Osama bin Laden, something that then-President Bush stood with you guys and, over a megaphone said, you know, these people will be brought to justice.
Is that now justice served for you?
VON ESSEN: Well, yes. I mean, justice, getting one person who was evil and killing him. I'm so glad they didn't take him prisoner. I'm so glad they buried him at sea like a Mafia lowlife. I'm glad the fish already ate him. But, I mean, that's one man who has started a movement that now we've got to deal with. There's who knows how many thousands of radical crazies around the world doing evil like this person did. Now they'll be fighting to take his place and lead this movement. So, we've got to really be afraid and vigilant and prepared. All the soldiers that are out there, the Navy, the Marines, just have done a great job for us coming back. Firefighters and police officers. These are the young people that we're counting on to keep us safe.
GRIFFIN: All right. Former fire commissioner of New York, Thomas Von Essen. Thanks for joining us, Commissioner. Really appreciate it.
VON ESSEN: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: Next we're going to hear what bin Laden's death means for Arab-Americans almost a decade after 9/11.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart took comedic potshots at Osama bin Laden last night, but he also had something serious to say, calling bin Laden's death a good night for human people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": The face of the Arab world in America's eyes for too long has been bin Laden. And now it is not. Now, the face is only the young people in Egypt and Tunisia and all of the Middle Eastern countries around the world.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
STEWART: Freedom rises up. Al Qaeda's opportunity is gone. Al Qaeda's opportunity is gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: You know, it was a common saying after the towers fell the world changed after 9/11. And that change was especially strong for Arab-Americans. So, what happens now?
I'm joined by Dane Obeidallah, an Arab-American comedian who had a lot to say about the bin Laden effect in his recent op-ed for CNN.com. I guess on September 11, 2001, you kind of became a terror suspect. And I know you've joked about that. But it really did.
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: Our world changed. I mean, you're absolutely right. For myself and others in the Arab-American community, we went from Arabs to suspicious in one day. You know, to simply put it, I tell people, on September 10th I went to sleep an American. And September 11, I woke up an Arab. And it was a new, challenging world for us.
And as a comedian, you try to deal with it. I mean, sometimes people say nice things, oh, you're an Arab, wow, I love hummus. That was a very nice thing. Others sent me hate mail, go back to the country you're from. I'm born in New Jersey. (INAUDIBLE). But it's been challenging for us where we have to prove to others that we are American, we love this country. And so my father came to America for opportunity. And so many other immigrants who came to America. We're not here to make America like the countries they fled because there was no opportunity and no freedom. They want to live a better life here.
GRIFFIN: So I mean, does this change that at all for you? Has there been an overnight sensation? Are you American again?
OBEIDALLAH: I hope so! I mean, I've always -- I'm proud to be American. I'm proud of my Arab heritage and my mother's Sicilian. I'm proud of both heritages. But as an American -- this is our melting pot. And I hope we go back. I hope this is a reset.
And I feel a great sense of unity in America. I feel people -- Muslim groups yesterday condemning Bin Laden and praising President Obama for what he did. People of all different religious standing together and cheering for this. I hope this is a new beginning for us as Americans to reach out to each other and focus on our commonality as Americans and not define us by our differences.
GRIFFIN: You know, you are a comedian, and I know you're a funny guy, I read some of our stuff. Really funny. The Bin Laden jokes came out almost immediately. Too soon for this guy?
OBEIDALLAH: No. He set the world record for the shortest time between someone dying and it being appropriate to making fun of him. I was twittering moments after I heard he was dead. So, were hundreds of others of comedians.
You know, and little things like Donald Trump applauding, saying he even has to tip his hair to the president for his actions to things about, you know, perhaps the new video of bin Laden's compound will be next week's MTV's Pakistan's cribs. I mean, we try to have fun. Comedy is healing. And I want to use my comedy and some of the other comics were Arab and Muslim (ph) to try to show people, let's have fun together, let's work together as Americans. Let's not worry -- let's not view us by our differences any longer.
GRIFFIN: All right. Dean Obeidallah, an American comedian. Thanks for joining us, Dean. I really appreciate that.
OBEIDALLAH: Thank you very much.
GRIFFIN: OK, take care.
Americans weigh in on the death of Osama bin Laden. We've got brand-new CNN poll results, just out after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: We have some new poll numbers just out on the death of Osama bin Laden. CNN's Wolf Blitzer joins us from Washington with those details. Wolf, what do Americans think about this?
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": Drew, thanks. Yes, well, Americans are reacting now. We took this poll in the day after everyone knew that bin Laden had been killed. We asked, what about the death of Osama bin Laden? Is it a major achievement?
Look at these numbers. Sixty-seven percent say it's a major achievement. Twenty-three percent say it's a minor achievement. Nine percent say it's not an achievement at all. I was a little surprised by 23 percent saying it's a minor achievement and nine percent saying not an achievement at all. I wonder who these people are.
On this next question, does the death of bin Laden eliminate the threat to the United States from al Qaeda? Look at this. Only five percent say yes. Ninety-four -- 94 percent say no. So most Americans, almost all Americans, still see a major threat from al Qaeda. Interesting numbers, Drew. And there are more.
GRIFFIN: Yes, the president -- I mean, I hate to go political immediately on this, but did he get a bounce in his approval ratings?
BLITZER: He got a little bit of a bounce. I'll show you the numbers on this. On the question of do you approve or disapprove of how Obama is handling his job as president. Now it stands in this poll that was done completely after we knew that bin Laden was killed, 52 percent approve of the way he's handling his job. Over the weekend, before any of us knew bin Laden was dead, we asked a similar question -- 51 percent. So, we got a little bounce over 24 to 48 hours.
In April, mid-April, his approval number was at 48 percent in our CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. Other polls had him even lower. But he got a little bit of a bounce.
But let me dig deeper and show you on specific issues whether he got a bounce or not so much. On the issue of terrorism, back in January, 60 percent of approved of his handling of terrorism. Sixty- seven percent now. On Afghanistan, it went from 51 percent in January up to 58 percent approve of the way he's handling Afghanistan now.
But look at this, Drew. On the economy, which is still issue number one for so many Americans, in January, only 45 percent approved of the way he's handling the economy. It's now down to 42 percent. And on the way he's handling the deficit, it's gone down. It was pretty low at 38 percent back in January. And now it's 35 percent.
So, maybe that explains why the bounce he got -- a little bit of a bounce, up to 52 percent in his job approval number. Not as significant as a lot of us might have thought and the drama and excitement, the history of killing bin Laden. It's still the issue involving jobs, the economy, and on these issues, his numbers are not very good, at least right now.
GRIFFIN: All right. Wolf Blitzer. Of course, you can catch Wolf's full show, 5:00 to 7:00 in "THE SITUATION ROOM." It was great yesterday, by the way, Wolf. Good show -
BLITZER: Thank you very much.
GRIFFIN: And I'm sure you'll have more later today -
BLITZER: Let me just point out one thing, Drew, because I think you and our viewers are going to -- you know that dramatic picture the White House released of the president, the vice president, the secretary of state, all of them sitting in the White House situation room? Watching the screen, watching this event unfold, and you can see the nervousness -- you can see the tension on their faces. You know that picture that I'm talking about. All of our viewers have seen it.
GRIFFIN: Absolutely. Yes, there it is, right there, Wolf.
BLITZER: There it is. Now, if you take a look at Hillary -- Secretary Hillary Clinton there with her hand over her mouth, she's gasping over something. The man sitting next to her in the light blue shirt is Dennis McDonough. He's the deputy national security adviser to the president.
He's coming into "THE SITUATION ROOM," our situation room, from their situation room. And we're going to ask him specifically what were they seeing? What were they hearing when the secretary of state puts her hand over her mouth like that? And everyone else is -- is wondering, as well. And we've got a lot of other good questions.
So, that interview is going to air in the 5:00 p.m. Eastern hour in our situation room. I think our viewers are going to be interested in that, Drew.
GRIFFIN: It's such a historic photo. I can only imagine if we had FDR watching, you know, real-time D-day.
BLITZER: Yes, I know. I was thinking exactly -- exactlythe same thing. And the new technology that is now available to the commander in chief and other U.S. national security advisers who sit in their situation room and can listen and watch and see what's going on, 5,000 or 8,000 miles away, a 40-minute operation, as this one was. And they -- they don't have to wait for an update a few hours later or few days -- they are seeing it, together with military commanders. It's an amazing new technology.
And we're going to have a special report in "THE SITUATION ROOM." how this happens, how they get to see it. I think our viewers will be interested in that, as well.
GRIFFIN: Wolf, I'm interested! We'll look forward to seeing that. Thanks, Wolf.
We'll get another president's perspective, by the way, on the death of bin Laden and what it means for the Arab world. Suzanne Malveaux is sitting down with former president Jimmy Carter this afternoon. She's going to turn that interview for air tomorrow right here, 11:00 a.m. Eastern right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Time now for "The Help Desk." This is where we get answers to your financial questions. With me right now, Gary Schatsky, president of ObjectiveAdvice.com. And Ryan Mack. He's the president of Optimum Capital Management. So glad we have your brains here to help us out today, gentlemen.
First question coming from Judith in Deep Gap, North Carolina. She writes in, "I'm not completely happy with my credit score of 692. I have several credit cards. I've not been late on paying payments, so I'm thinking I have too many credit cards. When I pay them all off, should I close the accounts or just not use them to get a higher credit score?"
This goes against what most people think, Ryan.
RYAN MACK, PRESIDENT, OPTIMUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Right. Well, paying them off -- if she has a 692 FICO score right now, paying them off is one of the fastest ways of getting her FICO score improved. But if she cancels that account, 30 percent of your FICO score is your balance to your lending limit ratio. So how much you're able to borrow. So that's actually going to decrease her total line of credit. So what she might want to do is if she wants to improve her FICO score, maybe even rent -- if she -- if her house is on the market right now, if she rents this for maybe six months and get her credit established, she might be able to purchase a home once she moves back -- or out of Deep Gap, North Carolina. I love that name.
ELAM: Yes, that's pretty awesome.
MACK: I love Deep Gap.
ELAM: I want to know what it looks like.
All right, let's go on to our next question here from Shannon in Marlborough, Massachusetts. "I am currently contributing to a Roth IRA and the 401(k) at my job. Last year I got married," congratulations, "and found out that I cannot contribute to a Roth since our combined gross adjusted income is over a certain limit. What do you recommend investing in instead?"
Gary.
GARY SCHATSKY, PRESIDENT, OBJECTIVEADVICE.COM: Well, first of all, double congratulations because your spouse is earning a lot of money, which is great.
ELAM: Yes.
SCHATSKY: That's a good investment right there. So if you can't do a Roth, you know, you have a few choices. Obviously, a, you want to try to maximum out your 401(k). When you get married, it's time to kind of look at the whole family. So you could speak to your spouse about perhaps increasing their 401(k) contribution. It's, you know, the entire family picture. And then you can do a nondeductible IRA. One thing you might want to consider would be a nondeductible IRA, which, while it's not deductible, it grows tax deferred. And just for a little twist, later on, you might decide to Roth convert, which is switch from this to a Roth and you'll probably pay no tax on the conversion.
ELAM: Yes, there's still options. You can still put your money away.
SCHATSKY: Absolutely.
ELAM: Still plan for the future. That's awesome. Thanks, guys.
All right, well, if you have a question you want to get answered, send us an e-mail any time to cnnhelp@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the killing of Osama bin Laden represents a good day for America. In an interview on CNN's "American Morning," Rumsfeld got a little impatient, though, with a question from Ali Velshi over the significance of taking out bin Laden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALI VELSHI, CNN: Let me ask you this. During -- while you were Defense Secretary, the Bush administration had both said that -- had said at one point that capturing Osama bin Laden was the most important thing to do in the fight against terrorism.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN: Right.
VELSHI: And then subsequently we started to hear that it wasn't all that important. Which one is it? Is this the biggest thing that has -- that we've achieved in the fight against terrorism or is it not really that important?
DONALD RUMSFELD, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY (voice-over): Oh, I think that's a false construct.
VELSHI: Well, what part's false --
RUMSFELD: Well, just a minute, Ali, I'll answer your question.
VELSHI: What part's the false construct?
RUMSFELD: Just a minute and I will answer your question.
VELSHI: Go ahead.
RUMSFELD: The important thing to do is to protect the American people. That is critical. And to do that, obviously, capturing or killing the head of al Qaeda was enormously important. And -- but what -- the reason it was important was to protect the American people. And if one looks back over close to a decade now, there's not been a major successful attack on America for close to a decade. So obviously it was highly successful. I think to say that it was important and then it wasn't important is simply just not correct. It has always been important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Well, Rumsfeld says someone in al Qaeda will likely emerge to replace bin Laden, but he says whether that person reaches the same level is an open question.
Big question here. The U.S. has given Pakistan $18 billion in aid since 9/11, mainly to fight terrorism. Which brings us to today's "Talk Back." Carol Costello has your responses.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of people angry that Pakistan didn't notice that big old mansion that Osama bin Laden was hiding out in. How could it not know this?
GRIFFIN: Who was that mysterious person?
COSTELLO: Who was that behind those big concrete walls?
Anyway, our "Talk Back" question, should the U.S. freeze Pakistan's funding until we get some answers.
This from Bill. "Stop the madness. Do not give them another dime. We are broke. We need the money here. Give us our Social Security cost of living raise, you jerks." That's saying it clearly. Hey, some of my FaceBook friends are tough.
This from John. "The American belief has always been innocent until proven guilty. Pakistan has provided valuable information about terrorists over the years. If they are found to have been harboring bin Laden, then, yes, no more funding." This from Tom. "Yes, of course. We can better use that money to rebuild those areas destroyed by tornadoes in our own country."
This from Gaby. "Every top al Qaeda leader we have ever caught has been in Pakistan, all living very comfortably. Stop paying them to harbor our enemies."
And this from John. "Absolutely. Start by taking a good chunk of the money and give it to the U.S. Navy SEALs for a pay raise."
GRIFFIN: There you go.
COSTELLO: Amen to that, brother.
Continue the conversation, facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks, as always, for your comments. I appreciate it.
GRIFFIN: Carol, great stuff today. You know, we've talked about Osama bin Laden's death for 24 hours. We do want to remember some of those lives that he took. American Airlines Flight 77 commandeered by al Qaeda hijackers and flown into the Pentagon on September 11th. One hundred and twenty-five people died that day inside the Pentagon, 59 people died on Flight 77.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: With Osama bin Laden dead, many are wondering if al Qaeda had a preset plan to attack if their leader was killed. Our congressional correspondent Dana Bash put that question to Congressman Mike Rogers because he's the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: I mean, obviously, it will inflame some. But, again, operations are long in the planning. They are sophisticated. It takes a long time for them to pull off an operation. They were patient. I can tell you that there are -- there's information that they're still working for these plans and attempts to conduct terrorist activity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The killing of Osama bin Laden may be a fatal blow to al Qaeda, but there are a few men who might try to take over the terrorist network. Our Brian Todd looks at the prime suspects.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With al Qaeda decapitated, experts believe this is now a terror network in crisis.
TODD (on camera): What kind of a hole is al Qaeda in right now as far as leadership is concerned?
PHILIP MUDD, FORMER CIA OFFICER: Well, I think they've been in a hole for some time. They have suffered a lot of operational setbacks because of things like predator strikes, their operational leadership is decimated. Now their ideological leadership and the spokesman is gone.
TODD (voice-over): Philip Mudd, former CIA officer and counterterror official, says Osama bin Laden is irreplaceable. Mudd and other experts say, with so many jihadists having looked to bin Laden for operational direction, for inspirational command, filling his void will be a disjointed, messy undertaking.
TODD (on camera): There are at least two obvious replacements. Ayman al Zawahiri, bin Laden's long time deputy, a legendary al Qaeda leader who's also been on the run since September 11th. And Anwar al Awlaki, the American-born cleric, who's a key leader in one of the network's most dangerous branches, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Experts say both are capable, but they also have drawbacks that bin Laden didn't have.
Al Zawahri has the strategic background to lead the network, but analysts say he lacks bin Laden's charisma and --
MUDD: He's viewed as a very polarizing figure. Someone who's not easy to deal with, not a good manager.
TODD: Al Awlaki is seen as an master recruiter, an Internet sensation who inspired the Christmas Day airline plot and the attempted cargo bombing last year. His Achilles' heel?
PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Anwar al Awlaki is not a fighter. He's a cleric. He's a speaker and not a fighter. And al Qaeda, over the years, has wanted to be led by a fighter.
TODD: Credentials bin Laden had from his years battling the Soviets in Afghanistan. But other dangers figures could surface, including Saif al Adel, who one analyst calls al Qaeda's chief of staff, believed to have played a key role in the 1998 African embassy bombings.
Abu Yahya al Libi, once a battlefield commander in Afghanistan, who rose to prominence for escaping from Bagram Air Base.
And Ilyas Kashmiri, a well connected bin Laden favorite, mastermind of a serious plot last year to target Europe. But experts say it will take a herculean effort for any of them to really manage this network like Osama bin Laden did.
MUDD: They don't have anybody now who's going to have the star power, the brand name of bin Laden. And it's not good to have six people trying to fill in his shoes.
TODD: Analysts say if no leader steps to the floor immediately, it doesn't make al Qaeda less dangerous. At least in the short term, they say, look for the threats to spike as the network seeks to avenge bin Laden.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: And this big day in news continues right now with Randi Kaye.
Randi.
